ON THE FLIP SIDE: A+E < Art of the samurai. Artful artifacts from the warrior class. #BlackTieUntied. Check out our new hashtag on Instagram. 5
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016
Photos by Heather Merriman Saba
Amy Tan signed books for Platinum Dinner sponsors. Right: Amy Tan stands next to the portrait Ringling student Cristi Lopez created for her.
TOWN HALL 2016 PLATINUM APPRECIATION DINNER Wednesday, Jan. 6, at The RitzCarlton, Sarasota Benefiting Ringling College Library Association
T
o kick off Ringling College Library Association’s 2016 lecture series “Town Hall,” the organization hosted its annual Platinum Appreciation Dinner Jan. 6, at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. Nearly 600 (599 to be exact) guests attended the event, which featured guest speaker Amy Tan, a Chinese American author, who spoke about her childhood and desire to be a fiction writer. Prior to the event, sponsors were able to meet Tan during the step-and-repeat and toward the end of the cocktail hour, Cristi Lopez, a Ringling senior majoring in illustration, unveiled the portrait she painted for Tan. Coincidentally, Tan was wearing the same outfit as she was in the portrait. The main event, which took place in the ballroom, had tints of lime (one of Tan’s favorite colors) — the tablecloths were a shimmering platinum and the centerpieces were Asian inspired with orchids and bamboo. PAGE 2
HEATHER MERRIMAN SABA BLACK TIE EDITOR
Melissa and Ian Howard
Audrey Robbins and Harry Leopold
Ringling student Cristi Lopez with her mother, Grace Lopez
Kathleen France and Gina Winter