About Kate Benz

Kate Benz 412-380-8515
Fanfare Columnist
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Kate Benz is the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Fanfare columnist.

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Friday - May 17, 2013

Fanfare Photo Galleries

Pittsburgh Wine Festival not so bottled up anymore

The dull roar coming from the Strip District on Friday night signaled the official start to what would turn out to be an event fantastically unbridled, thanks to more than 200 socials found stomping at the Savoy. Tucked away on Penn Avenue, the urban hot spot held in its hand a coveted golden ticket that served as the siren call for good times and glamazons of all ages who were savoring URBAN polish's Wild Orchid Party.

“We thought, what better flower than the orchid, because it loses its flowers but, with patience and time, it can re-grow. They're delicate but really, really tough,” said Alexis Wukich, who organized the event to benefit the Ladies Hospital Aid Society's Orchid Fund, providing final assistance toward hair replacement for those dealing with various medical conditions.

Movement came in small doses thanks to a bevy of beautiful people packed three deep, including co-chairs Jeannine Blyth and Lisa George, LHAS prexy Laura Penrod Kronk and her daughter, Trinity, Beverly Wukich, Ruby Kang, Colby Capretto, Tara Poropat, Carole Kamin, Dan and Debbie Mancuso and Dee Dee Troutman, who were enjoying an extended happy hour.

“My husband is fishing in Alaska, and we're going to treat ourselves to a night out!” Lisa Gaydos said.

Elsewhere, the who's who kept the party going well into the evening as Hedy and Jimmy Krenn were spied chatting with David Bush and F. Dok Harris ; Jennifer Susco and Lori Brinker made the most of the lounges on the terrace; June Yonas showed off photos of her grandson to Tim McVay and Carrie Conboy; and Savoy owner Chuck Sanders relaxed with Rochell Williams, Carly Delucca and Cydney Cooper.

“It's a wonderful event; we knew it was going to be special,” he said.

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