Dining With Friends
The fundraising tour de force known as Dining With Friends swept through the area on Saturday. An innovative concept that enlists scores of private party hosts to solicit donations on behalf of Lowcountry AIDS Services (LAS), more than $100,000 was raised at this one-day party-a-thon, and checks are still coming in. Party themes ranged from Cinco de Mayo to the prom, and the wide range of attire at the dessert finale made for outstanding people watching. (As did the beauty factor, which prompted my sister to exclaim upon arrival, “Who knew there were this many hot men in Charleston!?).
As evening approached, I headed to one of larger dinner parties— the second annual Lamboll Street block party hosted by Amanda and Kevin Flynn, Shannon and Lonnie James, Susan and Richard Leadem, Christine Lloyd and Bill Brener, Karen and Bob Siegel, Lois Lane and Cary Weber, and Charleston magazine. Last year’s French-themed affair became the Lamboll Beach Ball this go-round, and wannabe surf bums were out in full effect. Colorful board shorts, madras, and strappy sandals dotted the crowd of revelers who took full advantage of the block party by mingling up and down the street. A DJ spun tunes from the golden age of the boardwalk, surf films were projected onto the expansive facade of a home, and Barry Waldrop’s True Charleston Cuisine crew served piping hot paella out of a dish the size of a Mini Cooper. Check the photo gallery!
The scene at the Maritime Center finale party was a sugary Shangri-La. Tables laden with desserts covered the lawn, while a host of apron-clad volunteers dished up servings of everything from cupcakes to cheesecake stuffed, chocolate-dipped strawberries. An especially effervescent bunch of volunteers worked the champagne tent, and the self-serve Starbucks was a great touch. Also new (unless my memory was clouded by a sugar stroke in years past) was a tent stocked with platters of diced fruit, where I very happily discovered cantaloupe on a stick.
Brad Childs, executive director for Lowcountry AIDS Services, tells me that 87 parties were registered this year. Donations from 70% of the hosts have arrived at his office, and he projects that this year’s event will top last year’s record $115,000. I wonder if Dining with Friends constitutes Charleston’s largest party? Good show!
Caritas.
Ida
