This year, B.A. Safley, executive director of the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, decided to depart from the usual fund-raiser and try something new. Safley hired the Link Event Professionals, a company she had not worked with before, and turned to Tara Liaschenko to deliver a benefit that would excite attendees and bring in big money for the foundation.Deb Thielen, event coordinator for the hospice and Liaschenko's main contact, informed the planner that Return to Atlantis was the ball's predetermined theme and would be held at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Pete. "We tried to interpret an age-old theme with a 21st century spin by using cool effects, lots of lighting, and projection, as well as decor," said Liaschenko. Guests nibbled hors d'oeuvres and sipped cocktails while roaming the white column-lined hotel foyer. Each column bore a four-foot-long gold silk charmeuse flag upon which was imprinted a sponsor's name or logo in black glitter. In the center of the space was a performer from Live Art by Julie acting as a stone statue of Poseidon.
Attendees could also head out to a tented courtyard housing a silent auction of more than 200 items. Guests mingled and bid while a harpist played soothing tunes. The blowing of a whistle signified the opening of the doors to the main ballroom; guests passed through a double arch, which, according to Danielle Nunez of Grand Events of Florida, the decor company hired by Liaschenko, was used to symbolize the fall of Atlantis.
In the ballroom, guests felt as though they were underwater. Columns painted to look like stone were draped with blue fabric that represented water, then lit in gold to depict the rays of the sun. The room was lit in blues and greens, perpetuating the underwater feel. BBJ Linen dressed 55 tables in blue satin fabric, which were topped with gold chargers; chairs were dressed in covers and sashes in four shades of blue and teal. The 24- by 16-foot stage was decorated with "rubble" such as a treasure chest spilling jewels and coins, staircases, and broken columns. Light was projected onto white spandex panels around the room, as well as onto the white vinyl dance floor.
Entertainment by Evention Show Productions included an interpretation of the fall of Atlantis. Dancers and performers acted out a custom-created scene, enhanced by dramatic red lighting and music. Then dinner was served. Prepared by the hotel's in-house catering staff, dishes such as Poseidon's petit filet mignon, Cleito's chorizo-crusted snapper atop Hercules' herb goat cheese mashed potatoes, and Island of Avalon stuffed Roma tomatoes kept the theme alive. The big-band sound of Skylight Entertainment got partygoers onto the dance floor after dessert—Plato's panache of seasonal berries buried in a white chocolate shell with Atlantis apricot sauce, as well as Trident-struck .phpberry Bavarian cream chocolate layer cake with Olympus Chambord syrup.
—Shari Lynn Rothstein
Attendees could also head out to a tented courtyard housing a silent auction of more than 200 items. Guests mingled and bid while a harpist played soothing tunes. The blowing of a whistle signified the opening of the doors to the main ballroom; guests passed through a double arch, which, according to Danielle Nunez of Grand Events of Florida, the decor company hired by Liaschenko, was used to symbolize the fall of Atlantis.
In the ballroom, guests felt as though they were underwater. Columns painted to look like stone were draped with blue fabric that represented water, then lit in gold to depict the rays of the sun. The room was lit in blues and greens, perpetuating the underwater feel. BBJ Linen dressed 55 tables in blue satin fabric, which were topped with gold chargers; chairs were dressed in covers and sashes in four shades of blue and teal. The 24- by 16-foot stage was decorated with "rubble" such as a treasure chest spilling jewels and coins, staircases, and broken columns. Light was projected onto white spandex panels around the room, as well as onto the white vinyl dance floor.
Entertainment by Evention Show Productions included an interpretation of the fall of Atlantis. Dancers and performers acted out a custom-created scene, enhanced by dramatic red lighting and music. Then dinner was served. Prepared by the hotel's in-house catering staff, dishes such as Poseidon's petit filet mignon, Cleito's chorizo-crusted snapper atop Hercules' herb goat cheese mashed potatoes, and Island of Avalon stuffed Roma tomatoes kept the theme alive. The big-band sound of Skylight Entertainment got partygoers onto the dance floor after dessert—Plato's panache of seasonal berries buried in a white chocolate shell with Atlantis apricot sauce, as well as Trident-struck .phpberry Bavarian cream chocolate layer cake with Olympus Chambord syrup.
—Shari Lynn Rothstein
Return to Atlantis was the theme of Hospice of Florida's Suncoast's annual fund-raising ball this year.
Entertainers reenacted the fall of Atlantis.
A performer posed as a living statue of Poseidon.
After dinner, the Skylight Entertainment band took the stage.
