| October
1, 2003 Dino
Auction Extravaganza Makes Tracks for Pittsburgh Charities
DinoMiteSM Days Dinosaurs Find New, Permanent Homes
PITTSBURGH,
PA – After four months adorning Pittsburgh’s parks,
plazas and streets, the DinoMite Days dinosaurs are making
their way back to the art exhibit’s warehouse to prepare
for a month-long online dinosaur auction extravaganza.
Enter
the Prehistoric Portal
Beginning today, a “prehistoric portal” will open
on the Web. Anyone interested in a piece of Jurassic art can
log onto www.dinomitedays.org to place a bid for one of the
uniquely decorated DinoMite Days dinosaurs. The winning bids’
proceeds will benefit local charities, as well as Carnegie
Museum of Natural History’s world famous “Dinosaur
Hall.” Half of the auction’s proceeds will benefit
the “Dinosaur Hall” renovation and expansion,
while the other half will assist the not-for-profit organization
of the “sponsaur’s” choice.
“Becoming
involved in the DinoMite Days auction is a worthwhile cause
and great way to show support for Pittsburgh institutions,”
said Bill DeWalt, director of Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
“We are making it easy for anyone to take home a piece
of this very memorable outdoor art exhibit by accepting bids
throughout the month of October.”
Lights,
Camera, Auction!
Carnegie Museum of Natural History, with guidance from Pittsburgh’s
online experts Assets Auction, specially designed an innovative,
virtual jungle for the DinoMite Days auction. As part of the
online auction, all of the dinosaurs have been designated
into three different lots, with most bids starting as low
as $1,000.
The sale
of “Lot 1” dinosaurs will take place from October
1 through October 22, “Lot 2” bidding will take
place from October 1 through October 27, and “Lot 3”
bids will be closed November 2. Simply register through the
DinoMite Days Web site and start bidding.
Auction
& Gala — An Event of Jurassic Proportions
In addition to the online dinosaur auction, Carnegie Museum
of Natural History is hosting a black-tie gala event to help
raise additional funds for its “Dinosaur Hall,”
as well as various Pittsburgh charities. On October 18, the
new David L. Lawrence Convention Center will roll out the
red carpet and set the scene for a prehistoric event of Jurassic
proportions.
“This event
is going to be spectacular,” said Susie Perelman, co-chair
of DinoMite Days. “From waterfalls to palm trees to
rocks larger than the dinosaurs themselves, the new Convention
Center will be transformed into an exotic, prehistoric jungle.
And, the best part is that all of the event’s proceeds
will benefit the city’s charities and museum.”
To enhance
the event’s magical scenery, authentic props from all
three Jurassic Park movies will arrive from Hollywood
to adorn the Convention Center halls. Guests will enjoy entertainment
by vibrant bird stilt walkers directly from Disney’s
theme parks in Orlando and tribal drummers who are helping
to set the stage. Twenty-six DinoMite Days dinosaurs will
be onsite for attendees to bid on. For those who can’t
attend the gala, the live auction dinosaurs will be available
via live simulcast at the event from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m.
Individuals who
would like to participate in the DinoMite Days auction who
don’t have room for a dinosaur at home can take part
in a silent egg auction at the black-tie gala. Decorated dinosaur
eggs, autographed by celebrities, athletes and designers,
will be up for bid during the auction. (Eggs decorated by
area school children will also be available to purchase at
the gala for $25). Guests may also purchase the DinoMite Days
coffee table book, t-shirts and other related merchandise
at the affair. One lucky gala-goer will go home with a dinosaur
for as little as $100, as raffle tickets for one special prehistoric
friend will be available on site at the gala. The winner will
be announced at the end of the auction.
Key government
officials, corporate and not-for-profit “sponsaurs"
and beneficiaries will be offering comments and placing bids
for their favorite dinosaurs and eggs. The price to attend
the entire Gala evening, including dinner and the auction,
is $200.00 per person.
Jurassic Jungle After Party
Pittsburghers will have a chance to participate in a prehistoric
party after the auction at the Convention Center. Entertainment
for the after-hour crowd in the “Jurassic Jungle”
begins at 10:00 p.m. on October 18 and will continue until
2:00 a.m. as New York’s hottest DJ, Lady Bunny, keeps
everyone dancing the night away. Tickets to this event are
included for gala attendees and can also be purchased individually
-- $40.00 in advance and $50.00 at the door. Everyone is invited
to partake in desserts, drinks, dancing and more!
A Final
Dinosaur Farewell
After the October 18 gala and “Jurassic Jungle”
party, Carnegie Museum of Natural History invites Pittsburgh
families to stomp over to the David L. Lawrence Convention
Center for the Dollar Bank Family Day.
On October
19, families can bid a final farewell to the 100 DinoMite
Days dinosaurs before they make tracks to their permanent,
new homes. Mr. McFeely, of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,
will deliver a day of family fun. From revealing the People’s
Choice Awards for the city’s favorite dinosaurs to announcing
the winner of the Rafflesaurus, a dinosaur that individuals
can buy raffle tickets to win, this day promises to be filled
with games, a scavenger hunt, paleontological demonstrations
and surprises.
For more
information about the final era of DinoMite Days, please visit
www.dinomitedays.org
or contact Sophie Nassif at 412/456-3472.
About
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Founded in 1895, Carnegie Museum of Natural History ranks
among the six largest natural history museums in the United
States, with more than 20 million specimens, objects and artifacts.
The museum is the world's third-largest repository of dinosaur
fossils and contains one of the world's greatest collections
of publicly displayed dinosaur skeletons, as well as one of
the foremost collections of gems and minerals. The museum
is a distinguished research institution and a dynamic, family-friendly
destination.
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