Witness Sanibel’s most upstanding community leaders stage eye-popping drag queen performances for a great cause on Oct. 30.
SANIBEL, Fla. (Oct. 2, 2019) — Lily & Co. Jewelers, America’s coolest jewelry store, will host an uproarious evening on Oct. 30 featuring Sanibel’s sparkling celebrity drag queens raising funds for affordable housing on the island.
“Six upstanding men with stellar reputations on the island will risk it all by revealing their inner drag queens, sashaying down the red carpet with spectacular boas, showers of glitter and fireworks of feathers while serenaded by the Marty Stokes Band — all for the benefit of the nonprofit Community Housing and Resources,” says Dan Schuyler, co-owner of Lily & Co. Jewelers with Realtor Karen Bell. The event is co-sponsored by Sanibel Catering Company by Bailey’s.
Guests will roar with laughter and squeal with delight when the celebrity drag queens take to the stage and liberate themselves from gender norms with eye-popping costumes and outrageous performances. The queen who leaves the audience gasping for more and raises the most money will be crowned the event’s favorite performer, an achievement that is guaranteed to set the island atwitter and forever enshrine the winner in island lore.
The rip-roaring show guaranteed to keep you laughing for days will take place on Oct. 30 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lily & Co. Jewelers, 520 Tarpon Bay Road on Sanibel. Tickets cost $35 per person and are available online at sanibelchr.org/events, at Lily & Co. Jewelers, 520 Tarpon Bay Road, or Bailey’s General Store, 2477 Periwinkle Way.
The celebrities who promise to shake everything they’ve got and break a few taboos for this great cause include: Jerry Edelman, Sanibel artist; J. Bruce Neill, Ph.D., co-founder and executive director of Sanibel Sea School; George Schnapp, owner of George and Wendy’s Seafood Grill; Dan Schuyler, co-owner of Lily & Co. Jewelers; Josh Stewart, co-owner of Adventures in Paradise; and Daniel Thompson, owner of Suncatcher’s Dream. Restraining the drag queens from violating any island morality laws will be Master of Ceremonies Nicole McHale.
All the proceeds of this star-studded event will go to Community Housing and Resources, which provides affordable housing for 150 people with 74 rental homes and 14 limited equity homes on Sanibel. “CHR provides a critical need for our island community since most housing is financially out of reach for many people,” says Schuyler. “While the event promises hilarity and cheer, the purpose addresses a very serious need.”
“In addition to affordable housing, CHR provides economic and social diversity that the Sanibel Plan always envisioned,” says Richard Johnson, CHR board president and owner of Sanibel Catering Company by Bailey’s.
Besides the unforgettable celebrity drag-queen performances, guests will enjoy cocktails and appetizers provided by Sanibel Catering Co. while they bid on fabulous silent-auction items and ogle the spectacular jewelry from Lily & Co. Jewelers.
“We are grateful to these six generous community members and to our sponsors, Lily & Co. Jewelers and Sanibel Catering by Bailey’s, for what promises to be an extravaganza of laughter, great music and amazing food,” says Melissa Rice, CHR executive director.
About Lily & Co. Jewelers
Lily & Co. Jewelers is Sanibel Island’s only jewelry gallery, specializing in unique hand-crafted jewelry, fine art from local artists, engraving services, jewelry and watch repair, bead and pearl re-stringing, pewter and hollowware repair and appraisal services. The store is located at 520 Tarpon Bay Road on Sanibel and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information, visit LilyJewelers.com or call 239-472-2888.
