For the 16th annual Venetian Ball, held Friday at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to benefit the Villa Charities Foundation, members of this year's volunteer organizing committee drew a record crowd, used elaborate decor to recreate the Piazza San Marco, and hosted a surprise performance by Frankie Valli.
Although event committee members knew they had some financial challenges due to the economy, Laura Dal Bo, the foundation's executive director, said, "they just made a commitment to really ensure the Venetian Ball didn't suffer this year." Dal Bo worked with event co-chairs James Di Luca and Steven Muzzo to create the theme for this year's gala, which drew a crowd of more than 1,500 guests—up from 800 in 2008.
"This year, due to the economic climate we've experienced, it took a lot of one-on-one time meeting with sponsors," said Di Luca, who noted that the majority of sales were corporate tables. Di Luca said the organizing committee could have promoted Valli's performance in an effort to sell tickets but chose to keep the singer's involvement a surprise as a thank-you to those who attended the event.
In an effort to bring more authenticity to the benefit, which is traditionally Venetian inspired, Di Luca and Muzzo spent time researching Venetian culture—in Venice. "They flew to Italy just to make sure they were really in tune with what Venice is all about," Dal Bo said. "In doing that, they made a lot of connections." The municipal government in Venice provided Venetian masks for the gala, and a city representative flew to Toronto for a presentation, held Wednesday, about what's happening in Venice in 2010.
To set the scene for the gala, organizers used a series of 20-foot banners depicting Venetian architecture, a 30-foot replica of the bell tower in St. Mark's Square, and a projection of St. Mark's Basilica to create the feeling that guests were "dining alfresco" in Venice, Dal Bo said. Westbury National Show Systems created a starry night sky by placing a computerized web above the dance floor, and Forget Me Not Flowers topped tables with crystal candelabra and pink and orange roses.
Ten local restaurants including Centro, La Bruschetta, and Sotto Sotto catered antipasto stations during the reception. And Di Luca and Muzzo arranged for Domenico Di GesĂą, chef of Trattoria Do Forni in Venice, to work with Angelo Fernandes, executive chef at the convention centre, on the menu for the evening.
Guests dined on mixed seafood accompanied by a caprese salad followed by grilled filet mignon in a porcini mushroom sauce served with white polenta and Parmesan with essence of truffle, and a spinach, cauliflower, and carrot flan. Dessert was tiramisu served in a chocolate cup accompanied by a tuille basket of seasonal berries. A further 10 restaurants and catering companies offered late night sweets at a series of dessert stations.
In addition to Valli, the evening's entertainment included comedian Don Novello, who portrayed Father Guido Sarducci on Saturday Night Live, and the band Simply Grand.
Event sponsors included I.B.E.W. Local 353, Falconcrest Homes, Ozz Electric, Reliance Home Comfort, TD Commercial Banking, Ozz Solar, Toro Aluminum, Watson Building Supplies, Aird & Berlis L.L.P., Altus Group, Bird Construction Company, CIBC Wood Gundy, Concord Adex, Condrain Group, The Conservatory Group, Delavaco, ISCA, Masters Insurance, Pinetree, Siemens, Tridel, TLN, and Mercedes-Benz.
