BESTBets
New Year’s Eve
The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg invites you to ring in 2019 at its
first ever New Year’s Eve extravaganza. NYE@MFA will be an evening of
Mid-Century Magic, inspired by “Jewels of the Imagination” and “Drawn
to Beauty,” the MFA’s exhibits of the world’s most beautiful and extensive
collections of jewelry from the private collections of Bunny Mellon, Tiffany
& Co. and others. Choose from the all-inclusive dinner and party with a
piano bar featuring Paul Wilborn and Blue Roses, or just the dessert after
party, both of which include music, an open bar, dancing, art, fireworks
and the opportunity to see the stunning jewelry exhibitions. For additional
information, or to attend New Year’s Eve at the MFA on Beach Drive in
St. Petersburg on Monday, December 31st, call (727) 896-2667, or visit
mfastpete.org.
Martinis and Matisse
42 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
Remembering
Michael
Acclaimed fashion designer, artist
and portraitist Michael Vollbracht,
whose main residence from 1985
onward was in Safety Harbor,
received the 1969 Norman Norell
Award for fashion and was Coty’s
1980 Designer of the Year. Michael,
a designer to the stars, worked for
fashion greats, under his own name
and as artistic director for Bill Blass.
In celebration of his works and life,
a special retrospective show and sale
of rare Michael Vollbracht designs
and art will be at Syd Entel Galleries
and Susan Benjamin Glass Etc. on
Main Street in Safety Harbor with
an opening reception from 6 p.m.
to 8 p.m. November 17th, on what
would have been his 71st birthday.
The show will continue through
November 30th, (727) 725-1808,
SydEntelGalleries.com. 9
Ben Brown
Michael Vollbracht (1947-2018)
AllPro
Gets You There
Veteran Ben Brown is the owner of
AllPro Towncar, a limousine and car
service company in the Tampa Bay area
that provides safe, comfortable and reliable
transportation to wherever you need to go.
AllPro also has party buses for a night out
on the town. Uber, shmueber! If you want
to arrive in luxury with someone you can
depend on, call Ben at (727) 238-5214.
The annual Martinis and Matisse fundraiser
to benefit the Clearwater Free Clinic will be
held on January 19th at the FrankCrum offices
in Clearwater. This year’s honorary chairs
are Nancy and David Ridenour. Martinis
and Matisse is designed to allow guests to
browse donated artwork in a gallery setting
while enjoying live music, fine wine, martinis
and delectable cuisine from some of the area’s
finest restaurants. Best of all, the pieces of art
on display will go home with the guests as the
result of a lottery-style drawing. To become a
sponsor, or for tickets, call (727) 443-3504, or
visit ClearwaterFreeClinic.org/sponsors.
NORAA