The 2018 Greenwich International Film Festival will kick off on Thursday, May 31st with its most prestigious event, the Changemaker Gala. Each year GIFF awards artists who’ve used their voice for positive social change through their philanthropic endeavors and their career accomplishments. This event, sponsored by Betteridge, will help support our charity partners; UNFPA, Americares and the Waterside School.

 

One of the Artists honored this year is Ashley Judd.   Nominated for several Golden Globe and Emmy awards, Ashley Judd will receive the “Changemaker Award” for her work as the Global Goodwill Ambassador with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). As a feminist and social justice humanitarian, Ashley had been working internationally, with NGO’s, grass roots organizations, governments, and supranational bodies since 2004. This year Ashley was named one of TIME Magazine’s Person of The Year for her activism and leadership in the feminist movement.

The other person to be honored at the Gala is Duncan Edwards  Mr. Edwards has been a leader in our educational community and is the current Executive Director for Waterside School. Waterside was conceived as a model for future efforts, is an independent school in Stamford, CT, serving children and families regardless of limitations in income or circumstances. The School empowers its students with the knowledge, skills and virtues required to enable them to excel as students. GIFF is humbled to honor Duncan Edwards as our 2018 Community Changemaker.

The party kicks off at Betteridge at 6pm for a Red Carpet event and cocktail hour.  Then guests will proceed to L’Esacale overlooking Greenwich Harbor.  This location will host the awards dinner honoring Ms. Judd and Mr. Edwards.  A wonderful evening and a great way to kick off the film festival.

The next three days are filled with great narrative films, shorts, documentaries and panel discussions that are a great way to experience the festival and be part of something wonderful in our area.

For more information on the Greenwich International Film Festival:

http://www.greenwichfilm.org

For information on programming you can download this pdf

http://www.greenwichfilm.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Official-Program2018-3.pdf

For tickets for festival events and movie screenings:

http://www.greenwichfilm.org/box-office

 

On June 1st through June 3rd 2018 the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance returns to Roger Sherman Baldwin park in Greenwich Ct.   Recognized as one of the premier concours in the country and the largest in the Northeast, Greenwich is unique in that it is two concours back to back. Saturday is the Concours Americana for American cars and motorcycles, while Sunday is the Concours International for imported marques.  The setting is perfect to admire these classic automobiles as the park is set by beautiful Greenwich Harbor.

2018 will be a celebration of Briggs Cunningham at the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance with a special display of Cunningham production cars and team race cars. As a special tribute, we will have all of the Cunningham cars displayed along the waterfront on both Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday will also feature cars of the legendary John Fitch, along with competition motorcycles and a circle of supercars, both American and foreign. With a Saturday ticket, you can also preview the cars for auction in the Bonhams tent. Be sure to join us Saturday night for the gala party at the Greenwich Delamar Hotel, with a sumptuous buffet overlooking the luxurious yachts.  If you want to participate in the Bonhams auction on Sunday you need to register in advance with Bonhams and I would advise visiting their website for more details.

On Sunday, there will have a special display of Jaguars, with a focus on the prewar SS Cars, prewar MGs, and competition motorcycles. Bonhams has been selected by the estate of Carroll Shelby to offer for sale two dozen cars from the personal collection of the late racer and designer. The Bonhams auction begins at noon on Sunday and requires a separate admission – or you can watch through the open side of the tent.

Over the concours weekend David Hobbs will be signing his memoir, Hobbo, in the Road & Track tent. Wayne Carini will be filming an episode of Chasing Classic Cars and hosting a presentation of special cars on the field.

Surrounding the show field will be displays of new cars, including BMW, Cadillac, Lincoln, Tesla, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Acura, Karma, Genovation and Miller Motorcars – with Ferrari, Bugatti, Pagani, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, McLaren, Bentley and Maserati. There are even opportunities to test drive some of these amazing new vehicles. There will also be fantastic  yachts displayed at the Delamar Hotel docks right across from the park.

There will be a limited number of VIP tickets which include early entry to the Concours, breakfast and lunch with the car owners and judges, entrance to the Bonhams Cocktail Reception on Friday night, lapel pin, poster and a VIP lanyard.

for tickets and more information :

http://www.greenwichconcours.com

 

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For a long time Sonora has been on my list of restaurants in Westchester to visit. This classic eatery owned by renowned Chef  Rafael Palomino features the  Latin flavors of Spain, Portugal, Cuba, Brazil, Mexico and other Latin American countries.  Chef Palomino weaves the tastes and ingredients of these countries  into a delightful and innovative menu with something for everyone in your party.

Located  in Port Chester, N.Y., the home of a vibrant dining scene, Sonora resides off the well traveled path of Main Street and occupies a quiet corner of a residential area  that makes the perfect  venue for this dining destination.  The interior is warm and inviting, with its soothing neutral colors, walls decorated in what appear to be cave paintings, modern banquettes, soft lighting and warm colored tile floors.  The effect is such that it creates a  comfortable and inviting atmosphere.  Though it was a Sunday evening, the entire first floor of the restaurant was filled.

The cocktail menu ($12-14)  also draws on its Spanish and Latin American roots with such innovative drinks as the Brazilian Cosmo with Blood orange vodka and a sugar rimmed glass which was both refreshing  and sophisticated.   The classic Margarita was given new life with a Mango Madness Margarita featuring tequila, orange liquor, mango juice and lime.  As well the Organic Grapefruit Margarita was yet another fruity and innovative spin on this favorite cocktail.

Tapas can be enjoyed as a meal, to share or as your starter.  It is nice to see the chef has included vegetarian and vegan options on the menu to  make everyone in your party feel welcome.  We sampled several tapas  from the menu including the Quinoa Empanadas from Peru prepared with roasted eggplant, quinoa and  goat cheese filled  empanadas with  chocolate vinaigrette. Healthy and delicious.

The Portuguese style Pulpo, Grilled octopus served with fingerling potatoes, arugula, diced chorizo and  chimichurri  was a great selection and can be enjoyed as an app or a main dish ($15).   We also sampled the Tacos de Mahi Mahi ($12) with succulent fish served with pineapple, cabbage and citrus wasabi in a  soft flour tortilla.  A real favorite and highly recommended.

Main dishes at Sonora include beef, seafood, chicken and vegetarian dishes.  Influences for these dishes are drawn again from Spain, Portugal, Latin America and the U.S.   The Camarones y Vieras ($26)was a wonderful dish  shrimp, sea scallops, black bean, Monterrey jack cheese raviolis, and  sweet corn-chipotle-chardonnay sauce served in a delicate woven and edible nest.  A beautiful presentation and nothing like I imagined and was really fantastic.  I was expecting just ravioli, which I discovered at the bottom of the “nest”.  Great dish.

 

Paella is a classic Spanish dish and our table sampled the  Palomino Paella  ($30) and the health seafood dish with  shrimp, clams, mussels, lobster, chorizo, saffron rice with sofrito sauce was filling as it was good.

For the vegetarian in your party, the chef has crafted a Paella dish that was terrific.  The Vegan Paella was a unique and flavorful dish and a real winner.  Presented in a pan similar to a regular paella, this dish was a blend of farro, pumpkin slices, roasted brussels sprouts, beets, cauliflower topped with tofu aioli.   A really healthy dish for anyone and certainly a welcome sight on the menu with so many diners seeking healthy choices when the dine.

It is easy to see why this restaurant is so popular and has such a loyal following. Chef Rafael Palomino has crafted a fine and interesting menu drawing influences from Europe, Latin America and the United States that are innovative, healthy and satisfying.  If you have not been to Sonora yet, I certainly encourage you to make a reservation soon.

Menu items also available through Uber Eats, Grubhub and Seamless.

Sonora

179 Rectory Street  Port Chester NY

tel.  914-933-0200

web>>>  https://www.sonorarestaurant.net

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The Greenwich International Film Festival is right around the corner.  Tickets for the festival ‘s 2018 program features over 70 events. Purchase tickets for films, panels, parties and events are below. If you have questions, please contact the GIFF Box Office at 203-862-9696 or visit GIFF at 55 Arch Street, Greenwich, CT, beginning May 7th.

The Greenwich International Film Festival (GIFF) is proud to announce the full film slate and programming for the 4th annual festival running May 31st -June 3rd in Greenwich, Connecticut. Nearly half of the films in the program are either written or directed by women. THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING, a documentary by Academy Award Nominated filmmaker, Nathaniel Kahn will be the opening night film.

Other highlights of the festival weekend include:

• The Changemaker Award Gala honoring Ashley Judd for her work with the United Nations Population Fund and Community Changemaker Duncan Edwards for his work in education with the Waterside School in Stamford, CT on May 31st.
• A performance by Ms. Lauryn Hill at the Opening Night Party on Saturday June 1st at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich.
• The Social Impact Awards with a jury chaired by Actor Ryan Eggold
• Spotlight on: Tony Goldwyn panel sponsored by Connecticut Office of Film, TV, Digital Media held at 5pm on Saturday, June 2nd at Cole Auditorium
• Spotlight on: James Ivory panel sponsored by Douglas Elliman held at 1pm on Sunday, June 3rd at Cole Auditorium

As previously announced, The Changemaker Gala will take place on May 31, 2018.  This year’s Changemaker Award honors artists who have used their public platform and the power of film to further positive social change.  This year, actress and author Ashley Judd, will be honored for her work with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Duncan Edwards, the Community Changemaker honoree at the 2018 festival, will be recognized for his work in education with the Waterside School in Stamford, CT.

Greenwich International Film Festival also previously announced Ms. Lauryn Hill as the performer for its 2018 Opening Night Party, taking place June 1, 2018 at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich. The party will follow the Festival’s Opening Night Film Premiere.
 
With a focus this year on female filmmakers and empowerment within the industry, Ms. Lauryn Hill is an exciting and timely choice of performer for the Festival. Best known for her critically acclaimed solo album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”, which earned a record-breaking five Grammy Awards, Ms. Hill is an embodiment of female strength and recognition within the music industry. Proceeds from the Opening Night Party will benefit the Lauryn Hill Charity Fund, which supports education, health, agriculture, technology, and community-based businesses throughout the Diaspora.

 About Greenwich International Film Festival:

Greenwich International Film Festival (GIFF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that hosts a world-class film festival in Greenwich, CT. The goal of the festival is to bridge the worlds of film, finance and philanthropy. The fourth annual festival will take place May 31-June 3, 2018, and will support important human rights initiatives, as part of its social impact focus.  The four-day event will feature a star-studded Opening Night Party, film premieres, engaging panels, an honoree gala, and more.  For additional information, please visit

www.greenwichfilm.org.

 

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It is always great when to find a new place to dine.  In this case we discovered a great little restaurant that made us feel we were on vacation for a couple of hours.  Ola Latin Kitchen located in Fairfield County was a pleasant surprise.  A Latin American/tropical themed decor matched with a latin fusion menu was the recipe for a fun evening.   The interior of blue and golden walls remind one of the ocean and the golden sun, while ceiling fans, potted palms and banana trees create the illusion of the tropics. The menu of Latin Fusion blends flavors and cooking styles from Latin America, Mexico, Portugal and Spain.

It was in this inviting setting that we dined.  We sampled some wonderful tropical cocktails including the Passionfruit Mojito and the Coquito Tropical, both refreshing drinks to start our meal. Ingredient selection can make or break a cocktail and you could tell these cocktails were made with fresh .

Ola Latin Kitchen is a great place to enjoy tapas (small plates) that you can share with the rest of your dining party and engage each other in a communal enjoyment of your food.  We ordered the QUESADILLA DE VEGETABLES, a nice veggie dish prepared with seasonal fresh vegetables, three cheese blend in a creme fresca.  So good.

We also enjoyed  the Tacos de Quinoa, a healthy alternative to tacos made with organic quinoa, plantains, mushroom, spinach, and pico de gallo.  A interesting and flavorful take on this Mexican staple. The Calamari was fantastic, lightly breaded and served with a mango and chipotle aioli. Very fresh and tangy and a nice presentation as well on a long rectangular white plate.

For those who desire meat, the Pinchus is a good choice. Seared beef served on a skewer with rectangle shaped fried yucca, pico de gallo and a chipotle aioli and presented with a violet flower.  A great dish with a fine presentation.

I always love a good Seafood Paella and I was anxious to try this dish which is available for one or two.  The presentation of the dish was beautiful with twin slices of fried plantain crowning the dish.  The dish consisted of shrimp,mussels,clams,scallops,fish of the day ,smoked chorizo, saffron, braised tomatoes and a roasted garlic sofrito.  A really fine interpretation of this classic Spanish dish and highlights the Latin fusion influences in the menu.

After great cocktails and our meal we managed some room to sample some Latin desserts and the Tres Leches cake with coconut was delish and was the coffee flan and the empandas with nutella.

Ola Latin Kitchen is a great place to escape for a few hours to the relaxing vibe of the tropics.  The fantastic Latin fusion menu under chef/owner Rene Lemus will having you return again to try more exciting dishes.

Ola Latin Kitchen

694 Brooklawn Ave Bridgeport Ct  (on the Fairfield  border) 

web:   http://www.olalatinkitchen.com

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On May 1st 2018 the Greenwich International Film Festival kicked off the festival season with its launch party at Richard’s in Greenwich.   At the party guests and media heard from GIFF  founders Colleen DeVeer, Wendy Reyes and Executive Director and COO, Ginger Stickel who informed guests of the exciting program that they have put together for this years festival.

The film festival runs May 31 to June 3rd 2018 and will feature documentary films, full feature films, panel discussions, short films, opening night party, and the Changemaker Gala .  It is four days packed with film and more with an emphasis on making a strong social impact, and to raise money for deserving charities.

Greenwich International Film Festival announces the honorees for the 4th annual Changemaker Gala, which will take place on May 31, 2018. The Changemaker Award honors artists who have used their public platform and the power of film to further positive social change.  This year, actress and author Ashley Judd, will be honored for her work with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Duncan Edwards, the Community Changemaker honoree at the 2018 festival, will be recognized for his work in education with the Waterside School in Stamford, CT. The school, conceived as model for future efforts, is an independent school  serving children and families regardless of limitations in income or circumstance. Past honorees include Renée Zellweger, Christy Turlington Burns, Freida Pinto, Trudie Styler, Abigail Breslin, Harry Belafonte and Mia Farrow.

Greenwich International Film Festival (GIFF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that hosts a world-class film festival in Greenwich, CT. The goal of the festival is to bridge the worlds of film, finance and philanthropy. The fourth annual festival will take place May 31-June 3, 2018, and will support important human rights initiatives, as part of its social impact focus.  The four-day event will feature a star-studded Opening Night Party, film premieres, engaging panels, an honoree gala, and more.  For additional information, please visit

 www.greenwichfilm.org.