Susan Haugenes — pictured here jamming with hyperlocal luminaries The Haven — entertains during a Tuesday night Wine Tasting Benefit for the Red Bank Public Library. (Photo by Kim Levin)
It was about a year ago that the nonprofit Foundation for the Red Bank Public Library — in an effort to re-stabilize the beleaguered biblioteque during a challenging interlude in its long history — uncorked a fundraising vehicle of rare and winning vintage: a Wine Tasting Benefit that paired the holiday-season recommendations of Rumson’s own “Cork Maven” Kristi Nero with the complementary curd suggestions of Cheese Cave proprietor Stephen Catania.
On Tuesday, November 11, the festive sounds of popping and pouring will reverberate throughout the normally hushed corners of the historic Eisner Library building, when the Wine Tasting event returns for a second annual edition. Scheduled to run between 7 and 9:30 pm, the event will spotlight a selection of Faustini Wines from the winery’s Red Bank tasting room, in happy partnership with artisanal cheeses from the borough-based Cave. Also on hand will be hors d’oeuvres, sweets, a 50/50 raffle and locally sourced live music.
The in-house tunes on this most unquiet of RBPL nights will be furnished by bluesy chanteuse Susan Haugenes, with the moonlighting VP of the Lunch Break board of trustees (who’s also been known to dress as Jazzy the Giraffe in the kindie-rock combo Miss Sherri and the Little Animal Band) teaming up with John O’Neill for what can only be described as the ultimate Tuesday night “booking.”
Tickets for the November 11 benefit are $50 per person (21 and older please), and can be reserved right here, or by calling (732)673-4384.