Summer is here and there is a boatload of Dorothy Parker news and events to tell you about. In June, July and August there are events in many cities. And if you hate summer resorts, read what Mrs. Parker had to say about it.
It was just announced that Mario Brassard's 2008 short film Dorothy Parker's "The Sexes" is an official selection of the 13th annual Long Island International Film Expo in Bellmore. The film will be screened on Saturday, July 17, at 4:30 pm. For more info visit www.liifilmexpo.org and www.TheSexesFilm.com. Congratulations to Mario and his fine cast and crew. This is nice, because Mrs. Parker spent childhood summers in Bellmore, more than 100 years ago.
In August, Mrs. Parker's short story "Here We Are" will be part of the Silver Spring Stage's one-act festival. The festival runs two weekends and by happy coincidence "Here We Are" will run the 19th to 22nd of August, thus closing on the 117th anniversary of Mrs. Parker's birth. Silver Spring Stage is an all-volunteer community theater in Silver Spring, Maryland, outside Washington, DC. For more info visit here.
Dorothy Parker Society News
The Dorothy Parker Society is heating up June with two big nights of fun, live music and cocktails. The Last Thursday Series in the Borsalino Room is Thursday, June 24, at Flute Gramercy. Two nights later, the monthly Wit's End (clubwitsend.com) bash will be at Flute Midtown on Saturday, June 26 for the "Beyond the Silvery Sea" party with the world-famous Moonlighters performing. The venue on June 24 is underneath Flûte (flutebar.com), the popular Champagne lounge in Gramercy Park (40 E. 20th Street) in its underground private cabaret room. The DPS, New York's #1 literary association, is the evening's sponsor. The musical director and accompanist is the incomparable William Zeffiro, the man behind the hit show "The Road to Ruin" at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Table reservations for the Last Thursday Series are encouraged (212-529-7870). There is no cover with a 2-drink minimum. Must be over 21 to attend. Then on Saturday, June 26, is the monthly Wit's End party at Flute Midtown (205 West 54th Street at Broadway). Swing and tap those toes into the glorious summer season with us as we celebrate the wonder of the underwater world in Jazz Age style! Songs inspired by the sea and fabulous uke tunes brought to you by The Moonlighters. More information about both events is here.
In July there are 2 events on the same weekend, in New York and Boston:
NEW YORK: The 5th Bi-Annual Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governors Island, Saturday & Sunday, July 17th & 18th and August 28th & 29th, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Admission $7/advance (available on brownpapertickets.com), $10/door (Children Under 12 Free). Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra (http://dreamlandorchestra.com) will perform and there will be a whole schedule of activities (to be posted on the News page). This is a fantastic weekend, among the best events in the city all summer. The DPS will be at the August weekend (see below).
BOSTON: The 7th Annual Gathering of the Robert Benchley Society will be Friday through Sunday, July 16-18, 2010, in Boston. The Dorothy Parker Society will be in attendance (if you want to attend email Kevin@dorothyparker.com). Boston's We've Come for the Davenport Chapter has planned an outstanding weekend packed full of events. There is a cocktail party, walking tour, book talk & author signing, evening dinner cruise, and much more. Info: Four writers and editors will tip their caps to Benchley at a free book talk and reading Saturday, July 17, in Beacon Hill. The event begins at 11 a.m. at the Boston Society of the New Jerusalem, the Church on the Hill, 140 Bowdoin Street (churchonthehillboston.org). The talk and book signing is free and open to the public. More info here.
This year's Annual Robert Benchley Humor Awards Dinner will be held aboard the Secret Love. This handsome yacht has the charm and amenities that define private yachting. We have chartered the vessel for Saturday evening. There will be a full open-bar for the entirety of the cruise. Boston organizer of this event, Mary DiZazzo-Trumbull, has opted for the most luxurious of the dinner selections offered on the Secret Love, Boiled Maine Lobster Tails with drawn butter and Tenderloin of Beef with creamy horseradish sauce. Tickets for the weekend, which includes the walk, cruise, dinner and open bar, are $225 and all information is here.
August Event: the DPS will hold the 12th annual Parkerfest on Governors Island during the Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governors Island, Saturday & Sunday, August 28th & 29th. More info to come later, check the News page.
More Dorothy Parker News
In May when Dorothy Parker Complete Poems was published (read the story about the book here) we ran a little trivia contest to win a free copy of the book, courtesy of Penguin Classics, and signed by editor Marion Meade. The question: "The Passionate Screen Writer To His Love" is expanded with lines missing from the earlier edition. To celebrate, where did Dorothy Parker meet Marilyn Monroe? The correct answer was the American Academy of Arts & Letters (www.artsandletters.org), 633 West 155th Street. We got two copies of the book to give out, and the first two people with the correct answer were Beth Woolley (Long Branch, NJ) and Jason Stoneking (Paris). Congrats!
Dorothy Parker Verse of the Month
Since the DPS is having an event next month with the Robert Benchley Society, here are a few lines that Mrs. Parker wrote to her best friend, Robert Charles Benchley (available in Complete Poems and the 2006 edition of The Portable DP):
For R.C.B.
By Dorothy Parker
Life comes a-hurrying,
Or life lags slow;
But you've got to stop worrying—
Let it go!
Some call it gloomy,
Some call it jake;
They're very little to me—
Let them eat cake!
Some find it fair,
Some think it hooey,
Many people care;
But we don't, do we?
***
Thanks for reading!
Forward this newsletter to your friends, post it on your blogs, and we hope to see you at a Dorothy Parker Society gathering!
Kevin Fitzpatrick,
The Dorothy Parker Society
Email: kevin@dorothyparker.com
AIM - k72ndst
Skype - k72ndst
http://www.dorothyparker.com
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