DBDA hits the bricks with new funding plan
By Frank Ruggiero
ruggiero@wataugademocrat.com

One could call it the event that will make the Downtown Boone Development Association locally famous.
Others could call it the Local Celebrity Auction.

Boone’s finest will face the auction block at a Dec. 6 fundraiser for the benefit of the DBDA’s public art program.

With Gol! Express on Howard Street as the setting, a $15 in advance and $20 at the door ticket will earn partygoers a glass of wine from Earth Fare to complement the Brazilian hors d’oeuvres from Gol. For dessert: the jazzy tunes of Banana da Terra.

Throughout the fundraiser, which lasts from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., local celebrities – more specifically, their talents – will be auctioned to the masses, with High Country United Way director Jenny Miller serving as auctioneer.

Miller will auction the likes of Bill “Fish” Fisher of Mountain Television Network, who’ll offer a winner the opportunity to co-host a show, as well as extension agent Wendy Patoprsty, who offers an interpretive biology hike.

Other celebrities include John Mena of Haircut 101, the winner of whom receives a makeover with foil, highlight, wash cut and dry services, and Walsh Sisoukrath of Cha Da Thai, who’ll offer a “Taste of Thailand” dinner party.

“A lot of times, people do a bachelor auction,” DBDA assistant director Mary Baker said, “but I thought we could do more than that. We thought it would be interesting to get some famous faces from Boone and the area involved.”

Though Fisher, Mena and Sisoukrath represent a live auction in its most literal sense, attendees can bid for prizes of a more inanimate nature, such as a complimentary dinner for two at Gol.

Baker said the celebrities and their associated talents are ideal for small parties and holiday presents, and all proceeds directly benefit the public art program, the most recent development of which can be seen in front of Boone Town Hall.

With two statues already installed, the DBDA plans to extend the public area to create street gardens with a sitting area. Another plan will see a gateway established on the western end of downtown Boone, near the county human services complex.

Further down the road, Baker said the DBDA plans to start blazing a heritage mural trail through downtown Boone, which would lead tourists on a mapped tour of murals in their various locales, “all of which will incorporate a heritage theme, tying into the different overall themes of downtown Boone and Watauga County.”

This also poses an opportunity for business or building owners with large, blank walls.

“The DBDA can help them,” Baker said. “If they don’t know quite about the theme, we could find material, and we have plenty of resources to help them work through that. In addition, we can help them find an artist.”

For these projects, though, the DBDA is relying on businesses and the community to literally pave the way.

To raise funds, the DBDA is selling personalized brick pavers to be installed in walking areas at the town hall street gardens.

Executive director Tuesdae Rice appeared before the Boone Town Council at its Nov. 15 meeting to seek approval for the project, and she told how the city of Lenoir successfully held such a fundraiser.

Bricks could be personalized with three lines of 20 characters each, Rice said, adding that the DBDA would purchase the bricks as orders and deposits from area businesses and individuals come in.

The council approved of the fundraiser, and council member Lynne Mason said she’d like to see the theme incorporated into the eventual upgrading of Howard Street. Council member Rennie Brantz said, “I like the whole concept because it personalizes the [downtown] area.”

For more information, contact the Downtown Boone Development Association at (828) 262-4532. Tickets to the Local Celebrity Auction are available for purchase by cash or check only at the DBDA office, located at 736 West King St.