UPFRONT
Straz Party Kicks Off
Broadway Season
ceremonies for the evening. NORAA
38 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | MAY/JUNE 2019
CHRISTOPHER STILL A Garden Party Honor
I nternationally acclaimed artist
Christopher Still presented Aaron
Fodiman and Margaret Word
Burnside, publishers/editors of Tampa
Bay Magazine, with the painting that
began the artist’s Belleview Inn project
for JMC Communities in recognition of
their support of the Dunedin Fine Art
Center. Still gave the painting to them
during the 39th annual DFAC Garden
Party, where Margaret and Aaron were
the honorary chairs. The couple have
hosted the Garden Party many times
at their historic waterfront home on
Victoria Drive in downtown Dunedin.
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WUSF sails
on the Lynx
Guests of WUSF Public Media
sailed back in time for a cruise
aboard the tall ship Lynx that
was docked in St. Petersburg. For
two hours, this three-master glided
over the waters of Tampa Bay with
its sails filled with wind as those
aboard enjoyed drinks, nibbles and a
glorious sunset. WUSF is the flagship
National Public Radio member
station in the Tampa Bay area owned
by the University of South Florida.
WUSF signed on in 1963, seven years
after USF’s founding in 1956.
The Lynx, an 1812 tall ship privateer
from Nantucket, Massachusetts,
is used to raise funds for the Lynx
Educational Foundation’s programs.
The Straz Center for the Performing Arts
in Tampa held a party to announce the
2019-2020 Bank of America Broadway
at the Straz season. Radio personality
Christine Pedi hosted the event that
included live performances from the
Straz’s smashing lineup of upcoming
Broadway shows. Along with favorites
such as Miss Saigon, My Fair Lady, Once
on This Island and Fiddler of the Roof, there
will be more recent hits such as Charlie and
the Chocolate Factory, Mean Girls, Summer:
The Donna Summer Musical and Disney’s
Aladdin. Call (813) 229-7827 to get your
tickets for this great lineup.
Season ticket holder Steve Sika of Safety
Harbor enjoyed chatting with Christine
Pedi, the hilarious radio host for Sirius XM
on Broadway, who served as master of
Margaret Word Burnside and
Aaron Fodiman were presented with
a Christopher Still painting for their
support of the Dunedin Fine Art Center
over the years.
WUSF’s Longest Table
The sixth annual Longest Table, an epicurean experience at
grandly set tables lining the middle of Bayshore Drive in
St. Petersburg overlooking the Vinoy Basin, was a sold-out
event, as 1,100 diners came to help support WUSF Public
Media. The event also featured a silent auction and an after
party at the north end of Straub Park. It was a glorious evening
with a wide variety of restaurants and caterers demonstrating
their skills. 9
Harry and
Joan McCreary
organized 32 of
their Ovation
friends from
downtown
St. Petersburg
to join them at
this benefit for
WUSF.
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