Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Amy Scherzer's Diary

By AMY SCHERZER Social Scene
Published September 21, 2007

How the West Was Wine

Tampa Theatre staged its sixth movie-themed tasting to a sold-out crowd Saturday, filling the historic cinema with samples from six of the bay area's finest restaurants, dozens of wines and 400 film fans. 

A few dozen patrons began early, with a witty wine seminar spurred by Michael Roberts of Vintage Wine Cellar wearing authentic cowboy spurs. He paired five Australian wines with four dishes from Mise en Place.

At 7, about 225 VIPs dressed country casual had the theater to themselves for top-shelf treats and premium wines. My favorite label: R Winery's Evil cabernet sauvignon.

At 8, another 200 devotees dived into Bonefish Grill's Bang Bang Shrimp; Capitol Grille's Kobe beef carpaccio and Michael's 717 South's miso-cured tilapia. On the stage, Salt Rock Grill served shrimp martinis as the classic film How the West Was Won filled the screen.

Bern's took over the balcony corridor to serve rainbow trout on polenta and a Southwest shepherd's pie made of barbecue shortribs on smoky mushroom potatoes and truffled sweet corn topped with pecan coleslaw. SideBern's brought mole chocolate cake with cactus coulis and blue corn pudding.

Organizers are still adding silent auction proceeds to ticket sales, but expect to net about $38,000.

42nd annual Ybor City Chamber of Commerce gala

With the first sip of sangria, the Latin social season kicked into high gear at a black-tie dinner at the Columbia restaurant Sept. 14. Members of the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce have celebrated since the mid-1960s to restore a sense of community splintered by federal urban renewal. For the past 14 years, they've also honored an Ybor devotee with the annual Cesar Gonzmart Award.

There were many familiar faces in the crowd of 150, including Mary and Manny Alvarez (1995 Gonzmart Award recipients) and Margaret and Fernando Noriega (he got it in 2001).

New faces included Shawn Robinson, president of the Hillsborough Community College-Ybor campus and Lee Martino, CEO of Colonial Bank. Also enjoying their first Ybor chamber gala: Chuck Mann and Jeff McKown of Tampa Digital Studios, and Karen Goss, a new Ybor resident.

All came to honor Adrienne Garcia, Ybor City native, executive director of the HCC Foundation and this year's Gonzmart Award recipient. The award, named for the late restaurateur and presented by his son, Casey, recognized Garcia's commitment to a revitalized Ybor as well as their enduring family friendship. Garcia holds tons of titles, from past president of the University of Florida's national alumni association to 2005 Hispanic Woman of the Year to current treasurer of the Ybor City Museum Society.

Art of Helping Children

Artist Michael Israel leaped, splattered and splashed paint on huge canvases creating portraits to rock music, then auctioning them at the ninth annual Art of Helping Children Gala benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay.

The crowd of 400 clapped and sang along to the Beatles, amazed at Israel's "art in concert." The talented showman spun the canvas to paint upside down and sideways, until John Lennon's face emerged. At $7,000, Ohio residents Marikay Buchanan and Greg Hall were high bidders and got first pick of the four portraits Israel painted Saturday night. They chose Lennon.

The Statue of Liberty appeared next, as Neil Diamond's Coming to America and James Brown's Living in America rocked A La Carte Pavilion. Tampa Police Capt. Hugh Miller, second highest bidder at $5,500, chose that one. Israel wiped his hands on his tuxedo and painted Stevie Wonder and Bono to their hit songs, and brought in $6,000 more.

Israel returns Oct. 27 for another BBBS benefit, this one at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $70 but you can get them half off on www.bbbsfl.org.

During dinner, Dick Crippen, the Michelangelo of sports, conducted the live auction of artwork, which included a Jules Burt original. Sponsors each received one of her fun martini glasses.

Organizers expect to make their goal of $100,000 for one-on-one mentoring to more than 2,200 children in Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties.

Datebook

Saturday: Mayor's Hispanic Heritage gala; 6:30 p.m.; Hyatt Regency Tampa; $70; 348-1157.

Saturday: FAMU Tampa alumni association Scholarship Gala; 6 p.m.; Doubletree Hotel, 4500 W Cypress St.; guest speaker; President James H. Ammons, $60; 879-0372.

Wednesday: Legacy Gala benefits Bay Area Legal Services; 6:30 p.m.; Higgins Hall; $60; 232-1222, ext. 156.

Sept. 27: Jules Burt Glam Ball benefits Easter Seals; 8 p.m.; Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino; $75 advance; $95 at the door; 541-3248.

Sept. 27: Ducks Unlimited banquet; 5:30 p.m.; Higgins Hall; $65 and up; 251-0961.

Sept. 29: Brunch con Brio featuring Richard Kaufman benefits Florida Orchestra Guild/Tampa; 11 a.m.; Emerald Greens Country Club, 13903 Clubhouse Drive; $50 and up; 839-0279.

Oct. 6: 20th anniversary gala with Liza Minnelli benefits the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center; 5 p.m.; dinner on Ferguson Hall stage followed by performance; $750 and up; 222-1037.

Oct. 6: National Hispanic Scientist of the Year Gala honors Dr. Louis Martin-Vega; 7 p.m.; Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E Fowler Ave.; $75, individual; $140, couple benefits MOSI YES! Team; 987-6077.e_SClBTampa Theatre staged its sixth movie-themed tasting to a sold-out crowd Saturday, filling the historic cinema with samples from six of the bay area's finest restaurants, dozens of wines and 400 film fans.

[Last modified September 20, 2007, 07:46:56]