"Party in the Park" luncheon honorees Ted and Joan Cutler, center, with Ursula Liff, left, and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. (Photo by Roger Farrington)
 

The Emerald Necklace Conservancy recently hosted its 5th annual "Party in the Park" benefit luncheon under two huge tents in Boston's Back Bay Fens.

More than 800 guests gathered to celebrate the preservation of Frederick Law Olmsted's Emerald Necklace, and to honor the legacy of former Parks Commissioner Justine Mee Liff, who passed away in 2002.

Her vision and leadership continue to drive the restoration and improvement of the Emerald Necklace, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and considered one of the nation's premier park systems.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino presented the "2008 Justine Liff Spirit Award" to Boston philanthropists Ted and Joan Cutler.

The Emerald Necklace Conservancy's mission is to protect, restore, maintain and promote the landscape, waterways and parkways of the Emerald Necklace park system. For more information, visit www.emeraldnecklace.org.

Mass Historical Society Sponsors Free Screening

On Wednesday, June 11, the Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) will sponsor a free screening of "The Three Dumas" beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by the film at 6 p.m.

Offered in honor of the bicentennial of the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade, "The Three Dumas" is a documentary that explores the life and career of Alexandre Dumas. The grandson of a slave, he overcame all the obstacles of prejudice to become a role model of contemporary literature.

The film's producers will be on hand to discuss the making of the film and Dumas' historical significance.

Please call 617-646-0560 to register. The MHS is located at 1154 Boylston St., Boston. For more information, visit www.masshist.org/events.

"Rose Garden Party" Scheduled for June 19

Mrs. Angela Menino and Commissioner Antonia Pollak invite us to the 12th annual "Rose
Garden Party" to benefit ParkARTS on Thursday, June 19 in The Rose Garden located in the Back Bay Fens, Boston, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Garden party attire is enthusiastically encouraged and those wearing party hats will automatically be entered in the fun and informal "Hats Galore! Contest." Judges will choose their favorites in the following categories: Best Garden Party Hat, Most Creative Hat, Most Elegant Hat and Just for Men Hat.

Among the members of the large committee are: Meg Albert, Marcia Brown, Jacqui Budd, Dawn Curtis Hanley, Peggy Dray, Courtney Forrester, Mimi La Camera, Vivien Li, Susan Menino
Fenton, Lydia Shire and Joyce Spaulding, just to name a very few.

According to the invitation, there are even "a few great men" including Robin Brown, Harry Collings, John Connolly, Dick Dray, Paul Foster, Bill Nigreen and Leo Romero.

The arts, education and museum leaders are well represented, too, with the likes of Roger Brown, Julie Burns, Sr. Janet Eisner, S.N.D., Anne Hawley, Jacqueline Liebergott, John Linehan, Jill Medvedow, Bud Ris, Marita Rivero, Malcolm Rogers, Katherine Sloan and Joe Spaulding.

ParkARTS began as Mayor Menino's initiative to present a yearlong program of arts and culture related programs and events in Boston's parks system. The Boston Parks and Recreation Department's multi-faceted program incorporates visual, performing, and participatory arts.

For tickets and more information, be sure to call 617-961-3039.

Odetta Returns to Boston on July 8 to Open Free
"Playhouse in the Park" Series

The Franklin Park Coalition (FPC) will partner with the National Center of Afro-American Artists (NCAAA) and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department's ParkARTS Program to present a free performing arts series named for the founder and director of the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts.

Lewis, a beloved Boston icon, established "Playhouse in the Park" in 1966, and presented such artists as Duke Ellington, Olatunji, Odetta, Billy Taylor, and the Boston Ballet. In its original inception, it ran through 1978.

Four years ago, the FPC, NCAAA, and ParkARTS began their effort to re-establish "Playhouse in the Park" as an exciting multicultural summer performance venue. This year, they will present 11 Tuesday shows.

The 10:30 a.m. morning shows run about one hour, and are geared toward children, families and summer camps. Evening shows, hosted by Naheem, run from 6 to 8:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted.

These free, outdoor performances take place at Valley Gates, next to The Playstead, the big field in Franklin Park between White Stadium and the rear entrance of the Zoo, not far from where the original Playhouse stood. Rain locations for some shows TBA.

On July 8, the legendary folk artist and activist Odetta returns to open the 2008 season. She first performed at the "Playhouse in the Park" 40 years ago, on Aug. 31, 1968.

Opening for Odetta is IntaAfrika, featuring Stephen O'Neal who has been part of the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts' annual performance of Langston Hughes' "Black Nativity" since the beginning in 1970. O'Neal and drummer Salim Abdul-Rahman were students of the world-renowned M. Babatunde Olatunji. O'Neal is the co-founder of IntaAfrika, which has a 15-year history in the community. Joined by his 13-year-old son, Stephen Korliss, the group has traveled extensively, with stops in Senegal and Gambia.

For more information, call 617-282-2881 or visit www.franklinparkcoalition.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.

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