Big Events
10th Annual ‘Empty Bowls’
Is April 5, Get Tickets Now!
Sponsor: Andrea D. Rockfeller
The 10th annual “Empty Bowls” charity dinner and auction will be held 6-9 p.m. Thursday, April 5, at the Arkansas Foodbank in Little Rock, so the Foodbank is pulling out all the stops.
Empty Bowls X, like previous editions, will feature auctions for arts and crafts by local artists and craftsmen following a “food court” style dinner with dishes prepared and served by chefs from popular local restaurants. It also features artists creating paintings live on the spot that are then auctioned off before the paint can dry. Tickets are $65 and are limited to the first 500 purchasers.
The participating restaurants will prepare such dishes as tableside guacamole from Cantina Laredo, Peck’s Salad from Trios, prime rib by Golden Coral, pasta surprise by Chef Andre, plus a special dish created by the chefs at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion.
All the ingredients for the dinner are being donated by the Performance Food Group of Little Rock, and the chefs and artists donate their time and talent.
Tom Brannon of Today's THV auctioning his own creation: A bowl about Joey the Cat
at last year's "Empty Bowls." Tom emcees again this year!
The emcee for the event will be celebrity host Tom Brannon of “This Morning” on Today’s THV (Channel 11).
The auction, in addition to paintings, sculptures, pottery, woodwork and other items of original art donated by local artists, will include trips, weekend getaways, gift certificates and other valuable items, including:
- A steak dinner, with all the trimmings and wines, for five couples prepared in your home by Shane Henderson, who is the private chef of Ben E. Keith Co. food service products distributors;
- A gift certificate from Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse restaurant, a premier steak house offering the best grades of beef in the world, ranging from dry aged prime natural beef to Australian Wagyu and famed Japanese KOBE beef;
- A large handmade decorative bowl by Gail Miller of the Mud Mill pottery works in Dumas, Arkansas (http://www.millersmudmill.com/). Miller, who has sold pottery at the War Eagle Fair and Craft Show for many years, has developed a faithful following of craft-show junkies and others interested in fine unique handcrafted pottery;
- A round trip airfare for two to a “surprise” destination; and
- A certificate to attend a design learning experience at Tom Chandler of Chandler & Associates, Inc., interior design of Little Rock. The experience includes a trip to the Dallas World Market for decorators, and a tour of exclusive homes with interiors designed by Chandler.
Last year’s event was the first held in the Foodbank’s new warehouse, the Donald W. Reynolds Distribution Center in East Little Rock. The setting is industrial-chic. Last year’s version featured a dinner of favorite dishes prepared by chefs at 14 local restaurants, a silent auction and a live auction. Along with the dozens of items sold at auction, four local artists painted works of art that were sold during the event.
The Foodbank is still accepting sponsorships from businesses that want to support the Foodbank, as well as craft items and art donated to the auction and silent auction. If interested, call Peggy Vickers, events coordinator, at the Arkansas Foodbank at 501-569-4317 or email her at pvickers@arkansasfoodbank.org.
Foodbank CEO Phyllis Haynes said that the 10th anniversary makes this a very special year for Empty Bowls and for the Foodbank as it continues to grow and reach toward its five-year goal of doubling the amount of food aid provided by the Foodbank to hungry Arkansans.
Lauren Clark auctioning a sturdy dog house.
GOLF FOR FOOD
Tom Brannon broadcasts the Helicopter Ball Drop live at the 15th annual "Golf for Food," the Arkansas Foodbank's charity golf tournament at Chenal Country Club, Monday, Aug. 29, 2011.
GOLF FOR FOOD is a great event, plan on joining us for the 16th annual tournament later this year.
OTHER EVENTS TO WATCH FOR: SUMMER CEREAL DRIVE, HUNGER ACTION MONTH IN SEPTEMBER