More than 100 supporters of The Nature Consortium gathered at Camp Long on Friday Aug. 10 to enjoy wine, food and music in a fundraising effort to bring back the organization's Arts in Nature Festival. CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE MORE.
More than 100 people came to The Nature Consortium's annual Wine in the Woods benefit event at Camp Long Friday Aug. 10.
The event (the third annual) was held in lieu of the organization's annual Arts in Nature Festival which Executive Director Nancy Whitlock said, "costs around $40,000 to produce. Half of that goes to the artists since it's an organizational value that we pay our artists living wages, plus the cost of renting the park and the cost of promoting the event."
This was the first time Wine in the Woods has been held at Camp Long. The past two years it was held in the West Duwamish Greenbelt. It was also the first time that Camp Long has allowed wine to be consumed outside the lodge. "It's an experiment for us and for Parks," said Whitlock, "but we billed it as a 21 and over event."
It appears to have paid off since Whitlock said that not only was it a success but it means that Arts in Nature will be back next year, Aug. 10 and 11, 2013. "Everybody who came tonight loved it and one of our wine vendors said it was the best event of this kind he's ever attended."
The fundraiser will happen, "probably a week or two in advance," of the Arts in Nature Festival next year as well said Whitlock. "The goal was to introduce some new people to the Nature Consortium and our programs."
They have matching (and in some cases tripled) donations from the Tagney Jones family fund, Judy Pigott and an anonymous donor.
Sampling wines from around Washington State people gathered first in the lodge and for their $45 contribution enjoyed appetizers from Long Provincial Vietnamese Restaurant including Tamarind Tree Rolls, Saigon Meatballs, Grilled Lemongrass Tofu Skewers, Turmeric Coconut Rice Cake Topping with Prawn.
Music in the lodge was provided by Correo Aereo. Performances were also made by: Christian Swenson,Maya Soto and Ricky Gene Powell.
Then it was time to head to the bonfire along a luminaria lined path to enjoy another glass of wine and dessert along with music by Billy and the Bouncers, a West Seattle based jazz trio.
Get more information at http://www.naturec.org
