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Monica Haynes: The All-Star scene
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We know smoking is bad, but Franco Harris made it look so good as he puffed on a premium stogie on the patio of the Carnegie Science Center during the Martinis & Cigars Under the Stars Gala Friday night. The former Steelers great was in attendance with his wife, Dana. Curtis Aiken, who co-chaired the event with Dr. Stan Marks, looked every bit the star as he walked the red carpet. Lending Hollywood cache to the festivities was actor and hip-hop artist Daryll "Chill" Mitchell and actress Lynn Whitfield, who accompanied Jimmie Lee Solomon, executive vice president for baseball operations for Major League Baseball. Also in the house were Jamie Dixon, head basketball coach at Pitt, and Jackie Dixon (no relation), director of government relations for Giant Eagle. Hometown boys John Calipari, head basketball coach at the University of Memphis, and Curtis Martin, running back for the New York Jets from Pitt and Allderdice High School, also put in an appearance accompanied by stunning date, Shakara Ledard. Pirates owner Kevin McClatchy passed through as did former Atlanta mayor Bill Campbell and Art Rooney Jr. Eric Mann of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh was there with his wife, Branita.
In addition to cigars and martinis, guests could partake of shrimp cocktail, crab, scallops, marinated vegetables, carved turkey and roast beef. Yum. Yum.
Franco may not be a young running back, but he's still in good enough shape to party two nights in a row. After hobnobbing at Friday's black-tie event, he held The Franco Harris Super Donut All-Star Party at the Heinz History Center. Of course, there were plenty of Steelers old and new on hand, including current backup quarterback Charlie Batch sporting his Super Bowl ring, and glory-days players Rocky Bleier, Andy Russell and Dwight White. Former player Dwayne Woodruff, now an Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge, shook a tail feather or two with wife, Joy.
Artist Burton Morris was in the house, and so was former NAACP president and current B-PEP head Tim Stevens and wife, Jennifer Andrade. What else could you expect for dessert at a donut party except donuts. Only these were accompanied by a scoop of ice cream and bananas in sauce.
Guys and gals from the Pirates' front office and former Pirates such as Manny Sanguillen, Bob Friend, Grant Jackson, Chris Peters, Jim Sadowski, Steve Blass, Barry Jones and Don Schwall showed up for the Pirates Night of Stars Concert and Charity Auction at the Hard Rock Cafe at Station Square.
It was definitely a party atmosphere as guests munched on beef and shrimp kebobs, some extremely tasty sushi from the Asian Bistro and strawberries, cherries, pineapples, marshmallows they could dip under the chocolate fountain if they chose.
Owner Kevin McClatchy was there as was board chairman Robert Nutting.
Winifred Torbert, director of community development for the Pirates, attended with her hubby.
And the parties don't stop so we won't, either. Catch ya tomorrow for Round Two of who's who and what's what All-Star style.
First Published July 10, 2006 12:00 am
