Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Ebony Fashion Fair's Glam Odyssey draws crowd to Mahaffey

By Times Staff Writer
Published February 10, 2008

02.04.08   

It's hard to beat the Ebony Fashion Fair for energy and style. Glam Odyssey, the 50th anniversary show, drew hundreds of patrons to St. Petersburg's Mahaffey Theater to benefit community projects of the Zeta Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

And what a show it was, as always, featuring professional models and dynamic styles, even some couture fashions from internationally known designers, among them Anna Sui, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Lacroix, Thierry Mugler and Carolina Herrera.

Jada Collins, a onetime Fashion Fair model, is in her eighth year as its commentator.

The show travels throughout the country and raises thousands of dollars for charity each year.

Christa Bruning chaired the St. Petersburg event committee, aided by co-chairwoman Wileen Weaver, Joyce Bell, Lisa Brody, Janice Byrd, Teresena Wise Bryant, Debora Dandridge, LeAnn Elliott, Deborah Figgs-Sanders, Crystal Pruitt, Denise Smith, Mary Stephens, Ann Tellis, Joyce Thornton, Anita Truitt, Lena Wilfalkand Cassandra Williams.

02.05.08

The St. Petersburg home of Estelia and Reginald Mesimer took on a New Orleans look for PARC's second annual Mardi Gras celebration.

Longtime supporter and grand marshal Carol Holland, attending with her husband, Langston, led a parade of PARC supporters through a big tent on the grounds, and patrons were treated to beads, masks hand-decorated by PARC clients, and abundant food and entertainment options, including a stilt walker, palm and tarot-card readers, and a handwriting analyst.

There were even boxes of beignet and jambalaya mix for guests to take home.

Partygoers included Bert Muller, who led PARC for 35 years; his wife, Jean; Jerry and Thelma Gilbert; Eric and Lisa Branson; and David and Linda Punzak.

Mrs. Mesimer was on the event committee along with PARC's president and chief executive SueBuchholtz,Elaine Buchholtz, Linda Armstrong,Lisa Blackburn, Leslie LeGros, Michael Walters, Kim Waag and Suzan Decker-Ross.

02.05.08

Also celebrating Mardi Gras were members of Infinity, the league to aid abused children and adults, who raise money for Brookwood Florida Central, Community Action Stops Abuse and Help A Child.

A lively group of models showed fashions from Marion's and Ambria's Gallery of Wearable Art at a luncheon held in the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.

Joann Barger and Candy Scherer cochaired the event, helped by a committee that included Infinity president Nora Pearson, Deborah Belcher, Betty Bowley, Hugh Ann Cason-Kelly, Fern Clayton, Roseanna Costa, Karen Dean McCollum, Bobbie Gilgosch, Priscilla Hobby, Joyce Larson, Dot McCarthy, Maggi McQueen, Paula Park, Sally Poynter, Barbara Royston, Mary Shuh, Connie Smith, Edie Spies, Diane Winning and Barbara Wiseman.

[Last modified February 9, 2008, 23:04:52]