Go Back

Galas and Celebrations Celebrating Community and Showcasing Excellence

Image

June is one of our favorite months for many reasons: our produce comes in from the farm and we distribute our first CSA shares, love is in the air as we celebrate couples getting married, and many of our partners hold their annual galas.

 

From idyllic garden settings and iconic stages, they run the gamut from hands-on creative workshops to legendary performances. Below we share some of the incredible galas our cultural partners hosted in June.

Wave Hill Spring Gala

Location: Wave Hill Public Garden, The Bronx, NY

Number of Guests: 150

Date: May 30, 2024

Event Planner: Linda Abbey

Wave Hill held its annual Spring Gala on May 30, honoring Tom de Witte, the Netherlands-based international landscape designer and kicking-off the creation of their new meadow.

Guests began their evening with cocktails and pass hors d’oeuvres on the lawn accompanied by a live jazz trio before heading to Wave Hill House for dinner and the presentation followed by a live auction. A special touch was the centerpieces of Wave Hill Mini Meadows that served as a preview of the meadow to come. Plants were selected by Wave Hill’s Director of Horticulture, Cathy Deutsch and hand crafted by Cathy, the gardeners, and the John Nally interns.

Veteran planner and one of the first people to work at Great Performances, Linda Abbey and her team created a beautiful experience for the guests with a variety of our most popular hors d’oeuvres for the cocktail reception on the lawn, perfectly paired with delicious libations from Tobalá, a local Mexican restaurant who provided El Mero Mero cocktail (mezcal, cucumber, tepache, serrano) and a zero proof mocktail, the Margarita de Jamaica (seedlip, hibiscus, lime).

 

To support Wave Hill and learn more about the gala, click the link here:

Wave Hill Gala 2024 | Powered By GiveSmart

Butlered Hors d’Oeuvres

  • Spicy Thai Chicken red endive

  • Boneless Lambchop

  • Carrot Tartare Cup

  • Peruvian Potato Cup comte fondue

  • Tuna in a Birds Nest

  • Pepper Crusted Beef Filet

Seated Dinner

  • First Course

    • Spring Vegetable Mosaic

  • Entree

    • Seared Atlantic Cod asparagus, spring peas, carrots, marble potatoes, lemon pistou

 

Dessert

  • Lemon Violet Semifreddo blueberry compote, violet foam, raspberry sauce, hibiscus meringue, lemon-blackberry semifreddo

  • Gluten Free Blackout Cake Redux chocolate cremeux, malted milk chocolate custard, gluten free devil’s food cake, blackout chocolate glaze, sugar beet gel

The Apollo Theater Spring Benefit and 90th Anniversary Celebration

Location: Apollo Theater, New York, NY

Number of Guests: 500

Date: June 11, 2024

Event Planner: Amanda DiUglio

The Apollo Theater celebrated “90 years of years of black culture, creative and community” at its spring benefit on June 10. Hosted by comedian and actress Kym Whitley, the organization raised over $3 million during its celebration which honored music legend Kenneth “Babyface” Edmond and USHER. Fat Joe and Kwanza Jones presented Babyface with The Apollo’s inaugural Legacy Award after being inducted into The Apollo’s Walk of Fame the previous day. USHER was presented with the Icon Award, presented by The Apollo President and CEO Michelle Ebanks and Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes.

 

Notable attendees included Andra Day, Ava Duvernay, Bevy Smith, Doug E. Fresh, Ariana DeBose, Susan Kelechi Watson, Reverend Al Sharpton, Governor Kathy Hochul, Kara Young, Leon, Malik Yoba, Nikole Hannah Jones, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Tonya Lewis Lee, Janai Nelson, Kwanza Jones, Sherrese Clarke- Soares, and more.

 

Senior Event Director – and longtime planner of events at The Apollo – Amanda Di’Uglio, collaborated with The Apollo team to create a menu that captured the spirit of the event and the bounty of the season. We also partnered with local favorite, Charles Pan Fried Chicken to present stations featuring his most popular dishes; and shared tasting plates from notable local restaurants, Angel of Harlem, FIELDTRIP, and Vinateria.

 

To support the Apollo Theater and learn more, become a member at the link here: Membership (apollotheater.org) 

 

Butlered Hors d’Oeuvres

Hudson Valley Succotash Tart sunchoke puree, crispy kale

Mushroom Mole Taco radish, lime, onion, cilantro, sesame seeds

Deviled Quial Eggs smoked paprika

Tamari Ginger Tuna Poke crisp sesame tuile

Maryland Crab Cake Chesapeake remoulade

Andouille Sausage Pigs in a Blanket creole mustard

Steakhouse Bite pepper beef filet, potato, gruyere creamed spinach, horseradish

 

Chef’s Station 1

Charles Pan Fried Chicken

Lightly Smoked Cedar Planked Salmon

Tomato, Mozzarella, & Basil Salad

Grilled Mexican Corn Salad grated cotija cheese, chipotle aioli, cilantro, fresh ground chile

Tuscan Kale Caesar Salad parmesan, hand torn croutons, capers, Caesar dressing

Smoked Gouda Cornbread

Cheddar Cheese Twice Baked Mini Potatoes

 

Chef’s Station 2

Charles Pan Fried Chicken BBQ Chicken

Braised Short Ribs red wine reduction glaze, gremolata

Grilled Corn & Heirloom Tomato Succotash summer squash, zucchini, lima beans, basil, lemon vinaigrette

Maple Rosemary Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges

Vegetarian Chopped Wedge Salad romaine, blue cheese mousse, sundried tomato, mushroom, chive, afilla cress

Cheddar Biscuits

Green Asparagus Salad morels, peas, pea tendrils, black truffle sherry vinaigrette

 

Passed Tasting Plates

Angel of Harlem Shrimp & Grits

Fieldtrip Short Rib & Carolina Rice Bowl collard greens, coriander roasted carrots, comeback sauce, parsley, marigolds

Vinateria Beetroot Campanelle Pasta artichoke, mushroom dill pesto sauce

 

Dessert

Banana Pudding Cups

Chocolate Chip Cookie & Vanilla Milkshake Shot

Key Lime Tartlet

Flourless Chocolate Cake Bites

Blackberry Cheesecake

 

 

Powerhouse Arts Community Day

Location: Powerhouse Arts, Gowanus, Brooklyn

Number of Guests: 1,000+

Date: June 15, 2024

Event Planner: Morgan Golumbuk

Powerhouse Arts – the dynamic and exciting “factory for art and ideas” in Gowanus, Brooklyn – is a brilliant purpose-built facility for art and fabrication professionals and educators with dedicated spaces for fabrication, studios, and community and private events.

On June 15 they held their Community Day, a family-friendly, age-inclusive event across three floors in their facility. Attendees were able to participate in hands-on workshops, demonstrations, screenings, and conversations with PHA creators and partners. The afternoon also included performances in the loft and an exhibit of Brooklyn College MFA students’ theses.

 

Read more about the event here: Powerhouse Arts Community Day

 

Senior Event Director and resident travel foodie, Morgan Golumbuk, created a fun grab-and-go menu that all could enjoy.

Afternoon Snacks

  • Black Bean and Corn Salsa with Blue Corn Chips

  • Peach & Habanero Salsa with Plantain Chips

  • Pita Chips with Charred Eggplant Dip

  • Root Vegetable Chips with Caramelized Onion Dip

  • Carrot Sticks with Hummus

  • Muffaletta salami, ham, provolone, jardiniere, tomato aioli

  • Vegetable Muffaletta grilled seasonal vegetables, basil pesto, jardiniere tapenade spread, provolone, mozzarella

  • Pesto Grilled Chicken Caprese Mozzarella, Tomato, Arugula

  • Classic Tuna Salad Sandwich

  • Flourless Mocha Brownie Bites

  • Chocolate Chip Cookies

Caramoor Gala

Location: Caramoor Center for Music and Arts, Katonah, NY

Number of Guests: 375

Date: June 22, 2024

Event Planner: Amanda DiUglio

Caramoor celebrated their 10-year collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center on June 22. During the event, they honored Wynton Marsalis, a world-renowned trumpeter, bandleader, composer, and Managing and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Over the course of the evening, guests gathered for cocktails on the lawn before proceeding to the Venetian Theater where they enjoyed a concert by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra featuring Wynton Marsalis. Dinner in the Gala Tent on Friends Field followed the concert.

Senior Event Director – and frequent visitor to Caramoor in her role as our resident wedding expert – Amanda DiUglio worked closely with the Caramoor team, pulling inspiration from Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center to create a special menu celebrating the roots of jazz.

Caramoor Gala Menu

Butlered Hors d ‘Oeuvres

Maque Choux Bites

Carrot Mousse Tarts

Pecan Crusted Pimento Cheese Balls

Deviled Quail Eggs

Mini Crawfish Salad Po Boy

Shrimp & Grits

Andouille Sausage Pigs in a Blanket

Cajun Rubbed Lab Chop

 

Reception Station

Steamed Shrimp

Raw Wellfleet and Blue Point Oysters on the Half Shell

Little Neck Clams on the Half Shell

Remoulade, Classic Mignonette, Cocktail Sauce, Fresh Horseradish, Tabasco Sauce, Lemon Wedges

 

Dinner

Great Performances Signature Bread Basket

Sea Island Pea Hummus crisp spring vegetables, smoked paprika oil, fresh herbs, low country rice shards

Field Green Salad sugar snap peas, red and green strawberries, watermelon radish, mint, creamy buttermilk dressing

Tasso Spiced Short Rib cast iron mac & cheese, braised green beans

Vegan Jambalaya Stuffed Peppers

 

Dessert Station

Banana Pudding Cups

Bourbon Pecan Diamonds

Chocolate Pretzel Caramel Tartlet

Golden Pistachio Praline Chocolate Truffle

Turtle Brownie

Miniature Ice Cream Cones

Mini Strawberry Shortcakes

Related Posts

No records found for the
search criteria entered.