Black Tie & Tales

+ 94 with lots of company
An early arrival at Bea Friedman’s 94th birthday party April 13 asked her, “Are you ready for the deluge of 88 guests?” to which she replied, “It doesn’t bother me. I’m used to it!” No surprise that, for Sarasota’s ever sharp “hostess-with-the-mostest.” The festivities took place, appropriately, at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center. Her guests on this occasion included “the triplets” — grandnieces Hadley and Lilly and grandnephew Hadley Friedman, age 2½. At the other end of the spectrum, there were altogether six — count them — six nonagenarians.

Also among the guests were longtime friends, including Bunny and Sam Gourse, Don and Pat Hase, Scott and Kathy Hase, Fred and Annette Nagel, Libby Garnitz, Marilyn and Irv Naiditch and Paul and Doris White. Others included Anne Folsom Smith, Anne Virag, Betsy Wyant and Ken Allen, Bob and Dottie Garner, Carolyn Michel and Howard Millman and Elaine Keating and Sidney Katz. Mike Ash put everyone’s thoughts into rhyme with verse that concluded, “So Happy Birthday, have at least six more … We want your number to reach five score.” Now that will be a party!

+ Sarasota songbird to take flight
Maria Wirries is “almost family” to Bea Friedman, by virtue of having been discovered and nurtured by her daughter Ilene Friedman and son-in-law, Greg Gregory. In honor of the birthday gal, Wirries created, edited a karaoke track for and performed an impressive medley of tunes from long ago, including “Apple Blossom Time,” “There’ll Be Bluebirds Over the White Cliffs of Dover” and “The Birth of the Blues.” 

Gregory shared the news that Wirries has been accepted to the highly competitive (as in 600 applicants for 12 places!) Musical Theatre program at Penn State. She will leave shortly after her 17th birthday on Aug. 12. An Audra McDonald in the making?

+ Mother’s Day six ways from Sunday
An event that’s new on the calendar offers a marvelous confluence of ways to be good to mothers — your own and others. It is “Treasures, Trinkets & Tea” May 9, at Hyatt Regency Sarasota. Billed as “an elegant afternoon of tea, fun and friendship,” it’s actually more than that. Much more.

“Treasures, Trinkets & Tea” is a fundraiser for the Caregiving Center, home of Adult Day Services and the Caregiver Resource Center at the Friendship Center (formerly known as Senior Friendship Center). This is where Sarasotans looking after  a parent or other family member who can no longer care for themselves turn for all kinds of help from adult day care to caregiver support groups. Anybody who has ever needed these services will tell you how invaluable they are.

So in one afternoon you do many mothers a good service while you enjoy Champagne, caviar and sweet and savory treats … an accessory fashion show … and a marketplace featuring Mother’s Day gift ideas galore from Accessorize Boutique, A’Tu Jewelry and Clothing, Stella & Dot, Heart’s Desire, Park Lane Jewelry and 530 Burns Gallery. All in one place for $75. Tables are also available. For information and reservations, contact Cheryl Pilch at 556-3205.

+ Tidbits
Newlyweds’ Easter … Family was on the agenda for both of Sarasota’s beautiful recent brides. Diana and Matt Buchanan scheduled church with the Kelly side at 9 a.m. and with the Buchanan side at 10:30 a.m., followed by brunch then back to the Kellys for Easter dinner. Whew! As Diana says, “… definitely a packed day but as long as we are together and with family, there is nowhere else in the world I would rather be.” Molly and Ethan Biter were headed for family Easter brunch at Michael’s on East (where else?) —- “the brunch we count down the days for every year,” as she says. The plan for Easter evening was to celebrate the 10th birthday of their mastiff, Bentley … Annabelle’s first Easter … included a neighborhood Easter egg hunt. Any excuse will do to run a photo of Montana and Irwin Taplinger’s 9½-month-old daughter, here modeling a necklace her mom will be selling at the Friendship Center event May 9.