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The Dirty Ball
Attack Theatre, the plucky, modern dance company, took a naughty idea and bent it into the red-hottest, way-coolest, sold-outest dirt cheap ($45/per) night out. Nothing majorly outrageous, mind you, just 600 of the cocktail nation having a dirtylicious time.
The fun began with a posh splash at the Cork Factory in the Strip District. Pam and Ken McCrory (his firm, McCrory & McDowell, was the lead sponsor) hosted Act 1 to celebrate Pittsburgh's ever-elusive -- get this -- Anonymous Donor ... the man who gives a stash of cash to AT and all manner of artistic and cultural groups that spark the vitality of our town. Ken entertained the gathering with Mr. Nameless' welcoming letter ... a salacious read, if there ever was one.
With pulsing energy, AT co-founders, Peter Kope and Michele de la Reza (she's preggers!) and company set the night ablaze with a high-flying outdoor performance around the fire pit to the music of, uh-huh, "Light My Fire." Luscious libations were donated by Sonoma Grill and Six Penn Kitchen, as were the vintage pours by Stan "the wine man" Lalic. Then, flashing their tattooed logos and led by two roller derby chicks, some 100 revelers rolled down the street to Pennsylvania Macaroni Company's bare-bones warehouse, which Richard Parsakian had spectacularly transformed into a decadent, pulsating disco club.
The second wave hit at 8 o'clock in a chic collision of worlds. And the playful dress code went from flashy to trashy. There was the totally draped Velvet Lounge for lizards with deep pockets, a 200-foot-long catwalk for performances, life-sized shadow boxes for striking a flirty pose, and a set-off for confessing dirty little secrets that were piped into the loo. DJs Justin Hopper and Soy Sos had the dance floor thumping with funk-rock blasts, and Dirty Burt's Traveling Western Revue took dirty dancing to the edge.
Getting down and dirty: gala chairs Lauren Bracey and Todd Owens; AT prexy Susan DiGirolamo and director Donna Goyak; Richard Rauh; Cathy Rinchetti and John Miclot; Bill Benter and gorgeous Vivian Fung; Linnea Glick; Scott Bergstein and Jessica Coup in a knockout Pucci number; Francois Bitz; Dr. Larry Leahy; Mark Broadhurst; Cindy and David Sunseri (he donated the warehouse, the darling); Nachum Golan and Steve Hough; Anna Singer and Don Kortland; Rob and Cathy Lewis Long; Clyde Jones; Becky Mingo and Dutch MacDonald; Eric and Susan Gillis Kruman in mechanic's coveralls; Harris Ferris; Dan Iddings and Dr. Manuel Reich; Lynn Figgins; George Kontos; Mark Power; Anne Chen and Gary Carlough; Tacy Byham; and Judy and Gino Como (Perry's nephew!).
| We Robots |
The force was with us at Wednesday's Carnegie Mellon University's Robot Hall of Fame induction of 'bots at the Carnegie Science Center.
More than 450 guests mingled among the replica robots from George Lucas' "Star Wars" films at cocktails. Talk about a cast of space characters -- C3PO (Anthony Daniels, who emceed), Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and the new Spock (CMU alum Zachary Quinto). They were in town for the HOF ceremony and to promote Roboworld, a high-tech permanent $3.5 million, 6,000-square foot exhibit that opens next spring at the CSC.
Among the sci-fi fans were CMU robotics director Matt Mason; CSC director Joanna Haas; Matt Mason; Shirley Saldamarco; Cleah Schlueter; Don Marinelli; Ann Metzger; Tom Flaherty; Azur Cherin; Bryan Abraham; Kim Bonenberger; Molly Schachner; Nino Balistrieri; and Doug Frederick.
-- JoAnne Harrop
| Mood Indigo |
The Pink Frolic Ball is a little blue these days, but that's a good thing. The Civic Light Opera Guild's stunning black-tie gala on May 10 at the Omni William Penn to raise funds for young musical talent in our town will have a Tiffany's theme. And if Thursday's Pink 'Tini kickoff reception is any indication, blue will be the new pink. At the elegant splash, there were indigo martinis all around for the 100 guests at the gorgeous home of honorary chairs Kathy and Joe Guyaux. And we couldn't miss the classic "Breakfast at Tiffany's" reeling on the plasma TV in the living room, as well as the turquoise gift bags to go.
Pretty in pink and blue were Guild chair Dee Bold and prexy Arlene Sokolow; ball chairs Judy Woffington, Lynne Federle and Dani Grego (with John, Michael and Al); Delphene Clemens; Linda and Tony Bucci; Ann Baldrige; Laura Kronk; Mark Lane; Patti Matty; Dr. Elliott Kramer and Bill Modrak; Norma and Dr. Michael Sobel; and Mary McVay with son Tim.
-- JoAnne Harrop
| Sounds on High |
Children's voices filled the breathtaking Mt. Washington home of Peter Karlovich and Steve Herforth on Friday for Children's Festival Chorus' View the Future. Pittsburgh's cityscape was the primo backdrop for the thrilling, goose-bump raising selections by the young voices of the CFC Talisman Choir, which rang the rafters of this manse that's become Party Central. Michael Lench provided a fabulous dine for more than 180 guests to complement vino from the stash of 1,800 bottles in the state-of-the-art wine cellar.
Before the performance, we spotted CFC artistic director Christine Jordanoff with Nicholas, board prexy Lisa Claypool and director Sharon Wolf; Janet and Gary Chace; Susan and Dr. Nicholas Loutsion; Kathy and Russell Bynum; Elaine and John Goldsmith; Carol Elsesser and David Vinski; and Jamie and Bill Sarris.
-- JoAnne Harrop
| Business With Class |
There was a very important business meeting Tuesday at the Westin Convention Center. The Spirit of Enterprise dinner and awards ceremony honored those who share their understanding of how to run a successful company with youngsters through Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania. Among the honorees were Business Hall of Fame Laureate John Ryan, CEO Mine Safety Appliances; Bob Randall, CEO of TRACO; Max King, former prez of Heinz Endowments; and American Eagle Outfitters.
Mike Langley chaired the 20th annual celebration for 260 black-ties, including JA prez Dennis Gilfoyle with Cindy, and chairman Tony Marfisi with Sharon; AEO prexy Susan McGalla with Steve; Ed Musisko; Melissa Hart; Sharon and Tony Marfisi; emcees Sonni Abata and Keith Jones of KDKA-TV; Robert Moorehead; Eileen and Tom McConomy; Colleen and Dave O'Brien; Joanne Rogers; Rita Resick and Rick Stafford; Mary Jo Tambakis; and Cindy Mori.
-- JoAnne Harrop
| All Star Auction |
The stars in "A Night of Stars and Stripes" were the alums who closed ranks 850 strong around Saturday's rip-roaring, flag-waving Viking Victory Auction. A fleet of school buses must have been pressed into service to transport the silent auction goodies that lined the byways of the Westin Convention Center ... let alone the biggies that went under the hammer to net $249,000 for Central Catholic High School, the all-lad bastion in Oakland with a following that's the envy of every school in the region.
Chaired by Mary and D.A. Steve Zappala ('75) with assists by co-chairs Dana, Duffy ('93), Stacey and Hoby ('90) Hanna, the Yankee Doodle dandy cause had everyone bidding high, wide and handsome over items like holidaying at an Italian villa for $15,000.
'Neath the grand old flag, we spotted Bishop David Zubik; CCHS principal Brother Richard ('62) Grzeskiewicz; Susan and Ron ('78) Petnuch; Jim ('54) Dunn and Jan Wagner; WQED's Michael ('80) Bartley as emcee; Colleen and Brad ('80) Totten; Rev. Jack O'Toole; Chip ('81) and Lynn Desmone; Katherine, Tighe ('66), Annie and Kirk ('79) Freyvogel; Marilyn and Paul ('58) Apostolou; Sara and Jim ('58) Wymard; David ('98) Onufer Jr.; and Kathy Lynch, who coordinated the do.
-- Jean Horne
| Family Ties |
It was a family affair at Saturday's La Roche College Founders Gala at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland where a Pittsburgh real estate dynasty was honored with the Ad Lucem Award.
Popular fixtures on the fund-raising scene, the Howard Hanna clan's generosity is as green and gold as their signs all over town. Which may explain the turnout of 370 black-ties, some of whom had to be seated in the balcony, for the elegant wine and dine. And then to dance to the refrains of the John Parker Band.
Friends and family members who attended: guests of honor siblings Hoddy Hanna III, Helen Hanna Casey and Annie Hanna Cestra (with Mary Anne, Steve, and Dennis); Annie and Gus Engel; Kelly and Patrick Riley; LRC prexy Sister Candace Introcaso; board chair Kathy Kozdemba and Bill Coyne; honorary chairs Joe and Carol Massaro; Bishop David Zubik; emcee Sally Wiggin of WTAE-TV; Jim and Suzy Broadhurst; Sarah and Andy White; Terry and Dave Lloyd; Marie and Peter Mulloney; Terry and David Petrick; Rita Fate and Bob Fragasso; Dee Bold; Dr. Elliott Kramer and Bill Modrak; and Linda and Tony Bucci.
-- JoAnne Harrop
