AROUND TOWN

Wine, food, and fun

Toledo Ballet's Beer and Wine Festival special guest was artistic director emerita Marie Vogt, center, with Mari Davies, left, and Rob Koenig.

The Blade/Jeremy Wadsworth
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In attendance at the Wood County Humane Society Wine & Cheese Benefit were Melissa Cogar, event chairman Jill Borkowski, and board member Maria Smithers.

Wine was the highlight of many recent soirees.

Party animals attended the annual Wood County Humane Society Wine & Cheese Benefit at Bowling Green State University and helped raise about $25,000.

More than 200 attendees shopped the silent auction and dined at tables centered with lovely arrangements donated by Glendale Flowers & Gifts. The yummy chicken dinner was provided by BGSU with individual strawberry pies donated by Frisch's Big Boy and fine wines from Heidelberg Distributing and Barefoot Wines.

Auctioneer Jerry Anderson of WTOL-TV, Channel 11, enticed folks to bid on everything from Florida vacations and sports packages to a baseball signed by Miami Marlins superstar pitcher Mark Buehrle.

Board President Lori Young said the society has been operating for more than 35 years conducting spaying and neutering programs, promoting animal welfare, and adopting out animals.

Toledo Ballet's Beer and Wine Festival special guest was artistic director emerita Marie Vogt, center, with Mari Davies, left, and Rob Koenig.

After the event, chairman Jill Borkowski, an Oregon native, headed back to Lexington, Ky., to rejoin her hubby, Dave, where he is the pitching coach for the Lexington Legends, a Houston Astros minor league team. Mr. Borkowski grew up in Sterling Heights, Mich.

Toledo Ballet's first Beer and Wine Event was at Olander Park. Ciao!, The Andersons, and Heidelberg Distributing provided food and libations served by board members while students from the Toledo School for the Arts played tunes. A beautiful sunset capped the casual evening for 100 party goers. Special guest was founder Marie Vogt, artistic director emerita. The event raised $2,000.

Din're Blanche, or white dinner, a traditional celebration of the summer solstice in Europe, was the theme of the fourth annual Summer in Paris at Treo in Sylvania. The event benefited the Beach House Family Shelter, an emergency shelter for women and families since 1921.

Everything was white, from the food and wine to the attire of the guests who arrived through a giant white tent where champagne was served.

Ann Izzi and Marty Goff at the Toledo Ballet's Beer and Wine Festival at Olander Park.

Among the more than 130 attendees were Mayor Mike Bell, Bruce Schoenberger, Ed Donovan, Susan and Melissa Stoner, Mickey and Sue Rosenberg, John and Cindy Zajac, Tom Kolena, Connie Farrell, Mary Gerken, Ralph and Cheryl Vinciguerra, Al and Janice Zingaro, and Dave and Susan Black, who were celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.

Event chairmen Susan Park, Kim Kaplan, Katrina Iott, and Shannon Loar Tenney report a net of more than $34,000.

The seventh annual Zonta Summer Solstice wine and food pairing event was at W.W. Knight Preserve with nearly 75 attendees. Chef Bill Kolhoff of Walt Churchill's Market presented a tasty menu and Austin Beeman of Churchill's poured and provided wine information.

The roughly $5,000 netted supports the Zonta Club of Bowling Green Scholarship Fund.

St. George Cathedral annual Wine Tasting with Dinner and Silent Auction raised about $12,000 and a lot of fun. For $50 guests enjoyed dinner donated by the Beirut restaurant and desserts donated by Artisanal Pastries, thanks to owners Labib and Karren Hajjar, and of course, lots of wine donated by Heidelberg Distributing. Assisting with the event were church members including Dick Joseph, Mitch Howard, Liz Aouad, Paul Antypas, Gretchen Awad, and John Ellis, church council president.

Dave and Mindy Boellner enjoy the Wine and Beer Festival at Olander Park, thrown by the Toledo Ballet.

Toledo School for the Art's Death by Chocolate presented by The Andersons took place at the school. TSA students played tranquil tunes as guests sipped wine and nibbled sinfully delicious chocolate confections amid beautiful floral arrangements that enhanced the creative Art Garden setting and the Art Gallery indoors.

Among the 325 attendees were co-chairmen Abby Krause, Carla Firestone, and Carrie Serber.

The event celebrates ARTners -- companies and organizations that have collaborative programs and job-sharing arrangements with TSA, and the 176 volunteers who donated more than 1,700 total hours to the school.

More events with wine and other libations are on the slate including the Toledo Zoo's Feast with the Beasts on Aug. 24. The $250 per person dinner will start with appetizers and wine on Tembo Trail and end with a gourmet dinner with wines to match in the African Lodge.