GHAC Throws A Red Hot Big Red For The Arts Party

Cathy Malloy and her Greater Hartford Arts council throws a heck of a bash.

That was the consensus of the hundreds  who attended the GHAC’s annual Big Red For The Arts fundraiser Thursday at The Society Room in Hartford. And as the GHAC’s new CEO, Malloy, wife of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, proved it’s not who you know but what you know when it comes to arranging a party. (For more pictures go to http://cour.at/wovbTo )

“It is new to me and I am excited as the new kid on the block,” admitted a svelte Malloy, decked out in red for the event benefiting the council and its work. “I’m still getting used to things but it all seems to be going well.”

The evening included a dine-around with foods from various downtown Hartford restaurants and wines and beers from assorted distributors. Among the star power when it came to wine was Jerry Bensinger, a partner in Bensinger Family Winery of Ridgefield, who was pouring everything from the family’s Russian River Sauvignon Blanc to Tribute Bordeaux Blend.

“I love these kinds of things,” said Hartford resident Moira Johnson as she waited for her glass to be filled. “There is something elegant and sophisticated about getting a little dressed up and then sampling good wines and foods,” she said. “And knowing it is benefiting the arts is the something special thrown in for good measure.”

Besides an array of who’s who in the Hartford arts world ranging from the Wadsworth’s Susan Talbott to well-known arts philanthropist Claire Pryor, there was some additional star power, Gov. Malloy, who also attended (okay, so maybe it is a little about who you know!)

So that begged the question about separation of partying (the fun kind) and politics, especially for the assorted lobbyists who were also part of the crowd.

“Nope, this is just pleasure,” asserted Carroll Hughes, executive director of the Connecticut Package Stores Association. Hughes, in the midst of the proposed Sunday liquor sales legislation battle, said he had no plans to discuss the near and dear to his heart issue with the guv while at the party. “But if he brings it up, well, that would be different,” Hughes grinned.

New to the event this year was a VIP wine tasting for those who were willing to pay an additional $50 for their tickets to the event.

“This was my Valentine’s Day present,” said Jill Staron, a Manchester resident whose pre-party ticket was a surprise from her date for the evening. “I don’t know a lot about wine but it’s kind of fun to be a VIP for the night,” said Staron, modeling a cherry red satin sheath. “And it was a reason to buy this new dress.

For more pictures from  the GHAC Big Red For the Arts party, go to http://cour.at/wovbTo