Sports meets style meets art
SPORTING SOCIAL: Confession time: as much as I’d like to be that spicy gal in the spirit of Sporty Spice who is a) an all-out sportster, great at and game to try any and all types of sports, and b) totally on top of the rules of every major sport, alas, she is not me, but a mere fantasy construct of what is clearly a very active imaJENNation.
That said, I remain a loyal Habs fan (aware of most of the rules of play, TG!) and, by virtue of having covered the social scene for over a decade now, am rather familiar with the social/philanthropic events in the ville that boast a spirited sports vibe.
Which brings us to today’s lead event: the 14th annual Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors Foundation Sports Celebrity Breakfast, chaired with passion and perseverance by business execs/sports enthusiasts Michael Wagen (Delmar superstar) and Bram Naimer (Union chief ).
Always a hot ticket on the social circuit, the event is beloved for its merging of sports legends and good brunch nosh. This year’s edition was MCed by journalist Mike Cohen and broadcaster Charles-André Marchand, was held once again at the Gelber Conference Centre and attracted a stellar crowd.
Topping the VIP list were such business and sports luminaries as guest of honour, prominent lawyer and philanthropist Morden (Cookie) Lazarus, who attended festivities with proud wife Jodi and myriad other beaming family members; famous brothers Jean-Philippe (JP) Darche and Mathieu Darche, recognized as Sports Personalities of the Year; Baseball Hall of Fame member Tim Raines, recipient of the 2018 Montreal Expos Legend Award; and attention-getting sports talk show host Mitch Melnick, honoured with the Larry Fredericks Media Award.
While a fabulous time was had by all, the crowning glory of the breakfast was the winning tally of over $325,000 — funds instrumental to the Seniors in Crisis program, which delivers muchneeded assistance to seniors in the community.
STYLISH SOCIAL: And now for the stylish morsel in today’s roundup! Gaggles of the city’s fashion insiders and tastemakers recently donned their most expressive sartorials to patronize the ninth Fashion Preview at Agora Hydro- Québec. Overseen by visionary Emanuela Lolli, the three-night fash-a-ganza celebrating and promoting local design talent in expert fashion (excuse pun) wowed fashion lovers and buyers alike, with stunning ready-to-wear runway shows as well as an array of sophisticated installations. As for the fun social side, it delivered in spades, too. ’Course it did.
ARTISTIC SOCIAL: Finally, before we bid adieu today, a nod is in order to a new and innovative series of events on the Montreal social scene called Les Bébés Gâtés. Masterminded by creative directors Rafi and Sév Astor, the branded pop-up events are a new adventure in art appreciation and acquisition, whereby guests have the opportunity to peruse and experience cool art (paintings and installations) in a vibrant social setting with a likeminded creative crew.
Their most recent offering unfolded at the ever-trending Atwater Cocktail Club and magneted a record number of attendees. Boasting a unique It’s a Jungle Out There! theme, the third edition featured the work of Labrona (represented by the Skeptic Dog Gallery) and explored the consequences of greed in an amazing and affecting manner. Even cooler: a percentage of all sales supported the awesome Art for Healing Foundation. For more social spectacular of the sporty, stylish and artistic varieties, see diaryofasocialgal.com.