KARASIK/RUBASHKIN:
We have had a busy week. Last weekend was the BCC prom, and needless to say the graduating seniors looked lovely in their finest.
You might have noticed the multitude of cars (and a very large white hummer limo) on Leland street Saturday evening. Our home was the venue for photographs for Hannah and her friends. We were all thrilled that the rain held off!
On sunday Jacob and Hannah had the very special opportunity to play with MCYO at the Kennedy Center concert hall. It was truly exciting to hear them play in their respective orchestras on that grand stage. Pamela made a quick trip to Boston for a cardiology meeting, where the weather was quite a bit cooler than here, but it was fun and informative.
Sophie had a most enjoyable time when Mira recently visited from Norway.
Sophie is back on her bicycle after a break for AP exams, and is gearing up for a busy season. This weekend its the BCC One Act Festival, and a cello recital for Hannah.
We are excited about the school year coming to a close, and Hannah's graduation. Looking forward to summer!
DUFFY::
Charles Duffy treated his son, Matthew to an incredibly exciting day at the White House. President Barack Obama was honoring the Pittsburgh Steelers as the winners of the Super Bowl. Many may recall that Charles grew up in Pittsburgh and is a long time fan of the Steelers. Young Matthew matches his Dad’s enthusiastic team spirit. Matthew wore the team uniform and the number of one of his favorite players. Polamalu. Matthew was a little surprised that he was the only one in uniform!
President Obama and the Super Bowl champions assembled 3,000 care packages for troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of Operation USO. In addition to the special memories of the afternoon, Matthew came home with a football signed by Steelers players, Mean Joe Green AND President Barack Obama.
BOLAND:
The Bolands celebrated two birthdays (Jeb's 2 weeks late & Joe's 2 weeks early) as well as Mother's Day at a barbecue last Sunday. It was our first of the summer season and the weather cooperated. It's getting harder and harder to find a day when everyone is available so we just combined events. Everyone is anticipating the official start of summer next weekend. Patrick's already announced that he's heading to the beach!
Leanne and Jimmy enjoyed a performance Thursday evening of the Washington Ballet at The Harman Center for the Arts, a new theater complex that is home to the Shakespeare Theatre Company. Three different pieces were danced, including a world premier, and the company looked terrific.
The Forrests also had tickets for the final performance of the Washington Ballet. The Forrests tickets were for Wednesday, the Bolands for the following evening. The Bolands CLEARLY had the best date for the event because as it so happened the final Hockey play off game between the Capitals and the Penguins was occurring directly across the street from the Ballet. When Arthur and Marcy arrived at F Street, they felt like they were the only people on the Planet Earth without a RED jersey with Ovechkin on the back.
The streets were teeming with hockey fans, garages were overflowing and it suddenly did not seem like a night for ballet. SO Arthur turned the car around and they enjoyed a calm dinner at Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda instead.
New Leland Street residents, Phil and Jody Fidler were introduced to a small group of Leland Street neighbors. It was a nice
opportunity to get to know a few faces up and down the block and to learn who else has younsters. Jody learned that Maggie and Michael's daughter, Sarah, is in Max' class at school. Vicky's father was in town and so he had the chance to enjoy a bit
of Leland Street socializing.
TROCCHIO:
We are looking forward to having Jennie home from Florida this weekend when she attends a wedding in Annapolis.
Julie, Elizabeth, Lady and Callie enjoyed Bethesda’s “Strut your Mutt.” Truely adorable dogs!!! And great treats, which Lady especially appreciated.
COSMAS:
Farrell reports from Boston that Bill Cosmas has settled into Hearthstone @ Choate, a wonderful assisted living residence for Alzheimer's patients in Woburn, Massachusetts. Will Cosmas carefully researched facilities for his father and found this to be a perfect choice. Will, Farrell, Bill and a staff member, John, from Hearthstone traveled up to Massachusetts together last Sunday. They enjoyed a very pleasant trip up followed by Bill’s introduction to new granddaughter, Jane, before settling into Hearthstone.
Farrell has remained in Massachusetts to enjoy a full week with Will, Karen and their beautiful new baby. Jane now weighs in at 12 pounds and is smiling at her parents and grandmother. Farrell and Karen lunched at a cafe along Newberry Street and strolled Jane through Boston Commons past the spring flowers and the Swan Boats. Baby Jane was treated to a darling new outfit, (what are grandmothers for??).
Farrell says there was just one rainy day but otherwise the weather has been beautiful and they have enjoyed having breakfast on the patio with the sunshine, breezes and baby.
FORREST:
The Forrests celebrated Zak’s 28th birthday at Guapos Restaurant Friday evening. A lively night of gifts, laughter, Margaritas, Sangria and fajitas. Guapos acknowledges a birthday with a song and a sombrero and we all enjoyed a great time.
Zak leaves for St. Louis next week to film a Cavo concert for Warner Bros..
Nicole spent a day in NYC viewing a wonderful collection of Broadway and Opera costumes at Lincoln Center. Nicole’s company may be handling the touring exhibition of the collection.
Arthur was a guest speaker at the National Archives this past week for a program titled, “When Television Became BIG.”
The program was followed by a Q and A and recorded to be aired at a future date. The program was about how television has evolved over the decades. Arthur had significant input as a man who has been in the tv business since it’s inception and who has worked in every phase of live t.v.
BATEMAN:
The Batemans have a full house once again with Will, Annie, and Claire all home for the summer. Will is busy with his new job as an associate broker at Studley commercial real estate services (busy looking for new clients so let him know if you have any leads)! Claire is waiting tables at Cactus Cantina, and Annie will be working as a counselor at Sidwell Summer. Jill, Annie, and Claire are looking forward to an upcoming trip to Captiva Island where they will be taking Jill's mother to a beautiful spa to celebrate her 80th birthday.
All are anticipating a relaxing and fun summer.....Jill says it's great to have all that culinary enthusiasm back in the kitchen. The family is eating very well!
WOLFF/DANIEL:
Larry Wolff and Miriam Daniel arrived Friday from another long trip to Israel. Miriam spent a month in the city of Netanya (20 miles north of Tel Aviv) studying Hebrew five hours a day and has now passed the "aleph" (beginners) class. Larry joined her for the last two weeks. Besides learning more about Reform Jewish life in Israel, they also coped with Israeli drivers and traffic jams, looked at problems of Jewish and Arab elementary school children in Jaffa, and ate at some neat restaurants (Abdul the Fisherman in Jaffa, Lilit in Tel Aviv, Kyoto Sushi in Herzylia).
They spent a really nice weekend at Kibbutz Hagoshrim in the North, where they went white water rafting on the Hatzbani River.
Larry met with a number of Israel educators and hopes to write a paper on issues in Israel education.
Larry also found the time to visit Becky in Seattle. They went up the Space Needle as well as to the San Juan Islands.
David performed with the Cantate Singers (Hayden and Mendlesohn) Saturday at St Johns Parish Church in Bethesda.
Miriam recommends Lush Life, by Richard Price, a novel about life today in New York's Lower East Side.
LELAND NEIGHBOR SIGHTINGS:
Barbara Fendrick was seen just entering Sibley Hospital to visit daughter, Anne Marie who gave birth to a baby girl May 28th.
Barbara was beaming with happiness. Congratulations to the new parents and the proud Grandmother.
Politics and Prose:
It is always nice to see a familiar face in a crowd. Amongst those attending a discussion/Q and A on Gertrude Berg at Politics and Prose were Fred and Dorothy Solomon and further back in the crowd were Arthur and Marcy Forrest. Guest speaker, Aviva Kempner showed a film clip from the early t.v. show, “The Goldbergs.” Gertrude Berg played the lovable character, Molly Goldberg. Arthur Forrest was a cameraman and stage manager on the original program early in his career.
As the stage manager, he worked closely with Gertrude Berg. He has vivid and respectful memories of her as a principled and passionate humanitarian.
