It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Gardiner Museum. More than 250 guests attended the 19th annual First Light: 12 Trees of Christmas gala and auction, presented by Etherington and Vukets at the Gardiner Museum. The lavish fund-raiser included valet parking, a cocktail dinner by chef Jamie Kennedy, and an auction led by Stephan Ranger, principal auctioneer for Ritchie’s Canada.
Valets from Mark J. Mooney and Associates greeted guests as they stepped out of luxury cars into the brisk November evening. A large heated tent courtesy of Advance Tent Rentals near the museum entrance served as a coat check.Inside, caterwaiters dressed in black from Jamie Kennedy Kitchens passed flutes of champagne to arriving guests. Glassware from Chair-man Mills topped the museum’s long black counter, which was put into service as an improvised bar. Off in a corner, The Haberdashers, a three piece jazz band, provided a backdrop of swinging standards as chef Kenney and his team went to work at a live food station building bite-sized Pan-bagnat sandwiches. Later, the party moved upstairs to Kennedy’s third-floor restaurant, Jamie Kennedy at the Gardiner, for the auction portion of the evening. A virtual forest of Christmas trees decorated by some of Toronto’s top designers and architects bathed the room in a yuletide glow. Leslee Bell, Jane Davison, and Jeff Cairns of Décor & More donated one of the works, a colorful submission occupied by mischievous jesters and decked out with jeweled ornaments, textured ribbon, and a myriad of lights.
As guests admired the decorated trees, Caterwaiters passed hors d’oeuvres such as cold smoked whitefish canape and tourtiere strudel, and a food station served more substantial fare like shepherd’s pie with mustard pickle. To make room for the trees, the restaurant’s tables and chairs had been removed and replaced by copa tables from Chair-man Mills. The tables were draped in blue cloth and topped with festive white poinsettias from Morning Flowers.
Westbury National Sound Systems provided a small stage, lighting, and sound. In the spirit of the season, the winning bidders donated their trees to organizations such as the Hospital for Sick Children, Belmont House, and Beatrice House.
Valets from Mark J. Mooney and Associates greeted guests as they stepped out of luxury cars into the brisk November evening. A large heated tent courtesy of Advance Tent Rentals near the museum entrance served as a coat check.Inside, caterwaiters dressed in black from Jamie Kennedy Kitchens passed flutes of champagne to arriving guests. Glassware from Chair-man Mills topped the museum’s long black counter, which was put into service as an improvised bar. Off in a corner, The Haberdashers, a three piece jazz band, provided a backdrop of swinging standards as chef Kenney and his team went to work at a live food station building bite-sized Pan-bagnat sandwiches. Later, the party moved upstairs to Kennedy’s third-floor restaurant, Jamie Kennedy at the Gardiner, for the auction portion of the evening. A virtual forest of Christmas trees decorated by some of Toronto’s top designers and architects bathed the room in a yuletide glow. Leslee Bell, Jane Davison, and Jeff Cairns of Décor & More donated one of the works, a colorful submission occupied by mischievous jesters and decked out with jeweled ornaments, textured ribbon, and a myriad of lights.
As guests admired the decorated trees, Caterwaiters passed hors d’oeuvres such as cold smoked whitefish canape and tourtiere strudel, and a food station served more substantial fare like shepherd’s pie with mustard pickle. To make room for the trees, the restaurant’s tables and chairs had been removed and replaced by copa tables from Chair-man Mills. The tables were draped in blue cloth and topped with festive white poinsettias from Morning Flowers.
Westbury National Sound Systems provided a small stage, lighting, and sound. In the spirit of the season, the winning bidders donated their trees to organizations such as the Hospital for Sick Children, Belmont House, and Beatrice House.
Caiterwaiters from Jamie Kennedy Kitchens passed hors d\'oeuvres at the 19th annual First Light gala and tree auction fund-raiser at the Gardiner Museum.
Photo: BizBash
Caiterwaiters from Jamie Kennedy Kitchens passed hors d'oeuvres at the 19th annual First Light gala and tree auction fund-raiser at the Gardiner Museum.
Photos by: BizBash
Chefs Jamie Kennedy and Matt Schaffer prepared bite-sized Pan-bagnat sandwiches at a live food station.
Photos By: BizBash
The evening's menu also included hearty shepherd's pie with mustard pickle.
Photos by: BizBash
Three piece jazz band the Haberdashers pumped out swinging standards.
Photos By: BizBash
Leslee Bell, Jane Davison, and Jeff Cairns of Décor & More donated one of the 13 trees sold at the auction.
Photos By: BizBash
