In a community given up for dead, Bill Strickland believed that "music would get me out of the dark and into the light." And if you need an introduction to this man, may I ask how long was your nap, Mr. Van Winkle? Saturday night and the lights were burning brightly on the North Side when jazz legend Nancy Wilson gave the performance of her life at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild. Like Bill Strickland's bio, this black-tie was called Just Add Inspiration ... and they did. It began in 1968 in a row-house slum, where Bill created an after-school ceramics program for street kids. He taught them "how to use their hands to shape the future." And he called his tiny studio the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild. Fast-forward to its awesome beacon of hope in the same neighborhood, combined with Bidwell Training Center, and you have a success story that other cities are clamoring to replicate. And I mean "awesome" for the lives he has saved here. So much for the history lesson, and on to the party which transformed the house that Bill built into the town's swankiest watering hole - a throwback to the good old days. Imagine, if you will, a cocktail gig swinging to jazz's greatest living flute Mann (as in Herbie!) with Joe Negri and his consummate sidemen. Some 375 of Bill's closest friends (read corporate chieftans, Grant Street suits and A-listers) went site-seeing while grazing the blow-you-away tables laden with freshly shucked oysters, caviar, crabmeat Hoezel and huge shrimp in the seafood section; pink baby lamb chops and such in another; and a sweet and fresh sushi spread that was Asian heaven. The stunning presentations, masterminded by Perfect Event Catering's Susie Flannery and chef John Barone, were all prepared and beautifu lly served by Bidwell Training Center's staff. Way to go, Bill! Gorgeous and sleek as ever in a sparkly white knit, Nancy Wilson opened her concert with a joyous, "Strike Up the Band." Her amazing pipes haven't aged a day since she sang "Satin Doll" with Duke Ellington. She was backed by the 15-girl DIVA big band (at times, overamplified) sound. And by the time the set ended with "All of Me," the SRO crowd cheered for more. She obliged with songs from her just-released CD, "A Nancy Wilson Christmas" ... an abfab collection of her faves, produced by Pittsburgh's own Marty Ashby and recorded on the MCG Jazz label. You should also know that the nightingale is donating all proceeds from its sale to MCG! Starting with Bill's No. 1 fan, his lovely Rose, here are but a few of his friends: Manchester/Bidwell chair Bill Lieberman; honorary chair Ann McGuinn and Marty (Mellon Financial, the darlings, were presenting sponsors); eBay founder Jeff Skoll and Kallie Blauhorn in from San Francisco (Bill plans to clone MCG there!); Milt Washington; MCG chair Leslie Schmid and Walter; beautiful couple Cliff and Diane Rowe of PJDick, who chaired the do; Audrey and Tim Fisher; Pitt chancellor Mark Nordenberg and Nikki; Jan and Dick Pagliari; Diane and Glen Meakem; Dominion's Ed Roach and Deborah; Ruth and Dr. Art Levine of UPMC; Steve Elliott; MARC adman Tony Bucci and Linda; and Charena Swann. Moving along to Equitable's Murry Gerber and Allison; Willette and Eddie Edwards; Ed Harrell; Elizabeth and Mike Zamagias; Shelly and Jeffrey Lipton of Nova Chemicals; Janet and George Miles; Claudette and the Rev. Harold Lewis (he married Rose and Bill); newlyweds Drs. Helene Finegold and Todd Blodgett; Karen and Ed Linder; the Soffers - Teri and Damian with Vi and Joe; Jane and Bob Hecht; Francois Bitz and Rebecca Whitlinger; Jamee and Tom Todd; Mary Lou and Ish McLaughlin; Carolyn and Bill Byham; Carol and Keith Neyland; Jackie and Jeff Morby; and SF orchid maven George Vazquez, who was responsible for the forest of white orchid plants everywhere you looked. Plus, new kids on the block Patti and Steve Steinour of Citizens Bank; Judy and Ron Davenport; Gladys and Art Edmunds; SF's BayCAT chair Sharon Wamble-King and Leon; Villy Wang; Ceci and Ham Clark; Pam and Ken McCrory; Carolyn and Mike Rollage; Sherle and Michael Berger; Rachel and Horace Payne; Helane and Don Linzer; Mimi Priselac and Ralph Falbo; Toni and Ralph Dallier; Ruth and Alan Garfinkel; the Diezes - Julia, Dr. Charles, Charlie and Sylvia; Dot Davis; Shirley and Ed Prebor; Debbi and Jim Diggs; Ros and Sandy Neiman; Mark Pasquerilla; Jayne Adair and Basil Cox; and Susie Franklin (with Charles), who planned the absolutely boss party and then put her stunning shoulder to the wheel that raised over $400,000! If they guild it, they will come. Nutcracker Ball Visions of sugar plums are all very well. But if you want to pack 'em in for the sixth annual Nutcracker Ball, you up-end Santa's sack and give the elves extra rations. You fill the Omni William Penn with ballerinas, bubbly and black ties. You have Sting donate an autographed bass guitar for the silent auction. You turn the grand ballroom into a velvet music box filled with twinkling lights, fir garlands and ballgowns in the color of WOW. Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's evergreen fund-raiser, which traditionally signals the onset of high yuletide, drew 460 revelers. And tell Tchaikovsky the news: PBT appears strong and vital, judging from Saturday's bravura pas de 'do. One heard the patter of little feet at cocktails as wee ones from the "Nutcracker" cast scampered about. Clara, in pink nightgown, ran the 100-yard dash, followed by marching toy soldiers and an army of mice. While comfort and joy assumed many forms: a glass of good cabernet, the harmonious Dickens Carolers and bidding on your heart's desire at the silent auction. So much for waiting for Santa. Before guests tucked into a luxe dinner, PBT dancers performed excerpts from their repertory. Principal dancer Jennifer Langenstein is almost too lovely to be believable as the humble scullery maid, Cinderella, while Jiabin Pan and Lauren Schultz danced a beguiling pas de deux from "Coppelia." Floral designer Tim Condron made it snow, conjuring tall silver vases and urns that frothed with lilies, carnation and baby's breath dusted with glitter. There was dancing until the witching hour provided by Special Effects, making the joint swing from their balcony stage. In the crowd: event chairs Barbara and David Dick; PBT coard chair Jim McCarl with Carol, wearing a smashing plum velvet number from a foray in London; Terry Orr and Marianna Tcherkassky, Steven Libman and Keitha; David and Janet Groom Campbell; PBT grande dame Patricia Wilde; Robert Hill from American Ballet Theatre; Pont Park's Lynda Martha-Burkel and Penny Lindblom; Hilda and Dr. Freddie Fu; PBT ballet master Roberto Munoz; Charles and Hilary Tyson-Porter; ever-gracious Molly Mercurio and lovely Lizz Helmsen; Jerry Koehler and Dianne Duringer; Nancy and Tim Stack; Selma and Leon Sherman; Sala Udin; Pam Golden; and Terry and David Werner. Plus, Jim and Melanie Crockard (2001's Mrs. Pennsylvania/USA); Ellen and Tom Golonski; Drs. Loren Roth and Ellen, resplendent in a yellow/peach silk brocade ballgown; Tara Safar with husband Joe; Diane and Hal Waldman, her red number set off by mucho sparklers; Susie and Dr. Leo McCafferty; Cindy and Chris Harner; Ruthie and Bill King; Joanne Connelly and Dan Grealish; Dorrit and David Tuthill; Jon Shirer; Susan and David Matter; Kelly and Mark Royston; Jean and Gary Gentile; Gina and Grant Oliphant; Joy and Mark McNally; and Ed Beachler. Just about everyone made it to the ball, including the tiniest member of the PBT family: baby Aidan, son of dancers Steven Annegarn and Erin Halloran. And why did Sting send that bass guitar• Because it's his music that will provide the accompaniment to "Brand New Day," a world premier at PBT this spring. Tutu cool. - William Loeffler Standing tall In this time of feeling and healing, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross showed its colors in A Celebration of the American Spirit, a standard-bearing, button-popping patriotic fete as indomitable as the American spirit. To help replenish its larders emptied by the 9/11 tragedy in our own back yard. Add goosebump-raising to the list for the Pittsburgh Firefighters' kilted bairns, who skirled into the Westin Convention Center ballroom with colors flying, pipers piping, drummers drumming, 16 strong ... and the fireworks began. You should know that volunteers of this Red Cross chapter have helped thousands of our neighbors put their lives back together after being wiped out in fires and disasters. And every sou of their operating budget is generated by local gifts, none of which come from New York, if you know what I mean. If you like superb wining and dining, dancing to the truly danceable beat of Cityscape, the sophisticated Stork Club elegance of white-on-white with white calla lilies against walls bathed to ruby-red perfection, you would've loved it. The glamorous chairwoman of the evening was Paula McWilliams of AT&T Wireless in the chicest of black laces by Valentino. Some of the other patriotic glitterers included Libby and board chair Roger DuBois of PNC; Theresa and Tim Johnson; Ronnie Savion and John Gaughan; Michael Jacobs (the knockout arrangements and ambience were by Blooms); KDKA-TV's Ken Rice as emcee; Nancy Lynches and David Marrangoni; chapter director Jerry Cozewith and Rosemary; Germaine and Dr. Paul McWilliams; Debbie and Tim Cox; Lisa and Thomas Meinert; Lynn and Richard Lipovich; Mary and Jeff Worden; Pat Prozzi and Tom Trimm; and Tina Richardson. Cross guards. Women like us "We changed the world to make it radically different, but not enough to make it work," admitted Anna Quindlen. Pro-Catholic, pro-choice, wife, mother and fast-lane feminist, she's the third woman in the history of The New York Times to write a regular column on its Op-Ed page. Turns out she chucked the Big Job in 1995, only to resurface as an author on the gray lady's Best Seller List. Quindlen was "talking to women like us and women who like us" on Monday in the Westin Convention Center ballroom for Family Health Council's 30th anniversary fete. Two years ago, the graduation speech that caused the biggest sensation was never given. She declined to address Villanova grads when demonstrators objected to her pro-choice stance. Here's the rest of the story. After e-mailing her speech to a disappointed coed, it landed on the internet and ricocheted to best-sellerdom as "A Short Guide to a Happy Life." Betsy Teti, there with Tom, chaired the 30th fete that gave a big boost to FHC's programs of caring for the health of uninsured women. Standouts among 475 power women and a few good men were such as FHC chairman Dr. Margaret Watt-Morse and prez Frank Bonati; Frieda Shapira; Laurie and Bob Moser; Eileen and Nick Lane; Dr. Robert Kisner; Ebony Hughes; Michele Fabrizi; Eva Blum and Marc Zelinski; Sally Kalson; and Congressman Bill Coyne. As well as Mardi and Bill Isler; Karen Feinstein; Carol Caroselli; Cheryl Kubelick; George Miles; B.J. Leber; Dr. John Cutler; Karen Linder; Catherine Loevner; Gerri Weiss; Lynn Marchese; Ann Slease; Cecile and Eric Springer; Rita Randall; Amy and Ira Morgan; Risa Moldovan; Carol and Keith Neyland; Margie McGregor; emcee Andrew Stockey and Sharon; Lauren Tillman; Dr. Denise Johnson; and Beverly Haines, who sang the National Anthem ... exquisitely a capella. What should we tell teen-age girls today• "Love your life. If you don't like it, change it." And call your mother. Club 40 Sometimes a booming sound system, party tunes that won't quit and brew with a kick are more than enough. The bottom line is, Are you having a great time• They were at Thursday's 40 Under 40 blowout in WQED's studios that was jumping to the live jive of B3's pounding beat. And PUMP(Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project)-ing Pittsburgh Magazine's class of movers and shakers who are helping to mold the future of our region. From entrepreneurs to artists to lawyers to techies to an blazing spectrum of young turks, these fab 40 wouldn't live, work or play anywhere else. By choice. Better wear shades when checking them out in PM's current cover story. Man, do they shine. Ah, youth.