Brünhilde Parties Being Planned

If you make one resolution for the coming new year, commit to attending a Brünhilde Party with the Toledo Opera Guild!

These fun events -- hosted by guild members as passionate about supporting the Toledo Opera as Brünhilde was for Siegfried in Wagner's "Ring" -- are smaller-scale fundraisers that also introduce prospective members to the Toledo Opera Guild's mission and fellowship.

Guild president Cindy Niggemyer, guild members Shirley Joseph and Waafa Hanna, and Toledo Opera executive director Suzanne Rorick are among the hostesses planning teas, brunches, yoga sessions, art workshops, and other gatherings.

Chairman Laura Draheim is on the hunt for more party organizers. She is especially counting on Brünhilde Parties to keep the guild's momentum going strong through the spring, between the "Susannah" opera production (mid-February) and the Phashion of the Opera event (April 29).

Show your strength and prowess and become your own Brünhilde, generously donating your time and resources to plan and underwrite a gathering. The guild can help design invitations and promote your event. Small ticket fees or other money collected by guests will go straight to the Toledo Opera.

For questions or to volunteer, contact Laura at ldraheim3434@att.net or 419-475-1720.

It ain't over until ... the Toledo Opera Guild throws some more parties!

RSVP for Celebrity Wait Night 2015 by Jan. 20

Space is limited for our fabulous Celebrity Wait Night fundraiser Jan. 26 at La Scola Italian Grill, so make sure to send in your RSVPs as soon as possible. You can download and print out the cards below.

Please indicate your entree choice and celebrity waiter, if you have a preference for a table. See you there!

Links: Menu; Waiter List

Call event chairman Barb Bettinger at 419-392-8020 with any questions.

Celebrity Waiters to Collect 'Tips'

The Toledo Opera Guild's upcoming Diamonds and Denim Celebrity Wait Night -- Jan. 26 at La Scola Italian Grill -- will feature some special guests as waiters.

Mary Bilyeu, food editor for The Blade newspaper; John Tharp, sheriff of Lucas County; and Sanna Orra and Jay Berschback, reporter and chief meteorologist, respectively, for WTVG-TV, will join other Toledo Opera supporters and guild members as head waiters at tables full of hungry and happy guests.

Mailed invitations will be arriving after the holidays. Please indicate on your RSVP card at which waiter's table you would like to sit.

Other waiters include:

Carol Sizemore (with Sheriff Tharp)
Barbara Brown
Mike and Sharon Sordyl
Barbara Baker
Janna Lake and JoAnn Phipps
Sandra Honemann
Beth Bowman and Jane Wurth
Susan Conda
Diane Rusk and Marina Lung
Sandra Seiple
Dan and Rebecca Kleiboemer
Alexandra McMaster and Melissa Noe Freeman

Click here for La Scola's menu for the evening, which includes an entree choice of manicotti, steak, fish or chicken. A house salad and caramel pecan tiramisu will bookend the lovely meal, which starts at 7 p.m. following a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. at the restaurant's cash bar.

Entertainment will be provided by The Pickers, a group of guitarists from the northwest Ohio area. Guests are encouraged to wear fancy denim dress as the guild continues its Diamonds and Denim theme for the season.

Tickets are $45, which will mainly cover the cost of the delicious dinner. The major fundraising portion of the evening are the "tips" the celebrity waiters will collect from their tables. Who do you think can raise the most money? It's on!

And fear not, none of our celebrities will have any wardrobe malfunctions. They will be wearing fantastic aprons produced by Big Daddy Graphics in Perrysburg.

Rock the Block at Paula Brown Shop

Suzanne Rorick, executive director of the Toledo Opera, encourages us all to "shop local" and get an opera treat as well.

Rorick, speaking at a gathering of the Toledo Opera Guild board of directors today, said patronizing the locally owned businesses in the downtown area is an important way to support all that Toledo has to offer.

The Rock the Block event this evening at Paula Brown Shop will be a perfect opportunity to do just that.

Toledo opera stars will offer holiday favorites as well as preview songs from the upcoming "Susannah" opera.

Cocktails and nibbles will be offered at The Pub at Paula Brown, 912 Monroe St. RSVPs are appreciated by calling 419-241-8100 or emailing paula@paulabrownshop.com, but walk-ins are most welcome as well.

Enjoy the festivities, and then shop around the whole block!

Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra to Present 'Amahl and Night Visitors'

Childhood is a wonderful time to begin a lifelong love of opera, and the holiday season lends an extra special magic to the memories.

The Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra will help you and your families create those memories with a free production of "Amahl and the Night Visitors" on Dec. 12 at Zoar Lutheran Church in Perrysburg.

When Italian-born composer Gian-Carlo Menotti was commissioned in 1951 by NBC to create a children's opera for television, he came up with the one-act piece from his childhood holiday memories of the "three kings" -- the magi who visit the Christ child in the biblical story.

In "Amahl and the Night Visitors," a young shepherd boy and his mother receive the traveling visitors for a night's stay. Destitution prompts the mother to steal for her crippled son some of the gold meant for the Christ child, but mercy and forgiveness propel the family to generosity and reverence for the prince of peace.

The Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra will offer the free concert and performance at 7 p.m. that Friday at the church, 314 E. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg.

Diamonds and Denim a Glittering Success

Tom and Traci Schwann take a spin at Diamonds and Denim.

There are countless facets on the gem of gratitude the Toledo Opera Guild has for everyone who came to the recent Diamonds and Denim fundraiser and who helped make it such a glittering success.

The event Dec. 8 at the Toledo Club netted nearly $24,000 for the Toledo Opera, including $1,700 that will help bring Opera on Wheels to three more schools in the Toledo area.

Auctioneer Richard Leonard and his crew raised $1,700 for a mink-trimmed black leather trench coat donated by Roth Furs and $1,000 for the president's suite at a University of Toledo basketball game donated by Shirley Joseph. Mr. Leonard made the night extra exciting by enticing folks to dig into their jeans pockets and outdo each other with cash donations. Hundred dollar bills started flying and generous donations in the thousands of dollars were made, totaling $12,000.

ICE in ice.

Hot tickets among the silent auction merchandise in the Grand Lobby included gift certificates to area businesses and a vintage Harley Davidson motorcycle helmet. Co-chairmen Shelli Jacobs and Traci Schwann appreciate everyone's generosity and give special thanks to Kelly Rechtenwald for making the tables look so festive.

The handsome wine auction tables presented by "stellar cellar" ladies Barbara Baker and Diane Rusk transformed the Centennial Room into a rustic winery in the heart of France. They offer a toast to Marcy McMahon for her help and to the generous donations of bottles from Toledo Opera Association board members, guild members and wine connoisseurs. Great Lakes Lighting did a great job illuminating their efforts.

Congratulations to Paula Hudson, of ShapeMyJeans, whose flute of champagne from Soto Signature Loft and Spa contained the real loose diamond from Jeffrey Mann Fine Jewelers.

Grand Lubell Photography captured guests' imaginary cruises astride a custom Chopper motorcycle loaned by Charlies' Automotive. Owner Charlie Ferhrenbach is now qualified for the circus after the stunning ride of faith he took off the photo stage at the end of the evening. It's not every day that one sees a motorcycle rolling through the club.

I <3 Toledo Opera.

The buffet tables were laden with delectable dishes from Chef Michael Rosendaul, including burger sliders, savory meatballs, grilled cheese-bacon-apple sandwiches, spinach cream-filled phyllo cups, boursin cheese-filled deep-fried mushrooms, pita and hummus, crudites with blue cheese dip, and dessert of chocolate truffles, carrot cake and berry tarts. In the middle of it all was a stunning ice sculpture from Ice Creations featuring the logo of ICE Restaurant and Bar.

Guests danced the night away to the toe-tapping tunes of Calvin Hughes Jazz Band and to the hip-shaking rock 'n' roll of Second Wind.

Parting gifts included a diamond-topped bottle opener, chocolate-dipped spoons from Toledo SOUP, magnetic clips from Charlies', and promotional material and discount coupons from ICE, Soto, ShapeMyJeans and Metroparks of Toledo. Perhaps the most endearing, if not enduring, souvenirs were the temporary tattoos from Kodi Klo of Toledo Tattoo Company of music notes, flowers, diamonds, and a heart declaring love for the Toledo Opera.

Many thanks to event co-chairmen Bonnie Milano and Rebecca Conklin Kleiboemer and the rest of the committee, which also included Cindy Niggemyer, Mary Beaber, Barb Bettinger, Patty Etue Stephens, Linda McBee, Carol Sizemore, Judith Conda, Susan Conda, Barbara Brown, Lexie Schwann, Laura Draheim, Judith Landry and Eleanore Darmofal.

Blade society editor Barbara Hendel's write-up of the event can be found here, and Girl in the Glass City's photo gallery can be found here.

Save the Date: Celebrity Wait Night Jan. 26

Save the date on your calendar and save some room on your plate -- the Toledo Opera Guild is planning a great Celebrity Wait Night on Jan. 26, 2015, at La Scola Italian Grill in west Toledo.

Mary Bilyeu, food editor for The Blade, will be a special guest waiter. Other guild members and notable folks from the community are organizing tables as waiters, and they will be working hard to earn "tips" -- donations to the guild's efforts to support the Toledo Opera.

A cash bar will be available and live music will entertain guests.

La Scola will prepare a delectable menu of salad, choice of entree and dessert:

Salad Di Casa ("Our House"):

Mixed greens, tomatoes and gorgonzola cheese tossed in white balsamic vinaigrette

Choice of Entrees:

Cheese Manicotti: rolled pasta filled with herbed ricotta and topped with marinara, alfredo and pesto sauces

New York Strip Steak: 12-ounce center-cut choice steak topped with porcini mushroom butter sauce and served with seasonal vegetables and potato lasagna

Lake Superior Whitefish: fillet sauteed with crunchy pecan-polenta crust topped with porcini mushroom butter sauce and balsamic glaze and served with seasonal vegetables

Chicken Marsala: sauteed and flamed with Marsala wine, wild mushrooms and shallots and served with seasonal vegetables

Fine Dolci (dessert, "Sweet Ending"):

Caramel Pecan Tiramisu: espresso-dipped lady finger cookies layered with sweet marscarpone, caramel, pecans and whipped cream

Tickets are $45 per person. Cocktail hour will begin at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. at the restaurant, which will be open only to our guests that evening.

Invitations will be mailed after the holiday card rush, and details will be posted on this blog. Make a New Year's resolution to attend!