More than 150 San Antonians raised money for the San Antonio Public Library Foundation (SAPFL) by trekking through more than a dozen countries … all in one evening.

Well, not literally. Just literarily.
 
Supporters of the SAPLF gathered at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio on January 14 to decorate tables in the theme of a favorite book. It was all part of a dinner and table design contest that used Anne Tyler’s Accidental Tourist as its overarching theme. France, New York, South Africa, Japan, Russia and India, among other places, were represented, and homage was paid to novels, travel literature and travel guides ranging from Doctor Zhivago and Memoirs of a Geisha to In a Sunburned Country and Frommer’s Texas.
 
The Grand Hyatt San Antonio, a community partner of the SAPFL, was a grand protagonist in elevating the Foundation’s cause: The Hyatt underwrote the venue, lighting, music, staff, all the food, bar and rooms for special guests. In all, the event raised $12,705 for the SAPLF.
 
New York interior designer and San Antonio native Todd Romano and Texas chef and author Rebecca Rather served as judges for the table contest. In case you are wondering … the winner: "Studio 54" by John Bloodsworth and Suzanne Cooper.  See more pictures of the event here.