Sunday in the Arts with Las Damas de Arte
The sisterhood of the wildly creative ya-yas known as Las Damas de Arte sold visual and wearable artwork by 40 members at the 29th annual Sunday in the Arts show-and-tell party, including jewelry by Peggy Graham who danced a rumba with Belinda Dumont; hand-dyed silk scarves by Carolyn Kossar; ceramic works by Kim Cummings; and fiber wraps made by Kathy Hayes. Patrons and event proceeds support art student scholarships.
Among the 200 guests browsing and buying March 24 at the Smith Black Box Theater at Tampa Prep were Georgia O'Keeffe, Frida Kahlo, Beatrix Potter, Artemisia Gentileschi and Vermeer's Girl with the Pearl Earring, cleverly portrayed by Pat Benjamin, Bobbie Schofield, Carly Johnston, Terry Willis and Brooks Reilly. Artful hors d'oeuvres included Judy and Joe Dato's pasta, Elena Cifuentes' sushi and Karen Solomon's olive and artichoke dip and more, served to the beat of Dennis Pupello's jazz artists.
Champions of Children's Top Chef
Chef Howard Adelman of Malio's Prime Steakhouse won two of three awards at Champions for Children's fourth annual Top Chef of the Year experience, beating 13 other local chefs demonstrating their culinary chops. All cooked five-course meals for the nearly 200 guests dining in groups of 12 or 15 at the $125 a ticket sellout at A La Carte Event Pavilion on March 25.
Adelman earned the highest overall score for a menu of smoked tomato bisque, Caribbean-cured salmon, ahi tuna poke, prime New York strip and double espresso panna cotta, set in a speakeasy setting by servers dressed as flappers. He also took the Top Philanthropic Chef honor for getting the most sponsorships, the highest auction package bid and a $1,000 "tip" donated in his honor by his diners. In all, the child advocate agency raised about $45,000.
Chef Parker Stafford of the Blue Water Grill at the Wyndham Tampa Westshore won Best Table Decor for a Wizard of Oz theme. His menu began with artichoke and black truffle creme brulee, house-smoked rainbow trout, and lamb lollipops, continued with lobster pot pie and short rib chop and ended with matcha green tea and key lime mousse topped with edible 23-karat gold served on emerald green plates.
Boys & Girls Clubs love New York Yankees
The legacy of support forged by the late George Steinbrenner continues for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay, following his no-fail formula for the annual team luncheon with the New York Yankees. VIPs with $1,500 tickets get the first 20 minutes of autograph time; then the $300 ticketholders swarm for 25 minutes. Only pitcher David Phelps was missing March 21 at the Tampa Convention Center. Derek Jeter's line was longest, by far, but Mariano Rivera drew hundreds of the 560 guests who helped raise $285,000 for 11,000 kids in Hillsborough and Pasco counties.
The lights dimmed as the spotlight landed on each player. Coaches and staff, too. Hal Steinbrenner, chairman of the Boys & Girls Clubs Foundation, noted their mutual goals: education, community service, health and fitness. Smith Salesian Club member's Michelle Broad's invocation asked for another World Series win. Youth of the Year Cory Poole drew a standing ovation when he credited Zonta Club programs for steering him to enlist in the Marine Corps.