MACC at the JCC

Local Authors Program

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:56:33 +0000

October 31, 2010

Local Authors Program

Sunday, Oct. 31, 1 p.m.
Free admission

ABC = Always Buy Colorado!

Come celebrate local authors’wealth of talent as they discuss their own recently published works.

Authors include: Barbara Engel & Diane Hochstadt, Anita Fricklas & Dr. Stuart Kassan,Audrey Friedman Marcus, Susan Greenwald, Polly Letofsky and Peter Ney.

Light refreshments and a book signing will follow.

Anonymously sponsored

Singer Gallery Garners Best of Westword Award Again

admin — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 23:56:12 +0000

Paul Gillis is an artist’s artist who toils away in his studio, creating quirky, cartoonish paintings and watercolors — but rarely exhibits them. Realizing that, Simon Zalkind, one of Denver’s most gifted curators, mounted a show devoted to pieces that Gillis had done over the last dozen years, almost none of which had been displayed before. Although the works are nominally narrative, it’s hard to say just what story Gillis is telling: His pictures include robots, animals and vessels of various types, as well as writings in imaginary languages, all of it set in weird, surrealistic settings that look simultaneously ancient and futuristic. His cryptic work was a fitting choice for the Singer, long a force in the Denver art world, but now facing an uncertain future at the Jewish Community Center.

Denver Post – Bigger is indeeed better at Jewish Film premiere

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 18:32:08 +0000

Size matters. The bigger the better. Especially when it we’re talking about the 14th Denver Jewish Film Festival.

“A Matter of Size,” the multiple-award-winning story of a portly chef who decides to pursue sumo wrestling after being kicked out of his weight-watching support group, had its Colorado premiere on the festival’s opening night. Which, by coincidence or not, set both attendance and income records.

The movie was a draw, but many of the 330 guests were just as excited to see Ellen Beller receive the 2010 Mizel Art & Cultural Center’s Cultural Achievement Award.

An artist and philanthropist, Beller’s “Jersey girl” roots inspired the theme for the reception that preceded the film. Phillips Social Hall at the

Seen Gallery

View more pictures from social events around town in the exclusive “Seen” gallery.

Robert Loup Jewish Community Center was done up like a diner where guests could nibble on sliders, fries, hot dogs and coleslaw while the Cruisin’ Cats played tunes from the 1950s and ’60s.

Wagner Wealth Management is the festival’s presenting sponsor and was represented by Gary and Aimee Wagner, Gary’s parents, Carol and Irwin Wagner, and sister Susan Wagner. Gary and Aimee’s children, Ty, Cale and Rachel Wagner, also were there.

So, too, were Jim and Debbie Shmerling (he’s the chief executive at Children’s Hospital); such festival committee members as Sharon Haber, Marcia Karshmer, Vicki Dansky, Jeffrey Reiss and Don Safer; Charlene Engleberg, Estelle Klubock and Andy Levy of the ticket committee; and Lisa Williams with her beau, Dr. Lawrence Spivack.

For more about honoree Ellen Beller and the opening night crowd, visit my Seen First blog: blogs.denverpost.com/davidson.

Coming right up. The Colorado Symphony Guild is 75 years old and to celebrate, members are gathering Saturday for a Diamond Jubilee Luncheon at the Denver Country Club. Fannye Belle Evans is chairing the 11:30 a.m. event; the $40 tickets can be purchased by calling 303-733-8242. … Also on Saturday, friends of Special Olympics Colorado will be “freezin’ for a reason” by taking a Polar Plunge into Boulder Reservoir. Sign up for the 1 p.m. splash by visiting specialolympicsco.org. … Drag queen Nuclia Waste will be calling the numbers Saturday night when Howard Dental Center hosts its annual Bingo Ball at Mile High Station. Doors open at 6 p.m. and in addition to bingo, there will be a buffet supper with open bar. 7News meterologist Mike Nelson emcees. Mary Salsich, who is taking reservations at 303-863-0772, says proceeds will fund the dental services that the nonprofit Howard Dental Center offers to those living with HIV/AIDS.

Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, blogs.denverpost.com/davidson and GetItWrite on Twitter

Denver Post – Lights, Camera, Action

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 18:33:31 +0000

Ellen Beller’s “Jersey girl” roots inspired the opening night theme, and it obviously touched a chord because the turnout was terrific and put the 14th Denver Jewish Film Festival on track to be a record-breaker.
The event sponsored by Wagner Wealth Management concludes with tomorrow night’s (Feb. 20) screenings of “Zrubavel” at 6:15 p.m. and “Los Islands” at 8:15 in Shwayder Theater at the Robert Loup Jewish Community Center, 350 S. Dahlia St.
The opening film, “A Matter of Size,” was screened after the 330 guests enjoyed diner fare and music at a reception held in the JCC’s Phillips Social Hall.
Beller, the guest of honor, is an artist whose volunteer and philanthropic involvement has spanned a 30-year period in Denver. She chairs the Mizel Arts & Culture Center board and was a leading force in the move to transition the Leah Cohen Festival of Books into the larger — and even more successful — JAAMM Fest.
She’s a current or past member of the boards of at least five nonprofit organizations, including the JCC, Jewish Family Service and Denver Academy of Torah.
Growing up in New Jersey, she spent summers at the shore and made visits to New York City with her mother to view exhibits at the Metropolitan Art Museum and enjoy Broadway shows.
She also enjoyed eating diner food — so much so that when it came time to plan the reception that preceded the film festival’s opening night show, she requested a menu and decor that took her back to her roots.

Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, GetItWrite on Twitter

PICTURES: denverpost.com/seengallery

Denver Post – Jewish Film Festival: More than a sumo of its parts

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 18:51:30 +0000

This year’s Denver Jewish Film Festival opens big — really big. OK, that’s a sorry play on the Thursday-night opener that launches the 10-day event. “A Matter of Size” follows a group of overweight Israelis who form a sumo wrestling club. . .

5280 – MACC Reinvents Shakespeare’s As You Like It

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 18:55:13 +0000

Theater is known for reinventing Shakespeare. The Bard’s Elizabethan tales have been recast in Barcelona, Italy, and now 1960s psychedelic America. When his play As You Like It, the whimsical comedy of a girl who flees her oppressive uncle and finds love, kicks off tonight at MACC’s youth theater, tie-dye shirts and bell-bottoms will prevail.

Wed-Sun, July 15-19. Wed 7 p.m.; Thu 1 p.m., 7 p.m.; Fri 10 a.m.; Sun 2 p.m., 7 p.m. $8-$10

MACC, 350 S. Dahlia St., 303-399-2660

Bethpartin.com – Denver Jewish Film Festival

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:05:52 +0000

The past weekend I saw 2 films at the Denver Jewish Film Festival: Bruriah and The Fire Within: Jews in the Amazonian Rainforest. Both were good, although I think the latter, director Lorry Salcedo Mitrani’s first film, had better production values.

MACC Seeks Teen Film Board Members

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:03:23 +0000

MACC’s Teen Film Board is seeking new members to help plan a teen centered film and related activities at the 15^th Denver Jewish Film Festival which takes place in Feb., 2011. This is a unique youth leadership opportunity that is fun, creative, and has a tremendous positive impact on our community.

Then the group will meet occasionally, as needed (once or twice a month), until the film festival, which is scheduled Feb. 11-20, 2010.

The Teen Film Board is looking for teens

who will be in grades 9-12 this coming fall
who enjoy contemporary films and want to learn more
who enjoy planning fun social events
who want to learn about and participate in marketing
who have time available to commit. (Please note that the primary meeting time for this group is Sunday afternoons, 3-5 pm.)

To download the application form click here or for more information please contact Roberta Bloom, director of the Denver Jewish Film Festival, at rbloom@jccdenver.org.

MACC Seeks Teen Film Board Members

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:07:48 +0000

Then the group will meet occasionally, as needed (once or twice a month), until the film festival, which is scheduled Feb. 11-20, 2010.

The Teen Film Board is looking for teens

who will be in grades 9-12 this coming fall
who enjoy contemporary films and want to learn more
who enjoy planning fun social events
who want to learn about and participate in marketing
who have time available to commit. (Please note that the primary meeting time for this group is Sunday afternoons, 3-5 pm.)

To download the application form click here or for more information please contact Roberta Bloom, director of the Denver Jewish Film Festival, at rbloom@jccdenver.org.

Be a Part of the Denver Jewish Film Festival!

admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:11:22 +0000

The Denver Jewish Film Festival (DJFF) is one of the fastest growing festivals in the country. Last year, 14 out of 18 films were sold out! The 15th DJFF is currently accepting submissions for our 2011 Festival which takes place Feb. 10-20. We aim to highlight the very best in contemporary films which illuminate the Jewish experience and perspective. Find out how you can be a part!