Community members gathered last year for the annual Dotini fundraiser cocktail party at Blend.

The Fields Corner Main Street organization is gearing up to host its annual fundraiser cocktail party, better known as Dotini, on Nov. 8 from 6 to 10 p.m. The purpose of the party is to celebrate the small business community, which “offers over 200 shops, services, and restaurants.”

According to their website, Fields Corner is one of the city’s biggest urban neighborhood business districts concentrated around the intersection of Dorchester Avenue and Adams Street. It also hosts a diverse community of Vietnamese, African American, Cape Verdean, Irish and Latino community members and businesses.

Dotini is held at Blend restaurant at 1310 Dorchester Ave.; attendees are asked to dress to impress for a fun night of drinks and community. Jackey West Devine, executive director of Fields Corner Main Street, shared more about the purpose and the history of the annual celebration.

“[Dotini] is our annual fundraiser and cocktail party to celebrate the small business community, the achievements of our neighborhood and to raise funds for the future years coming up, and it’s a celebration that we’ve had for over 10 years now,” she said.

Devine also said that the celebration was developed by the former director of Fields Corner Main Street, Evelyn Darling, in collaboration with Ashmont Main Street. Eventually, Fields Corner became the main owner of the event. She also shared what attendees can expect to see and experience at this year’s event.

“It’s going to be amazing. So, first of all, the company can’t be beat. It’s always the best vibes. There’s going to be food from the great chefs at Blend. …If you haven’t been to Blend to dance yet, you should come to Dotini, because not only is it an earlier night, but the DJs are the same, and they are just the best,” she said.

Devine also said there will be a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle, along with two new additions: swag for sale designed by local graphic designer and illustrator Miguel Angel Sheppard and three ticket levels to choose from: $50 for the regular ticket, $70 for the VIP ticket with a swag bag and extra drink ticket and $200 for five tickets for the price of four.

“I can guarantee you that if you come to Dotini, everyone in the room are people who love Fields Corner, that they love Dorchester, and that’s an empowering room to be in there. You can’t make a replacement for the smile that you get when you make eye contact with someone, when you dance with someone, or when you toast with someone; there’s nothing else that can replace that,” she said. “The connections are real.”