Area calendar fat with parties

Super Bowl parties, Fat Tuesday, and now Valentine's Day on Monday - they certainly play havoc with diets.

Some got a head start on Valentine's Day at "The Chocolate Affair" Jan. 30 presented by Sylvania Community Services. Nearly 150 chocolate aficionados attended the event at the Sylvania Community Services Center.

Among the treats were a "mile-high" chocolate cake from Max and Erma's, Chocolate Oreo Cake from Grumpy's, chocolate pastries from Michael's Catering, petits fours from Brieschke's Bakery, brownies from Syd and Diane's, and cookies on a stick from Cookies by Design. Also tempting the taste buds was a chocolate fountain provided by Sylvania Country Club with fresh pineapple, strawberries, marshmallows, and pretzels for dipping.

While sampling the foods, guests shopped at a silent auction. A live auction was conducted by Robert Shiels of WTOL-TV, Channel 11.

Judi Reese, left, and Debby Sheets look over silent auction items at The Chocolate Affair in Sylvania.

Extra sweet was the $8,000 net from the two-hour event to support SCS, which includes the senior center, child care, and community education. Event chairman Karen Smith was assisted by board president Ed Zinn and a host of volunteers.

FAT TUESDAY was the last chance for many folks to binge on treats. Of course, lots of people already had their fill at Super Bowl parties, which were in full swing Sunday evening. Larry Boyer missed a few good parties here at home because he was in San Diego on business, so he attended a party there with more than 1,000 guests, including former San Francisco 49er Dwight Clark.

Meanwhile Bob Thompson, who was in Chicago to attend the Strictly Sail boat show, fractured his ankle while helping a friend at his hotel. But the good news is that the hotel upgraded his room to a suite, so he watched the Super Bowl in luxury.

AFTER THE Classics Concert on Friday, the Toledo Symphony hosted a reception at Diva restaurant for "20 Under 40" nominees from 2004. Among the younger movers and shakers of Toledo were Phil Miclot, Bill Garbe, Kristen Cajka, David Dobrzykowski, and Betsy Steinhauer.

Toledo Symphony members attending included resident conductor Chelsea Tipton II with his guest, Virginia Austin, plus Merwin Siu, a 20 Under 40 recipient, and Valentin Ragusitu, Georg Klaas, Jocelyn Langworthy, Allan Santos, Joel Tse, Kimberly Bryden, Sandra Clark, Garth and Leslie Simmons, and Gabe Sobieski.

The weekend's concerts were in honor of Edward H. Schmidt, who established the Edward H. Schmidt Musical Arts Fund, so his son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Connie Schmidt, hosted a gathering in their Eagle Point Colony home after the Classics Concert on Saturday. Toledo Symphony musicians and trustees sipped and supped with the group, including guest artist William VerMeulen, who wowed concert-goers with his performance on the horn. Mr. Tipton, Robert Bell, symphony president and CEO, and Catherine Maciariello, program officer of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, were there, too, as were many musicians, including Emilie Sargent, Ellen Craig, Renee and Robert Goubeaux, David Dyer, Cheryl Trace, Damon Coleman, Richard and Connie Alleshouse, Cristina Muresan, Amy Chang Simon with her husband, Kerry, and Ric Wolkins.

THE TOLEDO Symphony has support from sponsors, donors, members, and more, but always part of the group is the Symphony League. Parties of Note, a series of parties throughout the year presented by the league, helps raise funds for the symphony. Most recently was the Game Factor party in the Perrysburg home of Myrna and David Bryan with co-hosts Joni and Tom Fought. The evening of poker, blackjack, and other games helped net $1,390.