The Night on the Town in Mineola was as advertised, a night of sampling fine cuisine and wines while bidding on collectibles – particularly sports collectibles – to raise funds for TeamFox, Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Disease Foundation and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Jericho Terrace was a cornucopia of dishes from more than 20 restaurants in the area, including PIccola Bussola, Churrasqueria Bairrada, the Heart of Portgual, La Marmite and, of course, Jericho Terrace, along with city eateries including Becco’s and City Cellar.
The tone was set by the big band and pop sound of NHY’s Most Dangerous Band. There was also Joey B., the man of a thousand voices.
But the point of the evening were the hundreds of area residents who showed up to sample the tasty wares from Picocola Bussola, Churrasqueria, La Marmite and the others – and the thousands of dolloars they put up for the Fox Foundation and Leukemia.
The final count was nearly $20,000 for each organization, according to Tony Lubrano, owner of Piccola Bussola, who teamed up with Harry Zapiti to revive the charity event. Tickets were $75 per person for advance sales and $90 at the door and Lubrano estimated that 400 people attended.
Flyers for the event touted a special guest who wasn’t up to making the trip on May 18.
“The original plan was that if Michael J. Fox felt up to it, he’d attend the event.” Lubrano said.
Originally, Zapiti had held the event to benefit the Corpus Christi Church, which closed last year. The St. Aidan School wasn’t interested, Lubrano said, so the event was on hiatus.
Zapiti, a tireless auctioneer, drove deals for baseballs siigned by Tom Seaver and a litany of other memorabilia.
In a room off the main hall where Zapiti was pitching things, one genuine celebrity was on hand signing autographs: Art Shamsky of the 1969 Amazin’ Mets.
Lubrano said he and Zapiti started putting the event together last February.
Zapiti is chief financial officer for Legacy Builders.
“This has a dual purpose: to raise funds for two worthy causes and it’s a serious way to bring the community together,” Mineola Trustee Paul Pereira said.
Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss said, “It’s good to see your neighbor in a social environment.”
Lubrano said this year’s objective was to make sure the event raise money – and looked good doing it.
“Our goal was two-part in this. One was to raised as much money as possible and to make it look as successful as possible,” Lubrano said.
