Patrons, artists, and art lovers gathered at the Bronx Museum of the Arts on the Grand Concourse on Tuesday night for its 2008 spring benefit and silent auction, “A Bronx Feast.” The museum treated the 350 guests with a cocktail reception, free tours from teen docents, live jazz, a dinner highlighting Bronx cuisine, and an award ceremony recognizing four prominent local artists.
The night began in the museum's north wing, with plates of assorted Bronx treats like chicken dumplings and beef empanadas and an open bar with wine and mixed drinks, but guests gravitated toward the Kettle One martini bar at the center of the room, where the bartender combined drink mixing with performance.
Kettle One contracted the Canadian-based Iceculture to create an ice sculpture with two large Kettle One bottle carvings, each with a hollow spiral that started at the bottle’s opened cap and went down to a small opening at the base. Vodka and different juices met at the summit of the seven-foot sculpture, twisted down, chilling and mixing, and finally siphoned into a waiting martini glass. The line was 10 deep for most of the cocktail hour.The reception gave benefactors the opportunity to mingle with artists and even a few of their subjects. A woman who posed for a piece by honorees John Ahearn and Rigoberto Torres sat in a chair by the window, just a few yards from her plaster and fiberglass likeness on the museum's sculpture deck.
At 7:30 p.m., the crowd migrated to the mezzanine gallery, where the dining area, designed by Adam Scott of Added Results, provided a canvas for a four-course meal, with stories accompanying each dish. The meal highlighted major ethnic communities from the Bronx, with a course for the borough’s Italian, Asian, Latino, and Jewish contingents. Each plate came with an anecdote about the group or one of its more notable members. Stuffed cabbage with minced meat and rice helped tell the story of the Bronx’s first established Jewish resident, Philip Isaacs, whose expansive 1754 farm now houses most of the Bronx Zoo. Detailed menus topped each place setting at the tables anchored by glass cylinders adorned with 13-inch moss balls.
Honoree Dave ValentĂn, a composer and jazz flutist, performed with his quintet throughout the dinner. Guests frequently got up to look at the 16 pieces of art up for grabs during the silent auction. Bidding and ticket sales brought in an estimated $330,000.
Fully aware that its location is a bit of a hike for some patrons, the museum shuttled guests from Midtown, and a bus waited to return those who’d lingered when the party finished at 10 p.m.
The night began in the museum's north wing, with plates of assorted Bronx treats like chicken dumplings and beef empanadas and an open bar with wine and mixed drinks, but guests gravitated toward the Kettle One martini bar at the center of the room, where the bartender combined drink mixing with performance.
Kettle One contracted the Canadian-based Iceculture to create an ice sculpture with two large Kettle One bottle carvings, each with a hollow spiral that started at the bottle’s opened cap and went down to a small opening at the base. Vodka and different juices met at the summit of the seven-foot sculpture, twisted down, chilling and mixing, and finally siphoned into a waiting martini glass. The line was 10 deep for most of the cocktail hour.The reception gave benefactors the opportunity to mingle with artists and even a few of their subjects. A woman who posed for a piece by honorees John Ahearn and Rigoberto Torres sat in a chair by the window, just a few yards from her plaster and fiberglass likeness on the museum's sculpture deck.
At 7:30 p.m., the crowd migrated to the mezzanine gallery, where the dining area, designed by Adam Scott of Added Results, provided a canvas for a four-course meal, with stories accompanying each dish. The meal highlighted major ethnic communities from the Bronx, with a course for the borough’s Italian, Asian, Latino, and Jewish contingents. Each plate came with an anecdote about the group or one of its more notable members. Stuffed cabbage with minced meat and rice helped tell the story of the Bronx’s first established Jewish resident, Philip Isaacs, whose expansive 1754 farm now houses most of the Bronx Zoo. Detailed menus topped each place setting at the tables anchored by glass cylinders adorned with 13-inch moss balls.
Honoree Dave ValentĂn, a composer and jazz flutist, performed with his quintet throughout the dinner. Guests frequently got up to look at the 16 pieces of art up for grabs during the silent auction. Bidding and ticket sales brought in an estimated $330,000.
Fully aware that its location is a bit of a hike for some patrons, the museum shuttled guests from Midtown, and a bus waited to return those who’d lingered when the party finished at 10 p.m.
Bartenders mixed martinis by sending them through a giant ice sculpture courtesy of Kettle One.
Photo: Joe Fornabaio for BizBash
Guests admired work by honorees John Ahearn and Rigoberto Torres on the second-floor patio.
Photo: Joe Fornabaio for BizBash
Asian-inspired dumplings represented one of four ethnic cuisines on the menu.
Photo: Joe Fornabaio for BizBash
Honoree Dave ValentĂn and his jazz quintet performed two sets on the stage during dinner.
Photo: Joe Fornabaio for BizBash
Projectors displayed the award ceremony and performances for diners in an adjoining gallery.
Photo: Joe Fornabaio for BizBash
