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Amy Scherzer's diary

Amy Scherzer's Diary

A look at what's been happening

By AMY SCHERZER
Published September 29, 2006

Beauty & Brains

A ballroom full of smartly dressed Pan American University Women and their guests saluted 67 years of giving back to the community with a fall fashion show Sept. 16 at the Tampa Marriott Westshore.

"Latino student scholarships, that's our heart and soul," said president Angela Gould, noting members, mostly teachers, must be of Latino descent and hold a university degree.

In addition to student funding, four charities will receive about $1,000 each: Judeo Christian Health Clinic; Children's Cancer Center; Ybor City Museum Society; and Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).

Joann Torretta Guagliardo of First Impressions Image and Modeling Studio invited some of her students to join the members modeling fall fashions from Talbot's and Cache Luxe at International Plaza and Strasburg Children store at WestShore Plaza.

Court of ruffs and cuffs

Each table was named for a play at Grace Goes to Broadway, hosted by Ye Loyal Krewe of Grace O'Malley on Sept. 16 at Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club. Members dressed and decorated their luncheon table to represent their Broadway theme, including co-chairs Lucy Love and Suzie Glisson, who dressed for Miss Saigon. Grease guests set their table with album covers as place mats. Karen Wells, current head of the krewe as O'Malley XIV, held court at the Broadway-bound musical Pirate Queen table.

Upon arriving, each guest was asked if they felt "Wicked good" or "Wicked bad." Later, the Wicked table offered those bad witches a chance to be good by making a $10 donation. That raised more than $1,000 for the Ophelia Project, the club's charity of the year chosen by Nancy Laskowitz, winner of the annual Aleta Goodson Award.

After lunch, members modeled their costumes and fashions from Georgette's of Hyde Park Village.

$tyle show

How do you get 700 very busy women to find time to spend several hours at a lunch and fashion show, including 60 who paid $1,000 for a seat? You just don't say no to the Tampa Bay Hotel Preservation Partnership. Organizers of the third Silhouettes of Style luncheon easily sold out the Sept. 19 luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Tampa and will share proceeds with the H.B. Plant Museum Society and the Chiselers.

Here are three secrets of their success, compiled during lunch with Betty Carroll and her tablemates. First, Beverly Austin raised nearly $30,000 by challenging her friends to ante up $1,000 a ticket. Each of the 12 at her table found a stuffed Republican elephant next to their plate as a token of her appreciation.

Secondly, Neiman Marcus' red carpet runway production was the real deal, elegant and extravagant. The shirtless male models made one guest wonder aloud, "Don't they sell shirts at Neiman's anymore?" Leggings, gigantic purses and furs prevailed before a formal velveteen finale. I loved seeing the classic little black dress done in a dozen ways.

Thirdly, Elaine Newman's leadership. She's chaired more fashion shows than she can count. Her renowned attention to detail helped take in close to $200,000 and netted more than $120,000 for preservation of Tampa's 1891 landmark.

Joe Petrillo, general manager of Lexus of Tampa Bay, a $10,000 sponsor, enjoyed the afternoon so much he pledged involvement for "many years to come."

DATEBOOK

TODAY: Glitz and Sticks Celebrity Casino benefits Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation and Tampa General Hospital; 7 p.m.; St. Pete Times Forum; $250; 301-6590.

TODAY: Ybor City Chamber of Commerce Gala; 6:30 p.m.; Columbia Restaurant; $85 or $160 per couple; 248-3712, ext. 22.

SATURDAY: Art for Life auction benefits Project Return and St. Joseph's Comprehensive Research Institute; 7 p.m. Higgins Hall; $30 in advance, $35 at the door; 990-8981, ext. 1.

WEDNESDAY: Key to the Cure kick-off shopping cocktail party benefits women's reproductive cancer research at Moffitt Cancer Center; 6-9 p.m.; Saks Fifth Avenue; $50; 745-4327.

OCT. 7: Artists & Writers Reunion Ball; 8 p.m. Cuban Club; $35 in advance, $45 day of event; www.artistsandwritersball.com.

OCT. 12: Eighth annual Celebration of Hope Gala benefits Florida Prostate Cancer Network; 6 p.m.; Hyatt Regency Tampa; $150; 806-2800.

OCT. 13: Fur Ball benefits Big Cat Rescue; Roaring '20s theme; 6:30 p.m.; A La Carte Pavilion; $125; 889-7244.

[Last modified September 28, 2006, 12:10:48]