Construct's Tasty Mayfest Fundraiser at Crissey Farms

Fiona Breslin reports from Great Barrington.Despite the heavy rain, an eager crowd packed Crissey Farm on Monday, May 14 as more than 20 local restaurants and top chefs donated time, food, and spirits for Mayfest, Construct Inc.'s annual event to raise funds for housing, support, and educational services in Southern Berkshire County. Underwritten by Herrington's, the evening featured a smorgasbord from local purveyors, including Aegean Breeze, The Williamsville Inn, Rubiner's, The Meat Market, Perigee Restaurant, The Red Lion Inn, Haven, Castle Street Café (owner Michael Ballon at left), and more, who served up everything from lasagna to chana masala. Mid-way through the evening the more than 225 attendees were asked to turn their attention from the delectables to the podium for a short performance by the Mixed Company theater group based on real-life interviews with Construct clients. Generosity and conviviality were the overriding flavors of the event, which raised $36,000 in ticket sales and donations. Adding extra spice was the presence of Mark Firth, co-founder of Brooklyn's Diner. The farm-to-table chef is now tending his own farm in Monterey and will have a much shorter trip to the table; this summer he plans to open a restaurant, Bell & Anchor, in downtown Great Barrington.

The Old Mill's Terry Moore shares oysters with Richard and Karen Farkas; board members Mark Rosengren and Barbara Schulman with Kerry Millikin and Caren Mercer Montano.

Committee member Bryn Davis with Craig McDowell and Nilo McDowell; Barbara Bunger, Construct's Lisa Henriques, and former Construct chair Fred Bunger.

Construct board of directors vice president Barbara Manring and president Marilyn Wightman; Diner restaurant co-founder Mark Firth with Stephen Browning.

Barrington Bites' Savannah Stalker and Sherri Gorelick ; Mary Short and Aegean Breeze's Amanda Zucco.

Kosta Cami and Samuel Wendt, whose families own, respectively, Aegean Breeze and The Williamsville Inn; Howard Chezar and designer Patrcia Fox.

Joe Nejaime pours a red for Mayfest committee member Melissa McGarrity and Elise Abrams; Bryn Davis and her mother Cara Davis, executive director at Construct.

Actor Jessica Halfnight and Robbin Halfnight; patron Bob Tutnauer enjoys a crepe with Rachel Portnoy and Franck Tessier of Chez Nous.

Rich Dohoney, Mike Kinna, and Rich Herrington of Herrington's; Aroma'sParmjit and Barinder Chahal with their children Maniraj, Harshveer, and Ravjeet Chahal.

Volunteer Ron Kujawski with SoMa Catering's Albert Halpern and Loretta Tenuta; board member Terrence Webb introduces Mixed Company.

The Red Lion Inn's Stephanie Gravalese-Wood and Aaron Wood; Mixed Company's Rudi Bach and playwright Joan Ackerman.

Allium's Nancy Thomas doles out the treats; Liam Montano and Autobahn's Dominic Lydon.

Rachel Kaufman with Mayfest committee members Jade Carroll and Jeremy Gabe; The Marketplace co-owners Kevin Schmitz and David Renner with Douglas Luff.

Kehr Davis and her daughter Aurora Davis; board member Shirley Yohalem with Ira Yohalem and shopkeeper Carrie Herrington of Wearhouse in Great Barrington.