Tampa Bay History Center Black-tie Gala

Call it N’awlins, NoLa, the Big Easy … by any name, New Orleans’ bon temps culture and cuisine set a festive vibe at the Tampa Bay History Center’s annual Black-tie Gala. Event chairpersons and presenting sponsors Miriam and Christopher Lykes and their four sons shared their deep Tampa-New Orleans connections, from a welcoming lavender lemonade gin cocktail to a CajunCreole seafood extravaganza created by the Columbia Cafe. The Paul Vesco Band entertained as the 400 guests enjoyed jambalaya, muffuletta, gumbo, oyster mushroom etouffee, oysters Rockefeller, crawfish ceviche and much more. The history buffs capped the Nov. 11 gala with a bourbon tasting, chicory coffee, beignets, pralines bourbon bread pudding and bananas Foster. — Amy Scherzer, photos courtesy of Joe Photo Tampa

LAMPLighters 33rd Silver Coffee

The sweet voices caroling jolly Christmas songs at the LAMPLighters Silver Coffee came from some of the homeless children sheltered at Metropolitan Ministries, continuing a heartwarming tradition at the annual benefit to help the agency serve less fortunate families and individuals, as well as abused, neglected and abandoned children in the foster system being cared for at Joshua House. Host Lori Kosloske welcomed more than 250 women to her Avila home in North Tampa on a sunny Dec. 9, where a buffet brimmed with savories and treats made, as always, by the LAMPLighters themselves. CEO Tim Marks expressed Metropolitan Ministries’ deep appreciation for the volunteer homeroom moms program at the Sullivan Partnership School and financial support of more than $2 million since 1986. The event raised $35,000. — Text and photos by Amy Scherzer

Calendar

Contact Amy Scherzer at AmyScherzersDiary@gmail.com.

Feb. 5: Annual President’s Dinner, with guest speaker Dr. Daniel Gordis. Benefits the Tampa Jewish Federation. $218, $90 for 35 and younger. 5:30 p.m. Bryan Glazer Family JCC, Tampa. 813-2649000.

Feb. 9: Philanthropic Women of St. Joseph’s Speaker Luncheon, with guest speaker broadcaster-author Deborah Norville. $125. 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tampa Yacht & Country Club. sjhfoundation@ baycare.org or 813-872-0979.

Feb. 10: Go Red for Women, which benefits the American Heart Association. 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Armature Works, Tampa. For information on tickets or sponsorship opportunities, contact tampabay@heart.org.

Feb. 11: A Night to Remember, the Stuart Society’s 60th anniversary diamond gala. $650 and up. 7 p.m. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. stuartsociety.org.

Feb. 11: Evening of Dreams gala, which benefits Academy Prep of St. Petersburg. $300. 6 p.m. The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, St. Petersburg. bit.ly/APEOD2023.

Feb. 11: Roaring into the Twenties gala, which benefits the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg. $250. 6 p.m. Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club. stpeteymca.org/gala.

Feb. 18: USF Alumni Association Green & Gold Gala. $100, alumni 35 and younger $85. 7 p.m. Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. usfalumni. org/2023g3.

Feb. 18: Carnevale: Opera Tampa Grand

Gala. $450. 6 p.m. David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa. operatampa.org or 813-222-1275.

Feb. 21: Schaarai Zedek Star Event, featuring actor and author Jennifer Grey. $50 and up. 5:30 p.m. Tampa Theatre. zedek.org/starevent.

Feb. 25: 64th Queen of Hearts Ball, which benefits SPCA Tampa Bay and Suncoast Voices for Children. $150. 6 p.m. Hilton St. Pete Carillon Hotel. queenofheartsball.org.

March 4: CITY: Fashion+Art+Culture, which benefits the Tampa Museum of Art. Features designer Naeem Khan. VIP members $275 (nonmembers $300) at 6 p.m., general members $150 (nonmembers $175) at 7 p.m. tampamuseum.org/city.

March 4: Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts Showcase. $75. 7:30 p.m. River Center at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Tampa. gasparillaarts. com/the-showcase.

March 8: 8th annual Spring Soiree, Hospice Women of Philanthropy, with guest speaker Suleika Jaouad. $85. 11:30 a.m. University of Tampa Vaughn Center. foundation4lphgroup@chaptershealth. org or 813-877-2200.

March 10: Women of Distinction/ Woman of Promise luncheon, with guest speaker Telva McGruder. Benefits Girl Scouts of West Central Florida. $75. Noon. Armature Works, Tampa. gswcf. org/wod or 813-262-1688.

March 10: The Chiselers Market Minaret Mixer shopping preview party, which benefits The Chiselers. $75. 6-8 p.m. Plant

Hall, University of Tampa. thechiselers. com or 813-254-2530.

March 11: The Chiselers Market. Free admission. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Plant Hall, University of Tampa.

March 10-11: “Forrest Grape,” Tampa Theatre WineFest. March 10: 7 p.m. premium tasting $125 ($115 members), 8 p.m. grand tasting $95 ($85 members).

March 11: 7 p.m. wine pairing $400 or $750/two. tampatheatre.org/winefest.

March 12: Hollywood Awards Night, which benefits Tampa Theatre. $150 VIP on-stage lounge, $55 mezzanine, $25 balcony. Red Carpet Reception at 6:30 p.m., live Academy Awards telecast at 8 p.m. Tampa Theatre. tampatheatre.org/ hollywood-awards-night.

March 30: Longest Table, which benefits WUSF Public Media. 5:30 p.m. check-in. Downtown St. Petersburg on Bayshore Drive NE from the Museum of Fine Arts to the Vinoy. wusflongesttable.org.

April 1: Karamu black-tie gala, which benefits ZooTampa at Lowry Park. $1,000 and up. 6:30 p.m. 1101 W Sligh Ave., Tampa. zootampa.org/events/karamu/.

April 1: Fostering Hope Black Tie Gala, which benefits A Kid’s Place of Tampa Bay. Tickets $300 and up, sponsorships $500 and up. 5 p.m. Tampa Marriott Water Street. akidsplacetb.org or 813381-3839.

April 1: TASTE at The Straz. $95 general, $175 VIP, $2,000 for a 10-guest table. 6 p.m. VIP, 7 p.m. general admission. David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa. strazcenter.org or 813-229-7827.