• The White Party returns to the Ivy Ultra Bar Aug. 15. Attendees are asked to bring out their finest white attire for a party that sends all proceeds from tickets sales directly to benefit The Donna Deegan Foundation and its mission of care for women living with breast cancer. For more information go to [email protected].
• The First Coast Business Travel Association will host a lunch meeting that will discuss “Partnerships in These Tough Economic Times” on Aug. 20 from 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. at Hilton Garden Inn & Homewood Suites by Hilton Jacksonville Downtown/Southbank. FCBTA hosts a wide range of educational programs to discuss topics affecting business travel management; from new developments in technology to changes in local and national purchasing trends. For more information contact Chris Hill at 904-486-9946.
• The 2nd Annual Aurora Jacksonville Black Arts Festival runs through Saturday at 5188 Norwood Ave. (inside Gateway Town Center). The Performance Arts Summer Institute will perform excerpts from “The Wiz,” and Stage Aurora founder Darryl Reuben Hall’s “Frat House.” Oceanus Training Center featuring youth age 5-18 will showcase their skill in a Tae Won Do exhibition under the leadership of Sabomnim Joseph Morgan. Stage Aurora’s 100 Voices under the direction of Mrs. Yvonne Morgan will perform selections including “America The Beautiful,” and excerpts from “The Color Purple.” For ticket information call 765-7372.
• Downtown Rotary Club member Bill Bainbridge had a story to tell at Monday’s meeting. When he was 15 years old and touring New York City with a choir group, he had the opportunity to meet the late Walter Cronkite. “We were about to take a tour of the Queen Mary when we ran into him,” said Bainbridge. “He must have spent 40 minutes talking to each and every one of us.”
• The 76th Annual Meninak Ocean Swim, a 3.5 mile ocean swim at Jacksonville Beach featuring American Red Cross Volunteer Life Saving Corps. and Meninak members. Meninak organizes the annual event to honor area volunteer lifeguards. For more information about the swim, go to www.meninak.org.