Last week at work, I received an invitation to attend an art fundraiser to support the victims of tropical storm Erika in Dominica. I haven’t attended many fundraisers, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I wanted to show my support for a fellow Caribbean island, but I was a little apprehensive.
First of all, the fundraiser was being held at a fancy gated villa. I was unsure of what to wear, because the invitation made no mention of what would be appropriate attire, and I didn’t want to be under-dressed. Also, I was worried that my girlfriend and I wouldn’t fit in with the crowd – not only are we gay – but I assumed that we would also be the youngest attendees. Another stress point was that I knew that we would be expected to donate (that was made very clear in the response to my RSVP). I didn’t want to be embarrassed if I couldn’t donate as much as what was expected, and I had no idea how much these art pieces would be selling for…$50…$100…$1,000? How was I supposed to know these types of things before I got there?
Despite these concerns, I really wanted to go. One of the main reasons I moved to the Virgin Islands was because I wanted to try things outside of my comfort zone. I wanted to challenge myself to participate in new experiences so I could feel more fulfilled, and awaken the sense of adventure in my life I so desperately craved. So, with checkbook in hand, my girlfriend and I decided to accept the invitation and wear our little black dresses.
As the villa security team escorted us to the entrance of the estate, I wondered if we had made a mistake. We were among the first ten people to arrive, so there was no hope of blending into a crowd. After we had signed our names in the guest book of visitors, the host of the event personally escorted us to the silent auction tables where donation sheets were paired with expensive paintings. The lowest bids for the smallest, least expensive pieces started at $150. The prices weren’t as high as I had feared, but I knew that the prices would only go up from there.
As a distraction from my impending financial panic attack, we decided to explore the villa. The main focal point of the entire event was the pool, as the auction portion was held outside on the expansive deck. There were high-top tables with gourmet hors d'oeuvres set out by a catering team, a fully stocked bar with cocktail waitresses, cabana seating around the pool, and photographers.
The villa itself was a massive 7-bedroom estate with exquisite finishes, fancy brickwork and granite tile. Despite our lavish surroundings, we felt surprisingly at ease (this may or may not have been due to the free wine and fried finger foods). As the evening progressed, we found ourselves having a great time.
Looking back on the event, I’m glad we attended even though we didn’t know what we’d be getting ourselves into. Putting ourselves out there wasn’t easy, but it was definitely worth it…not only do we have a cool experience to share with friends and family, but we also have a wider network and feel more connected to our community.
Check it out for yourself:
Villa Fratelli Cresta
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Website: www.fratellicresta.com
