Rhinebeck Science Foundation

RSF Second Annual Spring Celebration
Silent Auction

A Kentucky Derby Party
Honoring IBM

Saturday, May 1, 2010
Grasmere Estate
29 Mill Rd., Rhinebeck
5pm - 9pm

Browse this year's deluxe Silent Auction items here on the Web and be ready to bid, mint julep in hand.

Food & Wine

• New Orleans native Ryan Viator lets the good times roll with an authentic Cajun cooking lesson and dinner in your home. Gators not included.
• Joe and Jenn Dalu invite 2 lucky romantics for dinner at Le Petit Bistro. Savor the restaurant's elegant French cuisine or sample dishes from the delicious daily specials.
• You can rock the casbah right here in Rhinebeck at a pool party and Lebanese BBQ for 10 at the gracious home of Jen and Ali Hammoud. Traditional dishes and drinks are provided set against the stunning vistas.
• Chef Tim Callahan (of Libby McKee fame) brings the party on home! Tim will plan, shop for, and prepare a fabulous buffet dinner for 10 people in your home.
• Visions of the Amalfi coast materialize during lunch for 2 on the terrace at GiGi's Trattoria. Gift certificate includes a signed copy of chef/owner Laura Pensiero's tantalizing book Hudson Valley Mediterranean.
• "Very local, very good" honey from the heart of Rhinebeck is great to drizzle on pancakes, muffins or fresh fruits of the season.
• It may be hard to decide which restaurant to choose from with a gift certificate for dinner for 4 at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America.
• A selection of bottles from The Wine Merchant may open up your palate to undiscovered flavors and destinations.
• Picnic season is here with a basket of specialty cheeses and meats from Boar's Head fill a basket that is a ready-to-go picnic on any busy weeknight.

Fine Art & Books

• Collection of 10 contemporary photography books hand chosen by Dana Hoey
• Local artist James Ransome offers a selection of his works including a framed "Patchwork Quilt" print, an original watercolor, and 3 children's silkscreens.
• Children's book authors Lesa Cline-Ransome and James Ransome's wonderful illustrated storybooks are writtten for children and for the young at heart.
• Staff picks from the charming Merritt Bookstore in Millbrook and Red Hook are a great way to get a jump on summer reading.
• A signed poster from James Gurney, local author and illustrator of the fantastical Dinotopia children's book series, will delight dinophiles of all ages.
• Brush & ink drawing (81/2" x 11") by Bill Ayton
• Rhinebeck's James Stevenson captures the essence of a Hudson Valley moment in his atmospheric local landscapes. Oil on canvas.
• Edie Miedav's novel of wartime memories, Crawl Space signed by the author.
• Signed children's books by local author Susanna Hill.

Health & Beauty

• Get out of busy downtown Rhinebeck for a "Rest and Relaxation" weekend at Omega Institute — the perfect place to unwind and find your inner serenity.
• Treat yourself to a brand new style or just perfect the one you have with a cut-wash-style with Dea Russel of Xanadu Hair Studio at Montgomery Place in Rhinebeck.
• Get in shape for the summer using 2 family gym and pool passes at Bard's Stevenson Gym.
• Be heart healthy with a stress echocardiogram by Dr. Ali Hammoud at Cardiology Consultants in Kingston.
• Pilates can firm and tone, but is also fun with group mat classes by Sharon Cook in Rhinebeck. 2 sets of three classes and you'll be in a bikini in no time.
• Polish and buff the day away with a manicure from Le's Nails in Rhinebeck.
• You'll spend a peaceful day away from stress with a Day at Haven spa package, including a gift basket of beauty products.

Services

• Keep your engine running smoothly with a year's worth of oil changes from J & J Auto.
• A breath of fresh spring air wafts through your house with 2 two-hour all-natural cleaning sessions from Denise Sullivan.
• The cold weather will be upon us soon enough--have a cord of seasoned firewood delivered right to your door by Martin Clarke.
• Your coach awaits you when DeFile Transportation tours a group of 10 people throughout Dutchess County's sights, wine tours, or house tours. A van is reserved for 5 hours within the county limits.
• Landscape designer Sheila Moloney gives you a green thumbs up with a personal consultation on your garden, including a soil analysis and plantings list.
• Janet Stetson, Assoc Director of Admissions at Bard, can help a rising junior or senior student with their college application process with a one hour counseling session that covers essay writing, interviewing info, follow-up checklists and more.
• Cast off a new hobby with knitting lessons by Jaclyn Savolainen. A series of 3 lessons teaches basic of knitting.
• A favorite poem, song, blessing or quotation will be artistically written and framed by local calligrapher Jaclyn Savolainen.

Adventures & Outings

• Slam dunk your way into 2 courtside seats to an upcoming NY Knicks game next season at Madison Square Garden in NYC.
• You can be wearing away the greens on the links at Wiltwyck Golf Club in Kingston. Four 9-hole golf passes will get your swing into shape.
• Summer evenings at Bard are truly special. A set of tickets to Summerscape includes events at the Spiegeltent, "The Three-Penny Opera" and "The Distant Sound" all on Bard's gracious campus.
• Limber up your tennis elbow with lessons or merchandise from the pro shop at Rhinebeck Tennis Club.
• After a trio of riding lessons at Hidden Hollow Farm in Milan, you'll be riding high in the saddle!
• Get away to it all for the perfect West Village weekend.
• A one-month membership to Rhinebeck Karate will introduce you to the enlightening world of martial arts.
• 2 Summer Mountain Adventure park passes at Jiminy Peak resort in Hancock Mass, includes Alpine Slide, rock climbing wall, super swing and more.

Merchandise

• Leah Stickle uses retro fabrics to create her unique and stylish Go Monkey accessories like this one-of-a-kind weekend tote.
• A gift certificate to Paper Trail in Rhinebeck will ensure that you bring home something wonderful from their elegant and amusing items such as stationery, cards, soaps, jewelry and decorations.
• Handmade linen hand towels from Sarah Derbyshire give a splash of color in any powder room.
• White pine, balsam, blue spruce--you can choose the kind and size and cut your own tree from Battenfeld's Christmas Tree Farm.
• A pair of supermodel chic sunglasses from Rhinebeck Eye Care will have you looking cool and hot!
• Pick up some new cook's tools, glassware or cookbooks with a gift certificate from Rhinebeck's new kitchen accessories store, bluecashew Kitchen Pharmacy.
• Exotic jewels from the East: a set of Mystic Topaz bracelet and earrings from Gallery Lodoe lend a sheen to any occasion.