Black Tie & Tales

+ Everlasting love
Nothing says love like male spouses attending a luncheon full of more than 645 women, which was the case at table No. 34 at the Feb. 14 SPARCC luncheon. Dick Hull, Ed Bavaria, Harry Leopold, Erik Lindqvist, Larry English, Don Worthington and Tom Jones occupied the table next to their better halves.

Mary Ann Robinson was honored at the luncheon for her efforts at SPARCC. Its “fairy godmother” has recently underwritten a security system in the shelter and is also having a kennel built so shelter residents don’t have to leave their pets behind.

A nice addition to the afternoon was the personal thank you Auxiliary member Sandra Brookshire gave throughout the crowd. She was so into welcoming guests, we were thanked twice for attending.

+ In the spirit of friendship
Nikki Sedacca and her daughter, glowing Montana Taplinger (who has recently joined her mom’s company doing marketing and communications), hosted their 25th annual Spirit of Friendship Luncheon Monday, Feb. 18, at 530 Burns Gallery. More than 60 women gathered to shop Sedacca’s jewelry and artwork at her newly expanded gallery, sip champagne and celebrate friendship. The hostesses made a touching toast to Sedacca’s late mother, Marie Woolley, who has attended every other luncheon and was always in charge of tying the bows on the party favors.

Mingling among the women were Jean Vallee, Sharon Black Floyd, Beverly Bartner, Nikki Taylor, Penny Hill, Janet Hunter, Teri Hansen, Lauren Walsh and guest artists Dana Giardina and Chris Bales.

+ Ladies who lunch
More than 70 ladies joined Molly Jackson, of Molly’s! A Chic & Unique Boutique, and Joan Bradley Reedy, daughter of Vera Bradley and sister to co-founder Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, at the Share the Love Luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 14, at Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Reedy entertained guests with personal anecdotes about Vera Bradley’s history, its designs and the remarkable women behind it all. Proceeds from the luncheon benefited Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation Inc., in support of the hospital’s Breast Health Center, and Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer.

Spotted enjoying the luncheon included Molly’s new marketing and event planner Tonya Getzen Gowan, Minta Getzen, Dr. Heidi Anderson, Stacy Hanan, Lisa Swift, Emily Stroud, Cindy Kaiser, Beth LaGasse, Anne McFall, Kelly Pepe, Maureen St. Onge and Barbara Sweeney.

+ The sweetest day
The best laid plans … Two Valentine’s Day deliveries went agley at Saks Fifth Avenue. One came without a card to identify the recipient and when that got figured out, the sender learned the florist had sent a totally incorrect arrangement. Another came for someone who doesn’t work there, and the florist didn’t retrieve it until 5:45 p.m. Saks Marketing Director Sally Schule figures that makes two furious husbands! … Can you top this? … Mike Ash treated his wife, Jewel, to a cute card, a piece of jewelry, two dozen roses and, he says, “Most expensive: a new lens for her left eye for her Valentine’s Day eye surgery” … Red is the color of my true love’s countertop? … It is at the home of James and Vicki Rollo. The couple celebrated the 44th anniversary of their first meeting with the Valentine’s Day installation of a romantic red quartz kitchen countertop … An afternoon off … is how Dr. Brad and Melissa Lerner celebrated, and they spent it at the Met spa … Jewels are a girl’s best friend … Wendy Feinstein’s husband, Jerry, surprised her with a beautiful Nikki Sedacca cuff for Valentine’s Day, but not before jokingly gifting her a post office-bought watch first.

+ Tidbits
Creative tresses … Tricia Hopkins, class of ’93, went the extra mile to show her school spirit at the New College Foundation’s Inaugural Ball Saturday, Feb. 16. Hopkins had Pam Courtney, from Hair Antics, come to her home and do her hair up in the “four winds,” New College’s symbol. Courtney added in blue hairpieces and swirled them around in four buns on the side of Hopkins’ head and added a sparkly jewel button in the center … Congrats … goes to Roger Capote and Jim Wilson who got engaged last week … Happy birthday … to Cliff Roles, who spent his 60th birthday working hard photographing the busy weekend of events … Afternoon reception … Co-Chairwomen Charlene Wolff and Gila Meriweather launched their Angels Among Us campaign at the Feb. 6 American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) event, honoring Gloria Moss and the Moss family. The goal of the new campaign is to fund the purchase of a new life-saving ambulance, made in the U.S., to send to Israel … Mardi Gras madness … Although this year’s Goodwill Mardi Gras event wasn’t the usual fun street party atmosphere, the sell-out crowd of 366 still enjoyed the fabulous food and traditional music by Second Wind Traditional Jazz presents Skip’s Dixie Mix. According to Michael’s On East, it was reported that oysters were hands-down the favorite station of the evening — among the three preparations (oysters Bienville, oysters Rockefeller and fried oysters); approximately 2,500 were served. During the auction, Tropex’s Charlie Lenger bid on a giant teddy bear for Tropex employee Shane Christophel and his wife, Sarah, and their two kids.

+ The calendar calls
BT is still collecting events for the 2013 Black Tie social calendar, and if we don’t know about it, we can’t publish it! Email the following information to [email protected]: name of your event; group hosting; group benefiting; time, date and place; ticket price; chairperson; contact name, phone number and email; website and event description.

Black Tie’s “Occasions” column details of some of the most fabulous local weddings and share engagement announcements. Whether you attended the most-talked about event of the year or want to announce your own nuptials, send your engagement and wedding announcements to [email protected].