Black Tie & Tales 03.17.16

We can't always make it to every event in town, but we love to tell you about them...
Jamie and Fran Becker, along with Joan and Bob Geyer, hosted an event March 6 at The Field Club to educate people about the amazing work Everyday Blessings and Springboard do to foster children in our community. “It was a heartwarming event with speakers, who were two very brave 16-year-olds currently in the program. We also had a woman, who adopted three children (a sibling group) from Everyday Blessings last year, come back and talk about how much it has changed her life,” says Jamie Becker. About 50 guests attended, along with 20 children, who received an age-appropriate message regarding foster care. The children also made picture frames to give as gifts to the foster children in the program.

“Sips for Satchel’s” was held March 4, at Elizabeth Viktoria Salon & Spa. The event brought awareness to Satchel’s Last Resort, and guests enjoyed music, light bites and cocktails while meeting some of the rescue dogs from the shelter. Event planner Jennifer Matteo organized the event and ended up rescuing one of the pups. — HMS

The parrot shirt at the Tropicana
When it comes to interesting or standout apparel at events, we are typically the first to ask, but last Saturday, we quickly took a photo of Tom and Sherry Koski as we were leaving the Asolo Gala, said hello and then were on our way. We can’t believe we didn’t ask about his shirt, because ALL WEEK LONG, people were asking us about it. Luckily, we ran into him again at The Field Club on Thursday and said “Tell us everything we need to know about this bird shirt.” So here it is: While visiting Key West back in March 2000, Tom saw this shirt and ended up not buying it — and always regretted that he didn’t. Just so happens that fast forward 16 years later, he and Sherry are back in Key West, stop in the store, and it’s still there. He finally got that shirt and debuted it at Asolo Rep’s “Cabaret at the Tropicana last Saturday. The perfect event for that amazing shirt. — HMS

Ever more romantic at 90
Fred Mackenzie is yet another example of how our town seems to attract the most remarkable people. Never mind that he has five academic degrees, including a Ph.D. in psychology; that he was a naval officer in the Pacific Theatre in World War II; that he has published two books and both lived and worked in Europe, Africa and the Middle East as well as all over North America. Of late, he divides his time between Longboat Key and Princeton, N.J., and he celebrated his 90th birthday with about 40 family and friends at the Fairway Bay Clubhouse on March 12.

Mackenzie divided his comments into three parts – about his guests, himself and his wife, Nancy Lee. Acknowledging that he is stronger on science than spirituality, he first calculated that the distances traveled by his guests to get to his fete added up to two-and-a-half-times the circumference of the globe. (Did I mention his sense of humor?) Then he somehow managed to produce a fairly credible scientific proof that angels exist by drawing on Druid legend associated with All Hallows Eve, which is his wife’s birthday. His conclusion: “My wife is not an angel. She is an archangel. An archangel trumps an alpha male every time and living with an archangel is, well, let’s just say it is divine.” — MS

Let's ride

For those of you on social media, you most likely know that a cycling studio opened on University Parkway this past week. Cycle Bar has been offering private rides for organizations in town, as well as free open rides for people to see what the studio is all about. Because I could still lose a few post-pregnancy pounds, I signed up and “clipped in” to see what Cycle Bar is all about. — HMS

My concluding thoughts ... The staff is amazing. The studio is so cool and well designed. Most importantly, you get a really good workout (and you get a free water bottle — sweet!). If you want to check it out, Cycle Bar is located at 5275 University Parkway, #101.

Tidbits
Male plumage at Asolo’s Cabaret at the Tropicana … George Adley in colorful Lily Pulitzer “Men’s Stuff” and Bruce Lesser, always a standout, this time in gold lamé and blue. Even Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards who basically abhors dressing up was in a tuxedo because, he explained, “I love my ladies too much. This tuxedo is for you.”  Raul Molina was in his element in a seersucker suit… First night out … So great to see Len Garner at the Asolo gala, his debut for the season … From the tennis court to the dance floor … Gene Noble has a new passion, ballroom dancing, acquired with just a little help from his lady Pat Talbott … Happy Saint Patrick’s Day … May the luck of the Irish enfold you! —MS