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On the town

Weekend turns groovy for Museum of Fine Arts

By MARY JANE PARK
Published January 26, 2005

Savvy art enthusiasts took advantage of the reduced traffic and the Friday night discount last week to avoid the long daytime queues for Monet's London at St. Petersburg's Museum of Fine Arts.

Dennis Lehane was in town from his home near Boston for the Writers in Paradise Writers' Workshop at his alma mater, Eckerd College, with Sterling and Kathy Watson.

Christa and Karen Arena, perusing the Monets, had good things to say about their recent cruise from Fort Lauderdale on the Queen Mary 2.

The Contemporaries, the museum's organization for young professionals, paid a bit more for Friday's All Fogged Up events that featured - what else? - a fog machine to create a London effect at the entrance; remarks by director John Schloder and a tours of the exhibit; champagne, British beers and other beverages; and food from Moon Under Water.

After that, the Contemporaries Pub Crawlers filled the Marly Room and spilled outside into the gardens for a lively event that kicked the slats out of any presumption of art museums as fusty.

A cardboard cutout of a Royal Guardsman stood outside the doors; inside, pastel floral arrangements and little galvanized buckets filled with peanuts and British flags centered the tables, and antique-style street lamps lined the walls.

The Brit-pop band the Shaguars played hits from the Beatles, Herman's Hermits, the Dave Clark Five, Dusty Springfield and Lulu. (She sang the To Sir With Love theme song, and don't pretend you don't remember.)

Tracy LaBarbera, the "girl singer" in the group, wore a '60s vintage dress and white boots; Scott Bannevich, another player, was decidedly mod in a jacket LaBarbera's grandmother made all those years ago.

Thank heaven the young folks didn't ask for IDs from everyone who packed into the event; otherwise, parents of Contemporaries and band members would have had to miss the fun.

About 350 people were in the multigenerational crowd, including Contemporaries president Melissa Rutland, Simone Bennett, Chris Fraser, Katherine Franckle, Joe Mazzara, Bud Rutland and Dr. Joan Christie, Nancy Rutland, Ravic and Robin Nijbroek, Jack and Blush Bodziak, Teresa Gelston, John Quigley, Nicole Landry, Thaddeus Root and Desmond Clark.

After parties are the new hip draw for night owls; once the museum lights were out, people headed to Moon Under Water for continued merriment into the wee hours.

The Queen's Court, which raises money through St. Petersburg's Queen of Hearts Ball for worthy charities each year, is seeking applications from organizations that serve the St. Petersburg area to receive grants from the 2006 ball.

To be eligible, nonprofits must be listed under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code.

Applications may be received by calling 367-3353 or 399-8003. The deadline for submission is March 12.

Thursday

MUSICAL CHAIRS DINNER: Salvador Dali Museum Zodiac group event features four-course dinner, rotating seating, surreal parlor games. 7-10 p.m. Cafe Alma, 260 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg. $40 Zodiac members, $50 nonmembers. Reservations: 823-3767, ext. 3024.

Saturday

ART FESTIVAL BETH-EL: 32nd annual event. Purchase award patrons' reception (minimum $500 advance donation goes to art purchases), 1-4 p.m. Patrons' preview reception for sponsors ($250), benefactors ($125), 6-10 p.m. Temple Beth-El, 400 Pasadena Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 347-6136.

HIGH TEA SOCIAL: Caledonian Society of St. Petersburg event includes entertainment. 1-3 p.m. St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, 559 Mirror Lake Drive. $12.50. 552-1896; 893-7190.

SPIFFS ALOHA LUAU 2005: Food, music, other live entertainment. 6 p.m. Maria Center, 5800 15th Ave. S, Gulfport. $20. 552-1896.

SPLENDORS OF THE NILE: AN EVENING OF ROMANCE AND MYSTIQUE: Gala benefits Hospice of the Florida Suncoast programs, services. Dinner, dancing, entertainment, live and silent auctions. Black tie. 6:30 p.m. Palm Court Ballroom, Renaissance Vinoy Resort, 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. $200. 586-4432, ext. 2883.

Sunday

ART FESTIVAL BETH-EL: 32nd annual event. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Temple Beth-El, 400 Pasadena Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Light lunches for purchase. Free. 347-6136.

Monday

ART FESTIVAL BETH-EL: 32nd annual event. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Performance, luncheon (reservations required), Avenue of Shops, 2 p.m. docent tour. Temple Beth-El, 400 Pasadena Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 347-6136.

EBONY FASHION FAIR: Sponsored by Zeta Upsilon Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority to benefit area charities, community projects. 8 p.m. Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S, St. Petersburg. $30 advance; $35 night of event; $15 students with ID, night of event. 865-0812.

Tuesday

TEA IN THE GARDEN: Stuart Society, Museum of Fine Arts event. Continues each Tuesday through April. 3-4 p.m. Membership garden, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. Reservations requested. $5 in addition to $12 museum admission. 865-0623; 393-1558.

Feb. 2

NAPA VALLEY VINTNERS ASSOCIATION WINE TASTING: Tastings from 75 winemakers, 20 chefs; live entertainment, silent auction. Benefits Abilities Foundation. VIP tasting 6:30 p.m. $150 advance, $175 night of event; grand tasting 7 p.m. ($100 advance, $125 night of event). Raymond James Stadium, 4201 Dale Mabry Highway N, Tampa. 538-7370, ext. 345; www.abilitiesfoundation.com Afterparty: Nightlife Napa Valley - A Tasting of Napa Wines. 20- and 30-somethings meet 30 Napa winemakers, sample food from SideBern's. 9:30-11:30 p.m. SideBern's, 2208 Morrison Ave., Tampa. $20; suggested additional $10 to Abilities Foundation. www.sidebernsevents.com

March 22

INFINITY FASHION SHOW: Rescheduled from Jan. 29. 25th anniversary event benefits support group for CASA, Brookwood, Help A Child, features fashions from Ambria's. 11 a.m. St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave. $50. 343-9504.

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.

[Last modified January 26, 2005, 12:44:39]