Tampa Bay Metro Magazine — Metro Life Media, Inc.
home buttonstyle buttonlife buttonarts buttonbiz button
home page buttondining buttonevents buttondestinations buttonvisitors guide buttonsubscriptions buttonadvertising buttoncontact us button
.
party pics button charity events button charity register button metro events button
B Scene with Brooke Palmer
It's a Heat Wave!

The summer heat has been insane, and it seems the events aren’t cooling off either. Here’s a recap of a few of summer’s hottest happenings.

Former Buccaneer Ryan Nece is a class act. Over the last four years, The Ryan Nece Foundation has given away almost $50,000 in scholarships and grants. Recently, Nece implemented the “Power of Giving” program at a private reception at Mise en Place. Nece gave his closest supporters each $55 and challenged them to take that gift and do something with it - essentially ‘Pay it Forward.’ He also asked that people blog about their experiences on www.ryannece.com to share what the Power of Giving meant to them. Rob Elder, Mary Ann Ferenc, Ernest Hooper and JP Peterson were all on hand to show support. Next up, Nece’s annual Night with the Stars gala in next month’s Metro.

From paying it forward to bottoms up, there were two amazing wine tastings. My amateur sommelier hat was on as I enjoyed Seagrapes, benefiting the Florida Aquarium and the Tampa Bay Food and Wine Festival benefiting the Abilities Foundation and Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation.

Seagrapes featured food from over 20 restaurants and the Florida Aquarium transformed into a wine lover’s paradise. Seen sipping were Brendan and Sandy McLaughlin, Tom Wagner, event chair Jennifer Closshey and Malcolm & Stephanie Bowen.

The Don CeSar, turned the beachfront into a vineyard for the weekend, featuring nearly 100 different wines and spirits from event sponsor Southern Wine and Spirits. Several grape lovers were spotted in the sand including Buccaneers’ Tight Ends coach Alfredo Roberts, DFV Wines’ Jen Singleton, Chef Eric Neri and Mark Bronke from the Don CeSar, Patron’s Sean Hartnell, and Southern’s Gene Sullivan, Byron Hayes, and Craig Kuhl.

Gamers Veronica Swiatek, Cathy Wilson and Sara Quintero hosted their first Token Hour for SouthTampaopoly at Mangroves. Based on the popular board game, SouthTampaopoly features some of South Tampa’s favorite spots with proceeds benefiting Life Path Hospice. The game will be out in September. Inching towards Boardwalk and Park Place were Debbie Lowery, Dale Wilson, Karial Laminati and Dr. David Lubin.

And lastly…The annual Man and Woman of the Year banquet was held, benefiting the Suncoast Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This year’s winners were Bill Gieseking and Sarah Jon Porreca. The event raised over $280,000 to benefit LLS. Supporting such a great cause were Jason & Susanna Tarokh, Lynn Haag, Anthony Cristina, and event emcees Jen Leigh and Jen Holloway. As the 2008 winner, this cause is very special to me, so it is incredible to see the continued success.

Now get out there and B Scene!

--Brooke Palmer

  

Metro Life Media, Inc. 4856 West Gandy Boulevard, Tampa, Florida 33611
(c) Copyright 2009 Tampa Bay Metro Magazine