BESTBets
Ronald McDonald’s Storybook Ball
Ronald McDonald House Charities Tampa Bay will hold its annual gala on Saturday,
May 18th in Tampa. This year’s theme will be The Wizard of Oz. The over-the-top
fundraiser will remind everyone why “There’s no place like home.” This formal affair
encourages dressing for the theme and is constantly considered one of Tampa Bay’s
best events as guests enjoy food, dancing and entertainment. For reservations, call (813)
258-6430 ext. 3, or visit rmhctampabay.org/storybook-ball.
42 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | MARCH/APRIL 2019
Wine Dinners at
Council Oak
Council Oak Steaks & Seafood at the
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in
Tampa is known for its high quality food
service under the direction of Chef Francisco
Pomalaza and James Beard Award-winner
Frank Anderson, who is the creative
culinary director. Using the talented staff
of Council Oak, its General Manager John
Urbanski has begun offering sensational
monthly wine dinners. In January, the
event featured wines from Heitz Cellar of
St. Helena, California, including a Cabernet
Sauvignon called Martha’s Vineyard. In
February, the dinner featured Quintessa
wines from California’s Napa Valley and
some from Flowers and Benton-Lane
vineyards. To learn more about these wine
dinners, call (813) 627-6630.
This Octopus Terrine with yuzu fruit, pickled
shitake mushrooms and wood sorrel was
served at the January wine dinner at
Council Oak Steaks & Seafood in Tampa
along with a 2017 Sauvignon Blanc from
California’s Heitz Cellar.
GRAM
Carlos
Santana,
whose artistry
transcends
musical
genres and
generational,
cultural and
geographical
boundaries,
will perform
at Al Lang
Stadium in St.
Petersburg on
April 18th.
Santana Live at Al Lang
Ten-time Grammy Award winner and three-time Latin Grammy Award-winning
rock icon Santana is bringing his energy-infused Global Consciousness Tour to
downtown St. Petersburg’s Al Lang Stadium, the outdoor venue overlooking Tampa
Bay, which is adjacent to the Mahaffey Theater. The Al Lang Live Concert Series
show featuring Santana will be on April 18th and will mark the 20th anniversary of
his groundbreaking album Supernatural and the 50th anniversary of his legendary
performance at Woodstock. Visit ticketmaster.com, or call (800) 745-3000 for tickets.
Opera Tampa Grand Gala
The Opera Tampa Grand Gala at the Straz Center
for the Performing Arts in Tampa, which celebrates
the wonders of opera, gets more spectacular every
year. The annual Anton Coppola Excellence in the
Arts Award that is sponsored by Charles and Faith
Simmons will be presented during the gala to opera
great Paul Plishka. The gala will be held Saturday,
May 4th and is being chaired once again by Dr.
Zena Lansky and her husband Warren Rodgers
of Clearwater, who tirelessly work to make this a
creative evening of music to benefit Opera Tampa. To
become a sponsor or to attend, call (813) 222-1275. 9 Paul Plishka