Board member and Bay Village Citizen of the Year Pete Winzig, Kathy Winzig, George and Pam Sehringer, John McDonnell and Di DeRubba helped “Light up the Night” for BAYarts.

BAYarts shines at fourth annual ‘Light up the Night’
By Cynthia Schuster-Eakin
Insights
Published Oct. 14, 2009

BAYarts, a shining example of community involvement and support for the arts on Cleveland’s west shore, had an opportunity to sparkle recently.

“Light up the Night,” the fourth annual benefit party, put the spotlight on the lakeside arts organization when it attracted more than 500 guests to its Bay Village location.

BAYarts is located in the Huntington Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks, a site it shares with other cultural and educational institutions.

“This is like a big campus, with BAYarts, Huntington Playhouse and the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center,” BAYarts Gallery Coordinator Eileen Stockdale noted. “You can even practice yoga on Huntington Beach.”

The goal of BAYarts is to provide a lakeside environment to stimulate and support professional and aspiring artists of all ages. Many of the center’s teachers come from Cleveland’s east side and from as far west as Oberlin, according to BAYarts Executive Director Nancy Heaton.

Restaurateurs from all around the city donated their talents to make the Sept. 26 fundraiser a success.

Participants manning food stations throughout the tented party area included: Chef Jonathan Guest, 87 West at Crocker Park; Chef Rocco Whalen, Fahrenheit; Chef Matt Harlan, Bar Symon; Chef Shawn Cline, Blue Point Grille; Chef Nolan Konkoski, Tartine Bistro; Di DeRubba, proprietor of Vento la Trattoria; Chef Scott Totten and Chef Tommy Wachter of Great Scott’s Bakery; and Chef Megan Pigg of Sweet Melissa’s. Great Lakes Brewing Company provided beer.

The band Blue Lunch played background music, while guests shopped a silent auction of items donated by area artists. A highlight of the evening was the raffle of a $1,000 gift certificate to Vivid Jewelers, located in Bay Village.