Photo Coverage: Deana Martin & Tony Danza Celebrate 75 Years of Patsy's Italian Restaurant
You can go to the Museum of the City of New York to relive our town's exciting history or you can walk into Patsy's Italian Restaurant on 56th street and sit at the same table that Frank Sinatra and his pals dined at. Dean Martin also had his spaghetti at Patsy's. Last night his daughter Deana Martin enjoyed some Pasta (although she doesn't look like she ever touched the carbs) topped with Patsy's great sauce (also on your grocers shelves) during the establishment's 75th Anniversary invited guests only celebration. You can also sit at the tables where present celebrities such as Al Pacino, Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Madonna, George Clooney, Sean “Diddy” Combs, David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey, Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Lopez, Barbara Streisand, Tony Bennett, Robert DeNiro, Michael Buble, Don Rickles, Josh Groban, Jacklyn Smith, Phyllis George, Calvin Klein, Jerry Seinfeld, James Gandolfini, Christie Brinkley, Jon Bon Jovi, Liza Minelli, Chris Noth, Tony Danza, Farrah Fawcett, Kate Hudson, Chevy Chase, Cheryl Ladd, and Patty LaBelle, regularly enjoy arguably some of the finest Italian cuisine in the world. Geno Vento, Owner of the Philadelphia Original Geno's Cheesesteak even flew in for the event to get tips on how to successfully serve food for 75 years. Who knows, maybe they served Italian baby food in 1944 when “Patsy” Scognamillo opened the place and my parents took me along with them.
Photo Coverage: Bernadette Peters, Danny Aiello, Mayor David Dinkins & Others Celebrate Irv Welzer at the Friars
If you are a Friar you receive an "Opening Act" email that introduces you to a new member. Sadly, you also get a "Final Curtain" email when a member leaves the stage. In true theater tradition an "After Party" was held for one of the clubs esteemed members in the Frank Sinatra Dining Room last night. It was organized by Actors Fund President and CEO Joseph Benincasa to remember Irv Welzer, a beloved member of the club. With song and story a few of Irv's fellow Friars reminisced. Mayor David Dinkins, Danny Aiello, Bernadette Peters, Dominic Chianese, Mark Simone, Robert Creighton,Carol Skarimbas,Will & Anthony Nunziata, and Stewie Stone all participated in this party, which celebrated a much loved member of the theatre community.
Photo Coverage: Friars Foundation's ADOPT A SCHOLAR Reception
The Friars Foundation was established in 1977 as the charitable arm of the Friars Club. It is a publicly supported Foundation and is the conduit through which the Friars accomplish one of its major goals: the betterment of society, particularly in the area of the performing arts. The mission of the Friars Foundation is to help performing arts groups create excellent innovative and affordable programs for the enrichment, education, and enjoyment of diverse audiences and participants.
Tune and Minnelli Amongst BTOI Honorees
The Sixty-third Boys' Towns of Italy 'Ball of the Year' will be honored Tommy Tune, Liza Minnelli, Louis R. Cappelli and Mark Simone. Tune, the Tony and Drama Desk-winning actor, dancer, singer, choreographer, director and producer is named Entertainer of the Year. Minnelli, the Academy Award-winning singer and dancer is named Woman of the Year. Cappelli, a prominent real estate developer and founder of the Louis R. Cappelli Foundation which assists at-risk youth. Simone is a famed broadcaster. Minnelli will also sing at the event, which takes place on April 12. Cocktails and the photo op begin at 7pm with the dinner and entertainment at 8pm. The ceremony is at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, 3 Renaissance Plaza, White Plains, NY.