 
Last year, some 500 people attended White Plains”™ quintessential cultural celebration ”“Arts Bash. Though once a tented Mamaroneck Avenue affair, ArtsWestchester”™s 10th anniversary edition this week is marked by $25 ticket reductions and a move indoors.
“It”™s hard to say,” said Janet Langsam, executive director, ArtsWestchester, of event turnout. “We bumped the ticket price down to $75, recognizing that it would be more affordable for people to take advantage of it.”
Still, Langsam emphasized the magnitude of Arts Bash”™s impact on the community.
“It”™s very much a people-to-people event,” she said. “It wouldn”™t be spring in downtown White Plains without our annual Arts Bash weekend.”
John Crabtree, owner of Crabtree”™s Kittle House in Chappaqua and event cuisine co-chairman, agreed.
“The arts are really taking off in Westchester and ArtsWestchester itself has really fed the growth of all these affiliates,” Crabtree said. “Arts Bash is a much more high profile event now than it was 10 years ago.”
Cuisine co-chairman Anthony Goncalvez, owner of restaurants 42 and Peniche in White Plains, said of the featured cuisine and those cooking it, “These chefs are always happy to participate in the Arts Bash weekend because they view themselves as artists.”
One such chef, Christian Petroni of Peniche, said it is the restaurant”™s second year at Arts Bash, but personally, his fifth or sixth year attending the event. “I think it”™s a great way for restaurants and businesses to get exposure,” Petroni said. “When we get to come out of the house, it”™s always a great boost. It puts a face with a name of a restaurant, which is very, very important.”
Stuart Levine, who co-owns Vino 100 in White Plains with wife, Janine, said the event is a “fantastic opportunity for people to gather in one place and enjoy a multitude of art styles under one roof.”
His company is providing the wine at Arts Bash.
“I think it”™s a good opportunity for people to come to White Plains and enjoy the culture and the restaurants that we have to offer,” Levine said.
It”™s that boost for the local economy that an arts-centric weekend in White Plains could foster.
“We”™d like to see people come up here and spend the night and weekend,” said Lydia Ruth, marketing manager, Westchester County Tourism. “It should generate a lot of interest from art connoisseurs and collectors. Having great chefs there is an added bonus.”
Langsam acknowledged the tie between art and culinary tradition in Westchester.
“We”™ve always had a wonderful relationship with the restaurants,” she said. “We eat there, they come see art here and we support each other.
“Our event is geared not only to promote local artists, but to promote local restaurants. There is a synergy.”
Participating Arts Bash restaurants include: 42, Peniche, Crabtree”™s Kittlehouse, Blue in White Plains, Emma”™s Ale House in White Plains, Iron Horse Grill in Pleasantville, Ruth Chris Steakhouse in Tarrytown and Tango Grill in White Plains.
The Arts Bash preview party and open studios are scheduled for Friday, May 15, from 6 to 9 p.m. A free, public opening of the RUBBISH! exhibit is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, from noon to 5 p.m at the Arts Exchange on Mamaroneck Avenue. For tickets, visit www.artswestchester.org.
