Any evening that starts with a red carpet and Spartan soldiers forming a sword-drawn canopy over your head deserves writing about.
We arrived - "we" being me, World Scene Writer Nicole Marshall Middleton and her husband, Steve - for Greek Festival VIP Night at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1206 S. Guthrie Ave., and immediately ran into Mary Benes. She was a guest at KTUL, channel 8 co-anchor Kristin Dickerson's table that evening - as were we, come to find out. Dickerson, there with her husband, Peter Fleisher, was billed as a special guest on the evening's program, along with Kathy Taylor and Kostis Protopapas of the Tulsa Opera.
The dress code dictated casual for the al fresco soiree, held under a large, well-decorated tent, but quite a few folks dressed up, with many in contemporary nods to Grecian styles.
Like Gina Michalopulos Kingsley, resplendent in a white, one-shoulder gown. Her father and great-uncle were among the founders of the event, Tulsa's oldest ethnic festival.
"It represents our culture well," said Kingsley, who has heard many positive things about the festival's authenticity when compared to those of larger cities.
She and I chatted near a cook station where saganaki (Greek flaming cheese) was being prepared - absolutely amazing. People also noshed on dolmadakia (stuffed grape leaves), feta cheese and Kalamata olives.
Making sure everything ran smoothly was Tonya Van Zandt Boone, chairwoman for VIP Night. The evening, "a tremendous success," Boone told us the next morning, raised crucial funds to support Greek Festival, plus numerous charities, as well as Holy Trinity. This year, 10 percent of gross proceeds from VIP night will go directly to Camp Agape, a cancer camp for families with kids fighting cancer.
"I am overwhelmed at the generosity of our sponsors, as well as our community," Boone said. "We far surpassed our fundraising goal for the evening."
As anticipated, the food was fabulous. Although I contemplated baked flounder with olives, feta, tomatoes and basil with risotto, I opted for roasted lamb and Yiouvetsi orzo in a light tomato sauce - amazing. But it was hard to pick a favorite between it and the aptly named Lemon Dream yogurt with blueberries and baklava.
My auction paddle made an awesome fan, though I was careful not to hold it up too high for auctioneer extraordinaire Jay Litchfield to spy. The baker's dozen items he rattled off included a blue topaz necklace, Hasty-Bake grill and vacations in Santa Fe, N.M.; Montana; and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Uber-talented chef Alex Forsythe was present for his biddable treat of a private dinner for eight, as was professional race car driver Bo Roach with his Go Pro Racing Experience.
Also present was Demetrius Bereolos, who popped by our table to say hello, and precious Cindy Ellison, who was within opa-shouting distance of us.
Although the Spartan soldiers (aka coach Joe Medina's Cascia Hall Commandos football team) had sheathed their swords and retreated from the red carpet by the time we left, we each were bid a sweet good night with a box of Greek sweets - and just enough of a taste of Greek Festival to commit ourselves to coming back Thursday, Friday and/or Saturday.
GREEK FESTIVAL 2013
Annual extravaganza of amazing
Greek food, music and goods
When: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, 11
a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Where: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox
Church, 1206 S. Guthrie Ave.
Cost: $3 admission; menu items
$1-$15
Info: tulsaworld.com/greekfestival
Local artists are helping mark the 20th anniversary and relocation of Urban Furnishings with sofa art. Courtesy
Sofa art and street festival
To celebrate her store's relocation and 20th anniversary, Rebecca Joskey and her Urban Furnishings are throwing a funky-fun event. She and Kendall Whittier Main Street asked local artists to transform secondhand upholstered furniture into works of art. The sofas - to be judged for a $500 Best of Show prize - will be for sale via silent auction throughout the evening.
Event details: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, Urban Furnishings, 2306 E. Admiral Blvd.
Participating artists: Joseph Buchanan, Lanette C. Clark, Lisa Regan, Janet Davie, Cynthia Brown, Mary Jane Porter, Tulsa Girls Art School, FURN, Clary Sage College, Undercroft Montessori, Tulsa Fire Department, The McIntosh Group LLC
Tickets: Free
For more: tulsaworld.com/urbanfurnishings
Grand opening cut-a-thon
To celebrate its new digs, The Elephant in the Room Men's Grooming Lounge - a cool men's-only grooming experience with services such as haircuts, shaves, hot-towel treatments and paraffin hand dips - will stage a cut-a-thon for guys older than 12 before grand-opening festivities that evening. Other highlights include music, giveaways and food.
Moore
Proceeds from donations will benefit Tulsa Boys Home, which provides quality residential care for young boys needing placement outside their home.
Event details: Saturday, Sept. 28 - 9 a.m.-5 p.m. free haircuts; 6-10 p.m. grand opening - The Elephant in the Room, 8931 S. Yale Ave. (behind QuikTrip, next to Ludger's Bavarian Cakery)
Attire: Casual (If you dress like a slob, though, these guys know how to fix it, as the lounge's founder, Justin Moore, offers style consulting.)
Admission: Free
For more: tulsaworld.com/eitrlounge
Bill Knight, the presenting sponsor for this year's Hometown Huddle, stands with Jake and Sam Mulready, event chairwoman Sally Mulready and Will Mulready. Courtesy
Hometown Huddle
The state-champion Jenks Trojans will kick off their home football season-opener with this inaugural event - a combo pep rally and carnival-style block party organized by Jenks Public Schools Foundation. In addition to remarks from coach Allan Trimble, the event will include food for sale, music, games, youth performances, pony rides and more. Trimble, I'm told, expects Trojans fans to line Second Street from the parking lot to the Sharp Center at 5 p.m. to cheer on the team as it enters.
Event details: 4-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, parking lot south of Hunter Dwelley Field, Jenks High School, 205 E. B St.
Attire: Casual (Maroon and white would be in order.)
Presenting sponsor: Bill Knight Ford
Admission: Free; sponsorships available (contact Marlo Duffy Turner, 918-299-4463,
jenksfoundation@jenksps.org)
Vendor booths: $150
For more: tulsaworld.com/jenksfoundation
Original Print Headline: VIPs get taste of Greek culture
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