Let’s start with those bras. You know, the fundraiser over at Key for the Cure. I will say one thing for brassieres. They always work. People are fascinated by them. Both men and women. What the clever committee did was get a bunch of fantasy bras designed and/or worn by prominent women around town. They were modeled down a runway in the shoe department at Saks and then auctioned off for breast cancer programs at Sarasota Memorial Health Care Systems. One went for $25,000. To an anonymous bidder yet. It was the bra of The Observer newspaper and consisted of social photos decoupaged over the cups. What is going on?  This bra is the talk of the town.

Charlie Ann Syprett

Key to the Cure is the pet project of Saks general manager Sally Schule, and she always makes it work. Pay close attention to her co-chairs. She always picks the girls of the moment, and this year the honors went to Susan Jones and Kyla Weiner.

Co-chairs Sally Schule, Kyla Weiner and Susan Jones.

The event raised a record $92,000 and drew over 500 people. It is traditionally one the chicest events in town and everyone dresses beautifully – after all, it is at Saks.

Well, he enters, and you immediately realize he’s going to be great. He is in total control of the material – a British sex farce – and he has developed this comic timing that, well, rivals mine. And when he comes out in his underwear, there is a frisson of sexual electricity that jolts out over the audience. I actually heard Donna Des Isles moan.

But all these festivities, delightful as they were, were just a prelude to the week’s major event, and unofficial opening of the fall social season, the UnGala Gala at the Ringling Museum. This is where “young Sarasota” gets all dressed up and feasts and dances and is entertained in the museum courtyard, the most spectacular party setting in Sarasota.

I had a chat with Tom Luzier by the paella station. Dressed in a black silk guayabera, he told me how he and wife Allison have two homes, a cute bungalow here and another house in Tampa, where Allison is banker. They spend weekends together and have several “dates” during the week. It sounds like the perfect relationship. And guess what? Rochelle Currey Nigri got her hair marcelled!

My favorite thing about the UnGala is the way it provides a showcase for beautiful women. Here were some of the crowd’s favorites:

David Shoemaker, Yara Michaels, Vern Buchanan

Rod Khleif, Devyn Simone

Chris Pfahler

Check in with me for our next edition of our Charity Register Newsletter. We’ll be attending Wine, Women and Shoes, the opening night of Contact at the Asolo Rep, and Dr. Idol, that battle of the bands featuring musicians from the Sarasota medical establishment. If you want a subscription so that it magically arrives in your inbox free, just follow this link.