Black Tie & Tales

+ Welcome to the Moulin Rouge
The home of Jane Bennett and Steve Thompson turned into the famed Moulin Rouge Saturday, Oct. 12. The themed party was just one of many fun parties the couple has thrown — last year was James Bond-themed. The evening, with lighting and entertainment by LJ Event Productions, featured a fire-eater, “Moulin Rouge” playing on a screen and guests dressed to the nines in costume. Seen in feathers, corsets and other perfected outfits were Steve and Bev Murray, Zara Barrie, Eduardo Anaya, Frances and Spyder Broussard, Monica Miller, Rob and Angela Smithson and Dylonn Cole.

+ Getting close ...
The committee for Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center’s “The Art of Caring for Children” convened Oct. 14 to put the finishing touches on the event, set for Nov. 17. It benefits the Sally and Sam Shapiro Babies and Children’s Health Clinic, which will provide health care to thousands of local children. Alex Miller and Ron Giarusso are co-chairs, with the Shapiros and Betty Schoenbaum serving as honorary chairs. Local arts organaizations performing at the event include Circus Sarasota, Players Theatre, Sarasota Ballet, Sarasota Opera, Sarasota Orchestra Wind Quintet and Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. For more information, call Doris Pomeranz at 365-4545.

+ Tidbits
Seven straight sell-outs … Jewish Family and Children’s Service annual gala featuring the Sarasota Orchestra Dec. 15 is sold out at the patron level for the seventh consecutive year, which must be some kind of a record. Cancellations are not unheard of, however. Get your name on the wait list by calling Stacy Quaid at 366-2224, Ext. 142 … Changing of the Guard … News from the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation meeting is that this year is the last for Ann Charters, who has chaired the Women in Medicine event since its inception.  She is passing the baton to Deb Knowles and Charlie Ann Syprett for 2015 … Watts of love … After announcing the news of their upcoming bundle of joy — a baby girl in March — on Facebook, Danny and Fondren Watts were swarmed with well-wishers at Key to the Cure … This honey does … Nick Ferguson takes his “honey do’s” so seriously that he was late arriving to Key to the Cure, because he was taking a Pure Barre class at his wife, Sara’s Pure Barre studio … Fifth Avenue friends … It was nice seeing former Saks Fifth Avenue co-workers Iris Starr, Sally Schule, Eric Cross and Tania Cross hugging it out at Key to Cure … Hey, that’s my line! … After flashing her fab sparkles from fiancé, John Simon, Mary Anne Servian revealed that his quote to the Sarasota Observer about the State Street garage — “They’re arguing about how to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic” — was her line!

+ Black Tie Affair

Oceanic Evening ‘Exploring the Future’
Benefiting: Mote Marine Laboratory
When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
Where: The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
Tickets: $250
Contact: 388-4441, Ext. 509