If you’ve read the novel or watched the movie ” ” it probably scared you. A drink by the same name, however, put smiles on many faces at Cocktails for a Cure.
An based on Ira Levin’s 1967 novel begins on May 11, and maybe’s that’s what inspired Jeff Sydow, a mixologist from , when he named the beverage he would be pouring the night 400 women assembled at the McNichols Civic Center Building for this benefit for the .
His “Rosemary’s Baby” was a mix of tequila, yellow chartreuse, green chartreuse, house-made sweet and sour and fresh raspberries served in a double old-fashioned glass.
With a sprig of fresh rosemary for garnish.
Cocktails for a Cure was chaired by Kasia Iwaniczko MacLeod, Marti Awad and Megan Fearnow, and the $150,000 that was raised goes to programs that advance research and treatment programs pertaining to women’s cancers.
Former Denver Bronco Brian Griese, who was 12 years old when his mother succumbed to breast cancer, was master of ceremonies. “I was angry when my mom died; angry that it was 1988 and there still wasn’t a cure for this disease,” Griese said. Twenty-six years have passed, he added, “And I still have not lost my passion” for finding a cure.
MacLeod said it gives her great pleasure to see Cocktails for a Cure grow “From a $13,000 event to a $150,000 event” in just five years, thanks to help from sponsors like , , , and the , which matched the evening’s proceeds for an unprecedented third year.
In addition to “Rosemary’s Baby,” this year’s cocktails included “Down the Rabbit Hole,” from Allison Anderson of ; “Green Pair,” poured by James Leeof ; the “Geri Halliwell,” a spicy little number from Gerard Collier of ; and “Pear-ly Legal,” so titled because Jimmy Zanon of paired St. George’s Breaking & Entering Bourbon with St. George’s spiced pear liqueur, honey syrup, lemon juice and whiskey bitters. Also, sommelier Chris Bates offered wines from .
Such committee members as Brandis Becky Pelletier, Barbara Brooks, Michelle Parmelee, Jenny Salimi, Amy Bittner, Ania Iwaniczko and Jenny Scholes were there to help welcome guests who included Kathy Odle Kortz, Arlene Hirschfeld, Evi Makovsky, Gaye Leonard, Caz Matthews, Debbie Welle-Powell, Leanna Clark, Angela DellaSalle, Kathy Klugman, Jerilynn Bensard and Megan Calvert.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@ denverpost.com or twitter.com/joannedavidson
Online: More pictures from this event denverpost.com/seengallery
Hoops & Hoopla
National Jewish Health raised $100,000 at its 11th HOOPS & Hoopla , a basketball-themed benefit held at Sports Authority Field. Joanne Davidson has details in the Mile High Style blog: blogs.denverpost.com/style
