- April 20, 2024
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+ What a swell party it was!
Beatrice Friedman, lovingly known as the “lady of the lobbies” for her generosity to so many Sarasota nonprofits, turned 95 April 9 and celebrated April 12 at Michael’s On East. The 100 or so guests included friends and four generations of her family from far and near.
The party was special from beginning to end. Daughter Ilene Friedman kicked it off with a video assembled by cousin Jodi Tesser; it featured family members who were unable to get to the party and introduced the grandkids and other family who were there. Ilene also thanked other members of her party team: cousin Sue Tesser, Liliana Cruz and Sarasota Orchestra CEO Joe McKenna. Next up was a clever split frame “Happy Birthday” video from Friedman family protégée Maria Wirries.
Phil Mancini and Friedman have been friends for decades, and he pulled out all the stops for lunch, presenting a buffet of many of Bea’s signature dishes. For dessert, servers delivered a mousse-filled chocolate piano for each guest.
A video from Anu Tali introduced the Sarasota Orchestra concert conducted by Maestro Andrew Lane. Bea has been a pre-eminent supporter of the orchestra and instrumental to furthering its endowment for four decades. You could feel the love when the orchestra played “Chicago” in honor of her former hometown, selections from “Fiddler on the Roof” featuring a solo by concertmaster Daniel Jordan, a medley of songs starting with the letter “B” titled “Baubles, Bangles and Bea” and a clutch of Louis Armstrong favorites.
There were also plenty of little ones at the 16-foot-long family table. Great grandson Alex, 2, came with his parents, Aaron and Amy Frank, from Fairfax, Va., and great granddaughter Ella, 2, with her folks, Ariel and James Edson, from Haymarket, Va., Nephew Glenn Friedman and his wife, Pamela, traveled from Redding, Conn., with their 3-year-old triplets: Hadley, Jake and Lilly.
Local guests included Trevor Kramer, Gretchen and Hal Serrie, Anne and Frank Folsom Smith, Claire Love, Renee Sheade, Doris Kaplan, Lillian Richman, Charlene Carstens, Gerri Aaron, Betty Schoenbaum and Bea’s caregivers Katherine Skinner, Samantha Craig and Ms. Cruz.
+ Calling all grazers, foodies and fun-lovers
Where can you feast on the likes of butterflied leg of lamb on the grill, “Bad To The Bone” baby back ribs, midnight Creole, lobster mac and cheese, pulled pork sliders, shrimp and grits, Sugar Mountain meatloaf with pancetta, Shaker Heights sprouts and more? Only at the May 3 “Men Who Cook” fundraiser benefiting Asolo Rep.
Eight of the 20 men who will be preparing and serving their specialties are Peter Amster, Scott Atkins, Walton Beacham, Ron Belyea, John Bowman, Ed Chiles, Paul Gallagher and Scott George. This end-of-season event is in its fifth year under the leadership of co-chairs Beverly Bartner, Judi Gallagher, Molly Schechter and Margaret Wise.
This is unlike most other benefit dinners. It is informal; the wardrobe call is “festive culinary,” which is what you make it. The auction is brief and wacky; three or four homemade cakes and some unusual dinners for eight. The party starts with cocktails on the lovely Van Wezel verandah and ends with dancing to the music of Scott Blum. Tickets are $200. Reserve online at asolorep.org/menwhocook or call 351-9010, Ext. 4702.
+ Tidbits
Compeer celebration … Howard Rooks hosted a private event for loyal supporters of Compeer Inc. at his home April 15. Around 100 guests attended the event, where they enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the backyard. Guests included Helen Glaser, Pat Anderson, Sam and Norma Savin and Bunny Skirboll. See more photos here …
One party, many birthdays … Bill and Margaret Wise have an April dinner every year to celebrate the spring and a bunch of birthdays. They had the perfect evening for it April 18 with a dinner of seasonal specialties by Ron Giarusso with contributions from some of the guests. The ever-stylish Harold Kendall was the senior birthday boy at a proud 92; the others (in alpha order because BT doesn’t tell): Bob Bartner, Chris Cogan, Kim Githler (in absentia), Teri Hansen, Deb Knowles Kabinoff and Harold Ronson … Special delivery … Diana E. Kelly designed a custom handbag for the April 17 Sarasota Film Festival Tribute Luncheon “At Lunch with … Jane Seymour.” The red leather bags with tassel detailing on the front had the SFF logo on the inside lining and came with a custom cloth cover bag ...
Calendar time … As soon as you schedule your event for next season, please send the following info to [email protected]: event name, date, time, location, chairpersons, group hosting, group benefiting, contact name, phone and email and ticket price.
