Amy Scherzer's Diary

Tartan Ball

Most Scottish Americans celebrated Tartan Day on April 6; the St. Andrew's Society of Tampa Bay started the festivities a wee bit early, hosting its inaugural Tartan Ball on April 4 at the Tampa Yacht Club.

Party co-chairmen Mac McLean and Skipp Fraser said it was an opportunity to tell the community about the role of the Tartans in Scottish history. Not to mention, another occasion to wear their kilts and eat haggis.

Just don't confuse tartan with plaid, which Scots call a blanket or cloth slung over the shoulder in Scotland.

Besides the traditional Scottish clans' salute, Hold High the Tartans, entertainment included bagpiper Connie Powell and aptly named Bonnie Whitehurst singing about the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond while playing the psaltery with two bows.

The Celtic Rose storytellers, Colleen Wilhite and Kathleen Jackson, accompanied by David Dempster on the fiddle, enchanted the room with their original tale, Jamie's Ghost. Guests danced into this century with the Dave Martin band, some with Scotch whisky in hand.



Jungala Gala

Zebras wore the closest thing to black-tie to the Jungala Gala. Everyone else dressed casually to explore Jungala, Busch Gardens' newest attraction. The park closed early April 4 for the first 1,000 guests to get nose-to-nose with tigers and orangutans (behind thick, thick, thick glass), with all of the $90-gala ticket sales donated to the Sea World/Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.

Wild and woolly creatures, drummers, dancers and funky power skippers bounded through the Jungala village. Harry the sloth, a kinkajou, bald eagle and assorted wildlife helped education staff spread the conservation mission. Gulfport artist Anne Andersson sold her startlingly realistic sisal lion and tiger sculptures. One-name artist Wyland drew crowds to watch him paint eye-popping animal portraits.

Feeding time for the humans lasted all night, with samples coming from a dozen restaurants such as Carrabba's, GrillSmith, Catch 23, Bernini's and Beef O'Brady's, plus beer by the boatload. At 9, Blues Traveler rocked Stanleyville Theater where an enormous Earth guarded the entry, a reminder that we all share the same planet.

August Busch III, CEO of Anheuser-Busch, owner of the theme park, left as the party was getting started. But daughter Ginny Busch, who turned 29 the next day, spoke of the work of the conservation fund she oversees. Busch Gardens general manager Donnie Mills gave her the perfect birthday present when he announced that gala ticket sales, a recent golf tournament and online auction of personalized park experiences will add $516,000 to the fund.

Red, White and Blue Bash

American Red Cross cowpokes partied patriotically at a Red, White and Blue Bash, line dancing and belting out the ballads with Country Music Award nominee Julie Roberts. The Nashville singer made friends and fans at the first-time benefit (successor to the MASH Bash) at Pepin Hospitality Center. Committee member Kevin Janiga of Winsight Marketing hit the bulls-eye by inviting her to Tampa to perform, sponsored by his former employer, Red Baron Pizza.

When they weren't dancing, 250 guests picnicked on barbecued ribeye topped with grilled shrimp and scallops, cole slaw and chocolate cake. The chowdown stopped long enough to present physician Stephen Dickey with the Vaughn Humanitarian Award for years of community service. It was presented by University of Tampa president Ron Vaughn and Darby Dickerson, chairman of the Red Cross board of directors.

Teresa Wilkins and Gina Townsend organized the silent auction, featuring a Z-10 bike donated by Trek Bicycle Store and gems from Guido Morana Jewelers. Proceeds from the March 15 party will help the Red Cross make life easier for servicemen during family emergencies.