At the BPL's "Literary Lights" gala dinner are, left to right, award presenter author Tom Perrotta, Keynote Address speaker Professor Peter Gomes, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Margaret Marshall. Justice Marshall's husband, New York Times columnist Anthony Lewis, was an award presenter. (Photo by Roger Farrington)
 

The "Literary Lights Dinner," presented by the Associates of the Boston Public Library, is an annual festive recognition of authors, playwrights, poets and other significant contributors to literature.

This year marked the twentieth anniversary dinner, which "hosted and toasted" nine recipients, who were presented to the audience by former "Literary Lights."

Milton's Mary Riffe Hiss was co-chair of the large event committee, which also included Koko Bickford, Peggy Dray, Cassandra Irvine, Connie Lacaillade, Julia Pfannenstiehl, Karen Rotenberg, Ann Sargent, Linda Wallace, and Sonja Yates, to name but a few. Barbara Alfond was the Honorary Chair. The festive sold-out soiree was held at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel.

The keynote speaker was The Reverend Professor Peter J. Gomes, an American Baptist minister ordained to the Christian Ministry by The First Baptist Church of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Since 1970 he has served in The Memorial Church, Harvard University.

Other authors honored included: Geraldine Brooks, Stephen L. Carter of Yale University, Frances FitzGerald, Richard Ford, Tony Horwitz, P. J. O'Rourke, and Gordon Wood. David Halberstam was remembered posthumously with an award presented by Tom Patterson, Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

According to the Associates of the Boston Public Library, a portion of the proceeds from the gala event will support the conservation and restoration of John Adams's personal 1776 copy of Thomas Paine's "Common Sense." The project will be dedicated in honor of Bernard Margolis, outgoing president of the BPL.

The balance of the evening's proceeds will benefit the David McCullough Conservation Fund and the Special Collections of the Library.

For information about the Associates and their upcoming programs and events, visit www.theassociates.org.

"Russian Revel" Anticipates "Ballets Russes 2009 Festival"

"Russian Revel," an evening of ballet, music and poetry recreating the magic of Diaghilev's "Ballets Russes," will be held in Boston on Thursday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cutler Majestic Theater to benefit next year's anticipated "Ballets Russes 2009 Festival." The program will emphasize the Russian origins of this famous ballet-and-opera company, and its tremendous cultural impact on the world since 1909.

The performance will feature prima ballerina Nina Ananiashvili and a reading by the great Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko. Opera singer John King will recite several of Yevtushenko's poems in English.

"Ballets Russes 2009" will be an unprecedented collaboration of New England cultural institutions coming together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Diaghilev's "Ballets Russes." Thus far, scheduled to participate are: Boston Ballet, the Boston Pops, New England Conservatory, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the Wadsworth Athenaeum, and Boston University.

The Boston celebration will be linked to programming in Russia and France that will commemorate the revolutionary enterprise known as the "Ballets Russes." For more information, visit
www.ballets-russes.com.

For tickets to "Russian Revel," call Telecharge at 1-800-233-3123. VIP patrons will proceed to a gala dinner at The Four Seasons Hotel in honor of Yevtushenko. For more information, call 617-353-5329.

Sparkle! An Afternoon of Fashion, Food and Fun

Scheduled for Saturday, May 31, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro, 25 Charles St., Boston, "Sparkle!" will bring together women from the Greater Boston Area to sip cocktails, enjoy light fare and finger foods prepared by Executive Chef Jason Bond, and view the latest fashions.

Participating are many local Style Divas and members of the media including: Rachel Baker, City Style Editor for Boston Magazine; Jenny Johnson, Co-star and Executive Producer of NECN's TV Diner; Kelly Malone, on-air talent for Mix 98.5 FM's Lander in the Morning; Style Editor from Stuff@Night Magazine Erica Corsano; Lisa Pierpont, Founder/Editor-in-Chief for Boldfacers.com and writer for The Boston Globe's (FB) Fashion Boston; and Lifestyle & Fashion Writer, Rachel Solar.

They will all be draped from head-to-toe in outfits, shoes, accessories and beauty products galore from local boutiques and shops such as: Wish, The Ruby Door, Moxie and The Beauty Mark.

RSVP is mandatory as there is limited space. Included in the admission are some light gourmet appetizers and one (1) glass of sparkling wine. (Other beverages are available on a cash-bar basis.) Attendees will also be treated to complimentary gift bag swag, raffle items and more!

A percentage of all proceeds from the event will go directly to Rosie's Place, a sanctuary for poor and homeless women.

Tickets are only available by calling 617-723-1133 and asking for or mentioning "Sparkle!" Visit www.beaconhillhotel.com/sparkle.html for more information.

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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