Photo Credit: Cable Risdon

Award Gala Honoring Ken Burns Scheduled

The Bostonian Society's "Annual Boston History Award Gala" takes place on Thursday, January 29 at The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Society will honor famed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.

The fund-raising event begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres followed by dinner and the awards ceremony at 7 p.m. A brief live auction will precede dessert. Proceeds will support the programs, services, and collections of the Society and the Old State House Museum.

The Bostonian Society was founded in 1881 to save Boston's Old State House from demolition. Since that time, the Society has served as the steward and protector of the Old State House and has operated it on behalf of Boston's citizens as an historic site and a museum of the city's history. Built in 1713, the Old State House is Boston's oldest public building and is widely regarded as one of the most historically significant sites in the nation.

Today, the organization's mission has grown to include many of the traditional functions of an historical society. The Society also organizes educational activities for students, exhibitions in the Old State House and other venues, and programs for families and the general public, including the city's historic markers program.

Ken Burns has produced and directed a number of outstanding historical documentaries for PBS, including "The Brooklyn Bridge," which was nominated for an Academy Award, as well as "The Civil War," "Baseball," "Jazz" and, most recently, "The War," an examination of World War II from the perspective of ordinary Americans.

His current project, a 12-hour, six-part film titled "The National Parks: America's Best Idea," will air on PBS in the fall of 2009.

Tickets may be purchased by calling 617-720-1713, ext. 10. For more information, visit www.bostonhistory.org.

"Dress for Success" Luncheon at Fairmont Copley Plaza

The 2009 Dress for Success luncheon, "Celebrating Self-Sufficiency," takes place on Friday, January 30, at The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. It begins at 11:30 a.m. with a reception followed by lunch, an entertaining and informative program and a live auction.

The event chairs are Joanne Jaxtimer, SVP & Director of Public Affairs, The Bank of New York Mellon and Michael Olivieri, Publisher, Boston Business Journal.

The event marks the third year that a group of Boston's leadership will come together to celebrate and support the work done by Dress for Success Boston, whose mission is "to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women.... [by providing them with] professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help [them] thrive in work and in life."

For more information, call 617-779-2177 or email boston@dressforsuccess.org. You may also visit their online auction at www.dfsb.cmarket.com.

My Husband's 50th High School Reunion

Looking back, one of my favorite social events of 2008 was my husband's 50th high school reunion. Some family members and friends are still incredulous.

Some of their comments: "You probably had a lousy time." "Who'd you talk to?" "Why bother?" "I would have let him go by himself and stayed home with a good book." "I'm sure he would have enjoyed it more without you."

They just don't understand.

However, the reality is that many people seem to agree.

According to Darren Garnick ("The Working Stiff" column in the Herald), "Wives, husbands, girlfriends and boyfriends ruin high school reunions and they tarnish work parties as well...."

Well, excuse me!

This past Monday, Globe correspondent Scott Kirsner noted that some people believe that in the future, reunions may become irrelevant as he quoted from a local blog, "... we're now in the era of Facebook, Twitter and complete connectivity that I believe has eliminated the need for reunions or other reasons to rediscover your past."

Alas, nothing is forever.

As for your columnist, she looks forward to many more reunions, hers included.

Enjoying their Class of 1958 reunion are, left to right, Joe & Ann Donahue of Middleboro and Sandra & John Krafton of East Sandwich. (Photo by Hilda M. Morrill)

After all, how many opportunities does she have to listen to and enjoy dancing to such classics as "School Days" by Chuck Berry, "Tears on My Pillow" by Little Anthony & the Imperials, "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and His Comets, "Earth Angel" by the Penguins, "Yakety Yak" by the Coasters, and "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite" by The Spaniels.

Now that's real music.

And, it's not so much fun at home by yourself.

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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