Every year the Sun Coast Hospital Foundation puts on a gala using stars as its theme. This year, approximately 450 guests came to the Westin Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor to experience an evening Under The Venetian Stars.Nickita Harrison, the hospital's special events coordinator, planned the gala for the first time this year. She hired Tara Liaschenko from the Link Event Professionals to help her out. She was pleased with the outcome, but already had some ideas for improvements. "I would have liked more decorations related to Italy." The subtle touches, however, made an elegant impression on guests.
Upon entering Inverness Hall, guests were treated to an ice sculpture resting on a table nestled between ferns and faux grapes. The carving done by Arctic Ice featured a gondola design on the ice block's face and the hospital's logo on the reverse.
During cocktail hour souvenir photos were taken in front of a backdrop featuring Venice at night, done by JL Designs. Guests visited one of the three bars serving the signature drink, the Italian Sour, mixed by the Westin Innisbrook Catering Services staff. Appetizers, also provided by the resort, included bruschetta, Italian marinated chicken satays, baked brie with lingonberry sauce, and fried ravioli with marinara dipping sauce. When not noshing, guests delighted in hand-rolled cigars offered by the Rodriguez and Menendez Cigar Factory and a port bar by PRP Wine International.
Dream State Inc. Music Productions played soft jazz in the main ballroom. Tall white columns topped by greenery accompanied the tuxedo-clad band on stage. Cover Story dressed round tables in gold-striped linens with black napkins. Some had fern and faux grape centerpieces topped by hurricane glasses filled with white pillar candles. Others bore fern and calla lily displays in thin glass vases, both created by Open Air Florist and Plant Directions Inc. Walls featured large light projections of the gala's dual themes, stars and Venetian gondolas, provided by Innisbrook Presentation Services.
Plated tomato and mozzarella salads awaited each guest at the tables. The main course included grouper parmigiana and a filet of beef with tomato concasse and sweet pepper couli. An amaretto zabaglione napoleon and a chocolate fountain garnished with bite-sized sweets were soon followed by several hours of dancing under the stars.
—Melissa Mercatante
Upon entering Inverness Hall, guests were treated to an ice sculpture resting on a table nestled between ferns and faux grapes. The carving done by Arctic Ice featured a gondola design on the ice block's face and the hospital's logo on the reverse.
During cocktail hour souvenir photos were taken in front of a backdrop featuring Venice at night, done by JL Designs. Guests visited one of the three bars serving the signature drink, the Italian Sour, mixed by the Westin Innisbrook Catering Services staff. Appetizers, also provided by the resort, included bruschetta, Italian marinated chicken satays, baked brie with lingonberry sauce, and fried ravioli with marinara dipping sauce. When not noshing, guests delighted in hand-rolled cigars offered by the Rodriguez and Menendez Cigar Factory and a port bar by PRP Wine International.
Dream State Inc. Music Productions played soft jazz in the main ballroom. Tall white columns topped by greenery accompanied the tuxedo-clad band on stage. Cover Story dressed round tables in gold-striped linens with black napkins. Some had fern and faux grape centerpieces topped by hurricane glasses filled with white pillar candles. Others bore fern and calla lily displays in thin glass vases, both created by Open Air Florist and Plant Directions Inc. Walls featured large light projections of the gala's dual themes, stars and Venetian gondolas, provided by Innisbrook Presentation Services.
Plated tomato and mozzarella salads awaited each guest at the tables. The main course included grouper parmigiana and a filet of beef with tomato concasse and sweet pepper couli. An amaretto zabaglione napoleon and a chocolate fountain garnished with bite-sized sweets were soon followed by several hours of dancing under the stars.
—Melissa Mercatante
A Venetian night scene panel provided a nice photo backdrop for guests at the Sun Coast Hospital Foundation Under the Venetian Stars gala.
Beautiful fruit and floral centerpieces highlight the gold striped table dressings in perfect Venetian flavor.
An ice sculpture of the Sun Coast Hospital logo graced the event entryway.
Gobos of the stars and gondolas were projected throughout the ballroom to continue the theme.
