TORONTO - How much would you spend to have dinner with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford?

Someone shelled out $6,000 to have Ford over for dinner - one of the auction items up for bid at the

Mayor's Ball for the Arts Monday night.

Coun. Doug Ford trumpeted the sold-out event - the first one in 10 years - that attracted about 1,000 people and raised $1 million for the Toronto Arts Foundation.

Ford said he was surprised the auctioned-off dinner with the mayor fetched $6,000.

"Boy, you just have to offer Rob a free meal and he'll show up, not $6,000," his brother joked Tuesday.

A boat cruise with the mayor and 16 others was won with a bid of $9,000.

While Mayor Ford hasn't been characterized for his love of the arts, Coun. Ford disagreed.

"That's a misnomer," he said. "What mayor went into two plays? He supports the arts. He's opened his arms to the arts community.

"Rob was enthused last night."

Coun. Ford predicted next year's Mayor's Ball for the Arts may raise even more money.

"Maybe $1.5 million next year," he said.