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The romantic sounds of the accordion and salivating smells of classic French cuisine will be filling the air of the Veterans Memorial Building on April 13 as the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council gets set to host its first-ever “A Night in Paris” fundraiser.
The event will feature live entertainment, classic French cooking, vendors, art displays and a silent auction, according to a press release from the council.
“Attendees of the event will be able to take a trip to Paris without leaving Pleasanton enjoying an April evening immersed in a Parisian Street Scene filled with artists, shops for souvenirs, the sounds of the accordion playing traditional French tunes and the dance music of The CoolTones Big Band,” PCAC board president Kelly Cousins told the Weekly.
The goal will be to transport guests to a romantic street scene in Paris where they can take in the art, dance to the music and sample the French cuisine that will be prepared by On the Vine — a catering company based in Livermore.
Attendees will start off with an international cheese charcuterie and then move on to the main dishes, which include coq au vin, ratatouille spring vegetable stew and cassoulet. Desserts, wine and beer will also be made available.
“Whether a Francophile or simply looking for a memorable night out, this event promises to be an unforgettable experience,” the press release states. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in their chicest attire and embrace the spirit of Paris.
All of the proceeds from the event will go toward funding the council’s free youth and family oriented arts events and programs, as well as all the other work the PCAC does to keep the arts alive in Pleasanton, Cousins said.
One example of how the PCAC’s works toward supporting youth in the arts is the annual Youth Excellence in the Arts (YEA!) Awards.
The YEA! Awards feature several Pleasanton high school students who show off their visual, literary and music skills for cash prizes ranging from $100 to $500.
According to a past PCAC press release, the awards were created in 1997 to “honor the artistic accomplishments and talents of Pleasanton High School students in the field of music, literary and visual arts categories.”
This year’s top three students were chosen from each category and the PCAC presented their awards on March 17 at the Valley Community Church.
That’s why in order to keep these awards and other art-centered programs alive in Pleasanton, the PCAC continues to rely on fundraising events like the “A Night in Paris” event.
“These programs and other events help us recognize how vital the arts are as an expression of the human spirit especially for our youth,” Cousins said.
The event will take place from 7-10 p.m. next Saturday (April 13) at the Veterans Memorial Building, located at 301 Main St. in Pleasanton. Tickets are limited and can be found at the PCAC’s website at pleasantonarts.org.
