Like many in the area, Eagle Bay summer resident Laura Lester felt a tremendous void in her life with the passing of longtime restaurateur Kirsty Sutherland last fall.
Lester became acquainted with Sutherland 14 years ago when she was hired as summer help at Kirsty’s Red Dog Tavern.
They became fast friends and continued a working and social relationship through Sutherland’s ownership of Ozzie’s Coffee Bar.
“As a business woman, she taught me so much. But she also taught me so much about being a woman in general through her no-nonsense approach, generosity, and her ability to speak her mind on a number of issues—no matter what anyone else thought,” Lester said.
Among the duo’s off-the-clock activities was attending an annual girls-only cocktail party hosted at the Barry family camp in Eagle Bay on the last Sunday in August.
Aside from the typical food and beverages, the event ultimately included conversations on Sutherland’s latest passion projects—which last year included the beautification of Eagle Bay.
According to Lester, Kirsty thought Eagle Bay to be somewhat of an unsung hero, sandwiched between the more prominent tourism destinations of Old Forge and Inlet.
She wanted to do something to make the tiny village a stand-out.
“But with summer coming to an end, Kirsty said we would pick up the discussion again in the spring,” Lester said.
Since then, Sutherland lost her life in a September 14 motorcyle accident, and ground was broken on the site of the new Eagle Bay visitor and restroom facility.
Unfortunately, the pine tree on the property that was traditionally decorated at Christmas-time for the Eagle Bay community had to be sacrificed for the project.
That’s when Lester came up with an idea to carry out her friend’s wishes.
On Sunday, August 25, she will host an All-Girls Cocktail Party at the site of the previous gatherings, 127 Eagle Point Road. The party will include beverages served by a surprise guest bartender and a variety of Kirsty’s signature appetizers.
A maximum 100 tickets will be sold at $20 each. All proceeds will be divided in support of Eagle Bay beautification projects and the Kirsty Sutherland Culinary Scholarship which is awarded to a Town of Webb School student interested in pursuing the culinary arts following graduation.
And with the funds, a new tree will be planted in Eagle Bay in Kirsty’s memory so that residents can continue to enjoy their tree lighting tradition.
For more information or tickets, contact Lester at lbarry3@hotmail.com. Checks can be sent to: Laura Lester, 388 Parker Ave., Buffalo, NY 14216.
Tickets are also available by calling Deb Barry at (315) 357-6602 and at the Weekly Adirondack office at 2982 State Route 28, Old Forge.
