Community Benefit Network is a relatively new nonprofit organization, and Sunday night it held its first gala, a New Orleans theme party, in the banquet room at Sunken Gardens.
Colored balloons, a mime and a soothsayer lent a festive air to the surroundings. The menu, catered by Julian's at the Heritage, featured Louisiana cuisine.
CBN's goal is to help St. Petersburg youngsters who receive social services and those whose parents are incarcerated because of addictions. It is the brainchild of Darryl Rouson, who attended with his wife, Angela.
The couple celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary Saturday. Rouson, who is president of the St. Petersburg chapter of the NAACP, said he has told the executive committee that he will not seek re-election; at the gala, he said he wants to spend more time with his family.
Attending were Rouson's mother, Vivian Rouson; Omar Brumley; Jonathan and Cheryl Wade; Dr. Kelly Reed; Tim Murphy; Herbert Murphy; Eddie and Janice Lockridge Williams; Stephanie Al Kareem; Corinne Woodard; Amers Ayers; Selma Robinson; Tom-Erik an d Bethsabe Bockman-Pedersen; Skip and Vicki Tylman; Jim an d Cat Coats; Nancy Bond; Marilyn Armstrong; and Margaret Word Burnside and Aaron Fodiman, who was celebrating his birthday.
Entertainment included mime performances from Charlie Cronk and readings from Rosemary Fox.
Saxophonist Eric Darius seemed not at all weary, although he had an earlier gig near Kissimmee. His energized playing was infectious and sent partygoers over to his father and manager, Serge Darius, to purchase CDs.
Leila Wilson chaired the event with co-chair Cheryl Diehl and volunteers Della Hatch-Abdullah, Stacey Ray Flowers, Lisa Robinson, Lorene Bines and Rosa Sly.
The law offices of Rouson & Brumley were the evening's major sponsors.
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Sunday evening's party to attract new subscribers to St. Petersburg's American Stage season had several allures, including Cuban food and drink and the opportunity to meet the actors performing in Anna in the Tropics, Nilo Cruz's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama that is set in Tampa's Ybor City.
Diane Bailey and Jeff McClanathan opened their home for the event, serving Cuban sandwiches, black beans and rice, fried plantains and even homemade flan along with mojitos and sangria. Co-hosts were Diana and Evan Whittle, and you had to love his sartorial nod to the evening, a white linen guayabera and camel and caramel two-toned oxfords.
Guests included American Stage's new director of development, Barbara Mazer Gross, and her husband, Dr. John Gross; Susan and Robb Hough; Twila and Dr. Kern Davis; Kate Lewis; Vinny D'Angelo; and Alice an d Brian Rimel.
Jorge Acosta, Jose Antonio, Karen Garcia, Joe Masi, Geisha Otero, Joseph Parra and Jessica Pimentel are the cast for Anna, which moves across the bay to the Jaeb Theater in the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center on Oct. 21.
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Visitors to the VIP performers party associated with the Suncoast AirFest had an aerial view of St. Petersburg on Friday from the vantage point of the Bayfront Tower's 28th floor.
It was a reunion for several generations of family connected to the late Lt. James Albert Whitted, for whom the St. Petersburg airport is named.
Eric Albert Whitted, a nephew of Albert Whitted and former Pinellas area school superintendent, was thrilled. Attending with his wife, Elizabeth, and his sister, Eleanor Prescott, he visited with a number of relatives who came in from throughout the country.
Also part of the gathering were Harriet Harvey, Evelyn Beasley, Bill and Helen Mills, Bill Heller, Betty Breedon, Cris Coffin, Shannon and Tony Arnao, Vern and Elise Farnsworth, Glenn and Diane Anderson, Bobbi O'Malley, Bea Bryan and Tom and Shirley Begley.
The Garden Bistro catered the event, which was hosted by the board of directors of the Albert Whitted Airport Preservation Society.
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The lobby in downtown St. Petersburg's Bank of America Tower was a shopping mecca Friday, with all sorts of temptations for patrons at the Angels After Dark holiday gift market.
The event benefits children's ministries and outreach programs at First United Methodist Church.
Co-chairs Mandy Rutledge an d Beth Spillane visited individual vendors and greeted visitors at the sale, now in its fifth year. Whitney Cohen and Holly Piper, previous co-chairs of the event, courted merchants this year and tended the church booth, where items were displayed cleverly on fencing and a ladder, and ornaments dangled from a tree anchored in a galvanized can.
Ann-Marie Meder, who chairs the hospitality committee, talked about the fundraiser's philanthropic purpose: "We're doing this to shape the lives of our kids and our church," she said. "And it's fun. We get to see all of our friends in the community."
Looking ahead
Thursday
HUNGER BANQUET: 24th annual event benefits the Petersburg Free Clinic's food bank, pantry and community kitchen programs. Soup and bread supper, speakers, community recognition, nonperishable food collection, live entertainment. 6:30 p.m. Fox Hall, Eckerd College, 4200 54th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. $10 adults; $5 students. 821-1200, ext. 118.
Friday
LUNCHEON, FASHION SHOW: St. Anthony's Hospital Auxiliary event features styles from Dillard's, benefits hospital renovation project. 11 a.m. Grand Ballroom, Renaissance Vinoy Resort, 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. $50. 528-8727.
Saturday
ACADEMY PREP PICNIC OUTBACK: Appreciation for supporters, students, families. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2301 22nd Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 322-0800.
CANTERBURY CLASSIC: Seventh annual golf, tennis, dinner and auction benefit Canterbury School of Florida. Isla del Sol Yacht & Country Club, 6025 Sun Blvd., St. Petersburg. Golf, tennis sign-in, noon. Adult golf, $150; student, $75. Adult tennis, $80; student, $50 (includes lunch, poolside buffet dinner, awards banquet). Dinner only, $30. Children under 12, $15. 521-6201, ext. 39.
ST. ANTHONY'S FISHING TOURNAMENT: Second annual event benefits cancer care at St. Anthony's Hospital. Johnny Leverock's Seafood House, 10 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach. Four anglers permitted per craft. $200 per boat. 825-1629.
Mary Jane Park can be reached at 727 893-8267; fax (727) 893-8675; e-mail park@sptimes.com P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.
