Oregon Coast Aquarium Offers Wine And Jellyfish To Supporters

Tickets went on sale to the public July 1 for the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s Jellyfish Jubilee; a Celebration of Food and Wine, benefitting the Aquarium’s exhibits and education programs. The event is slated to become an annual affair, offering an evening of Northwest cuisine, wines, a silent auction and live music September 27, 2008 from 6 to 10 pm.

“We will host some of the area’s top chefs, and the Aquarium will come alive with the aromas, tastes and sounds of exceptional food, wines and music,” said Dave Shafer, board member and Jellyfish Jubilee Committee chair. Shafer said the Aquarium has always hosted fundraisers for many other non-profits and community organizations and decided it was time to duplicate those successes to benefit its own programs, which rely upon admission revenues, grants and donations.

Shafer encouraged people to make reservations early. “We expect reservations to fill quickly for this fun, elegant evening of extraordinary food and wine!” Participating vendors so far include Bridges at The Embarcadero, The Bay House, Quimby’s, Noble Estate Winery, Emerson Vineyards, Sienna Ridge Estate, Vitis Ridge and Tsunami Chocolate.

“We’ll also have some exciting items up for bid in the silent auction,” said Shafer. Silent auction packages include a Bandon Dunes golf package for four; with overnight lodging and 8 rounds of golf, an Oregon surf package for two; with surfing lessons from George DeSoto, equipment from Ocean Pulse, lodging provided by Tyee Lodge and dinner for two at Local Ocean Seafood, two Timberline Lodge packages; dinner for two in the Cascade Dining Room, lodging for one night, breakfast and discounted lift tickets, items from the Heathman Hotel, Oregon Ballet Theatre and the Portland Art Museum.

Music will be provided by acoustic guitar duo from Salem, Waterfall, the local group, Cleanslate and headliner Highstrung!, a chamber youth string quartet based in Portland. Highstrung! consists of siblings Eric, Justin, David and Joshua Knopp, a dynamic group of young artists that have played hundreds of events. Highstrung! will perform chamber music in the lobby as guests enter the Jellyfish Jubilee. More information about the talented youths of Highstrung! can be found at www.highstrungstrings.com.

An exclusive pre-event from 6 to 7 pm will be limited to 200 people, offering first access to the culinary creations, special private wine tastings, animal encounters (including a sea lion kiss) and a dive presentation in the Aquarium exhibits. The main event will be from 7 to 10 pm and is limited to 300 people.

Ticket prices:
$125 per individual or $215 per couple for pre-event and main event
$90 per individual or $160 per couple for main event only
Members receive a 20% discount.

Non members who become members may purchase tickets and receive the discount. Evening attire is recommended. To purchase tickets, call 541-867-3474 Ext 5203. For information about special catered packages and corporate sponsorships, call (541) 867-3474 ext. 5216.

Jellyfish Jubilee sponsors include Leopold Ketel & Partners, Oregon Coast Bank, West Coast Bank and Wildlife Trading Company of New Mexico.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a 501©(3) not-for-profit educational attraction dedicated to the highest quality aquatic and marine science programs for recreation and education so the public better understands, cherishes, and conserves the world’s natural marine and coastal resources.

Photo Caption: Sea nettles, one of several types of jellies on exhibit at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, make an elegant backdrop for the inaugural Jellyfish Jubilee; a Celebration of Food and Wine. (Photo by Cindy Hanson, Oregon Coast Aquarium)