What: Cheers to Your Health: STEAMPunk Annual Fall Fundraiser and After-hours Celebration.
Where: The Health Museum.
The scoop: Taking the Steampunk theme to heart, guests dressed in styles that mixed the Victorian era's romantic view of science and literature, along with elements from the Industrial Revolution in Europe and post-apocalyptic style. To emphasize the theme, organizers used the name of the gala as an acronym toasting the museum's educational programming.
"The idea came from an incredibly diverse team that we have here at The Health Museum. They're from all ages and ethnic groups and they come up with these amazing ideas that I've never even heard of before," said The Health Museum president Melanie Johnson. "As a leader, my vision is to make sure the event is on mission, so the 'STEAM' in steampunk had to be Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. It fits right into the theme."
Guests in eye-popping costumes milled about the museum, sampling savory culinary treats like mini lamb chops, shrimp cocktail, and beef carpaccio, and tasty libations, including apertifs, wines and such digestifs as Jagermeister, Mextaxa ouzo, and Absente liquor. Eddie V's chef Elias Gonzales and Beyond Bartending owner Dave Baggott explained the scientific finer points of the evening's menu.
A Cosplay costume contest and fashion show drew a large number of contestants, with Stephen Smith, Amy Noble, and Cindi Choi taking top prizes while DJ FXBOXOLMOS spun tunes.
Who: Joining in the fun were event chairDr. William S. Gilmer, Judge Katherine Cabaniss and Dr. Brian Parsley, Cherri Carbonara, Philip Hannel, John Dascoulias, Annette Santamaria, Natalie Cardona, Lori Michelle, Amanda Marie Parker, Christina Nelly, Trudi Hutchings, Ariana Minton and Stephen Minton, Robyn and Steven Kleman, and Ann and Richard Byrd.
Natalie Cardona, Lori Michelle, Amanda Marie Parker, Christina Nelly.
