TASTE & TREASURES

Historic November Club building on Locke Street

(Home of the Unitarian Universalist congregation)

Saturday, Nov. 21, 7 p.m.

Tickets cost $25

Information: www.andoverhistorical.org.

The taste of Taste & Treasures has a sparkling Spanish flavor this year. Since this is a benefit event for the Andover Historical Society, the list of treasures on the silent auction block has a nostalgic flair.

So, who better to offer up for bid a piece of Andover history than those with close ties to a former mom and pop downtown diner: a replicated booth scene from the former Ford's Coffee Shop on Main Street. Ford's was considered by many to be a town treasure in its day. Its 40-year history spanned from 1954 to 1994. It was owned by the late Thomas L. Koravos and his wife, Stella (Martakos) Koravos, longtime town residents.

Their daughter, Olivia Sintros of Andover, keeps a Ford's diner booth in her Elm Street basement. She's offering breakfast for six at the booth as one of the silent auction items at Taste & Treasures.

Are you a newbie in town who has never even heard of Ford's, and know only of Starbucks at the former Ford's location? Not a problem. Fast forward to 2009 and put your bid on a contemporary auction offering such as the exclusive private shopping event at Night & Day, a Park Street lingerie boutique.

"We're finding that people like to connect with auction items, so a lingerie party is great. You can bring friends," said Elaine Clements, executive director of the Andover Historical Society.

The Ford's offering is more nostalgic.

"Our mission is to connect people and we do that successfully through local stories," Clements said. "The Ford's item really connects local people because so many people remember it."

That connecting will be done as event-goers sip wine and munch Spanish tapas catered by Sandrino's Best of Thymes. This will be paired with three types of Spanish wines, including a sparkling wine.

Wine-sippers will browse the more traditional silent auction items, such as restaurant gift certificates, theater and concert tickets, and golfing packages to Andover Country Club and Indian Ridge Country Club.

The rest of the silent auction list includes:

dinner at the Lanam Club, Andover's private dining and social club

a private five hour Boston Harbor sail

a fur trimmed Pashmina wrap from Dino's International Furs

one of a kind hand knit and felted bags

an original framed "house portrait" by local artist Jim Batchelder

a private tour of the Massachusetts State House with lunch

unique vintage jewelry, home furnishings, and collectibles donated by Historical Society members.

Display kitchen

When Olivia Sintros moved into her parents home on Elm Street, she renovated the 1950s kitchen (pictured here). Outdated, yes, but the kitchen was well taken care of for many, many years. Sintros just couldn't throw it into a dumpster. Rather, she put it on e-Bay, offered it for $1,000, and the New Hampshire Historical Society bought it. It's now part of the group's "America's Kitchens" traveling exhibit that showcases the important role of kitchens throughout American history.

"America's Kitchens" is on display through Jan. 17, 2010, at the NHHS, located at 6 Eagle Square, Concord, N.H. Call 603-228-6688 for more info.