Aquarium Announces Plans for the 2009 Jellyfish Jubilee

The second annual Aquarium fundraiser promises a feast for all of the senses

Newport, Oregon—The Oregon Coast Aquarium is anticipating high turnout for
its second annual fundraiser, the Jellyfish Jubilee, September 19, 2009 from
6 – 10 pm. The inaugural event was a resounding success last September, with
the opening reception selling out. The 2nd annual Jellyfish Jubilee; A
Celebration of Food and Wine will again fill the Aquarium with the aromas,
tastes and sounds of exceptional Northwest cuisine, wines, music and a
silent auction benefitting the Aquarium’s exhibits and education programs.

The lineup so far includes thirteen of the region’s finest restaurants,
three wineries and a brewery, offering up their most tempting specialties in
a feast for all the senses celebrating the bounty of the great Pacific
Northwest. The evening will also include special animal encounters,
interpretive dives and behind the scenes tours of the Aquarium. Chefs and
vintners have been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to share their
passion for extraordinary food and wine during this unique event surrounded
by the shimmering waters of the Aquarium.

Jellyfish Jubilee Culinary Chair Mike Downing, Executive Chef and proprietor
of Quimby’s Restaurant in Newport, says he plans to serve his favorite dish
at the event, blackened ahi. “We’ll sauté it to order right there, seared
very fresh and served over chipotle lime sauce.” Downing, an award winning
chef who brought Quimby’s to Newport from San Diego County seven years ago,
has been cooking for 40 years. “My wife and I had a subscription to Oregon
Coast Magazine and I remember an article titled ‘Chasing Blue Holes’ which
was about looking for sunshine on the Oregon Coast. We knew we wanted to
live here and we finally made it happen.”

Downing is also an unabashed supporter of the Aquarium. “We always loved the
Aquarium when we came to visit and we’re happy to support the number one
visitor attraction on the coast,” said Downing. “This event is a chance to
enjoy wonderful food, music and mingling with like-minded people who aren’t
afraid to invest in a fabulous evening for a great cause.” Downing said this
year they plan to position compatible foods and wines next to each other so
people can sample different food/wine/beer pairings.

Participating restaurants so far include Quimby’s Restaurant, Bamboo Sushi,
Rogue Ales Brewery, Georgie’s Beachside Grill, Local Ocean Seafoods, The Bay
House, Tsunami Chocolate, Nana’s Irish Pub, Saffron Salmon, Bay 839, Chinook
Winds, Angel Job Corps Culinary and Savory Café.

Participating wineries and breweries so far include Stoller Vineyards, Belle
Vallee Cellars, Sokol-Blosser and Rogue Ales. More restaurants and wineries
are expected to join the fold as the date of the event draws nearer.

Tickets for admission to the 6-7 pm reception and 7-9 pm main event are
$125. Tickets to the 7-9 pm main event alone are $90. In either case,
Aquarium members qualify for a discount. Lodging discounts will be offered
by the Holiday Inn Express, The Whaler Motel, La Quinta Inn & Suites and
Shilo Inn. Visitors wishing to take advantage of lodging discounts must
mention they are attending the Jellyfish Jubilee.

Silent Auction items so far include an Alaska Cruise, packages Timberline,
The Heathman, Tyee Lodge, a Salishan golf package, tickets to the 2010 US
Amateur Golf Championship at Chambers Bay, a U of O Ducks package, and an
OSU Beavers package as well as many other items including restaurant
packages, surf packages and unique works of art.

West Coast Bank is the presenting sponsor of the Jellyfish Jubilee. Major
Sponsors include Leopold Ketel & Partners and Wildlife Trading Company of
New Mexico. Sponsors are Animal Medical Care of Newport and Ken and Marta
Thrasher. This year the event added a media sponsor, Northwest Palate, the
region’s premiere publication celebrating wine, food, and travel in the
Pacific Northwest.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational
attraction dedicated to the highest quality aquatic and marine science
programs for recreation and education so the public better understands,
cherishes, and conserves the world’s natural marine and coastal resources.
For more information, visit the Aquarium’s Web site at www.aquarium.org
<http://www.aquarium.org/>  or call (541) 867-FISH.   # # # #

Photo Caption: Jellyfish Jubilee Culinary Chair Mike Downing, Executive Chef
and proprietor of Quimby’s Restaurant in Newport, will serve a Quimby’s
favorite, seared blackened ahi at this year’s Jellyfish Jubilee September
19, 2009. Photo by Cindy Hanson, Oregon Coast Aquarium

Cindy Hanson
Public Relations Manager
Oregon Coast Aquarium
2820 SE Ferry Slip Rd / Newport, OR 97365
541.867.3474 x 5224 / 541.867.6846 (fax)
www.aquarium.org <http://www.aquarium.org/>

“Inspiring the public to better understand, cherish and conserve marine and
coastal ecosystems.”