Celebrity designers for this Saturday’s gala event, The Library Affair, are hoping to take home one of these coveted awards for receiving the highest bids on their book-themed table. Tickets for the gala event are available online at www.pagosalibrary.org. Left: The Ruby Award, designed by Mary Kurt-Mason. Right: The Pagosa Pulitzer Prize designed by Jim Lutowski.
By Sally Neel | Ruby M. Sisson Memorial Library Foundation and Friends
This Saturday, April 15, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts (2313 Eagle Drive), supporters of our beloved Ruby Sisson Memorial Library will gather for The Library Affair gala event.
This promises to be a joyful evening, filled with plenty of eye candy (20 beautifully decorated tables based on book themes) on which to bid, great food, a free drink ticket included with admission ticket price ($50), a cash libation bar (alcoholic and nonalcoholic) and a room filled with friends with whom to share the fun. Wear your favorite bling and be sure to bring some extra cash for the cash bar and chance tickets ($10 each or 15 tickets for $100) for three special tables. Parking space is limited, so perhaps you can make it a night out with friends by sharing a ride.
A fabulous food buffet will provide a wide selection of mouth-watering delicacies by the culinary class at Pagosa Springs High School under the direction of Chef Todd Stevens that will no doubt delight your pallet. The menu includes smoked salmon with crostini goat cheese, various flavors of bruschetta, pita bread with roasted garlic humus, mini shrimp cocktail with fried garlic chili, smoked petit filet medallions with rosemary horseradish crema, fruit brochettes, lamb kofta skewers with Harrissa tzatziki, a fruit and cheese display, Italian toasted scallion meatballs (pork) with balsamic glaze, and Thai chicken lettuce wraps with cilantro wine vinaigrette and peanut sauce. A specialty “Ruby’s Affair” drink is being created by Annie and Tony DeMille.
The event will be emceed by Brooks Lindner with special entertainment by Steve Blechschmidt on acoustic guitar. A live auction for the five tables receiving the most online votes will take place later in the evening with Darren Lewis serving as auctioneer.
The coveted Ruby Award for the highest auction bid will also be presented, as well as the The Pagosa Pulitzer Prize for the top recipient of online votes. The Ruby Award is a gorgeous one-of-a-kind glass plate designed and created by Mary Kurt-Mason. Last year, Evelyn Tennyson won the Ruby Award and generously donated the prize back to the live auction. The lucky winner purchased it for $2,500. Last year’s 2022 Pulitzer Prize, designed by Jim Lutomski, was won by Robin Brobst, Terri Frahm and Jenny Highum. These talented artists will have tables representing their creative skills once again at this year’s auction.
Don’t forget, you can still go online (www.pagosalibrary.org) to vote for your favorite table. Each vote costs $2 and helps your favorite artist/table advance toward one of these coveted awards. Voting opportunities will end at midnight tonight, so go to your computer right now to make your selection. Tickets may be purchased online at the same online site, or you may purchase them in person at the library (cash or check only). Tickets that are not sold in advance will be made available at the door.
Come and show your support for the library expansion project and join us at The Library Affair this Saturday evening. It will be a night to remember.
