Amy Krzanik reports from Richmond.The Inn at Richmond served as the most beautiful backdrop a gala could ask for, as Alchemy Initiative held its Empty Stein Fundraiser there on Monday, July 22. As guests arrived, they picked their stein of choice from a table of finely crafted ceramic mugs, and made their way past a fountain burbling into a lily padded pool. At the other end, proud brewers from Wandering Star and Big Elm Breweries poured their beer, along with hard cider from Hilltop Orchards. Steins were filled, then emptied, then filled again as guests mingled and snacked on food donated by local farms like Cricket Creek, Shaker Creek, and Wyomanock. The Inn's grounds supplied plenty of space to roam and play, and guests took advantage of the swings, croquet set, and other lawn games. And if it had to rain, then it came at a pretty good time, as the night's entertainment, the band Rock Steady, had just finished warming up in the barn. Folks ran for cover to either cut a rug on the dance floor or bid on silent auction items in the side room. Gift certificates to local boutique Bra & Girl, movie passes to Images Cinema, and yoga classes with Waterfall Perry were all up for grabs, along with other gift assortments and works of art donated by the fundraiser's many artsy attendees. Proceeds from the night go to fund creative workshops in the community. (Shown above: Alchemy Initiative founder Jess Conzo with fiance Chris Vecchia).
Photographer Sue Geller, Gina Vinciguerra, and Scott Taylor; Anne O'Connor, Sarah Pritchard, and Darren O'Brien show off their steins.
Linda and Michael Levesque with Jan and Stan Spencer; Michael Allen Lowe and Jen Morse.
Chris Masiero, Jeff Caligari, Tucker Welch, Cindy Welch, and Matt Ballinger.
Dana St. Pierre and Amy Huebner of Fire Cider; Ed Bride, Michael Rousseau, and Marge Bride.
Don and Bridget Brazie, Joe McCauley, Jesse Tobin, and Parker and Emilia Chandler.
Michael Boroniec, Rachel Parzick, and Jessica Lamb; Photographer Bill Wright and Shop Coordinator Carrie Wright.
Darren O'Brien, Bonnie Hoskeer Kirchner, and Scott Kircher; Chris Vecchia and Diane Firtell.
The beautiful, bucolic Inn at Richmond.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
