Charleston magazine Society blog

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 

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On Wednesday night, Women Making a Difference, a local giving circle that supports Charleston-based charities with grants that improve quality of life for women and children, topped its $100,000 goal— a momentous achievement for its membership drive, which started in late February. Several hundred women mixed and mingled beneath a giant pavilion tent on the 18th green of picturesque Patriots Point golf course in Mt. Pleasant. Bartenders mixed signature cocktails, and guests nibbled on an array of fruit and poached fish. Midway through the event, Madeleine McGee (former director of the Coastal Community Foundation) shared brief remarks regarding the importance of women in philanthropy. She was followed by Linda Flannagan (Florence Crittendon), who shared her experience as a Women Making a Difference grant recipient.

By the end of the night, word of an anonymous $10,000 donation swirled through the crowd, coupled with the news that more than $17,000 had been raised during the party. Now, with two months left during its membership campaign, the group is eyeing a revised $150,000 goal— all of which will be distributed in grants at an event this November.

The “ladies night” party continued on Thursday when many of the same dynamos showed up at the City Waterfront Gallery for the Center for Women’s much-anticipated annual “It’s In the Bag” purse auction. This year, a selection of purses designed by a cadre of talented local gentlemen added a truly fun aspect to this high-energy event. I believe the male designers were more eager to see bids appear on their auction sheet than their female counterparts, and many of the gents hovered near their creations. Shutterbug Jack Alterman’s photography-inspired handbag won rave reviews from Casey Murphy, while Mitchell Crosby did a gallant job selling his bespoke beach ensemble. Across the gallery, Karen Siegel’s marriage-equality message-oriented trunk was among the night’s “do not miss” auction lots. The trunk was emblazoned with photos of same sex unions and quotes that call for equal rights, and I hear it was the top-selling ladies’ “bag” of the night.

Sunny Rakestraw Gray, a former C4W board president and expectant mother, was glowing; Long-running volunteer Katie Suitt was beaming— congratulations on your engagement; and die-hard purse auction bidder Bedie Holland returned that day from her honeymoon aboard a sailboat in the Caribbean.

As the auction wound down, I set my sights on the private room at Rue de Jean, host venue for the Spoleto SCENE kick-off party. Fortunately, I had smuggled a scrumptious Charleston Cookie Company confection out of the auction in my handbag, because it took more than 30 minutes to exit the parking garage, and I was happy to have a snack to bide the time. The Spoleto SCENE kick-off party also kicks off the 2007 Spoleto blog. To read more, visit: www.charlestonmag.com/spoleto.

Saturday morning started with a massive predawn Starbucks run for Wally Seinsheimer, volunteer extraordinaire, who supplied much-needed caffeine to scores of volunteers (like me) at the inaugural Women’s Heart Health Symposium. Organized by his wife, Bev, and staged at the Gaillard Exhibition Hall, Wally was one of the lone men in attendance at the day-long workshop, which featured lectures by doctors skilled in the prevention of women’s heart disease, yoga, and a healthy lunch from Just Fresh. Thanks, Wally!

Each guest at those three events received two tickets to the upcoming Ginn Tribute, an LPGA golf tournament set to take place at Mt. Pleasant’s RiverTowne golf course next month. The tournament is hosted by Annika Sorenstam, the top-rated ladies player, and features a $2.6 million purse. Very exciting!

The weekend wound down with a well-attended dinner at Sienna that benefitted Pet Helpers’ capital campaign for its new rescue and adoption shelter on Folly Road. River, a full-blooded black labrador retriever puppy who is in need of a home, welcomed guests and stole the hearts of many attendees. Want to adopt him? Call 906.6673 or visit www.pethelpers.org.

The evening featured an “All things Italian” three-course meal prepared by John Marshall (Al Di La), Jacques Larson (Mercato), and Ken Vendrinski (Sienna), and the chefs earned abundant applause at the end of the night. Mickey Bakst, the genial host of Charleston Grill, volunteered (during his day
off) to serve as emcee of the event, and his enthusiasm helped drive up bids on the silent auction items. The intimate restaurant was filled with some of Pet Helper’s most committed supporters, and a heartwarming vibe wove its way throughout the affair.

Caritas.
Ida

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