YBOR FLASHBACK: If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Saturday night's Artists and Writers Ball paid a huge compliment to its legendary predecessors. Co-chairs Judy Dato and Ken Walters pulled off a hat trick - three floors of food, drinks, art and entertainment - at the Italian Club to support the Mental Health Care Foundation.
Skeptics abounded. Could Bohemian Bubbas 'n Babes recreate those wild Ybor parties of the '80s? Would guests pay $85 a ticket? Would foundation director Sandra Tabor reach her goal of raising $60,000?
You bet.
Ask the 500 partygoers who bounced between floors, starting in the ground-level cantina where Lightning fans huddled around a huge screen watching Game 7 of the Eastern conference finals against the Flyers. When the Bolts won, Ignacio and the Global Groove erupted in a Stanley Cup salsa led by Frank Sanchez, Linda Saul-Sena, Janee Murphy and Natalie Cacciatore.
On the second floor, a Jake and Elwood Blues Brothers act fronted Ward Cook & the Midnight Brass Band. Guests barely left the dance floor long enough to get Bananas Foster from Amore Catering. The funky table decorations came from Kathy Jewel of Showorks.
Bright lights on the third floor showcased a silent auction of work by a dozen writers and about 40 artists who donated 40 percent of their sales. Joe Stagi Quartet kept bidders jazzed while the Palm Restaurant served up crab cakes and steak teriyaki.
ART FOR LIFE RESURRECTED: Another fabled fundraiser is being reinvented, Art for Life. Remember those crazy auction parties that raised more than a $1-million for the Tampa AIDS Network between 1992 to 2000?
Project Return, which helps adults with mental illness, has acquired the Art For Life trademark and enlisted many of the original volunteers, including founder Victor Figueredo, to host the benefit Oct. 23 at Higgins Hall. Some proceeds will also go to AIDS research. Artists, sponsors and partygoers, call 990-8981 to get involved.
SIPPING WITH THE FISH: While the Lightning were winning just two blocks away Saturday night, Sea Grapes guests tried to catch the game at the Florida Aquarium's annual food and wine tasting.
No deal. Apparently the aquarium doesn't get ESPN2. Aquarium CEO Thom Stork frantically attempted to add the sports channel using his credit card but got iced and had to sneak over to Channelside to watch. Ironically, Bright House Networks was one of the Sea Grapes sponsors, along with the St. Petersburg Times.
Guests got cell phone updates from friends as they sampled food from 20 restaurants (I wish I had room to name them) and 80 wines coordinated by Uncorked of St. Petersburg. They relaxed in rocking chairs in the Coral Reef to the sounds of the Dagari Jazz Trio. Denise Moore sang outside in Explore-a-Shore.
Limiting the crowd to 800 - about 650 showed up - meant ample buffets and no lines. The hockey game probably kept a lot of fans away. It also bettered the chances of winning a lucky Key for a Cause, sold for $100 each. Five keys will open boxes from Tiffany & Co. One box holds a $6,000 gold and diamond bracelet.
Sue Ellen Richardson, the aquarium's marketing and public relations director who died unexpectedly last month, would be happy to know Sea Grapes raised about $38,000. She'd also get a kick out of having the aquarium conference room renamed in her memory. It's now the Rainy Day Room because she often started staff meetings with her special rain dance because rainy days brought lots of visitors.
HOCKEY FEVER kept Friends of Joshua House cheering at Ron and Bev Bailey's Harbour Island home during the Starry, Starry Night benefit dinner. They saw Linda Goldstein's poignant video on the lives of 60 abused and neglected children living at the shelter. But with eight minutes to go in Game 7, most of the men gobbled down their Mise en Place beef tenderloin and fled to the Baileys' home theater. The Lightning won before dessert was served: hot white chocolate volcano cake.
Chairwoman Missy Steadman expects the $500-ticket dinner to net $52,000, with the help of florist Ian Prosser of Botanical International, who provided the white stargazer lilies in crystal chandeliers. Michael Stram of Home Theater Gallery supplied the video equipment. Stram recently donated a $50,000 home projection system to Joshua House for its Lazydays Rec Center, due to start construction in July. The Michael Murphy Gallery donated framing for pictures drawn by the Joshua House children for the 100 guests to take home.
- To pass along tips to Amy Scherzer, reach her at 226-3332 or scherzer@sptimes.com
Datebook
JUNE 5: 13 Ugly Men's South Beach, Evening at Baileys, dinner and auction on Harbour Island to benefit the Florida Aquarium; 7 p.m.; $250; 282-3100 or www.13uglymen.com
JUNE 10: Pink Martini at the Blue Martini kickoff party for Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Race for the Cure; Blue Martini at International Plaza; 5-9 p.m.; $25 online at www.komensuncoast.com $35 at the door.
JUNE 18: 3rd Annual Cigar Celebration benefits United Cerebral Palsy/Advance Ability Solutions; Tampa Port Authority Cruise Terminal No. 3; 7 p.m.; $100; 239-1179, ext. 219.
