The Venetian Ball

PARTIES

The Venetian Ball

Laura Serra

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Published Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010 12:01AM EDT

Sure, there are ways to decorate a venue to look like Venice - some masks and a man mimicking a gondolier in a black and white striped tee will usually do the trick. Then there's decorating a venue to look like Venice which includes flying there, recording real gondolas rocking in the Grand Canal then projecting the footage on ceiling-high panoramic screens that encapsulate the entire dining hall and actually make you feel like you're sitting in Italy. Welcome to the Venetian Ball. Nearly 2400 guests garbed in gowns and traditional Carnivale gear lit up the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to raise $1.3M for Villa Charities. To keep it real, head chef Domenic Di Gesu of Trattoria Do Forni in Venice prepared authentic cuisine alongside 16 Toronto restaurants. Choice raffle prize of the evening? The very first Canadian edition 2012 Fiat 500 went for $65,000. But the eyebrow raising doesn't stop there - legend Stevie Wonder, yes STEVIE WONDER, was the surprise musical act and the brand new Yamaha piano he played on for the evening was later auctioned for $65,000. This was definitely "la dominante" of fundraisers this city has to offer.

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Surprise musical guest Stevie Wonder
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Lina and Jim De Gasperis
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Venetian Ball co-chair Steven Muzzo and Cheryl Lun
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Martha Teodosiu and Venetian Ball co-chair James Di Luca
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Rudy Bratty, chair of Villa Charities Foundation and patron chair of the 2010 Venetian Ball, and Catherine Bratty
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Leo and Sandra Del Zotto
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Dante and Marie Grace Di Iulio
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Elvio and Marlene Del Zotto
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Nicole and Basil Muzzo
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Laura Soave and Reid Bigland
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Julie Rusciolelli and Gerry Riddell
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Comedian and impressionist Rich Little
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Gene Pilato and Karolee Pilato
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Yoela Harris (left) and Caterina Murino
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Holly Rhynold and Michael Manias
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Performers at the cocktail reception

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