Passport to Monet, they called it, and money raised from Tuesday's Stuart Society luncheon and fashion show will pave the way for the much-anticipated exhibition of works by Impressionist Claude Monet and his contemporaries that opens in January at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg.
The meal and the styles from Saks Fifth Avenue had French accents. Silk table arrangements featured water lilies; yellow sunflowers, daffodils and forsythia; and blue delphinium and lavender blossoms, all a nod to the artist. A lima bean cassoulet accompanied the entree.
French technopop music and classic Edith Piaf played as models strode the runway in the grand ballroom at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort. The styles were feminine and fun and featured the nonchalant chic of French women, who pair brooches and scarves and jeans and Chanel jackets and manage to look extraordinary. Saks models showed a variety of textured stockings, including pink fishnets along with the traditional black.
It was wonderful to see museum patron Louise Bishop, who was seated at a table with her daughter, Mary Joan Mann, and museum executive committee members Carol Upham and Starr Weihe.
Jean D. Irwin led the benefit committee, which included Stuart Society president Mary Shuh, Pat Baldwin, Fay Baynard, Jan Crawford, Lorraine Danna, Marian Yon Ellis, Patty Ann Hamblen, Carole McGurk, Maggi McQueen, Glenn Mosby, Terry Ray, Fran Risser, Candy Scherer, Isabel Schoenberg an d Anne Shamas.
The event sponsor was Smith & Associates Realtors; corporate sponsors were Bank of America, Private Bank and Crown Eurocars.
And, yes, there was a buyer for the sterling silver Mario Buccellati olive-leaf cup offered in the silent auction that required a minimum bid of $14,250.
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The West Central Florida Council Boy Scouts of America honored four community leaders at its seventh annual Distinguished Citizens Award Banquet, held Oct. 21 in the Coliseum.
Honored for their contributions to the community were Bill Habermeyer, president and chief executive of Progress Energy Florida; Roy Harrell, a partner in Holland and Knight; Carl M. Kuttler Jr., president of St. Petersburg College; and Bill Stover, retired vice president of investments for Merrill Lynch.
Contributions from the dinner buy uniforms, books, camping equipment and other materials for the urban Scouting program, which serves more than 1,000 boys in the county.
Mary Evertz and Al Geiger were co-chairs for the event, aided by Angelo and Michelle Cappelli, John Green, Dr. Robert Kropp and John Yanchunis.
Corporate sponsors were Norm and Maureen Donovan Dobiesz, Holland and Knight, the Hough Family Foundation, Progress Energy Florida, RBC Dain Rauscher and SunTrust Bank.
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Nominations of outstanding community volunteers for inclusion in the Queens Court will be accepted through Jan. 7. To receive a resume packet, please call Patsy Dunlap, 892-9290.
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If the list of events for next week seems extremely long, it is: Hurricanes caused postponements, and an already busy weekend now is packed.
Looking ahead
Monday
STEAK & STEAK DINNER: Benefits Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast. Business attire. 6:30 p.m. Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg. $50. 546-1032, ext. 17.
Thursday
CONTEMPORARIES: Museum of Fine Arts young professionals group meeting to plan Contemporaries shop, January event in connection with Monet exhibition. 5:45-7 p.m. 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. 896-2667.
FIESTA DE LA SALSA: Third annual Florida Blood Services Foundation benefit. Buffet dinner, music, dancers. Dressy casual. 5:30-8 p.m. Private home. $75. 568-2231.
LAUNCH PARTY: Soulful Arts Dance Academy event. Hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, performances by SADA students. Business casual. 7 p.m. Sunset Ballroom, Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, 600 Snell Isle Blvd., St. Petersburg. 822-2555.
Friday
YMCA MAYOR'S PRAYER BREAKFAST: Jim Towey, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, guest speaker. 7 a.m. Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. $12. 895-9622, ext. 230.
BATTLE OF THE BAY: Fourth annual culinary competition among six bay area chefs benefits St. Petersburg Museum of History. 6 p.m. Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N. $65. 894-1052, ext. 205.
CONTEMPORARIES: Museum of Fine Arts young professionals group gathering. Appetizers, drink specials. Martini Bar, 131 Second Ave. N (BayWalk), St. Petersburg. $5 donation. 895-8558.
PATRIOTIC TRIBUTE: Third annual volunteers of America of Florida event benefits Florida veterans housing and outreach programs. Buffet dinner, entertainment, silent auction. 6-9 p.m. Wyndham Harbour Island Hotel, 725 S Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa. $45. (813) 282-1525, ext. 245.
Saturday
ASAP FOR THE HOMELESS BENEFIT: Cocktails, dinner, music, silent auction. Home of Mardi and Grace Deranian, 411 72nd St. S, St. Petersburg. $75. 347-0635.
BROOKWOOD WINE TASTING: Benefits Brookwood, group home for girls victimized by abuse, neglect. 7-10 p.m. The Pier, 800 Second Ave. N, St. Petersburg. $75. 822-4789.
A CHOSEN GENERATION: 19th anniversary gala and auction benefit Pregnancy Center of Pinellas County. Black tie optional. 6:30 p.m. Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. 545-8100, ext. 23.
FISH HEAD BALL: 11th annual event benefits Pier Aquarium educational programs. Food from area restaurants, live entertainment. 7-11 p.m. The Regency, 3600 34th St. S, St. Petersburg. $40. 895-7437.
HERE FOR THE HEROES: Florida Easter Seals gala features performance by John, Mary K. and Paul Wilson, University of Tampa Brass Quintet. Cocktails, dinner. 6 p.m. St. Lawrence Parish Higgins Hall, St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 5225 N Himes Ave., Tampa. $150. (813) 988-7633, ext. 113.
MENORAH MANOR GUILD GALA: Cabaret and casino evening, silent auction. 6:30 p.m. Harborview Center, 300 Cleveland St., Clearwater. 302-3729.
Z-GRAPES WINE TASTING: Zodiac Group of Salvador Dali Museum event. 6:30-7:30 p.m. premier tasting; 7:30-9:30 p.m. grand tasting. Premier tasting is $45 members, $55 nonmembers; grand tasting, $25 members, $35 nonmembers. 1000 Third St. S, St. Petersburg. 823-3767, ext. 3024.
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.
