Southwest Florida Forks: aMUSEd at Alliance for the Arts

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is the state-designated arts agency for Lee County, FL.

Recently they had a fundraising event, aMUSEd. A play on words, this event provided amusement through culinary, performance and visual art. There was also a Silent Auction.

A bubbly muse greeted attendees at the door pouring champagne,

and if one wished, they could have their 15 Minutes of Fame (here really 60 seconds) of video shot in a Andy Warhol-inspired studio.

There was a musician serenading a painter.

He must have been quite an inspiration as the finished piece was great.

The silent auction featured a variety of items. From comedy and art,

to travel

to Fort Myers-related fashion and events among others.

As attendees enjoyed more of the visual arts and libations,

bidding on the silent auction began.

In between all of this were the "muses". Here was one,

and another,

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as well as one that was modeled after the Greek Muse, Terpsichore, but had her Lyre on her head instead of holding it.

What was really cool was the aerialist who showed up in a Catsuit

and did her aerialist thing.

There was even a muse in the washroom.

Performance art followed,

and more music. The FGCU kazoo band played All You Need Is Love.

A number of culinary artists also contributed to the event. The Nauti Mermaid at the

Westin at Cape Coral made tea-smoked scallops with Serrano pepper, Star Fruit and a corn chowder topping.

Cafe Toscano served Crostini topped with Soprasetta and Stracciata cheese,

in addition to an interesting take on spaghetti and meatballs.

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The Pawnbroker made a pan-seared salmon fillet with cinammon pecan-brown sugar butter.

Cafe Napoli made a really good skewered tenderloin wrapped with bacon, served with a pineapple/cilantro slaw and finished with a red Tomatillo sauce. Really really good.