Cultural correspondent Bess J.M. Hochstein reports from Pittsfield: It's much easier for Hollywood types to doll up for the Academy Awards in the warmth of Los Angeles, where down jackets and other wardrobe-busting winter layers are unnecessary, but a glittery crowd managed to shine quite well, thank you, at Berkshire International Film Festival’s live broadcast of the Oscars on Sunday, February 27 at the Beacon Cinema. After shedding their outerwear to stroll the red-carpeted lobby in style, guests ascended to the VIP party rooms and snacked on clever caterer Katie Baldwin’s award-themed delicacies, such as Soy Story sushi rolls, Black Prawn skewered shrimp, and The King’s Quiche, while sipping the evening's signature cocktail, 127 Sours. There seemed to be only one contender for the Oscar host lookalike contest—an unrecognizable Molly Boxer in her best Anne Hathaway disguise—but guests did their best to act like Academy Award-nominees before heading into the screening rooms to watch the real players get their just desserts. And yes, there was popcorn, though for this evening it was truffled, of course.
Vicki Bonnington, resplendent in vintage Victor Costa with an Armani ostrich-feather shawl, and Steven Spielberg doppelganger David Schecker; Berkshire Botanical Executive Director Molly Boxer, vying for the Anne Hathaway lookalike prize, and realtor Barbara Schulman.
Andy Wismer with Berkshire Living's Amanda Rae Busch and actor Aaron Thompson; Mahaiwe Harvest CSA farmer David Inglis and the Vault Gallery's Stephanie Kouloganis.
Artist and critic Carol Diehl with artist and cafe proprietor Scott Edward Cole; location scout Jennet Cook and artist Diane Firtell.
Translator Mary Lou Bradley, Morgan Stanley financial advisor Jonathan Ball, and Berkshire Museum board member Stacey Gillis Weber; photographer Keith Emmerling and Cathy Deely.
BIFF founder Kelley Vickery and Jacqueline Togut; BIFF's Lauren Ferin and Timothy LeBlanc of Lamar Advertising Company.
Photographer Lincoln Russell and Berkshire Creative chair Nancy Fitzpatrick; Rural Intelligence ad manager Lisa Green, with the Beacon's general manager John Valente and Holly Valente.
Maggie Gervasi, Meghan Ryan, and Kaitlin Vickery; Michelena Mastrianni and Serene Mastrianni.
Chocolatier Joshua Needleman, Bernadette Lupo, and Margery Steinberg; cookie entrepreneur Lisa Newman, Dr. Jennifer Michaels, and Carol Haythorne.
Architect Kristine Sprague, interior designer Karen Beckwith, and photographer Scott Barrow; Stonover Farm innkeepers Suky Werman and Tom Werman flank Lauren Zivyak.
Yoga teacher Scot Vighi and Bridget Conry; lovebirds George Whaling and Carrie Saldo.
Psychologist Joanne Yurman and furniture designer Thomas Walsh; Zogics founder Paul LeBlanc with Canyon Ranch skincare therapist Lauren Pennell.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
