Black Tie & Tales

+ ‘Love, laughter and happily ever-after’
Trevor and Nikki Taylor, along with her mom, Margie Broughton, hosted a cocktail party to toast the upcoming nuptials of Drayton Saunders and Kara Poulin Saturday, Feb. 2, at Sarasota Yacht Club.

The hosts have a long relationship with Saunders — Broughton has been his neighbor for more than 10 years; Nikki Taylor and he have been friends since he moved back to town in 2003 from Chile, and they served on the executive YPG board together in 2005 and 2006; Trevor Taylor grew up with Saunders and the two have been friends since grade school.

The “Jack-and-Jill” shower kicks-off the countdown to the couple’s March 15 wedding, at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Saunders, president of Michael Saunders & Co., and Poulin, Healthfit operations manager for Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System, were thrilled to have an intimate gathering during the ever-busy season.

Special touches included champagne toasts, gourmet pastries and a bossa nova guitarist. Guests spotted socializing were Sara Carney, Patrick and Linley Kilbane, Graham and Jill Edwards, Matt and Jane Thompson, Toni Moore, Mandy Milks and Tom Arthur, Oliver and Karen Fay van Lindonk, Lee and Valarie DeLieto, Megan Batty and Daniel Benton.

+ Wallenda extravaganza
More than 150 people gathered at a VIP viewing party at Jesse and Katie Biter’s Marina Tower penthouse rooftop to see Nik Wallenda’s SkyWalk Tuesday, Jan. 29. The famous high-wire walker ended his daring quest right into the rooftop party. Guests enjoying the beautiful views and excitement included Valerie Pober, Sally Schule, Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs-Reis, Graci McGillicuddy, Paul and Nikki Caraguilio, Lauren Walsh, Ray Pilon, Penny Hill, Gil Waters and special guest Jack Hanna.

Wallenda must have worked up quite the appetite — he and his family headed to Pacific Rim, where they noshed on sushi, Pac Pac shrimp, pad Thai, pineapple fried rice, and then ended the food tour at Andrea’s for dinner.

+ Ladies in red
Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation’s Women & Medicine luncheon Friday, Feb. 1 served as an educational afternoon — and kept guests attentive in their seats up until the end (sometimes a hard feat for luncheons). Co-Chairs Deb Knowles and Ann Charters even doubled the attendance from last year’s first event. Before the luncheon began, guests played like children on the DaVinci machine, which was on display. It also featured red velvet cupcakes for a nod to national Wear Red Day, which most women in the room observed.

Dr. Chippy Nalluri wowed the crowd with her informative and lively talk, reminding women that 90% of heart disease is preventable, and Dr. Craig Smith, from Columbia University Medical Center, joked, “It’s warmer down here than New York, but I did look in my seat for pythons, but Gwen MacKenzie assured me they don’t come this far north.”

+ Tidbits
So who’s counting? … When Maestro Victor DeRenzi steps to the podium Feb. 9, to conduct the opening-night performance of “Turandot,” it will be his 600th performance with the Sarasota Opera. Let’s see … this will be his 31st season for an average of darn near 20 appearances per season! … Sometimes pays to be young … Planned Parenthood’s 47th annual dinner celebration March 5 will offer a $75 young-adult rate for people under 30. SOURCE Theatre is the beneficiary of the event’s paddle raise and a significant portion of its outreach is to local high schools. “I think it’s a great idea for certain organizations to offer a young-adult rate. It’s very easy to sit back when you are in your early 30s and say, ‘I’ll do that when I’m in my 40s and 50s.’ To get people involved earlier is really important,” says Co-Chairwoman Dr. Allison Silver ... What’s in a name? … Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino calls her dog “C.C.” for good reason. Her niece named the pooch “Cupcake,” not exactly a fit with the image of a law enforcement officer of her stature … Timing is everything? … Bob Coppenrath has always been a genial presence at the Super Bowl party that his partner, Joan Mendell, throws for 80-plus of their nearest and dearest, but he was M.I.A. this year. He was in Sarasota Memorial Hospital recuperating from a heart attack suffered Feb. 1. Mendell raved about the treatment they received in the SMH E.R., which has a reputation for special competence with cardiac incidents … Pure Barre expecting … A day after our tidbit ran last week about the many pregnant women in Sarasota, Sara Ferguson announced she and hubby Nick are also expecting their second … Congrats … to Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation’s Lisa Intagliata — she is tying the knot in Fort Lauderdale in less than two weeks.

Black Tie Affair
SPARCC Fashion Show and Luncheon
Benefiting: Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC)
When: 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 14
Where: The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
Chairs: Diane Muldoon and Dori Zingmond
Tickets: $95
Contact: Luisa Goldman 401-474-3778
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at SPARCC’s Fashion Show and Luncheon (formerly known as Second Hand Rose). Les McCurdy and Ken Sons are back as the infamous emcees who keep the guests (700 expected) laughing during the entire fast-paced fashion show. Guests will also get to be part of a special surprise for the women staying in SPARCC’s domestic violence shelter.

To buy tickets, click here.