Howard County Library System Fundraiser Going Virtual, Feb. 27

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. – Howard County Library System invites those from near and far to discover the magic of Italian cuisine and culture during an interactive online fundraising event.

Serata Virtuale | Evening in the Stacks – taking place Saturday, Feb. 27, from 7 to 9 p.m. – will virtually transport guests to Italy while they stay safe at home. Highlights include

• Cooking demos with Chef Francesca from Agriturismo Diacceroni in Tuscany and a chef from La Prima Catering (Maryland),
• Winetasting experiences with Lillo from Tenuta Toriciano in Tuscany and a representative from The Wine Bin (Ellicott City),
• Truffle hunting in Tuscany, and
• An after party with the band, Tarantica, in Sissi di Matera (Italy's Basilicata region).

While whetting their appetites during the tours, guests can enjoy Italian cuisine and wine (with pickup and delivery options) from Howard County proprietors, Tino’s Italian Bistro, Aida Bistro & Wine Bar La Prima Catering and The Wine Bin. Adding to the fun will be a wine and Tuscan beverage pull, as well as presentations from the following authors:

• Juliet Grames – Italian-American author whose books include The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna
• Pauline Frommer – Editorial director of the Frommer’s guides
• Adriana Trigiani – Italian American fiction and nonfiction author

“The Library has made it a priority to provide creative ways for the community to keep learning, stay informed, feel less isolated and be more connected safely during a global pandemic. Taking our signature Evening in the Stacks event virtual is a natural extension of this,” said Tonya Aikens, president & CEO of Howard County Library System.

“Having been confined to our homes for most of the past year, it’s our pleasure to give people the chance to virtually venture out and enjoy themselves while helping the Library continue to offer programs to assist the most vulnerable among us,” she added.

Event proceeds will support hands-on STEM, art & literacy learning activity kits for students K-12, and access to Chromebooks and hotspots for Howard County residents without internet access. Tickets – at $55 or $175/person based on the experience level and $275/couple – are available for purchase at http://hclibrary.org/stacks.

About Howard County Library System
An award-winning system, Howard County Library System is a national Five Star Library System, a ranking by Library Journal for delivering excellence in education. HCLS consistently earns the highest five-star ranking, which is attained by fewer than one percent of public libraries in the U.S., and is the only library system in Maryland to do so. In 2013, HCLS won Library of the Year, a prestigious recognition from among the 21,000 public and academic libraries in North America. The recipient most profoundly demonstrates creativity, leadership and innovation. For more information, visit http://hclibrary.org.