Black Tie & Tales

+ Baby on the way
An intimate baby shower was held for parents-to-be Matt and Jane Thompson Sunday, March 24, at Sarasota Yacht Club. Hosted by Meghan Serrano, Marjorie Broughton, Molly Kasperson and Trevor and Nikki Taylor (who will serve as godparents), the soiree toasted the couple, whose second child, Eli, is set to arrive in a few weeks.

Jane notes that big sister-to-be, Alex, 4, is excited for the new baby’s arrival. “She’s a bit bossy and excited to have a little minion to boss around,” jokes Jane.

Guests toasting the couple included Bob and Diane Roskamp, Larry Wild and Penny Hill, Diane Cirksena, Cheryl Ellerbrock, Brian and Joleen Roskamp, Shelley Lister and Kara Saunders. Special friend Kim Kavanaugh flew in from San Francisco for the shower.

+ The Giving Girls
Deb Knowles, Charlie Ann Syprett, Pam Swain and Jennifer Saslaw became close friends from working together on many projects in Sarasota, and eventually, they formed “The Giving Girls” and set up Sarasota’s first women’s “Giving Circle.” They each donated money to ‘The Giving Girls” fund — and they are about to announce their first gift.

The group of BFFs started taking day trips when they realized it was helpful to get away and spend the whole day together, talking through ideas, issues and plans for charitable projects they could support. The group goes to places that are doing something “right,” and the venues are varied — from an animal rescue sanctuary in Ocala, to downtown Chicago.

The group chose Savannah for the most recent trip, because it’s known as a walk-able city, which they think is important for Sarasota. They’ve been talking about ideas from Savannah that might benefit Sarasota’s downtown, as well as Siesta Village.

 “It’s not formal, or big and important, but we feel like we’re learning and pushing ourselves to expand our thinking,” says Knowles.

+ Wanted: Man who cooks
Participants in the “Men Who Cook” fundraiser, benefiting Asolo Rep, gathered on March 20, at the Longboat Key Club Tennis Center to kick off this year’s third annual event. There will be special recognition for men who have cooked for all three years: Scott Anderson, John Currie, Michael Donald Edwards, Jack Gibson, Greg Leaming, Terrence McKee, Jeff Sedacca and Rick Thie. There will be a prize for the best-dressed table and a bottle of champagne for the chef who sells the most seats — this idea came from Jerry Feinstein, who has a good head start with three tables filled.

The popular auction of cakes baked by Chairwomen Judi Gallagher, Margaret Wise and Beverly Bartner, and other ladies, will return. And there’s a new twist to the auction: three one-of-a-kind chapeaux created by Raul Molina.

If you aspire to be a man who cooks, which involves preparing 20 servings of your special dish and getting together a table of friends, one spot just opened up due to a participant’s travel plans. To be the final lucky man, or to purchase tickets to the April 28 event, contact Courtney Smith at 351-9010, Ext. 4702.

+ Dealing for the Afikomen
Drs. James and Susanne Klingenstein and their daughters Rachel, 16, and Julie, 10, came from Boston to their L’Ambiance condo for the Passover holiday and played major roles in the Seder held in the party room March 25. Susanne led the service and both girls participated extensively. The task of asking the four questions and finding the Afikomen fell to Julie, as the youngest person attending, and she was a tough negotiator. Advised that her reward for finding the piece of Matzos hidden at the beginning of the meal would be a gift certificate, Julie unhesitatingly said, “I usually prefer cash.”

Sylvia Pastor is head of the L’ Ambiance social committee that stages the festive meal; she did most of the cooking along with friends, including Roz Fleischer, Terry Blumberg and Doris Kaplan, and a lot of help from husband Irwin Pastor. Dee Pinsky did the flowers.

+ Tidbits
… But it’s not pesadick! … Judi Gallagher had a bout of back trouble on the first night of Passover and sent hubby, Paul, to Too Jays to pick up a Seder meal. When he asked for Rugelach, the clerk told him, “It’s Passover. You can’t have that,” to which he replied, “Oh, yes, I can. I’m Irish.” … Saving birthdays … Sponsors and committee members gathered March 27, at White Buffalo Saloon, to kick-off American Cancer Society’s Cattle Barons’ Ball. Co-Chairs Anne Weintraub and Kelly Gettel discussed what a boot-scootin’ party this year’s April 13 event is going to be — including live line dancers, a family-style dinner, concierges at each table and plenty of cowboy boots. Among those mingling at the kick-off: Jim Wilson and Roger Capote, Jesse and Katie Biter, Bruce and India Lesser, Paul Hudson, Roy and Cookie Kaplan, Jane Wyatt, Gail Foster, Jeanne Conrad and Jack and Shirley Brown. For tickets or more information, call 328-3760. … Gone but not forgotten … Harriet Schaye, former chairwoman of the Community AIDS Network board, died on March 28. BT extends our sympathies to her husband, Ed, and to her family.

Black Tie Affair
Pique Nique sur la Baie
Hosted by: New College Foundation
Benefiting: Jane Bancroft Cook Library
When: 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 10
Where: New College bayfront
Tickets: $150
Contact: 487-4800
Time to dust off your Kentucky Derby hats — the bigger, the better — for the 30th annual Pique Nique sur la Baie. Chaired by Kathy Coffey, BJ Creighton, Renee Hamad and Patricia Johnson, the luncheon is set along the beautiful bayfront and features a high-end fashion show by The Met.