Tinsel & Tails guests celebrated the New Year

An evening of adventure and mystery in James Bond style was enjoyed by about 425 guests at the 23rd Anniversary of “Tinsel & Tails 2011 — A View to a Cure.”

The New Year’s Eve event, held at the Phoenix Expo Center, included a silent auction, food, dancing, complimentary photos and drinks and a champagne toast.

As guests arrived, hors d’oeuvres were served with complimentary drinks. At 8:30, dinner was served and included grilled Mojito prawns with marinated vegetables, dark and stormy steak and chips with asparagus and hollandaise. Dessert was chocolate  white and dark chocolate. The casino was opened after dinner. Silent auction bidding began at 7 p.m. and bidders made their final bids at 10.

This year’s event saw quite a few changes from the event in the past years. Instead of live entertainment, music entertainment was provided by a DJ with MS Soundworks. Two dance floors were made available to the guests where in the past there had only been one. Guests bid only on silent auction items this year with no live auction.

Guests could have their photos taken for free at the event with the photos being given to them about 30 seconds after the photo was taken. In year’s past, the photos were mailed out. A Wine and Spirits Wine Pull was also an added event. For $20, attendees could choose a bottle of wine in hopes of winning a Dom Perignon Champagne.

“A Diamonds are Forever” booth had 150 glasses set up and for $20, guests could choose a glass with champagne in hopes of finding a golden sticker on the bottom for a chance to win a a chocolate diamond ring from the The Diamond Center. Ten lucky winners were put into a hat and one name was drawn out just before midnight.

For every $50 donated to the association, there was a chance to win a solitaire diamond necklace from Newton’s Jewelers.

For the more adventurous patrons, a Boogie Heads booth was set up. The guests would pick from a playlist and sit behind a green screen and move their heads to the beat of the music. This was then played on a large screen TV for all to see and have a good laugh. The participants were even given a DVD of their “music video.” This was a big hit with the guests.

“I’m very excited about this year with all the changes. We worked hard to provide a fun environment for everyone and hope they have a good time,” said Sarah Fowler, regional director of the Alzheimer’s Association of Western Arkansas.

The Alzheimer’s Association’s goal is to raise $100,000 to help support their programs. Last year, the event raised $85,000. At the beginning of the evening, $86,000 had been raised. Ryan Cassedy, event chair, said “it is still possible to raise just under $20,000 with the casino and the donations made.”

One minute before midnight, guests received their complimentary champagne toast. At the stroke of midnight, balloons dropped from above the dance floors. Afterward, a free breakfast buffet, which included the traditional black-eyed peas, was served.