Pittsburgh, Pa. – On Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will celebrate 120 years of tradition and transformation as one of Pittsburgh’s premier cultural institutions and historical landmarks when community members and leaders gather for the public garden’s annual Wines Under Glass gala. Against an enchanting backdrop of Summer Flower Show’s glowing glass and bright blooms, soirée guests will be treated to delicious cuisine, select wines and lively entertainment.
Wines Under Glass — with Mr. and Mrs. Richard P. Simmons as event chairs and Athena Sarris as host committee chair — will commence at 6:30 p.m. with a private VIP Reception for benefactors complete with fine wines and hors d’oeuvres. At 7:30 p.m., all other guests will join the party in time for the Green Hearts Reception, which features select wines, small plates and food tastings, music, dancing and more.
Founded by industrialist Henry Phipps and presented as a gift to the people of Pittsburgh in 1893, Phipps remains one of the only conservatories worldwide to offer themed seasonal flower shows, upholding a long tradition of horticultural excellence. Phipps has also reinvented its campus with additions like the new Center for Sustainable Landscapes, establishing a name for itself as a global leader in the sustainability movement while preserving the splendor of its Victorian glasshouse.
“Wines Under Glass is quite a landmark event this year as we celebrate 120 years of achievements with the dedicated community members who have enabled our great tradition to thrive,” says Phipps Executive Director Richard V. Piacentini. “Together, we are not only preserving a vital piece of Pittsburgh history but also forging a brighter future for our region as we offer our conservatory not only as a place of beauty and respite but also as a center for green-minded inspiration and change-creating growth.”
Tickets for Wines Under Glass can be purchased through Sept. 12 at phipps.conservatory.org, by phone at 412/651-5281, or via email at [email protected]. Benefactor tickets cost $175 per person and include the VIP Reception at 6:30 p.m. and Green Hearts Reception at 7:30 p.m. Patron tickets cost $125 per person and include the Green Hearts Reception at 7:30 p.m. Host committee tickets and sponsorship packages are also available. Learn more at phipps.conservatory.org.
