Auction of Washington Wines Gala WOW'd!

Douglas Howe, Robin DuBrin, Eric Dunham

Eric Dunham, Brian Vowinkel, Ken Hatch

On Saturday evening, the hottest day in the last 365 days, Ken and I attended the Auction of Washington Wines Gala at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery.  The event was held in a big tent.  The tent was very hot so the guests were all pleased to find a fan at each place when they sat down.  Both men and women were waving their fans vigorously during the early part of the evening until the temperature cooled a bit and became more comfortable.

Vladlinna & Eric Fulton, Peggy Reddy

The theme of the Gala was "be WOW'd with the best wines of Washington" and following some very entertaining video clips of local celebrities drinking Washington wines, it kicked off with a high-energy original song written and performed by entertainer/composer, Richard Gray and a cast of entertainers and winemakers.  All of the proceeds of the evening benefitted uncompensated care at Seattle Children's Hospital and the Washington Wine Education Foundation.

Ben Smith, Gaye McNutt, Mary Holmes

ZINO Society organized two tables of members and friends and our assigned winemakers included Gaye McNutt and Ben Smith of Cadence Winery, Eric Dunham of Dunham Cellars and Anna Schafer of àMaurice Winery.  Each winemaker brought wine to share with their tablemates.  Anna Schafer brought the new release of her àMaurice Viognier Sparrow, but we didn't get to taste it because it flew away when she left it unattended for a few minutes.

Seated at our tables in addition to the winemakers, were Amin & Afshan Lakha, Bob Cremin, Douglas Howe & Robin DuBrin, Carole Ellison, Mary Holmes, Brian Vowinkel, Sherri Rogalski, Eric & Vladlinna Fulton, Joe & Betty Sasenick and Peggy Reddy.

Sam Baker, Sandra Fowler

Ken with Joyce Taylor

Some of the additional ZINO Society members and other friends participating in the festivities included Ron & Bonnie Elgin, Ted & Joanne Baseler, Michael & Patti Brustkern, Steve & Bridget Greissel, Patti Payne, Gordy Prouty, Sam Baker, Sandra Fowler, Ernie Pino, Connie Blumenthal, Duell Fisher, Stacy & Greg Lill, Bob & Cathy Betz, Joyce Taylor, Norm & Virginia McKibben, Dick Boushey, Chad & Jennifer McKay.  By the way, following the auction when the music started, Jennifer was my favorite dance partner!

Rich Gray and Flash Mob

The Auction Gala turned out to be a huge success under the leadership of new Executive Director of Auction of Washington Wines, Sherri Swingle, with $500,000 raised during the "Raise the Paddle" segment and a total of $1.5 million for the entire event.  We were all WOW'd!

 

ZINO Society's 6th Birthday Bash at DeLille Cellars

Thea Upchurch of Red Mountain AVA Alliance

The last few days have been a blur of activities starting with the ZINO Society 6th Birthday Bash and Magnum Party at DeLille Cellars.  This year, we partnered with the Red Mountain AVA Alliance to produce a party for ZINO Society members and guests and Red Mountain AVA Alliance members and guests.  With about 250 people attending, it was a happening!

Kristie Lanum, Jamee Nunnelee, Mary Holmes

Once again, we featured the delicious wood-fired pizza from Veraci Pizza and all the magnums of wine were supplied by vintners within the Red Mountain AVA Alliance.  Thea Upchurch, Executive Director of the Alliance, said that she had around 100 magnums of wine on hand for the party.

The ZINO Society team including Mary Holmes, Christine Gilbert (not pictured), Jamee Nunnelee and Kristie Lanum, handled the party details, guest list, name tags and food plus arranged for the band, Soul Siren, to entertain.

Cathi with partygoers, Russell and Mike

There were dozens of wine professionals on hand including Rick & Darcy Small of Woodward Canyon, Dick Boushey of Boushey Vineyards, Jean-Francois Pellet of Pepper Bridge Winery, Greg Lill, Jay Soloff and Chris Upchurch of DeLille Cellars, Stacy Lill of O Wines, and Bridget & Steve Griessel of Betz Family Winery.

ZINO Society Membership VP, Jamee Nunnelee, arranged for a fantastic band through her boyfriend, Mark Soltys, who is the lead vocalist and guitarist in Soul Siren.  By the end of the party, Soul Siren's music had beckoned to many of the party-goers and they were dancing to the beat.  Shelley Tomberg, who is the lead singer in her own band, Shelley and the Curves, in addition to being part of the management team for Columbia Hospitality picked up the microphone near the end of the party to join in the fun.  She was marvelous!  Next time, we will have to get her started earlier!

Dance to the music!

Happy Birthday ZINO Society!

Chasing the White (or Yellow) Ball

John Otter, Cathi, Brad Harlow

Today, I played golf at Overlake Golf & Country Club with John Otter and Brad Harlow.  We followed a foursome group of friends that included Patty & Jimmy Barrier and Sarah & John Rindlaub. 

The first nine holes went very slowly as we were waiting throughout.  We had lots of time to laser link every shot and consider multiple options of clubs before we could hit.  The Barriers and Rindlaubs stopped after nine holes and the course thinned out a bit, so the back nine went much more quickly.

John had a really cool I-Phone app which tracked our scores including how many putts and let him know how far he was from the green at all times.  I used the traditional score card and we ended the game with our scores in agreement.  Both Brad and John could hit the ball a mile and I played my normal double bogey golf game. One of these days, I'm counting on a golf breakthrough!  Good thing I love the game regardless of my score.

Head down, knees bent, eye on the ball, . . .

Suggested Attire: Wear White

Jimmy Barrier & JJ McKay

Last weekend, Ken and I went to a delightful lawn party where all the guests had been asked to wear white, co-hosted by John Otter along with Brad & Alison Harlow at the Harlow's lakefront home.  We saw lots of friends including Patty & Jimmy Barrier, JJ McKay, Sarah & John Rindlaub, Heather & Michael Sandoval, Susie & Brian Vowinkel, and dozens of others.  It was beautiful to see everyone wearing shades of white juxtaposed with the green grass and the sparkle of the lake behind them. 

Sarah Rindlaub, John Otter, Cathi

There was a wonderful buffet supper and live entertainment which featured an 11 piece band, Eldridge Gravy and the Court Supreme.  Everyone had a great time dancing on the lawn to the funky beat and listening to the music of the band.  Patty and I were surprised to see one of the staff members whom we had worked with from the YMCA, as one of the lead singers.  Her stage name is Spicy Brown and she is the cute brunette on the far left in the photo below.

Pretty in White

Spicy Brown with Eldridge Gravy & the Court Supreme

PNB MOB Garden Party

Carol Wright, Ken Hatch

Yesterday, Ken and I attended the annual Pacific Northwest Ballet MOB (Members of the Barre) Garden Party at the lovely home of Jim Leslie and Jeannie Tweten.  It was a beautiful partially sunny, partially cloudy afternoon in the garden as Chairman of the Board, Aya Hamilton, and Artistic Director, Peter Boal, shared some of the activities going on in the studios right now as PNB gets ready to kick-off its new 2011-2012 season beginning with an All Wheeldon program featuring the works of choreographer, Christopher Wheeldon.

There was buzz about the dancers coming back from vacation break and being expected to perform 32 consecutive fouettes (an extremely physically challenging move done by ballerinas on one leg) on their first day back in the studio by the stager that was here working on the upcoming repertoire to be performed.  A few were nursing sore muscles as a result of such a fast start.   

Chairman of the Board, Aya Hamilton and Past Chairman
of the Board, Peter Horvitz

The new PNB Orchestra Music Director, Emil de Cou was introduced and we saw lots of friends including Kelly Boal, Gail & Tom James, Carol Wright, Winnie & Richard Baxter, Carole Ellison, Joe Norman, Artistic Director Olivier Wevers of Whim W'Him, and had a chance to reconnect and also see current PNB dancers and meet some of the newest PNB dancers including Carrie Imler, Lucien Postlewaite, Emma Love, Matthew Renko, and Kylee Kitchens.

I am so looking forward to the new PNB season!

Getting Ready for Baby Boy Laramore

Cathi with daughter, Katie

Today Patty Barrier, Patti Payne and I drove to Bonney Lake for my daughter, Katie's baby shower, hosted by her mother-in-law, Jill Laramore. Katie is just three weeks away from her due date and is looking forward to bringing another baby boy home to be a little brother to Cutter, age two.  Her sisters-in-law, Renee Lindstrom, Jamie Laramore and Sarah Laramore, high school friend, Andrea Smolin who brought Katie's namesake, one month old, Katie Smolin along, and many other friends were there bearing gifts and celebrating the upcoming arrival of baby boy Laramore.

Jill Laramore, Katie Laramore

It was a lovely luncheon party with many baby boy blue details to get everyone in the spirit including little decorated sugar cookies in the shape of onesies.

Katie with gift quilt

God-Aunts, Patti Payne (GaGa) & Patty Barrier (GiGi)
with Katie