NEW BEDFORD, MA – On Saturday, April 5, 2008 the downtown New Bedford AHA! (Art History Architecture) cooperative project will host a fundraising event - AHA! Fast Forward.  The event will begin with a Sunset Tapas Dinner and Wine Cruise on the New England Fast Ferry (boarding at 5:30 p.m./departing at 6 p.m.) followed by a waterfront Dessert and Dancing Reception at the ferry terminal from 8 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.  The terminal, at 49 State Pier, New Bedford, will be transformed for the evening into a stylish night spot. A cash bar will be available and there will be a silent auction full of unique items. 

The Sunset Cruise will feature live music by New Bedford’s own Candida Rose and her KabuJazz ensemble. Santa Mamba, from Providence, RI, will provide the dance music for the dessert reception. To learn more about these artists, please visit www.goldenrosemusic.com and www.SantaMamba.com. 

Tickets for the AHA! Fast Forward event are $75 or $35 per person and are on sale now. The $75 ticket price includes: the Sunset Cruise; Tapas Dinner; Dessert Reception; Live Music and Dancing.  Boarding begins at 5:30 p.m. and the cruise departs promptly at 6:00 p.m. The $35 ticket price includes the dessert and dancing reception only.  The reception begins at 8:00 p.m. and ends at 11:00 p.m.  Ticket numbers are limited to 100 for the cruise and 100 more for the reception only.  Reserve early, tickets will not be sold at the door.  You can purchase your tickets by sending an email with your request to: AHAfundraiser@trizstudio.com or call 508-441-8082.  Tickets can also be purchased at the Whaling Museum and at the New Bedford Art Museum.  Most major credit cards are accepted.

The AHA! Fast Forward event is sponsored in part by: the New England Fast Ferry; Cardoza’s Wine & Spirits and Food Emporium; Cork Tapas & Wine Bar; and Santa Mamba. 

Your contribution will help support the AHA! cooperative project - funded in part by the City of New Bedford, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, The Island Foundation, local businesses, community sponsorship and partner venues.  AHA! is a project of The Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts.  For more information about AHA! visit the organization on the web at www.ahanewbedford.org or call (508) 996-8253 x205. 

AHA! (Art, History & Architecture)

AHA! presents 2nd Thursday year-round FREE nights of Art, History & Architecture programs in Downtown New Bedford with 37-venue partners.

Call us at 508-264-8859 or visit us at www.ahanewbedford.org.

The AHA! Project was formed in 1999 by a dedicated circle of cultural leaders, downtown businesses and individual artists. Since July of that year, the project has continuously presented its 2nd Thursday events. What originally included 14 venues now numbers 37 and spans eight galleries, three museums, The National Historical Park, City Hall and The Library, many of the downtown’s unique stores, restaurants and cafes as well as individual artist studios, a meditation center, several churches, The Bristol Building, The New Bedford Preservation Society and The UMass Dartmouth CVPA Star Store.  AHA!’s mission is to collectively promote downtown culture and work towards greater sustainability of the downtown cultural scene and partner organizations.

AHA!’s articles on http://newbedford360.com are part of an expanding effort to bring more attention to the wealth of cultural events and experiences happening in downtown New Bedford.

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