After the festive, though grueling (how many parties can one girl go to?), holiday season, Sarasota is settling down to a pensive and thoughtful January.  I think I may have to get out my black, horn-rimmed glasses for my serious girl look.  No ball gowns for me this month, Poodle!  Okay…maybe for just one event.
Sarasota is all atwitter about Ringling College Library Association’s Town Hall Platinum Dinner featuring guest speaker, Tina Brown, at the Ritz Carlton.  Ms. Brown, otherwise known as Lady Evans and famous for the covers of magazines of which she has been the editor of  like Tatler, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Talk, The Daily Beast, and now Newsweek, is jetting into town just before she is scheduled to be a speaker at the Davos World Economic Forum.

  Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Wendy Deming and I are the dinner co-chairs and Kristine Nickel is the overall Town Hall lecture series chair.  Other speakers in the sold-out series are former First Lady Laura Bush; Harvard economics professor Roland Fryer; former commander of the US and international forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal; co-author of Superfreakonomics, Steven Levitt; and Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly. Look for Tina to be as provocative as her magazine covers.  (I admit it, I loved the recent covers of Michelle Bachman and the appropriately-aged, or as many thought, inappropriately-aged, Princess Diana!)  Dinner sponsor is Community Foundation of Sarasota County.
A new, but important event in town may be something you are unfamiliar with.  The Sarasota chapter of the American Friends of Magen David Adom Dinner is raising funds for the MDA team of trained volunteer and professional medical responders, who provide Israel’s entire pre-hospital emergency medical care, including disaster, ambulance and blood services. The MDA National Blood Services Center provides 100% of the blood needs of the Israel Defense Forces and 95% of the blood needs of Israel’s hospitals.  The evening’s featured speaker is Frida Ghitis, the Miami Herald’s world affairs columnist.  Gila Meriwether is chairing the event at Michael’s On East. Linda Lederberg is the major sponsor and ambulance donor.
Empowering Children through Art is the theme of this year’s Junior League Child Advocacy Luncheon, co-chaired by Dr. Heidi Anderson and Suzanne Anderson at the Hyatt Regency.  The guest speaker is Victoria Domenichello-Anderson, an expressive arts educator, and no, your last name does not have to be Anderson to be a part of this luncheon.  The Advocacy Awards honorees are Teen Court – a Junior League founded and created project; Natalie Lewis – a SPARCC advocate; and Anne Whiteside – a foster care volunteer. The centerpieces will be mosaics – art pieces from the children of Oak Park School to show how art helps children express themselves. Sponsors are SCENE Magazine, Kerkering Barberio, Barbara Barrett, US Trust, and the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club.
Four strong, influential women will be honored at the National Council of Jewish Women’s Women in Power Luncheon.  SunTrust Chairman, President, and CEO and all around terrific gal Margaret Callihan, who has actually been receiving all sorts of well-deserved awards and accolades over the past couple of years; Forty Carrots Executive Director and founder, the vivacious Betsy Kane-Hartnett; retired theatrical agent, philanthropist, and non-profit theater champion, the silver-haired, Eva Slane; and attorney, advocate, and real estate educator, the young and feisty, Anne Weintraub. I have read Anne’s postings on Facebook when she is waiting on the phone to speak to a bank and yes, she is definitely feisty!  This luncheon is always a treat.  I enjoy attending and feeling the power of several hundred magnificent women.  The co-chairs are Nina Japhe and Janet Stollman.  Something new this year, hand-crafted vessels by artist Lynnie Siegel will be used for centerpieces and then be available for sale.  A nice way to support an organization whose focus is on social justice by improving the lives of women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.
Doo-wop is not something you usually think of at the prestigious Perlman Music Program’s Perlman and Pearls Gala, but that’s what you will hear.  And not only will you hear it, it will be sung by the great violinist, Itzhak Perlman himself!  Each year the students in the program have chorus rehearsals as part of their training and then at the gala, students, faculty and Itzhak entertain with a doo-wop performance – certainly a change from the classical training they normally receive.  After the celebration concert at the Opera House, you scoot over to Michael’s On East for cocktails and dinner with Itzhak, wife and PMP driving force, Toby, and the PMP faculty and students.  I have attended in the past and it really is a lovely evening.  Barbara Brizdle and Debbie Haspel are co-chairs.  Major sponsors are Mickey and Martin Fine, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, and SCENE.  
Another new event on the scene is Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation’s Women and Medicine – Envisioning New Frontiers Luncheon.  This inaugural event is the brainchild of Ann Charters who was a part of something similar in New York City.  Ann is tri-chairing it with SMH Foundation President and CEO, Alex Quarles and Foundation board chair, Margaret Wise.  Held at the Sarasota Yacht Club, there will be a panel discussion on neuro-regeneration brain research by SMH’s Dr. James Schumacher, Harvard’s Dr. Ole Isacson, and Cambridge’s Penelope Hallett, PhD.  Lead sponsor is PNC Bank, and hosting sponsor is Gulf Coast Community Foundation.
Bring your checkbook to Sarasota Ballet’s On Pointe Luncheon in the Van Wezel Foyer.  It is an “ask” event, where even though you are invited to a complimentary luncheon, you are expected to be so inspired by what you see and hear, you won’t be able to resist making a donation.  Believe me, I know that’s true!  My checkbook has come out at that luncheon before.  The ballet’s adorable Michael Scott told me that it is the ballet’s largest fundraiser with an expected gross of $150,000.  Though the funds support all areas of the ballet, it is essential for the Dance – Next Generation program for at risk children.  I have witnessed a donor watching a performance and immediately getting out her checkbook and funding the entire year’s tuition for that student.  The luncheon changes lives.  Wouldn’t you like to be a part of that?
The dashing Pedro Reis shared with me that the Circus Sarasota Gala - Year of the Dragon will be hot!  And by that he means not only the scantily-clad circus acts and surgically-enhanced second wives attending, but you also might be chased around by a fire-breathing Chinese dragon!  I always love a Chinese theme because the invitations and decorations are so pretty and this one is no exception.  Michael’s On East will be catering “under the big top”, and as the invitation states, dress is “circus glamorous with sensible shoes”.  Pedro is the event coordinator with lots of big society names such as Jewel Ash, Dottie Garner, Janet Hunter, Pat Johnson, Gloria Moss, Mary Ann Robinson, Tana Sandefur, and Marcia Jean Taub, along with Pedro’s beautiful wife and circus royalty, Dolly Jacobs.  This year’s event is a big thank you to Sheriff Tom Knight and PALS for keeping Sailor Circus going for the past eight years before turning it over to Circus Sarasota a few months ago.  I have become a new fan of Sailor Circus this year, as my granddaughter Marina is part of the trapeze act!
Also, hot, hot, hot is Suncoast Communities Blood Bank’s Red Hot! – a first time ever fundraiser for the organization.  The Blood Bank’s Gisele Pintchuck told me they are raising $300,000 for a new blood mobile.  The dinner dance at Michael’s will be just that – dinner, dancing and lots of fun – no auction!  I didn’t think you could actually have an event without an auction!  You will be served a signature blood orange martini, how apropos, and guests are asked to wear “Sarasota Chic with a hint of red”.  Co-chairs are Gina Krinsky and Barrie Lazarus.  The entertainment will be the Tucci Band, as in Dr. Stephen Tucci.  Presenting sponsor is Florida Cancer Specialists followed by Gulf Coast Community Foundation, SunTrust and SCENE.
A bit of the Kennedy family glamour will be present at the Sunshine from Darkness Gala at the Ritz Carlton.  Coping with post-tramatic stress disorder is the topic of the symposium earlier in the day, followed by the gala in the evening honoring former congressman, Patrick Kennedy.  Other special guests are Dr. Charles Hoge, SSG Tommy Rieman, and Paul Freedman.  Sarasota Military Academy will perform a special piece during this patriotic evening.  
I think you can tell we are getting somewhat back to normal in the social whirl with THREE new events this month.  After a fairly somber January, get ready for a black-tie lollapalooza in February with galas galore!  Yippee!
Until next month…TaTa!