Boris and Doris On the Town

<strong>Golden Glam:</strong> Oscar Night America, benefiting COA Youth &amp; Family Centers, lived up to its No. 1 national ranking by <em>USA Today</em> as “the” place to watch the Academy Awards. Sanctioned by the Oscar committee, 350-plus guests were treated to an elegant evening at the Hilton.<br /><br />Emcee <strong>Mark Baden</strong> from WISN-12 News introduced the event's chairs, <strong>Sandy and Lina Cicero</strong>, <strong>Dan and Terese Einhorn</strong>, and <strong>Ned and Mary Witte</strong>. In his welcome, Executive Director <strong>Tom Schneider</strong> thanked the supporting hosts, Marcus Corp. and the National Association of Theatre Owners of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. COA's Youth Development Director <strong>Kari Nervig</strong> presented the “rising star” award to artist <strong>Vedale Hill</strong>, who credited COA with his career success. Hill celebrated with fiancée <strong>Coreisha Webster</strong>, mom <strong>Joan Fabian</strong> and brother <strong>Darren Hill</strong>, who also is active in COA.<br /><br />B&amp;D entered the “Predict the Winner” contest, coming in second place and thus missing out on a coveted yearlong pass to Marcus Theatres. The lucky winner was attorney<strong> Tom Perlberg</strong>, with his wife, <strong>Jill</strong>.<br /><br />COA's <strong>Andre Goode</strong> greeted guests, there with his wife, <strong>Kimberley</strong>, NML communications veep. Among the circulating COA-ers were coordinator <strong>Ziad Lewis</strong>; <strong>Tom Matthews</strong>, grants and public affairs; and Associate Executive Director <strong>Betsy Corry</strong>, with her husband, <strong>Dan</strong>. Volunteer Debra Weaver helped to coordinate the Predict the Winner contest.<br /><br />“On the runway” were <strong>Elly Pick</strong> and Home Care Medical chief <strong>John Teevan</strong>; <strong>Heidi Holdener</strong> and <strong>Bill Scott</strong>; <strong>Jenny Kent</strong> and <strong>Ken Dortzbach</strong>; <strong>Lisa and Paul Sweeney</strong>; and <strong>Tim Hawks</strong> and <strong>Mary McCormick</strong>, executive director of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee. Other “stars” included <strong>Beth Bauer</strong>, already planning this summer's Gathering on the Green; <strong>Jane Wierzba</strong> and <strong>Dale Metz</strong>; and <strong>Dr. Veronica Gunn</strong> of Children's Hospital.<strong><br /><br />Take a Bow:</strong> <strong>Julilly Kohler</strong> opened her amazing riverside house for a Theatre MXT fund-raiser. The new company is premiering with a remounting of <em>Success</em>, which was first produced by Theatre X in 1991. Last summer, <strong>Deborah Clifton</strong>, <strong>John Kishline</strong> and <strong>Edward Morgan</strong> enjoyed a six-city tour of the play in India. The three were on hand to discuss the project and answer questions. A visa delay for the fourth cast member, Indian actress <strong>Kriti Pant</strong>, has resulted in the postponement of the opening to March 15 at Next Act Theatre.<br /><br />Kohler's cozy home overflowed with arts world denizens, including filmmaker <strong>Karen Lindholm-Rynkiewicz</strong>; <strong>Mark Lawson</strong>, now with the Jazz Gallery; <strong>Leslie Fillingham</strong> and <strong>Michael Evans</strong> of the Rep; Cardinal Stritch art department's <strong>Teri Wagner</strong> and her husband, <strong>Iain Court</strong>, UWM lighting designer; musician <strong>Duane Stuermer</strong>; videographer <strong>Dena Aronson</strong>; director <strong>Barbara Leigh</strong>; and puppet-meister <strong>Max Samson</strong> and his wife, <strong>Nancy Pinter</strong>.<br /><br />Noshing and kibitzing were consultant <strong>Chris Krajniak </strong>and his wife, acupuncturist <strong>Anne Kuhry</strong>; <strong>Shawnette Smart</strong>; <strong>Matt Richardson</strong> with SmartWave Consulting; piano tuner <strong>Jonathan Moberg</strong> and his wife, <strong>Donna</strong>; and soon-to-retire criminal defense attorney <strong>Peter Goldberg</strong>. Dropping in were Kohler's neighbors <strong>Jackie and Olage Boyd</strong> plus <strong>Craig Schmidt</strong>, water expert <strong>Kae DonLevy</strong>, <strong>Sonja Rein</strong>, <strong>Jeffrey Holub</strong>, <strong>Phyllis and Alan Brostoff</strong>, <strong>Heidi Knudsen</strong> and masseuse extraordinaire <strong>Karen Keene</strong>.<strong><br /><br />Kathleen On the Go:</strong> Despite a lurking Republican photographer outside the Katie Gingrass Gallery who filmed guests as they entered, <strong>Kathleen Falk</strong> fans poured in to the gallery to lend support for her gubernatorial bid against the Dark Force. The program was emceed by state <strong>Rep. Christine Sinicki</strong>, who announced Falk's endorsement by the United Food &amp; Commercial Workers (UFCW), represented by <strong>Brian Romanowich </strong>of Local 1473. The diminutive yet bigger-than-life <strong>Vel Phillips</strong> lauded Falk as “intelligent, not a snob, having executive experience and the courage to say 'yes' to collective bargaining, being married to a secure man (as in <strong>Peter Bock</strong>), doing her homework and being charming, wonderful and sweet.”<br /><br />Activist <strong>Karen Campbell</strong> announced Falk's Emily's List endorsement, after which the candidate spoke about her commitment to Democratic causes. Listening were <strong>David Riemer</strong>, his wife, <strong>Ellie Graan</strong>, and their son <strong>Daniel</strong>, running for state Assembly 7th District; <strong>Linda Gale Sampson</strong>; <strong>Joe Messinger</strong>; <strong>Chris Zapf</strong>; <strong>Christy Brooks</strong>; and <strong>Liz Wessel</strong>. Filmmaker <strong>Janet Fitch</strong> chatted with Duncan Entertainment producer <strong>Pat Ostermick</strong>, now working on a documentary about Ronald Reagan.<br /><br />Organizing the event were Falk's campaign manager <strong>Megan Mahaffey</strong>, <strong>Lily Johnson</strong> and <strong>Jackie Henning</strong>. Communications director <strong>Scot Ross</strong> also pressed the flesh.<strong><br /><br />Remembering Sam:</strong> Milwaukee musicians turned out in force at Linneman's to remember guitarist and restaurateur <strong>Sam Friedman</strong>, who died recently in Florida. Friedman was in the original Hound Dog Band. Mixing around the bar and on the stage were old pals from the band and other musicians, including drummer <strong>Ed Sison</strong>, <strong>Mark Saichek</strong>, <strong>Tony Brown</strong>, <strong>Freddie Bliffert</strong>, <strong>Peter Leshin</strong>, <strong>Sigmund Snopek III</strong>, <strong>Jim Liban</strong> and <strong>Reed Kailing</strong>, plus Poco Loco's <strong>Dean Gardner</strong> with <strong>Stacy Kessler</strong>, <strong>George Kashou</strong>, <strong>Mary Broad</strong>, MATC's <strong>Ellen Granof</strong> and blues fan <strong>Barb Smith</strong>. Friedman's brother, <strong>Louis</strong>, flew in from L.A. for the memorial.<em><br /><br />If you have any tips for Boris and Doris, contact them at borisanddorisott@aol.com. Their next column will appear in the March 22 issue of the </em>Shepherd<em>.</em>