Black Tie & Tales

+ Tough act to follow
They say you can’t compete with kids and dogs, but that’s what the models in the Beth Israel Women Fashion Show had to do Feb. 16, at Michael’s On East. A parade of young ‘uns went down the runway first, wearing too cute outfits from Little Bo-Tique. This was the brainchild of event co-chairs Sylvia Pastor and Nancy Cohen. DreamWeaver dressed the grown-ups: Cohen, Roz Fleischer, Sandy Krause, Marion Levine, the Observer’s Molly Schechter and Lois Schottenstein. Sarah Morgan, one of the moms, filled in at the last minute for Anne Virag who was ill. The Morgan and Mancini girls are all Phil Mancini’s nieces. Susie Dunbar from DreamWeaver styled and narrated the show.

+ Ladies who lunch
If you were driving down Main Street near Links on Thursday, Feb. 12, you might have noticed a bunch of girls having some sort of festive get-together. Getting into the Valentine’s Day spirit, Diana Buchanan, Ashley Gruters and Montana Taplinger hosted a Valentine’s Day lunch for a few of their closest friends (and their children) in the courtyard at Victoria Bloom’s. The girls, all donning pink, red and purple attire, made a toast with rosé to friendship and blessings and then enjoyed a lunch catered by Station 400, pastries by The Short Giraffe, Lollicake Queen cake pops, dipped pretzels and cookies made by Buchanan and party favors compliments of Michelle Schlossberg’s new PAINT Nail Bar.

+ Tidbits
Asking creatively … At the Feb. 11 Author Luncheon featuring David Baldacci, Gulf Coast Community Foundation offered a giving challenge to the guests,agreeing to match all gifts up to $25,000. The Library Foundation raised $90,000, and Baldacci sweetened the pot by offering to the highest donor the opportunity to be included as a character in a future book. Keith Monda was the highest bidder and will be written into a future Baldacci book as a character. Baldacci did not promise that the character would be a hero or a villain … Goodwill cameo … Don Roberts’ son, Dallas Roberts, made an appearance at Goodwill’s Mardi Gras Gala much to the excitement of long-time fan Amanda Morris. Roberts plays Owen Cavanaugh on "The Good Wife" … Sold! … The effectiveness of the Observer in marketing real estate apparently extends to this column. Last week we reported that Phil King and Dennis Stover’s west-of-trail home was going on the market; this week the story is that it sold in two days … A fond farewell … Sylvia Cohodas died last week of natural causes. She was a disciplined and delightful friend to many and a great supporter of human services and the arts, especially music … Thursday’s are for pre-parties … A crowd of more than 100 attended Child Protection Center’s Blue Ties and Butterflies pre-party Feb. 19, at Sophie’s at Saks Fifth Avenue Sarasota. Sophie’s put out a beautiful spread and a few ladies did some shopping, with a portion of the purchases going back to CPC. Seen mingling: Board President Graci McGillicuddy, Co-Chair Donna Koffman, Courtney and Chris Edbrooke and T.J. and Angie Nutter. The 3rd annual Blue Ties & Butterflies will be April 15 … Atlantic-Pacific on the Gulf of Mexico … Most of Sarasota could be found rejoicing on the beach this past weekend and you know who else was enjoying our beach weather? Renowned New York blogger Blair Eadie, whose style blog Atlantic-Pacific is Black Tie’s go-to blog when we need a little fashion distraction. Eadie Instagrammed a photo on Siesta Key Beach Saturday, apparently here for a bride-to-be getaway weekend with one of her besties. We hope she enjoyed her weekend America’s No. 1 beach!