Woodcock Nature Center’s annual gala fundraising event, Evening Under the Stars, will be held Saturday May 30, from 7 to 10 in the open air pavilion transformed into a candle-lit celebration of the natural world. Sarah and Bernard Bouissou of Bernard’s restaurant and Sarah’s Wine Bar in Ridgefield will be recognized as guests of honor for their support of Woodcock’s mission of “Raising healthy children today for a healthy environment tomorrow.”
The gala will feature a selection of wines by Cellar XV, gourmet hors d-oeuvres by Bernard’s and Sarah’s Wine Bar, cheeses by 109 Cheese and Wine and sweets by Heavenly Bites. Local musicians Angry O’Hara’s will provide live folk/bluegrass music, and there will be live and silent auctions featuring vacation homes in the Hamptons, the Adirondacks, Washington, D.C., and an art apartment over the High Line in New York City.
Due to their overwhelming popularity last year, the Woodcock Experience packages will be back this year. These give adults and their friends and/or families access to exclusive activities and areas at the nature center, such as twilight canoe trips, private nature photography lessons with explorer/photographer Daryl Hawk, private yoga lessons in the beauty of Woodcock’s preserve with Ellen Bonheim of Firefly Family Yoga, or a wine tasting party at the pondside pavilion, among others.
Created by the guests of honor specially this year, the Open Hearth Experience will allow the winner and their guests to learn about and taste gourmet foods prepared over the open fire in the nature center pavilion by award-winning chef Bernard Bouissou of Bernard’s in Ridgefield. Adding to the open hearth experience will be gourmet melted cheeses from Monica and Todd Brown of 109 Cheese and Wine, including their popular raclette.
The cost to attend is $60 per person. Tickets are available at the Woodock website. All proceeds benefit the nature center’s environmental education initiative.
Information: 203-762-7280 or woodcocknaturecenter.org.