Barbara Hendel: Before the virus, wait nights served up fun

Published Sunday, April 5, 2020

THE TOLEDO Opera Guild's Celebrity Wait Night in Roaring 2020's Style: Let’s Misbehave! was also on Feb. 24, but at Belmont Country Club.

Hot tunes by the Bob Rex Trio set the speakeasy scene at the costumes-optional event. Everyone was having so much fun gabbing it took a while to get everyone seated at the beautifully decorated tables, each with a unique centerpiece.

The menu was delish: salmon with lemon shrimp sauce, stuffed chicken breast, tornadoes of beef, or risotto with grilled vegetables all finished with creme brulee.

Celeb waiters included Barbara Brown and Gabe Barrow; Barbara Bettinger and Shelli Jacobs; Maureen Brown, Diane Rusk and John Donofrio, Becky Gannon and Katie Maskey; Ed Hoffman; Marina Lung, Bonnie Wrobel, and Kelly Wrobel; William Mathis; JoAnn Phipps; Sandra Seiple; Dee Talmage; June Galvin; and guild president Pat Nowak. Meteorologist Jay Berschback of WTVG-TV, Channel 13 was there, too!

A surprise to me was a round of “Happy Birthday” and a beautiful petite birthday cake for my special day that was a few days later.

The 160 attendees and the celebrity waiters, many of whom sat down on the job, raised about $9,000 and a load of fun.