The Sag Harbor Cinema Restoration Project With eBay Auctioning Off Tea With Julie Andrews, “Today” Show Experience, Skype Session With Katie Lee And More

With a little more than four months to reach its $8 million fundraising goal, the Sag Harbor Partnership has unveiled a seriously impressive auction that will support the purchase and restoration efforts of the Sag Harbor Cinema. The Sag Harbor Cinema Restoration Project with eBay for Charity features one-of-a-kind items like tea with Julie Andrews (who is on the Cinema Advisory Board), a role in a Martin Scorsese (another Cinema supporter) film, Thanksgiving prep advice from The Kitchen co-host Katie Lee (who is also on the Cinema Advisory Board), and several other incredible items.

The Today Show Experience features a live taping and meet & greet with Matt Lauer. (Courtesy Photo)

“There’s something special about having a company like eBay help save a classic cinema on Long Island,” explained Nick Gazzolo, Sag Harbor Partnership President. “They have helped so many good causes raise funds and awareness. We are so happy to have their support for the Sag Harbor Cinema.”

The online auction will feature two Founder passes (all access) to Hamptons International Film Festival and VIP events; two VIP tickets to an upcoming NYC Premiere and After Party courtesy of The Weinstein Company; a Skype session with Chef Katie Lee to discuss prep and planning for Thanksgiving; a one week stay at a house in Provence; a six night Ezulwini Safari for two guests; lunch With Morgan Spurlock; a gift certificate valid for a party of ten guests to enjoy a pig roast and rosé at Calissa’s “Apres Beach” on Saturdays in August; a gift certificate for appetizers and a wine class for eight to ten guests in one of Amali’s private rooms; four VIP tickets to a live taping of ConanToday Show Experience – see a live taping and meet & greet with Matt Lauer; a walk on role on a Martin Scorsese film; an hour tennis lesson with John McEnroe; NYC Ballet Package including dinner, VIP backstage tour and signed ballet Shoes; San Miguel de Allende: one week stay in this romantic and beautiful colonial town; Guys & Dolls original movie poster from the collection of Joseph Mankiewicz, two tickets to a Saturday Night Live taping; English Tea with Julie Andrews; and a sunset sail for 12 with Heron Yacht Charters.

HR&A Advisors, Inc. (HR&A), an industry-leading consulting firm providing services in real estate, economic development program design and implementation, recently completed an analysis of the economic impact of the Sag Harbor Cinema Arts Center rebuild, which found that, “The acquisition and redevelopment of the Sag Harbor Cinema will result in an impact far greater than its investment. Reconstructing the Cinema will revitalize a blighted community asset, enhancing the theater’s infrastructure with a contemporary model that places arts and culture at the center of a year-round identity.”

You can win a Skype session with Chef Katie Lee to discuss prep and planning for Thanksgiving. (Courtesy Photo)

Focusing on the economic and fiscal benefits, the report estimates that the Cinema will create several jobs, including 45 construction jobs over a year and 73 year-round and seasonal jobs at the cinema and other local businesses. “A new cinema will increase tax revenue and job creation.” John Alschuler, Chairman, HR&A Advisors, Inc., noted. “It will also sustain Sag Harbor’s brand as a cultural venue, enhancing its activity as a year-round cultural resource.”

The Partnership hopes to relaunch the Cinema as a local cultural center showing movies, but with a broader goal of supporting great film programming and visual art. “We are so grateful to HR&A for lending their expertise. People understand how dinner and a movie go together, but we needed an expert to tell us how much each movie ticket means to other businesses on Main Street,” shared Gazzolo. “This study supports the idea that the Cinema project is an economic engine for all of our locally owned businesses. It also helps bring people to Sag Harbor all year long.”

The return of the Cinema is highly anticipated but other local mainstays. “We look forward to welcoming a revitalized cinema arts center to complement Bay Street Theater, The John Jermain Library, Whaling Museum, and all our other cultural institutions which make Sag Harbor the center for Culture and the Arts on the East End,” added Lisa Field, President, Sag Harbor Chamber Of Commerce.

The report also noted that, “A new Sag Harbor Cinema will anchor the village as a place that fosters arts and culture and creates a brand of economic resilience and longevity. The cinema’s architectural character, ambitious programming, and community-centric mission can play a central role in developing Sag Harbor’s brand as a cultural destination. It presents a particularly powerful force to attract diverse activity and vibrancy in the village’s quiet off-season… [And] will provide invaluable resources to year-round residents… and offers workforce development opportunities in the film and post-production industries.”

To support the Cinema through The Sag Harbor Cinema Restoration Project with eBay for Charity, visit www.ebay.com. The auction will run until Monday, August 28.

For more information about the Sag Harbor Partnership, visit www.sagharborpartnership.org.