Upon arrival to this year's Pride and Passion event, guests were welcomed with a champagne toast and greeted by a walking tree. There were lots of signature touches to make the evening special including chandeliers hung from the ceiling and lights swirling on the side of the building at the Tampa Museum of Art. The menu did not disappoint either. Food pairings from Salt Block, Malio's Prime Steakhouse, Anise Global Gastrobar and Ella's American Folk Art Cafe were enough to satisfy everyone's appetite.
There was an eager line around the photo booth and the VIP sponsor tents were adorned with upscale furniture from another era that completed the theme of the party. The true spirit of the evening was brought to life by the attendees, many of whom had come dressed in mascarade costume for the themed party. Every turn you took led you to an extravagant ensemble, some created by hand like the bead-dazzled ringmasters’ blazer or a full lace bodice. The entertainers kept your eye with stilt walkers, ribbon dancers and the event was highlighted by full cirque performance within the museum itself. Between the décor and entertainment, the committee and their chairs outdid themselves and have set the bar extremely high for next year. One of the evening favorites was the evening's signature drink, “The Bearded Lady”, made from Titos vodka, lime juice, and other magical ingredients.
This event proved once again that Tampa’s support for the Arts and the LGBT community is bigger than ever before and promises to grow stronger in the future. Hats off to the entire team behind this wonderful event!
