On the Town: Steppin' up

Local folks put on their best duds and some funky dancing shoes to sip a little fruit of the vine on the way to raising money for their favorite causes.

If the shoe fits

Fancy and funky shoes were the rage for Steppin Out: The Funky Shoe Event for the Toledo School for the Arts Saturday night at the Toledo Club.

Guests, more than 200 of them, strutted about in all kinds of footwear stripes, polka dots, high heels, flats, and more as the Glass City Steel band played peppy tunes suitable for tapping toes. Before heading to the party, Scott Lightfoot, head of TSA Technology, snapped photos of the funky footwear, and guests enjoyed viewing the collection on a big screen.

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From left, Betsy and Tom Brady, Carla Firestone, and Marty Porter admire the Yamaha Vino 125 in raspberry metallic. The scooter is worth $3,500. <br> <img src=http://www.toledoblade.com/graphics/icons/photo.gif> <font color=red><b>VIEW</b></font>: <a href=" /apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=TO&Dato=20090316&Kategori=ART03&Lopenr=316009998&Ref=PH" target="_blank"> <b>OTT: Steppin' up </b></a> photos

But the guests came to party and party they did.

Cocktails and canapes smoked salmon tartlets and more whetted everyone s appetites for a tasty gourmet meal of beef tenderloin and shrimp, with sides that included a salad with homemade balsamic vinegar dressing. Coffee and shoe-shaped chocolates tied it all together. The festive shoe theme laced the Toledo Club; tables were centered with embellished shoes set atop decorated shoe boxes.

The silent auction, a good fit for everyone, included a few accessories for shoes, including a Vera Bradley purse, watch set, and more.

The live auction was, well, lively. Attendees kicked up the bidding wars for vacation and entertainment packages, art, and the big one: a 2009 Yamaha Vino 125 in raspberry metallic, valued at $3,500. Of course, the Adam Grant Giclee Trio valued at $1,200, was also a draw as was the framed archival print of the 2004 Art Tatum Jazz Festival poster, which was signed by Tom McGlauchin.

Among the more than 200 souls no heels were allowed were honorary chairmen Tom and Betsy Brady, plus Rob and Casey Koenig, Mike and Betsy Urbanski, Marty and Ann Porter, Sara Jane and Bill DeHoff, Steve and Kay Foster, Weezie and Blake Stoddard, Tim and Areka Foster, Jim Findlay, Ben and Ashley Prior, Rosemary and Gordon Haggett, Joel and Davie Epstein, Charlotte and Brian Stavermann, John and Mary Fedderke, Paul and Rona Rothschild, Janet Rogolski, Lachman and Nancie Chablani, Su Pa and Francie Kang, Ann Baker, John and Jeannie Hayward, Barbara Eikost, Alice and Ed Weber, Laurie and Jerry Watson, Tim and Nancy Alter, Erik and Mary Jergensen, and Paul and Yvonne Lahti.

The auction committee included Carla Firestone, chairman, and Jeff Anderson, Amy Borman, Mike Calabrese, Shawn Gillikin, Yvonne Goodman, Sandy Miller, Alice Momenee, Joel Nedrow, Marna Ramnath, Carrie Serber, and Leslie Taylor.

In addition to a ton of fun, the event, underwritten by Rudolph Libbe and sponsored by The Blade, netted about $30,000 from the live and silent auctions.

A separate scholarship appeal reaped more than $8,000 to help students to attend special arts camps and other programs.

You gotta have heart

The American Heart Association presented the inaugural Glass City Heart Ball Saturday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Levis Commons.

Red hearts and linens set the scene for an elegant evening that included a wine reception sponsored by St. Luke s Hospital and a candlelit dinner with vocalist Jeff Stewart.

While most supporters wore black, a few red dresses gave that burst of color to the scene. Many of the big-hearted people there slipped away to shop the silent auction sponsored by ProMedica. Emcees Mary Beth and Rick Woodell of 101.5 FM, The River, kept the evening rolling.

Welcoming everyone was Dan Wakeman, president and CEO of St. Luke s Hospital. Most importantly, there was serious talk about heart problems that affect people of all ages from newborn children to seniors. Four heartwarming testimonials added a personal touch. One story was especially touching: a baby who did not survive.

Bringing the evening back to fun, auction chairman Joanne Wack and her committee made sure the live auction was too tempting to resist. And a special appeal added to the lively setting.

Event chairman Dr. Ameer Kabour of Toledo Cardiology Consultants, the lead sponsor, presented Dr. Jeffrey Gold with the Legacy of Life Award. Dr. Gold is the provost and executive vice president of Health Affairs and Dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Toledo.

Among the 380 people in the crowd of diverse ages were Marv and Nancy Robon, Caroline and Scott McMahon, Shirley and Richard Joseph, Cliff and Debbie Porter, Donna Woodson, Catherine Wixey, John Smythe and Libby Martin, and the Heart Association s board chairman, Tom Tousley of Wilcox Financial, and president, Dr. Paul Berlacher of Northwest Cardiology Consultants.

Among the board members were Megan Fulkerson, Elizabeth Kollar, David Lindstrom, Joe Shapiro, and Anita Voveris. The University of Toledo had more than 50 guests.

The program over, it was time to get in a little cardiovascular exercise and dance the night away to the tunes of Velvet Jones.

The estimated net is more than $145,000, however, the totals are not in.

Fezzes and friends

The 56th Annual Illustrious Potentate Charity Ball honoring Noble Marlon Shockley, Sr., was Saturday at Stranahan Theater.

Some of the ladies in long gowns and the gents in tuxes proudly wore the symbols of the order during the formal affair.

The ball, presented by Mecca Temple #43, was organized by event chairman Noble Clarence Jones II, Chief Rabban.

In vino veritas

Ahh, the color, the bouquet, the balance, the harmonious clarets, the full-bodied personality. A Knight of the Vine was last Tuesday at Real Seafood. Restaurant bigwig Mainstreet Ventures was host for the evening labeled as an auction of rare wines and dinner of fine food to benefit St. Francis de Sales High School s Endowment Fund.

Several sponsors helped out as well, including Heidleberg Distributing Company, Trinchero Family Estates, and many others.

And ooh, the melt in your mouth and sinfully delish meal, from the assorted seafood platter of seared tuna on a sweet potato and miniature crab cake, to the baby brioche and crostini with wild mushrooms to the yummy field greens with candied pecans and dried cherries, blue cheese, and sherry vinaigrette, to the pan roasted maine scallops and grilled filet medallions to the assorted desserts, all with fancy wines to match.

Perhaps some who took a break between courses were cleansing their palate; they found time to bid at the silent auction tables. The excitement began as folks bid on wines and wine-related packages, plus vacation and sports packages with auctioneer Jerry Anderson.

Lot No. 1 was two 1.5L magnums of 1997 Concha Y Toro Don Melchor Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon in wood boxes. Another lot included three magnum bottles of Rodney Strong Reserve. A case of Montecristo Edmundos cigars was also for sale as was a collection of 12-year-old Dewars scotch, 12-year-old Aberfeldy single highland malt scotch, and a 21-year-old Aberfeldy single highland malt scotch.

Big-ticket items included a Paris Champagne trip bought by Jan Wilcox, a Swiss Alps trip bought by Sandy Hylant, and a collection from Paul Berlacher s personal wine cellar, which was purchased by Nancy Bingle. Paulette Geiger won the bid for three items in the silent auction as well as at least three live-auction items. The event netted $71, 260.

Among the attendees were Gerry Bihn, Larry Boyer, Jeff and Elisa Cooley, Sue Hague-Rogers, Rita Mansour, Don and Darla Harbaugh, Pat Giamarco, Sandra Hylant, Alan Kimple and Barbara Steele, Tom McHugh, Sarah North, and Tom and Connie Schmidt.