The Scene In and Around Boston . . .
By Hilda M. Morrill
January 5, 2007
 Jonathan Kraft, left, president and COO of The Kraft Group, accepts an award from Charlie Winterhalter, president of RMHC of Eastern New England, for the Kraft family’s commitment to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. (Photo by Mike Otis)
The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern New England sponsored the “First Annual Polar Express” holiday event the weekend of December 8-10. We are told that more than 7,000 children and parents attended the festivities, which were held at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.
The fun began on Friday when “the North Pole” was opened to sponsors for a preview of the upcoming holiday-themed activities. On Saturday, guests boarded trains at Boston’s South Station, and at the Providence Station, to ride The Polar Express to “the North Pole” – a 30,000 sq. ft. structure built on the grounds of the stadium. On Sunday, the general public was invited for some holiday fun.
Train participants were treated to a magical ride that included local media personalities reading from “The Polar Express,” holiday caroling, and sweet treats. Media personalities on the Boston train included WCVB anchors Heather Unruh, Kelley Tuthill, Shiba Russell, David Brown, and Rhondella Richardson; Mix 98.5 FM’s Sue Brady and Gregg Daniels; WODS 103.3 FM’s Jimmy DelPonte and Paula Street; Comcast CN8’s Phil Burton; Ron Burton Jr. from the Red Sox; plus the one-and-only “Ronald McDonald.”
“The North Pole” was a spectacular holiday tent featuring 30 trees and 30,000 lights (as well as 6,000 cookies with hot chocolate and eggnog); and activities including jewelry making, ornament decorating, face painting, and games. Capping off the festivities was the appearance of Santa.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern New England was organized more than 20 years ago to improve the lives of children by providing financial support to organizations serving children and families through health care, education and social service.
For more information about the organization and its programs, visit www.rmhcene.org.
Marian Christy Featured in “Chronicle” Segment
We were delighted to see our dear friend Marian Christy featured on a recent airing of WCVB-TV Channel 5’s “Chronicle.” The show was focusing on some of the Greater Boston Area’s “most fascinating people.”
A former fashion and society editor, Ms. Christy has written a new book, “Letters From Legends,” in which she shares some of the personal correspondence she has received through the years from such legends as Julia Child, Jerry Lewis, Jackie Kennedy, Barbara Walters, Joan Crawford and Arnold Schwarzenegger, to name a very few.
In the book she also notes some of the interesting details surrounding the actual interviews, many of which took place at The Ritz-Carlton, Boston (the original Ritz-Carlton, located at the corner of Arlington and Newbury Streets).
The “Chronicle” program also pointed out that Marian is now into another exciting phase of her life—as a successful artist and a children’s book author/illustrator. “The Secret Language of Trees” will be released later this year.
This coming March, Ms. Christy will have a one-woman show at the Concord Art Association; and she has also been invited back to Gallery 121, Boston, for a spring exhibition.
In 2005 we had the pleasure of attending the opening reception for Marian’s “Solo Exhibition of Expressionist Watercolors,” which was held at the Mass Audubon Habitat Education Center & Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont.
As we noted at the time, the setting for the exhibition was especially appropriate, as nature was the major theme in the paintings. Marian’s “fashion” sensibilities came through, too, as noted in some of the titles such as “All White Wedding,” “Autumn Fashion Palette,” and “Trees Making a Fashion Statement: Pink is In.”
Check out www.lettersfromlegends.com, and we’ll be sure to report back when we hear of any more upcoming exhibitions.
“The Boston Wine Festival” Returns
“The Boston Wine Festival” takes place at the Boston Harbor Hotel from Friday, January 12, through Friday, April 6. The festivities kick off with a “Grand Opening Reception” in the Atlantic Room on the 12th beginning at 7 p.m.
Guests will enjoy samples of more than 50 wines from the many wineries featured in this year's Festival, and savor selections from Chef Daniel Bruce's buffet.
For more information, call 617-439-7000, or visit www.bostonwinefestival.net for a complete list of all the events.
The Festival is not to be confused with “The Boston Wine Expo” (taking place on February 10 and 11 at the Seaport World Trade Center), which we will describe in a future column.
Boston Ballet II and Students Perform in Moscow
Boston Ballet II, the pre-professional company of Boston Ballet, and students from Boston Ballet School’s Trainee program will dance excerpts from Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen’s production of “The Nutcracker” in Moscow as part of a special celebration organized by the government marking Russian Orthodox Christmas, which begins on January 7. In addition to performing, the young dancers will participate in master classes at the Bolshoi Ballet School, and observe rehearsals.
“The Nutcracker is one of Russia’s great gifts to the world, and it is an honor for our dancers to perform the ballet in the country where it all began,” said Mr. Nissinen. “And what a wonderful opportunity for them to take part in master classes at the Bolshoi and watch rehearsals there. This will be an enriching experience that they will long remember.”
BBII was invited to Moscow by the Arts & Science Achievement Foundation (ASAF), an American non-profit organization established in Florida in 1996 that is dedicated to “education of young people . . . and improvement of mutual understanding between countries.”
Congratulations and Best Wishes all around!
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