Southern hospitality will be on display this weekend at the William Way LGBT Community Center’s annual gala, as festivities and fundraising fuse to a backdrop of Creole culture.
The 2010 Indigo Ball, 6-11 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Doubletree Hotel, 237 S. Broad St., will follow the theme “New Orleans Extravaganza” and capture the jubilant atmosphere of Mardi Gras.
“The planners wanted to do a celebratory event and wanted a theme to energize the evening, so they thought New Orleans would be a good choice for that reason,” said Chris Bartlett, William Way executive director.
The Ormandy Ballroom at the hotel will be adorned with Mardi Gras decorations for the evening, and Henri David will set the mood by leading a Mardi Gras-style parade into the gala at the beginning of the night. DJ Robert Drake will be on hand to get people onto the dance floor, and guests are encouraged to add their own Mardi Gras stylings to their wardrobes.
The food offerings will feature Bourbon Street-inspired dishes. In past years, guests partook of a sit-down dinner, but the center is trying something new this year by eliminating assigned seating.
A two-hour open bar, during which hors d’oeuvres will be served, will be followed by buffet selections and carving stations and, finally, dessert.
Bartlett said the new set-up will allow guests to mingle with a wider array of community members, as opposed to just the people with whom they were sharing a table.
“The planning committee saw the success of this new style of event that allows people to sit with different folks throughout the night,” Bartlett said. “You can mix with different groups, as opposed to just sitting at the same table and talking with the people you came with. It gives the community a chance to really move around and get to know a lot of other people.”
Bartlett noted, however, that even though the event will not feature a sit-down meal, guests will still get their fill.
“There is going to be plenty of food,” he said. “It’s going to be a very well-fed group of people.”
In addition to the dinner and dancing, Indigo Ball will feature a silent auction, remarks by community leaders and an appearance by Mayor Nutter.
Bartlett said about 300 people are expected to turn out for the gala, and organizers are looking to raise $100,000. Guests can also donate to the center during the event and, this year, William Way can match up to $40,000 in contributions brought in at Indigo Ball.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.waygay.org.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].