Old Hotel Art Gallery benefit auction this Saturday

OTHELLO — The Old Hotel Art Gallery will be holding its annual benefit auction on Saturday, Oct. 19.

The theme this year is a Hawaiian luau. The menu will consist of pulled pork from Smokin’ Wood BBQ, Annette’s famous dinner rolls, Hawaiian fried rice, a variety of salads including ambrosia salad, pasta salad and corn salad and sweet breads.

“Most of the food has something to do with a luau theme,” said Jenn Stevenson, director of the Old Hotel Art Gallery.

There will also be assorted wines and beers.

Up for auction this year are a variety of items.

“Some of the cool items that we have are a getaway to the Coeur d’Alene Resort,” Stevenson said.

There are two packages to the resort — a spa package and a golf package. Each package comes with a nights stay, dining credits and more. There is also a whale cruise tour up for auction.

Returning to the auction again is the pie-a-month for a year, by Diana Brault, Old Hotel Art Gallery board president.

“People come every year, knowing this is up for grabs,” Stevenson said.

According to Stevenson, the bidding on the pies is fierce. Employees of local businesses will pool money and bid to get the pies for their office.

“It’s a big competition,” Stevenson said.

Another popular item is the Reichert’s Showhouse big bucket of popcorn with tickets to movies and concessions.

“There are only two times it comes out,” Stevenson said.

Reichert’s only donates this item to the Old Hotel Art Gallery and the Othello High School Music Boosters.

Other items up for auction include an Asian dinner for four couples by Rob and Shelia Simmons and a prime rib dinner for four couples on the Abraham Lincoln, provided by Classic Grilling.

“We also have a big gift certificate to Cave B Winery and Resort,” Stevenson said.

There will also be beef from Sunny Farms, jerky from TLC Meats, art, antiques and gift certificates and items from local businesses.

“We get a lot of support from local businesses,” Stevenson said. “We can’t survive without them.”

This dinner and auction is the only fundraiser that the Old Hotel Art Gallery does throughout the year. The proceeds from the event helps maintain the historic building and property.

“It was the first auction that Othello did,” Stevenson said. “If you went home before 10 p.m., something was wrong. They got all gussied up. Now people dress up to the theme.”

Over the past few years, themes included the ’50s, the Kentucky Derby and a masquerade.

“It’s a week or two before Halloween,” Stevenson said. “It’s fun to dress to the occasion.”

The Hawaiian buffet and silent auction will start at 6 p.m., with the live auction at 7:30 p.m. Booker Auction are the auctioneers. The benefit auction will take place at RDO Equipment, 1415 S First Ave. in Othello. General admission is $20 and $18 for seniors.

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at rpinkerton@suntribunenews.com.