Larger text
Smaller text
Print
E-mail
Fanfare: Greek Revival
The crowd moved to the taverna in the balcony and stepped up to the third-floor rehearsal hall which had morphed into a supper club. From niches that lined the room, richly costumed Greek gods looked down on buffet tables groaning under Rania's Catering real-deal dishes ... and everywhere we heard shouts of opa and yazu! Does it sound like fun? Well, it was. Because the Greeks have a word for that, too.
Wednesday was also director Ted Pappas' night, thanks to co-producers Electra and Jim Agras, Kathy and Dr. Chris Balouris, Kathe and Jim Patrinos and a mighty Aphrodite committee who pulled their chits to sell out the house. Greeks have an eye for beauty, a penchant for drama and a hot line to the classics -- none more so than in this spellbinding season opener that defines theater noir.
Afterward over baklava and more dancing, we spotted PPT prez Stuart Miller and Linda; Anthea and George Kachulis; Nadine Bognar; Denise and Paul Skoutelas; Scott Bergstein; Penny and Gus Georgiadis; Athena and Frank Sarris; Megan and Matt Dooley; Debbie and Dr. Brian Jewell; Irene Katres; Kevin and Kristen McMahon; Jan and Charles Petredis; Susan and Anthony Zikos; Connie and Benno Bernt; George Yamilis; Annie and Barry Sullivan; George Zaras; Jan and Charles Petredis.
Plus Audrey Fisher; Catherine Loevner; Beverly Harlich; Dr. Michael Lotze; Adrienne and Ken Ashtari; Beth and George Rangos; Catherine and Gordon Seaman; Jane and Tasso Katselas; Janet and John Conomos; Athena Mahramas; Fran and Dr. Tony Gialamas; Susan Loutsion; Sandra and Chris Passodelis; and Dolly and Judge Gus Kwidis.
| Anniversary Waltz |
The lights were burning brightly at the posh Pittsburgh Golf Club in Squirrel Hill for the swelegant gala marking the 50th anniversary of the Hopital Albert Schweitzer Haiti. "On my trips to Haiti," said Dr. Rick Shannon, "I found three types of healers: those who heal the body, those whose gifts heal the spirit and those, like our honorees Terri and Chris Snavely (of Snavely Forest Products), who are healing Mother Nature."
After visiting the hospital and inspecting its ravaged hillside, Chris Snavely began a reforestation project to reclaim the land by planting over 1,300 Paulownia trees ... "trees that grow so fast you can almost hear them growing," he delighted in telling the crowd.
HAS has a powerful Pittsburgh legacy. Founded in 1956 by the late Dr. Larimer and Gwen Grant Mellon and named for their friend, this amazing hospital cares for 300,000 people in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Friday night raised over $175,000 to continue their dream. HAS is dear to many in the crowd of 250 who, after volunteering or visiting at their own expense, return home with a passionate dedication to its mission.
The club held to its own high standards and delivered terrific buffets of shellfish, smoked salmon, racks of lamb, beef filets and pastas in a setting that Tim Condron glammed to iridescent perfection with divine orchids everywhere. Verna's Caribbean Vibes played at cocktails, the John Hughes Quintet -- with Jim Armstrong and Mary Kay Twargowski -- added a jazzy beat for dining and then Cityscape drew everyone to the dance floor.
Let's name drop: Friends of HAS prexy Lucy Rawson and Ian (Gwen's son); HAS CEO Dr. Venkita Suresh and Raji in a stunning sari; Farley and Josh Whetzel; Debbie Dick; Lou and Henry Gailliot; Susan and David Fitzsimmons; Peggy and Steve Snavely; Bill Simpson; Audrey and Tim Fisher; Dr. Esther Barrazone; Ranny and Jay Ferguson; Alec Mellon and Cathy Brentzel; Natalie and Dr. Bill Hoffman; Karen and Tim Slevin; Caryle and Mark Glosser; Nadine Bognar; Susan and Tom Schmidt; Mary Caroline and Tod Hunt; Rachel and Peter Stephaich; and Audrey and Tom Hilliard.
As well as Otto Chu; Pat and Alan Siger; Susan Nernberg; Joanie and Sam Kamin; Kitty Hillman and Richard Burkland; the Desmones: Jeannie and Luke with Lynn and Chip; Jenny Grant (Gwen's daughter); Judi Collins; Gil and Dr. Frank Hurite; Mimi Priselac and Ralph Falbo; Jamini Davies; Cynthia Carrow and Jim Kyper; Dr. Laura Pallan and John Tippins; Anne and Jim Burnham; Marsetta Schweiger; Bill Graner; Ann and Alison Wardrop; Fran and Jim Abraham; Minnette Seate; Kweilin Nassar; and Maria and Goerdt Abel.
| Swing Time |
They were jumping eight to the bar at Hunt Amory during Saturday's Boogie Woogie Bash, the swingingest soiree this side of V-E Day. Marshalling the troops to benefit the Visiting Nurse Foundation, director Dotti Bechtol (with John) unveiled the organization's new name -- the Health Hope Network -- as 280 guests saluted Florence Nightingale Award honoree Yvonne Cook of Highmark. And event planner Laurie Streiner earned her stripes with a USO dance-hall theme that had GI Joes and Janes jitterbugging to the sounds of the Trinity Little Big Band.
While the assembled troops sampled lites bites and placed bids on silent auction goodies, we spotted board chair Fred Egler and Kathy Buechel; Sara and David Scaife; singer B.E. Taylor and Veronica; Kaye Wentling and Richard Spring; Diane Mohr with Bob Fragasso; Lynne Figgins; Richard Bryan; Frank Spagnolo; Sylvia Fabrizi and Dick Krenz; Dr. Karen Rozycki and Neil Morrow; Helen and Larry Collins; Linda and Jay Thier; and Sandy and Bill Woncheck.
-- John Altdorfer
| Big Apple Style |
Thursday's top premiere debuted at Oakmont's Art Deco screen gem Oaks Theater, where 300 fashionistas turned out for a "New York State of Mind" catwalk benefit for the Alzheimer's Association. Hosted by Carol Kinkela, the generous owner of Carabella, the show spotlighted fall and winter looks by Manhattan-based designer JR Morrissey (with Lauri DeJong). And this rookie event certainly touched all the bases as it raised nearly $30,000.
During the pre-show nosh on Allegheny River Boulevard, we sighted such fashionables as Alzheimer's prez Diane Balcom; Meg Burkardt; Marijo Crowe; Erica Zappala; Teri Soffer; Carol Massaro; Mary Molyneaux; Linda Cost; Peggy Christmas; Ellen Marcus; Karen Petrucelli; Peter Karlovich and Steve Herforth; Jill and Al Valentine; Leslie Dunn; and Maryanne Barnes, who won an "all you can wear on your body shopping spree" at Carabella.
-- J. A.
| Powerful Vision |
Would you remember the color blue if blindness struck? That's the type of question kids ask Sally Hobart Alexander, who lost her sight in her mid-20s. Now an author and instructor at Chatham College, she inspired 250 ladies (and a gent or two) with her tale of refusing to surrender to a life of darkness during Thursday's Vision of Hope Luncheon at the Pittsburgh Field Club.
As always, this midday fashion fete helps fund programs provided by St. Lucy's Auxiliary to the Blind, which will host the Medallion Ball at the Pittsburgh Hilton, Nov. 24. Enjoying the new fall looks from Dreams Do Come True Boutique were benefit chair Lisa Rulis Ross; co-chair Mary Ann Wilson; SLA prez Regina Callahan; Judy Linaburg; Diana Bills; Julie Uram; Roseanne Wholey with sister Marianne Gladstone and mom Thelma Ruggiero; Annie Hanna Cestra; Laura Kronk; Annie Engel; Lynelle Young; and Julia Gleason.
-- J. A.
