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Amy Scherzer's Diary

All hail Venus

By AMY SCHERZER
Published January 20, 2006

Tampa's 50 Gasparilla krewes (and counting) offer something for everyone. There's a krewe for kilt wearers, another for environmentalists, another for firefighters, to single out a few.

The Krewe of Venus, the city's second oldest, takes great pride in its elaborate Mardi Gras-style costumes, evident at the 41st Coronation Ball at A La Carte Pavilion on Saturday.

King Venus Bill Calderazzo and Queen Keli St. John chose Majestic China as their realm. Embroidered pandas, glittering pagodas and enormous Chinese fans reflected the theme of the royals, who arrived in rickshaws to blasts of confetti and cheers.

Most of the costumes were made in New Orleans, where Hurricane Katrina destroyed the seamstress' business, explained Calderazzo, who lives in Cheval. Fortunately, the seamstress evacuated to Baton Rouge with the costumes and was able to finish them in time for the ball.

Dancing Chinese dragons and lions preceded the crowning of Calderazzo, also president of the krewe, who runs Allstate Business Centers.

Since joining in 1996, he and his wife, Dianne, have made Venus a family affair. Daughter Pam and son-in-law Chuck Foreman are duke and duchess of the Forbidden City. Grandson Mason, 5, is the king's crown bearer; and Parker, 7, is a page.

Queen Keli teaches fifth grade at Virgil Mills Elementary in Palmetto. She graduated from Leto High in 1997 and the University of South Florida in 2002. Her parents are Jackie and Michael St. John. As chairwoman of the ball, Jackie was dubbed duchess of Cochran, in memory of Lucille Cochran, feisty founder of the krewe.

Meet the 2006 court of Venus.

- Maid Amanda Perry and Duke Thomas (Kai) Sommer represented giant pandas.

- Maid Morgan Stailey and Duke Michael Lavoy represented pagodas.

- Duke Rodney Archibald escorted his mom, Duchess Dianne Calderazzo, as the Terra Cotta Warriors.

- Duke Chris and Duchess Phyllis Ricker represented the Silk Road.

- Duke Jim and Duchess Jeanne Kill represented the Yangtze River.

Petite princesses toddled in next, dressed like little China dolls: Peyton Carver, Michelle Ferlita, Olivia Hamilton and Emily Loto. The king's pages were Parker Foreman, Christian and Sebastian Northrup, and Thomas Was Jr. Next followed the queen's ladies-in-waiting: Crystal Murphy, Kristina Pasley, Kyleigh Smith and Kim Oural. The king's squires were Austin Alexander, Max Thomas, Michael Weaver and Zack Worsham.

Reluctant abdicators, King Venus the 40th Phil Henderson and Queen Venus Kristen Barrie, plus a dozen previous kings and queens led a champagne toast to the new rulers before dinner was served.

The S.C.C. Swing Band Orchestra played until the DJ cranked it up. Every guest received a gold-tone dragon pendant designed by krewe president-elect Tim Carver.

IT'S ALL IN THE FAMILY for Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. Nearly every pirate claims an uncle, a cousin or a grandpa who was or is a krewe member.

That rang true at the tea dance Saturday at Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club, when Capt. Hal Mullis and Pirate William Curtis read the family trees of seven queen candidates and six appointed courtiers.

Want an example? Courtier Bert de Alejo's grandfather, Frederick S. Johnston, was King Gasparilla the 49th; his great-great-uncle, Lamarcus W. Lee, was King Gasparilla the 13th in 1921; his great-great-aunt, Nell Lee, was Queen Gasparilla the 18th; his great-uncle, DeHart Ayala, was King Gasparilla the 68th; his cousin, Mary Louise Lee, was Queen Gasparilla the 46th; and his cousin Rosemary Sparkman was Queen Gasparilla the 54th. See what I mean?

Krewe members got to meet the candidates at the tea dance to decide which daughter of which popular pirate will be the next queen. Voting took place Tuesday but the ballots remain sealed until the Feb. 25 coronation ball.

Top of the pack: Katherine Dobbins, daughter of the current king, Fred Dobbins, and the 59th queen, Lesley.

Also a contender, Caroline Schabacker, daughter of Pirate Mark and Gwyn Schabacker. She's also the granddaughter of 55th King Jerry E. Fogarty Sr. and niece of 68th Queen Sandra Fogarty Tuttle and 84th King Gene Fogarty.

The other lovely candidates are Mary Beth Lane, daughter of Allyn and Pirate Julian B. Lane Jr.; Marjory Miller, daughter of Deborah and Pirate William Dawson Miller; Michele Murman, daughter of Sandra and Pirate Jim Murman; Jacqueline Pallardy, daughter of Jean and Pirate Lee Pallardy III; and Magi Boyle, daughter of Susan and Thomas M. Boyle Sr.

The YMKG courtiers undoubtedly include the tallest in pirate lore. John Wolfe is 6 feet 7 and his little brother, Brian, is 6 feet 8. They are sons of Pirate John and Pat Wolfe.

Other courtiers are Brian Chunn, son of Carolyn and Pirate Frank Chunn; Jay Plyler, son of Harriet and Pirate Philip Plyler; Alex Sullivan, son of Pat Sullivan and Pirate Chris Sullivan; and de Alejo, son of Jennifer Johnston Elliott and Pirate Alberto de Alejo Jr.

- Amy Scherzer can be reached at scherzer@sptimes.com or 226-3332. To find more pictures and read the party blog, go to www.sptimes.com/party

TODAY: Uncork 2006, Tampa Bay Uncorked's fifth annual Bring Your Own Wine event, benefits America's Second Harvest of Tampa Bay; 7-9:30 p.m.; $15 in advance plus one bottle of wine under $15 or $20 at the door plus one bottle of wine; 808 N Howard Ave.; www.tampabayuncorked.org

SATURDAY: Krewe of the Knights of Sant' Yago Royal Coronation Ball; 8 p.m.; A La Carte Pavilion; invitation only.

JAN. 29: Fit to be Fabulous, Ebony Fashion Fair benefits Tampa-Hillsborough Urban League Guild; 5 p.m.; $30; Tampa Theatre; 229-8117.

JAN. 29: Black and Pink Gala presented by Toast of Tampa Show Chorus and Tampa Palms WGA benefits American Cancer Society; 5:30 p.m.; $50 or $35 for golf tournament participants; Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club. Send check to T.P. Golf for Charity, 5012 Belmont Road, Tampa, FL 33647; www.tpgolfforcharity.com or 631-9066.

FEB. 2: Ophelia Project-Tampa Bay fourth annual benefit reception and dinner; 6:30 p.m.; $75; Higgins Hall; www.opheliatampa.org or 224-9622, ext. 279, by Jan. 27.

FEB. 4: Sojourn dinner and wine tasting benefits WEDU; 6:30 p.m.; $175; Renaissance Hotel, International Plaza; 254-9338, ext. 2238.

FEB. 4: Einstein on Wine tasting benefits MOSI; 6-9 p.m.; $60 in advance, $70 day of event; Museum of Science & Industry; rsvp@mosi.org or 987-6077.

[Last modified January 19, 2006, 08:43:07]