The Metropolitan Museum of Art will be displaying Ringo Starr’s gold-plated snare drum, in a special display in celebration of the musician’s 70th birthday, which took place on July 7th.  On loan from Ringo Starr, it was originally presented to him by the Ludwig Drum Company during The Beatles’ 1964 visit to Chicago when the legendary rock group, in which Mr. Starr was the drummer, was on its first tour of the United States.  The special exhibit will be on display from July 7th through December 2010 in the Museum’s second-floor Musical Instruments Galleries.
   The Metropolitan Museum of Art is located at 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10028.  The museum is closed on Mondays but is open Tue-Thu 9:30am-5:30pm; Fri-Sat 9:30am-9pm; and Sun 9am-5:30pm.  Admission is a suggested donation at the visitors discretion. 

 Photo: (c) Caroline P. Digonis 2010 

Rockefeller Center will be transformed into a grand red carpet display in celebration of Fashion Night Out.  Visitors and Shoppers are invited to walk the red carpet in celebrity style and pose for photos in front of the “Fashion’s Night Out step & repeat backdrop”.  The free event will include a live fashion show with models as well as live music from the bands Bear Hands, Brahms and Savoir Adore. For more information visit www.fashionsnightout.com.

Event: Fashion’s Night Out at Rockefeller Center
When: Friday, September 10th-6:00pm to 11:00pm
Where: Rockefeller Center, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, between 49th and 50th Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues, in New York

   The Radio City Rockettes joined Santa, on August 12th, to Kick-off the 2010 Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The coast-to-coast kick-line featured the iconic Rockettes kicking off in eight of the 26 cities in which the annual Christmas Spectacular will play this season.  Hosted by WPLJ’s Race Taylor, the live performance took place in front of Radio City Music Hall, and concluded with invited guests joining the Rockettes in their legendary kick-line.  The annual “Kick Across America” celebration benefits deserving families in experiencing the magic of the annual Christmas Spectacular.

   The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring the Radio City Rockettes, will run from November 5 through December 30 2010.  Visit Radio City Music Hall for more information. 

All Photos: (c) Caroline P. Digonis 2010

   The arrival of King Tut’s wooden chariot was unveiled yesterday, August 3rd., at the Discovery Times Square Exposition, in New York.  Exhibition designer Mark Lach was on hand and explained how the chariot almost didn’t make it to the exhibit due to its classification as a vehicle, henceforth, the transit authorities requiring the chariot get its own VIN number.  The installation of the boy king’s chariot marks the first time the chariot has traveled out of Egypt since it was discovered in 1922.  

   This sleeker wooden chariot, was one of six chariots discovered in the tomb of King Tut.  It is believed that its lighter unadorned wooden construction made this chariot the one of choice for hunting, battles, and other daily activities.  Furthermore, one of the tires on the wheels was a replacement made in ancient times, suggesting the frequent use by King Tut.  It has been suggested that the boy king fell from this chariot and that injury caused his death.  Several representations on the artifacts throughout the exhibit depicts King Tut in a chariot hunting or in battle.

   The “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” exhibit runs through January 2, 2011 before returning permanently to the Cairo Museum in Egypt. 

Photo: (c) Caroline P. Digonis 2010

Editor’s pick

   The legendary rock and roll icon Pat Benatar has just released her much-anticipated memoir, Between A Heart And A Rock Place, which candidly details her rise to fame and personal experiences as she became the top selling female artists of all time.
   Pat Benatar, the four-time Grammy winner, holds the title of being the first female rocker on MTV.  During the 1980’s, her music was everywhere, with 19 Top 40 singles as well as six platinum and four gold albums under her belt.  She became the most powerful feminist rock voice of the 80′s with hits like “Heartbreaker,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “Fire and Ice,” “Love Is A Battlefield” and “Shadows Of The Night”.
   Pat Benatar is set to tour starting June 24th through August 27th with 21 cities scheduled so far with additional dates to be announced.  Pat Benatar will be joined by REO Speedwagon, another very popular 80’s act, for the ”Love On The Run” summer tour.  Visit www.benatar.com for additional information and concert updates.

 Photo: (c) Caroline P. Digonis 2010.  

   The Latin Society dazzled New York City last night at their annual El Museo Gala held at Ciprianis 42nd Street.  This year’s honorees were Opera legend Placido Domingo receiving a special lifetime achievement award and Tony Bechara, the museum’s long-serving board chairman, receiving a special leadership award.  Fashion icon Oscar de la Renta filled in as Master of Ceremonies for a recovering Barbara Walters, who expressed herself in the form of a letter read by Oscar de la Renta to the packed society crowd.  Among the highlights of Barbara Walters tribute in writing were “Only an injured heart would keep me from being with you tonight” and the fact that Placido Domingo refers to her as “Santa Barbara”…”the only time anyone has called me a saint”.
   The evening was sponsored by Gala chairs Yaz and Valentin Hernandez and Renee and Alvaro Domingo.  The evening raised over one million dollars for the El Museo organization.

   The annual El Museo Gala included a dramatic white carpet display, tables decorated with oversized silver and Lucite candlesticks, and the 13–piece Bob Hardwick orchestra that provided latin dance music late into the night.  The menu began with risotto with Spanish saffron, followed by seared scallops with black bean salsa garnished with micro greens and cilantro, and tostones.  Desserts included guava, lemon, and coconut sorbet decorated with pomegranate seeds in a chocolate shell and passion fruit sauce, as well as flan.  The evening concluded with guests dancing on Cipriani’s magnificent ballroom dance floor.

   The El Museo del Barrio organization, founded in 1969, is New York’s leading Latino cultural institution.  Located at the top of the Museum Mile, in New York City, the El Museo del Barrio institution is the only museum that celebrates Latino, Caribbean, and Latin American cultures.  The El Museo del Barrio Museum is located at 1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street.  

   All Photos: (c) Caroline P. Digonis 2010

Editor’s pick

Diana Ross

When: 
May 19th, 8:00 PM (Wednesday)
Where:
Radio City Music Hall
1260 Sixth Avenue
New York, NY 10020
(212) 247-4777
Price Range:
$54.50–$114.50

The one and only Diana Ross will bring her “More Today than Yesterday” tour to Radio City Music Hall on May 19.

The legendary icon will perform her greatest hits and pull out all the stops with breathtaking costumes and stage designs, along with a live string and horn section.

Diana Ross has had a profound influence on American popular culture and has become an icon in the entertainment industry. She is an Academy Award® nominated actress for her unforgettable role as Billie Holiday in “Lady Sings the Blues,” a Tony and Golden Globe® winner, a bestselling author, winner of 8 American Music Awards and a recipient of The Kennedy Center Honors. Her reputation as a woman of great style and beauty has put her on the covers of hundreds of magazines. Ms. Ross has sold over 100 million records and recorded 18 #1 hits. Her music became the sound of young America in the ’60s soon after she signed with Motown Records in 1961 with The Supremes. She embarked on her extraordinary solo career in 1970, and has not stopped since.

Diana Ross sings the soundtrack of our lives, a true music legend.

Additional information is available on Diana Ross’ official Facebook page www.facebook.com/dianaross.

   A special 70th Anniversary highlight program will feature American Ballet Theatre’s Principal Dancers in excerpts from Sir Frederick Ashton’s Birthday Offering, Swan Lake and Twyla Tharp’s The Brahms-Haydn Variations. The performance will include the Company Premieres of Ashton’s Thaïs Pas de Deux and Awakening Pas de Deux, as well as a pas de deux from John Neumeier’s Lady of the Camellias. The evening will also feature the Spring Gala debut of ABT II, in the first movement of Edwaard Liang’s Ballo Per Sei. Set to music by Antonio Vivaldi, Ballo Per Sei was given its World Premiere at The Joyce Theater on April 13, 2010.

   The anniversary event will conclude with a Gala dinner under the Tent at Lincoln Center following the performance. Gala benefit tickets are priced at $1,500, $2,000 and $2,500 and include the performance and post-performance dinner. For Gala benefit ticket information only, call American Ballet Theatre’s Special Events office at 212-477-3030, ext. 3239.

   Performance-only tickets, priced $28 to $150, are available online, at the Metropolitan Opera House box office or by calling 212-362-6000. Visit the American Ballet Theatre website at www.abt.org for additional information.