Cultural Community Gathers for KAC's "Locavore"

Sunlight glinted through the historic windows as culture enthusiasts gathered at the Kirkland Arts Center Saturday evening for “Locavore,” a fundraiser joining food, wine and art.

Guests sipped pours from Airfield Estates, Northwest Cellars and Gallery Wine and enjoyed delicious bites from Lynn's Bistro, Hector's and other restaurants while viewing the art.

At least 50 Kirkland artists donated a piece of their work for auction as a fundraiser for KAC. Among them was stop #6 on the Kirkland Artist Studio Tour (KAST), which takes place over Mother's Day Weekend. Nina O'Neil, as #6 is known in regular life, works as a designer at Microsoft by day.

"But painting is my passion," says O'Neil, a newcomer to KAST who informed me that artists often double or even triple up at local studios during the tour weekend.

Donna Schill, KAC's first paid director in the 1970's, was heartened by the great turnout and community support for the event. A portrait painter, she donated a portrait sitting.

The most unique booth at the event was a little table on the second floor educating guests about urban farming. Alleycat Acres, based out of the central district in Seattle, has worked for the last two years to grow food on vacant lots. Teams of volunteers produced more than 800 pounds of food last year, much of which was donated -- via bicycle, of course -- to food banks near the lots. Sean Conroe informed me that I had just missed a get together with Miss Urban Farmer, herself, Novella Carpenter, author of "Farm City." Conroe is excited to see how people with very little capital can creatively solve problems together.

Several local restaurants generously donated food and volunteers for the event. While she served up amazing crab cakes, Susie Athar of Lynn's Bistro praised her boss, whose actual name is MyLinh Tran, as, "a big supporter of the community whose heart is bigger than her budget; she never says 'no' if she can help."

The goat cheese tarts and ahi poke flew off the Hector's table, along with a large supply of jambalaya that chef Matt Williams assured us was kept mild enough to please the crowds. Hector's new executive chef Zeb Salmeri took time out from a busy Saturday night at the restaurant to serve at Locavore.

"During hard times everyone needs to get together," say Salmeri of community bonding events like Locavore.

Desserts, donated by Sweetcakes, Hoffman's and The Crab Cracker, were positioned in the beautiful turret room.

Several guests sitting in the window seat were discussing their auction strategy. "I hover, hanging around until the last minute," said Lianne Leewens explaining how she secures the pieces she most wants.

The event culminated with an award in honor of the late Jodi Bardenelli, former director of the Kirkland Wednesday Market. KAC executive director Christopher Shainin introduced the committee of women responsible for choosing the award's recipient, calling them "the Girl Scouts."

Because of Bardenelli's love for food, the award went to local Lake Washington High School senior James Donald Anderson. He has worked at Lynn's Bistro for the last seven years and, incidentally, prepared the crab cakes enjoyed by the guests at Locavore.

"Lynn took me under her wing," says Anderson. He plans to go to business school at the University of Washington next fall and then on to culinary school.

Aarti Khanna, the special events and volunteer coordinator at KAC, closed the evening by reminding guests to pick up a map for the KAST tour coming up next weekend. Auction "winners" filed out to claim their newest piece of art and savor a last glass of wine in the long-awaited warm evening sunlight.