MEET LORI-BETH MUNOZ

When asked what her role is as Real Art Ways’ new Hospitality Manager, LB Muñoz shrugs and smiles. “I throw the parties,” she says. The truth is a bit more complex.

Real Art Ways, one of the nation’s premier multi-disciplinary alternative arts spaces, is well known in Hartford for its thumping Creative Cocktail Hours. The third Thursday of each month, upwards of 500 people join together to celebrate the gallery opening of a new artist. LB is committed to making every month better than the one before it. “Our art is always of the highest caliber. My challenge is to make sure that the food, drinks, service and ambiance does the art justice.” What is far less known is that Real Art Ways has become a popular venue for private celebrations. The space has seen a Mardi Gras party featuring the Afro-Semitic Experience, numerous civic groups’ holiday parties, filmmakers premiering their independent features, Relay for Life’s cancer fundraising kickoff party, company team building activities and a Buddhist Valentines’ Day party, among others. “I am in the process of planning an evening of wine and cheese tasting and a funky bridal shower,”LB says. “Real Art Ways attracts people looking for a unique venue to host a really special kind of party.”

Above: Lori-Beth Munoz at the Real Artways Cocktail Hour

All consuming at present for LB is planning the upcoming Real pARTy, Real Art Ways’largest single fundraiser. “April 12th is fast approaching,” LB says, referring to the date of this year’s party. Arguably one of the best events that Hartford has to offer, the Real pARTy is a blow out, complete with over the top performances, killer food and drinks, dancing, a silent auction, a photo theater and the legendary Art Grab, where each guest scrambles to literally rip a piece of artwork off of the wall. Hartford Magazine was right when they said, "From artists to art collectors, politicians and businessmen, everyone who was anyone was at the Real pARTy." When LB is not taste-testing cocktails and counting down to April 12th, she is a diversity educator for the Anti-Defamation League. As a bi-racial woman, LB faced many biases throughout her youth before losing a friend in high school as a result of a bullying situation that ended in murder. She has since dedicated much of her life to breaking down the barriers caused by fear and hatred so that every child feels valued, respected and safe. Prior to joining Real Art Ways, LB was a Restaurant Manager for such industry leaders as Phil Romano, The Capital Grille and the Max Group. “I spent many years working hard to get to the top of the restaurant field. Now I have the chance to take what I know and apply it to an organization that I am very passionate about. It really is the best of both worlds for me.”