One of the highlights of our annual Gala is sharing a cocktail with our bedazzled or bow-tied friends during our legendary Silent Auction. With a little creativity, a few hors d’oeuvres, a favorite beverage, and an app like Zoom, you can host a fantastic Cocktail Hour before we “go live” at 6:00 PM.

★ Here are a few ideas to make your Cocktail Hour extra special ★

Make a signature cocktail. A simple way to elevate your happy hour is by making an elegant drink. Get everyone on board with a simple recipe and make it together. You can vote on who styled theirs the prettiest and who tweaked the recipe the best.

Dress to impress. It’s time to take the sparkles out of the closet, to dust of the tux, and to put on those once-year-shoes!

Hire a local musician to play a private concert. Live music can make a night at the bar so much more fun — and the same thing applies to virtual happy hours. If you’d like help booking an artist, please contact us.

"Visit" a gallery or museum. You and your friends can share a screen while you tour one and chat about your last visit there - or discover new works of art.

Make some art. Grab some pens, markers, colored pencils, or whatever art supplies you have and do an art project while you chat with your guests. You can all attempt to make the same thing or you can each work on individual projects while you chat. Here are a few ideas from our #StayAtHome Art Challenge.

Ask each other questions. Use this time to get to know your (even best) friends better. Simply look up a list of fun conversation starters, pour a drink, and take turns presenting your answers.