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Venus de Milo prevails, from invitation to dessertBy LENNIE BENNETT © St. Petersburg Times, published May 2, 2001 By today's standards of physical perfection, she would probably feel the need for some sit-ups or maybe a tummy tuck. Her legs look a bit fleshy, even under drapes; armless, she at least would not have to worry about toning those muscles. Even so, the 2,000-year-old Venus de Milo endures as an icon of classic beauty, and she is celebrated in a new exhibition at the Salvador Dali Museum called "A Disarming Beauty" (get it?), which is full of 20th century artists' meditations on her. The opening coincided with the museum's annual dinner on Saturday evening, and what a lovely party it was. One of the most striking works in the show is Jim Dine's lime green and tomato red woodcut interpretation of the statue, reproduced on the invitation, which became the dominant colors of the floral decorations. Patrons were greeted by museum director Marshall Rousseau and by large torsos of Ms. de Milo rendered in moss and flowers by Carter's Florist in the museum lobby. In the preprandial crowd were Mayor Rick and Joyce Baker; Bill and Sally Habermeyer; Innis Irwin; Stockton and Marianne Rucker; Mike and Cathy Daley, who owns the very cool 531 Gallery on Central Avenue; John and Melanie Toppe; new board member Diane Weatherell and her mom, Katharine Ann Lake; Jack and Donna Painter; Tim and Anje Bogott; Paul and Cindi Dresselhaus; brothers Jim and Sam Newman and their wives, Terrie and Lea; Janis Albritton; Van McNeel and Sherry Rusher; Kerry and Diane Helinger; Aila McEwen (Joe was traveling on business); Roger Sherman; Russ and Nancy Bond; Cynthia Gandee; Jim and Cathy Martin; David and Lupi Coffin; Dr. Allen and Janet Root; Dr. Steve and Cathy Collins and Dr. Jim and Sunny Endicott. Gus and Frances Stavros recently returned from a fabulous cruise and Bill and Jane Emerson recently returned from Gainesville, where they celebrated the fabulously successful capital campaign for the University of Florida. He and others on the committee hoped to raise $500-million; they settled for $850-million. In a touching tribute to her late husband, museum co-founder Reynolds Morse, Eleanor Morse presented his "collar" to board president Tom James. It is a silk sash bearing the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, Spain's highest order of honor, and it bears witness to the remarkable obsession of the Morses that led to an equally remarkable collection and museum. And there was no better choice than James, an art lover and collector himself, to inherit the mantle. Some sartorial notes: Artist Richard Minck, as always, wore a new tuxedo shirt he painted in honor of the show (yep, Venus, rampant, imposed on the finely pleated front), and Helen Minck wore her beautiful South Sea pearls; Bob Ulrich looked slightly rakish without a tie and wearing a sling to protect his arm, injured in a recent fall from his bicycle; Jeannine Hascall wore over her shoulder the smallest jeweled minaudiere I have ever seen, and I forgot to ask her what she fit into it; Hazel Hough's Dali-red jacket by designer Peggy Jennings was laced and tied with wide bands of ribbon, and Suzanne MacDougald's black dress had some gorgeous beading on a sheer back panel. Mary James and Karol Bullard tie for best of show, Mrs. James in apricot silk and Mrs. Bullard in pale blue, both dresses with matching chiffon stoles that moved as if in summer breezes. If God is in the details, so is a party. Tina Douglass organized this event, as she has for years, and I always marvel at her ability to make it unique. This time, she was aided by the creativity of the Carter's crew. Tables were covered in lime green cloths and set with non-distracting clear glass plates. The centerpieces shared common materials -- red and green flowers, curly willow branches -- but every one was different. Anchoring them were red statues of Venus, which are actually small lights that will be sold in the museum gift shop (and available in other colors). The menu, she said, was back to a basic surf-and-turf concept, if you consider macadamia nut crusted sea bass with tomato and shiitake buerre blanc and a 2-inch-thick piece of tenderloin with goat cheese mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus "basic." Those were the second and third courses. The first course was a study in red: a lobster claw, a tomato stuffed with fresh mozzarella and basil and a whole crawfish that I did not eat because I didn't think the usual technique of pulling off the head and sucking the remains was appropriate at a black-tie dinner. Still, it looked great. The dessert could only be described as artful. On a plate painted lime green and dashed with raspberry puree were several tartlets, their pastry painted red and filled with fresh fruits. Presiding over them was a white chocolate Venus, also painted red. And here is the back story on the white chocolate Venus. Molded chocolate elements are popular for dessert plates and are usually ordered from specialty companies. I've seen chocolate pianos, flowers, cars, boxes, houses, you name it. Not finding a premade chocolate Venus, Mrs. Douglass and Michael's on East catering guru Phil Mancini searched for months for a mold. Disney chefs had one but would not agree to let them use it. A week before the dinner, cruising through the Dali gift shop, she spied the little rubber squeaky toys shaped like Venus popular with tourists (Dali loved the Venus image). She and Mancini dispatched one to California, overnight express, where a mold was fabricated and returned posthaste. The Michael's on East crew in Sarasota got busy turning out several hundred chocolate statues by week's end. They are so successful, more have been ordered to be sold in the gift shop during the run of the exhibition. This was quite a weekend. In addition to the Dali dinner, I attended a party for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and one hosted by the Junior League of St. Petersburg to introduce a new American Girl doll. I will report on both in my next column. SaturdayMAD HATTER'S TEA PARTY: Bring your special little girl to high tea at the St. Petersburg Museum of History. The Queen of Hearts has agreed to attend and will tell fortunes but promises not to yell "Off with her head" to anyone. You may wear hats and gloves if you wish. Mary Wyatt Allen, one of the party's organizers, tells me the traditional hard-to-find white cotton gloves may be purchased at Fun Stuff on 66th Street N and Ambria just off Beach Drive. Tea will be served beginning at 2 p.m. 355 Second Ave. NE. $50 for an adult and child. Additional children, $15. 894-1052. May 11MAMMA MIA! LUNCHEON AND FASHION SHOW: Suncoast Children's Dream Fund event with fashions from shops in Citrus Park Mall. Carrabbas Italian Grill, 700 N Dale Mabry, Tampa. $25. 892-6736.
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