1. Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's "One Night Stand" with Berlin's Max Raabe & Palast Orchester In a word, spectacular. From cocktails in a clear tent erected across Penn Avenue to dinner onstage at the Benedum, the gala was refined, understated and dripping with elegance. The contemporary take on classic cabaret raised $700,000.

2. The Sprout Fund's Hothouse '08 The Aug. 23 benefit was on Miracle-Gro! Always a great time, it blossomed into a mega-bash at the Union Trust Building attended by 2,500.

3. "Life on Mars" The 55th Carnegie International More than 900 Earthlings from here and abroad partied at Bars from Mars and during the two-tiered event on May 2.

4. Madcap Masquerade The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy fall fundraiser moved to Schenley Plaza on Oct. 25 for the most fabulous Halloween party in town.

5. Nordstrom Grand Opening Gala With 1,600 guests to wine, dine and entertain, the department store spared no expense on Oct. 22. The opening doubled as a benefit for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Carnegie Museum of Art.

6. Pittsburgh Symphony Golden Gala Manfred Honeck, the PSO's new music director, was introduced with an elegant dinner at PPG Wintergarden following the Sept. 19 concert featuring pianist Lang Lang. The evening raised $682,000.

7. History Makers Gala More than 780 guests helped to celebrate the city's 250th birthday and raise $600,000 for the Senator John Heinz History Center during the April 4 gala that honored 79 outstanding Pittsburghers.

8. Maecenas XXIV With its "Wild About Opera" African theme, the jungle drums could even be heard outside the Benedum Center on May 19 while guests dined and danced onstage to Gary Racan and the studio-e band.

9. Zoo Gala Goes Green The creative black-tie trek through the zoo on June 6 drew more than 1,000 guests, making an ecological impact just by being there.

10. Attack Theatre Dirty Ball This April 12 benefit beat all expectations with exotic gyrations, libations and a stroll from the Cork Factory to the great and gritty Penn Mac Warehouse.

First Published: January 3, 2009, 10:00 a.m.