BUSINESS OBSERVER

+ Lilly Pulitzer throws in-store fundraiser for Sarasota Ballet
Lilly Pulitzer on St. Armands Circle held a grand re-opening Nov. 26, since undergoing a small makeover. The old glass door has been painted by Lilly’s design team and will be auctioned off at Ringling in Bloom in February. The ceramic palm tree was replaced with a painted rug and palm tree chandeliers. The store also underwent a paint job including its dressing rooms, its pink walls and a pink mermaid mural. Lilly-isms such as, “The better you dress, the worse you can misbehave,” are scattered around the store.
Ten percent of the proceeds from the grand re-opening night went to the Sarasota Ballet, and a tutu made from Pulitzer fabric and designed by Sarasota Ballet Costume Designer Bill Fenner was auctioned off as well.

+ Bienvenidos, La Malinche
New St. Armands restaurant La Malinche, 40 S. Blvd. of the Presidents, opened its doors Dec. 9. The location is in the former location of the Maus and Hoffman clothing store. The restaurant will be serving authentic Mexican cuisine from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. The restaurant is owned by the Fontanot family. Parents Manuel and Pilar Fontanot, son, Azore Fontanot, and daughter, Patricia Fontanot, all take part in management and operations.

+ Trunk show raises proceeds for Susan G. Komen
The first off-site fundraiser of the Longboat Key Club and Resort Women’s Golf Association Key Niners and tennis, fitness and social groups was held Wednesday, Dec. 7 and Thursday, Dec. 8, at the home of Susan Levine.

Her home was turned into a boutique for a private trunk show, featuring shoes, basket bags, monogrammed handbags and more from Queen Bea Studio, of Delray Beach. Twenty percent of the sales benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The fundraising will continue throughout the month of December on Queen Bea Studio’s website, www.qbsdesigns.com. Shoppers can enter the code “Longboat/Komen” into the comments section at check-out to help the group raise more funds for Susan G. Komen.