Black Tie & Tales 03.03.16

Yes, that was Kristin Chenoweth on the bridge
Sarasota was more than a routine stop on the Florida circuit for Kristin Chenoweth, who played the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Feb. 27. The star is one of the closest friends of Samantha Brenner, daughter of Realtor, community supporter and long-time Longboat Key resident Cheryl Loeffler. They first met when they were young kids attending the same ballet school in Tulsa, Okla. They became close in Los Angeles more than 10 years ago. If you think you saw Chenoweth walking the bridge on Saturday, you probably did. She and Brenner spent much time together and Chenoweth spoke movingly about her friend and Loeffler during the concert.

New venue-with-a-view
Sarasota is about to have something it has never had before: a weather-proof, waterfront (!) banquet space large enough for a wedding or other event with 250 guests seated for dinner and a dance floor. It is a major reinvention of the Great Room at Marie Selby Botanical Garden, which will expand to about 5,000 square feet with a dramatically larger terrace, now covered. The new facility was part of the proposal from Michael Klauber and Phil Mancini of Michael’s On East when they won the food service contract for the Garden in 2015. It will have an interior by Anne Folsom Smith and be up and running in October.

Selby Gardens will inaugurate the new space with a “Lunch in the Garden” series starting in October. Weddings are already booked for fall and the first gala will be Designing Women Boutique’s annual fundraiser, set for December 3.

BT&T is going to the dogs
Last week, it was the story of Tiny, formerly known as Johnson, the 80-pound, pitbull rescue who stole the show at the ARC Gala. His photo arrived after press time but it is too charming not to print. (If you like knowing such things, this column locks up at 5 p.m. on Monday.)

This week, we celebrate the newest addition to the family of Myrna Band, a rescue poodle named, most aptly we are told, Sassy. Sassy arrived not toilet-trained; the Band’s older poodle Molly is teaching her the ropes. Both the Band’s dogs found their happy home via Florida Poodle Rescue, as did Janet and John Hunter’s black royal standard, Oliver. To get yours, contact [email protected] or 778-7238.

The University of Opportunities
Sagi Melamed, VP of external relations and development at Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, near Nazareth, Israel, was in town this week to present an honorary degree to Sarasota philanthropist Al Goldstein. The population of YVC, as it is known, represents Israeli society at its most diverse with students from nearby Israeli agricultural cooperatives, Arab villages, cities and towns, many of whom are the first in their families to go to college. The college has a pre-academic studies program to enable these "first generation" students, to improve their high school results and qualify for admission to a BA study program. As part of its commitment to provide higher education opportunity, YVC is seeking to expand its dormitory complex, since student demand for affordable housing exceeds the number of beds available. This is where Mr. Goldstein has focused his support over what he estimates to be the last 10 years. To add your support, reach out to Mr. Melamed at [email protected].

+Tidbits ... Sip & See … Former Northern Trust exec and Paper Tree owner, Amie Swan, was in town recently to introduce friends and colleagues to her new venture, OTG247. It is a line of bags in an array of sizes, colors and materials, all to organize the inside of your bag. Swan designed every last detail, from the prints (the camo and skull-and-crossbones are particularly nice) to the linings (waterproof in one case). You’ll soon see them carried by Rebecca Blitz, Carter Donovan, Minta Getzen, Roxie Jerde, Nora Johnson, Lisa Morris, Rochelle Nigri and more. Get yours at  www.OTG247.com. ... Hey, Bey ... It’s always fun to see a famously worn gown in person, and while we were at the Blush Bridal for the First Street Bridal Stroll (Fashion Insider, page 12) we came face to face with the gorgeous Inbal Dror that Beyoncé (that’s Queen Bey, to you) wore at the 2016 Grammys. It was as beautiful in person as it was on TV.