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Designer Jasmine Anand, left, Kisha Jasmin and Michelle Medina pose on the red carpet wearing fashions from Jasmine’s Designs at the fifth annual India Film Festival at Carmike Cinema in Ybor CIty.
Designer Jasmine Anand, left, Kisha Jasmin and Michelle Medina pose on the red carpet wearing fashions from Jasmine’s Designs at the fifth annual India Film Festival at Carmike Cinema in Ybor CIty.
Published Sept. 11, 2015

Fifth annual India Film Festival

Actors, filmmakers and directors arrived from far and near to join the fifth annual India Film Festival, a weekend of 32 independent films, shorts and documentaries in Hindi, Bengali, English and other languages. The INDO-US Chamber of Commerce rolled out the red carpet opening night Aug. 28, screening Haraamkhor at Carmike Cinema in Ybor City. Director Shlok Sharma led the interesting Q & A that followed.

Earlier in the evening, 200 VIP movie-goers enjoyed a traditional Indian dinner buffet catered by Desi By Nature, and dancing by King High School's Desi Dhamaka.

Organizers selected "films you won't see elsewhere . . . from beyond Bollywood," said festival co-founder Francis Vayalumkal, "to get to know and understand the Indian culture and community," which in Tampa Bay numbers around 35,000.

2nd annual Dining in the Dark

Stabbing peas isn't so easy wearing a blindfold, guests discovered at the Dining in the Dark benefit the Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind. And talking with your hands? Not a good idea, said emcee and WFLA-Ch. 8 meteorologist Leigh Spann, advising the 85 diners to "memorize your place setting clockwise before you slip on the blindfold."

"Blindness is not going to slow me down" said Evan Paloumpis, speaking at the Aug. 21 event in the Coral Reef exhibit at the Florida Aquarium. The IBM network consultant availed himself of free rehab training after developing optic neuritis. "I would have been the one putting on the blindfold 39 months ago," he said, thanking Lighthouse supporters.

24th annual Feastival

Feast on these stats: nearly 1,050 samplers swarmed to the 24th annual Feastival, where nearly 40 beer, wine, spirits and restaurant merchants served edible support for the Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women. More stats came from board chairwoman Katie Everlove-Stone on expanded skilled trades training for women, from plumbing to drywall, and vibrant new teen programs.

Emcee and WTSP-Ch. 10 news anchor Reginald Roundtree rounded up Feastival co-chairs Sul Hemani and David Williams to thank sponsors helping the Aug. 27 event net $80,000. Southern Train returned to rock the stage, along with a cappella ensemble Sweet Chops, as the Super Stars, joined by Ben Older, played the VIP room at A La Carte Event Pavilion.

Crowds queued for 4 Rivers Smokehouse's barbecue and cornbread, Ducky's California kale salad, Ricky P's cajun crab bisque and the Birchwood Hotel's "movie night" Coca-Cola braised beef ribs and popcorn mashed potatoes. Many guests stopped for Copperfish's salmon provencal and to chat with owner Gordon Davis about the legacy of his mother, Helen Gordon Davis, who died earlier this year.