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Amy Scherzer's diary

Around the town

By AMY SCHERZER
Published May 26, 2006

CATTLE BARONS' BALL

SUNSET RODEO: Swapping black tie and heels for blue jeans and boots felt so good for 550-plus guests kicking back at the ninth annual Cattle Barons' Ball on Saturday. The casual crowd corralled auction deals, played poker and blackjack, lassoed liqueur bottles on the Midway, and ate gourmet chow catered by Rita Carlino at Port of Tampa's Cruise Terminal No. 3.

Cattle Barons' Ball fundraisers originated in Texas more than 20 years ago; Gloria Giunta grabbed hold of the idea in 1997 and organized Tampa's version. She expects this year's bronco-buster to net $500,000 for the American Cancer Society.

"She eats, drinks and sleeps Cattle Barons, 36 hours a day,'' said her husband, Richard Giunta. Chairwoman Nikki Stewart, a financial planner, was key in getting information about the ball online. Also on the team: honorary chairs, Naida and TECO Energy chief operating officer John Ramil, who recently spent two months at Harvard Business School. Their son, Chris Ramil, decorated TECO's hobby horse, Raging Kilowatt, one of 18 sponsored for $1,000 each to race across the dance floor.

While Dave McKay of WQYK-99.5 FM hollered out the name of bidders in the "live" silent auction, Kelly Ring of WTVT-Ch. 13 and Jack Harris of 970 AM enlisted Ron Weisser to help pitch a trip to his Colorado Rockies home and airfare. It sold to Barb and Gil Gans for $7,000. Carl Lindell donated his Santa Fe home for a week, with transportation in Don Phillips' private jet. That was a steal at $13,000 for Sam and Terri Ellison. Weisser also helped lasso donors to send 50 children with cancer to Reaching Out to Cancer Kids summer camp at a cost of $1,000 per child per week.

STORYBOOK BALL

ENCHANTING: Derrick Brooks, a true prince, granted a $50,000 wish at Sleeping Beauty, Ronald McDonald House Charities' seventh annual Storybook Ball on Saturday. The Tampa Bay Bucs linebacker donated the community grant to All Sports Community Services to help send young athletes to college.

Busch Gardens lent a lively cast of jugglers, jesters and troubadours to entertain 550 guests during the silent auction at A La Carte Pavilion. Plushest item: bed linens, including 1,000-count sheets donated by L'Elegance Fine Linens, which sold for $3,300. In all, the ball raised more than $250,000 for the three area Houses to shelter pediatric patients' families.

Chairwoman Linda Miller staged the $300-per-ticket Renaissance dinner in elegant shades of crimson, cinnamon and pewter. Singer Liz Hollister ended the evening rocking on stage with the band Hologram.

SALON AND SPA OPENS

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE: Stylists Candido Llano and Robert Gandarilla's clients waited two years for the opening of CR La Mansion Salon and Spa on Azeele Street. On May 19, some 300 devotees of the scissor maestros celebrated with a giant paella and salsa music at the 1935-brick house converted to sleek salon.

"Some have been coming for 30 years,'' Llano said. He knows the names of their husbands, lovers, children and pets, and "holds their intimate secrets like a tomb.'' The pair each styles 20 customers a day, said Llano, beaming at regulars such as Rhea Law, Judy Genshaft, Olga Forsythe and Michele Williams, "an every fourth Wednesday'' steady.

The owners introduced some of their staff, including Celeste Ragano, Amy Arado, Hector Adorno and Judith Perez, as well as Guido Morana Jeweler sisters Marisella Docobo and Marietta Maniscalco, who opened a boutique in the salon.

Guests could buy $10 tickets for a chance to win a limo ride to the salon for a beauty day. The hosts collected $1,300, which they turned over to the Spring.

TUXES AND TAILS

CANINE CHIC: The Humane Society of Tampa Bay celebrated the Year of the Dog at its fourth annual Tuxes & Tails fashion show and auction May 13. The Chinese calendar inspired chairwomen Meredith Balasco, Margaret Cannon and Danielle Wright-Landry to offer a trip to China in the auction and doggie fortune cookies for the four-legged guests.

The ever popular duo, Debra Schrils and Brian Fasulo, formerly of WFLA-Ch.8, reunited to emcee at the Westin Harbour Island Hotel. Models with their pet or fluffy "adoptables" from the Humane Society included Linda Hogan and daughter Brooke, who represented Hulk Hogan's family, bachelorette Mary Delgado, artist Jules Burt, former WFTS-Ch. 28 reporter Robin Guess and other dog lovers. The $125-per-ticket sellout raised more than $85,000.

SEA GRAPES

NO WAITING: A smaller crowd, 400 plus, meant guests didn't pack the Florida Aquarium like sardines at the fifth annual Sea Grapes tasting party May 13. Channelside eateries Stumps, Tinatapas, Howl at the Moon and Splitsville set up buffets to support their neighbor, and dessert came from the Melting Pot. Premier Beverage donated 50 kinds of wine to enjoy at wine barrel cocktail tables.

Singer Don Juceam impersonated Frank Sinatra and Late Night Brass played outside Explore A Shore. While attendance neared 800 in past years, Sea Grapes organizers were pleased to raise $57,000 for education and veterinary programs.

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 May 26, 2006, 10:40:21]