{"id":47136,"date":"2019-09-10T09:00:54","date_gmt":"2019-09-10T14:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=47136"},"modified":"2019-09-10T11:12:26","modified_gmt":"2019-09-10T16:12:26","slug":"business-and-locals-enjoy-barrels-and-bites-benefit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=47136","title":{"rendered":"Business and locals enjoy Barrels and Bites benefit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

STORY BY CORIE LYNN<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Downtown Hays was alive with activity the night of September 6.
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Participants of the inaugural Barrels and Bites on the Bricks found themselves strolling down the streets of downtown, from business to business as they tried hors d’oeuvres and drinks.
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\u201cIt\u2019s a fundraising event for the Downtown Hays Development Corporation,\u201d said Sara Bloom, the Executive Director of DHDC. \u201cWe do a lot of annual events. Only two of them are fundraisers and this is one of them.\u201d
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After signing in at the downtown pavilion, attendees received a glass to use for drink-tastings. They also received a brochure detailing items available in the live and silent auctions, a listing of participating distilleries, and a map of the twelve businesses they could visit. Business included Gella\u2019s Diner, Lilly and Marie, and Couture for Men.
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Each participating business provided their own food for guests. Guests could also try drinks from wineries and distilleries across Kansas using the commemorative glass each guest received.
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\u201cIt ends with an after-party at the downtown pavilion with a silent auction, a live auction, lots of desserts, and more food and drinks,\u201d Bloom said.
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Desserts at the after-party were provided by Hays businesses, such as Augustine\u2019s Bakery and Gella\u2019s Diner, as well as Hays locals.
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Auction items also came from a variety of Hays entities and ranged from spa days to a pheasant hunting trip.
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\u201cWe\u2019ve got everything from beach getaways to power recliners and power wheels to desserts and photos. It\u2019s a great mix,\u201d said Bloom. \u201cSome of them were donated by local businesses. Some of them were donated by individuals on our DHDC Board.\u201d
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Attendees, however, look forward to more than the auction.
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\u201cI like to support the Downtown Hays Development District. I think they\u2019ve done a wonderful job for the city of Hays. It\u2019s a great cause to support,\u201d said Barb Wasinger, who was attending Barrels and Bites.
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She and fellow guest Anne Marie Hager also agreed that the evening is a great opportunity to try new foods and drinks.
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Attendees Beth Longsdale and Emily Yarmer agreed, but also looked forward to an evening out with friends.
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