• 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

Event co-chairs Kimberley Pelyk, Shirley Wulf, Joan Castellani and E-Dee Murphy
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 17, 2024
Guests SPARCCle at Starry Night Soiree to celebrate 45th anniversary

Benefiting the Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center, the event welcomed more than 240 guests to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

  • Black Tie
Carrie and Frank Truaske, Stacey Efaw, Darryl Strawberry, Laurie Swink, Kimberly Weller and Joanne and Ralph Hoehne
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 16, 2024
Selah Freedom supporters gather to end human trafficking

The organization's Light the Path event welcomed celebrity speaker and retired baseball star, Darryl Strawberry.

  • Black Tie
Carol Beeler, VMA Principal Janjay Gehndyu and ESE Director, Jackie Gehndyu.
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 15, 2024
Visible Men Academy spreads love during annual event

The Love Lunch fundraiser supports the charter school to help boys reach their full potential in the classroom and in life.

  • Black Tie
Sailor Circus performers at the Wonder-ous kick off party held at Sailor Circus Arena on Nov. 8 with 120 guests in attendance.
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 12, 2024
Circus Arts Conservatory throws Wonder-ous launch party

The event provided a sneak preview of the Wonderball concert event in the spring.

  • Black Tie
Season is back, but catch up on what you missed over the summer
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 11, 2024
Season is back, but catch up on what you missed over the summer

These and other tidbits from the Black Tie scene — plus a funny lesson in mistaken identities.

  • Black Tie
Co-chairs are Trustee Peter Offringa and Allison Gregory.
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 11, 2024
Artful Lobster raises over $380,000 for Hermitage Artist Retreat programs and hurricane recovery

The sold-out luncheon supported the organization, which provides a place for musicians, writers and artists to create new work.

  • Black Tie
New College junior Lucy Duke paints a work titled "Dionysus" as guests arrive for the cocktail hour.
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 10, 2024
New College Clambake delights with evening on the bay

The event, in its 45th year, provides scholarship opportunities and more for Florida's honors college.

  • Black Tie
SCF Foundation board members (back) Cindy McCollum, Alix Morin, Jodi Allen, Kathleen Cucci, Vernon DeSear and (front) Lois Lucek, Cassandra Holmes, Jane Esbeck, Lisa Krebs-Knepp, Laura Cota and Carol Whitmore.
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 10, 2024
SCF Annual Scholarship Luncheon brings together students, donors

Donors had the opportunity to meet the students who have been helped by their support.

  • Black Tie
The Hershbergers show family is everything: Rob, Elaine and Reid enjoy a night of music and lobster.
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 3, 2024
Rockin' Lobster digs into a good time for Children First

The annual fundraiser brought a happy crowd to the Venice beachside for a night of food, drinks, dancing and fun.

  • Black Tie
Sarasota Art and Dance event curator Gloria Ujvari
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 3, 2024
Sarasota Art and Dance Night delights with performances and art displays

Art Ovation hotel welcomed more than 200 guests for a night that celebrated young performers and a variety of artists.

  • Black Tie
Jessica Rogers with co-chairs Georgia Anderson, Brenda Belsito and Emma Kate Silvestri
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • November 1, 2024
Flip Flops & Fashion packs a day of fun at Venice beach

The annual fundraiser for Children First was a welcome reprieve from dealing with the aftermath of three hurricanes.

  • Black Tie
Kathy Jordan and Kim Davis
    By
  • Lori Sax
  • November 1, 2024
NPR's Eric Deggans enlightens guests at WUSF's annual Listen Up Luncheon

The luncheon welcomed NPR's TV critic and media host, as well as local reporter Cathy Carter.

  • Black Tie
A new column for a new season
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • October 28, 2024
A new column for a new season

As the social season begins — slowly after impacts from the hurricanes — we remain excited to tell the stories of the events to come.

  • Black Tie
Matthew and Jen Barry
    By
  • Lori Sax
  • October 11, 2024
All Faiths Food Bank hosts Autumn Harvest Dinner

The annual event brings together supporters in the warehouse of the Sarasota food bank.

  • Black Tie
Dr. Vincent Fierro, LECOM founder Dr. Silvia Ferretti and Dr. Shailesh Rajguru
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • October 6, 2024
LECOM celebrates students with annual scholarship auction

The Oct. 5 event raised money for student scholarships with hundreds of auction items.

  • Black Tie
« 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 »
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