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Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Casino scores with bid for 'Cowboy Caviar Fete' titles

By CHRISTINE FREY
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

It wasn't Sotheby's, but Sit 'n Bull Saloon and Restaurant served the purpose.

A small group of Conconully residents gathered there Sunday night with a laptop computer and dial-up Internet connection to watch the final bidding in the town's eBay auction.

 Map

When it was all over, the rights to preside over the north-central Washington town's "Cowboy Caviar Fete" -- a summer culinary festival of bull testicles -- sold for $1,225.

"That's when we started squealing," said Shelley Robideau, president of the town's chamber of commerce.

Online casino GoldenPalace.com won the auction to be King and Queen of the Ball, placing its bid in the last few seconds of the auction.

The casino -- known for its other unusual eBay purchases, including a grilled cheese sandwich that is said to bear an image of the Virgin Mary -- has not yet decided whom it will send to Conconully, said Jon Wolf, who does marketing for the casino.

"It'll be a nice vacation for somebody," he said.

The king and queen will present the Balls to the Wall award to the restaurant that wins the town's culinary contest, held this year June 18.

Each of Conconully's three restaurants will prepare dishes with bull testicles; for $10, ticket holders can sample the fare and vote on their favorites.

The event sold about 60 tickets last year, the first time the town of about 200 held the fete.

Organizers may have to order extra provisions this year to accommodate the interest generated by the eBay auction, which drew around 5,000 page views in the 10 days it was online.

But seating is limited, Robideau warned. The chamber will offer only 500 tickets.

In the meantime, the town is waiting to find out who will assume its crown.

"Whoever comes up here, we're going to treat them really well," said Sue Christensen, chamber vice president. "Just like the royalty they are."

On the Web: Conconully Chamber of Commerce.

P-I reporter Christine Frey can be reached at 206-448-8176 or christinefrey@seattlepi.com

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