By AMY SCHERZER, Times Staff Writer
Published November 11, 2005
After three hurricanes and a sprained ankle, Pavilion 20 co-chairs Les and Barbara Ryals began to wonder who put the voodoo on their can-do spirit? Despite many challenges in planning for the Tampa Museum of Art's largest benefit of the year, I heard only raves about Saturday's ball.
I was at a family party in Philadelphia and unfortunately could not attend. But some helpful patrons filled me in on what I missed.
Leading the hurricane hassles was the original theme, A Night in New Orleans, which conjured scenes of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. The Ryals switched to A Tribute to New Orleans just before invitations were printed. Then trips to the Big Easy donated to the auction had to be replaced.
Hurricane Wilma forced the cancellation of the patrons' party where New Orleans jeweler Mignon Faget was going to sell her gems and donate a percentage of sales. Wilma also sidetracked the kitchen tent and stole the stock of generators and cable needed to power the outdoor gala. City liaison Shannon Edge and Tampa Electric Co.'s Stephanie Agliano saved the day.
"Nature has a way of making us all realize we all depend upon one another," said Sandy Frye, a veteran of at least a dozen Pavilions who took notes for me. She applauded the Ryals' decision to help the New Orleans Museum of Art, closed until spring.
NOMA director John Bullard gratefully accepted a $10,000 check, underwritten by Smith & Associates. He was $4,000 happier when artist Peter Stilton donated a second painting to be auctioned for NOMA.
Barbara Ryals perched on a tall stool to receive 425 guests, the ankle she sprained wrapped in a walking cast under her gown. Les wore white tie and tails; his late mother, civic leader Shirley Ryals, would have been proud. After silent auction shopping in the museum, a.k.a. Commander's Palace, a NOLA brass band led guests down the steps where Sharma Fernandez transformed the garage into the Garden District.
"It was magical," said guest Glenda Barlow, who called me with details and sent pictures. "Hundreds of white roses, lilies and votives hung from white ribbons in trees and topiaries." Only the glistening minarets across the river reminded her that she was still in Tampa.
"We thought 20 years was a good time to bring it back full circle to the original setting, under the museum," Barbara Ryals said. "And save a bunch of money too." Over the years, the ball moved into long-one Curtis Hixon Hall, the Tampa Convention Center and a pricey tent on museum grounds. Will this be the last Pavilion on the premises?
Chef Hans Hickel of the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay cooked sugarcane swordfish and grilled medallion of beef Creole, ending with chocolate pecan torte with bourbon cream and praline brittle. Bob Macar's Southtown Fever Band played through the night.
Auctioneer J.P. Peterson, WFLA-Ch. 8 sports anchor, took bids during each course. Pradip Patel bought a 2006 Volkswagen beetle for $14,500. Blake Casper paid $9,000 for a backstage tour of Desperate Housewives. A Macy's VIP Thanksgiving Day parade package went for $4,500 to board member Michael Bedke.
Another hurricane connection: Ian Mackechnie paid $3,500 for a half-dollar minted in New Orleans in 1861 and sank on the SS Republic during a hurricane long ago. The coin was salvaged and donated by Odyssey Marine Explorations.
About 10 p.m., NOLA natives Troy and Jill Manthey docked the Lady Tampa Bay yacht behind the museum. Guests boarded for coffee, bananas Foster and jazz, all donated by the Mantheys. Guests left with goody bags of Aunt Sally's Pralines, Tabasco sauce and other Nawlin's treats.
One guest said several in the chic crowd wore "gowns so sleek you'd swear they were airbrushed on them." Party queens Erika Wallace, Catherine Straz and Toni Everett arrived in tiaras.
Proceeds from the $1,200 a ticket gala haven't been announced. The last year's Pavilion raised $342,000 for museum programs and exhibitions.
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WHAT'S A PARTIVORE? A guest attending Zoofari to support Lowry Park Zoo's carnivores and herbivores, according to Fry Hammond Barr, designers of the clever invitation to Saturday's food fest.
For $70, more than 4,400 guests scarfed samples from 80 restaurants and raised more than $190,000, the most in Zoofari's 19 years.
Roving partivores Howard and Dina Sachs shared their top picks: Cafe Dufrain's seared tuna and Mexican salmon; Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's lamb chops; Aramark Food Services' wild rabbit ravioli; and University Community Hospital's lobster pasta with real chunks of lobster. Bella's brought three kinds of creme brulees, and each slice of Outback's Chocolate Tower cake weighed at least a pound. But what was Bonefish Grill thinking with fried Oreos?? Yuck!
New in the art auction: paw and nose prints made by elephants, tigers, rhinoceroses, a sloth bear and chimpanzees in their zoo art classes.
Bloated partivores showed their stamina as they sang and danced to the Marshall Tucker Band on the main stage. The crowd knew the words to all the classics. Other bands played throughout the zoo.
Outback gets kudos for providing the beverages and servers, who poured tens of thousands of drinks.
- To pass along tips to Amy Scherzer, or check out her blog at www.sptimes.com/party or call 813 226-3332.
Datebook
SATURDAY: Starlight Ball, Renaissance benefits University Community Hospital Foundation; 6:30 p.m.; Hyatt Regency downtown Tampa; $200; 615-7663.
