Smiling for the camera at the "28th Presidents at Pops" gala are, left to right, committee chair Bob Reynolds, Laura Reynolds, Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart and special guest performer Chris Botti. (Photo by Michael J. Lutch)

On June 3, the Boston Pops celebrated its "28th Annual Presidents at Pops" at Symphony Hall. The noted trumpeter Chris Botti joined conductor Keith Lockhart and The Pops in a special performance.

Launched in 1982, "Presidents at Pops" invites companies to celebrate the arrival of spring with their colleagues and clients in grand musical tradition. The original Boston Pops corporate fundraising event, it is a favorite in the Boston community.

The festive evening included a cocktail reception, gourmet boxed dinners, and the gala concert along with a special commemorative program book.

Presidents at Pops also provided companies with the opportunity to sponsor one or more students to attend Days in the Arts at Tanglewood (DARTS), the BSO's summer arts camp in the Berkshires. More than 400 middle school students from all over Massachusetts attend this arts immersion program, regardless of their ability to pay. Congratulations all around!

South Shore Music Circus Offers Tickets to North Shore Music Theatre Subscribers

The recent announcement of the closure of the North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) has left the venue's longtime subscribers without the benefit of memberships paid for in advance.

In an effort to assist NSMT patrons with their live entertainment needs, the South Shore Music Circus offers NSMT's 2009 subscribers the opportunity to get one free ticket for every ticket purchased for all shows in the "Celebrity Live Concert Series" at the Music Circus in Cohasset. Proof of membership will be required for purchase during this special offer. Tickets must be ordered by June 30th.

North Shore Music Theatre subscribers interested in taking advantage of the free ticket offer should call the South Shore Music Circus box office at 781-383-9850, weekdays between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and between 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on the weekend. To see the complete 2009 summer concert schedule, visit www.themusiccircus.org.

Major Boston Flower Show Scheduled for Next March

The city of Boston will once again host a major flower show, featuring a new location and an experienced team of show producers.

"The Boston Flower & Garden Show," to be held March 24 - 28, 2010 at the Seaport World Trade Center, will boast major exhibits, a garden marketplace, daily gardening demonstrations, lectures, judged competitions and more.

The show will be produced by the Paragon Group (event specialists for many consumer exhibitions including the New England Auto Show), under the direction of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society's (MHS) former flower show director, Carolyn Weston.

In addition to longtime exhibitors, city officials are delighted to hear of the return of a major flower show in Boston. According to Thomas M. Menino, Mayor of Boston, "After a long hard winter, Boston's residents and visitors look forward to their first taste of spring at an annual flower show. It reminds us of everything that is great about New England - the changing seasons, the welcome arrival of warmer weather, and the beauty that flowers bring."

"We congratulate the Paragon Group for bringing this beloved New England tradition back to Boston in a great new location at the Seaport World Trade Center on Boston's waterfront," said Pat Moscaritolo, President and CEO of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Carolyn Weston, who has directed 12 consecutive flower shows for the MHS, was recently named the director for the Boston Flower & Garden Show. "The March event will bring a floral fantasy to Boston!" said Weston. "For five days and nights, the Seaport World Trade Center will be transformed into a wonderland of flora and stunning exhibits. This former rite of spring, which generations of Bostonians have cherished, will blossom anew under the theme, 'A Feast for the Senses,'" she said.

For more than a century, New Englanders have relished in the spectacular sights and scents of a major flower show in Boston. In 2009, the passing of the venerable event disappointed the thousands of its annual visitors and the many exhibitors. When recent reports revealed MHS would not be undertaking its event for the second consecutive year, the Paragon Group made the decision to step in and bring the show back to life.

According to Paragon's vice president, Barbara Pudney, the 2010 flower show will offer more than 100,000 square feet of exhibits, including 30 major gardens, 270 retail vendors and the return of the popular Preview Party gala. "It is an honor to bring the flower show back to the city of Boston," said Pudney.

Longtime exhibitors are equally enthusiastic. Sandy Heimlich, a Woburn nursery owner who has exhibited at the former New England Spring Flower Show for decades, said he is excited to once again be in front of tens of thousands of attendees showcasing his nursery's spectacular gardens. "The Flower Show has always been the kickoff to the spring season," said Heimlich. "People love to go to flower shows, particularly in March, to see the flowers and trees in order to get ideas for their own homes. They walk inside and see a blaze of color."

"The whole green industry has been devastated without a flower show in 2009," said Peter Sadeck, a longtime exhibitor known for his spectacular show designs which have always included exotic birds. "As a professional landscaper, we see the flower show as a way to generate new business, show our true creativity and introduce new plant material. This is what kept the 100,000 visitors happy for so many years...."

Sights, sounds, scents and colors will abound. A feast for the senses indeed!

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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