Gala: Bourbon & Bond

The KSO links Kentucky spirits with a dash of espionage on Saturday, April 22, as it moves its annual gala to a secret, abandoned riverfront hideout for Bourbon & Bond.

The plan

The rendezvous begins with a 6 p.m. VIP cocktail hour (“For Your Eyes Only”) in the former IMAX theater at Newport on the Levee. More guests arrive at 7 p.m. for a “Thunderball” that will span three levels of the IMAX complex with live musicians, video, food, drink, dancing and silent auction. The KSO Boogie Band will take agents on a romp through the title tracks of James Bond films in the theater, after which a smooth jazz combo offers Austin Powers-inspired “shagadelic” instrumentals of the ’60s & ’70s in the theater’s Cabaret Lounge. A strolling violinist, a harpist and video jockey will also be on the evening’s entertainment menu.

Synchronize timepieces
– 6:00: “For Your Eyes Only” VIP reception and bourbon tasting
– 7:00: Cocktails & silent auction
– 7:30: Dinner by the bite courtesy of Levee restaurants
– 8:15: Music of James Bond, raffle drawing and live auction
– 9:15: Groovy ’60s & ’70s instrumental in the cabaret
– 9:45: Dancing/party continues with music videos on all levels

* Reserved seating for VIP and Table Sponsors only

Unclassified intel: Each season the KSO gala raises significant gap funding to support both the orchestra’s annual free concerts for regional schools and summer concerts in Devou Park.

Your mission: Infiltrate the former IMAX theater April 22 with your significant operative. Bid high and often on both live and silent auctions, fraternize, dine, dance and sneak out having had a great time.

Dress: Black tie recommended. (It’s Bond!)

Raffle opportunities

Pappy Van Winkle Raffle
– $50 per chance
– Prize: Rare bottle of Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23 Year Bourbon.
Provided by the Party Source.
“The World is Not Enough” Raffle
– $20 per chance
– Prize: Go undercover for a week at any of more than 7,300 RCI locations around the world. Whether
you prefer the Rockies or the Swiss Alps, Miami or Monte Carlo, Los Angeles or London, it’s your choice.
Provided by Linda and Hartmut Geisselbrecht.

By the bite

The KSO thanks these restaurants at Newport on the Levee for generously providing dinner by the bite:

Axis Alley
Bar Louie
Brio Tuscan Grille

Brothers
Dewey’s Pizza
Five Guys

Gameworks
Mitchell’s Fish Market
Tom + Chee

Taking notes

Harpist and strolling violinist

KSO Boogie Band

– James Bond Theme
– “Diamonds Are Forever”
– “For Your Eyes Only”
– “Live and Let Die”
– “Nobody Does it Better”
– “SkyFall”
– “Surrender”

KSO Smooth Jazz Combo

– “Soul Bossa Nova”	Quincy Jones
– “Green Onions”	Booker T & the M.G.s
– “Rise”	Herb Alpert
– “Outta-Space”	Billy Preston
– “Mas que nada”	Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66
– “Grazing in the Grass”	Hugh Masekela
– “Europa”	Gato Barbieri
– “Tequila”	The Champs
– “Breezin’ ”	George Benson
– “A Taste of Honey”	Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass
– “Frankenstein”	Edgar Winter Group
– “Catching the Sun”	Spyro Grya
– “Sunny”	Herbie Mann
– “Feels So Good”	Chuck Mangione
– “Frosty”	Albert Collins