Lido Shores: Great Turnout for LSPOA Spring 2018 Potluck

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Great Turnout for LSPOA Spring 2018 Potluck

LSPOA neighbors and friends enjoying a perfect evening at the Spring Potluck hosted by the Barzman's

On Sunday, March 18, 2018, nearly 80-Lido Shorians and out-of-town guests gathered at Gail and Stuart Barzman's gorgeous newly renovated Westway Drive home to enjoy a warm spring evening, amazing food and neighborhood friendship at the LSPOA Spring 2018 Potluck.

Neighbors reconnected after a chilly January (but warm February) to chat, laugh and enjoy a terrific evening at an enchanting home. Wines were again kindly curated by wine connoisseurs Judy and Fred Fiala and Janet Augustine again served as our "bartendress extraordinaire."

The crowd of nearly 80 starts to build

For the Spring event, LSPOA returned to a true potluck supper format, after experimenting in the fall with restaurant provided entrees. Neighbors responded with renewed vigor, bringing an abundance of scrumptious fare. Appetizers included: barbecued shrimp, endive stuffed with crab, sausage sliders, hummus and various dips. No one left hungry this time around, with plenty of entrees featuring: poached salmon, beef tenderloin, Bob Essner's smoked ribs, homemade meatloaf, and delicious casseroles.

A number of tempting salads and side dishes, as well as fudgy chocolate brownies, cakes and cupcakes & even key lime and strawberry pie rounded out the fabulous fare. LSPOA is lucky to count so many amazing cooks among our members, and their talents were once again in evidence!

The evening and the weather were particularly enjoyable for neighbors like Carol Bowen and Vic Bass, and Cathy and Jan Voigts who happily avoided more nor’easters in New England. Carol Fuoco’s Social Committee call for setup help had been generously answered by generous neighbors like husband Phil Fuoco, Mary Lee and Denis Bischoff, Kathryn & Lee Edstrom, Joan Reinebach, Carol Williams, Vic Bass, Carol Bowen, Fik Isaac, Anne Essner, and Diane Cook, who brought a crew including her 2 lovely sons and several of their friends.

Dinner on the Pansy Bayou

If I left your name out, please excuse me! It was great to have such wonderful help, as people and setup was done in a jiffy, including placing lovely floral centerpieces that Joan Reinebach and Carol Williams provided. Everything was ready for a perfect evening!

As neighbors arrived, Mary Lee Bischoff and new LSPOA member Diane Cook greeted everyone, giving out name tags updated and prepared by Kathryn Edstrom. We were honored to have a number of out of town – and out of the country – houseguests share our special neighborhood, including Heidi Arguedas, Roberto Arguedas’ Mom, joining us from Costa Rica; cousins of Jan Voigts’ from Phoenix, and friends of Judy and Fred Fiala from Chicago.

Around 8:00 pm, alas, the lovely evening came to a close. The Social Committee “elves” as well as other spur of the moment volunteers rapidly removed the tables and chairs from the City of Sarasota Neighborhood Services back to the waiting trailer on Westway. Many thanks to all those who helped with clean-up, especially to Kathryn Edstrom, who went home to get her golf cart and take leftover items home!

Irene & Fikry Isaac, Susie & Bob Thill, Janet Minker

The Spring 2018 Potluck evening reminded us again how lucky we are in Lido Shores to have such an amazing group of warm, welcoming – and best of all – fun neighbors and friends!
The next LSPOA event will be Hot Dogs on the Beach during the July 4^th holiday weekend. Specific details will be forthcoming later in the Spring. In October, look for the Fall 2018 Potluck Dinner. Please consider volunteering your home for an event.

Gail Barzman, the fabulous hostess of this event, said she’d tell anyone interested how easy and fun it is to host a potluck! Other recent hosts Anne and Bob Essner, Christina Landry, Carrie and Ken Cox, Bob and Sue Lifeso, and Howard Rooks will tell you, all you need to do is open your front door. The Social Committee arranges, sets things up and removes everything at the end of the event. All you do is sit back, relax, have a glass of wine and watch the bustling activity!

Host Gail Barzman & LSPOA President Dr. Lynn Carvel

Anne Essner and the other members of the Social Committee send heartfelt thanks to all who volunteered, everyone who attended and brought fabulous food, and special thanks to Gail and Stuart Barzman for opening their home for a terrific evening!

~Carol Bowen