After Thursday, most of us will move from Thanksgiving pumpkins to winter holiday decorations. Friday night's Furs, Bangles and Beads on the Bayou at Mansion by the Bay in St. Petersburg was Mardi Gras-inspired in food and music.
Partygoers served themselves from a buffet featuring chicken gumbo, dirty rice, alligator, cornbread with "mud bugs" and bread pudding with bourbon sauce.
Then, coached along a bit, they danced to Cajun music from the Porchdogs. Midge Trubey, who owns the venue and Personal Touch catering and florist, lacked a washboard to play but used a couple of aluminum baking pans to supplement the band's percussion.
Balloons in purple, green and gold floated around the century-old house, and everybody who wanted got Mardi Gras beads.
Those official colors, by the way, were selected in 1872 by Rex, New Orleans' King of Carnival, the festival that begins Jan. 6, when Christians celebrate the gifts brought to the Christ Child. It ends on "Fat Tuesday," the day before Christians celebrate Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, a season of fasting and atonement.
Purple represents justice; green, faith; and gold, power.
Diane Winning and Sharon Clayton were fully into the spirit of the evening, wearing custom-decorated jackets.
Others enjoying the fun were Linda Osmundson, Patsy Buker, Edie Spies an d John Murphy, Richard Winning, Maggi McQueen and Mike Keefer, Fern Clayton, Sally Poynter, Avery an d Dot McCarthy, Ann Foster, Pat LaMonde, Mary Shuh, Bernice McCune, Hugh Ann Cason-Kelly, Sterling Powell, Stacy Barnett, Luisa Perez-Harvey, Terry Ray, Marsha Spindler and Charlie and Paula Park.
T.W. Curtis introduced buddies Russ Widger and Chris Payne. Payne runs the Mountain Trails Gallery in Santa Fe, N.M., and has been in town to talk about representing Curtis' artworks there.
Friday's party was a benefit for Infinity, the charity that raises money to help Brookwood, Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA) and Help a Child.
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Celebrate the Season, the Junior League of St. Petersburg's holiday gift market at the Coliseum, took place throughout the weekend, raising money for the league's vast array of community projects.
Lots of shoppers were out Friday afternoon, purchasing jewelry, crafts, monogrammed items, belts, hand-knit scarves and capelets, baby gifts, purses and other goodies.
I know I set out in search of gifts for friends and family, then am further tempted toward buying presents for myself. But isn't that the idea behind such fundraisers?
The money goes to good causes - among them the league's Back to School Care Fair and Give a Book programs; All Children's Hospital; Ronald McDonald House; the Family Visitation House; Great Explorations; the YWCA's Virginia H. Lazzara Emergency Shelter; CASA; Alpha, a Beginning; American Stage's children's theater program; and the Pinellas Youth Symphony.
Friday night's gala was held in a big white tent outside the Coliseum, where white lights under the canopy were draped to mimic those in the ballroom.
The crowd included league president Jane Graves, with husband Duane; Jillian and Bob Doyle; Sandy and Bill Bozeman; Robert Danielson; Mary McDonald; Linda and David Punzak; Sue Hands; Liz Curry; Thelma McCloud; and newlyweds Meredith and Stephen Kirby.
Carrabba's Italian Grill, one of the event's major sponsors, donated food for the event, where diners also sampled fare from the Melting Pot, Saute Cafe, Mattison's, the Olive Garden and the TradeWinds Island Resort.
Chloe Firebaugh chaired Celebrate the Season, along with subcommittee chairwome n Lori Russell, Kimberly Craig, Penny Wallace, Karen Quilty, Donna Hall, Gretchen Clearwater, Sissy Joiner and Kimberly Burke.
Additional major sponsors were the St. Petersburg Times and Comegys Insurance Corner.
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The Florida Orchestra Guild is seeking a house of 5,000 square feet or more for its annual designer show house, in which professional decorators work their magic throughout the rooms.
The residence is needed March 1 through April 15.
All proceeds from the show house tours go to the orchestra.
Information: 344-7575.
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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, call Patsy Dunlap, 892-9290.
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On-the-Towners have a weekend with no fundraisers on the calendar, although early December is busy, as you'll see below.
Happy Thanksgiving!
LOOKING AHEAD
Dec. 1
MRS. SANTA LUNCHEON, FASHION SHOW: All Children's Hospital Guild, Beach Branch event. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave. 392-5089; 360-4637.
Dec. 3
SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY - THE GOLDEN AGE OF TRAVEL: 1940s theme ball benefits AIDS Service Association Of Pinellas (A.S.A.P.)/For AIDS Care Today (F.A.C.T.) medical copay program. Cocktail reception, dinner, dancing, entertainment, silent auction. 6:30 p.m. Hilton St. Petersburg, 333 First St. S. $90. 328-3260.
Dec. 4
EVENING OF ELEGANCE: Benefits Lupus Foundation of America, Greater Florida Chapter. Special appearance by model and national spokeswoman Tomiko Fraser, 6:30 p.m. Private home. $150. 447-7075.
Dec. 5
HOLIDAY TASTE AND TOUR: Third annual St. Petersburg Area Association of Bed and Breakfast Inn s event features food from area restaurants, self-guided tour of B&Bs, performances by Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. 1-9 p.m. $15. www.spaabbi.com
