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FOCUS Cummer Celebrates the Cummer with a Jazzy Night at the Museum

Saturday, March 6 was The Jazziest Night in Jacksonville from the Dixieland ensemble greeting guests at The Cummer Museum entrance to the Big Easy Martinis donated by Florida Bank. This was the night FOCUS Cummer members and guests celebrated The Cummer at our signature event at The Museum. Themed around The Museum’s current exhibition, Jazz ABZ, with paintings of jazz legends by Paul Rogers and poetry by Wynton Marsalis, the evening was a festive affair made livelier by a 10 piece brass group, Satin Swing, part of the River City Band, playing lots of jazz and big band favorites in the dining area. Lisa Kelly was the talented vocalist and the dance floor was filled most of the evening with some great dancers! The effect was of a nightclub in the late 40s or 50s. The Catered by The Chef’s Garden, the food had a Creole flavor – petite muffaletto sandwiches were passed during cocktails and dinner included gumbo served in bread bowls or on polenta rounds, chicken crepes, spinach tarts, grilled vegetables, blintzes and beignets for dessert. Decorations by FOCUS VP Fran O’Brien continued the theme with Mardi Gras beads and masques (donned by most of the guests by the end of the evening) and colorful balloons and flowers. Our thanks to Fran and to Events Chair Gigi Thomas who masterminded the party and all that jazz!

It was a perfect moonlit night at the Plantation Beach Club when 120 FOCUS Cummer guest kicked off the season with a lively Tailgate party on September 29. Members wore the colors of their favorite teams with lots or orange and blue, garnet and gold and Jaguars’ teaI and ears to boot, but the Big Ten, Georgia, North Carolina and many others were also on hand to cheer for their teams and The Cummer Museum. Mark Dennison entertained with a great array of music from country western to beach sounds ala Jimmy Buffett, and the food buffet rocked, too, with favorite tailgate specialties. Many thanks to Gigi Thomas who chaired the event and to event sponsors, Cindy Bohn, CPA; Ronald Howland Jr.DMD, PA; Attorney Chantal Hook; Madame T Productions; Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery and Saunders and Saunders Wealth Management.