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 |  Fictitious and delicious! |
| [From Bok to Front Magazine, Summer 2024; alternate text is used to describe the photos appearing in the print version of the magazine] The Inaugural Influence in Bloom Gala was held on April 13, 2024 under clear skies and a much needed reprieve from the humidity of Florida in the spring. The 100 invitees shared community engagement ideas while indulging in seasonal Floridian Fare. Spring vegetables grown our own Kitchen Garden appeared on the menu in all the offered courses, while late season oranges from the nearby groves were put to use in the evening's beverage offerings and desserts. The lively chatter in the many rooms and courtyards of Pinewood Estate evoked the spirit of celebration not seen since both before the pandemic and the era in which Charles Buck and his family convened on the grounds during the winter months. [Photo of guests Javell Dupre {in a gray brocade tuxedo jacket}, Marcela Flores {wearing a strapless red satin gown and elbow length gloves} and Genevieve McDonald {in a mint green short sleeve tea length dress and draped with a ivory tulle shawl} sipping from champagne flutes during the pre-dinner cocktail hour. Each champagne flute is garnished with a zucchini flower.] Festivities began soon after the grounds closed for the evening. The invitees arrived wearing threads from a variety of American designers who agreed to design custom outfits pro bono. Designers worked closely with each of the invitees to create their outfits. The men as well as the women participated in this, with some of them finding they gained a newfound interest in finding more tailored clothes for themselves. Tesla engineer and Austin Pets Alive board member Nicholas Turner said he was quite surprised to find that seersucker and suspenders suited him better than any tuxedo. Upon arrival, champagne, herbal mocktails, and cucumber canapes greeted everyone. Guests took this time to make introductions while waiting for their portrait sessions to begin. Many of the guests were photographed within sight of the Singing Tower. The tower did not play during the cocktail hour, but guests did get a private performance later in the evening. Towards the end of the cocktail hour, the guests were provided their seating assignments before being escorted to the Pinewood Estate grounds. A candlelit path of hundreds of tea lights lead everyone to the mansion. [Photo of eight guests walking single file surrounded by blurry candlelight. Left to right: Nicholas Turner, Angela Caldwell, Amy Sasaki, Joel McCaffrey, Dean Eldridge, Ryan Espinoza, Rochelle Forrester, and Brice Welch] Guests sat at several tables that held between eight and twelve people. The larger tables were mostly on one of the estate's three porches or in the courtyard, which allowed the guests to catch light breezes that kept them cool without disturbing the meal. Even with many guests in lighter fabrics (such as the lilac chiffon gown worn by Wendy Chasmar) the guests appreciated any semblance of a cooldown. Spring in Florida can still surprise those who don't expect it to be as warm as it can be. The guests who were lucky enough to dine in the mansion did get some help from the air conditioning along with some ventilation from the nearby porches. The table with the most intrigue was the dining room. This is where the Top Ten were seated for the dinner. These ten guests were selected on the grounds that their community work showed exceptional creativity and addressing needs so undermet even other invitees hadn't realized there was concern on these fronts. Causes championed by the Top Ten include providing scholarships and funding for Asian students interested in becoming mental health professionals; helping practicing nurses better distinguish science and pseudoscience; providing training for those assisting with emotional concerns faced by riot survivors in the US; lobbying for hedge fund activists to assist with corporate social responsibility; and more. Such seemingly disparate causes ended up being connected by one of the most surprising guests, a woman by the name of Felicia Amgatz-Carlton. This Florida native turned Minneapolis resident has advocated for better communication among local nonprofit groups in the Midwest and spent a solid portion of the dinner applying similar principles on a national level. She received support from an unexpected source: famed quarterback Marlon Patterson, who has worked on evidence-based medical education for athletes when he hasn't been bringing the Kansas City Chiefs to numerous conference titles and Super Bowl appearances. [Side by side vertical photos. Left photo: Felicia Amgatz-Carlton in a navy dress with navy lace bodice. Right photo: Marlon Patterson wearing a slim fitting matte black suit jacket and narrow black and silver striped tie.] All guests enjoyed a lush four course meal replete with local produce. The meal started with a light tomato and mint gazpacho served in frosted crystal tulip glasses. A few guests used the demitasse spoons, but many opted to sip the gazpacho straight from the glass. This resulted in a lot of giggling and some minor spills along the way. Colorful salads followed the gazpacho. Beets, snap peas, garden fresh radishes and feta cheese sat on beds of chard, endive, and escarole. A light white balsamic dressing was served from communal bottles set at each table. The entrees did vary depending on the guest's choice. Each guest could choose from one of three options: sweet and sour brisket with mashed potatoes and green beans, lemon garlic mahi-mahi with rice pilaf and roasted kohlrabi, or spaghetti squash topped with wilted greens and parmesan cheese. It took quite a bit of time for the entrees to be finished, as numerous discussions flourished at all the tables. Some people even took notes on their phones as the conversations ensued. After at least an hour, the guests tucked into dessert: orange panna cotta and dark chocolate dipped biscotti. The light dessert was also served with mimosas and non-alcoholic orange sparklers. The dessert course started at the tables but soon lead to the guests standing in the courtyard when the carillon performance began. The musical selection featured arrangements of a diverse crop of composers and musicians. The musical selections included "Olympic Fanfare" from John Williams; Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet Overture"; snippets of Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody No.2"; and even a swingy cover of "Fever" by Peggy Lee among many others. Some of the guests tried their hand at dancing in or near the courtyard grottos surrounding the estate. Others, meanwhile, finished their drinks and biscotti by the Italian tile fountain. As the night wound down, those who weren't lounging around after their fill of food and drink toured the second floor of the estate and learned more about how their fellow guests became involved in the causes they have come to champion over the years. [Picture of the Singing Tower in nighttime silhouette with a quarter moon and starts dotted around it] Guests of this Influence in Bloom have stated the dinner reinvigorated their community outreach efforts and ignited changes to some of their processes. While it will take some time to see the full fruits of these new labors, the excitement from the guests is palpable. This feedback has prompted Bok Tower and Gardens leadership to make the Influence in Bloom Gala a recurring event, with the next dinner tentatively scheduled for April 2026. More details will be released by Christmas. [Four pictures: from left a picture of the salad served; Roo Sherman with hair in traditional Indigenous braids watching the dancing; a panoramic view of a courtyard table during the dinner; Bok staff member Mary Bellefonte meeting with several guests during the cocktail hour] Word count: 1261 Prompt Seven: Feast ▼ |
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