Dale Stewart reports from Hudson.The crisp fall evening cast a silvery-blue hue, as if in perfect alignment with the Hudson Opera House’s "Rhapsody in Blue" Jazz Gala, held for the second year in a row at the Basilica Hudson on Saturday, September 29. The former foundry was packed with joyous revelers like State Representative Didi Barrett (pictured left, with HOH president Gary Schiro and David Barrett), all of whom were encouraged to dress festively in blue and silver, in keeping with the evening’s blue note-inspired motif. Over two hundred partygoers feasted on Mansion Catering and bid on silent auction items during the lively cocktail hour while listening to jazz duo Armen Donelian/Marc Mommaas. Post-dinner, the party continued as guests danced into the wee hours to vocalist and pianist Spencer Day and Jonathan Talbott’s swing jazz band, under a twinkling, Alexander Calder–inspired mobile. The soiree's proceeds go to HOH’s year-round schedule of arts and cultural programming in the circa 1855 structure which houses New York State’s oldest surviving theater.
HOH Board President and event designer Thomas Froese with Mary Hack; HOH Deputy Director Joseph Herwick with the Director of the Teen Theatre Projects Carol Rusoff and Executive Director Gary Schiro.
Hudson business owners Michael Albin of the Hudson Wine Merchants and Paul Barrett, proprietor of The Country Squire B & B; Gala Chairs Roby Whitlock and architect Rob Whitlock.
Life coach Nicole Vidor, Randall Bourscheidt and Basilica co-owner Nancy Barber; Winnie Thorn and Susan Koskey.
Olivia Rugen with her father Glenn Rugen, sister Grace Rugen and their mother, event planner Lisa Light.
Rita Montone and Marty Davidson; architect James Joseph, Josef Asteinza and Phil Forman.
Shari Weiner and Meg Columbia-Walsh; designer Peter Frank and writer Jonathan Lerner with artist Frank Tartaglione and author Dave King.
Restaurateur Dana Wegener and Basilica's Director of Operations Rebeccah Johnson; Ina Saltz and Steven Beispel.
James Joseph, FACE Stockholm's Martina Arfwidson with Judith and Walter Flamenbaum, and FACE Stockholm founder Gun Nowak.
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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
