Lighthouse to Host Speakeasy Fundraiser

Guests are in for a special treat with top shelf whiskey and food pairings on Friday, November 13th, at 7:00 p.m., when the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum hosts a special fundraiser featuring a selection of craft whiskey samples and food pairings from the Blackfly Restaurant.

Historic City News readers are encouraged to support the Speakeasy Fundraiser being held in the basement of the “haunted” 1876 Keepers’ House. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Museum’s maritime research and education programs.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drink small batch whiskeys and sample amazing food in a unique, historically relevant location,” said Board of Trustees member Bruce Beaman, who helped organize the event. “This will be the last event of this type to be held in the basement, which was featured in Ghost Hunters, before the new exhibit installation begins. Your tickets will help fund the Lighthouse’s programs that provide educational opportunities to our community.”

Spirits selected for the event include hand-crafted Hudson Whiskey and Jefferson’s Bourbon from New York City, Templeton Rye whiskey from Iowa and Carpano Antica Formula; a sweet Italian vermouth. Each of these will be paired with delicious food from St. Augustine’s award-winning Blackfly Restaurant.

“This is going to be a really fun, unique experience that we have never done before at the Lighthouse,” said Executive Director Kathy A. Fleming. “Our historic building has the perfect ambience for a cozy, speakeasy party and the refreshments we’ve selected will offer folks a high caliber taste experience you can’t get anywhere else in St. Augustine.”

All refreshments for the event have been generously donated, so all proceeds will benefit the nonprofit Museum programs including an annual summer camp with scholarships for at-risk youth, research programs that provide hands-on underwater archaeology experience for college students and a new Maritime Research & Education Center that will provide much-needed handicap accessible exhibit and classroom space at the Museum.

The Lighthouse Speakeasy is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $150 per person. Space is limited; to make reservations please visit www.staugustinelighthouse.org/speakeasy or call (904) 829-0745.