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Fall Sparkler
The promise of floral fireworks, paired with a wowsa wine taste and chocolate, my sweet, had 400 avant gardeners sipping, grazing and touring our twinkling Victorian crystal palace in Schenley Park at Wednesday's splendid Wines Under Glass Sparkler. And especially splendid at having raised $100,000 for Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens' green mission.
An island of calm and beauty with benches for resting in these fast-forward times, Phipps was ablaze with a flowering inferno of 2,611 showy specimums at its Fall Flower Show that closed yesterday. Not only was everything coming up chocolate, the show teemed with playful pink flamingos! Planting tongues firmly in cheeky chocolate, the Serpentine Room had been transformed into a spa with shower-capped flamingos splashing in a cocoa bean scrub. Why, the yard birds even surrounded a breathtaking chocolate tea party table set for Mme. Bittersweet, Mlle. Truffle and other bon-bon vivants.
Chamber music wafted over the celestial ambiance as we wended down through the Tropical Forest and into the party spaces that opened to the outdoor terrace on the balmy eve. There were frissons of excitement over exquisite Tiffany bijoux that were captured by several lucky key buyers, but it was the mountains of lordy-I've-met-my-maker Sarris Chocolates that created the most buzz.
If life is like a box of chocolates, we saw enough R-rated temptations for several lifetimes. And then some. You did guess that those sweethearts, Frank and Athena (sparkling in a mocha gown and suite of diamonds that stopped traffic!) Sarris, were the eve's honorary chairs, didn't you?
Clos La Chance Winery sommeliers were pouring reserve vintages that spirited us from the truly impressive (what else would you call a Tiffany lamp and Chihuly glass sculpture?) collection of silent auction items to the buffets and then to the dance floor to trip the night fantastic to the swinging Boilermaker Jazz Band.
Here and there among the green thumbs were event chair Eve Ferraro with Dr. Frank and vice-chair Cate Linn; Phipps board chair Dr. Joe Lagana with Lynn and director Richard Piacentini with brother Kevin Piacentini (his firm donated the vinos!); honoree Bernita Buncher with Bill Fetter; Joy and Dr. Tom Starzl; Tiffany's Tracy Weigand; Ginny and Dick Simmons; Carole and Dan Kamin; Bob Fragasso; Gail and Greg Harbaugh; Catherine Loevner and daughter Dianna; Paul Spencer; Chuck Brodbeck and daughter Christy; Sue Colaizzi; Dr. Jane and Larry Breck; Judy Linaburg; Dr. Elliott Kramer and Bill Modrak; Lisa and Dr. Fadi Lakkis; Drs. Barbara and Al Biglan.
Plus Veronica and Lou Guarino; Marina Lehn; Barbara and Dr. David Adelson; Jennifer and Dr. Wallis Marsh; Cecile and Eric Springer; Michael and Beth Kuhn (she won a Tiffany necklace!); Karen Oberg; Rose and Dr. Mike Kutsenkow; Mernie Berger; Lowrie Ebbert; Ruth Garfunkel; Nancy Scarton; Jennifer Grafe and Joe Salandra; Beth Goldstein; Ruby and Dr. Jim Kang; Silvia and Alex Speyer; Violet and Judge Bob Gallo; Greg DuFour; Jim Stalder; Barbara and Dr. Marion Vujevich; Susie and Dan Skoloda; Drs. Kristina and Peter Gersten; and Attila the mum.
| Heavy Petting |
Animal Friends, Pittsburgh's welcoming refuge in the North Hills, was putting on the dog, cat and bunny at Black Tie & Tails. From the flurry of bubbles at the Circuit Center barking lot to the formal frills on their pawsitively precious charges, Saturday's bow-wow bash had a record litter of 500 guests chuckling that "Pets Make Us Laugh," the eve's theme song.
In the ballroom, razzle-dazzlingly lit with geometric circles as designed by Michael Jacobs of Blooms, black-ties mingled with pets in search of a new leash on life over cocktails and the Fluted Mushroom's purr-fectly catered graze, bid on high-ticket treats, wagged to Cityscape's terrific 21-piece orchestra ... and raised the woof at $313,000. Because that's what Friends are for.
Among the top dogs and cool cats, we spotted co-chairs Dorothy Boyer, Gina Carlos and Cindy Russell; AF chair Marleen Ashton and Jim; Bob Fragasso and Victoria Berdnik; AF prez David Swisher and Patty; Bonnie and Tom VanKirk; U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan and Tom; Paul Gitnik; Rosemary and Howard Loevner; Evelyn Wedner; Kathleen Beaver, divine in purple; Sarah McKean and PJ Maloney; Susan and Dan Steele; and John Weinstein.
| Innovation Pittsburgh |
Heinz History Center's Andy Masich put a lens down on the history of our country and was hard-pressed to find anywhere that would provide as many aspects of our history from the earliest of time to the present day as Pittsburgh. To wit, in one utterly marvelous, totally comprehensive sweep, the HHC mounted Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation, which previewed Friday at a smashing, all-things-Steel City cocktail party.
Here's fun: In the Great Hall that rocked to the red-hot jam of Dr. Nelson Harris and Etta Cox, a Big Mac Great Eats stand served mini Macs and Isaly's dished chipped chopped ham, vanilla shakes and banana splits. Truth be told, John Barsotti's Common Plea Catering was responsible for every scrumptious morsel, including the colossal shrimp, lamb chops and filet with Heinz Ketchup and Mustard on the side.
An idea of the who's: forever-grand party sponsor Nadine Bognar; patron chair Bev Elliott with Steve; Michelle and Charles Bitzer; Christine and Frederick Thieman; Audrey and Tim Fisher; Ruth Anne and Ralph Papa; Julian Neiser; Laura and Dr. Aris Candris; Barbara and Albert Neupaver; Ann and Frank Cahouet; Lora and Perry Sigesmund; Bonnie Walker, who orchestrated the fab do; George Westinghouse IV with George M. Westinghouse ... and you can be sure they jetted in for a family reunion.
| Doing the Most Good |
With the familiar jingle of brass bells, The Salvation Army recognized outstanding acts of volunteerism during their inaugural Doing the Most Good Dinner at the Sheraton Station Square on Thursday, where Majors Robert and Lynette Reel welcomed 450 supporters of the red kettles.
Although Steelers great Hines Ward was deservedly tapped with the Project Bundle-Up award for his work in providing needy kids and seniors with winter coats, guest speaker and "The Today Show's" famed weatherman Al Roker (was he to thank for bringing the glorious weather?) starred as the evening's main attraction. Taking us along for an entertaining drive down memory lane, he joked that as a child, his hearty size "could withstand hurricanes!"
Saluting the red, white and blue were honoree Gary Brown; emcee Julie Bologna; Marcy Slonker; Darieth Chisolm; Ray and Cathy Carter; Patricia Rooney; Lynn and Charena Swann; Joe DeNardo; Steven Bushee; John Payne; Lisa and Peter Germain; Rev. Ricky Burgess; and Mike Wagner.
-- Kate Guerriero
| Power Players |
They come from different backgrounds, different walks of life. But three impressive, on-the-go women who have made a major impact on the law, opera and sports came together to be honored as Women of Distinction in the stunning new Power Center ballroom on Duquesne University's campus.
Staged by a remarkable roster of role models hailed as the DU Women's Advisory Board, 230 black-ties at Saturday's elegant Power Ball 2008 saluted Judge Joy Flowers Conti, Olympic medalist Suzie McConnell-Serio and world-renowned mezzo-soprano Marianne Cornetti.
After a delicious wine and dine, the party hit a high note as Marianne wowed us with a thrilling aria from Giuseppe Verdi's "Il Trovatore."
DU prez Dr. Charles with Judge Sandra Dougherty toasted the $50K windfall for student scholarships and programs, as did Mary Adele and John Krolikowski; Janet and David Pappert; Kathleen and John Connelly; Nadine Bognar; Lilli and Dr. Michael Nieland; Dean Ed Kocher and Kamie Schoonhoven; and Sue and Bill Reilly.
-- K. G.
| New & Ideal |
Out with the old, in with the new! The Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre raised the curtain on their "New & Ideal" 2009 season with Plato, Pate & Pinot on Thursday at LeMont, where angels and thespians waxed philosophic. "It's impossible to ponder Plato without the Pinot," chimed one merry-maker.
Indeed, 'twas a cast of 150 characters mingling elbow to elbow, admiring the bright lights of our big city. And, while the invitation encouraged "inventive" cocktail attire, the ladies opted instead for a black-is-the-new-black look.
PICT co-founders Stephanie Riso and Andrew Paul (with his twinkly adorable Cristine) graciously bowed to bravos from board prez Bruce Hill; Richard Rauh; Dione and Chris Cahillane; Michael and Obie Ramsay; Dave and Pearl Figgins; Anne Shearon; Mark Whitehead; Natalie and Jonathan Shirer; Raymond and Anne Hasley; Alan and Margie Baum; and David and Naomi Walden.
-- K. G.
