Scene and Heard

Bob reports that you’ll catch the occasional jam session between a guitarist and a bass player, and now and then a guest may leap into the pool. For this past season’s seven parties, people consumed 28 cases of beer, 14 cases of wine, dozens of hams, a half gross of crusty Italian bread, 20 pounds of pasta, 40 pounds of shrimp, plus tons of grilled vegetables, sausages, asiago wedges, mozzarella knots and olives—with Bob as master chef. "When I’m out shopping for these parties," Bob says, "strangers take a look at my cart and say, ‘I’m coming over to your house tonight.’ And you know what? I’m sure they’re among the many there partying until the end at 3 or 4 a.m." So come one and come all if you’re up for the extra innings after good theater. You’re welcome, Bob.

FASHION FORWARD
Hard bodies, spray tans and fabulous clothes got lots of attention at Gulfshore Life’s party to celebrate our fashion issue at Blu Sushi in Gulf Coast Town Center. Blu’s
general manager Larry Genta served up special martinis, including the Coco Pink Chanel and the Chillax, created especially to match the teal hue of the magazine’s brand color.

And, oh, the fabulous clothes! Barbara Kinee, owner of the Mirage Boutique in Cypress Square Plaza, showcased the latest spring fashions from her place, where the one-of-a-kind creations assure that no one else will turn up in the dress you’re wearing. Heather Buckley, owner of Mallie Montgomery, brought over some of her beautiful clothes as well. Congratulations to Astrid Martinez, who won the Best Dressed contest. The co-host of FOX4’s Morning Blend was decked out in a royal blue, ruffled wrap top and a zebra-print pencil skirt. What a grand occasion it was for the fashion forward to show and tell.

A DIFFERENT BEAT
Expect the sway lounge in Naples to pulse to a different beat now. Israeli makeup mogul Nir Sharon, owner of Dead Sea Premier Cosmetics, just bought the nightclub from Bryant Yunker Jr. I am told Sharon, 37, plans to present art films, comedy acts, live music, performance art, fashion shows and international DJs to the 700-person-capacity super club, which also offers VIP concierge bottle service. Talk about putting a new face on things. Let the fast times roll.

LOTS OF GIVING
It was in praise of the givers when the Guadalupe Center of Immokalee celebrated 25 years of service at a gala in April at Wyndemere Country Club. The residents of Bonita Bay were honored for raising more than $2.5 million with their Maynard Cup Golf Tournament over the past 15 years. Also cited: the folks of Hideaway Beach on Marco Island for creating the Guadalupe’s After-School and Tutor Corps programs, and the Naples Children & Education Foundation for donating millions to help educate the poor and underserved in one of the poorest communities in the nation. In a surprise move, honors also went to Ed Marchetti, capital campaign chair and trustee of the Guadalupe Center of Immokalee itself. Under his direction, GCI has raised more than $10 million for two new, state-of-the-art early childhood education buildings. They’re something wonderful to show for his heroic efforts.

PAPAL HANDSHAKE
Real estate dynamo todd Gates and his wife, Angela, felt quite blessed from their experience in New York during Pope Benedict XVI’s visit there in April. The couple stayed at The New York Palace Hotel, where the Pope’s entourage was also booked, and they attended a private cocktail party hosted by Archbishop The Most Rev. Celestino Migliore, Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations. The next day, Todd and Angela had VIP tickets for the pope’s United Nations speech. Afterward, they spent some quality time with the pope and got to shake his hand prior to his departure from the U.N.

LOBBY STARS
If you noticed guests, employees and local residents busily making Swarovski bracelets in the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton, Naples, in May, it was not in the name of industry and development. Rather, it was a push of creative and philanthropic buttons to offer a grand prize and to raise money for the Cancer Alliance of Naples. Three cheers for a benefit so imaginatively and generously staged for such a worthy cause.

FILL THE FISHBOWL, ETC.
This year’s wanderlust gala raised $237,000 for the Resort & Hospitality Management program at Florida Gulf Coast University. Here’s how the action went down: The famous fishbowl (introduced by Garrett Richter years ago and now a Wanderlust tradition) was sold to Don Smith for $35,000. The crowd was asked to throw in anything of value, from jewelry they were wearing to cash from their pockets to promises on the backs of business cards. You never know what you are going to get. New FGCU President Wilson Bradshaw made the biggest contribution, I am sure, starting off the fishbowl donations with a full four-year scholarship to the university.

Auction highlights included a seven-night voyage aboard The World of ResidenSea (an ultra-luxury ship), which went for $11,000; a trip to London with dinner at Gordon Ramsay’s Maze restaurant, which brought $8,000; and a chef’s table at Bay Colony (donated by General Manager Jerry Thirion) for $7,500.

GUYS ON TOUR
Business? sure. some rollicking good times, too? I wouldn’t bet against it. Naples attorney Joe Cox is headed to Warsaw, the capital of Poland, and Prague in the Czech Republic with best-selling author (and part-time Neapolitan) Robin Cook on a promotional tour for Robin’s latest novel Foreign Body. It’s about the plusses and risks of seeking medical cures abroad. There’s a movie planned, too. I’d like to see videos of our boys cavorting on the continent as well. You go, guys.

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY
Speaking of travel adventures … This happened when Denise Cobb and her husband, Brian, were touring through New Zealand with Judith Liegeois and fiance John Scot Mueller. Judith had brought along the ashes of her late husband, Fred, to disperse in her hometown, Bay of Islands. On the plane there, Judith let out a shriek. "Oh my goodness. I forgot Fred," she said. She had left the ashes in their room back at the hotel. One frantic call and one FedEx later, Fred rejoined the travel party with no one any the wiser about the contents of that package. It was clearly not an everyday way to make your final journey in this life. But it all worked out as a mission accomplished … with a little scare thrown in.