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Amy Scherzer's diary
Party brings out the Best
By AMY SCHERZER
Published March 31, 2006
Forget Atkins, South Beach and those other diets. Plenty of eaters and shakers did at the Best of Tampa Bay. This hungry horde, 1,700 patrons of the art(ichoke)s, indulged all they wanted, then danced off the calories Saturday at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. After sampling generously from 48 restaurants and dozens of wineries, partygoers shed coats and sweaters and Pocket Change pumped the crowd chilling at the riverfront stage. Ken and Sarah Walters docked Sal there and threw their own dance party for pals Domingo and Sarah Quintero, Andy Graham, Autumn Malagies, Rhonda Weldon, Rachele O'Connor, and Bob and Lillie Samuels. Musician Magda Hiller and four other bands, Vodkanauts, Impromptu, Calypso Sound and De'Leid Parrots helped guests burn off carbs. Outback Steakhouse's offspring - Roy's, Bonefish Grill, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Lee Roy Selmon's - guarded the waterfront. Roy's Sui Mai Gorgonzola and filet mignon puffs triumphed for my tastes, along with T.C. Choy Asian Bistro's barbecue pork flake bun, Louis Pappas' spanakopita and Leonidas chocolate from Mayflower Gifts, among many, many others. Two charter restaurants, the Columbia and Sally O'Neal's Pizza, started their third decade supporting the event. New TBPAC chairman of the board Marty Silbiger applauds the performance of chairs Paula and Tony Buffa of the Producers support group, who expect the event to raise $80,000. GREEN THUMBS UP: Two perfectly gorgeous weekend days made all the effort worthwhile for GreenFest 2006 chairwoman Cynthia "Al'' Van Voris and the Friends of Plant Park at the University of Tampa. Who wouldn't want to garden in such delightful weather? GreenFest began March 23 at Conversations and Cocktails, the $75-ticket patrons party hosted by Carole and John Guyton. Author and TV personality Rebecca Cole, back for a second time as guest speaker, joined 85 patrons wowed by the Guytons' courtyard and pool patio. Serving the buffet in the greenhouse allowed guests to linger over Carole's orchids, cacti and other plants. She shared stories of every cutting and piece of broken china glued to her pique assiette creations. The next day, Cole autographed her book, Flower Power, for nearly 200 women at Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club. After lunch, she hopped up to the stage packed with plants, flowers, light poles, a gate, statuary and tables borrowed from Fay's Side Porch and other vendors. Will Davis, son of Peggy and U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, and Rob Foster, son of Florence and Judge Bob Foster, ably assisted. An admitted control freak, Cole eyed the stage and advised, "Get all the elements out at once. Start with the furniture and edit to find your focal point.'' In no time at all, she designed three tempting garden settings. TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS owner Stu Sternberg, his wife, Lisa, and kids, Sandy and Jake, partied with 450 guests at Rockin' with the Rays at Tropicana Field on Saturday. A tropical touch turned the huge field into an intimate, elegant evening featuring sushi, seared tuna and roast beef buffets from Centerplate catering. Attendance was mandatory for team members, who didn't seem to mind a bit. Emcee Jack Harris lent the microphone to radio broadcasters Dave Wills and Andy Freed to introduce the players. Dick Crippen auctioned five items, including a Mexican dinner with Jorge Cantu at the home of Jose Tavarez, vice president of Hispanic Outreach. Rays investor Randy Frankel bought it for $4,000. Dara Alexander, president of the ALS Association's Florida chapter and several ALS patients and families, enjoyed the event, too. They will share the proceeds from the $175-ticket party with the Devils Rays' youth baseball field renovation program. GOOD NEIGHBORS: When gala chairwoman Kathy Woods opened the doors to the Florida Orchestra Guild Showhouse, she welcomed more than 100 guests - designers, patrons and neighbors - to a preview party March 18. Upstairs, downstairs and over the garage they went exploring, delighted with the results. "Everyone comes out beaming,'' said guild spokeswoman Jan McCarthy. "It flows so elegantly.'' The guild hopes to raise $50,000 from tours, the gala and other events at the showhouse. Gala guests hit the boutique, organized by Joyce Ford, where they bought artwork, antique pieces, jewelry and handbags. Others went straight to the tent to find dinner, a silent auction and salsa band. The music was so catchy, guild ladies danced together. Hurry over and see it yourself, for $15, through April 9. V FOR VACCINE: When the National Italian American Foundation honored cancer physician Scott Antonia for his breakthrough research at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, he wanted to share the spotlight with another Italian-American, Charlie Cagno, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2004. Cagno has been president of Tampa's Sons of Italy and all the Florida chapters. You could say he's as devoted to the Italian-American community as Antonia is to finding a cure for lung cancer. His son, Gino Gagno, organized the Charlie Cagno Fund and the March 22 dinner at the Italian Club to support Antonia's research. With 100 guests listening closely, Antonia, Moffitt's 2005 Physician of the Year, explained how his vaccine stimulates a patient's own T cells to kill cancer cells. He is hopeful the FDA will give him approval to test it on patients within 60 days. After the dinner, Cagno estimated he has raised $60,000 toward his $100,000 goal. To pass along tips to Amy Scherzer, blog her at www.sptimes.com/party where you'll find more pictures, events and links, or call 226-3332.
[Last modified March 30, 2006, 14:21:30]
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