SKETCHES, SCRIBBLES & SCRAPS OF
INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE, PLACES
& ALMOST ANYTHING ELSE UPFRONT
Dunedin Named Hidden Gem
An article in the New Haven Register, a Hearst
newspaper, featured this photograph of the Seafood
Tower at Dunedin’s Bon Appétit Restaurant, which
overlooks Honeymoon and Caladesi islands.
Sherrill Milnes Celebrates 85th Birthday
36 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | MAY/JUNE 2020
GRAM
Clearwater’s Congregation Beth Shalom
honored Martha and Jay Margolis at its
eighth annual Purim Gala in recognition
of their origination of this successful
event for the congregation.
The Purim Gala Goes to
Stephen Fries, professor of hospitality management at
Gateway Community College and food columnist for the
New Haven Register, both in New Haven, Connecticut,
has published “Hidden Gems of Florida,” a newspaper
article that names the City of Dunedin (done-ée-din) as
this year’s Florida Gem. In addition to the great beaches
on Caladesi and Honeymoon islands, he recognizes the
Toronto Blue Jays’ spring training site, the Dunedin Fine
Art Center with its food arts program and the vibrant
Dunedin downtown that Walking Magazine voted “Best
Little Walking Town in America.” This annual selection
also included small dining spots such as Susan Norton’s
Hot Dogs on Main and places for sweets and coffee such
as Brandi Costa’s Kookie Krums. We knew we were not
the only ones who find the Tampa Bay area’s Dunedin
to be delightful.
the Catskills
The North Suncoast Associates, a Pinellas County group that works to support The
Florida Orchestra, held “Building Community Through Music,” its well-attended
26th Bravura Brunch in Palm Harbor. Guests were greeted by the jazz sounds
of the Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory for the Arts’ Tarpon Springs Jazz
Combo under the direction of Christopher M. De León before bidding on silent
auction items and being seated for brunch. They were welcomed by Dr. Patricia C.
Donohue, president of the North Suncoast Associates, and Joan Kline, chair of the
event. Following brunch and a live auction conducted by Jason Alpert, The Florida
Orchestra’s popular Maestro Michael Francis took the stage for an entertaining chat
about his background, his role as the orchestra’s music director and to introduce a
special piano performance by award-winning Korean prodigy Joyce Yang.
STEPHEN FRIES/FOR HEARST CONNECTICUT MEDIA
GRAM
NORAA The theme for the eighth annual
Purim Gala to benefit Congregation
Beth Shalom in Clearwater was the
Catskills, the place where New York
area residents played and relaxed
during the 1950s and 1960s in a style
that made history. The event was held
in the Margarete Heye Great Room at
Ruth Eckerd Hall and was co-chaired
by Vivian Kantrow, Terri Tankel and
Mike White. Rabbi David Weizman
and his wife Rabbi Danielle Upbin each
sang tribute songs to Martha and Jay
Margolis, the couple being honored at
this evening to remember.
Bravura Brunch Mike Kline and
his wife Joan,
who chaired the
North Suncoast
Associates’
Bravura Brunch
to benefit
The Florida
Orchestra, were
pleased that this
year’s event
raised more
money than
it ever has in
the past.
Famous for his Verdi roles, opera baritone
Sherrill Milnes and his wife soprano Maria
Zouves founded VOICExperience for the
musical education of young singers.
World-famous opera star Sherrill Milnes,
who helped establish Opera Tampa, will
host an elegant evening at the Harmonie
Club in New York City on November 6th to
celebrate his 85th birthday and to benefit his
VOICExperience program. This is the 20th
anniversary of the VOICExperience program
that trains young singers and provides them
with artistic scholarships. The event was
postponed from earlier this spring. Milnes
will be joined by bass-baritone James Morris
and other special guests. The VOICExperience
Foundation is headquartered in Palm Harbor.