OKC Events August 7, 2003

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Aug 7, 2003 by Joan Gilmore

Members of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Oklahoma City will present their 25th annual "Taste of Oklahoma City" on Saturday at Cox Convention Center.

Guests will be able to sample a wide array of dishes from 22 restaurants and participate in silent and live auction bidding. To climax the evening, guests may dance to the tunes of Time Machine.

During the evening, special recognition will be given to the group's Big Brother/Big Sister and Couple of the Year.

Reservations are $75 per person for general seating. Reserved tables are available at $750 for four people or $1,500 for a table of 10. To make reservations, call 943-8075.

Restaurants participating in the benefit include Bellini's, Cocina de Mino, Bricktown Brewery, Sara Lee Coffee & Tea/Cain's, Famous Mel's, Ruth's Sweete Justice, Garfield's, Gopuram Taste of India, La Luna, Pepperoni Grill, Texas Roadhouse, Gourmet Cakes, Sopha Bella's Chicago Grill, Spaghetti Warehouse, Bourbon Street Cafe, Varsity Sports Grill, Pearl's Crabtown, Shorty Small's, Mickey Mantle Steakhouse, Deep Fork Grill, Lotus Sushi Bar and the Renaissance Hotel Restaurant.

Auction items include a trip to Las Vegas, a 2003 Mustang, fine art, an HDTV, sports memorabilia, sculptures, jewelry and much, much more.

Texoma board meets

Executive Women International, Oklahoma City Chapter, hosted the Texoma Board Forum at the Marriott Hotel for two days.

At a luncheon meeting, guest speaker was Sherri Coale, head women's basketball coach at the University of Oklahoma. The invocation was given in Cherokee sign language by Aleene Koonce.

Sheryl Delancy is president of the Oklahoma City EWI Chapter and Linda Tharpe is vice president.

All for children

Proceeds from the Stetsons at Sunset party go the Children's Miracle Network and Children's Medical Research Institute, which uses the money for research into and awareness of children's diseases right here in Oklahoma.

The third such benefit will take place Aug. 14 at Express Ranches and will feature dinner and silent and live auctions. Providing entertainment will be Kristy Starling, the Oklahoma singer who took second place in a talent search contest on NBC's The Today Show, which set her up in a recording career.

Honorary co-chairs for the party are Bob and Nedra Funk, former Gov. Frank and Cathy Keating and Bill and Cathy Stoller. Major sponsors will be invited to a pre-party at the Funks' home at 6 p.m., be transported to the benefit site in limos and have their own autos returned to them after the party by valet service.

Sponsorship levels range in price from $25,000 for Platinum (two preferred reserved tables for eight); $15,000 for Diamond (two reserved tables); $10,000 for Golden (two reserved tables) and $5,000 for Corporate (one reserved table). A Patron table is $2,000 and individual patron tickets are $250 each. Individual tickets are $125.

For reservations, call (888) 446-8256.

Express Personnel Services and Arden & Associates are Platinum sponsors. Since 1991, Express has raised more than $2 million for CMN. Express has been a national sponsor of the telethon for 12 years.

The Meinders Foundation, the Journal Record Publishing Co. and Robyn Promotions & Printing are Golden sponsors. Listed as Corporate sponsors are BancFirst, Dorchester Capital, SBC, John Hancock Financial Services/ Alan Niemann General Agency and Love's Travel Stops and Country Stores. Among those holding Patron reservations are Equitable Plan Services, James P. Linn, Norick Investments, Oklahoma Publishing Co., Panhandle Royalty, Dick and Jeannette Sias, Tim Smith, TMP Worldwide/ Monster.com, Third Degree Advertising and Wilson Research Strategies.

Co-chairs of Stetsons at Sunset are Cindy Fairchild and Linda Haneborg. Suggested attire is dressy western. The silent auction will open at 6:30 p.m. and close at 8 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m., followed by the live auction.

El Reno festivities

Colorful costumes and great entertainment will be the order of the day for the El Reno "Heritage and Arts Festival" from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Sept. 13.

Activities will take place at the Canadian County Museum and around downtown. Festival-goers can board the Heritage Express Trolley, the only trolley on rails in the state, and travel from one area to the other.

Artists from across the state will have their art works on view and for sale. Scheduled entertainment includes Native American performers, Czech dancing, Chinese sword dancing, Scottish bagpipes, African-American performers and Spanish dancers.

For more information, call the El Reno Chamber of Commerce at 262-1188 or the El Reno Main Street office at 262- 8888.

Grand opening

The grand opening of the Conference Center at Presbyterian Health Foundation's Research Park drew a large crowd - physicians, researchers, civic leaders and recipients of foundation grants.

Everyone was pleased to note that the entry bore the words "Jean Gumerson Plaza." She is president emerita of the Presbyterian Health Foundation and was welcoming guests and friends.