The Scene In and Around Boston . . . The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum's annual benefit evening, "Step Up to the Plate for Courage," was held at the State Street Pavilion Club, Fenway Park, on January 21. Event co-chairs were Michael & Sukey Forbes Bigham and Eric & Mary Johnson. Approximately 200 guests "stepped up to the plate" at Fenway Park to support the organization's work in the Boston public schools. Guests enjoyed beverages donated by the Boston Brewing Company and special "Batter Up" cocktails as they bid on exclusive silent auction items during the festive evening at America's most beloved ballpark. The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum is a yearlong language arts program dedicated to strengthening the literacy skills of students. The Courage Curriculum honors the life of Max Warburg, a courageous eleven-year-old who lost his battle with leukemia in 1991. Max's ability to continue to enjoy life and his steadfast determination and heartfelt hope in the face of a deadly disease were an inspiration to all who knew him. Feeling that their son's example would be an enduring message of courage, Stephanie and Jonathan Warburg worked with the Boston Public Schools and educators from across the country to develop and create the Courage Curriculum. For information about the organization and its upcoming events, visit www.maxcourage.org.
New England Conservatory's "Feast of Music" Scheduled for February 27 Following upon the extraordinary success of last year's Italian-themed gala, the New England Conservatory will transform its annual Feast of Music into a celebration of all things French in a glamorous evening called "Le Festin de la Musique." The event, which The Boston Herald has called one of Boston's "Top 10" parties, takes place February 27 at the Fairmont Copley Plaza. This fabulous evening brings together 450 of Boston's most prominent business leaders and cultural philanthropists to benefit NEC's General Scholarship Fund. One of the season's most anticipated evenings, A Feast of Music pairs sumptuous food and wine with superb performances by NEC students of jazz, opera, and classical music. This year's benefit seeks to surpass last year's goal of $500,000. The event chairs are Lane Young and Debbie Smith. The sponsors are: Liberty Mutual, Swiss Re, Mt Auburn Hospital, and Thorbahn. Le Festin will feature everything French-from works by French composers, to food, wine, and Silent Auction treasures. NEC has been working closely with the Consul General of France, Christophe Guilhou, to create an evening with authentic Gallic panache. As a unique tribute to NEC, world-renowned celebrity Chef Guy Martin of Le Grand Véfour in Paris, Sensing Boston and Sensing Paris, and Le Pont du Ciel in Osaka, Japan, has agreed to create a special menu specifically for this year's gala. Martin, the chef of Grand Véfour, was 43 when he was awarded his third star in 2000; his was the only restaurant to win three stars in the Red Michelin Guide that year. In addition to the musical and gastronomic delights of the dinner, NEC alumnus Bo Winiker and his orchestra will perform for the first time this year at the after-party. So diners who can't bear to bring the evening to a close can dance until the wee hours to big-band classics and soulful French jazz tunes. For further information, visit the NEC Web site at www.necmusic.edu/feastofmusic. NEC presents more than 600 free concerts each year, many of them in Jordan Hall, its world- renowned, 106-year old, beautifully restored concert hall. These programs range from solo recitals to chamber music to orchestral programs to jazz and opera scenes. Every year, NEC's opera studies department also presents two fully staged opera productions at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston. NEC is co-founder and educational partner of "From the Top," a weekly radio program that celebrates outstanding young classical musicians from the entire country. With its broadcast home in Jordan Hall, the show is now carried by National Public Radio and is heard on 250 stations throughout the United States.
"Daffodil Days" Benefit the American Cancer Society There's still time to order daffodils in support of the American Cancer Society. Friday, March 5 is the deadline. As one of the Society's oldest and most beloved fundraising programs, "Daffodil Days" empowers everyone from CEOs to school children to make it their business to help save lives by fighting back against cancer and helping to create a world with more birthdays. Although "Daffodil Days" involves offering daffodils to people in appreciation for their contributions, it is about more than just beautiful flowers; it is an opportunity to share hope for a world free from cancer. For more information about the Society's "Daffodil Days," contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org/daffodils. Enjoy! |
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In addition to events covered and reported by the columnist, "The Scene..." |
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Max Warburg Courage Curriculum Founder and President Stephanie Warburg, center, with the event's entertainers, Tufts students Nathaniel Silva (bagpiper) and Katie McNally (fiddle). (Photo by Roger Farrington)