The weatherman cooperated with a lovely summer evening for the Blossom Women’s Committee gala Endless Summer Friday evening. Claire Frattare chaired the gala, benefiting Blossom Music Center and the Cleveland Orchestra; and Emily McCartney and Sylvia Oliver were honorary chairwomen.
The Pan Harmony SteelDrum Duo added to the island atmosphere as Carol Berger, Jo Ann Greiner, Tom and Jeanne Schmidlin, Steve and Susan Mileski and Kenneth Hankins stepped out onto the flower-bedecked patio at the Twinsburg Hilton Garden Inn to enjoy the evening.
Inside, Skitch Rosenthal, Ed and Louise Mahoney, Horst and Mary Becker, Judith Gruber, and Teke and Fay Heston looked over musical-themed silent auction items.
Sara Coyle, Lori Cohen and Gloria Goldstein admired a collection of trunks that had traveled the world with members of the orchestra and were available at the auction.
Artists Heidi Muller, Rob Winton, Gingr Vaughan, Ari Warner, Kara Hungate, Jan Williams, Germaine Williams and Sheryl Green painted the trunks with unique musical themes. Joel and Maureen Matthews tried to decide between a Beatles themed trunk and a Cleveland scenic trunk.
In the Hilton Inn’s ballroom, celebrity chefs prepared their signature dishes for the hungry diners.
Brandt Evans of the neighboring Blue Canyon served seared sea scallops; Matt Lossing of Bravo! Cucina Italiana offered Rosemary Grilled Shrimp, Alonzo Norman of Gamekeeper’s Taverne prepared a unique watermelon salad paired with Bison Short Ribs; while Kevin and J.J. Altomare made their signature chopped salads from Hudson’s Restaurants.
June and Leo Futia recommended Roger Thomas’ Ricotta Filled Cannelloni from Piatto Novo; Bud and Mary Elaine Mays liked the Beef Tartar from John Palmer’s Bistro 44; Darryl and Alice Mast sampled rigatoni served by Brian Clark of Maggiano’s Little Italy; James Bogart offered tuna sliders from Mc-Cormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant; and Michael Husney of Blossom Grille served herb- crusted beef tenderloin.
State Chairwoman Phyllis Knauf commented that all the Blossom Women’s chapters collaborated on this fundraiser. Knauf and Kathy Meyer, Peggy Fulmer and Glenda Jackson enjoyed desserts from Aaron Ruggles’ Bistro on Main and the Hilton Garden Inn’s own chef, Michael Jacobs.
During dinner, the Joe Augustine Trio provided music; Rick Jackson of WCPN and WVIZ was celebrity host, and Bob Hale conducted the live auction of trips and gifts.