Time Well Spent: Previews and reviews of mid-Missouri events

by Brent Beshore

January 12,2008

As owner and CEO of Event Solutions, I attend a lot of events—cocktail parties, tastings, grand openings, galas, house parties, dinners, etc. When I decide where I'm spending my weekends and evenings, I ask around but always seem to come up with different recommendations. Some people like performances—whether sports games or Concert Series events. Some like small get-togethers, surrounded by friends and comfortable in conversation.

My goal for this column is to give you an inside look at events in the mid-Missouri area. Some will be large, public events. Others will be small, intimate gatherings. Many will fall in between. Each issue I will review past events on a scale of 1 to 10, preview upcoming events, and give my recommendations for where to go to see and be seen.

Review:
Mansion Preservation Gala
Where: Governor's Mansion
When: Thursday, Dec.13
Why: Fund-raiser for the non-profit Mansion Preservation Fund
Cost: $5,000/Table for 8
Details: Jeffersonian Christmas-theme décor and dinner, white-gloved servers with pass hors d'oeuvres and champagne, spectacular live performances from an ensemble of the St. Louis Symphony, after-dinner cordials on the third floor of the mansion.
Rating: 9-With the exception of the cold bread pudding, everything was spot-on.
Columbia Notables: Drue and Liz Duncan, Mike and Heather Grote, Clay Bethune and Elly Swetz, Dean Bruce and Pam Walker

Tom Jensen and Cary Fuller's Christmas Party
Where: Top Ten Wines
When: Wednesday, Dec. 5
Why: To celebrate the holidays
Details: Festive mix of wine, light hors d'oeuvres and great company, with Paul Vernon offering tasting notes on the five selected wines (three reds, two whites). The guests included a wide variety of ages, stages, interests and backgrounds all having a blast … with wine.
Rating: 8
While it was a little cramped, I can't imagine a better venue for a 40-person party.
Columbia Notables: Mills Menser and Patty Holmstrom, Joel and Laura Kreisman, Bogdan Susan and Amy Willenbrink, Dr. Scott Hussey, Crystal Uthlaut, Nick Baker, Greg Dingrando, Richard Miller

Preview:
American Culinary Federation President's Dinner
Where: University Club, Reynolds Alumni Center on MU Campus
When: Jan. 26, 6 p.m.
Why: Fundraiser for ACF
Cost: $50/Person
Details: Neoclassical cuisine with guest chefs Uta Schepers and Peter Carroll. Carroll, who was classically trained in London, will create various seafood dishes. Schepers—who has studied in Heidelberg, Bangkok and Singapore—will prepare multiple meat courses.
Anticipation Rating: 8
Live cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs—sounds like quite a good time.

PawCasso: An Evening for Animals and Art
Where: Holiday Inn Executive Center
When: Jan. 31, 6:30 p.m.
Why: Fund-raiser for the Columbia Art League and the Central Missouri Humane Society
Cost: $40/Person or $300/Table for 8
Details: Silent and live auctions featuring the Phat Guys, music by the Jerry Wagner Quintet, a doggie fashion show called Pawade, and heavy hors d'oeuvres.
Anticipation Rating: 7
Figures to be a fun mix of entertainment, (pet) fashion and food—all for good causes.

Hit List:
1. Concert Series: Violinist Nicola Benedetti—7 p.m. Jan. 23 in Jesse Auditorium
2. ARTrageous Friday—6-9 p.m. Jan. 25, at 15 locations in The District
3. Jazz Series: Karrin Allyson Group—7 p.m. Jan. 27 at Lela Rainey Wood Hall, Stephens College
4. Heart Ball with MU HeathCare—5:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Holiday Inn Exeutive Center

Latest in Event Trends:
Stand-Out Furniture: First appearing in L.A., lucite furniture is a hot item. This transparent furniture can be lighted from the inside-out, creating an impressive glow.

False Ceilings: Want that professional look? Create a false ceiling using everything from hanging lanterns to draped cloth to free-standing parasols. Lowering the ceiling creates a more intimate venue, without sacrificing needed space.

Hand-Me-Down Hors D'oeuvres: In an effort to one-up traditional serving stations, this setup involves a two-tiered station, where freshly created selections are passed down to servers, who plate and arrange them and then pass them to the guests. The result is guest entertainment with freshly made food that looks and tastes great.

Is your favorite charity hosting a fundraiser? Is your company hosting an event? Are you and your friends throwing a party? What events are you attending? What events have you heard about? Let me know about it by email at events@eventsolutionsllc.com.

Popularity: 39% [?]