SAF hosts "Blue Velvet" party

By Harold Bubil , Herald-Tribune

/ Wednesday, August 5, 2015

The ornate carved wood doors of the "Vinton estate," once owned by singer Bobby Vinton, at 1415 Westway Drive in Lido Shores. Photo taken 7-12-2011 by Harold Bubil.

The Sarasota Architectural Foundation will present the Blue Velvet Cocktail Party from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at 1415 Westway Drive in Lido Shores.

The house was designed by Phil Hiss and lived in by singer Bobby Vinton, whose recording of the song "Blue Velvet" was a No. 1 hit in 1963.

Speakers at the event include Bob Plunket and Muffi Hiss, Phil Hiss' daughter.

Advance tickets, $100, are limited and available online sarasotaarchitecturalfoundation.org. Event proceeds will support Sarasota MOD Weekend in November.

Harold Bubil

Recipient of the 2015 Bob Graham Architectural Awareness Award from the American Institute of Architects/Florida-Caribbean, Harold Bubil is real estate editor of the Herald-Tribune Media Group. Born in Newport, R.I., his family moved to Sarasota in 1958. Harold graduated from Sarasota High School in 1970 and the University of Florida in 1974 with a degree in journalism. For the Herald-Tribune, he writes and edits stories about residential real estate, architecture, green building and local development history. He also is a photographer and public speaker. Contact him via email, or at (941) 361-4805.