Happy Pride Month! On Sunday June 4th, The History Center hosted the Greater Erie Alliance for Equality’s annual “Afternoon for Equality” cocktail event.
GEAE is a local non-profit organization with a goal to provide support, resources, and educational opportunities for Erie’s LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Interested businesses can work with GEAE to provide training to their employees on becoming more inclusive. Additionally, qualifying students can apply for several educational scholarships.
Their annual event, “Afternoon for Equality” is one of their largest fundraisers, with numerous sponsorships. Cody Empey, director and board member, explained that the purpose of this event is to mostly come together and enjoy company, but also recognize their sponsors and pay tribute to their support.
Cody also explained that now more than ever – allyship is incredibly important. With consistently changing legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community, supporting their organization helps them better support their community. GEAE recently partnered with the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts and Culture, strengthening another vital connection in the Erie community.
Their partnership will bring in artists from the LGBTQ+ community to Erie. In my opinion, there is nothing better than a cocktail event at the Watson-Curtze Mansion.
Personally, this is one of my favorite styles of events just because both the indoor and outdoor spaces lend themselves so perfectly to mingling. As I tell most clients, our space is not conducive to sitting for extended periods of time. People are inherently curious, and at the mansion, there is something beautiful to discover around every corner.
For their cocktail event, GEAE provided a full buffet-style spread of heavy hors d'oeuvres in the dining room by our catering partner, Make it Fabulous. Limited seating was available in the library with a full spread of cocktail tables inside and outside. To cap off the classic, vibrant, and welcoming atmosphere, guests enjoyed live jazz music by Steve Trohoske and friends.
One of the biggest showstoppers of the event were the floral arrangements. GEAE took a clever and unique route by decorating with potted plants, provided by Potratz, that were raffled off at the end of the event. Guests were immediately greeted by the smell of fresh flowers throughout the entire mansion.
Interested in hosting an event with us? Limited 2023 dates are still available! Reduced nonprofit rates are also available. For more information, please visit www.erieweddings.net or events@eriehistory.org.
Photos courtesy of Mike Mahler