By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
March springs upon us with a host of fundraisers, banquets and other ways to give back. Check here for details, and mark your calendars now!
Restaurant Roundup
Panhandle Restaurant Association's 11th annual Restaurant Roundup will feature foods and drinks from more than 50 restaurants and wineries.
The event is set for 5 to 9 p.m. March 1 in the Rex Baxter Building on the Amarillo Tri-State Fairgrounds, 3301 S.E. 10th Ave.
Tickets are $30. Proceeds benefit scholarship funds and local culinary education programs and other food-related charities.
Top chefs will take part in the Battle of the Chefs, featuring Dillan Mena of Embassy Suites Amarillo defending his title against Brian Mason of BL Bistro, Sam Blackburn of Sodexo at Northwest Texas Hospital and Ethan Williams of Imperial Taproom and RecrEATion.
Students from Tascosa, Caprock and Boys Ranch will compete in a separate contest.
Insufficent Funds will perform.
Tickets are available at La Fiesta Grande, Macaroni Joe's, Joe Taco, Joe Daddy's, PanhandleTickets and at the door.
Call 806-672-4118.
Seats & Feets
A drive for essential clothing will benefit Colorful Closets and kick off the Amarillo Venom season.
Seats & Feets asks for new packages of underwear or socks for children up to 18 years old for Colorful Closets. Those who bring one package get a free ticket to the Venom's season opener on March 17.
The drive runs from 5 to 7 p.m March 1 at Spicy Mike's Bar-B-Q Haven, 6723 S. Western St., which will offer a dinner special during the event.
Venom players will be on hand for a meet and greet, as well.
Call 806-414-2240.
The Vagina Monologues
Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues will be staged at 7 p.m. March 1 at City Studios, Studio 25 at The Galleries at Sunset Center, 3701 Plains Blvd., by a volunteer group of non-actors.
Tickets are $30. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Tralee Crisis Center in Pampa, which provides crisis intervention and shelter for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, according to its website.
The play also will be staged in an unrelated production at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at RR Bar, 701 S. Georgia St., by a collective of Amarillo alt-theater actors and burlesque performers.
The V-Day organization allows benefit, royalties-free productions of The Vagina Monologues around the world, mandating that a portion of proceeds be given to groups combatting violence against women. Traditionally, the productions must be done in February, but in honor of V-Day's 20th anniversary, that performance period has been expanded through March.
(urban) Farm to Table
Foods raised and grown by Amarillo-area residents will be featured at a special dinner for Square Mile Community Development.
The (urban) Farm to Table dinner begins at 7 p.m. March 1 at O.H.M.S. Cafe & Bar, 619 S. Tyler St.
Four courses of foods wil be paired with wine and cocktails: potato and ricotta croquettes and champagne for the first course; grapefruit salad and a cardamaro spritzer for the second course; beef tenderloin and a cabernet sauvignon for the third course; and a cupcake duo and sazerac for the fourth course.
Tickets are $100, and proceeds benefit Square Mile, a nonprofit looking to revitalize the San Jacinto neighborhood.
Call 806-373-3233.
Crafts & Drafts
Enjoy draft beers, food and DIY crafts at this event at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.
The Crafts & Drafts party will run from 6 to 9 p.m. March 2 at the museum, 2503 Fourth Ave. in Canyon.
It will feature beer-themed food from Catering by Roy and Joe's Catering, draft samples from The Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery and BDC Beverages, and crafts from 27:40 Art and Apparel.
Tickets are $30 for members and $40 for nonmembers.
Call 806-651-2244.
Fish Fry at Kids Cafe
One fish, two fish, baked fish, fried fish.
Celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday at a character dinner featuring baked fish and fries from 6 to 8 p.m. March 2 at Kids Cafe, 2199 S.E. Eighth Ave.
Kids Cafe is a program of High Plains Food Bank that offers daily, healthy meals to at-risk children.
Tickets are $10.
Call 806-374-8562 or email maribel@hpfb.org.
Spring Benefit and Panhandle ProAm
The annual spring benefit for St. Andrew's Episcopal School will feature both a dinner party and a tennis tournament.
The benefit dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. March 2 at Amarillo Country Club, 4800 Bushland Blvd., featuring dinner by Chef Joseph Guzman, an auction featuring student artwork and other items, and a performance by the Killer Dueling Pianos.
Tickets are $125, with sponsorship levels available from $500 to $7,500.
The third annual Panhandle Tennis ProAm features an adults tournament and a children's tennis clinic on March 3 and 4.
Entry fee is $150 for men and women, and $75 for guests.
Call 806-376-9501.
Autism United Pancake Breakfast
Enjoy a warm breakfast during a fundraiser for Amarillo's Autism United chapter.
The eighth annual pancake breakfast runs from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. March 3 at La Fiesta Grande, 7415 S.W. 45th Ave.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 10 and younger.
The breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, fruit, milk, juice and coffee.
Call 806-341-4028 or 806-236-5424.
Make-a-Wish Car Show
The 34th annual Make-A-Wish Car Show will boast a fleet's worth of classic and new autos.
The event, held by the Panhandle Council of Car Clubs, will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 3 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 4 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex, 401 S. Buchanan St.
Admission is $7 adults and $5 children. Car entry fee is $50.
Call 806-358-9900 or 806-353-2024.
Victory Gala
The United Way of Amarillo & Canyon will host its 17th annual Victory Gala, unveiling the total amount raised during the 2017 campaign.
The event begins at 6 p.m. March 3 at Embassy Suites Amarillo, 550 S. Buchanan St.
It will include the presentation of volunteer awards, a formal dinner, gaming tables, live and silent auctions, and dancing.
Tickets are $80, or $640 for a table of eight.
Call 806-350-5282.
EQTX Heart & Soul Train
Get down, get down, get down tonight at the Equality Texas Heart & Soul Train party.
The event will run from 8 to 11 p.m. March 3 at The Federated Women's Building, 2001 Civic Circle, and will include light hors d'oeuvres, drinks and disco dancing.
Tickets are $50 and benefit Equality Texas Foundation, which educates about and lobbies for equal rights for LGTBQ Texans. Sponsorship levels are $250 to $1,000.
Call 806-570-7889 or 806-463-9714.
One Night Victory
Diners at lunch and dinner March 6 at both 575 Pizzeria locations will help support 24 Hours in the Canyon Cancer Survivorship Center during the One Night Victory event.
A portion of proceeds from both meals will be given to the center, and if $5,000 is raised, Access Community Credit Union will match it.
Funds will be raised at both the 575 Pizzeria at 2803 Civic Circle and 7710 Hillside Road, Suite 700.
Call 806-322-5575.
The Hard Road
Photographer Jim Livingston and Amarillo poets will join forces for a fundraiser for The Chalice Abbey.
The Hard Road runs from 2 to 5 p.m. March 11 at the Chalice Abbey, 2717 Stanley St. It will feature a five-year retrospective of Livingston's work, with poets Wes Reeves, Ryan Archer, Margie Netherton, William Netherton and Jim Anderson reciting new work inspired by the photos.
Folk singer-songwriter Mike Fuller will perform, and Cody Anderson of Cowboy Gelato Smokehouse and Tiffany Henderson Bateman will provide desserts.
Each attendee will receive a matted, signed print and a chance to win a photo on canvas.
Tickets are $60 each or $100 for couples. The abbey sells arts and crafts by artists from impoverished countries at fair-trade price.
Call 806-576-2480.
Fol de Rol
Amarillo Opera's annual fundraising ball will take inspiration from its spring production of the classic musical Man of La Mancha.
The Impossible Dream ball begins at 6:30 p.m. March 17 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Grand Plaza, 401 S. Buchanan St.
The event will feature drinks, tapas, entertainment, a Spanish-inspired dinner, a live auction and live music.
Tickets are $150, with sponsorships available from $500 to $15,000.
Man of La Mancha will be stagd April 5 to 7 in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St.
Call 806-372-7464.
BeefSteak 2018
Top Chef contestant Tre Wilcox will design the menu for this fundraiser for Amarillo Downtown Lions Club.
The event begins at 7 p.m. March 17 at the Yellow Rose Ballroom at Embassy Suites Amarillo, 550 S. Buchanan St.
The party also will feature Howl at the Moon Dueling Piano Bar.
Tickets, which are available at all Happy State Bank locations, are $75 for VIP reception access and $50 for dinner only; sponsorships are available.
Proceeds benefit the Lions Club's various charitable programs.
Call 806-350-7285.
Pot of Gold Feast
This is no blarney: An Irish feast will support efforts at Amarillo Activity Youth Center.
The Pot of Gold Feast will run from 7 to 11 p.m. March 17 at CP Event Center, 310 S. Ross St.
Tickets are $45, including the meal, entertainment, drinks and prizes.
Visit www.806potofgold.org or call 806-373-2292.
Salt and Pepper Luncheon
A lunch named for essential spices will support a program providing essential food to low-income and other adults.
The 19th annual Salt and Pepper Luncheon will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 pm. March 22 at St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral, 1200 S. Washington St.
Tickets are $25 and benefit Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle's Hunger Project, which provides food to low-income adults ages 55 and older or adults on disability. Tables are available for $250 to $10,000.
State Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo) will speak.
Call 806-376-4571.
Hope Fest 2018
Amarillo resident Margaret Willis will speak about her troubled past and volunteer experience at Sharing Hope Ministry at Hope Fest 2018.
The banquet begins at 7 p.m. March 29 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Heritage Ballroom, 401 S. Buchanan St.
Tickets are $40, plus fees. Proceeds benefit Sharing Hope Ministry.
Call 806-358-7803.
Chip Chandler is a digital content producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and on Facebook.
