calendar of events

"The Armenian Weekly", Volume 74, No. 18, May 10, 2008
 

NEW ENGLAND

MAY 11, 2008 • ‘A SOLDIER’S COURAGE, A MOTHER’S SACRIFICE.’ An audio visual program celebrating the 16th anniversary of the liberation of Shushi, which marked the turning point in the Karabagh war and led to a series of military victories by Armenian forces. Featuring singer/songwriter Armen Movsisyan. Presented by the Boston chapters of the Armenian Youth Federation and Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society. Movsisyan belongs to a small circle of avant-garde Armenian musicians whose works present an inspiring alternative to the traditional folk, classical, spiritual, and pop music offerings. Begins at 4 p.m. at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC), 48 Nichols Ave. in Watertown. To purchase tickets ($20), call (617) 331-0426 or email info@hamazkayin-boston.org.

MAY 11, 2008 • AARON COPLAND’S ‘THE TENDER LAND.’ Directed by Aram Demirjian. Tickets are $10; $5 for students at the Harvard Box Office. Begins at 3 p.m. at the Memorial Church in Cambridge, Mass.

MAY 16, 2008 • 1ST ANNUAL CIGAR PARTY. Organized by the Men’s Club of St. Gregory. An evening of cocktails (cash bar), dinner and fellowship, featuring Rocky Patel and Cusano cigars. Raffles and prizes planned. Begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Sahara Club, 34 Bates St. in Methuen, Mass. Donation: $75. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Steve Mahlebjian at (978) 685-3566 or Greg Minasian at (978) 470-3075.

MAY 17, 2008 * HOMENETMEN SOCIAL NIGHT. Promises to be the best Armenian social event this spring! With mezze, music by DJ Rootz, and Federal Hill scenery. From 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Hotel Dolce Villa, 63 DePasquale Square in Providence, R.I. To purchase tickets ($20, includes appetizers + martini), call Sarkis Minassian at (401) 349-2224 or Sebouh Yepremian at (401) 473-1416.

MAY 18, 2008 • DIANA DER-HOVANESSIAN talks about ‘The Ten Armenian Poems You Should Know,’ with poems in Armenian and English. Dedicated to the art of translating poetry, the program will cover the historical sweep of Armenian poetry, beginning with the ‘Birth of Vahakn,’ and continuing with folk poems, medieval works, epics, and the popular poets of the 20th century. Der-Hovanessian has served as president of the New England Poetry Club, where she established the Daniel Varoujan prize. Begins at 3:30 p.m. at ALMA, 65 Main St. in Watertown.

MAY 22, 2008 • ILLUSTRATED TALK ON AGHTAMAR, MEDIEVAL ARMENIAN KINGSHIP. Dr. Lynn Jones of Florida State University will give a lecture titled ‘Between Islam and Byzantium: Aghtamar and the Visual Construction of Medieval Armenian Kingship.’ Jones will provide a thorough analysis of the development of the visual expression of medieval Armenian rulership from 884-1045 AD, shedding fresh light on the nature of medieval identity and adding to a growing literature on the eastern neighbors of Byzantium. Begins at 8 p.m. at the NAASR Center, 395 Concord Ave. in Belmont, Mass. Free and open to the public. Second talk given in memory of Arshag Merguerian (1926-2005), friend of NAASR for nearly 50 years. For more information, call (617) 489-1610 or email hq@naasr.org.

MAY 23, 2008 • BOSTON MODERN ORCHESTRA PROJECT (BMOP) presents ‘Armenia Resounding’ with violist Kim Kashkashian; music by Alan Hovhaness; and the world premiers of Vache Sharafyan and Tigran Mansurian. For tickets or more information, visit www.bmop.org or www.facsboston.org. Begins at 8 p.m. at the New England Conservatory of Music, 30 Gainsborough St., Boston.

MAY 30-JUNE 1, 2008 • FIRST ANNUAL BOSTON ARMENIAN FILM FESTIVAL. At the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Organized and co-presented by the Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance and co-presented by the Armenia Fund, USA. Fri., May 30—’The Lark Farm’ by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani (2007, 122 min.). Adapted from the novel by Antonia Arslan. In Italian with English subtitles. Begins at 7:45 p.m. Sat., May 31—’Big Story in a Small City’ by Gor Kirakossian (2007, 90 min.). In Armenian with English subtitles. Begins at 7:45 p.m. Panel discussion with directors Gor Kirakossian, Hrag Yedalian, Michael Goorjian, and Carla Garapedian follows screening at 9:30 pm. Sun., June 1—’The War Prayer’ by Michael Goorjian (2007, 14 min.) followed by ‘The People’s Advocate’ by Hrag Yedalian (2007, 81 min.). Begins at 6:30 p.m. Then at 8 p.m., ‘Calendar’ by Atom Egoyan (1993, 74 min.) and ‘A Portrait of Arshile’ by Egoyan (1995, 4 min.). Tickets are $10; MFA members, seniors, and students, $8. (Opening Night, May 30, tickets are $15 and $12.) For more information, visit www.mfa.org/calendar and click on Film.

MAY 31, 2008 • ARMENIAN MEMORIAL CHURCH ANNUAL FAIR. Serving Armenian beef, chicken, and losh kebab meals, and Armenian delicacies of paklava, khadayif, and choreg. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Memorial Church, 32 Bigelow Ave. in Watertown. Also featuring sale and silent auction. Free and open to the public. Wheelchair accessible. Rain or shine. For more information, call (617) 923-0498.

JUNE 1, 2008 • 90TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF INDEPENDENCE. Organized by the Lowell ‘Aharonian’ Gomideh. The program is titled ‘A Tribute to General Dro Kanayan,’ who is best known for his historic battles of Bash Abaran, Karakileseh, and Sartarabad, A rare video of the famous revolutionary will be shown with remarks from two of his grandchildren, Nina Hovsepian and Dro Kanayan. Begins at 1 p.m., following Badarak in Jaffarian Hall of the St. Gregory Church, 158 Main St. in North Andover, Mass. Dinner will be served with a musical performance by the Arev Ensemble. Donation is $20, adults; free for students and children under 5.

JUNE 21, 2008 • 57TH ANNUAL NIGHT AT THE POPS at Boston’s historic Symphony Hall. Presented by the Friends of Armenian Culture Society, based in Belmont, Mass. Featuring award-winning pianist Nareh Arghamanyan, who will perform the piano concerto No. 1 by Tchaikovsky with maestro Keith Lockhart conducting the Boston Pops Orchestra. Also on the program, among other Armenian selections, will be the Lord’s Prayer (Hayr Mer). The Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Big-Band will also perform as part of the Pops’ JazzFest. A native of Armenia, Arghamanyan, 19, was the recipient of the 1st prize at the 2007 ‘Piano Campus’ International Competition in Pontoise, France. Begins at 8 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit www.FACSBoston.org.

JULY 9, 2008 • ‘A HYE SUMMER NIGHT III’ DANCE. Hosted by the ARS ‘Ani’ Chapter and the Ladies’ Guild of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church. From 8 p.m.-1 a.m. at the Annunciation Greek Church, 175 Oaklawn Ave. in Cranston, R.I. Featuring Hachig Kazarian, John Berberian, Ken Kalajian, Jason Naroian, and the ‘Artsakh Band’ with Steve Vosbikian, Anto Vartanian, and Aram Hovagimian. Tickets are $35; children under 16, $25. To reserve, call Joyce Bagdasarian at (401) 434-4467 or Joyce Yeremian at (401) 354-8770.

SEPT. 13, 2008 • ‘A CULTURAL EVENING.’ Presented by the Armenian Independent Broadcasting of Boston. Featuring renowned artists Noune Avedissian, Hovik Krikorian, and Andranik Mouradian. Begins at 7:30 p.m. at the First Armenian Church, 380 Concord Ave. in Belmont. Reception to follow. To purchase tickets ($20), call (617) 926-6268.

OCT. 10-12, 2008 • AYF 75TH ANNIVERSARY GALA. At the Hyatt in Boston. Details to follow.

MID-ALANTIC

MAY 14, 2008 • ‘HARVESTS FROM THE HEART.’ A book reading by author Nubar Dorian. Begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church. Reception to follow. For more information or to RSVP, contact the Diocese by calling (212) 686-0710 or emailing publicrelations@armeniandiocese.org, or contact the AGBU by calling (212) 319-6383 or emailing press@agbu.org.

MAY 17-18, 2008 • AIPRG ANNUAL CONFERENCE. Titled ‘Looking Forward: Global Competitiveness of the Armenian Economy.’ Topics t include the strength of the Armenian Dram; market structure and competition; the role of foreign aid; tourism and IT sectors; market reforms; the role of the Diaspora; and education. At the World Bank Headquarters, 1818 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C.

MAY 17, 2008 • A POLITICAL GATHERING to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Armenia’s first independence and the 20th anniversary of the Artsak Liberation Movement—The May Victories. Organized by the ARF Washington ‘Sebouh’ Gomideh. Guest speaker: Hon. Vartan Parseghian, NKR Represetnative to the U.S. Begins at 8 p.m. at the Arabian Center, Keshishian Hall, 4906 Flint Drive in Bethesda, Md. Refreshments provided.

MAY 23, 2008 • HOMENETMEN DANCE. Begins at 8 p.m. at the Armenian Center in New York. For more information, call Vartkes Vartanian at (646) 637-4777, Maro Sarkissian at (347) 406-1720 or Vahram Minassian at (718) 423-1693.

MAY 23, 2008 • APO TOROSYAN showcases paintings from the ‘Bread Series’ in Kutztown, Pa. For more information, call (610) 683-6440.

MAY 31, 2008 • 90TH INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION. Organized by the New Jersey ‘Dro’ Gomideh in commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia. Performance by the Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston; Nersig Ispirian and Salbi Mailyan from LA; the Akthamar Dance Ensemble of St. Thomas Armenian Church in New Jesey; the NJ Hamazkayin ‘Nairi’ Dance Group and Children’s Choir. Begins at 7 p.m. at the Felician College in Lodi, N.J. Tickets are $25/$35/$50. Save the date! For more information or to make reservations, contact the ARF office by emailing Arfdro@gmail.com or calling (201) 945-0011; or call Mari Keshishian at (201) 227-9884.

JUNE 1, 2008 • ANNUAL ST. LEON CHURCH PICNIC. Featuring live music with special guest appearance by Onnik Dinkjian. Great food and great fun for the whole family. Rain or shine. From 12-5 p.m. at the St. Leon Armenian Church, 12-61 Saddle River Rd. in Fair Lawn, N.J. For more information, call the church office at (201) 791-2862.

JUNE 7, 2008 • MAY 28 INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION. Dinner/dance organized by the ARF ‘Sebouh’ Gomideh. With Sahag Sisilian and his band from L..A. Begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Arabian Center, 4906 Flint Drive in Bethesda, Md.

JUNE 14, 2008 • HOVNANIAN SCHOOL ANNUAL DINNER / DANCE. Honoring the Class of 2008. Sponsored by the Hovnanian School PTO. Details to follow. Save the date!

SEPT. 13, 2008 • ANCA-ER ANNUAL BANQUET. At the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. Details to follow. Save the date! For more information, email erbanquet@anca.org.

SEPT. 25, 2008 • STS. VARTANANTZ 6TH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING. Lunch, dinner, golf, and more. At the River Vale Country Club. Shotgun starts at 12:45 p.m. For reservations or more information, call Mark Alashaian at (201) 483-3200, Rich Krikorian at (201) 664-6885, Sarkis Shirinian at (201) 307-0825, or the church office at (201) 943-2950.

SEPT. 27, 2008 • HOMENETMEN 90TH ANNIVERSARY. Details to follow.

MID WEST

AUG. 28-SEPT. 1, 2008 • AYF-YOARF 75th ANNIVERSARY OLYMPICS IN DETROIT. Thurs., Aug. 28—Pre-Olympics party with music by DJ ESSO. Fri., Aug. 29—AYF/Alumni golf tournament (Dearborn Country Club); swim meet (Northville High School); Detroit’s famous Alumni Party with Armenian music by the Johnites/Ara Topouzian and guest musicians; and the AYF Dance featuring Harout Pamboukjian and His Band from California. Sat., Aug. 30—Tennis (Dearborn High School); softball games/picnic (Levagood Park); Armenian music by the Ara Topouzian Ensemble; and the 75th reunion dinner banquet with Armenian music by the All-Stars (Onnik, Hachig, John, Bruce, and Ara), the Nigosian Band, and Aravod. Sun., Aug. 31—Track and field (Harrison High School); Sunday Night Grand Ball with Armenian music by the All-Stars; and Hook-Up immediately following the Grand Ball with music by Aravod and DJ ESSO. Mon., Sept. 1—Farewell picnic (Armenian Community Center) with music by the Nigosian Band. For more information on the weekend and Hye Pass, 75th anniversary tickets, and the Ad Book, visit www.ayf.org/olympics. To reserve a room at the Hyatt Regency-Dearborn, call 1-800-233-1234 and ask for the AYF rate ($119/night).