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

 
The Uris Education Center at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is magnificent. TONY BENNET cut the ribbon on opening day. He told us how he and his wife sponsor a school program in NY and children are on his mind. Computers that allow the kids to create abstractions with shapes and colors are a great tool for new budding artists. That day we sat in one of the school rooms to draw - my drawing was of a bronze horse, and then I hung it up - so now I am hanging in the Met. The library is huge too. Bring the family.

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Speaking of children there will be a benefit for YOUTH AT RISK .
Their mission is to enable society's disadvantaged, difficult, damaged young people to transform their lives and build a future beyond their present expectations. They design innovative social intervention programs
and deliver them into communities. The youth are committed to change. This is a wonderful cause. Recently
a group of teens forced a woman to commit a violent crime on her son. (see ESSENCE/NOV 2007 VISIT
essence.com for the complete story ) This group heals, and transforms young people and the way they think about their lives and their futures, pairing with an adult partner, they can transform their lives into one of promise. Open your pocketbooks and contact them at 111John Street, suite 750, NYC 10038, or give them
a call at 212-791-4927. GIVE SOMEONE ELSE A CHANCE.................................................DO IT
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Congratulations to KATIE HOLMES ( and everyone else) for running in the NY Marathon. TOM CRUISE
and BABY SURI were at the finish line to welcome her.
posted by Demetria at 1:59 PM

 
Twenty five years after the death of PRINCESS GRACE OF MONACO, Sotheby's New York has opened up an exhibition entitled "GRACE, PRINCESS OF MONACO. An auction of two dresses worn by her will be held. Two special nights will highlight the duration of the show. One will be a casino night, and the other will be the presentation of the awards given by the Princess Grace Foundation, in theater, dance film and the arts.
The exhibition contains letters, dresses, and memorabilia during her life. The show covers her family years, her Hollywood years, the engagement/wedding and her official life as princess.

The feeling that exudes throughout the show is that she was like lace, delicate, decorative, beautiful- like the lace of her wedding dress which was a present from MGM and designed by Helen Rose. Of course the famous Kelly bag is on view as sell as her tiara of diamonds, rings, necklaces.
Personal letters written to her and on view are from JACKIE KENNEDY, GRETA GARBO, THE SINATRA FAMILY, ALFRED HITCHCOCK.
Videos and photographs of her in Hollywood where she won an Oscar for "The Country Girl" are shown as well as family objects that show the Olympic medal won by both her Father and Brother.
Saks Fifth Avenue is selling Princess Grace coral lipstick.
This show is a must.
posted by Demetria at 9:39 AM

 
The Theater World Awards, founded by John Willis, and produced by Scott Denny, Kati Meister and Erin Ostreich was enormously successful. Some of the committee included ALAN ALDA, ALEC BALDWIN, KATE BURTON, CAROL CHANNING, JAMES EARL JONES and BERNADETTE PETERS.
ESTELLE PARSONS said that she started out making $30 per week. Yes, that was a long time ago. What made the evening so special were the old video clips. Ms. Parsons was shown in a 1945 play "Mrs. Dally Has A Lover".

Chatting with ALEC BALDWIN, in the green room, he said that he was going in the direction of television, not film.
Peter Filichia emceed the evening.

Recently, at a memorial event for BETTY COMDEN, LAUREN BACALL, BARBARA COOK, and some other wonderful ladies gave her tribute as clips of her 65 years with co-author Adolph Green flashed on the screen. Everyone sang her tunes including the audience.
Outside the theater, TOMMY TUNE told me how he worked with Ms. Comden, and how very much he misses her.
posted by Demetria at 1:14 PM

 
I attended the NECO (National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations) Ellis Island Awards, started by Bill Fugazy, co-chaired by Lee Iococca, and Nasser J. Kaseminy, and presided over by Maurice Buckley. One of the first persons I congratulated was rear admiral STEPHEN W. ROCHON, who is the Director of the Executive Residence of the White House. Serving nearly 35 years at the White House and near retirement, he told me about Queen Elizabeth's visit to President George Bush recently. He said " she was very gracious and wanted to meet his entire staff to thank each and every one of them personally." On the side, the admiral did a documentary film called "The Voices of Gladden Hawks", about the rescue of the schooner "Newman" in N. Carolina.
Also receiving the gold Ellis Island Award, which has recently been recognized by Congress and the Senate, was GEORGE HAMILTON. He told me his descendents from Scotland landed in Virginia in 1621. He has been helping with "Operation USA", and now spends his time investigating alternative ways to medicine. He wants to see people live longer lives. and be aware of toxicity in their diets. His secret to his good looks - "I believe in doing, not talking"

Congratulations to the winners which include H.E.Sheikha Haya Rashed AL Khalifa, President of th 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly,Cynthia R.Garrett, Superintendent of the Statue of Liberty Monument, Hon.Leslie Crocker-Snyder- who told me it is not against the law to be without and I.D., MSGT Nicholas Grand, George Kostas,Jon Fortang, C.Warren Moses, CEO of The Chidren's Aid Society,Patrick Grant, Ik Joong Kang, Mira Zivkovich, and David Kimmel of WPIX-TV. These are a few of the 100 recipients.

There was a cocktail reception, a boat trip to Ellis Island, the ceremony hosted by Marvin Scott who said it was alright to "shed a tear",(WPIX-TV), and Tom Dreesen, a formal dinner and the ride home with Grucci fireworks - a night to remember for always.
posted by Demetria at 8:45 PM

 
Yesterday was a hey day in New York. I waved to PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH as his motorcade came through Central Park on a gorgeous spring day with a background of magnolias and daffodils. I had told an earlier car he should stop in at the boat house to see a replica of the very first computer - made in Greece in 100 BC.
Associate Professor of Space Physics, Xenophon Moussas, from the University of Athens explained the 54 wheels with 235 teeth each of the mechanics of the device which could calculate the eclipses of both the moon and the sun. Lost at sea, the ANTIKYTHERA MECHANISM is considered the beginning of Western science. The reconstruction of the device has been brought from Greece and exhibited at the "Gods, Myths and Mortals" benefit event for the Children's Museum of Manhattan.
Dr. John Seiradakis, of the Antikyther Mechanism Research Project also spoke at the silent auction and dinner. Dean J. Poll, owner of the Boathouse generously donated the room, food and beverage for the extraordinary event.
posted by Demetria at 5:15 PM

 
FACE THE CHALLENGE everyone and attend this great cause:
Host:
Ambassador Vassilakis
Tuesday, May 15, 7:00pm
Phone:
917.287.5236
In Honor of Peter Georgiopoulos, the Chairman and CEO ofGeneral Maritime Corporation and Chairman of GencoShipping & Trading Limited.Hosted by the Permanent Representative of Greece to theUnited Nations & Mrs. Adamantios VassilakisA $100 donation is suggested.Food and drinks will be served.Face The Challenge has assisted the disabled in developing a positive image about themselves and their capabilities, as well as to transform the public's perception of handicapped men and women.We are very pleased to share with you the exciting news that our program, Face The Challenge, has dramatically improved the quality of life of over 170disabled men and women.Please join us for our fourth annual fundraiser to help support this fabulous organization which truly makes a tremendous impact on many people's lives.Thank you for your much appreciated support, and we look forward to seeing you on May 15th!Yannina Varvitsiotes
posted by Demetria at 9:46 AM

 
And while I am on subject of Broadway, I was a guest at the musical GREY GARDENS last night, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. In association with PLAYWRIGHTS HORIZONS, East of Doheny, Staunch Entertainment, Randall L. Wreghitt/Mort Swinsky, Michael Alden, Edwin W. Schloss present CHRISTINE EBERSOLE, as "little Eddie Beale" in a story about the Beales of East Hampton, the real relatives of JACKIE KENNEDY ONASIS, and the home where she and her sister Lee visited as children.

This play is totally based on the marvelous documentary by a master ALBERT MAYSLES et al, which he showed me privately in his studio. The film took a month, and every day Al filmed the horific conditions, which had been condemned by the East Hampton health department, and the dysfunctional and nuerotic relationship of the Mother and her daughter, and all the 50 cats that roamed the home of the two. He captures perfectly the dependency of each character.
If history had been changed and the Mother had not interfered with the engagement of her daughter to Joe Kennedy, the first Kennedy son, it might have been Eddie Beale as "first lady of the land".

There are some clever scenes in the second act, with visuals, and staging, and the songs keep you moving. But tell me, where were the CATS? If you can't afford the $111 ticket price, there are some at $36 too.
posted by Demetria at 2:45 PM

 
BROADWAY BROADWAY BROADWAY BROADWAY BROADWAY

There is a great deal of activity on Broadway: The Drama Desk held a panel at BMI recently
with the theme "MOVING ON'. Producers from various Broadway shows talked about the challenges and advantages of moving theatrical productions from Off- Broadway to Broadway.

IRA PITTLEMAN, TOM HULCE , Producers of "Spring Awakening" were joined by Michael Rosenberg, Scott Frankel of "Grey Gardens" for a lively discussion ,wonderfully moderated by Drama Desk' s Leslie Blake and Ellis Manour.

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Also on Broadway, SINGLES' NIGHT ON BROADWAY, was sponsored bythe League of American Theaters and Producers. Singles were invited to buy tickets to shows, and join in at a pre-theater cocktail party at Madame Tusards where they mingled with the wax models, performers and hosts, Fox 5's Good Day New York anchors Jodi Applegate and Ron Corning.
Everyone got a paper with half the name of a show, and were told to search for the other half in the crowd .A good way to meet people and circulate while the luscious hors d'oeuvres were being served. And then after there were more parties. Congratulations - a wonderful evening. (212) 703-0221
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Keep your eyes and ears open for two shows headed to Broadway - "Tales of Two Cities', and
"Angels."

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posted by Demetria at 11:55 AM

 
I attended the CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) dinner of 2,000 people at the Hilton, on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr day. Started by Roy Innis, many years ago, it has developed into an international organization.
The highlight at the dinner including performances of "The Color Purple", produced by OPRAH WINFRY was the phenomenal speech given by Ayan Hirst Ali,former member of Parliament from the Netherlands.

She spoke of the differences of culture in Africa and here where the policy is "ladies first". Explaining how ladies are not first, but last in so many of the African nations. This speech is in time of course with the enormous generosity of Oprah Winfry's University for women in South Africa.

She spoke of "gender inequality", and that in Africa, women are born of " a lesser god". She said "human beings are equal; cultures are not" She gave the following examples of genital mutilation, stoneing, raping, and other horors that befall women. In closing she remarked " Martin Luther King Jr's dream of racial equality has become a reality for some and remains a dream for many"...
posted by Demetria at 4:54 PM

 
HAPPY NEW YEAR - I tried something different for the eve - the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, a 200 member choir that can really jolt some electricity in your direction.
It was different, and they did send down confetti at midnight. Then on to mimosas and supper at friends. Xmas I made vegetarian lasagne for a sit-down dinner.Santa was good.
Ruffy and I are signing up with the Good Dog Foundation to make the rounds of hospitals for the New Year.
I bet you haven't heard of caralluma fimbriata-they have been eating it in India for centuries - it's a cactus ...I'll use it in the lasagne next time - if I can find it.
posted by Demetria at 12:08 PM