Black Tie & Tales

+ A tasty recipe for great friendship
More than 160 guests delighted in a spectacular sunset Nov. 3 at Marie Selby Gardens during “A Taste of Friendship,” which raised more than $10,000 for the Center for Healthy Aging clinics at Senior Friendship Centers. Last year, the clinics provided medical and dental services to more than 4,000 lower income and uninsured patients and demand is running about 15% higher this year. Mattison’s, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Jason’s Deli, Nancy’s Bar-B-Q and Word of Mouth provided food for grazing; doctors Bob and Pat Gussin provided Villa Marie Wine from their New Zealand vineyard for sipping. Sunny O’Flynn, JoAnn Nevins and Ingrid Bookbinder-Keating were event chairwomen.

+ NCJW names 2012 Women in Power
National Council of Jewish Women Sarasota-Manatee 30th annual Women in Power Luncheon Co-Chairwomen Nina Japhe and Janet Stollman have announced the honorees for the luncheon to be held Jan. 18. They are: Margaret Callihan, president and CEO of SunTrust Bank, Southwest Florida; Betsy Kane–Hartnett, co-founder and executive director of Forty Carrots Family Center; Eva Slane, retired theatrical agent, philanthropist and non-profit theater supporter; and Anne Weintraub, attorney, advocate and real-estate educator. To receive an invitation, call 342-1855.

+ Tidbits
Boots made for oohing and aahing … thigh-high python Christian Louboutins on Sandy Sembler at Wine, Women & Shoes Luncheon Nov. 4. Ten years ago, you would not have seen these in Sarasota … Looking back … Robert Nelson and his late wife, Bette, put together the investment group that started WXLT TV-40 (now WWSB) back in 1971 and sold it in 1986. Alumni of the original operation recently joined Nelson at Mattison’s City Grille to reminisce and celebrate the station’s 40 years. Among them: long-time news anchor Bob Keehn, weather man Steve Newman, sportscaster Ron Jackson and engineer Dan Lunin … Happy Birthday … to Annette Grishman, who recently celebrated 85 surrounded by all three of her daughters … Speedy recovery … to Dottie Baer Garner, recuperating from successful surgery at Sarasota Memorial Hospital … Le beaujolais nouveau est arrivé … rather, it will arrive on schedule the week before Thanksgiving and be celebrated at a Fête du Beaujolais Nov. 17, at Maison Blanche restaurant on Longboat Key. The event benefits the James Beard Foundation; for details, call 383-8088.

+ Mote notes from ‘Oceanic Evening’
Event Chairwoman Judy Graham was telling everyone that she acquired her fetching chapeau noir from Bonwit-Teller … 35 years ago. And she and Stephanie Shaw were wearing identical pink boas for the perfectly good reason that they had shopped for them together. Shaw and hubby, Stan Pastor, were at the event with Peggy and Ken Abt after going their separate ways the previous evening: the Abts to the ballet opening night, the Shaw-Pastors to the opera opening night. Their reviews of both: “Fabulous.” And the talk of the crowd were the four baby sharks born at the aquarium early in the morning of the party.

+ Black Tie Affair
American Jewish Committee
Civic Achievement Award Dinner • 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 • Michael’s On East
• Ticket $175; sponsor $500 • Reservations, call 365-4955

The AJC Civic Achievement Award goes to an individual whose contributions have improved the shared life of the community. It recognizes professional accomplishments and involvement in civic and community activities. This year, it goes to Gwen MacKenzie in recognition of everything she has done in her six years as CEO and president of Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Chairs of the gala dinner are Phil Delaney, president and CEO of Northern Trust Bank, and Carol Ann Kalish, shareholder of Williams Parker et al. Honorary dinner chairperson is Beatrice Friedman, whose daughter, Ilene Friedman, will do the “Motze” — say the blessing over the bread — before the meal.

+ Now you see her, now you don’t
At the pace she is moving, Go To Girl Molly Klauber may need to rename herself Go-Go Girl. Nov. 2 was a party at Jolly celebrating the one-year anniversary of her marketing services business; Nov. 3 she was celebrity bartending for Goodwill at Polo Grill and Bar; and Nov. 5, she worked at a Wine, Woman & Shoes wine dinner. On Nov. 10 she tends bar again at Bleus, Brews and Schmooze to benefit G.WIZ. That’s “bleus,” as in cheese, the first of four events for the Gulf Coast Cheese Fest, which culminates in April with the Grand Cheese Tasting and — brace yourselves — “The Cheese Ball.”