Active Honorees: A lively crowd of more than 800 AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW) supporters poured into the newly named Frontier Airlines Center to celebrate the organization’s 25th anniversary at the annual “Make a Promise” dinner. Awardees included Joe Pabst, the philanthropist of the year; Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, honored with the organization’s top leadership award; and Sen. Jeff Plale for securing $1.8 million in funding. Longtime Executive Director Doug Nelson welcomed the crowd and auctioneer Jim Fahey coaxed them into making mega-bids, including a $4,000 Lady Gaga ticket purchased by Dan Wood and Tim Nichelson. B&D lost out in a silent-auction bidding war for a well-bunned manly nude to Bill Radler, creator of theKnock Out Rose. Mark and Chineta Sollazo for SynerComm were also outbid. In the crowd were Tim and Mary Bowers; Greater Milwaukee Foundation (GMF) President Doug Jansson with Mary Rose; Jim Marks, GMF grants programs VP and his wife, Judy; and ARCW doctors Christine Hogan and John Fangman. The evening culminated with a wild dance routine by choreographer Michael Endter, with the crowd joining in.

Bloomin’ Fun: Art lovers flocked to the Milwaukee Art Museum’s annual “Art in Bloom” to see the beautiful art-inspired floral arrangements. Ecstatic first-place winner Nicholas Konzal from Nicholas Carl Design was joined by his partner, fellow floral designer Julio Bryand from Sendik’s, parents Susan and Daryl Konzal and photographer Stephanie White.

A Whole Foods contingent was thrilled with a second-place ribbon for the arrangement by Mari Trific using Chris Leslie’s stainless-steel vases. Cheering store-mates included manager Michael Strohl with his wife, Liz Spaide, and pal Brian Kennedy. Checking the galleries were Key Magazine’sBeth and Roger Stafford; Kathy Veech and Michelle Lichtman; Jim and Sandy Pape, excited about the birth of their grandson Cash Pape Churchill to daughter Rachael and her husband, Will; Jeff Martinka, executive director of Sweet Water Trust; and Judge Kitty Brennan.

Before hitting the museum, pals Garrett Gharibeh, Cynthia Stoll, Tony Chakonas, Matt Mackai, Casey Paynter, Adam Burback and Kris Kulas pre-functioned at the M Magazine Happy Hour in Kafevino. The gaggle also made a quickie stop at the Elaine Erickson Gallery, where Jessica Meuninck-Ganger and Nathaniel Stern discussed their collaborative show, “Print Press Play.”

Food and Wine: Between Peter Sandroni’s locally sourced menu and copious amounts of wine consultant Nate Norfolk’s selections, the Braise RSA dinner at La Merenda was magnifique. On busman’s holiday from Honey Pie and Comet Cafe were brother/sister owners Adam and Valeri Lucks, head chef Dan Turek, Amanda Griffin, Sarah Wojner, Sam Hutchinson and Justin Klug, also in the band Maritime.

Art Time: Architectural photographer John Korom’s studio, doubling as Gallery 2622, hosted an Inmate/Ex-offender Art Show & Sale with works donated by St. Benedict the Moor jail ministry. Sales support the ex-offender programs of the Metro Milwaukee Lutheran Mission Society. Dropping by were the organization’s executive director, George Lessmann; John’s wife, Nancy Korom, a Children’s Hospital VP; Dr. Mike Gutzeit and his wife, Nancy; photographer Mike Nowotny; and correctional officer Mike Rose.

April Shower: Lisa Berman and her husband, Larry Dalton, hosted a delightful engagement party for her daughter Hilary Showers and fiancé Jonathan Gold, planning a September wedding in Oregon. The guest list was a Shorewood Who’s Who, attended by Village Board President Guy Johnson and his wife, Mary; Ed and Doris Heiser; Tim and Janet Ryan; and Karen and Chris Spahn. Border hoppers included Tom and Darla Ament and Chris and Joana Smocke.

B&D then did a fly-by of HGA Architects’ Gallery Night blowout, “The T-Shirt Transformed,” where there was an auction benefiting Westside Healthcare. Creatives transformed T-shirts into jewelry, puzzles, scarves, paintings and other whimsical pieces. A silent auction featured numerous local artists such as Matthew Abbondanzio, Muneer Bahauddeen, Sam Carter, Monique Charlier and Katie Damon.

HGA also showcased its own talent, with photography by Heather Cook Elliott and Lyssa Olker; the steel sculpture of Mark Haasch; and Drew Shields’ watercolors. The latter is the talented son of Jim Shields, just named fellow of the American Institute of Architects, the first AIA Wisconsin member since 1995.

Next, scurrying over to Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT), B&D took in the opening of The Sweetest Swing in Baseball followed by a party in the Kafevino-managed Skylight Bar. MCT powers-that-be Michael Wright, Kirsten Mulvey, Judy Martel and Cara McMullin were excited with the performance of the darkly funny play, featuring a stunning set by Nathan Stuber. Circulating at the post-soiree were WUWM’s Dan Harmon and the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center’s Paul Masterson, who are putting together a public access TV program about LGBT lifestyles and arts; Chamber board President Debbie Pavletich and her husband, Jim; board member David Paris; UWM’s Tony Horne; philanthropists Konrad K. Kuchenbach and John Holland; plus actors Robert Kennedy, Michelle Waide,Ruth Schudson and Jonathan Wainwright, obviously proud of wife Laura Gray’s performance in the play.

If you have any tips for Boris and Doris, contact them at borisanddorisott@aol.com. Their next column will appear in the May 6 issue of the Shepherd.n