AUGUSTA — The Friends of the Maine State Museum is to host an online party, “We’d Like to Propose a Toast,” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 15.
The one-hour event will combine a mix of history, laughter, anecdotes, important objects from the collection, fascinating facts, and a silent auction. Humorist Gary Crocker will serve as emcee.
This will be an occasion to celebrate Maine anniversaries — including the state’s recent 201st birthday. Although the coronavirus interfered with some Bicentennial commemorations, here is a chance to take a look into the past, support a cultural institution, and have fun doing it.
As part of the toast event, museum curators and educators will share stories about highlights from the collections that are associated with key milestones in the state’s history. Surprise guests from the realms of government and the arts will pop up to make one-of-a-kind toasts.
Crocker will provide a thread through this whirlwind, surprising, and sure-to-be-moving history presentation. And Augusta’s State Lunch restaurant has devised a special cocktail in conjunction with the event.
The Friends of the Maine State Museum works to advocate, increase membership, and expand financial support for the museum, and to offer unique programs for members. This event will have a special impact right now, because the Maine State Museum is temporarily closed in order for mechanical systems to be replaced and new and newly refreshed exhibitions developed.
Staff members are meanwhile actively caring for collections, serving school children and their teachers, and planning new installations and experiences for the future. During the pandemic, both the museum and the Friends have offered live and recorded online events and programs, and they will continue to do so.
Tickets to “We’d Like to Propose a Toast” are available at a standard $25 and Toastmaster price of $150 (a special benefit comes with the latter). The three-item silent auction includes a gold and tourmaline necklace, a quilt by award-winner Wendy Reed, and a four-day getaway at Moose Point Camps on Fish River Lake.
Discover more about the event, buy tickets, bid on auction items, or donate at mainestatemuseum.org/support/toast. For more information, call 207-287-2304.
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