Rebecca Reports

Published March 16th, 2008

Rebecca Reports

Friday, my first visit to Festival of the Arts BOCA! It is a testament to the popularity of author and broadcaster, Doris Kearns Goodwin that 1,100 people attended her lecture under the festival’s “big top”. She gave us first hand insight into past presidents’ true characters, observed though years of writing best-selling autobiographies.

Sunday, 12 p.m. Brunch with fellow members of the March of Dimes Bulgari host committee at Patti Carpenter’s  beautiful home on the Intracoastal. Yes--a tough way to start the day! The jewels were wonderful and we’re all looking forward to the store opening on March 20 which will benefit March of Dimes. I bid the baubles farewell and headed west.

2 p.m. Symphony of the Americas concert at Spanish River High School, sponsored by Madelyn Savarick. The entertaining program included songs from “West Side Story,” one of my favorite musicals. The Sharks and the Jets were interrupted however when someone’s cell phone started ringing. Maestro James Brooks-Bruzzese’s sense of humor surfaced “It’s in the wrong key,” he joked.

Guest singer was Canadian crooner Doug Crosley who had a stellar career in Broadway musicals. Doug sang a medley of Sinatra songs, ending, of course with “My Way.” Women threw flowers. I threw myself in to the car and headed over to the Festival of the Arts BOCA. Next year I’m going to book a room in the VIP suite and just camp out!

5 p.m. A packed VIP tent was the venue for an incredible panel discussion featuring “triple threats,” David Ebershoff, Joyce Carol Oates and Edmund White. The three were friends as well as contemporaries and so the discussion was animated and informed. The audience seemed to be composed of would-be authors who lined up to ask the panel for advice-- and advice they got. Sound, practical advice from three very different writers, who are also editors and teachers. Congratulations to the Festival’s Susan Resneck Pierce for bringing fascinating top authors to Boca!

7:30 p.m. I have to admit I was flagging slightly as I took my seat at the Pat Metheny Trio concert back at the Festival of the Arts BOCA. Not being a big jazz fan I enjoyed Metheny’s melodic introduction but somehow lost myself in the rest of the concert-the two hard core fans next to me lost themselves too-but I think they understood the music!

Tuesday, it was off to Fort Lauderdale for the Symphony of the Americas’ Annual Women of Style & Substance luncheon. Madelyn Savarick was one of the honorees along with Anne Ahrens, Rick & Rita Case, Laurie Sallauro, Betty Koontz, Connie Chaney, Mercedes Henricksson and Linda Haury. Once again, mid program, the Maestro’s sense of humor re-surfaced. The excited audience was not exactly giving its undivided attention to the orchestra. “Imagine you are in the theater and you are listening quietly,” he said. Miraculously, they obeyed!