- April 24, 2024
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President and COE Maribeth Phillips and Bambi Forristall
Mary and John Quinlan
Lynn and Lou Merucci
Tervis tumblers were used to serve the signature cocktail.
This is the 26th year of Tropical Nights.
Desserts were colorful chocolate cakes.
Each guest was able to take a cigar from the center of the table.
The theme was Hot Havana Nights.
The event was hosted at Grove.
Sarah Glass and Joshua David salsa dance for guests.
Veronica and Brady Miller
Kipp Fort and Sam Tabachnick
Julie Ann James and Paul Bakker
Kathy Martella and Susan Kramer
Mary Fragapane from Art of Life & Music live painted throughout cocktail hour.
Maduro Cigar Bar sold cigars all night.
Susan Coch and Debbie Wagner ask about the cigars.
Maduro Cigar Bar sold cigars all night for guests to smoke outside.
Kristina Gogolyak and Norbert Szucs
Scott and Katelynn Sutphin
Tim and Connie Henning with Amy and Randy Bezet
Chavahn Harvey and Ronda Maronie
Kristina Gogolyak and Norbert Szucs were the first couple to brave the dance floor.
Lou and Lynn Merucci, Bob and Leigh Simons and Sue Chaney
Steven and Chrissy Fournier
Luz Andres and Nancy Mojica
Live entertainment was played by Tropical Avenue.
Live entertainment was played by Tropical Avenue.
Teresa Mast, Anisley Mena and Vanessa Baugh
Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee turned up the heat March 22 at Grove.
Tropical Nights, Hot Havana Nights is the organization's largest annual fundraiser. Dressed in their Cuban best, over 300 guests colored up the ballroom in tropical florals and bold colors. To bring the theme home, guests were kept busy throughout the cocktail hour with live entertainment from Tropical Avenue, salsa dancers from Sara Dance Center, a silent auction table, chance raffles, passed hors d'oeuvres, a photo booth and a cigar bar. There were also specialty cocktails – Cuba Libre – for those willing to go all out.
Proceeds from the event go towards feeding 200,000 hot meals to seniors and 4 million pounds of food to Manatee county residents.
