Yet another Pride & Passion event gone by!
In its 8 years, the event has slowly transformed into a fashionable night out downtown to dress up and party. This year’s theme was an avant garde wedding celebrating the union of art + community + diversity. I decided to play with the theme, and turned the pimp factor level up a few notches when dressing as my interpretation of an avant garde groom. And that’s one of the many things that I love about Pride & Passion: how one can be decked out in leather and fur with opera goggles in Florida during the summertime, and not one person bats an eyelash at the ridiculousness of it all. Pride & Passion is a night to play dress up, and an evening to play with one’s Uncle Karl Lagerfeld André Leon Talley Okie Fierce alter ego.
However, the true importance of this event is the $75,000.00 net that was raised from just one evening for the Tampa Museum of Art, its exhibits and community programs. As an avid supporter of the arts and of Tampa raising its profile, I applaud this year’s Chairs Kevin Reder and Rick Scherer, the Museum staff, and the Pride & Passion steering and host committee for a spectacular event.
P.S. Next year, I plan to dress even more ridiculously!
Photos courtesy of Nicole Abbett, Owen Hunt Photography, Todd Montgomery and Nicholas Cardello.
Please click on thumbnail to enlarge / view photo:
“I Can’t Keep Up” by Tourist featuring Will Heard: There’s just something in the way that Will Heard sings SANGS this song that does something to my soul. When the frenetic pace changes up at the 3:00 mark, the song becomes pure, unadulterated audio ecstasy.