Where is Seurat when you really need him? If he had been at Frick Art & Historical Center in Point Breeze on Friday, he might have been inspired to paint "Fridays in the Park at Frick." The subject? Lovely people of all hues and ages enjoying one of Pittsburgh's gems -- the
First Fridays at the Frick Summer Concert Series.
More than 3,000 toe tappers were there with picnic baskets, lawn chairs, red-checkered tablecloths and children in tow. The mellow crowd spread out over the inviting grounds, cozied up and began toasting. Tanned legged chicks and chats navigated picnic blankets and small tea tables with elegant spreads. Martha Stewart could have inspired some of these delectables. Others partook of Cafe Frick's corn sushi, prosciutto and melon salad and amaretto peach tart. As the hubbub of dinner settled, people-watching satisfied like a cool sorbet.
Before one note rang out, everyone was raving about First Fridays. Art Baldwin, husband of Judge Cynthia Baldwin, said, "We love First Fridays. It's one of the only times I can get her to sit still." Some even competed for the title of regular. Buddies Rusty Chapman, Bobbie Knapp and Kitty Fuchs said they'd been coming for more years than they cared to admit. And who gets the prize for being the farthest from home? Kia McLean's friend Florent Weppe, visiting from France.
Tony Mowod, master of jazz sounds on WDUQ, took center stage to remind all that, yes, there's a concert, too. Clear skies and hugging humidity lulled concert goers into a liquid mood, perfect for the lyrical and caramel sounds of jazz singer Christy Baron and renowned jazz bassist David Finck.
They were a mutual admiration duo: Baron said of Finck's compositions, "I love singing David's songs. 'The Way He Captured Me' is my favorite."
Finck said of Baron, "She understands the balance between words and music." Then they let the music speak. The audience needed no interpreter. Andy Ezrin on piano and Jim Saporito on drums added to the musical repartee.
Baron, a hometown girl, studied at Carnegie Mellon University and now lives in New York. She says she loves coming home to perform. "I feel so embraced by Pittsburgh audiences." Proud parents Marion and Paul Baron were front and center to hear her sing her favorite tune, 'A House is Not a Home.' "My mother introduced me to that song," she said, and nodded to her inspiration.
The music ended on a sweet note and the crowd packed up to toddle home. It was a picture-perfect day at First Fridays at the Frick.
Finger snappers included Frick trustees Betsy Watkins with Chuck and David Barensfeld with Wendy; Frick director Bill Bodine; Sue Martin and Richard Page; Susanne and Tim Dunn; Jennifer and Nathan McDermott; Ryan Carlisano; Stacey and Ray Smith; Lee and Jerry Price; and Rickie Carter.
And all that jazz also attracted Deb and Kip Andreas; Dottie and Will Clower and daughter Grace; Jane and Robb Tuner and twins Sterling and Carlisle; June and Red Mathews; Laura and Lenny Mayefsky; Kristin Hughes and David Spear; Lynn and John Patrick; Patty and John Dorfield; Carolyn and Kirk French; and Akash Sharma.
When Sukey and John Jamison host a party at their famed Latrobe sheep farm, it’s sure to be sumptuous supping and sipping. And the Bastille Day event, benefiting the Jean-Louis Palladin Foundation, certainly raised the roof on raves.
Visiting celebrity chefs corralled the kitchen: Bill Telepan, of Telepan’s, NYC; Jimmy Sneed, of Richmond Virginia; and Chris Jackson, of Pittsburgh’s Six Penn Kitchen, were ably assisted by chef Evan Danko, cousin of San Fran’s finest Gary Danko; and Chef Erica Wides, a recent JLP Foundation intern at the farm.
Guests grazed on tubs of fois gras, buckets of soft-shell crab, exotic cheeses, serious fine wines — and, of course, platter after platter of the Jamisons' divine, all-natural lamb.
The foundation, headquartered in Bethesda, Md., honors the late France-born chef, Jean-Louis Palladin, promoting his mission of pursuing fine products and mentoring talent in his adopted USA.
Members of the Board, a who’s who of culinary stardom, came from across the country — including Foundation Director Ann Brody Cove, of Bethesda, and incoming president Clint Arthur, of Five Star Butter, Los Angeles.
Others feeding on the sensational spread: Carrie Jackson; Leah Telepan; Red Room chef Chris Bonfili and wife Jen; Eat ’n Park’s Mark Broadhurst; Mountain View Inn’s Vance Booher; Latrobe Country Club’s Jerry Palmer; and from Ligonier: Dr. Dan Vittone, Jim and Carrie Cooper and Joann & Bob Lightcap.
— Ann Haigh
The Civic Light Opera Guild Luncheon was all about star power Wednesday. Chairs Tony Bucci, on behalf of himself and Linda, Faye Sampson and Dennis Huber took well-deserved bows for raising funds for emerging young talent at this year’s CLO Pink Frolic Ball. Then they graciously shared center stage with this year’s scholarship winners (and future CLO stars?).
The LeMont was the perfect setting for 175 Guild members to show appreciation, hum a few bars and enjoy a delectable lunch. This tony crowd didn’t have to look far for superb entertainment. Scholarship winners Michael D’Emilo and Erika Pealstrom belted out tunes and confirmed they were reaching for their own stars.
Adding sparkle to the afternoon were CLO prez Arlene Sokolow; board chair Dolores Bold; scholarship winners Nicole Thomas, Zas Gorski, Nicholas Emerick and Melissa Yunchak; Bobbi Aiello; Kristin Lane; Maryann Boehm; Emily Busse; Lynne Federle; Dottie Florence and Ruth Smith; Violet Gallo; Marie Ganassi; Dani Grego; Van Kaplan; Patti Matty; Jim Mercer; and Judy Woffington.
— Karen Becket
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