When Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium opened its doors to some 300 guests for its annual Party on the Pass, it knew that its restaurant partner, Sarasota Manatee Originals, would satisfy the sophisticated palate of each guest.
Held March 16 at the aquarium, area restaurants served up light bites while a band played and performance artists including an octopus and mermaid aerialists entertained guests.
It seemed a bit fishy, but a well-armed octopus on stilts welcomed guests to the evening. Under the 100-pound-plus costume was one tiny Lynn Sky, who designed and sewed the costume, complete with lights.
Volunteer docents, the Miller sisters are Virginia, who has been a volunteer with Mote for 28 years, and Carol, who has been with Mote for 25 years.
There was much somber chatter about the 44-foot endangered sperm whale that beached itself on March 11, before dying on Service Club Park Beach in Venice. Mote's Stranding Investigations Team led the collection of samples from the 70,000-pound whale, which was underweight and showed signs of old age, before it was towed out about 15 miles offshore.
Proceeds from Party on the Pass support Mote's marine animal rescue, rehabilitation and release programs, which include the Stranding Investigations Team.
Darrell and Ashley McGhee
Photo by Janet Combs
David Altiero, Denise Boyd, Gretchen Lovewell, and Pamela Siderski
Photo by Janet Combs
Former Party on the Pass presenting sponsors are the Kukanza family: Daniel, Allison, Lynn, and Stephen
In the Mote Marine Shark Zone are mermaids Ray D. and Sheyla Maltese.
Photo by Janet Combs
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium Communications Specialist Kathryn Gentile has dolphin artwork applied by Akiko from Akiko Face Painting.
Photo by Janet Combs
Seemingly without a care in the world, this little fish has watched some 300 people appreciate his beauty through the thick glass walls of his tank at the Party on the Pass fundraiser .
Photo by Janet Combs
Lyric Wallenda-Arestov from Cirque Vertigo wows the crowd from some 30 feet above the event.
Photo by Janet Combs
Serving Caesar salad with a special recipe dressing from Euphemia Haye on Longboat Key are Georgette Young and Dianne Page
Photo by Janet Combs
Bonifacio Caro and son, Daniel, are serving their famous Elote, or street corn, from Mi Pueblo.
Photo by Janet Combs
Representing Fins, which is housed at Sharky's on the Pier in Venice, are Aaron Bean and David Eramo, and their lite bite is pork belly on bao buns.
Photo by Janet Combs
Veth Senenoi poses with his wildly popular sushi boat from Pacific Rim.
Photo by Janet Combs
Peter Tracy and Bella Littlejohn from Café Gabbiano on Siesta Key are serving lasagna. Bolognese
Photo by Janet Combs
The Mean Deans gals are Michele Angell and Tammy Troxler and they guarantee their Bayou Shrimp to be a hit with guests.
Photo by Janet Combs
José Rojas and Gino Calleja from Callo De Hacha De Colimo are excited for guests to try their pan-seared sea scallops.
Photo by Janet Combs
Jake Silver and Mackenzie Buechner from Duval's are almost ready to serve their special recipe of mac and cheese with black grouper and shrimp.
Photo by Janet Combs
The always smiling Hal Christenson and Josh Shields are serving Harry's colorful shrimp chorizo. Lollipop
Photo by Janet Combs
From Tsumani are Elizabeth Klamson and Michael Bonetti
Photo by Janet Combs
Deep Sea Diner is on-site at Mote Marine, and tonight Emma Mancini and her dad, John, together with Yuly Torres, are serving Korean pork sliders.
Photo by Janet Combs
Party on the Pass is a zero-waste event, and sisters Tammy and Tracie Troxler are working with Alex Jordan, Joe Zucchini, Will Park and Trent Berry, who are from Sunshine Community Compost.
Photo by Janet Combs
'The Mary's' are Mary Grady and Mary Lycan who are tonight's bartenders from Sarasota Catering Co.
Photo by Janet Combs
Mote Marine volunteer Lynn Cook is thrilled to run the Nothing Bundt Cake station.
Photo by Janet Combs
Chad and Gretchen Lovewell. Gretchen Lovewell is the head of Mote's Stranding Investigation program.
Photo by Janet Combs
Elaine and Rod Hershberger arrive at Mote Marine for the annual Party on the Pass held on Saturday, March 16.
Photo by Janet Combs
Sisters and Mote Marine docents are Virginia and Carol Miller, who have been volunteers for 28 and 25 years, respectively.
Photo by Janet Combs
Michaela Wood, Sarah Wiggins, Katie Wheatley and Jennifer Kay
Photo by Janet Combs
Tracee Murphy, Grant Castilow and Ella Castilow
Photo by Janet Combs
Karen Riley-Love and Sharon Burgess
Photo by Janet Combs
Mermelda Marcos, aka Carla Bright, and Tracy Macek with performance artist Lynn Sky
Beth Sanchez and Dahiana Torres with Lynn Sky in her 100-pound octopus costume.
Photo by Janet Combs
TJ Garman, and his wife, Jenna
Photo by Janet Combs
Jerry Broski gathers drinks for his table.
Photo by Janet Combs
JoAnn Laird and Phil Rosenbaum
Photo by Janet Combs
Dr. Marc Pohl gets his photo with Ray D., Lynn Sky, and Sheyla Maltese from Cirque Vertigo
Photo by Janet Combs
Kathy Grady and Carolyn Hill are looking forward to lite-bites served by area restaurants.
Photo by Janet Combs
Ray D., Lyric Wallenda-Arestov, Sheyla Maltese and Lynn Sky
Coby and Barbara Gaulien enjoy Party on the Pass at Mote Marine.
Photo by Janet Combs
Performance artists from Cirque Vertigo are Ray D., Lyric Wallenda-Arestov, and Sheyla Maltese, with Bonnie Dooley
Live music included the varied sounds of The Hype, and are made up of Alicia Crawford, Charles Foster, and Evan Jones
The Mote Team includes Betsy Kohl, Pamela Siderski, Veronica Lupinacci, Sam Douglas, Danielle Dwyer, Susan May, Andria Piekacz, Lauren Hughey, Alene Fowler, Sean Stover, Kathryn Gentile and Veronica Perrelli
