For the second annual gala in support of the Michael "Pinball" Clemons Foundation—an organization that's dedicated to helping disadvantaged youth—Pinball, as he's commonly known, just wanted to throw a party. "Tonight is really about getting out and just having a great time, having a hoot," the Toronto Argonauts C.E.O. said. "Times now aren't the easiest, so if people are going to actually come to the table and think about somebody else in these kind of times, let's make sure that they have the best time possible. It's not a tight atmosphere. Hopefully I'm the only guy in a tie."
Close to 400 guests attended Thursday's fund-raiser, held at the Palais Royale and dubbed "A Night on Bourbon Street." "It is one of those nights where you can just sit back and have a great time and at the end of the day if you're not careful, you're going to make a difference in someone's life," Clemons said. "It is music, it is entertainment, it is great food—the kind of food that makes you have to go to the doctor just to check up to make sure everything is good, but you only live once."
Solutions With Impact, the event management firm that designed the concept for the gala, worked with the venue to create a New Orleans-inspired menu. Servers passed hors d'oeuvres like salt cod profiteroles with lemon aioli and coconut shrimp with hot pepper jelly during the French Quarter cocktail reception. Guests dined on a meal including a first course of endive salad with toasted pine nuts and lemon drizzled ricotta, followed by barbecued beef tenderloin with jalepeno corn bread, watercress, okra, tomato, baby shrimp, and potato etouffee spiced flat beans. Sweet potato pie with French vanilla ice cream was served for dessert.
Chad Brincheski of the event firm noted, “Part of the reason we chose the venue is because it's suited to the theme. It's inspired by a very high end Bourbon Street jazz club. Most of the decor is focused on the tables.” Silver footed bowls filled with white roses and hydrangeas from San Remo Florist topped tables covered in slate grey linens. “We didn't want to go kitschy. We didn't want to do Mardi Gras beads. It's a more traditional type of gala."
Girls dressed in top hats and tails sold cufflinks from Aquarius Menswear along with raffles tickets for a chance to win a trip for two to the Mayan Riviera. Sportscaster Rod Black hosted the evening and Pinball's wife Diane-Lee Clemons performed during the dinner. DJ Starting From Scratch played tunes following the live auction, led by auctioneer Jay Mandarino. Juno-nominated singer Ivana Santilli also performed.
