Saturday offered a rare and riotous double feature of fun on Boca Grande with the Boca Kids Reunion 4.0 enlivening night life at P.J.'s Seagrille and later at South Beach Bar & Grille while world-class pianist Francesco Attesti enthralled the crowd of roughly 150 at the Boca Grande Community Center.
Marta Howell, executive director of the Friends of Boca Grande, said the enthusiastic turnout can credit Bob Melvin's friendship with Attesti for the musical portion of the night. Melvin and Randy Wojcik of Gasparilla Properties sponsored the appearance.
"It was just awesome," Howell said. "It was overwhelming. You just don't know what appeals to people when."
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World-famous pianist Francesco Attesti beams with Bob Melvin of Boca Grande Saturday after his concert at the Boca Grande Community Center.
A recent Friends of Boca Grande survey showed islanders wanted more musical events, Howell said. The crowd affirmed the survey results, she said.
"It really showed there is an interest in high-class entertainment," Howell said.
The Friends of Boca Grande have scheduled a series of six "All That Jazz" shows at the auditorium with two added after the survey came in. The shows will be at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14, 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Feb. 11 and April 8 and 8 p.m. March 11.
Fact Box
To Go
Who: The Friends of Boca Grande
What: "All That Jazz"
Where: Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium
When:
7:30 p.m. Jan. 14
5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Feb. 11
5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. April 8
8 p.m. March 11
The Summer Valentine Concert featured the 37-year-old Attesti at the top of his Romantic and early 20th century repertoire.
Music figured in prominently for the fourth annual Boca Kids Reunion with roughly 150 in attendance at the dinner at P.J.'s Seagrille and a late-night concert by the Boca Grande at South Beach Bar & Grille.
