Pictured are Valerie McSorley, left, of Avant Garde Events, and Julie Nations, executive director of the Ellie Fund. McSorley's event company is planning "Oscar Night America," a benefit for the Ellie Fund, taking place at the Hard Rock Café in Boston on Sunday, February 24.

(Photo courtesy of Julie Dennehy)

With the close of the writers' guild strike, excitement builds as the prestige and glamour of Hollywood comes to Boston for The Ellie Fund's eleventh annual "Oscar Night America," the state's only Academy Awards celebration officially sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

Movie buffs have the opportunity to show off their black-tie finest on the red carpet for the live telecast of the 80th Academy Awards on Sunday, February 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the Hard Rock Café, 22-24 Clinton St., Boston.

According to Julie Nations, Ellie Fund executive director, "Not only is this a terrific event to support the Ellie Fund, but it is also a great way to celebrate the success of our state's film industry and leadership." All proceeds benefit the Needham-based Ellie Fund's innovative "Care for the Caregiver" program which provides transportation to medical appointments, daycare, housekeeping, and meals free of charge for breast cancer patients and families statewide.

The Hard Rock Cafe will host the celebration and telecast the 80th Annual Academy Awards celebration live from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. This year's celebration will be emceed by WCVB-TV5 reporters David Brown and Susan Wornick, and will feature an exclusive VIP Lounge with upscale menu by Green Olive Catering, Grey Goose martini and Samuel Adams' reception with lavish hors d'oeuvres and decadent desserts, and an Island Creek Oyster Bar.

The event will also feature live music by the Evan Goodrow Band and dozens of plasma screens and state of the art sound for Academy Awards Telecast viewing. Guests will receive the official Academy Awards programs straight from Hollywood, and participate in an auction with exclusive music and movie memorabilia, fabulous prizes and gift bags.

Celebrity guests scheduled to appear include the Academy Award winning writer/actor/director Ernest Thompson (On Golden Pond), among others.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.elliefund.org or by calling 781-449-0100.

The title sponsor of "Oscar Night in Boston" is Subaru of New England.

Founded in 1994, The Ellie Fund is a Needham-based non-profit organization fighting breast cancer and easing its effects on patients and families across Massachusetts. The Care for the Caregiver program provides transportation to medical appointments, daycare, housekeeping, meals and more completely free of charge for breast cancer patients and families.

Miss America 2008 to Participate in Free and Open Forum

The 12th Annual Public Forum, "Redefining Perfection: Beauty, Fashion and Body Image," takes place on Tuesday, March 11 from 7 p.m.-9 p.m., in the Radcliffe Gymnasium of Harvard University. The event is free and open to the public.

Among the speakers are: Kirsten Haglund, Miss America 2008; Paige Adams-Geller, founder and owner of Paige Premium Denim; and Bradley Bayou, fashion designer and author of "The Science of Sexy." They will discuss their personal experiences with eating disorders.

The forum is presented by The Harris Center for Education and Advocacy In Eating Disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital during "National Eating Disorders Awareness Week."

David B. Herzog, MD, Harvard Medical School Endowed Professor of Psychiatry in the field of Eating Disorders, and the Director of the Harris Center, will moderate.

Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund, formerly Miss Michigan, has recovered from her own struggle with anorexia and is interested in promoting healthier ideals for young people. She will spend her year of service as Miss America working on her platform issue of raising awareness of eating disorders.

Paige Adams-Geller, Miss California 1991, and author of "Your Perfect Fit," modeled for many designer jeans companies and suffered from an eating disorder early in her career. She will tell the story of her journey towards recovery from anorexia, modeling, and the role of fashion in American culture.

Bradley Bayou's book, "The Science of Sexy," showcases how people of every body shape can look and feel sexy through fashion. Bradley will talk about his experience fighting for weight and age regulations for models in the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

The Harris Center's Public Forum serves to educate the Greater Boston community about eating disorders and related issues as well as to promote dialogue concerning a variety of related topics such as image, self-esteem, fashion and modeling.

The Radcliffe Gymnasium is located at 10 Garden Street, Cambridge. For more information, please call 617-726-9068.

Van Morrison to Perform at Citi Performing Arts Center

The incomparable Van Morrison, Ireland's favorite son, kicks off St. Patrick's Day weekend in Boston with a rare performance at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre on Friday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. The stop is one of three US tour dates in support of his March 17th "Lost Highway" release "Keep It Simple," his first album of new material in two years.

We are told that "Keep It Simple" features Van Morrison at his finest, "showcasing all of the various styles that helped define one of music's most diverse and groundbreaking careers. The 12 new songs are rich with emotion, depth and beauty, confirming that after over four decades of making music, Van Morrison is making the best music of what is already an unparalleled career."

Tickets are available at the Citi Performing Arts Center Box Office, online at www.citicenter.org, or by calling 800-447-7400.

Enjoy!

In addition to events covered and reported by the columnist, "The Scene..." 
is compiled from various other sources such as news releases, PRNewswire services, etc.

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