Accompanied by his wife Gina, Chris Lemmon, the son of the late legendary actor Jack Lemmon, at the "Key Gala." (Photo by Roger Farrington)
 

Facing cancer can be one of life's greatest challenges. Finding a place to stay in Boston during treatment shouldn't be.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recently celebrated its "Key Gala: Open the Door to Hope" at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston. The elegant black-tie gala offered guests an opportunity to enjoy a memorable evening while supporting a truly inspiring initiative that will improve the quality of life for hundreds of cancer patients and their families.

Presented by Cushman and Wakefield, the gala raised nearly $500,000. All proceeds will benefit the construction and on-going operational costs of the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge Center in Boston.

The evening featured a cocktail reception and hors d'oeuvres followed by dinner, a premier live auction, and dancing to the sounds of John Keegan and Madhouse Band. Special guests included emcee Gail Huff of WCVB-TV Channel 5 and Chris Lemmon, actor and author of "A Twist of Lemmon," a tribute to his late father, Jack Lemmon.

Chris Lemmon lost both of his parents to cancer and he and his wife, Gina (who live in Glastonbury, CT) have become ardent supporters and ambassadors for the ACS New England.

When it opens in the fall of 2008, the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge Center, located at 125 South Huntington Avenue, will annually provide free lodging and support services to more than 1,500 cancer outpatients and their caregivers who must travel far from home for treatment in Boston.

With 40 private guest suites, a library, common dining areas, and transportation services, the Lodge will enable more patients than ever before to take advantage of the state-of-the-art cancer treatments offered in the city's premier medical institutions. A Quality of Life Center will also provide outreach to the community with cancer information and resources.

For more information, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

Yolanda to the Rescue!

Rebecca Houston is getting married tomorrow in Illinois, far away from Peabody, where on May 29 her apartment complex caught fire, burning to the ground, and where she and her fiancé Charles Barns lost everything, including her original wedding dress, the wedding centerpieces, and Charles' wedding band.

At a time when we're surrounded by so much sad news, it's good to report that Boston's "First Lady of Fashion," the one-and-only Yolanda Cellucci came to the rescue.

Yolanda's bridal sales associate, Darlene Walazek, first saw the story about the "burned-out bride" on Channel 5. Within a couple of days, Rebecca was at Yolanda's famous bridal salon in Waltham, where she was able to choose not only a new bridal gown, but also the veil, tiara, shoes and jewelry - all free of charge, through the kindness of Yolanda's generosity.

From what we understand, the bride-to-be was quoted as saying that she liked the new dress better than her old one.

Upon their return, the couple will make their home in Manchester-by-the-Sea.

Congratulations and Best Wishes to all!

Museum of Science to Host Baseball Program

On Saturday, July 12 we are invited to the Museum of Science for a special baseball program, "Voices of the Game," beginning at 1 p.m. Admission is free with Museum admission, but seating is limited. First come, first served.

Joe Castiglione is in his 26th season as the voice of the Boston Red Sox and previously handled play-by-play on television for the Cleveland Indians and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Curt Smith, former presidential speechwriter, GateHouse Media columnist, and author of "Voices of The Game," is the renowned authority on baseball broadcasting.

Attendees will be able to listen and watch as Smith interviews Castiglione about dramatic moments behind the microphone, the changes in baseball broadcasting, and how great radio announcers create an "interior stadium" in listeners' minds. A book signing will follow the presentation.

For more information, call 617-723-2500 or visit www.mos.org.

Free Shakespeare on the Common

This summer's Citi Performing Arts Center "Free Shakespeare" production, "As You Like It," runs from July 18-August 3 on Boston Common. Performances are Tuesday - Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Parkman Bandstand.

All performances are free and open to the public of all ages. "As You Like It" continues the popular midsummer tradition that has brought Shakespeare under the stars to more than 885,000 people over the last decade.

"As You Like It," known as one of Shakespeare's greatest comedies, is a captivating exploration of status, power and the bewitching mystery of love. This riotous romp through the Forest of Arden follows the adventures of Rosalind, a good-hearted optimist, and her pursuit for true love.

For more information, call 617-482-9393 or visit www.citicenter.org.

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.

bostonevents.com    bostontravel.com    bostongardens.com    bostonautos.com