Black Tie & Tales 03.02.17

From baby showers (and a delivery) to surprise smooches, here's your social week in review.

By Black Tie Staff
| 6:00 a.m. March 1, 2017

Tim and Heather Saba with their daughters, Olivia Grace and Lyla Penelope â€” Photo by Amy McKinlay Photography

Black Tie

Baby bingo

Rachel Palladino, Diana Buchanan, Chelsea Stickley, Lea Buchanan, Nicole Mei, Chelsea Tawil and Megan Wallin — Photo by Cliff Roles

Café Baci was covered in pink and sparkles on Feb. 25, when 40 friends and family members of Lea Buchanan gathered to toast to the mommy-to-be. Hosts Diana Buchanan, Nicole Mei, Chelsea Tawil, Chelsea Stickley, Megan Wallin and Rachel Palladino organized a magical Minnie Mouse-themed afternoon of Champagne, cake (from Cakes by Ron) and “baby Bingo” that substituted letters for baby essentials. Parents Lea and James Buchanan are expecting Baby Lexington Marie April 20.

Now you see her, now you don’t

Ellen Berman and Flora Major — Photo courtesy of Molly Schechter

Flora Major is one of Sarasota’s more peripatetic philanthropists, with residences here and in New York City. She was definitely here for her Feb. 23 birthday, the celebration of which started Feb. 20 at lunch with BFF Ellen Berman, at Michael’s On East. At the next table, a young couple from Manhattan was doing a tasting of the wedding menus. They had picked Sarasota for their destination wedding without ever having visited, and the ladies who lunch were happy to reassure them they had chosen well – Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and Michael’s.

Fête prénatale

Jane Thompson, Meghan Serrano, Trevor Taylor, Kevin Ellerbrock, Dr. Cheryl Ellerbrock, Nav Ranajee, Simi Ranajee, Sarah Kiefer, Rik Mahabeer, Joe Serrano and Matt Thompson — Photo courtesy of Nikki Taylor

Kevin and Dr. Cheryl Ellerbrock celebrated the soon-to-be newest member of their family Feb. 25, at the home of Jane and Matt Thompson. Guests included Joe and Meghan Serrano, Nav and Simi Ranajee, Trevor and Nikki Taylor, Brian and Lauren Hersh and Sarah Kiefer and Rik Mahabeer. Nikki Taylor says it was an elegant and intimate evening that was made complete with Champagne toasts by the hosts. Guests enjoyed a special dessert that the Ellerbrocks and Thompsons first sampled on a trip to the French Riviera: raspberry vacherin. Délicieux! Baby Ellerbrock is due in late March, and the proud parents want the sex to be a surprise.

Tidbits

Bello Nock gives Jennifer Steube a surprise peck on Feb. 25 at the Big Top Gala at Feld Entertainment Studios. Photo by Niki Kottmann

Kiss and tell … Honorary Chairwoman Jennifer Steube took center stage at the American Cancer Society’s Big Top Gala Feb. 25 when she was asked to join Bello Nock in the ring for his clowning act. The performance ended on a high note for Nock, who moved his face at the perfect moment so Steube’s intended kiss on the cheek turned into a surprise peck … Special delivery … Our former Black Tie insider Heather Saba and husband Tim Saba welcomed baby Lyla Penelope Saba, 6 pounds, 13 ounces, on Feb. 23 at 9:19 p.m. Big sister Olivia Grace Saba has already assumed the mommy’s helper role by consoling Lyla with her binky whenever she cries

Junior League of Sarasota President Britt Riner with daughter Magnolia Riner next to the The Junior League of Sarasota's brick on the Platinum Pathway of Hope — Photo courtesy of Britt Riner

… Reaping where others have sown … The Child Protection Center honored The Junior League of Sarasota and several other generous individuals and organizations with a named brick on the Platinum Pathway of Hope Feb. 23. JLS was honored for its continued support of CPC — it supplied the center with its current playground and several other resources — after helping start the nonprofit in 1979.