Duke’s was the place to be for Malibu animal lovers last Friday.
The occasion was a SIP Malibu Grapes Pop-Up party. There was a variety of local wines to sip, fresh hummus to dip as well as cheese and salami plates, chicken skewers and coconut shrimp.
The music was classic soft rock favorites and the dress was beach kick back cool.
SIP Malibu Grapes Wine Bar in historic Old Malibu was a beloved hangout to check out local varieties and catch up with friends and family.
All that changed late last year when the Woosley Fire swept through the Malibu Hills, destroying everything in its path, including the much-loved wine bar.
As we all know, Malibu is strong and so is SIP. So, to help rebuild and heal the community, SIP came up with an original idea. It designed a series of fun wine and food events all across town to lift the Malibu spirit.
“We’ve established extraordinary events at cool venues that will bring together the best food, wine and entertainment to help the community,” said one SIP spokesman, adding that, “When one door closes another one opens. Determined to make a difference, support the community and reinvent SIP Malibu grapes, we created this new concept series.”
The events will help first responders, children’s hospitals and education, medical research, animal rescue and placement, music and art, and local schools and organizations.
The first pop-up event benefited a community treasure, the California Wildlife Center, which does so much for Malibu wildlife, be it tiny squirrels or large marine animals. SIP says for all its events it guarantees a great time and community togetherness.
Founded in 1998, California Wildlife Center is a nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of California wildlife.
CWC cares for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife by giving quality medical care and rehabilitation and releasing them back into the wild. They go by the three Rs: rescue, rehabilitation and release.
Once an animal receives a clean bill of health and has been behaviorally conditioned for life back in the wild, it is returned to its natural environment.
While the CWC did suffer damage, everyone—big and small—made it out OK.
Said one CWC staffer, “The fact that we are still standing is just plain good luck.”