The Dining with Friends finale party was held Saturday night at Charleston Maritime Center. The red carpet was rolled out literally, with torches aligning the sidewalks making for a grand entrance. As I walked into the first tent, I felt like one of the kids in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There were desserts everywhere. Tables were overflowing with cupcakes, chocolate-covered strawberries, cookies; the list goes on and on. The champagne tent was a huge hit and always packed (but never a line). The power went out in this tent for a few seconds and you would have thought the tent had been struck by lighting with the loud gasp that filled the air. Power was resumed and all was well in dessert land.
The crowd was growing by the hour with people coming in from more than 80 parties with themes ranging from black tie to backyard barbecues that were hosted all over town. Guests brought donations for Lowcountry AIDS Services and enjoyed a great dinner with friends.
By George Events principal George Hill, who I call the hardest working women in Charleston, put on this spectacular event. When I bumped into to her, she was gracious as always, but had little time to chat as she worked to ensure that every detail was perfect.
Dining with Friends is the longest running fundraiser in the Lowcountry. It supports the non-profit Lowcountry Aids Services, which is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for persons living with HIV/AIDS and providing prevention resources and programs for Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties in South Carolina.
