PRINCETON, NJ.- On Saturday, January 31, 2009, more than 300 guests enjoyed the Friends of the Princeton University Art Museum premier annual fundraising event, the Greco-Roman themed gala, AMUSEMENT. This year’s gala drew its inspiration from a Roman mosaic in the museum ’ s collection of ancient art, which depicts a drinking contest between Herakles, the mythological hero, and Dionysos, the god of wine.

The evening began with a cocktail reception at the art museum where guests enjoyed pear bellini ’ s and an assortment of hors d ’ oeuvres, while listening to the music of Alison Simpson, harpist. A standout attraction was Mini Masters, an exhibition featuring local schoolchildren ’ s artwork inspired by the museum ’ s collections. Dinner guests then proceeded to Prospect House, which had been transformed into a palace of the Caesars. A beautiful pergola greeted guests in the rotunda, while Classical statuary, grape vines and greenery, set against Aegean blue tablecloths, completed the elegant d é cor. The menu featured a Greek salad with roasted baby heirloom tomatoes, grilled cipollini onions, cucumbers, baby artichokes, kalamata olives, Greek feta, micro arugula, followed by a sumptuous Braised Lamb Shank with gigantes bean puree, oven dried tomatoes, baby fennel, and asparagus, and a Poached Pear filled with mascarpone then dipped in chocolate ganache and coated with a pistachio crust. The music of the Franklin and Alison orchestra encouraged many guests to dance the night away.

This magnificent evening was made possible by a group of talented volunteers led by cochairs Trudy Borenstein-Sugiura and Vanessa LaFranco. Many thanks go to Committee Chairs Tim Andrews, Heather Atkinson, Maureen Barna, Susan Barosko, Brice Batchelor-Hall, Regina Brett, Kary Clancy, Sandhya Dawar, Heidi Dreyfuss, Gayle Fiabane, Nina Golder, Carol Hanson, Mary Heilner, Glenda Hughes, Milly King, Liz Murray, Betsy Sauder, Alice St. Claire-Long, Samuel Stovall, Nancy Woelk, and Robert Zatta; to the museum staff; and to Inez Scribner and the Friends ’ Board for support of this important fund raising event.

Special thanks go to event underwriters Alpharma, Inc., Bloomberg L.P., Munich Re America, PNC Wealth Management, Mr. and Mrs. William C. Powers, and Tyco International. Through the combined generosity of our sponsors, patrons, and gala attendees, the museum raised more than $33,000 in support of the Department of Education and Academic Programs, which strives to serve a diverse public through quality educational programs.


Photographs of the gala are available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35203746@N08/