Spencer Padgett readies his award-winning cocktail “Ahead of the (Bell) Curve,” celebrated for clinching the Best Amateur Award at last year’s Art of Mixology, Lamorinda Arts Council’s annual fundraising event.
Gather your friends for festive drinks, food, music, dancing and fun. Where else can you taste vodka with basil and sugar snap peas, graham cracker-infused whiskey and vermouth infused with shitake?
Intrigued yet?
These are just a few of the ingredients in signature cocktails created by Bay Area bartenders for the Art of Mixology event, Lamorinda Arts Council’s (LAC) annual fundraiser. These popular East Bay bartenders are back in action on Oct. 19.
This community-favorite event includes professional and amateur mixologists who create original, hand-crafted cocktails, and new this year – mocktails.
Spend your evening mingling in Orinda Theatre Square, enjoying the beverage tasting and tasty bites from local favorite restaurants such as Casa Orinda and The Fourth Bore, along with a musical playlist – all while supporting LAC’s local arts programming.
In a popular competition, yet friendly tradition, bartenders give it their best shot for over $1,800 in awards.
After sampling both cocktails and mocktails, attendees vote for their favorites. Each vote helps determine the Mixologist of the Year and the Audience Favorite awards. Winning mixologists receive trophies, cash prizes and bragging rights.
Bartenders also go all-out competing for the Art of Staging Award – another audience favorite – based on table decor. Criteria include matching the theme and mood of the drink, aesthetics and overall creativity. See a reel from 2023 at youtu.be/BfWSun6ELm0.
LAC hosts this event to raise funds to support its popular arts events for youth, adults and seniors throughout the tri-city area of Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda.
A volunteer-based, non-profit organization, LAC members have created engaging arts programs in Lamorinda since 1950. They provide opportunities for all ages to be celebrated for their creativity in visual, literary and performing arts.
Hundreds of student and adult artists benefit from LAC programs. One LAC-sponsored program is Lamorinda Idol, a popular youth singing competition.
LAC’s diverse offerings also include Art Embraces Poetry, Art Embraces Words, Artify Orinda, Poetry for the Ages, Kids Art Table (at the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival), Arts Ambassadors and art exhibitions at the Orinda Library and Wilder Galleries.
Additionally, they host the High School Visual Arts Competition, a one-of-a-kind opportunity for student artists to be recognized, honored and receive cash prizes. The LAC engages hundreds of local student, adult and senior artists annually.
Join us to support the arts at the Art of Mixology, Saturday, Oct. 19, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Orinda Theatre Square, 1 Moraga Way.
Tickets are available at LamorindaArts.org/mixology/. Standard tickets are $85. Patron tickets are $125 (which includes a $50 tax-deductible donation to support LAC programs). Participants will enjoy samples of over 15 craft cocktails, mocktails, bites from local restaurants and a souvenir shot glass.
