Black Tie & Tales

+ Bride keeps wedding party all in the family
When Crystal Hansen walks down the aisle as maid of honor at her mom’s wedding next month, there will be no question whose daughter she is. Crystal is an assistant state attorney for the 6th Judicial Circuit in and for Pinellas County. She graduated from Stetson University College of Law in May 2009. In fact, Gulfcoast Community Foundation CEO Teri Hansen and her betrothed, Steve Wilberding, are planning a small, family wedding and a 100% family wedding party. Ashley Wilberding, Steve’s daughter, will be matron of honor, and Van and Beau Wilberding will attend their father as groomsmen.

+ Flora, Flora, Flora!
Lady-about-town Flora Major spent most of the summer in New York City but returned to Sarasota with a bang Monday, Nov. 9. She was quickly out and about. Sunday, Nov. 15, Flora was at the season-opener brunch for the Sarasota Orchestra, where she is a board member and an event committee member as well. Monday was her welcome-back luncheon at Michael’s Wine Cellar. Organizer Dottie Baer Garner started off with a list of about a dozen of Flora’s nearest and dearest, which quickly grew to a crowd of nearly 40 who were regaled with tales of the honoree’s summer adventures, which, unfortunately, included a bad bout with a ruptured appendix. Tuesday evening, she was one of the hostesses of a private party in the same venue. One heck of a first week back, especially because she is in the midst of moving from her former Ritz-Carlton hotel residence to her new condo in the Ritz Towers.

+ The right pick
Kathy Halenda performed her “Brassy Broads of Broadway” show for the Jewish Housing Council Thursday, Nov. 19, at The Fête Ballroom. As part of her first act, she needed to select a man from the audience strong enough to hold her in his lap. Not having the slightest idea who he was, she picked Iain Webb, director of Sarasota Ballet. The audience, of course, recognized him instantly, adding enormously to its enjoyment of the scene. Imagine Kathy’s surprise when she asked him to dance with her. The best laughs of the week!

“Brassy Broads” was a happy occasion on any measure. It was the first of a series of annual cabaret events, according to Director of Resource Development Jeremy Lisitza. It drew a sell-out crowd of nearly 200 guests to benefit the capital campaign to build a skilled nursing facility. And Jewish Housing Foundation Council Board President Jerry Levinson got to announce a major donation that means it will be called the Benderson Family Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He also reminded the crowd that the capital campaign still needs $750,000 — and already has a waiting list for its yet-to-be-built accommodations.

+ BT tidbits
 She said ‘yes!’ … Two of the stars of the Asolo Rep’s recent hit, “Contact,” Ariel Shipley (“Girl on Swing”) and Fletcher McTaggart (“Michael Wiley”), recently got engaged. While Shipley was about to go on stage as understudy of the “Girl in Yellow Dress” role last week, McTaggart proposed in the wings of the theater. He had planned to propose after the show, but just couldn’t wait. He reports that she responded, “Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes!” ... Where’s Cliff? ... Cliff Roles is busy performing through Nov. 29 in “Run for your Wife” and “Caught in the Net,” the British farces at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre … Celebrating the life of Janet Kane …Friends will remember and celebrate her extraordinary life 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at Michael’s On East. Daughter Betsy Kane Hartnett says, “Dress smart, not somber ... Janet would have wanted it that way.” RSVP required to [email protected] …