Oregon Coast Aquarium Is Ready For Its First Fundraiser

By Cindy Hanson

Newport, OR - The Oregon Coast Aquarium will be decked out in all its finery for the Jellyfish Jubilee: A Celebration of Food and Wine September 27. The event, benefitting the Aquarium’s exhibits and education programs, will be an annual affair, offering an evening of Northwest cuisine and wines as well as a silent auction and live music at the Aquarium.

Guests will arrive and step onto a red carpet that will lead them to the Aquarium lobby, lit and decorated for an elegant evening celebrating the bounty of Northwest food, vineyards, and talented young musicians playing chamber music. A silent auction will feature packages that highlight Northwest activities and excursions. Guests can stroll through the world class Aquarium exhibits or visit the theater to see a slide show about the exhibits and education programs that will benefit from the event.

“Northwest food and wine will be in the spotlight,” said Dave Shafer, board member and Jellyfish Jubilee Committee chair. “This will be an extraordinary evening with the aromas, tastes and sounds of exceptional food, wines and music filling the Aquarium,” We were pleased to see top chefs and vintners eager to join the fold.” 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.

Participating restaurants include The Bay House, Quimby’s, Saffron Salmon, Willamette Valley Country Club, Chef’s Place, Georgie’s Beachside Grill, Starfish Grill, Chinook Winds’ Rogue River Steakhouse, Local Ocean Seafood and Tsunami Chocolate. Wineries include Noble Estate Vineyard, Emerson Vineyards, Julianna Vineyards, Sienna Ridge Estate, Henry Estate Winery, Ferarri-Carano Winery and Vitis Ridge Winery. Rogue will be the featured beer.

Silent auction packages include:

Golf Package: Bandon Dunes, eight rounds of golf and 1 night for four at Lily Pond Lodging
Ocean Pulse Surfing Package: Equipment, Ocean Pulse, Lessons, Lodging at Tyee Lodge and $50 gift certificate from Local Ocean Seafoods
Timberline Ski Package: Four ski lift passes, midweek overnight at lodge & breakfast buffet and $100 gift certificate for Cascade Room dinner
Portland Culture Package: Oregon Ballet Theater tickets, Portland Art Museum tickets, Aequis Spa $100 gift certificate and lodging at the Heathman Hotel.
Coast Culture Package: Newport Performing Arts Center 2 tickets, Photo workshop for two with Jeff Jessing, lodging at the Whale Cove Inn and $75 gift certificate for Prix Fixe dinner 44 degrees.
Marine Adventure Package: Marine Discovery Tours boat tour, fossil Hunting with “The Fossil Guy,” Guy DiTorrice and a $75 gift certificate from Saffron Salmon.
Fishing Package: Newport Marina Store & Charter, lodging at Newport Belle Bed & Breakfast and a $15 gift certificate from Mo’s
Other items: A private dinner party for 8 with Portland Chef, Bronwen Jones. As both an Executive Chef and Professional Personal Chef, Bronwen will prepare, present and serve a custom-seasonal menu in the comforts of your home, and a Sokol Blosser case of Meditrina private winery tour & tasting for 8.

Music will be provided by Highstrung!, a chamber string quartet based in Portland and Waterfall, an acoustic guitar duo from Salem. 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. Waterfall consists of Louie Hubbard and Casey Applen, both accomplished guitarists. Waterfall will perform acoustic celtic instumentals in the lobby of the Passages of the Deep exhibit.

The exclusive pre-event, beginning at 6 pm is sold out, but tickets are available for the main event, which is limited to 300 people, from 7 to 9 pm.

Ticket prices:
$90 per individual or $160 per couple
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 West Coast Bank, Leopold Ketel & Partners, Oregon 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: Blue jellies will be dressed in their finery at the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s First Annual Jellyfish Jubilee September 27. Photo Credit: Cindy Hanson, Oregon Coast Aquarium