Black Tie: Events to attend in 2015

The Bash!
Benefiting: Sarasota Museum of Art/SMOA and Ringling College of Art and Design
When: 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18
Where: Historic Sarasota High School
Chairs: Brad and Mary Beth Goddard
Honorary Co-Chairs: Dottier Baer Garner and Brooke Callanen
Tickets: $200
Call: 309-0118

The presentation of the invitation alone should give some insight into the detail and fabulousness going into SMOA’s The Bash! The event will be held on the grounds of historical Sarasota High School and is the first opportunity to celebrate SMOA with the broader Sarasota community and to highlight the things to come. Leading up to SMOA’s debut, the casual dress event will feature food and cocktails, dancing and some surprises, for which you’ll want to be present.

iConcept ‘Art Meets Fashion’
Benefiting: Art Center Sarasota
When: 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22
Where: Sarasota Municipal Auditorium
Chairs: Zara Barrie and Eduardo Anaya
Tickets: $150 ($50 general admission)
Call: 365-2032

The seventh annual event is centered around an innovative runway show that is the definition of where art meets fashion. Chaired by Zara Barrie and Eduardo Anaya and hosted by Joey Panek and Christine Alexander, the fashion show will feature creative works by local artists who make exotic outfits using unconventional and recycled materials, all for the purpose of raising funds for Art Center Sarasota’s youth education programs. It’s going to be a show you don’t want to miss — an unconventional evening for sure.

Corinthian Gala 2015 ‘A Night of 1,000 Cranes’
Benefiting: Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation
When: 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24
Where: The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
Chairs: Beverly Bartner, Renee Hamad and Chris Voelker
Tickets: $375
Call: 917-1286

This event happens once every three years, so if you miss out on it this year, you have to wait another three years to attend. With all of that time in between events, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation and its committee has a lot of time for planning a spectacular evening, and you better believe that it will be spectacular — just wait until you see the invitations. The suggested attire for this year’s event: Asian flair or black tie optional. We won’t spoil all of the surprises they have in store, but you can expect an unforgettable evening — for starters, there will be live origami artists from the Sarasota Original Origami Club demonstrating their skills and making items for guests. You can also dance the night away to the sounds of Michael Andrews and The Atomic Big Band.

Orchid Ball ‘The Ruby Affair: A Romance of a Thousand Blooms’
Benefiting: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
When: 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14
Where: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Chairs: Margie Cooper and Jenn Smith Stutler
Tickets: $300
Call: 366-5731, Ext. 251

There is plenty going on this Valentine’s Day for you and your significant other. New this year is a date change (this iconic Sarasota event is typically held in April) to coincide with Selby Gardens’ 40th anniversary, also the theme of the ball. Think rubies and roses and expect to be swept up in the romantic atmosphere of the Great Lawn and the Ann Goldstein Children’s Rainforest Garden on this unforgettable Valentine’s Day.

11th annual Celebrity Chefs Food & Wine Tasting
Benefiting: Jewish Family & Children’s Service
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 24
Where: The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Chairs: Mike and Ruth Harshman and Joe and Barbara Najmy
Tickets: $100
Call: 366-2224, Ext. 142

Everyone loves a good food and wine tasting event, and that is precisely what you get at JFCS’s annual Celebrity Chefs Food & Wine Tasting. Mike and Ruth Harshman and Joe and Barbara Najmy will chair the 11th edition of the event, and you can expect nothing less than the best tastes and sips around.  The event (which sells out every year) hosts more than 600 guests who choose to either spend the day golfing on the links of Longboat Key Club along with the evening tasting, or just show up for the food. The party features specialty dishes prepared by 25 local chefs, as well as wine stations, a martini bar and old-fashioned egg creams. It’s a must-attend event — a night filled with great food, friends and fundraising.

Pique Nique Sur la Baie
Benefiting: New College Foundation
When: 11:30 a.m. Friday, March 27
Where: New College Bayfront
Chairs: Chip Gaylor and Marjorie Floyd
Tickets: $150
Call: 487-4204

For 32 years, Pique Nique Sur la Baie has been a springtime signature event in Sarasota’s social scene and for good reason. The event takes place on the grounds behind the Charles Ringling Mansion at New College and guests spend their afternoon donning hats, watching a high fashion runway show presented by The Met and sipping Champagne on Sarasota Bay.

Firefly Gala
Benefiting: Forty Carrots Family Center
When: 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28
Where: The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club
Chair: Ariane Dart
Tickets: $300
Call: 365-7716

Every rose may have its thorn, but the evening of Saturday, March 28 is going to be nothing less than perfect for Forty Carrots Family Center’s Firefly Gala featuring the one and only Bret Michaels. The annual event is always a memorable one on the beautiful grounds of the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club, so expect nothing but a good time at this rocking GLAMorous gala and concert (with a full light show, we’ve heard…)!

27th annual Celebration Luncheon
Benefiting: Girls Inc. of Sarasota County
When: 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 10
Where: The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
Chairs: Max and Stephanie Hannum
Tickets: $100
Call: 366-6646

The 27th annual Celebration Luncheon will highlight the “Fuel her fire … and she will change the world” national campaign, which centers on encouraging communities to support Girls Inc. Don’t forget to bring your shopping money, because the girls will offer a boutique of goods they have created as part of the “Dream Harbor” city that they belong to within Girls Inc. 
 
During the inspirational luncheon (pack the tissues), national CEO Judy Vredenburgh will be speaking about the national movement as well as presenting Sherry Watts with the National Girls Inc. Champions for Girls Award; Cookie Boudreaux with the Donna Brace Ogilvie Board of Directors Visionary Award; and Isabelle Crotsley with Girl of the Year.

Kids’ Black Tie: Dress Up Under the Big Top
Benefiting: UCP of Southwest Florida Inc.
When: 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18
Where: The Circus Arts Conservatory, Sarasota Circus Arena
Chair: Cambelle Anders
Tickets: $100 (adults) $50 (kids 3-20) Free for kids under 3
Call: 348-9039

Mark your calendars for April 18 and don’t worry about getting a sitter. The Kids’ Black Tie is an event unlike any other on our social calendar this year: a black tie event for kids and their families! Cambelle Anders, a second-grader at BayHaven Elementary School, chairs the event and is more than excited to throw a great event and raise money for UCP. The evening will go down like most other black tie affairs — with the social hour, dinner, silent and live auctions followed by entertainment and dancing — but it is designed for the entire family to enjoy an elegant evening together. The circus-themed event (hence, under the big top) will be decorated as such, with a circus performance, DJ and other live entertainment along with other activity stations for the whole family to enjoy. Buy your tickets and dress up the family for this not-to-miss event.

Men Who Cook
Benefiting: Asolo Repertory Theatre
When: 6 p.m. Sunday, May 3
Where: Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Chairs: Beverly Bartner, Judi Gallagher, Molly Schechter and Margaret Wise
Tickets: $200
Call: 351-9010, Ext. 4702

The Men Who Cook (25 of them to be exact) are back to prepare a dinner featuring their favorite dishes at Asolo Repertory Theatre’s fifth annual food extravaganza. From the parade of chefs to the fun feasting, table décor competition and the old-fashioned auction of cakes, it’s an event you don’t want to miss.