For the first time ever Gilt Bar, a Michelin Bib Gourmand winning restaurant, opens its doors on Monday night. The occasion? A dinner honoring The Voices and Faces Project.

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Brendan and Jean labored over our multi-course, created-just-for-us menu. Just call it gastronomy for a very good cause.

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Voices and Faces Project supporter Kemery Bloom and friends check in at the door.

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Gilt Bar famously loves candlelight (and not much other light). If it makes us look this glowy, we do too.

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Members of The Voices and Faces Project with artist Gabriela Morawetz.

Russell Strand, a keynote speaker at the End Violence Against Women International Conference, stops by for a drink - and stays for three. Yes, the cocktails were that good.

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The famous front bar at Gilt, and the bartenders who make it worth your trip.

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Imbibing, exclusively: Gilt Sommelier Jean Tomaro created a custom cocktail menu just for us, and just for the night.

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The staff at Gilt Bar is gracious - and great fun. They made our Voices and Faces Project dinner truly special.

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We love it when our uber-cool waiter wears a shirt that reminds us of our grandmother's wallpaper. And we mean that in the best possible way.

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DJ Scott curated a reel-to-reel mix of vintage-meets modern tunes for us. Our favorite musical moment? Catching the opening notes of Van Morrison's "Sweet Thing." Brilliant.

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CAASE's Kaethe Morris Hoffer, author Jamie Kalven with a member of The Voices and Faces Project staff.

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New City Publisher Brian Hieggelke with a member of The Voices and Faces Project.

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There was not a dry eye in the house after this performance. Thank you, Gilt, for such a gorgeous, operatic surprise.

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Brava!

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Longtime Voices and Faces Project supporter Jennifer Spargo Mitchell (left) and Voices and Faces Project founder Anne K. Ream enjoying the opera performance.

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Brava, again!

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Gilt Bar owner Brendan Sodikoff, Gilt Sommelier Jean Tomaro and Voices and Faces Project founder Anne Ream.

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And then Al Pacino showed up, and the party began.

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Nico (our littlest guest) holds court. With his Shirley Temple and stuffed animal nearby.

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Heading into the afterparty, in black & white.

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Their food and drinks? Fantastic. But what really impresses us about Gilt Bar is their unfailing support of our work to end violence against women. Gilt really is good.

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Aaah, the delicious taste of supporting a good cause. On April 11th, Michelin Bib Gourmand Award-winning restaurant Gilt Bar opened its doors to host a benefit dinner to honor the work of The Voices and Faces Project. Guests enjoyed a special menu, created by Gilt impresario Brendan Sodikoff, a selection of wines and never-been-done before cocktails curated by sommelier Jean Tomaro, and a brilliant selection of reel-to-reel, vintage-meets-modern tunes, mixed by our fave Chicago music man, DJ Scott McNiece. The best surprise of the night? The team at Gilt surprised The Voices and Faces Project and invited opera singer Rebecca Royster to perform an ethereal set that resulted in a standing ovation (and not a dry eye in the house). Special thanks to our “Gilt is Good” event co-hosts: Jean Tomaro and Brendan Sodikoff at Gilt Bar, and Anne K. Ream of The Voices and Faces Project.

100% of proceeds from the “Gilt is Good” event will benefit The Voices and Faces Project and counterquo.org. Recently named one of "America's Best Charities" by the board of directors of Independent Charities of America, The Voices and Faces Project is working to change minds, hearts and public policies on sexual violence and trafficking, through the power of storytelling. We need your support to continue our work. Donate Today.