The Buzz: Dr. Russell Rainey celebrates 25 years practicing dentistry

Where to go when you want to be in the know.

Welcome to The Buzz, Tallahassee Magazine’s column created to share who’s where and what they’re doing. While we try to flit around with all of Tallahassee’s social butterflies, the Buzz can’t be everywhere. Send the skinny on your next soiree to buzz@rowlandpublishing.com.

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As a “thank you” to all who have supported its work on behalf of companion animals throughout the years, the Leon County Humane Society invited donors and sponsors to a Southern-style Celebration of Compassion, held Oct 6.

Frank and Peper Willis welcomed about 200 people to The Barn at the Old Willis Dairy on Centerville Road. With the help of many sponsors, and the exceptional creativity of chair Tracey Van Hook, the grounds were transformed into a party venue, featuring food stations, signature drinks and sweet treats under the enormous oak tree from The Cake Shop and Lofty Pursuits and the bluegrass sounds of Blue & Lonesome.

Loving on some foster kittens and puppies who made an appearance at the event were Dana and Bob Brilliante, Dora Hittinger and John Austin, Daryl Green, Martin and Susan Proctor, Rick Kearney and his son, Josh, and Cindy Owen Briley.

Local veterinarians were generous sponsors of the event, including Mitch and Malee Potter, new owners of Allied Veterinary Emergency Hosptial; Kevin and Lauren Brumfield, owner of Northwood Animal Hospital and The Animal Hospital & Pet Resort at SouthWood; and Lynn and Hallie Hagood, with North Florida Animal Hospital.

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Power of the Purse (POP), United Way of the Big Bend’s women’s leadership initiative, kicked off its 2012–2013 year with a fun “Cupcakes and Beer” fundraiser on Oct. 10 at the home of Susie Busch-Transou.

This event featured a variety of beers provided by Tri-Eagle Sales and sampled beer-infused treats. Artistic Confections, Katie’s Cakes & Catering in Havana, Tasty Pastry Bakery and Lucy & Leo’s created and donated unique treats to the event, including sweets such as dark chocolate Kona Pipeline Porter cupcake with pumpkin chai cream cheese frosting, hummingbird cake infused with Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat beer and a margarita cupcake using Bud Light Lime-a-rita.

This event wasn’t just about cupcakes and beer — women also opened their hearts and their pocketbooks, donating $5,000 to POP’s early literacy work. Proceeds from the event will help begin work for POP’s READ UNITED program. The goal is to purchase 5,000 books this year said Brooke Hallock, the 2012–13 Chair of POP.

Those enjoying the tasty evening included Allison Tant Richard, Liz Thomas, Stephanie Derzypolski, Amity Gay, Sophie Patent Smith, Deanna Samaha, Kim Kelling, Jennie Schnitker, Nan O’Kelley, Patricia Greene, Mia McKown, Liz Hirst, Jeanette Will Yaeger, Kristen Black and Jennifer Jennings Carter.

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Dr. Russell Rainey threw himself a grand party Oct. 19 at his Seventh Avenue offices to celebrate his 25 years practicing dentistry and to welcome Dr. David Cardman to the dental team.
On hand to help fete the good doctor were Joe and Sue Boyd and Rob Boyd, Les and Jacque Clemmons, Dr. and Mrs. Baxter Byerly, Dr. Tyler Baldock, Nancy and Bill Thompson, and Hank and Nancy Williams.

Enjoying fried seafood from the Seinyard and scrumptious hors d’oeuvres from Black Fig were Jamie Ledo, Col. Don Pickett, Roger and Jan Kaufman, Dr. and Mrs. Jim Davis, Dr. and Mrs. Jay Walton, Flecia Braswell, Fred McCord, Joyce Phipps, Allen Long and Bryan and Beth Desloge. Also on hand were Velma Proctor, Brad Mitchell, Elizabeth Gwynn and Sherman Rosier.

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A good time was had by all at the annual Tall Timbers Open House, held Oct. 14. On hand for the event were Kim Sash and Pierson Hill, Kevin McGorty, Shane and Nia Wellendorf and Lane and Susan Green.

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Friends, family, local leaders and the media were invited for a night-before-opening preview of Midtown’s The Front Porch restaurant on Oct. 29. The city had been hotly anticipating the opening of the restaurant, which rose in the footprint of Chez Pierre.

An army of servers passed hors d’oeuvres and kept wine glasses full as guests toured the main floor, the second-level meeting rooms and finished up with a rare peek into the kitchen of Executive Chef Joe Rego.

The restaurant’s modern Cape Cod look was designed by Catherine Baker of SheltonDean Designs, who was also responsible for the unique look of Hotel Duval. But while the hotel reads dark and retro, The Front Porch features a palette of pale, washed-out blues and greys that suggest summer at the shore.

The restaurant’s eponymous porch is huge, and in the middle sits a huge polished concrete-topped bar ably manned by veteran bartenders Carlos Veigas and David English. Local hospitality favorite Lee Satterfield is also part of the restaurant’s team.

Local politicos on hand included Tallahassee Mayor John Marks and commissioners Andrew Gillum, Nancy Miller and Gil Ziffer as well as county commissioners Kristin Dozier and Bryan Desloge, who was joined by his wife, Beth, and their newly minted attorney daughter, Elizabeth.

The Fourth Estate was represented by the Tallahassee Democrat’s “girl about town,” Elizabeth Mack and Doug Blackburn, WFSU’s Tom Flanigan, radio host “Captain Chuck” Simpson, Tallahassee Magazine Publisher Brian Rowland and WCTV anchor Gina Pitisci.

Also spotted were Dewitt and Kathy Miller, Tom and Stephanie Derzypolski, Jim and Annette Kittrell, Becky Smith, Glenn Swann, Lee and Terry Daniel, Katie Kole, Ian Harnden, Scott and Sha Maddox, Adam Corey and Jim and Pam Pafford.

The following day, owners Chad Kittrell, John McNeill and Frank Whitle, and managing partners Marc Bauer and Chris Clark, cut the ribbon and the restaurant was open for business.

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The first Goodwood Jams fundraiser on Friday, Oct. 12 was a smashing success. Entertaining under the stars were musical guests the North Mississippi Allstars and Tishamingo.

Spotted in the crowd were chair Cissy Proctor and her husband, Stewart, Ben and Tricia Willis, Betty and Julian Proctor, Tim and Carol Edmond, Dr. Spencer Stoetzel, Jimmy and Josie Gustafson, Dr. Kathryn Langston, JT Burnette and Kim Rivers, and Kathy and Jim Dahl.

The festivities didn’t compete with FSU gameday, but continued with a Sunday Fun Day under the oaks, with entertainment provided by The Wild Turkeys. Enjoying the beautiful day were Lorrane Ausley and Bill Holliman, Marvin and Gingir Andrews, Brittany and Wilson Dean, Shanna Williford and Glen Ray. Laurie Dozier was there with the ladies in his life, wife Kelly and daughter Kristen, who used the occasion to celebrate their birthdays.

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Among those enjoying the Ability 1st fundraiser at Florida State University’s Alumni Center were Mart Hill, John and Kelly Pettit and Kira Pettit.

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Those of us who are of a “certain age” and grew up in Tallahassee will remember The Chaotics, a favorite band at Leon High School events in the ’60s. Playing up a storm for a Halloween dance were Fred Andrews, Bill and Lissa Moon, Richard Bevis, Jimmy Graham and Jimbo St. John.

Dancing the night away were Wayne and Susan Andrews, Frank and Sherry Andrews, Donna Godwin, Nena Daws, Bonnie Bevis, Bonnie Andrews, Paul and Mollie Hill and Linda Palmer.

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Sept. 29 was Moving Day, a walk to support the National Parkinson Foundation North Florida Chapter. Among the teams that raised money were Marvin’s Movers, celebrating Marvin Andrews. On hand at the SouthWood event were Nan Nagy, Darcy Cavell, Anne Jolley Byrd, Krista Stephens, Sandy Watts and Jen Taylor.

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Nashville recording artist Ty Herndon and Tallahassee favorite King Cotton “westernized” the Goodwood Carriage House for Living Well in Your Boots, a fundraiser to support the foundation started by Joanna Francis to help breast cancer patients with living expenses. Those who attended included Ginger and Jerome Cox, Steve and Jennifer Schafer, Dan and Genna Wilcox, Hettie Spooner, Lindsay Elliott and Anne and Hans Schroeder.

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Bob and Marcia Thornberry hosted one of the first holiday gatherings of the season Nov. 7 at their lovely home deep in Betton Hills for the Board of Trustees and the Foundation Board of Tallahassee Community College. Among those attending were Marshall Cassedy, Jr., Wayne and Betty Edwards, Dana Callen, Pat and Jane Dallet, Pam Butler, Jimmy and Donna Callaway, Allison DeFoor, Randy Guemple, TCC President Jim Murdaugh and his wife Sara, Frank and Quincee Messersmith, Joe and Mary Pankowski, Mike and Patricia Illers, Brooks and Almena Pettit, Brian and Cherie Rowland, Rick and Michele Shapley, Curtis Richardson, David and Winnie Schmeling, Gayle Swedmark and Kevin and Brenda Vaughn. Staffers on hand included Robin Johnston, Ranie Thompson, Kendrah Richards, Bev Reynolds, Ysonde Jensen and Lori Smith.

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A tough and tasty competition took center stage off the field at Doak Campbell Stadium the morning of the Share a Little Sunshine Showdown game between the Florida State Seminoles and University of Florida Gators. VISIT FLORIDA, the Florida Department of Agriculture and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association hosted the Ultimate Tailgate hamburger cook-off and party, giving students from both schools a chance to strut their culinary stuff in front of world-renowned chef Emeril Lagasse and an audience of Seminole and Gator fans.

As the student teams prepared their burgers, Lagasse, who was taping a TV show, interviewed Candi Fisher about her tailgate menu and talked football with former Gator quarterback Chris Leak, who knows a thing or two about winning a national championship after leading his team to the top in the 2007. In between takes and segments, Gator and ’Noles fans, including state Rep. Bryan Nelson from Apopka, Leon County Commissioner Bryan Desloge, VISIT FLORIDA’s President/CEO Will Seccombe, Lee Daniel of Visit Tallahassee and his wife Terry, the director of sales at Aloft Hotel in Tallahassee, Hotel Duval’s General Manager Marc Bauer and his wife Pam, and FRLA president Carol Dover mingled and munched on Andy Reiss’s perfectly themed food, such as fried gator tail, ’Noles beef sliders and Sunshine Showdown pork sandwiches. Judge Josefina Tamayo, a huge fan of Emeril shows and cookbooks, thought the gator tails were delicious, but declared the corn chowder “out of this world.”

Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam reminded the fans that much of the food they were eating was grown right here in Florida.

By noon, the heat was on, literally and figuratively. Fans cheered wildly as the judges tasted the burgers from each school.  ’Noles fan Joe Rego, executive chef from Tallahassee’s newest restaurant, The Front Porch, and a culinary competition winner himself on the Food Network’s “Chopped” reality TV show, was on hand as one of the judges. A split decision forced Lagasse to pick the winning burger himself and he awarded the Gator team the Ultimate Tailgate Burger trophy, foreshadowing the coming competition on the football field.

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Local celebrities put on their boogie shoes Nov. 10 to raise nearly $50,000 for the local chapter of the American Lung Association at the fifth annual Oxygen Ball.

A crowd of 275 filled the University Center Club to watch routines that paired the “local stars” with professional partners from Fred Astaire Dance Studio.

The Judges’ Award winner was Bert Pope, who partnered with Leslie Reithmiller and hammed it up during a lively salsa. The normally low-key City Commissioner Nancy Miller dazzled the audience with a routine that included her sliding across the dance floor and being lifted and spun by partner Daniel Foxworth. She was presented with the Fan Favorite award, after raising $9,000 worth of “votes.”

Others cutting the proverbial rug were Dr. Mignon Emenike, with dancing partner Alex Medina; John Gandy doing the hustle in vintage polyester with Stephanie Hafer; and Elizabeth Mack, dancing with David Feliciano. Judges included Mike and Dena Dill of Fred Astaire, Brian Cook, chief executive officer of presenting sponsor Capital Regional Medical Center, and Rosanne Dunkelberger, Tallahassee Magazine editor and a celebrity participant two years ago. Keeping the night lively were emcees City Commissioner (and last year’s Dancing with the Local Stars winner) Gil Ziffer and his lovely wife, Gail Stansberry-Ziffer. Attendees could choose from 85 silent auction packages, and Malcolm Mason of Manor Auctions revved up the crowd with live auction items including a VIP experience from the Miami Marlins and tickets to the FSU/UF game.

Also on hand were Natalie Cook, Dr. Uchenna Emenike, Shawn Hafer, Tim and Rene Bolek, Christine Thurman and Lt. Col. John DeVillez, Dr. Cory and Betsy Couch, Steve and Patty Ghazvini, Dr. and Mrs. Amer Rassam, Molly Kellogg and Brian Schmauch, Debbie Lightsey, Kristen Hensley and Patrick and Malissa Henning.

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Local jewelry artist Quincie Hamby turned her Midtown business’ holiday preview party Oct. 15 into a fundraiser for the Tallahassee animal shelter. Patrons were greeted by adoptable dogs from the shelter and were invited to purchase dog dishes made by local artists. Young artist Andie Baggett donated an animal portrait to the cause. Hamby was also showcasing abstracts by South Florida artist Larry Tobe, who was there along with his daughter, Lynn Palmer, and son, John Tobe. The hostess served guests, including Susan Baldino, Portia Thomas and Donna Tornillo, fresh organic green appletinis and gluten-free chocolate cupcakes with a secret ingredient to make them sweeter (OK, not so secret. It was grated raw beets!)

Also on hand making their wish lists were Karen Woodall, Millie Smith, Bonnie Holub, Tirzah Conrad, Kate MacFall, Joan Helms and Barbara DeVane.