Rosé Soirée event supports local charity

By: Mary Genson | Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle | Published June 5, 2023

BIRMINGHAM — The Birmingham Shopping District is presenting a new event, the Rosé Soirée, to support local charity Cap and Conquer.

Birmingham’s Go Pink, Dine and Drink will take place June 5-11 in downtown Birmingham.

“The rosé-themed event was inspired by a group of restaurateurs that came together to bring a new dining event, with a charitable component, downtown this spring,” said Erika Bassett, the BSD’s public relations specialist.

This week-long event is sponsored by the Bank of Ann Arbor Birmingham.

Several local restaurants are participating by featuring rosé wines, cocktails and mocktails paired with chef-created special menus. Some restaurants are donating a portion of the proceeds to Cap and Conquer, the amount donated varies per restaurant. The nonprofit strives to provide need-based funding for people going through cancer treatments, specifically chemotherapy. Their services support cancer patients who are interested in using or learning more about cold caps.

The organization was founded by six women. Four of them went through cancer treatment and used cold caps during chemotherapy.

“Cold capping is a non-medical way to prevent hair loss,” Cap and Conquer co-founder Janet Gendelman said. “We all had the same desire to help people use cold caps to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy because it is really one of the toughest side effects to go through and probably the most visible side effect that happens during chemotherapy.”

Gendelman said cold capping is very expensive, so some people can’t afford to do it to prevent hair loss.

“Not only does it affect them during chemotherapy, but for a long time after. because it is still very visible that you do not have your hair,” Gendelman said. “Mentally, it is very challenging to move forward after you are done with treatment.”

More information on Cap and Conquer can be found on capandconquer.org.

“We are so excited and really humbled that we were picked to be the nonprofit that will get the proceeds donated to our organization,” Gendelman said.

The Birmingham Shopping District is offering diners an opportunity to enter to win a $1,000 Birmingham Bucks shopping spree each time they dine at a participating restaurant. To enter, scan the QR code on the table cards at participating restaurants each time visited.

Participating restaurants will be offering cuisines ranging from fine Mediterranean dining to casual fried chicken.

Some of the participating restaurants are Bella Piatti, Forest, Hazel’s, Madam, Màre Mediterranean, Phoenicia, Streetside Seafood and The French Lady.

Menu options include Bella Piatti’s rosé by the glass or bottle, paired with ricotta ravioli in a pink palomino sauce; Forest’s Riviera Cooler made with vodka, basil, lemon and rosé; The French Lady’s mocktails with a special appetizer plate; and much more.

Contact restaurants directly for reservations.

Convenient parking will be free for the first two hours in all of downtown Birmingham’s municipal structures.

To learn more about Birmingham’s Go Pink, Dine and Drink, visit ALLINBirmingham.com/rose.