-
Susan McElfish and granddaughter Della, 6, look through a table of homemade crafted bowls. -
Debora McCurry and Mike Cannon do a first walk through Friday at Telegraph Square. -
Bonnie Easler talks to volunteers Amanda Singleton and Rene Moriarty. -
Coral Kulper of Carson City enjoys broccoli soup made by Comma Coffee. -
Devon Wirtz and Jeff Yezek browse for their perfect picks. -
Jakob Corona, 14, and Shelly Bale take a gander. -
Jim Peckham, executive director of FISH, looks for a bowl he wanted before Friday’s setup. -
-
Little Valentino is on the back of Natalie Paolinelli along with friend Stephanie Laurie. -
Soup diners line up Telegraph Square Friday in Carson City. -
Rich McGregor going through the donations at the Empty Bowls Project silent auction. -
Robin McGregor and volunteer Leigh Lunt at the silent auction booth. -
-
-
Todd Prather, a Empty Bowls volunteer gives a thumbs up to his bowl. He was there wife Stephanie, daughter Piper and son Kai. -
Serving hot chocolate to guests were Margurite and Graham Zeme and Luci Zuend.
Delicious, nourishing soup for the soul served steaming hot for the price of a handmade artisan bowl was the early warm-up Friday favorite at the second annual Empty Bowls Project held at Telegraph Square in downtown Carson City. The feast kicked off the annual Silver and Snowflake Festival of Lights at the Nevada State Capitol.
For $12 admission participants received a bowl made during a year-long art project where potters of all ages and abilities created and handcrafted more than 800 bowls. The soup, all locally made, was donated and ladled by Carson restaurants and organizations. All proceeds will go directly to Friends In Service Helping, also known as FISH, a Carson City charity that provides food and shelter for those in need.
Dozens of volunteers greeted hundreds of holiday celebrants, going through the bowl collections set neatly across several tables. The bowls ranged from brightly colored pottery, hand painted, to traditional earth tone dishes, each created with their own size, unique design and bowl depth.
“What a wonderful idea and a great way to support the locals,” said Bonnie Easler of Carson City as she walked the tables looking for the piece she wanted.
Organizers Robin and Richard McGregor were excited by the early arrivals, noting that last year’s event brought such an outpouring of local support that the run-up to create the bowls was met with great enthusiasm from professional potters to school children learning how to work clay.
“We really are grateful for the community, the turn out tonight. This is fantastic,” said Richard McGregor. “The support by everyone has been wonderful.”
Carson City resident Coral Kulper said this was her first time at a community event. She was drawn to it because of the idea behind local potters and restaurants joining together to do something for the greater good that was unique and charitable.
“It’s a fabulous idea. You get your choice of a nice ceramic bowl, made by someone who really put effort into it, and you get this wonderful soup made with a lot of care,” said Kulper.
Participating restaurants featured the flavorful soups and exotic dishes. Foodies Bystro donated vegan curry and rice, while Casino Fandango served up gallons of clam chowder. San Marcos Grill ladled a tangy Mexican Albondiga meatball soup, Comma Coffee satisfied with its homemade vegetarian broccoli soup, Mom & Pops Diner dished a delicious beef vegetable barley soup, Villa Basque served mounds of hot, fresh spaghetti, the Grille served scrumptious chicken noodle soup, Charlie Abowd of Cafe at Adele’s delighted with a Turkey Mulligatawny Soup while Carson City Confections served heaping helpings of its biscuits and gravy, a hometown favorite.
Other restaurants and organizations were setting up at around the time the Silver and Snowflake festivities begun. The event continues until 7 p.m at Telegraph Square.
