Black Tie & Tales

+ She’s about to pop
There was a baby shower for Keely Pastor March 2, at L’Ambiance. Her first child is due on March 21, though the doctor is saying “any time now.” Party hostess Sylvia Pastor, Sarasota’s answer to Martha Stewart, welcomed more than 50 girlfriends to an all pink affair and sent them home with pretty popcorn favors labeled “She’s About to Pop” and splits of champagne. Among the guests: Keely’s only-a-little-bit-older sister, Ann Cohen, Carol Brualdi, Linda Federico, Roz Fleischer, Cheryl Loeffler, Barbara Orkin, Dee Pinsky, Helen Rhawn, Anita Rosenbloom, Lois Schottenstein, Renee Sheade, Marilyn Shuman, Rita Zaccone, and Sheila Zinder.

+ Farewell the house
Men-about-town Scott George and John Mason invited their nearest-and-dearest for cocktails on Feb. 28, to celebrate their planned April move. Returning in August 2011 from Ohio, they moved into a lovely Oyster Bay rental. They recently acquired a home on a secluded site in Hidden Oaks. Among the guests enjoying salmon caviar atop salmon mousse, sugared bacon and other treats included Ken and Peggy Abt, Mary Beth Goddard, Bobbie Jensen, Randell Johnson, Phil King, Doug and Ann Logan, Flora Major, Carl Meyer, Gloria Moss and Tim and Diane Trettin.

+ Front row frenzy
Firefly Gala sponsors gathered Feb. 28, at the Blue Rooster, to choose their concert seats for the March 23 event, featuring rockers Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. The seat selection soiree brought out the sponsors’ competitive edge — they are able to choose their seats based on their level of sponsorship, and then the date of when the contract is turned in. Mingling (and waiting for their turn) were Mike and Jena Wilson, Nancy DeLong, Richard Lawrence, Harry Leopold, Tracee Murphy, Chris Pinckney and Johanna Gustafsson, Noelle Haft and Ed and Suzanne Luecke.

This process first started with Forty Carrots Family Center’s popular Wine, Women and Shoes event to give sponsors the added benefit of choosing their table location.

For more information on Firefly Gala, call 365-7716.

+ Tidbits
Designing Women rope in the men … Co-authors of “Mrs. Kennedy & Me,” Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin, made an appearance at Designing Women Boutique’s VIP reception March 4, at the home of Carol Phillips. Executive Director Pamela Day says the next day’s luncheon format was a “big departure from our usual fundraiser; we are hoping to appeal to both men and women.” Hill, Jackie Kennedy’s former Secret Service agent, has global appeal, especially because later this year will mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Co-Chairwoman Ida Zito said, “He’s going to share a piece of history with us.” Hill and McCubbin, visiting from San Francisco, enjoyed Sarasota’s weather and took a stroll along the bayfront. Although the pair was in town for a few days, they were busy writing, working on an April 1 deadline for their next project. Autographed copies of the book are available at Designing Women Boutique … Not something you expect to see every day … Dottie Baer Garner is on Twitter! Follow her at @dottiebaer … Celebrating strong women … At the Women’s Passover Celebration March 6, Chairwoman Rachel Saltzberg took a moment during the opening remarks to get a little personal. She opened up about how thankful she was that her daughter, Jordyn, 8, is growing up in a community with so many strong and powerful Jewish women. While Jordyn was technically too young to attend the event, Saltzberg joked that she had some pull, and was excited to share the evening with her daughter, along with the more than 300 strong women in the Michael’s On East ballroom.

+ 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 shares 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].

Black Tie Affair
‘Encore — The Dance Goes On’
Benefiting: Sarasota Ballet
When: 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 22
Where: University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus
Tickets: $300
Contact: 359-0099, Ext. 105

Chaired by Sydney Goldstein, this year’s Sarasota Ballet gala will begin with cocktails in the gardens of the University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee campus, followed by a one-hour performance and then dinner catered by Paul Mattison. Changing the event venue to the USF campus was based on the solid relationship the Sarasota Ballet has built with USF, especially by offering the ballet’s Dance — The Next Generation graduates scholarships to their four-year programs.

Sarasota Ballet is building a stage just for the performance, which will be situated just in front of the small lake and fountain in the USF garden. The performance will include an array of dances, which are kept a surprise until the evening.