Out & About: Latrobe Art Center paints town (and ties) yellow for annual gala
Usually, when a guy wants to get extra fancy, he puts on a black tie.
In Latrobe, they prefer yellow — at least once a year, when Latrobe Art Center hosts its signature Yellow Tie Gala.
The ninth annual event took place on Friday, taking over the 800 block of Ligonier Street on a balmy, late-summer evening perfect for an outdoor revel.
The gala is held in conjunction with the annual Great American Banana Split Celebration, honoring Latrobe as the birthplace of the decadent ice cream treat.
About 190 guests were on hand to partake of abundant hors d’oeuvres from Ricolita’s Cafe, which makes its home in the center, along with a signature cocktail and — of course — banana splits provided by Latrobe Dairy Queen.
For guests who remembered their dancing shoes, Mike Urick and the Modelaires played a lively blend of vintage Americana music styles, including big-band, swing, rockabilly, hot jazz and blues.
Among the crowd were Sarah Caffee and Jordan Haedtler, making the drive from Washington, D.C., for the gala.
Several years ago, they were in Latrobe to visit the grave site of Caffee’s grandmother and came across the banana split sculpture just down the street from the art center. Intrigued, they learned about Latrobe’s banana split history and related celebrations.
“It’s been our dream for three years to come to this, and we finally made it,” Caffee said.
Clad in crisp yellow slacks and blue sport coat, the center’s Executive Director Michael Tusay welcomed guests, along with gallery assistant Janet Mason.
Skyler DeMalta and Kenzi Rullo dished up the banana splits, while Joe Bellack, Anthony DeVittis and Seth Rupert tended bar.
Seen goin’ bananas: Richard and Joanna Stillwagon, Bill and Rosemary Garrity, Don and Doreen Currie, Bill and Peg Panasiti, Dennis and Kathy Rafferty, Jessica Rafferty, Joyce Rives, Sean and Sherrie Gallagher, Jim and Janice Newcomer, Jim and Mandy Falenski, Alan and LuAnn Mann and Helene Conway Long and Tom Long.
Also, David and Janet Seremet, Dave and Debbie Delisi, Dane and Beth Summerville, Mark and Karen White, Tom and Donna Bailey, Lee Bickerstaff and Maria Graziano-Bickerstaff, Joe and Diane Swetz, Lisa Graziano, Marian Bellack, Dennis and Lorie Dablock, Len and Debbie Miller and Andrew and Arissa Miller.
Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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