More gatherings and notable events

Monday, August 12, 2002

Wine Brats Down Under

	Karen Walter, Ron Hudak, Gina Terrago, Michael Price and Jill Brownley. (Annie O'Neill, Post-Gazette)

The Allegheny River had to substitute as a backdrop for the Outback during the Wine Brats of Pittsburgh's "An Aussie Wine Walkabout." This year's wine tasting barbecue at Silky's Crow's Nest in Sharpsburg explored wines from down under, while throwing a few shrimp on the barbie for good measure. Event chair Karen Walter and co-regional president Gina Terrago were making sure everyone was having a G'day as they mingled with mates on the concrete party barge. Among those gaining an Australian perspective by sipping and savoring Southcorp's wine portfolio were Michael Price, Jill Brownley, Bob Hudak with Elaine Davis, Jeff Wagner with Barbara Johns, Pamela Gill, John Mitchell, Mary McFadden and Ron Hudak, Sandy Zagel and Lisa Moschak. The next Wine Brats event will be the 3rd Annual Heart and Vine benefit for the American Heart Association, Sept. 13. For tickets call 724-863-0550 Ext. 214.

-- Patricia Sheridan

Riverside Margaritaville

Karen Kavic banging the bongos. (Annie O'Neill, Post-Gazette)

Some people claim that there's a woman to blame ... and they're right. As organizer of the Easter Seals of Western Pennsylvania's summer concert "Welcome to Margaritaville," Karen Kavic (with Dr. Tim and their son Peter) emphasized the fun in fund-raising. Paper palm trees and the music of John McDonald and the Mango Men turned the Fox Chapel Yacht Club into a temporary tropical paradise. Dallying dockside between sets were Betsy Teti and her son Andrew, Ernie and Jan Meade, Carol Mazziotti, Jeff and Jackie Shogan, Lynda and Paul Schneider, Rosi and Rory Cooper and Chris Brussalis. The first-time event also gave Easter Seals CEO Lawrence Rager a chance to chat with Pam and Corrado Ceccarelli, parents of the 2002 child representative.

-- Patricia Sheridan

Postage Due

	John Warhola, one of Andy Warhol's brothers. (Andy Starnes, Post-Gazette)

From soup cans to celebrities, Andy Warhol stirred up polite society's perspective on art and the art of living. But regardless of his once off-the-page approach to life, he received the ultimate stamp of approval Friday, as the U.S. Postal Service unveiled the artist's image on postage. The First Day of Issue celebration at The Andy Warhol Museum evoked a strong emotional response from Tom Sokolowski, director of the museum. He lauded the artist's rebellious spirit and encouraged everyone to cherish the diversity Warhol represented. "He was a homosexual man," said Sokolowski. Adding that this was one of the reasons Warhol left Pittsburgh, Sokolowski went on to commend local institutions like Carnegie Mellon University and the Carnegie Museums, which offer same-sex benefits to employees, because, as he said, "another Andy might be out there." While the message may have been lost on the stamp collectors in the audience, it was applauded by the new director for the New York-based Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Joel Wachs, Mayor Tom Murphy, Ellsworth and Dorothy Brown, Dolly Ellenberg, Ann Wardrop and Warhola brothers John and Paul among others. It's a stamp in the right direction.

-- Patricia Sheridan

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