The High Museum of Art has canceled its annual wine auction, its single largest fundraising event of the year, and all related events in light of the coronavirus outbreak. Originally scheduled for March 18-21, the wine auction was set to include a series of dinners featuring high-profile chefs and museum patrons, culminating in a vintner's reception and live auction.
In a statement characterized by pained language, the museum director Randall Suffolk said, “The timing of this decision has precluded us from fully contemplating the possibility of rescheduling certain aspects of the Auction. That thinking is underway, and we ask for patience as we spend the next few days discussing what may or may not be possible. We will inform you as soon as those details emerge. For those concerned about refunds, further information is also forthcoming.”
Because the annual wine auction is the High’s largest regular fundraising effort, the museum’s finances could be affected through the rest of the year.
“We ... not only regret the inability to deliver our signature event, we are also struggling to process the significant financial impact this cancellation will impose on our programming,” Suffolk said in the same statement.
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More news from the week:
Grindhouse Killer Burgers announced today that each metro-Atlanta restaurant would offer a 30% discount to all medical professionals. The announcement comes at a time when many restaurants are making changes in response to the coronavirus outbreak and preparing for a drop in business. To qualify for the discount, medical professionals must present a valid hospital badge or other proof of healthcare service employment.
“Grindhouse takes nothing more seriously than the health and well-being of our staff and customers. To that end, we are actively exercising precautionary measures as a response to COVID-19 (coronavirus). These measures will help ensure Grindhouse is safe for you, our employees, and the community at large,” said Alex Brounstein, wwner of Grindhouse Killer Burgers, in a prepared statement. The restaurant’s discount will run through March 31.
The James Beard Foundation has postponed its award show until later this summer. Last month, a handful of restaurants and industry professionals from the Atlanta area were named semi-finalists for the prestigious awards. The announcement of finalists is still planned for March 25.
Food delivery services have implemented no-contact policies and other changes in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Companies like DoorDash, UberEats and GrubHub are anticipating increased ordering and have established new protocols for their drivers in addition to supplying them with safety and sanitation supplies.
Waffle House has made changes to safety protocols at all of its locations, including measures like removing condiments from tables. Earlier this month, an employee of a Canton Waffle House was treated for a confirmed case of the novel COVID-19 coronavirus. He was released from the hospital and is in the midst of a 14-day home quarantine.
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