Wine & dine for the arts

You don’t need to be an ardent culture-vulture to have an enjoyable winter’s Sunday afternoon of clinking glasses and savoring nibblies with the Okaloosa Arts Alliance.

Arts lovers of all strengths of artsy-fartsiness, from collectors of black velvet Elvis paintings to people who can tell their Matisse from their Monet, will join hosts Tom and Peggy Rice at their Magnolia Grill restaurant on Jan. 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. to sample an assortment of wines and indulge in an array of gourmet hors d’oeuvres.

The OAA’s annual Wine & Hors d’Oeuvres Reception is more than just a fun chance to socialize with fellow arts supporters from throughout the region. It’s also a major fund-raiser for the county’s non-profit arts organization. Money raised by toasting and tasting joins funding from diverse sources to fund a variety of arts programs throughout the county.

The county’s official arts organization, OAA derives its funding from sources including the sale of the “State of the Arts” license plate in Okaloosa County and from the Florida Department of State–Division of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The OAA uses the money to help fund visual and performing arts events in county schools, by community arts groups and by individual performers and artists.

Tickets to the OAA Wine & Hors d’Oeuvres Reception are $15 each or two for $25. For those who prefer non-alcoholic beverages, a variety of soft drinks will be available. The Magnolia Grill is located in old Fort Walton Beach at 157 Brooks St. For further information, e-mail info@okaloosaarts.org.