Guests were dancing in their seats at the Napa Valley Opera House on opening night, October 3, 2009, thanks to Pink Martini’s performance and the “Shaken, Not Stirred” spirit of the evening. Over $250,000 was raised to fund the opera house’s operational costs, most of which came from the auction that featured once-in-a-lifetime packages such as glass blowing in Seattle with Dale Chihuly, a guided photographic adventure in Cuba, and trips to Italy and France.
Event chair Usha Burns wore a pink vintage gown from Torso, and procured pink martini patterned cumberbunds and ties from Vineyard Vines for 11 of the men. Also pretty in pink, and among the pink, were Gretchen de Baubigny, Pepper Jackson, Joanne Horning, Anne Marie Massocca and Barbara Mulcare.