Bayside Estates Style Show & Luncheon is set for Feb. 23
The champagne will be flowing and models will be working the runway and the crowd during the annual Bayside Estates Style Show & Luncheon. The champagne-themed event will feature around 50 door prizes – donated by Fort Myers Beach businesses and restaurants – and the proceeds are shared with three good causes.
The much-anticipated annual Bayside Estates Style Show & Luncheon struts the runway Friday, Feb. 23, from noon to 2:30 p.m. Come early, around 11:30, when everyone starts to line up at the Bayside Estates Clubhouse at 17601 San Carlos Blvd.
“We are an elegant afternoon affair starting from the time you walk in with the champagne flowing,” said co-chair Carol Kalmar. “Last year we had 250 women and everyone was so surprised how organized we were from start to finish.”
You must RSVP for your tickets which are $15 for lunch, champagne, and the door prizes.
“Tickets are not available at the door and you must RSVP them by Feb. 16,” said co-chair Karen Bertsch. “We have held it now for 22 years, and initially the proceeds went to our club, but over the years our event grew and grew and everyone wanted to come. So now we share the proceeds with Fort Myers Beach Hospice, Golisano’s Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, and our Sewing Guild, which makes lots of donated items.”
Get ready for the clubhouse to be transformed into this year’s theme of champagne.
“We really go all out – the room is decorated like champagne in pink and black and everyone looks so pretty. Ladies come dressed like they are going for an afternoon tea and we have such a great time,” Kalmar said. “We have 10 models who go through three changes so there will be lots of fashions and there are four male ushers wearing tuxedos and they do everything from escorting our lades to bringing the door prizes to making sure everyone is having a good time.”
Along with a fancy brunch spread and complimentary champagne, the style show will feature fashions from local boutique Anthony’s Ladies Apparel with makeup by Mary Kay.
“Our park is 55 plus, but our models are all sizes and ages and shapes, so there are truly fashions for everyone,” Kalmar said. “I love seeing all the women laughing and having fun and enjoying the fashions. I have met people here that I haven’t seen for years, I even met someone that was from my hometown. It’s a real friendly crowd.”
As the Bayside Clubhouse is rather large, and several hundred are expected to be in attendance, the models will walk the runway first, followed by walking through the audience. That way guests can see the fashions, styles and accessories up close and be able to feel the material and see the quality craftsmanship.
“Last year we had over 200 in attendance and half the group won door prizes, that’s how many door prizes we hand out,” Bertsch said. “People are surprised by our great food, the champagne, and we get real classy with our handsome men in tuxes as our escorts – very upscale. We are always told that we are the nicest luncheon around.”
There is an additional 50/50 raffle that is separate from the door prizes that everyone gets really excited about and one of the coveted door prizes is an overnight stay at a very popular Fort Myers Beach hotel.
“We are very thankful to the many local business who contributed to our door prizes,” Bertsch said. “We have so many to raffle off this year. We all live in Fort Myers Beach so we love to keep things local.?We really have a hometown feel and it’s a good feeling.”
“This is a great entertainment for ladies there is something for everyone,” Kalmar said. “We are really looking forward to a wonderful afternoon, so please join us.”
There is plenty of parking available, and handicap drop-off and pick-up is available at the clubhouse’s front entrance.
To reserve your seat(s) for Friday’s show, call Kalmar at 239-415-4485 or Bertsch at 239-466-6325.