YWCA Lincoln’s Martini Tasting Shakes Things Up at the Sheldon

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YWCA Lincoln is hosting its fourth-annual Shakin’ Things Up Martini Party this Friday, March 11, at the Sheldon Museum of Art from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. The event will feature professional bartenders from local bars competing to make the most delicious martini with all proceeds going to several different YWCA programs that help to empower women and eliminate racism in the Lincoln community.

Event goers can look forward to enjoying six martini tasters and appetizers and the possibility of winning several door prizes as well.

Megan Charko, volunteer chair of the event, spoke about what attendees can expect at the fundraiser.

“Guests will be able to enjoy a beautiful view of campus from the Sheldon Museum of Art, while enjoying winter wonderland themed martinis prepared by five local hot spots. This is a friendly competition every year for some of the local bars to be creative and show people what their bar can bring to the table while helping the YWCA Lincoln. Not only do people get to enjoy the martinis but also delicious appetizers and cookies.”

Joining this year’s lineup are Grata Lounge and MARZ among returning participants Zen’s Lounge, Red9 and last year’s winner, Starlite Lounge.

The event has featured a variety of flavors over the last three years including winners like passion fruit martini, Asian pineapple martini and Hawaiian cosmopolitan. Other flavors entered included cherrytini, grata grape ade, moonflower, pineapple passion, pineapple Crème brûlée, chocolate strawberry, tamarini lemonado and several others. This year’s winner will take home a large martini glass trophy engraved with ‘Best Martini 2011.’

This is the first year the event will be held at the Sheldon as it has previously been held at the Lied Center for the last three years. Charko explains the reason for the move:

“We thought it would be fun to switch up the event location and have a different atmosphere,” she said. “Our event has been growing so much every year that we needed to move the event to a place that could accommodate more guests. The guests are getting another view of the beautiful UNL campus and they are able to also enjoy the beautiful art that is currently on display at the Sheldon Art Museum.”

Charko said attendance for the event has doubled every year, and that last year, there were 250 people that came out to show their support for YWCA. The event has proven to be very successful for the organization and has garnered a great reputation amidst the community as well, according to Charko.

“We have received a lot of positive feedback about this event. Every time someone comes to the event they make the special efforts to come again the following year and to bring their friends. People love to come to this as it is a fun event to attend with a group of friends while showing their support for the YWCA Lincoln.”

Shakin’ Things Up will benefit YWCA Lincoln programs like En Pointe Dance Academy, the SMART Girls Club, Take a Break, Leadership and Public Service Institute and the Job Outfitters program. The evening will feature hors d’oeuvres catered by Tastefully Yours and cookies made by Cindy Fiala. The beverage sponsor for the evening is SKYY vodka in conjunction with Meier’s Cork & Bottle.
     
Tickets are $35 and can be ordered here.