| EVENT REPORT 03.25.08 12:55 PM |
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| Golden Arches Celebrate Golden Anniversary |
| Tampa's elite gathered at an assortment of soirees during a weeklong celebration for McDonald's 50 years in Tampa Bay. |
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Fifty years ago, Fritz Casper opened Tampa's first McDonald's franchise, forever changing the restaurant industry in the Tampa Bay area. On March 8 through 15, the iconic golden arches celebrated its golden anniversary with a weeklong affair, which featured Jay Leno as entertainment at the grand finale gala on Saturday.
The festivities kicked off at the company's original Tampa location with a menu bearing prices straight from the 1950s. Hamburgers and orders of french fries each cost 10 cents, and soft drinks cost 20-the South Dale Mabry restaurant enforced a limit of 10 burgers and five orders of fries per customer. |
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PHOTO GALLERY |
 | Fondant replicas of five Tampa McDonald's restaurants surrounded the first tier of the 50th birthday cake with a signature hot fudge sundae as a cake topper.
Amy Pezzicara |
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 | Everything from the metallic Chiavari chairs to the gilded glassware appeared in shades of gold and champagne.
Photography by Chanele |
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 | Each table featured an oversize centerpiece created by Botanica, which towered above the place settings.
Photography by Chanele |
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 | | Guests were guided through the iconic golden arches upon entering the convention center. |
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 | Golden lighting courtesy of Bay Stage Lighting added to the McDonald's-themed evening's decor.
Amy Pezzicara |
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On March 13, Casper welcomed company V.I.P.s and friends into his family's private residence on Davis Island for a festive Hawaiian luau. Lynn McGhee and Frank Clemente of conceptBAIT transformed the Mediterranean-style villa into a Hawaiian getaway complete with a beautiful mermaid-who changed her tail fin three times to keep attendees' attention-swimming alongside guests in the bayside pool.
The grand finale to the week of celebratory events was a gleaming golden gala, which took place on March 15 at the Tampa Convention Center. More than 700 guests gathered to raise a glass to the iconic restaurant and its successful history. Serving as master of ceremonies, Jay Leno of NBC's The Tonight Show entertained guests.
The Casper Company again recruited conceptBAIT to create a gilded event with plenty of golden accents. Everything from the metallic Chiavari chairs to the glassware appeared in shades of gold and champagne. Each table featured an oversize centerpiece created by Botanica International Design Studio, which towered above the place settings.
While attendees were more than welcomed to grab a classic McDonald's cheeseburger or apple pie in the cocktail reception area, inside the main dining room Aramark served a decadent four-course meal. The climax of the evening was in the revealing of a five-foot, multitiered cake created by Kim Yelvington of Chocolate Pi bearing icons and symbols of the history of the McDonald's company, such as fries, a Big Mac, and the golden arches, all created in chocolate and fondant.
The celebration continued as Soul Survivors, a performance band from Miami, took the stage.
—Avian Nobles Curtis
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