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Enjoy silver spoon living for a golden cause
Northport Rotary's Wine in the Courtyard fundraiser to be held at the Vanderbilt
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August 06, 2009 | 11:42 AM
During Long Island's Gold Coast era, William K. Vanderbilt's palatial Spanish revival-style mansion, Eagle's Nest in Centerport, and its rambling acreage, were the stomping grounds for the rich and famous. Among the elite that Vanderbilt wined and dined were author Dorothy Parker, actor Douglas Fairbanks, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt.
On Thursday, Aug. 13, the public will have the extraordinary opportunity to get a taste of silver spoon living when the Rotary Club of Northport hosts its 13th annual Wine in the Courtyard fundraiser on what was once Vanderbilt's sumptuous Centerport property.
According to Jim Ryan, who is cohosting the event with Mary English and Jim LaMantia, the evening of extravagance and luxury will begin as attendees are transported via air-conditioned buses from the parking lot at Centerport Beach to the Vanderbilt grounds at 180 Little Neck Road.
Award-winning marine artist Anthony Davis will be among the plein air painters on hand to render their interpretations of the breathtaking scenery and panoramic vistas of Long Island Sound that Vanderbilt once knew.
Also new this year is the "hole in one" contest, which, for $20, offers the adventurous a chance to win a prize by virtue of their golfing prowess, Ryan indicated.
According to John Weber, owner of Port to Port Wines & Spirits of Northport, attendance at the event, which has the distinction of being the largest outdoor wine-tasting on the eastern seaboard, has tripled since its inception.
Thirty-five wineries have already signed on, and many more are expected. There will be high end champagne, a broad spectrum of Long Island and California wines as well as exotic international fare from Italy, Chile, Argentina, Portugal, Spain, Australia and New Zealand.
Among the exciting new entries are Ed Hardy wines, including a sparking rosé, chardonnay and cabernet, Faretti biscotti liqueur, ginger vodka, and Crop organic vodka, whose flavor conveys the essence of vine-ripened tomatoes or cucumbers.
According to LaMantia, Rotarians demonstrated their passion for this cause by literally stepping up to the plate and signing on dozens of restaurants, allowing guests to sample high-end, palate-pleasing cuisine from across Long Island.
"There'll be Italian, Mexican, barbecue, fusion and a little bit of everything," LaMantia said.
Ryan and LaMantia gratefully acknowledged the ongoing support of Copenhagen Bakery, Crossroads Café, Irish Coffee Pub, Maroni Cuisine, Ship's Inn, Pumpernickels, Meehan's of Huntington, Outback Steakhouse, Nina's Pizza, Northport Deli, Tropical Smoothie Café and Sweeties Candy Cottage, whose contributions have become time-honored and delicious traditions.
Ann Stevens, who is coordinating entertainment, said that there will be music galore. Vocalist Diane Gudmundsen and her dance orchestra, Midnight Blue, will be performing in the lower tent from 6 to 10 pm. Stevens and Tony Catania, performing as the duo, "A Woman and a Mandolin," will provide dinner music in the grand food tent.
The Northport Rotary's newly elected president and "singing banker," Teri George and her group, The Connection, will entertain guests with sweet song in the courtyard from 6 to about 8 pm.
The much-heralded auction, featuring fine wines, liquors and exotic lots, starts around 8:15 pm.
With Rotary Past President Peter Engelmann and Mark Nolan at the helm as auctioneers, guests can anticipate good-natured fun as well as the possibility of incredible bargains.
In the past, "exotic" lots have included luxury box seats and hard-to-get tickets to big name sports events, concerts and fine art, and guests can expect more of the same. Also up for grabs will be a dine-around package featuring gift certificates from outstanding local restaurants.
One hundred percent of Rotary's net proceeds goes to charitable causes. Among the many beneficiaries this year will be the Gift of Life program, Polio Plus, the Stony Brook University Hospital Burn Center, the American Cancer Society, and the Dolan Center, LaMantia indicated.
According to Dan Finnegan, the event's main sponsors include Mercedes Benz of Huntington, Capital One Bank, Primary Land Services, National Grid, the Bank of Smithtown, the First National Bank of Long Island, the Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk, Gold's Gym, and of course, Port to Port Wine & Spirits.
The Times of Northport and East Northport will serve as the media sponsor for the fifth consecutive year.
Wine in the Courtyard runs from 6 to 10 pm. Tickets can be purchased online at www.northportrotary.com, through individual Rotarians, or by visiting Port to Port Wines & Spirits, located at 395 Fort Salonga Road, Northport, in the King Kullen shopping center. Tickets are $100 per person through Aug. 9, with the price increasing to $125 thereafter. For further information, call 261-1190.
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