By Debbi  Benedict

We are blessed with a town that tries. Even when the chips are down, people make an effort – an effort to support and organize all of the marvelous charity events and an effort to dress beautifully. It was no easy task making selections for my first Showstopper Awards. I literally could have named scads of men and women who make our days brighter and prettier just by dressing well. And the events! Committees worked diligently and creatively to provide us with days and nights of feeling good about our community and took our minds off more pressing matters, at least for a few hours.
Applause, applause for the events, people and companies that made the show stop with their fabulousness and provided us with a season we’ll not soon forget. Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting our first annual SCENE Showstopper Awards...

Best Dressed Young Female
Barbara Portanova – Classic Grace Kelly cool beauty and low-key glamour blended with a sorority girl’s bubbly smile and personality is what I think of when I see Barbara Portanova. Since she and charismatic husband, Zeb, popped up on the social scene a few years ago, Barbara is always beautifully and elegantly dressed, but is still appropriately young and chic, as befitting her age and her place in society as the wife of a young business titan and the co-owner of her own sweet stationary shop.

Best Dressed Young Male
Vinny Sizemore – Big city street cred combined with laid back, small-town cleverness, Vinny Sizemore guides perpetually hip young Sarasotans in all things denim at his Stitch boutique. With his easy smile and devil-may-care swagger, he is the pied piper of the cool cats roaming the clubs and injecting energy to up-and-coming events in town.

Best Dressed Female
Susan Jones – Trendy panache mixed with timeless sophistication, Susan Jones’ chic charm was on display at every event I spied her at this year. She seems to know just the right accessory to add to give strength and individuality to each look. What gives her that special edge is the unabashed truthfulness in her voice. Susan is a magnetic woman whose character is as strong as her style.

Best Dressed Male
Andrew Vac – Andrew Vac’s bespoke tailored suits speak of the care and effort that goes into being an impeccably dressed man. I don’t think I have ever seen Andrew with a hair out of place, have you? No matter what the occasion, Andrew can be found dressed to the nines and sometimes, even the tens! Of course, his best accessory is the delicious Ramona Glantz.

Best Luncheon Event
New College's Pique-nique sur la Baie – The sight of 400 women and men in gorgeous spring time chapeaus worthy of a grand Ascot outing, flittering around the grounds of the stately Charles Ringling Mansion on the New College campus is part of what makes Pique-nique sur la Baie so incredibly special. With the deep blue bay sparkling in the background, the white runway punctuates and divides the brightly colored tablecloths and opulent floral centerpieces. The Neiman Marcus fashion show never fails to amuse and surprise. But the best thing – there is not a better place to see and be seen in the springtime and mingle with society’s sterling swans than this popular event.

Best Casual Event
USF Brunch on the Bay – It was a magnificent gulf coast day – the bay was glistening, the sun was shining, and the Powel Crosley estate was polished to a high gleaming gloss. Students greeted the throngs into the largest event tent ever, lined with tables featuring yum, yum, yummy food from the best restaurants in Sarasota and Manatee counties. The best thing about it? It’s the one event that is attended by the who’s who of both counties. All you can eat, and all you can meet – what could be better?!

Best Black Tie Event
JFCS Gala – The evening celebrated the first night of Chanukah with traditional fare and the lighting of the menorah, but the event was so much more than just a dinner and a little entertainment. Magically different and culturally alluring was the experience when Maestro Lief Bjaland and the superb Sarasota Orchestra entertained at Gershwin, Glorious Gershwin at the Ritz Carlton. Performing a specially designed concert, underwritten by philanthropist extraordinaire, Bea Friedman, the orchestra executed the music flawlessly. It was an evening that will linger in our hearts for a long time. Bravo!

Readers’ Choice ? Favorite Event
SMHF’s Rock the Ritz – Who knew doctors could be so much fun? The Corinthian Gala’s Rock the Ritz had a striking South Beach lounge vibe and kept more than 500 guests wiggling and jiggling on the dance floor all night long. “Bouncers” kept everyone moderately under control, but you know how those doctors’ wives (and husbands!) can be. The best part of the evening though was when the doctors and celebrities jammed some hot, hot tunes on stage.

Most Interesting Decor or Theme
The Orchid Ball — Brightly dressed young African dancers led the Orchid Ball revelers through the walkway around the bay front of Selby Gardens into the event tent. Out of Africa was the bold theme carried out from the cheetah print invitations to the beat up bush-battered jeep, to unique food that was served while seated on bamboo chairs at a table with bird of paradise centerpieces and camp lanterns. I could almost hear the lions roaring on the savanna.

Best Invitation
Mote Marine — Mary Ellen Seyle of Designworks Advertising Associaties designed the best invitation of the season. Mote Marine Laboratory’s Magnificent Seven theme, highlighting and honoring their seven scientists, was truly inspired. How in the world did they get seven staid scientists to dress up in cowboy gear and pose as gunslingers? Did they threaten to withhold their funding? In a time when event chairs were cutting back on invitations, Mote boldly moved forward with a 14-count deck of cards done in sepia tones that were underwritten by a generous donor. It was a fabulous concept that caught your eye and an exemplary educational tool – just what a great invitation should be!

Readers’ Choice ? Best Emcee/Auctioneer
Cliff Roles — What can be said about our favorite Englishman, Cliff Roles? That he’s handsome, debonair, and delightfully flirty? Well, yes, all of that, but he also helps to raise tons of money for numerous charities as he emcees and plays auctioneer at more events than you can count. You don’t want to be waving hello to a friend across the room while on Cliff’s watch or the next thing you know, you’ve bought that European trip or extravagant piece of jewelry!

Readers’ Choice ? Best Event Moment
Girls Inc. — Girls Inc. couldn’t have planned this moment any better even if they had tried. North Port teenager, Jessica Escobar, had just walked on stage to accept a scholarship from West Coast Woman when she tried to speak about her life journey, and was overcome by emotion to the point of almost not being able to go on. Her mom had lost her job and her dad was working as hard as he could, and still wasn’t able to make ends meet. Jessica had to go to work to help supplement the family income, in addition to a full load at school. The financial situation had clearly taken a very big toll on the family. Jessica had been working so hard that she hadn’t thought about her life story until she heard herself talk about how difficult things had been. As she started to open up, the tears flowed. Everyone in the audience was visibly moved. As originally planned, right after that, Girls Inc. board member Anand Pallegar stepped up to ask the audience to look into their hearts, open their wallets and give freely to help more girls just like Jessica. Needless to say, the serendipitous tears and emotional story worked and lots of dollars were raised.

Most Philanthropic Established Corporate Sponsor
Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen — Since 1925, the law firm of Williams Parker Harrison Dietz and Getzen has been supporting local arts and human service non-profits. Sarasota’s largest locally-based law firm champions groups as diverse as All Faiths Food Bank, American Heart Association, and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens with their efforts in giving back to the community that has embraced and encouraged them for so many years.

Most Philanthropic Emerging Corporate Sponsor
The Private Client Group at National City — The Private Client Group at National City has gone all out the past few years, dropping major money all over town, determined to be a distinctive presence in Sarasota, and they have succeeded beautifully! I think they touched every major arts organization in town. What next year will bring with the merger with PNC is anyone’s guess, but for now, they are definitely on the scene.

Most Involved Established Corporate Executive
Veronica Brady, Suntrust — Was there ever a time when SunTrust VP, Veronica Brady was not at most every event in town? You always notice her because she doesn’t sit down and eat; she eagerly hops from table to table greeting clients and prospective clients with a hug and a quip. This is one gal who knows how to work a room!

Most Involved Emerging Corporate Executive
Matthew Bower, Susan Brennan and Scott Collins, The Private Client Group At National City — The trio of Matthew Bower, Susan Brennan, and Scott Collins (above, L-R) was everywhere this season as they sponsored events as varied as the Sarasota Opera Curtain Raiser to the Education Foundation Speaker Luncheon to the Florida WineFest Grand Brunch and Charity Auction. These three make an all-out effort to totally blanket events major and minor, and it shows in the growth of their business. Doing good almost always means doing well, and doing well they have.