Week of July 19th, 2021

Wednesday, July 21st: La Belle Epoque de Warhol

A small group of Art lovers received a private tour of 2 fantastic exhibits at the Nassau Museum of Art. The museum's Director, Prof. Charles Riley, greeting us with a top hat and a brief piano interlude before launching into a dynamic tour of the main exhibit, which brought the Belle Époque to life in painting, sculpture and textiles. Then it was on to the second floor to take in pieces by Andy Warhol on social loan to the museum.

Friday, July 23rd: The Knights perform in Bryant Park

We celebrated fine music and sophisticated "dining" at Bryant Park. The Knights played at Bryant Park as part of the Carnegie Hall Citywide Series. The Knights is a wonderful modern day classical orchestra. They perform classical pieces as well as original pieces reminiscent of the greats. They also perform fun modern pieces such as Simple Gifts or The Harlem Shake. The orchestra has toured and recorded with renowned soloists including Yo-Yo Ma, Dawn Upshaw, Béla Fleck, and Gil Shaham, and has performed at Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, and the Vienna Musikverein. They perform in traditional concert halls as well as parks, plazas, and bars, all in an effort to reach listeners of all backgrounds and invite them into their music-making. Since incorporating in 2007, the orchestra has toured consistently across the United States and Europe.

Their original music is lovely and elegant. Here is a link to them playing Beethoven: https://youtu.be/a9HWo4THnHA

Week of July 12th, 2021

Tuesday, July 13th: Princeton Club lecture via Zoom - Final Transgression: One Woman's Tragic Destiny in War-torn France

Author Harriet Welty-Rochefort joined us live from Paris to discuss her most recent novel. Final Transgression,  85-year-old Caroline Aubry tells the tale of the tragic wartime destiny of her beloved younger sister, Séverine. When WW2 breaks out and Séverine’s collaborationist husband betrays her, she flees from Paris to her hometown in southwest France and to the château and the countess who was her mentor. Headstrong and determined, she ignores warnings about the risk of traveling to an area that has become a fierce battleground for rival groups of résistants, Nazis and collaborators. It is there, in her own village,  that she commits an egregious error––her final transgression.

Harriet Welty Rochefort grew up in Iowa, earned degrees at the University of Michigan (B.A.) and Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism (MSJ), then traveled to France - and never left. She is the author of three nonfiction books about the French: French Toast, French Fried, and Joie de Vivre. Final Transgression is her first work of fiction. Harriet lives with her French husband, Philippe, in Paris. Her website is www.harrietweltyrochefort.com 

Wednesday, July 14th: Official Bastille Day Celebration in Central Park

French expatriates and francophiles alike gathered at the Central Park Summerstage for a celebration of all things French. Singers and DJs entertained the crowd and the Cadets Lafayette performed the anthems of the US and France.

Friday, July 16th: DM Fan club returns for Shake the Disease

You know it is going to be a good 80s New Wave night when DJ Lisa Shred plays Jubilation by Anything Box as the third song in. That explained why Alex and Terry were on the dance floor for 3 hrs straight...