On Saturday, February 6, Vertical Wine Bistro is teaming up with local bloggers Matt Robold (RumDood), Matthew Kang (Mattatouille), and Fiona Chandra (GourmetPigs) to host a special charity event benefiting the victims of the devastating Haiti earthquake.

“Haitian Libations” will take place in the restaurant’s bar and lounge from 10pm to close. 50% of all wine, cocktail, and food profits will benefit Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ). Established in early 2009, APJ is a fundraising effort that encourages peace and social justice and addresses issues of poverty and enfranchisement in communities around the world.

For the fundraiser, the three bloggers have prepared a special cocktail menu: the Vieux Carré, the Aviation, and RumDood’s own Port-Au-Prince (check out Matt’s blog for the recipe). The best part? All three bloggers will be mixing these drinks behind the bar!

Vertical Wine Bistro’s donation will help support a special relief project spearheaded by APJ board members Paul Haggis (director of the Oscar-winning “Crash”) and actress Maria Bello. The pair recently arrived in Haiti, personally delivering much-needed funds and supplies. For the latest on their efforts, read Maria’s series of blog posts at The Huffington Post, beginning with her January 21st entry, “On the Ground in Port-au-Prince.” For over a year, APJ has worked closely with Father Rick Frechette of St. Damien Hospital in Port-au-Prince, the only free pediatric hospital in the poverty-stricken Caribbean nation. St. Damien, which itself sustained substantial damage in the quake, has been sharing medical supplies with other relief workers and facilities in need, while also providing aid to countless victims as one of the area’s few semi-functioning medical facilities.

Haitian Libations
A Benefit for Haiti
Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010
10pm-2am

Vertical Wine Bistro
70 N. Raymond Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 795-3999

www.verticalwinebistro.com
Facebook: verticalfanpage
Twitter: verticalbistro

Image and logo: Vertical Wine Bistro