Wine & Tapas Festival July 21 at the Clarkston Community Center

Chef Lucas Banks

The Clarkston Community Center will host its first Wine & Tapas Festival on Saturday, July 21 from 7-10 p.m. The evening will include a tapas bar (small savory Spanish dishes), a selection of wines, live music, a flamingo dancer and international art on display and for sale. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and will include a glass of wine or soft drink and the tapas bar. The event will be held at the Clarkston Community Center, located at 3701 College Ave. in Clarkston, and proceeds will benefit the Center’s many youth, adult and senior programs.

The chef for the evening will be Chef Lucas Banks, who will attend the event and create a delicious Spanish menu for the guests to enjoy. Chef Banks was educated at Le Cordon Bleu London, and has worked in kitchens on three continents. Over his career he has worked professionally as a restaurant manager, sommelier and catering director. www.chefmisterbanks.com

“We are honored Chef Banks will share his talents with us for our first Wine & Tapas Festival,” said Luay Sami, the Clarkston Community Center’s director of operations and event organizer. “This will be a fun, casual evening, perfect for a date night. We will have additional beverage tickets available for purchase and some fun door prizes for our guests. Sponsorships are also available with benefits including VIP tables, publicity and social media promotion.”

Another special feature will be a performance by Flamenco dancer Ania Bartelmus, “La Candela”. Bartelmus, who lives in Atlanta, received her Flamenco training while living in Seville, Spain. For the past decade, she has performed across the U.S., Switzerland, Poland and Spain. She is a founder and director of La Candela Company, an entertainment firm specializing in Flamenco, jazz and Latin American music.

Tickets may be purchased at www.clarkstoncommunitycenter.org. Companies and individuals interested in sponsoring the Wine & Tapas Festival should contact Cindy Bowden at director@clarkstoncommunitycenter.org.

About the Clarkston Community Center

Established in 1994, the Clarkston Community Center offers programs for children, teens, adults and seniors, centered around education, wellness, art, recreation and community building. The Center serves over 56,000 individuals annually, primarily from Clarkston and greater DeKalb County, Ga., many of whom have immigrated to the United States or are newly-arrived refugees. In addition to classrooms and meeting space, the Clarkston Community Center includes an activity field for sports and recreation, a community garden, private event space, a bicycle shop and a kitchen. Angora Hall, the Center’s renovated auditorium and stage, is available for public rental for parties, weddings and other special events. The Center relies on private donations, corporate support and financial grants to provide its numerous services and programs to the community. The Clarkston Community Center is located at 3701 College Ave. in Clarkston, Ga. For more information, call (404) 508-1050 or visit www.clarkstoncommunitycenter.org