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Camas and Washougal residents’ creativity and generosity were on display at the Dinner in White on the Columbia.
More than 350 people attended the annual fundraiser for the Washougal Library Building Fund, Saturday, Sept. 8, at Marina Park, in Washougal.
The riverside event — modeled after the “Diner en Blanc” that started in Paris 30 years ago — featured diners wearing white clothing and accessories.
Washougal City Councilman Ernie Suggs, judged to be the “best dressed man” at the event wore a Sheraton Hotel bathrobe over a shirt and pants.
Kelli Rule won the “best dressed woman” title for the night, and Al and Judy Swindell were named the “best dressed couple.” Rule wore a 1920s inspired outfit, including an ivory lace dress, vintage cloche hat, flat heels and her grandmother’s long pearl necklace. The Swindells’ white clothing was accented with purple.
Jeffree White, owner of Washougal School of Music, performed during the dinner. In addition to catered options provided by Foods in Season and Lenny’s Smokehouse, of Washougal, some diners brought food prepared at home.
Natalie Fairchild, of Vancouver, made pickled asparagus with cream cheese and wrapped in hard salami. She attended the Dinner in White with other members of the “Bad Girls Book Club.”
Columbia River Realty won the “best dressed table” title, with book-themed decor. Diners at that table brought meatballs, shrimp, caprese skewers, spinach dip, bacon wrapped dates, brownies and raspberry cakes.
The Foods in Season tabletop decorations included dahlias and King Trumpet wild mushrooms.
Cooki McClatchie, of Camas, created “snow babies,” for the “Frosty and Friends on the Columbia” table, hosted by the event chairperson Terri London.
Auction items included a cooking lesson by Washougal City Councilwoman Alex Yost, co-owner of OurBar. The winning bidder, who paid $450, will eat dinner with Washougal Mayor Molly Coston.
Washougal High School graduates from 1997 sat at a table with a Coco Chanel theme. Nearby, another ‘97 WHS graduate, Holly Jones, sold and signed copies of her two books, “I Want Everyone to Like Me,” and “I Want Everyone to Love Me,” based on her experiences growing up in Washougal in the 1990s.
Jones, of Spokane, Washington, presented Washougal Librarian Rachael Ries with one copy of each book as a donation to the Washougal Community Library, during the Dinner in White.
Jones said the Washougal Library is mentioned in her first book.
“It was such an instrumental part of my childhood,” she said. “I loved to spend hours and hours reading in the kids section.”
