Written by:
Demetria Daniels

P: 212-332-9991

718-885-6576 A chatty, informative column of New York events featuring places, people and personalities and celebrities. demetriadaniels@gmail.com

 
Some wonderful events have been taking place in New York. Our hero from SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, JOHN TRAVOLTA received the Stella Adler award at the Rainbow Room along with Seven Speilberg , Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee. He is very cute. It was a magnificent setting, the stars were out everywhere. Roy Scheider did the MCing and Patti Lupone sang . Sidney
Lumet presented an award and the Boys Choir of Harlem sang - what a performance - it was great.

And then there were the 80's in retrospect, with Patrick McMullens new photography book SO80'S. His Mother was telling me how he used to pin up celebrity photos on a board when he was young. While I was writing my column for DOWNTOWN, Patrick was going to nightclubs to shoot. And even Rudolf made it to Avalon for the afterparty following the photography opening at Spike. Patrick's son Liam was there too - I haven't seen him since he was a youngster - now he is very tall and studying film. I rode over with Colette and Oliver Rish - favorite 80's people. But Patrick - tell me why am I not in the book?


ABE HIRSFIELD is running for U>S> Senate - He's got great jokes and personality and owns the Pennsylvania Hotel . Everyone should read his book 'CRAZY AND IN CHARGE'. It's terrific and so is he.
posted by Demetria at 3:39 PM

 
Hi everyone. Am working part-time at Radio City Music Hall and have seen the show several times. Santa is eveywhere and coming soon. The Rockettes are in perfect form and the ice-skating scene is truly spectacular ---I am nourishing tradition as I went there as a child.
It feels like home. Maybe some of you caught the FRANK SINATRA show? P.S. Today is my Birthday.
posted by Demetria at 6:02 PM

 
I am going to carve pumpkins soon, before Halloween with a friend, then I am going to scoop out the contents and make pumpkin pies - should be fun.

I went to a preview party for STELLA BY STARLIGHT - an event to celebrate the legacy of Stella Adler. It was held at the National Arts Club and sponsored by Club President Aldon James, Sidney Lumet, Eli Wallach & Anne Jackson. It seems every major actor has studied at her studio, including WARREN BEATTY, CANDICE BERGEN, KEVIN COSTNER ROBERT DENIRO, RHONDA FLEMING, MELANIE GRIFFITH, HARVEY KEITEL, ANTHONTY QUINN, to name a few.



The gala event will be on November 17 at the Rainbow room. The honorees for the evening are STEVEN SPIELBERG, JOHN TRAVOLTA, OSSIE DAVIS & RUBY DEE.

The chairmen are MARLON BRANDO, ROY SCHEIDER & MIKE MEDAVOY. Other names attached to the evening are the very gracious couple DAVID BROWN & HELEN GURLEY BROWN, TAMMY GRIMES, DINA MERRILL, SUSAN SARANDON, CHRISTOPHER WALKEN, RICHARD DREYFUSS, TONY LO BIANCO, FRANK LANGELLA, SIDNEY LUMET. I can't wait. Ms. Adler's studio opened in 1949. It was endowed by social, intellectural cultural and political awareness of the world beyond theatre. The funds from the evening will help increase student scholarships, expand community outreach programs and support expansion of its million-dollar facility at 31 West 27 Street.


posted by Demetria at 1:36 PM

 
There are photos and memorabilia of BOB HOPE in a case with his favorite jokes marked off on the INTREPID. I was there for the JR CIGAR party. A beautiful sunset of coral and orange acted as the backdrop for 1,600 men and me. Set with bars and buffet and rock n' roll music, I took a tour of the planes, some which could fly at Mach 3, (thats 1,800 miles per hour). It was a great event - eveyone was puffing away.

I had once been on the INDEPENDENCE aircraft carrier. It was moored off of Cannes, France and I attended the concert on board, sitting close enough to HER ROYAL HIGHNESS GRACE KELLY OF MONACO who indeed was beautiful and I said bonjour. My french was getting better at that point since I was studying in Cannes for the summer and practicing on the beach. Au revoir.
posted by Demetria at 2:19 PM

 
DAVE MATHEWS BAND played at the AOL concert in Central Park. It was sponsored by the corporation and presented by CAROLINE KENNEDY.
I didn't have a ticket - just went. I followed the crowds at E. 85 Street and at the gate,
I showed them my press pass. They said I wasn't on the list. So I started to walk
with a group of people through the park . In the middle of the cross road, I saw some people heading up stairs towards the white tents. So I followed them. And I followed them straight into the tents where the AOL cocktail reception was going on. Lots of finger food and open bars. I was having a good time and when the concert started, we were near the front of the stage, with nice blankets to sit on. I turned to some of the 20-year olds and told them that the message of some of the songs reminded me of Bob Dylan. They hadn't heard of him - I guess there was a generation gap there.


posted by Demetria at 2:04 PM

 
September has been a busy month. The DALAI LAMA spoke in Central Park. RICHARD GERE introduced him citing a Rumi poem and speaking of the park as a "green cathedral". His holiness, spoke with humor for more than an hour. His message was peace and non-violence, and compassion. He joked and said that "New York has become more spiritual', as more throngs of people kept coming into the sunny grounds.
I consider myself lucky to have been there and I have a photo of him now.
posted by Demetria at 1:50 PM

 

posted by Demetria at 1:32 PM

 

posted by Demetria at 1:30 PM

 
Ted Rebich followed his dream and created MAP, management for artists & production, a theater / art gallery at 42 Ann Street. Even after 9/ll when there was grey ash covering every square inch of the theater which holds 85 seats, and all his friends telling him to abandon the idea, he held fast and is now showing plays and turning it into a cultural center for dowtown. A recent production was THE BONFIRE IS OUT, by Frank Craven who also has a TV show -" What's Ailing/Healing America".

The play depicts, an attack on freedom in Catalonia, 1794, Chili, 1973, and 9/ll
New York. Frank's talent runs in the family; his grandfather acted with MARLENE DIETRICH in "Pittsburg", and LON CHANEY in "Son of Dracula".

There are a series of vignettes that make up the play; covering God, capitalism, politics, religion and everything in between. We look forward to more plays at MAP.

posted by Demetria at 2:44 PM

 
Today is September 11, 2003. I cried as Iheard the names read off this morning at the World Trade Center site and thought all about those people that died. It has been a sad day. I wrote this poem after it happened two years ago:

A CHESTNUT TREE
by Demetria Daniels

I WENT TO PICK THE CHESTNUTS FROM THE TREE
ON THIS DAY OF MOURNING
THEY HAD FALLEN IN THEIR SPINEY SHELL
AND I FOUND THREE ON WET GROUND
SOMEHOW THEY MADE ME FEEL BETTER
FOR I HAVE FELT SO BAD, SO SAD FOR MY COUNTRY

FOR I HAD STOOD ON THE ROOF AND WATCHED TWO TOWERS DISAPPEAR
THREE DAYS LATER, I AM WITH TEARS

I WATCHED THE BURNING , I WATCHED THE SMOKE
THJINKING TO MYSELF, IS THIS A JOKE?

BUT NO JOKE IT WAS , A VIRTUAL REALITY

THE ACRID SMELL FLOATED IN THE AIR,
TO BROOKLYN AND ABROAD, LIKE A PYRE, I COULD SEE THE FIRE,
LIGHTING THE BLUE CLOUDLESS SKY, AND THEN JUST SMOKE
STILL NO JOKE

AND I FELT LIKE A FOOL, DUMBED AND NUMB, UNABLE TO SPEAK TO THIS FREAK
PICTURE IN THE SKY.

ISLAM HAD CRUSHED NEW YORK TO CRIPPLE DEMOCRACY
IN THEIR HYPOCISY
AND I SAW ALLAH, RIDING A BLACK HORSE,
SWINGING A SWORD AND CARRYING THE KORAN
AND I WONDERED

WAS THAT THE WORD, OF OUR GOD
OR SOME MONSTER BY THIS BARBARIC MOB

HAS OIL SO WON, SHALL WE TURN TO BUTTER
OR TO THE OLIVES FROM THE TREES?

SO AS I PICK UP CHESTNUTS, FALLEN IN THEIR SPINEY SHELL
AS ALL THE DEMONS ARE TURNED LOOSE FROM HELL
I CRY FOR ALL THOSE LIVES LOST, AND ALL THOSE SOULS,
NO MOR DREAMS, NO MORE GOALS.

ASHES TO ASHES, DUST TO DUST, WHERE IS OUR DEFENSE SYSTEM, GONE TO RUST?

THIS IS A PLAN, OF WELL FIVE YEARS,
HURTING US, BRINGING US TO TEARS,

AND BEFORE THEY CRASHED AND BEFORE THEY DIED,
THEY SCREAMED ALLAH IN THEIR PRIDE,

BUT OUR PRESIDENT HAS SPOKE,
BLINDED WITH TEARS, THAT WE WILL OVERCOME
WITHIN YEARS, EACH FLAME LIT,
A VIGIL DONE, WE WILL WAGE WAR
AND MAKE THEM RUN.

AND FROM THOSE ASHES, THE FLAG STILL FLIES,
WORLD TRADE WILL GO ON ,
AND THE PHOENIX WILL RISE,
AND I WILL GO
BACK TO THE PARK
TO FIND MORE CHESTNUTS,
FALLEN FROM THEIR BARK.

SEPT 14, 2001
posted by Demetria at 8:25 PM

 
Hi everybody.

Well, I hope everyone survived the 2003 BLACKOUT. My own story went llike this.
I was meeting someone up in the seventies at a trendy social restaurant and when I got there that person was not there and everyone was already talking about the blackout. I was sitting at the bar speaking Greek to the bartender. Then as time progressed, I thought I would try calling someone I knew in the vicinity. Luck had it that the person was in .
"This is Demetria, I'm stuck, the trains aren't working...buses aren't moving" was
my message. "Come on over" was the generous reply.

Well, around the corner I went to a lovely apartment with a 100 foot terrace filled with plants. The barbecue was beginning. The wine was ample, there was another guest there and the three of us began the evening.
We watched as they put flares up on the corner of East 72 Street. Then came the traffic directors rerouting the second avenue buses down to York Avenue.
And as we sat down to a lovely meal, dining "al fresco" under two stars, we heard bagpipes a playing.
The conversation was extremely lively - we discussed the situation and the last two blackouts that New York survived before - the one in 1967 and , and 1977.
Then we got on to every topic under the moon. I was siting with two specialist in African economics so we talked aout how sweet the Ethiopians are and and President Bush's recent trip there and the world monetary situation and various cheeses and colemans mustard which my host buys in London for 75 cents a jar - and a great recipe for curried rice, which we were eating and the best place to buy feta cheese ( in Astoria naturally) and the wines from Australia - which we were drinking.
So, by that time it was midnight - we had a great dinner party - everyone went to bed, happy and content.
Next morning we turned on the radio, listened to the reports, had coffee and eggs fritata. Then, I hopped on the bus - it was free - thank you Mayor Bloomberg. Down to the Manhattan bridge, over the water to downtown Brooklyn, on another buses to where I was going. It took three hours for me to reach my destinatiion, safe, a little tired and grateful for a wonderful time.
Only in New York could this happen. I survived in great condition. What a city I live in - its the best.

posted by Demetria at 11:20 AM

 

posted by Demetria at 2:43 PM

 
Run to see DEREK TRUNK and his orchestra at Town Hall. I haven't heard instrumentals like that since "Canadian Sunset" or any Max Steiner score. The score for the silent movie The Black Pirate was with the Alloy Orchestra - they are phenomenal. The movie was written and directed by DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS JR. from 1926.
posted by Demetria at 4:03 PM

 
Well, I finally made it to the Hamptons - to the Tavern where there was a negligee fashion show called "The Pink Slips"going on and bottles of wine were selling for $300 a bottle and Cristal for $900 a bottle ( does anyone really pay that?). They were really nice to me; I had put Ruffy in my bag and they helped me get in and out OK, in between the mob scenes. DAN RATON was the MC. He's beginning to make his mark in New York with roles on TV and film - I predict he is on his way to stardom so watch for him. As we were leaving the throngs were screaming for ASHANTI who was rumored to arrive at the bewitching hour. The next day we make it to the famous Greek Festival - and danced up a storm with kalamatianos.
posted by Demetria at 10:29 AM

 
HAPPY JULY 4TH everyone. This year I went on my roof to see the magnificent view of the fireworks from New Jersey, Downtown New York and in the East River. I loved the one in red with "NY" cap letters - that must have taken some doing; it's an art in itself -pyrotechnics -
invented by the Chinese some time ago and perpetuated by MACYS every year. We thank you .

I've been beaching it but took time to see WYNTON MARSALIS and his orchestra. What a magnificent performance - and all those men are so good looking. But I have never heard piano played like that - Eric Lewis - is his name . And the other guys - just great; they performed at Lincoln Center where everyone is dancing outside by the fountain these days and again at CELEBRATE BROOKLYN- I'm heading back to the beach now working on my tan of course.


posted by Demetria at 1:57 PM

 
At CELEBRATE BROOKLYN , the crowds went wild with SAW DOCTORS - the Irish Group that is touring the US. Dave, the lead said he "loves Brooklyn". I asked him how they got the name- "from the men in Ireland that go from town to town to sharpen the saws that people own". If you haven't heard them yet, run out and buy their CD, you won't be disappointed. The crowd was standing on their feet the whole time; oh, I forgot to mention - but what else is new this June - it was pouring pouring rain.So, I was mesmerized and moved closer to the stage. I was in the first row dancing with the 9- year olds when someone from backstage came to the front of the stage and practically handed me a plastic inflatible ' green hulk' doll. So, there I was dancing with the green hulk and playing him as a puppet. Well, after the show, their organizer Ollie gave me their CD. I went home to get Ruffy, and while I was walking him, there was the band heading to the local saloon. I wound up there with Ruffy (my dog) telling them how great I thought they were . The rest of the summer concerts are bound to be as great. Bring a picnic. Oh, just in case, bring an umbrella.
posted by Demetria at 3:31 PM

 
It was pouring pouring rain at the SORRENTO CHEESE FESTIVAL in Little Italy where FRANK SINATRA JR gave a concert
with his 20-piece orchestra. Fred Herman, corporate director of Marketing for Sorrento, SAID " our company is committed to supporting Italian-American culture all over the United States. Downtown suffered greatly as a result of 9/ll. This festival and the free concerts shows support for this great city and exciting community".
Mr. Sinatra sounds almost like his Father whose concerts I heard at Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall. And since I am an old-fashioned gal, I swooned at some of the numbers he sang from his latest CD "AS I REMEMBER IT' which is a tribute to his Father and the arrangers and composers . "Night and Day", "I've Got The World On a String", "Three Coins in the Fountain" ( I remember that great movie),"My Way" and yes the theme from New York, New York. The crowd was moving and singing along.
At the reception afterwards, I asked Mr. Sinatra how he felt - "all wet", and the crowd was very patient". We were "all wet" too , but
that didn't hamper our joy at being there and hearing those good old songs, from the good old days.
I guess one could say, "we love you Mr. Sinatra and thank you".

His early album "Spice" was released in 1971, followed by "His Way", and "It's All Right", In 1988, he joined his father's staff as musical director. Sometimes fate ( and smart booking agents), brought him and his Father to the same place. In different rooms
the press called that an "eclipse", On the rare occasions both appeared in the same hotel, the event was dubbed "a total eclipse".
But for sure, wherever he sings, the stars are out shining brilliantly.
posted by Demetria at 2:31 PM

 
At the Peace Concert organized by Florence Bocarius, we heard a "Hymn for Peace", written by Hans Corell, read at the United Nations General Assembly and put to music by Joseph Turrin, the brilliant composer who has written for the NY Philharmonic. The Counsel General of Belgium , Stephane De Loecker,said the concert was magnificent. A World War - which carries greater weight, when with his world, amongst the suns beyond the misty Milky Way, the most high sits in judgement, eternal, mild and wise- a busy ant-hill's fate or that of Rome? Florence wants us all to grow "peace roses".
I finally made the end of the Tribeca Film Festival where at the private screening and dinner at Le Cirque, for Bob Evans, another producer David Brown and his wife Helen Gurly Brown saw the film of his life - The Boy is Still Here" - about the ups and downs of Hollywood.

Mayor Bloomberg attended the Brooklyn Bridge Celebration hosted by Brooklyn President Marty Markowitz. Dinner, and a performance by the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra as well as fireworks and a big cake were features of the evening

The Guggenheim show of Mathew Barney is causing a sensation in New York. Run up and see it. For an art historian like me, I found it intellectually stimulating ; I ran around looking for the Masonic symbols - compass, plum, - but when I found the name Hiram Abiff mentioned, I did research that yielded that he is to the Masons what Christ is to the Christians. He was murdered and resurected by King Solomon - which then presents religious signifigance to the show. There is also a lot of kitsch thrown in too.
posted by Demetria at 2:58 PM

 
Hollywood should make an old time musical starring the SULLIVAN family. Eight members and they all can sing. Oscar-Winner PATRICIA NEAL, who starred with PAUL NEWMAN in HUD, watched as the SULLIVANS took the stage at CARNEGIE RECITAL HALL. MOTHER ELIZABETH SULLIVAN, surrounded by her singing children sang her own songs both alone and in unison. First, she told the story of her Scotch/Irish roots and her heritage from Kansas to Oklahoma. Raised on a farm, she met her husband in high school, they marrried and raised the children. They had a special room called the music room. New York has heard daughter KT SULLIVAN sing at the Algonquin Hotel many times. I was at her wedding concert when she married Steve Downey. The rest of the family, Tim, Robin, Stacy, Pat, Heather all have separate shows, some at Danny's Skylight room. As Steve said - "they are just like the Von Trapp family except they all have their own CDs."
posted by Demetria at 12:43 PM

 
GARY RAY, who appeared with MADONNA in Desperately Seeking Susan has directed a wonderful short play for the Two Chairs & A Table festival at the Pantheon Theater. He also stars in one of the productions. He is a brilliant director for sure
posted by Demetria at 5:43 PM

 
At the ARGENTINE CONSULATE, an art installation with lights, sand, mobiles, more sand occupied the entire second floor. And the great news is that you can go there to dance the tango at lunch time. They will give you free lessons. I know I'm going. When we were children and used to sail to Greece, they always played tangos in the lounge - what a great journey it used to be.
posted by Demetria at 1:40 PM

 
Hi - The Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, H.E. DAN GILLERMAN spoke at the private viewing of "Sharing the Light" - photographs by Tomer Ganihar which had been exhibitied at the UN. He spoke about the "inovative spirit of Israel." My favorite was an abstracted vision of the parting of the Red Sea which divided the canvass on the diagonal. Using blurred images, it looked like heaven and earth. His favorite subject is people dancing - at least they are having a good time...and are not at war.

And thank heavens that the war with Iraq is over and the POW's are back. Lets be thankful for that.

JAMIE deROY and friends appeared at the West Bank Cafe. She is an amazing performer and sings like a bird, both solo and in a duet. I was lucky to see her new video on Broadway with all the greats being interviewed and clips of the past with dancing and singing going on - I would love to see it in a book with audio/visual discs attached. The viewing was sponsored by New York Women in Film and legend actress and singer SHIRLEY MACRAY was there telling stories about growing up in England.

Keeping in the music mode I attended the film called DUKE ELLINGTON: Memories of Duke by filmmaker GARY KEYES - It was part of the Brooklyn Jazz Festival and it featured footage of Ellington classics like "Satin Doll," "Take the A Train", and an unreleased "Mexican Suite" Lots of clips of the Duke playing. It made me want to dance.

Happy Birthday to THE NEW YORK SUN. Gary Shapiro who writes their column "Knickerbocker" and I did the rounds together . We started at the book party for Mr. Tally of Vogue where all the high fashion world was in attendance: ANNA WINTOUR, MARY McFADDEN, and C.Z.GUEST came. I sat down for a few minutes and I wish I heard what NAN KEMPNER said to me on her way out. Then we went to the PEN dinner at the Pierre where past TALK editor TINA BROWN presided over the award ceremony.

I had been to the opening party for TALK on Liberty Island - the absolutely BEST party ever in New York - a outdoor picnic with baskets on the lawn and Japanese lanterns hanging from strings, and a big band playing and taking the ferry there after a private reception hosted by Miramax President HARVEY WEINSTEIN. We all know he just had a wining Oscar film - Chicago, staring NICOLE KIDMAN. I stood right next to ROBERT DE NIROand GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOSwas at the party - and I got a light for my candle from his Father at the Greek Cathedral for Greek Easter night this last weekend. CHRISTOS ANESTEE to all my Greek friends.
The Humane Society celebrated the winners of a design competition to support animal protection at Felissimo Design House. Its a three -part contest and will terminate in Paris with the international winner. I was told that my favorite Hollywood star ELIZABETH TAYLOR lived in the House on 56 Street, with one of her husbands and as I was walking down the marble staircases of five floors I wondered which husband? They couldn't tell me. But, I still want to know. Maybe she will call me and tell me. Bye.

posted by Demetria at 6:02 PM

 
THE INNER CIRCLE, made up of media professionals held their annual musical satire; this years title was WHAT'S HE SMOKING? With Larry Sutton as the writing chairman, the scene starts off at Smokey Bets Cafe, as the Mayor of Bloomberg Cracks Down. Is eveyone inhaling and exhaling? You bet they are! And they are also singing with the musicians led by Cathy Bearer, and dancing led by Kathy Seng Gurland. The brilliant cast spoofed all the political leaders you can imagine. The beautiful Mary Alice Williams sang and danced and so did her three children, whom I sat next to.S he played HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON with zest and spunk.The choreography looked liked the Rockettes as they kicked and twirled. And the jokes kept coming with GABE PRESSMAN playing the role of Senator Charles Schumer and TONY GUIDA playing Governor Pataki. And my favorite was when ERNIE ANASTOS came on stage with an apron saying "My Big Fat Greek Anchor." He did some Greek dancing and clapped his hands and "Opah" away.

I kept wondering how much entertainment could fit on one stage. But the scenes kept coming. Leona Helmsley was all dolled up surrounded by a group of men wearing - yes, you guessed - pink slips. I didn't know anyone still wore slips.

The second half of the performance was called "Bush Comes to Shore." JOHN SLATTERY played Bush and Saddam was played by JOHN MULLIGAN. And lots of other people showed up - Chelsea Clinton, Michael Jackson, Bill Clinton, the Bush girls and even Martha Stewart. It was roaring fun all the way.

And that was only the dress rehearsal. The next night was the $500 a seat all-for-charity event, with the rebuttal coming from MAYOR MIKE BLOOMBERG.

It was his turn to do the jokes; riding in on a bike and exiting on a burro called Manhattan.

All for chairty and a good nights fun; they should send this to Broadway next. The office for the Inner Circle is brilliantly run by MARK LIEBERMAN who was in charge of "organization" And no one can top this show.

posted by Demetria at 12:41 PM

 
Dear Folks, took some time off - HAPPY VALENTINES DAY. Saw all the MICHAEL JACKSON interviews - why didn't the interviewer ask him whether he slept with his own children? I sleep with my dog - anyway, Michael, I would love to be invited to go on all the rides in Neverland. I'll bring Ruffy. I think you are terrific, and eveyone is jealous of you. The following is my own story of how I got to hear MICHAEL JACKSON in concert and got to go backstage.

THE MICHAEL JACKSON STORY
excerpted from "Adventures of a Buxom Blonde" (I'm hoping someone will publish these stories)

By far, this is not the first adventure I have to tell about in New York, but it is the most exciting, so let me tell you a story...A couple of days ago, my friend ARISTEDES DUVAL, a fellow Greek who writes songs and performs in clubs and organizes the appearance of many bands - (a great impressario) called to invite me to the Film and Video Festival at Madison Square Garden so I could attend and go to all the parties. He told me to call the person in charge and fax him my credentials to attend, and I did and I went.

While I was there - it was the same day as the Michael Jackson concert, I asked how much the tickets cost. "Two hundred fifty dollars" I was told. Alot, I thought. But secretly, I wanted to go. I went to the Film and Video Festival and while I was there, I asked the guard how I could get a press card to see the concert. He pointed upstairs. So I rushed over to a open elevator and up, up, up, up, we went with some other people. I followed them when we got out, down the aisle, pass a check point into little private rooms, all carpeted, a private viewing room with screening chairs, an open bar and a buffet - wow - did I luck out. They asked who I was and who sent me. I made up some name, smiled, and that seemed to satisfy their curiosity so I had a drink, a canape and sat down to see the packed garden.

I watched as an imitator carrying a black umbrealla went in and out of exits; he looked liked Michael Jackson. Huge excited throngs snapped pictures and followed him around the aisles. This lasted for about 20 minutes. In between these anticks, I helped myself to shrimp .

The concert began. On stage sat an overweight man in a chair, with sunglasses - whom the crowd seemed to recognize, and as legends go, this unexpected guest was - MARLON BRANDO.

As the spotlight shone upon him, he took off his gold rolodex and mumbled some words..."by the time I put this watch back on, thousands of children will be hacked to death". The audience was stunned; they gasped with amazement at the cryptic message, not knowing how to respond. Brando continued with some more thoughts on the children of the world - the crowd became irritated and booded him. Perhaps there was more to say and think about - it lasted 10 minutes. What the crowd found out was that MICHAEL JACKSON had started a foundation called "HEAL THE WORLD'. So, these were his words.

He had been siting on the sidelines in a diamond -encrusted jacket next to his friend, ELIZABETH TAYLOR with a lavender-purple boa surrounding her regalness. She would introduce him later.

The two of them watched as GLORIA ESTEPHAN sang and a young lad of ten also came on stage.

At the half-way mark, guards came around to the upstairs boxes, asking for tickets - I didn't have one - they told me to go downstairs. Somehow I wandered down, found a seat. So by the time MJ took the stage with his brothers, and LIZA MINELLI sang, and BRITTNEY SPEARS did a duet and they showed documentaries that followed his tour around the globe, helping children, I was sitting in an $800- seat with an excellent view of the stage and celebrities.

The brothers came on and tapped and twirled and did their steps and Michael at one point brought on the stage a suitcase. He opened it, put on the silver glove. His costume changes were as quick as his footwork, and he wowed the audience with "Beat It". The audience went gaga - very excited.

At the finale, KENNY ROGERS, LIZA MINELLI, MICHAEL and QUINCEY JONES led them in a performance in "We Are the World". What a concert... but there is more.

That's not all - you would think that would be enough - but the evening was just beginning. I followed the crowd onto the escalator, ready to exit the building, when suddently I saw two well-dressed black gentlemen head to the door with a coded numbers system; they pressed them and opened the door. So I followed them to see where they were going - never expecting what came next.

The stairs brought me into a dressing area of the performers where I saw a group of people heading down the hallway, so I went with them into an elevator. I was standing right next to the parents of MJ. Imagine the Mother and Father of the star of the show. I said hello and shook hands. As we got off, I saw DONALD TRUMP exiting with his girlfriend. There were limos on the ramp. I mingled in and shook hands with the brothers as they exited into their cars and then finally chatted with QUINCEY JONES, whom I had met once before at the East Hampton Film Festival. I told him I had the original 45 record of "We Are the World". He said he was happy to hear that. The gloved one wizzed by, did not stop to talk and jumped into his limo, which went down the ramp with an ambulance car in back of it flashing red lights.

What an evening folks - but that's what GOTHAMGOSSIP is all about - the extraordinary things that happen to me in New York- a gal born and raised right here in Brooklyn.


posted by Demetria at 11:48 AM

 
Mamoud Allam


posted by Heather Floyd, Floyd Innovations LLC at 8:41 PM

 
The Mayor of Paterson, New Jersey was at Sandy Williams and son's dinner party. It was at the Paterson Museum where the AMBASSADOR FROM EGYPT, MAHMOUD ALLAM, held a reception for the wonderful underwater photographs of CLEOPATRA'S tomb in Egypt ; on exhibit also was the wonderful coin collection of Baher Sharaaway. It is also in Alexandria, Egypt that new library has opened, under the auspices of MRS. MUBARAK, wife of the PRESIDENT OF EGYPT. I was invited to the dinner in Washington at the glorious Library of Congress to honor her and her international efforts to create the library/astronomy/ museum. She was accompanied by her son and spoke brilliantly. I look foward to seeing the library in person.I gave her a copy of my poem which I wrote in Egypt.

PYRAMID PIGEONS
As the horns of Isis yield the night,
Pyramid Pigeons announce the dawn, birds in flight,
Awakening from their slumber, on top of minarets,
their wings shillouets agains the rising coral/amber sky
They trumpet the new Giza day, for you and I
As though companded by an unknown leader, in groups of ten or so,
They leave their guardian moslem posts, sentries of the night
And fly like squadrons of angels, with songs to sing to the giants of the light.

They shift and turn round the granite, with ritual ferver doing circles in the sky,
Round the past when pharoahs were alive
And noone knows why
The ball of fIre lights their way, a pattern and a dance,
rising together like a starlit chorus in song, for the incandescent pink/purple morn.
And only sands of time measure their beat as they swirl around Kafra's feet
and they repeat their dance, they repeat their song, in the early morn
and in the distance in the mosque, Moslems go to pray, first song of the Egyptian day.

posted by Demetria at 2:52 PM

 
HAPPY NEW YEAR
The man that composed the music for the great musical HAIR , MR. GALT MCDERMOT is working on another project which I saw called "Beaus and Eros " from the greek play of Aristophanes about the Trojan women who abstained from sex to make their men stop the war. The songs are wonderful and he has another hit on the way for sure. He brought his entire family including his lovely wife to Weil Recital Hall for the performance. I told him I was at the opening of HAIR, - he was astonished.

Starting the New Years was JOE FRANKLIN on the radio live from his restaurant - MEMORY LANE.The grand opening included his good friend TONY CURTIS and I hear CAROL CHANNING dropped in the other day.He asked me to drop in and say a few words so I wished him a Happy New Year, he told his audience about my sadness about Precious' death and I told him the good news that Santa brought me Ruffi, a white poodle. He's a wonderful man and gave BARBRA STREISAND a break on his television show. He also gave me her photograph with her white poodle.

It's been a fabulous holiday - thanks to all my friends who gave me presents and invited me to superb parties - Mia, Sean and John, Steve, Nicholas. I saw my friend HARVEY DZRODIN, PRESIDENT OF ABC television last night at Valerie Shakespeare, and Terry Fugate Wilcox's dinner party. It's been great.
posted by Demetria at 4:55 PM