Social Seens... Photography by Gram and Noraa
SeaGrapes at The Florida Aquarium
The annual SeaGrapes Wine and Food Festival fundraiser drew an enthusiastic crowd to The Florida Aquarium in Tampa.
Guests danced to the Black Honkeys and listened to the string group Fretless Rock and saxophonist Alan Darcy while sipping,
savoring and raising funds to save sea life. In addition to tastes from local restaurants and more than 150 wine samples throughout
the building, guests enjoyed live and silent auctions while circulating throughout this awesome attraction, which draws over
800,0000 visitors a year. SeaGrapes’ proceeds will benefit the aquarium’s endangered species conservation programs.
164 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | JULY/AUGUST 2019
Laura Zaremba and her husband Roger
Germann, The Florida Aquarium’s CEO
and president, greeted guests to this popular
fundraiser for the aquarium.
Ryan Batty and Jenny Putrino were among
the more than 2,000 guests who came to
SeaGrapes to show their support for
The Florida Aquarium and its programs.
Tampa Bay Magazine Publisher/Editor
Margaret Word Burnside thanked Carmen
Barkett and her family’s Amalie Motor Oil
for being the presenting sponsor of this
year’s SeaGrapes.
Cary Putrino, managing director of
The Florida Region of Fifth Third Private
Bank, and his wife Joan enjoyed the
VIP lounge on the aquarium’s rooftop.
Derek Rancourt and his wife Melissa, the
executive producer of CBS’ Great Day Live
morning show, enjoyed this evening of
sampling fine wines and food.
Spectrum’s Bay News 9 Anchor Veronica
Cintron was encouraged by her husband,
media maven Preston Rudie, to conduct
the live auction at the event.