On Saturday, September 27, the Arlington Heights Memorial Library welcomed over 200 guests for One Book, One Gala, a special after-hours event inspired by New York City’s iconic Met Gala. The celebration was designed to reflect one of the key settings in this year’s One Book, One Village selection, The Stolen Queen by New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis. It marked the second gala in the library’s history, with the first being the Fairy Tale and Fantasy Gala held in 2016.
Guests were greeted with a red-carpet experience with cameras flashing as attendees posed for photos in a scene reminiscent of the Met Gala itself. Inside, Bitter & Sweet Cocktails offered signature drinks, which guests enjoyed while browsing a dessert table. The staff picks display area was reimagined as a sweets spread featuring trendy Dubai chocolate cake truffles, cookies and an assortment of desserts made by Soha’s Sweet Treats.
“It’s interesting how different the library looks,” said guest Agnes Arnaiz, who was attending her first library program. “I didn’t imagine it could look like this. It looks like a museum,” she said while watching Nahum Smith of El Rey Music Center perform live on guitar.
For one night only, art was installed at the ends of several bookshelves showcasing well-known works from a variety of periods and styles, including The Swing by Rococo artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard, as well as The Angora Cat, a collaborative piece by Fragonard and his sister-in-law Marguerite Gérard. Other featured artists included Van Gogh and Renoir.
The evening also featured a mini costume institute in the Hub curated by library staff member Lisa Hale from the Makerplace, who made many of the costume pieces on display. Mine Anil of Blue Fern Ceramics gave a live pottery demonstration and guests had a chance to visit the library’s Studio for a photo opportunity in front of a green screen, with digital backgrounds that transported them to New York City or ancient Egypt, both settings that play key roles in The Stolen Queen.
From art and fashion to music and culture, One Book, One Gala was a night to remember. With its nods to The Stolen Queen, the evening offered guests a deeper connection to the book and may even inspire additional readers to pick up this year’s all-community read. With programs and book discussions continuing throughout October, this year’s One Book, One Village initiative will culminate with an already at capacity author visit from Fiona Davis on Tuesday, October 28, at Forest View Educational Center.
Click here to view more photos on the library's Facebook page.
Click here to learn more about One Book, One Village.
