The Buzz: Southern hospitality rolled out for Olympians at Red Hills International Horse Trials

Tallahassee Magazine’s column created to share who’s where and what they’re doing in the months of May and June.

Social butterflies share the buzz like busy beesThe Buzz

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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The manor house at Goodwood Museum & Gardens was alive with laughter and lights Feb. 11 for a “Midnight in Paris”-themed Valentine party to benefit Goodwood’s preservation. Lynn and Sam Solomon chaired the event catered at the direction of Tallahassee’s hostess supreme, Nella Schomburger. Guests dressed 1920s fashion and mingled with Lost Generation re-enactors featuring Jeff Duvall (Ernest Hemingway), Stuart Riordan (Mary Cassatt), Ann Kozeliski (Gertrude Stein), Lance Scalf (Salvador Dali), Mary Ann Lindley and husband Charlie Nuzzo (F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald), Nancy Bivens (Alice B. Toklas) and Anne Jolley Byrd (Coco Chanel).

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Horses and hats, cheers and champagne: The Red Hills International Horse Trials featured a weekend of feats and fetes. With true Southern hospitality, Tallahassee rolled out the red carpet for Olympians and novice riders alike.

Bonefish Grill brought out their signature Bang Bang shrimp appetizer on Thursday night to thank the more than 400 volunteers before the hectic three-day event kicked off.

After a day of dressage competition, sponsors socialized with Olympians at Capital City Bank’s Friday night gathering. Co-organizers Marvin and his wife, Deborah Mayer, and Jane Barron with her husband, Tom, and daughters greeted County Commissioner John Dailey, Tim Moore with Champion Chevrolet and Bruce Parker with Capital Eurocars, who donated the Mercedes that Red Hills CIC-Three Star winner and U.S. Olympian Phillip Dutton will be driving for the year.

Also on hand were Dr. Doug Sherman and Julie Ann Norden, Vereen Smith, Brian Webb and Shawn and Dana Noles, and Sam and Marsha Fenn. Auto dealers Theo Proctor, Tim Revell and Mike Futrell were also on hand, as well as Wendell Posey and Joyce Phipps, Katrice Howell and Daryl Green. Susan Shelfer and Vicky Cureton passed canapés as the incoming Chef d’Equipe of the U.S. Olympic team, David O’Connor, spoke to the group. His wife, Karen, mingled with guests, among them Duby and Sallie Ausley, Lane and Susan Green and Bill and Mary Moor. Benefactor Colin and Anne Phipps regaled City Commissioner Andrew Gillum and his wife R Jai with jokes. Up for the weekend was Andrew’s mother Frances Gillum, who shared stories with Joyce Phipps.

Riders were celebrated on Saturday after the grueling cross country phase with a party catered by John Thomas and his famous red chuckwagon. After a daylong on-course adrenaline rush, 9-year-old Will Hollimon, Loranne Ausley’s son, got the riders moving again on drums with Frank Douglas and the Fried Turkeys band. Rebecca Willner, Dr. Orson and Eleanor Smith’s granddaughter traded stories with the riders and prepared for stadium jumping on Sunday.

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Crawford Atkins, general manager of Capital Eurocars, chose Klassic Katering for the invitation-only preview party of the redesigned seventh-generation Porsche 911 at the West Tennessee Street dealership. On hand to admire the latest model of the high-performance sports car were Danny and Linda Fuchs, Roger and Jan Kaufman, Rick and Nancy McClure, Mark and Alison Riley, and Jack Skelding.

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With more than 500 of Tallahassee’s finest and most generous in attendance, the 11th annual Cattle Barons’ Ball was a spectacular evening, raising more than $88,000 for our local area’s American Cancer Society. This year’s event was held March 3 at the Tallahassee Antique Car Museum and presented by the hosting sponsor, Capital Regional Cancer Center.

Guests were greeted by FSU Hands of Hope students bearing tasty trays of Cajun fried oysters, fried green tomatoes, pesto torte’ and antipasto skewers. This year’s wonderful feast was the creation of Chef Justin Chiricos of Catering Capers. The crowd was welcomed and entertained by master of ceremonies Julie Montanaro of WCTV as the festivities played out during the evening. Attendees danced all evening to one of Tallahassee’s best R&B bands, Bedhead Betty, and enjoyed gaming, a silent auction, a dance-off and refreshments provided by Scott and Kay Dick.

The live auction was the focal point of the evening, featuring a half side of beef donated by the Florida Cattlemen’s Association that went to the meat-lovers table of Ward Spisso. Cliff Campbell and Joe Hughes outbid the crowd to win a hunting trip donated by Tim and Carla Smith of Southwind Plantation. The auction also included a black lab puppy donated by North Florida Animal Hospital that stole everyone’s heart and found a forever home at Cindy Mark’s house after some spirited bidding. For ’Noles fans, a six-course dinner at the University Center Club featuring Rick and Tara Trickett as guests, saw big action, chalking up another win in the fight against cancer.

Tallahassee’s car cowboys, Chuck Urban of Tallahassee Dodge Chrysler Jeep, Tim Revell of Champion Chevrolet-University GMC, and Bob Hudson of Tallahassee Ford joined sponsors Tom and Elva Brady as they all threw down in a big way to support the American Cancer Society’s Reaching Out To Cancer Kids (R.O.C.K) Program. They were also joined by Rob Szumowski and Dr. Tim Bolek to support children and their families in their fight against cancer.

There was some additional excitement during the stormy evening when the power went off for 30 minutes … but nobody stopped dancing or enjoying themselves.

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More than 600 fashionistas came out for the second annual Tallahassee Top Salon competition at the University Center Club Feb. 18. Bravo network TV personality Daniel Lewis emceed the event with style and sass. Judges for the evening were Dr. Russ Rainey, Marsha Doll, Jane Marks, Marcus Duval and Randi Buchannan. Thirteen of the area’s favorite salons were invited to make over a model, and the results were revealed during a runway show at this exciting event. Next Level Salon and Spa won the competition, earning a year-long advertising campaign in Tallahassee Magazine valued at $9,000. The salon’s charity, the American Diabetes Association, was given a $5,000 media sponsorship package as well as a $500 check.

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More than 150 people gathered to say “goodbye” to Ken Armstrong, who served as CEO off the United Way of the Big Bend for 16 years. The reception at Goodwood was hosted by all of the past campaign and board chairs who served during Armstrong’s years at the helm. Armstrong brought the “Lifesaver” theme to the local United Way, and he was presented with an iPad and plaque as well as a basket full of merchandise related to the rolled candy. Armstrong’s Lifesaver tie was framed and presented to him by the UWBB staff. Also on hand to fete Armstrong were Chuck Mitchell, Mark O’Bryant, Flecia Braswell McCord, Stan and Shirley Marshall, Jason Dimitris, Matt Brown, Warren Jones, and Realtors Virginia Glass and Chip Hartung. Political sorts who attended included state Sen. Bill Montford and Mayor John Marks. Others on hand to wish Armstrong well were Don and Jeanette Yaeger, TCC President Jim Murdaugh, Tallahassee Democrat Publisher Pat Dorsey, Ron Sachs, Anna Johnson, Louis Garcia, Nic Nixon and Nick Wallace.

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It’s the kickoff event of Springtime Tallahassee, and the weather can sometimes be cold and foul for Breakfast in the Park. But this year, breakfast-goers enjoyed a beautiful, balmy morning. Springtime VIPs included General Chairman Pam Fendrick and President Park Adams, as well as Andrew and Rachel Charley and Joanie Fowinkle and Springtime Miss and Mister, Elaina Doxsee and Morgan Sykes. Spotted with plates loaded with grits, eggs and biscuits were Tim Jansen, George Smith and Bonnie Fisher. Public officials on hand included Sheriff Larry Campbell, Leon County Commissioner Akin Akinyemi and Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho.

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The noshing began at 10:30 a.m. March 11 as crowds descended for the third annual Tallahassee Jewish Food and Cultural Festival at Temple Israel. The longest line seemed to be for corned beef sandwiches, served up by a crew that included city commissioners Andrew Gillum and Gil Ziffer. But Claire Sand and Bonnie Burk were also busy taking money as local restaurateurs Dan and Dana Silvers ladled out matzo ball soup. A bounty of baked goods was also for sale, made over the past five months by women supervised by Jill Klein. Also sighted were event chair April Katine and indoor “traffic director” Kellie Hoover.

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While bright high school students are the rightful stars of the Big Bend High School Brain Bowl, lots of grownups are required behind the scenes to make it happen. Britt Poulson has been heading up the competition for 36 years, and many longtime moderators and other volunteers return year after year, including Robin Leach (who recruited several FSU coworkers to help, among them Michael Buchanan and Robyn Jackson), Kim McShane, Curtis Hanna, Bob Coleman, Laura and Sam Rogers, Steven Selinger, Mary Register and Craig Shaw.

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More than 400 guests enjoyed the sixth annual Fast Cars & Mason Jars, the primary fundraiser for Tree House of Tallahassee, held Feb. 25 at The Farm. Event Chair Josie Gustafson and her committee created the perfect evening of giving and guests ended the night at Tupelo, the first annual after party! On the scene were Karen and Jason Unger, Jackie Slack, Autumn and Emory Mayfield, Cissy and Stewart Proctor, and Todd and Gina Resavage. The Atlanta based band, A-Town-A-List kept the dance floor packed while On The Rocks Bartending kept the drinks flowing, including the evening’s delicious signature libation “Southern Sunset.” Wilson Dean played an acoustic set during the silent auction, which was beautifully decorated with hydrangeas in birch containers. Carrie McNeill and Christina Dardano were carefully watching their items as Sara and Slater Bayliss and Dea and Gordon Mooney were seen visiting with Rowdy and Jennifer Lawson.

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Several Tallahasseans were seen mingling at the March 3 St. George Island Chili Cookoff, including Jim and Mary Rudnick, Wally Womble and Amy Forman, Marc and Pam Bauer, Ray Green and Live in Tallahassee’s Joel Silver.

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More than 75 members of the Tallahassee chapter of the Florida State University Emeritus Alumni Society, consisting of those who graduated 50 or more years ago, met at the Cabot Lodge March 1 with Betty Lou Joanos, chairwoman, presiding. Those present included past chairs Tom Waits and Bridgett Chandler; Beverly Spencer, former state legislator and head of university relations at FSU; Ray Solomon, former FSU Business School dean and his wife, Mary; Dr. Kitty Hoffman, onetime FSU faculty member who graduated 75 years ago from Florida State College for Women; Ruel Bradley, Herb Chandler and Pace Allen. The breakfast meeting was hosted by FSU alum Ron Hobbs and family, owners of Cabot Lodge. The group heard a report from Col. Billy Francis (USAF Ret.), director of the new FSU Veterans Institute, and the campaign to make FSU a “Veteran-Friendly” university. The FSU Emeritus organization has more than 9,000 members.

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The night was filled with love when Chris Clark and Sherilyn Burris had an intimate engagement party March 10 at Paisley Café. They had delicious oysters outside and fabulous trays of refreshments inside, including lamb chops and Nutella bread pudding. Chris made sure his guests’ glasses were always filled with his favorite wines and champagne. Surrounded by close friends such as Jaimi and Jim Wacksman, Taylor Case, Steve Adams, Joanne Suggs, Steven Lohbeck, McKenzie Burleigh, Kevin Hoffman, Sarah Duncan, Tim Palmer, Carly Fisher, Leslie Reinhard, Nigel and Mohamara Godfrey and Pam and Marc Bauer. Also celebrating the couple were Jacklyn Nethongkome, Laura Mager, Migdalia Garcia and Taylor S. Case. Marc Bauer made a tear-jerking toast to the fabulous couple about Chris being a conduit to his success. Chris has made his mark by mentoring many local restaurant owners, and now Sherilyn is joining him on his journey. The lovely couple plans to elope to Las Vegas for a May 19 wedding at the Little White Chapel.

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Builder/Developer/Businessman John Thomas Burnette celebrated his 36th birthday by inviting his closest friends to come let their hair down, go back in time a decade (or more!), and celebrate at the Midtown Filling Station on March 9. Kim Rivers, Michelle Personette, Chad Kittrell, Marc and Pam Bauer, Dan Scantlan and Taylor Jansik were just a few joining in the celebration.