Right on Q
Those On Q magazine guys ... they know how to talk and they know how to win awards. Only one year old and already their mantel display is lined with (gasp) FOUR Emmys. How do they do itâ¢
Glad you asked. WQED-TV's the talk of the tube and its good news bearers have brought the community together with upbeat tales of the city.
Don't look now. You won't believe who's in the middle of the room. OK, slowly. That's Carol Lee Espy, Chris Moore, Stacy Smith and Michael Bartley. Do you think that's his wife⢠She looks taller in person.
Party Central stashed the remote control and broke out the party hats Friday night for On Q's first birthday basheroo. Ground zero was WQED/Studio A and it played to a packed house of some 300 pols, talking heads, media celebs, community leaders, musicians, staffers and those who love them. Truth is, everyone who had an On Q cameo in the year that was made the cut. And the station (gasp gasp) aired the happening live.
No, there wasn't a full moon. So how do you explain such a hot draw⢠'Diversity,' enthused George Miles. By George, he was right on cue. And to keep everyone's energy up, caterer Michael Lench served up a killer buffet that kept the happy in this birthday. Elvis was seen leaving the building with one of his bourbon praline cheesecakes.
Queuing up the guest list, we spotted such as police Commander Gwen Elliott (she was 'packin''); Natalie and Judge Larry Caplan; Carolyn Wean; Gail and Norman Childs; Gideon Toeplitz; Andy Masich; Hilda Fu; Jim Ecker; Francine and Jim Abraham; Dr. Joyce Meaggerson Moore; Bob O'Connor; Karen Wolk Feinstein; artist Burton Morris; Joe Negri; chef Justin Miller; Chris Fletcher; Michelle Lally; Ruthie King; Angie Corley; Mike Nichols (from On Q's first show!); Jon Delano; Kweilin Nassar; Bill Loeffler; Ed Effort; Eleanor Schano Feeney; Dan Onorato, and the Fuzzy Comets.
Plus the trendsetting Torres: Venetia, Gary, daughter Marissa and granddad John; Amy and Frank Caloiero with baby Nino; Judy and Bill Grassi; Linda Dickerson; Michele Michaels; Richard Parsakian; Janice and Irvin Williams; the Buzz Poets; Ayanna King; Abigail and Andy Sheehan; Stu Emry and daughter Sue; Alicia Maloney; Minette Seate; Margaret and Steven Eisenhauer; Susan and Ralph Kaiser; Izzazu's Gino and Emilio; Rich Fitzgerald; Charlie Quillin; Kathleen Beaver; Gigi Saladna, and the Aviary's David Lowe with a magnificent red-tailed hawk.
May the fifth be with them.
Inaugural opening
While the nation's capitol was whirling to inaugural balls, a verrrry red-carpet eve was unfurling at the Allegheny County Medical Society's
inauguration of its own president and slate of officers. And it didn't spare any of the papparazzi.
Star billing went not to the Bush league or the mega-star cutouts glamming up Saturday night's Oscar party, but to the singular sensations charged with healing the sick, the noblest of all callings. And they were dazzled, I tell you, by the star treatment.
Harpo, Groucho, and Marilyn playfully worked the house as some 200 black-ties grazed and gazed at the stunning special effects. Banking the Westin William Penn's gilded ballroom ablaze with those famous HOLLYWOOD hilltop letters were smashing vignettes from 'Casablanca,' 'Gone With the Wind,' 'The Wizard of Oz,' like that. A screen silently reeled cuts from Oscar-winning films and, for the flashiest flash in the pan, a Civic Light Opera chorus line kicked off the program.
If you think it doesn't get better than that, folks, you're wrong.
From D.C. came the sensational Millennium band that brought the after-party to the dance floor and kept them there 'til snow plows started whirring in the streets below.
Yes, there were doctors in the house. Here are but a few: ACMS' new president, Dr. Paul Dishart, and Maureen with Mark, Bradley and gorgeous Jill; prez-elect Dr. Gerald Pifer; Drs. Saryu and Jitendra Desai; Dick and Dr. Nancy Neiland-Fisher; Jo Ellen and Dr. Alan Yeasted; Dr. David Zorub; Drs. Christine Edelman and Edward Teeple Jr. ; Bonnie and Dr. Marshall Webster; Ronna and Dr. Richard Harris; Mary Cincirpini; Drs. Blima and Ricardo Mitre; Dr. Albert Nichols in from California.
As well as Drs. Ellen and Loren Roth; Comly and Dr. Ed Watters; Dr. Terry Starz; Jim Ireland; Patty and Dr. George Buerger with Laura and Dr. Daniel; Rose Kunkel and Dr. Stanley Hendry; Nessa and Dr. Sam Mines; Drs. Judy and Mickey Black; Irene and Dr. Hushang Payan; Augusta Kairys and Dr. Norton Hall; Judy and Dr. Roger Mecum; Patty and Dr. Alan Barnett; CLO's Jason Coll; Westin's Ken Dainty and his stellar staff; and roses to Bonnie Chirigos and Linda Miller, who coordinated the big, beautiful shebang.
That's a wrap.
Caroling
Teresa Heinz gave a little speech, Gov. Tom Ridge beamed in via video, and accolades that would make her blush were bound into three handsome gift volumes. Really big ones.
Wednesday night at the Duquesne Club, PNC prez Jim Rohr presided over a very intimate - shall we say small⢠- very classy black-tie for Carol Brown, who's taking off her hard hat after 16 years as president of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. After orchestrating the awesome transformation of the gateway to our fair city from red-light district to the pride and joy of the Golden Triangle, she's leaving on a sky-high note.
Large and grandiose was the way they wanted to say merci beaucoup. Bully for Carol. She wouldn't hear of it. Let it also be said that the eve's highlight was the knockout tribute by board member Jane Arkus. With Jack Purcell as backup, she belted her little heart out to - what else⢠- 'Downtown.' From Verse 3:
'And so ... We're gathered in fun/To hail the wonderful one/Who got the work in gear/Downtown/We holler, 'Don't go!'/And yet it's on with the show/You know your work lives here/Downtown/We see it in the Benedum, the Byham and the Harris/It's in the new O'Reilly near the PSO and Mariss/Golly we're proud!/Bourgeois, the Plaza named Katz, and the Riverfront Park and/The crowds after dark/ They're comin'/Downtown/Makin' a dash for our/Downtown/Bringin' more cash to our/Downtown/Thanks to the smashing/Miz Brown.'
Fare-thee-swell, Carol. There will be a substitution, but never a replacement.
They're heeeere
Eeeeks! Artist David Rogers brought his own neighborhood of creepy crawlers to roost at the insectarium better known as Phipps Conservatory in Schenley Park. And, well, they're driving everyone buggy with delight.
The great big buggers were preening for patrons Friday night at a snowbound Picnic with the Bugs, with tony tidbits by Rania's Catering, and there were no chocolate-covered grasshoppers or ants on the menu.
Faces in the crowd: PC director Richard Piacentini with board chair John Martin and Martha; Duquesne Light's Christine Beattie and Brian (DL underwrote the fascinating exhibit!); Sally Ketchum, Dr. Al Biglan; Nancy and Dick Scarton; Paul Spencer; Dr. Jim Dill; Mernie Berger; Jeanne and Scotti Mulert; Drs. Janet and Matt Simon; Pat Navarro; Sue Colaizzi; Kim and Robert Fanelli; Len Lehman; Missy Unkovic; and John Novey.
Stop bugging me.
Daffodil Days
Eveything was coming up daffodils at the American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days corporate kickoff luncheon in the Sheraton, Station Square. For one week, beginning March 20, an army of volunteers will be blanketing area stores, offices and work stations with the golden beauties.
Hope springs eternal, and so does this first sweet sign of spring. Buy bunches, buy armloads of daffodils when they come a'calling. You'll be helping in the ACS's battle against the dread disease and funding its support services in our town.
Here's a cloud of daffodils to Sally Wiggin, WTAE-TV's fab anchor. From day one, she's primed the pump for countless community charities ... not to mention Daffodil Days, which she has energized as honorary chair for 15 years.
Benefit chair Teresa Houser of Allegheny General Hospital is another of those spark plugs who's making a difference. As well as Kaufmann's Erika Kirwin and Kim Sky; Paula Stocking of Heinz USA; UPCI's Lisa Huntley; Leigh Koenig; Carole Strader; Lisa Santucci; Cynthia Patch; Linda Greuser; Diane Ward; Lisa Casney; Maria Anderson; Ed Sweeney; Marilyn Maiello; Tim Jay; Dan Catena; Nancy Sherry; Linda Jarrett; Colleen Fingal; Dona Buterbaugh, and Carrie Schoeneman.
Golden thumbs.
