The fifth annual “Mi Casa es Su Casa” event saw many members of the Claremont community enjoy a bounty of specialty wines and spirits last Sunday.

The event, which was hosted at Hotel Casa 425, was a fundraiser for both the Claremont Community Foundation and the Claremont Educational Foundation. Around 160 Claremonters enjoyed live music by the Claremont High School Jazz Band, along with a variety of food, fine wines, liquors and beers.

“In a way, the event is a thank you to the community,” said Nickie Cleaves, executive director of CEF.

The event involved the collaboration of a number of Claremont organizations and businesses, including Le Pain Quotidien, La Parolaccia Osteria, and Hotel Casa 425 itself, which contributed the venue, much of the event organization, and the event’s staff, free of charge.

“The hotel’s enthusiasm was contagious,” said Ms. Cleaves. Suzanne Hall, a CEF member who has been involved in varying capacities with the event’s organization over the course of the last 5 years, noted “the hotel couldn’t have been more generous to us.”

This year’s event was different from its predecessors in its having offered spirits and beer, instead of just wines. This change ensured that the event would offer “something for everyone,” according to Ms. Cleaves. Ms. Hall explained that this move was born in part of the desire to make the event a unique one.

“Wine tasting events are almost overdone,” Ms. Hall said. “I’d like us to continue expanding and trying to keep things fresh.”

Proceeds and the cost of running the event were divided equally between the Community Foundation and the Educational Foundation. Ms. Hall explained that, for her, the collaboration of the 2 groups is part of what makes the event so unique.

“I really enjoy the opportunity to have the 2 organizations working together. And we work together so well,” she said.

The event’s success and its unique place in Claremont culture ensure that it will take place next year as well. “We’re very satisfied,” said Ms. Cleaves.

“I think people really enjoyed it,” Ms. Hall said, making it clear that next year’s event will be an equally memorable one. “We’re going to work on adding a new twist.”

—Jake Bartman

[Editor’s note: Jake Bartman returns to the COURIER this summer for a second editorial internship—he worked on the Almanac last year compiling “a man on the street” segment and writing a feature on the city’s aquatics program, among other writing tasks. Mr. Bartman, son of Jan and Syd Bartman of Claremont, just wrapped up his sophomore year at Lewis and?Clark College in Oregon, where he worked as an opinion writer for the school’s newspaper, The Pioneer Log. —KD]