Wine, Wit and Wisdom returns April 30

It’s back! One of the Rochester area’s must-attend events – the Friends of the Rochester Hills Public Library’s “Wine, Wit & Wisdom” fundraiser – is set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening, April 30.

Taking place at the Main Library at 500 Olde Towne Road in downtown Rochester, the evening provides a lively mix of sustenance and knowledge. The Friends group — the library’s primary volunteer non-profit support group — inaugurated the series in 2014. (The last two annual events were Covid-19 casualties.)

The evening’s agenda? Attendees get to partake of a buffet dinner, beverages (beer, wine and soft drinks) and a choice of two presentations from an engaging roster of six people from the world of history, the arts and dining and wines. In addition, a silent auction will feature must-have unique items and experiences. And there’ll be a 50/50 raffle to spice things up!

Registration opens March 1 and can be completed via a registration form available at the library circulation desk or by using a credit card online at winewitwisdom2022.eventbrite.com. Tickets are $80 per person; $90 per person after April 11. Registration closes April 25. A fee of approximately $6.50 per ticket will be added to online purchases. The fair market value of the ticket for tax purposes is $40 per person. Because alcohol will be served, participation is limited to guests aged 21 or older. All tickets will be emailed; there is a “no refund” policy.

More details can be found at rhpl.org/friends.

Here’s the roster of presentations:

• The Art of Matching Food and Wine: Victoria Connolly, proprietor and chef of Victoria's Wine and Dine in Oxford will go beyond the basics of white wine with fish and red wine with meat and explain the subtle nuances found in different wine styles and how to create a menu that highlights both the wine and the dish.
• Dawn of the Auto Industry: Steve Shotwell, the president of the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Board of Trustees, recaps how in 1909, 55 Model Ts drove from New York City to Seattle in 31 days and his role leading a 2009 re-enactment of the 4,400-mile journey across the U.S. Hear about the challenges the group faced and how camaraderie and sheer determination triumphed.
• Breaking the Enigma Code: Start of the Technology Revolution: Oakland University professor of international management Frank Cardimen addresses how Alan Turing’s genius helped break the German’s Enigma code machine in WW II that started the technology revolution resulting in the successes of IBM’s “Watson” project, Mars exploration and the recent launch of the James Webb Telescope.
• Car Design: From Sketch to Reality: Darby Barber, Rochester resident, General Motors car designer and grass roots auto racer, will speak on how car design has evolved through the years. Expect insights on how the many elements of car design come together in production and race cars.
• The Building of an Opera Costume: What does it take for an opera costume to make you go “Ahhhhh” when the curtain goes up? Suzanne Hanna, costume director of Michigan Opera Theatre and Rochester Adams graduate, will explain why an opera costume is different from everyday clothing and other costumes, and hear tales from the fitting room.
• The Real Reason to Attend a Live Symphony Performance: Why not just listen to symphony music in the comfort of your home? Lorrie Gunn, concertmaster of the Rochester Symphony Orchestra, shares what makes a live performance such an incredible experience. She’ll use an assortment of violins to demonstrate changes in the instrument over the years.