Special to the Citizen

Be sure to bring along your appetite and dancing shoes to the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art’s next Artoberfest, the museum’s annual Fall Fundraiser, as well as the opening night of Georgia’s Music Festival Lake Oconee.
   

This year’s event, scheduled for Thursday, October 16th from 6 to 9:30 p.m., will feature an intimate, sophisticated supper club atmosphere where you may dine comfortably while listening and dancing to the songs of the popular entertainer, Gwen Hughes and her Jazz Katz Trio. Gwen, whose music is described as “Jazz meets Swing meets Rock and Roll,” is a truly unique talent and one of the busiest artists on the current music scene. She has four CDs to her credit and was voted Atlanta’s favorite jazz/swing singer three times in the past four years. The evening also features a wine tasting with Habersham Winery; a raffle, and a silent auction offering hand-crafted items, jewelry, works of art, plus many other exciting items and services provided by local businesses.
   

This year’s raffle prize is a fabulous 18", 14-karat adjustable yellow gold chain and pearl necklace festooned with over 80 drilled Chinese fresh water pearls and finished with a gemstone bead. These pearls are known for their unique luster and iridescence, a result of the use of nacre as the “starter’ in the oyster. The necklace is valued at $1,200. Raffle tickets are priced at $10 each; $15 for two. You need not be present to win! Admission to Artoberfest 2008 is $35 per person. For reservations/admission, please call the museum at 706-342-7557. A guest list will be at the door; tickets will not be issued. All proceeds benefit STMA’s Arts Outreach Program© offering year-round art education to families, students and individuals in our tri-county, Lake Oconee community. The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is located at 4200 Bethany Road in Buckhead. It is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am. to 4 p.m. For more details and directions, please call 706-342-7557 or visit   "http://www.steffenthomas.org/" www.steffenthomas.org.