• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Black Tie

SPARCC Holiday Luncheon co-chairs Melissa Silva, Tina McGovern and Cator Hartley
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • December 11, 2025
SPARCC holiday luncheon welcomes record turnout

The annual event, which supports the Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center, had more than 320 guests at Michael's On East.

  • Black Tie
Co-chair Kara Wootson, Planned Parenthood Director of Philanthropy Lauren Stroman, Co-chairs Lissa Murphy, LaVerne Green and Roz Painter-Goffi
    By
  • Lori Sax
  • December 8, 2025
Supporters Rise & Shine for Planned Parenthood brunch

At the event, attendees heard from a panel to receive an update on women's sexual and reproductive health issues.

  • Black Tie
Britnie Sutika, CEO Kristie Skoglund, Kimberly Treharne, Paola Pinillos and Kate Reed
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • December 7, 2025
Florida Center for Early Childhood hosts 2nd annual Wonder Gala

The evening raises funds to help provide prevention and early intervention services to young children facing possible academic, social and economic challenges.

  • Black Tie
Celia Young, Pat Reinhart, Ina Goldberg and Sherry Wheeler channel their inner flapper style for the Great Gatsby-inspired Poinsettia Luncheon.
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • December 5, 2025
Sarasota Opera Guild rings in holidays at Poinsettia Luncheon

The guild raises money to support the Sarasota Opera while promoting the appreciation of opera in the community and encouraging the next generation of singers.

  • Black Tie
Bill and Robyn Sadlo, Barb and Jay Lancer and Marjolaine and Steve Townsend
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 23, 2025
Boys and Girls Clubs' Champions for Children honors Baranciks' legacy

At its annual gala, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and Desoto Counties celebrated the work of Charles and Margery Barancik.

  • Black Tie
Kristin Morton, John Grady Burns, Pat Mudgett and Kellie Menke
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 21, 2025
Founders Garden Club welcomes celebrity floral designer to annual luncheon

John Grady Burns gave attendees of the club's annual Flower Talk a few tricks for creating a beautiful floral arrangement.

  • Black Tie
Troy Turner and Resilient Retreat founder Dr. Sidney Turner
    By
  • Lori Sax
  • November 17, 2025
Resilient Retreat transports guests to the Mediterranean

With a farm to table experience, guests enjoyed a Mediterranean meal al fresco to benefit the nonprofit's mission of helping survivors of trauma.

  • Black Tie
Marie Monsky and Marvin Kadesh
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 17, 2025
Brunch plays a note to raise money for Sarasota Youth Orchestra

Patrons of the Sarasota Orchestra gathered for its annual brunch to fundraise for the youth orchestra and support music education.

  • Black Tie
Raleigh Mosely, Donald Frison, Founder and Artistic Director Nate Jacobs and Jazzmin Carson
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 17, 2025
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe shows off its heart and soul at fall gala

Lively performances brought the night — and fundraising mission — to life at the organization's annual fall fundraising event Nov. 15.

  • Black Tie
Keep calm and party on: Co-Chairs Renee Phinney, Lauren Dixon, Lauren Wohlwend and Allison Imre along with event planner Minta Getzen (center) make sure that every detail of Wine, Women & Shoes is handled with the utmost care.
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 15, 2025
Wine, Women & Shoes steps up in support of Forty Carrots Family Center

The annual fundraiser welcomed more than 400 partygoers to The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota Nov. 14 to raise money for parent and children services.

  • Black Tie
Argus Foundation Executive Director Christine Robinson, 2025 Honoree Rod Hershberger and Elaine Hershberger
    By
  • Lori Sax
  • November 15, 2025
Two local business leaders honored at annual Argus awards

Rod Hershberger and Kerry Kirschner received the Argus Foundation's 2025 Lifetime Achievement Awards.

  • Black Tie
John and Amy Hoskins co-chair Twinkle Ball 2025 with Terri and Michael Klauber.
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 14, 2025
All Star Children's Foundation marks 5 years at Twinkle Ball

The nonprofit that helps children in foster care and the families that care for them celebrated its anniversary at its annual fundraiser.

  • Black Tie
SAM presents its Fresh Perspective Lunch with Gloria Sutton as the featured speaker.
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 13, 2025
Sarasota Art Museum lends guests some fresh perspective

For its first Fresh Perspective Lunch of the season, SAM welcomed speaker Gloria Sutton.

  • Black Tie
Lorene Miller and Patti Tebo pose for the photo booth at Party in Paradise on Nov. 8, benefitting Big Waters Land Trust.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • November 10, 2025
Big Waters Land Trust brings Party to Paradise

Conservation-minded community members and artists enjoyed the return of the annual Party in Paradise to Bay Preserve.

  • Black Tie
Rileigh Benn, Todd DeGarmo, honoree Michael Saunders, and Scarlett Schultes
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 9, 2025
Women in Philanthropy hosts Grande Soirée

The event, now in its second year and featuring a 'Downton Abbey' theme, honored seven women for their contributions to Sarasota's community.

  • Black Tie
1 2 3 4 5 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest News

1
Santa (Steven Trudell of St. Petersburg) gets the runners fired up just before the start of the 2025 Jingle 5K Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
  • December 13, 2025
More than 500 runners go the distance in Lakewood Ranch's Jingle 5K
2
Longboat Key Police Deputy Chief Frank Rubino (left) accepts a framed display of medals, patches and pins that demonstrate his 45-year career in law enforcement.
  • December 13, 2025
Longboat deputy chief with 45 years of experience to retire
Sponsored Content
3
  • December 12, 2025
ANNIE
Sponsored Content
4
  • December 12, 2025
“Catskills After Dark”
5
Nicholas Savarese, a teacher who has a background in chemical engineering, judges junior Lillian Pevzner-Downer's project on the comparison of conventionally grown crops with chemicals and pesticides versus organically grown crops at the Lakewood Ranch High School Science Fair.
  • December 12, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High revives its science fair

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2025 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.

The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now