I’ll bet your significant other is not wild about fundraisers. Maybe you aren’t either after you’ve attended a few. Fundraisers can be homogeneous. The good news is that Casa Romantica has a tonic for the fundraiser season and it is ideal for the culturally inclined: The annual Toast To The Casa with its enchanted garden theme. Truly, The Toast will stimulate the most experienced philanthropist and will offer something for every sense and sensibility.
Enchanted Gardens, Fairies and Unicorns. Oh my
Toast attendees get an exclusive preview of Casa Lumina prior to its limited run. Casa Lumina is a festively lit evening walk through Casa Romantica’s gardens overlooking the ocean. Accompanying this enchanted garden walk will be the enchanting sounds of DJ NOMIS. The cherry on top of this fantasy will be the fairy – that is, performances above the Ocean Terrace by acrobats in themed costume.
The toast includes another otherworldly experience: A preview of Otherworldly Glaciers, a series of ceramic sculptures by Mary Beierle. Some of these pieces exceed 6 feet in height.
Finally, no fantasy is complete without a unicorn. There will be a unicorn. A full-sized, live unicorn. Attendees are encouraged to document this sighting by taking photos. I encouraged Casa Romantica to have their employees stand next to the unicorn, hold rainbow placards and toss glitter. That would really pull the concept together.
Something For The Old School Attendees
The Toast will be infused with food, drink, music, dancing and prizes at locations and stages throughout the Casa property. Included are:
- Gourmet food and beverages from 25+ vendors.
- A cigar lounge with an ocean view. You can’t get more old school than this. There won’t be sports on a big screen. You will have to use your smart phone for that.
- 18-piece Empire Swing Orchestra.
- Pop-fusion violist and YouTube sensation Jeremy Green.
- Contemporary dance beats from DJ NOMIS.
- Silent Auction featuring 100+ items.
- Wishing Well of Wine. A carnival-style game where you could win…..wine!
Worthy Causes
There is a reason for this fundraiser. Casa Romantica is a nonprofit, a registered landmark and a cultural center. And what a cultural center it is! The number of programs it offers is astonishing, both for arts patrons and for students. Truly, Casa is upping its game since I have been watching it. There is no equivalent in Orange County.
The other worthy cause is YOU. How often do you get to mingle with kindred spirits, make connections and share beautiful experiences with others? That won’t happen on Facebook.
So, go enchant and be enchanted. But please enchant responsibly.