Epic Monday, Part 2

So, I know every other post has been all gala gala gala, but indulge me a bit more while I share a few more behind-the-scenes details about the amazing Our Time event ;) If you're just joining in, you can read Part 1, here.

It really was a special night, and even though every year the event gets fancier, the thing that makes it so memorable is not material. I am talking about the energy and intent that is at the heart of the organization, which has remained the same since Our Time's very first season, ten years ago. An ethos of acceptance, support, fun and LOVE pervades everything that Our Time does, but gala night is always the night that those things are celebrated with glamour and panache and a dash of showbiz, and it is always a thrill to be a part of it.

For many Our Time company members, the gala gives them their first opportunity to speak, sing, and dance onstage. Other company members have been in the spotlight many times but nevertheless are still thrilled to share their voices with the world. To say that the kids get excited about this opportunity is an understatement. They tend to dress for the occasion, revealing sartorial talents that rival those of seasoned red-carpet-walkers. Just look at the flair:

When I arrived at the venue on Monday night, it was just in time to steal backstage and join Taro for the traditional pre-show "hype" which is basically a rousing pep-talk crossed with a warm welcome of the Guest of Honor into the Our Time family, crossed with impassioned reminders about the power and importance of listening and being there for each other, and respecting one's own voice. Hype usually results in a room full of teary-eyed folks grinning from ear-to-ear, clapping and stomping a call-and-response with Taro:

"When I say Our Time, you say 'bout time -- OUR TIME"

"'BOUT TIME!"

"OUR TIME"

"'BOUT TIME!"

Pretty soon the whole room of kids, guest performers, Our Time volunteers and press were worked up into a cheering, stomping frenzy, and Carly Simon (last year's recipient of the Our Time Award) and David Seidler (this year's recipient) were busting a move in the middle of it all, arm-in-arm.

David, Taro, and Carly taking a breather after hype:

Members of the press interviewing our Oscar-Winning Honoree:

Yours truly. Happy, proud, and excited (and running to make it out to my seat in the auditorium before "places"):

Part 3 coming soon ;)

Photos by Mikiodo and C. Bay Milin.

another day, another piece in the New York Times!

Photo by Josh Haner/The New York Times

Check out today's edition of The New York Times to see a piece in the Arts Section about Our Time! It focuses on Oscar-Winner David Seidler's involvement with the company, and highlights the success of last week's benefit gala. On newsstands now, or click here to read.

Rush Tickets

So, I know I said I wouldn't be back here for a few days, but I couldn't resist telling you the latest news:

A limited number of $35 rush tickets are now available for Our Time's 9th Annual Benefit Gala!

Rush tickets will be sold at the Skirball Center box office only (566 Laguardia Place, New York, NY 10012), first-come, first-served on the day of the event (this Monday, April 11th).

Sorry, no reservations can be made at this price level. The box office will open at 5pm.

EVENT DETAILS:

Monday, April 11, 2011

7:00pm Performance followed by dinner & live auction

(rush tickets are for performance only)

Skirball Center for the Performing Arts & Rosenthal Pavilion at NYU

Festive or Regal Attire

We look forward to seeing you on April 11th!

Also, I want you to know that new items have been added to the online auction, including this gorgeous Tucker dress donated by my friend Gaby Basora:

Click here to bid. Click here to see other Tucker items up for grabs ;)

And don't forget, there's also a Sakura Bloom Luxe sling available. Winner's choice of color!

Thank you so much for your support of this wonderful cause.

Leave a comment if you'll be there Monday night! XOXO.

Our Time Auction

I am excited to let you know about an opportunity to bid on amazing items to benefit a wonderful cause: the annual Our Time auction just went live today and there are some spectacular things up for grabs, including a trip to Paris, two Italy vacations, and tickets to many of the hottest shows in town.

Marvelous Kiddo readers will be especially interested in bidding on the Sakura Bloom Luxe sling in the stunningly gorgeous Sparrow colorway, and 3 months of advertising space on this here blog!

Find out more about Our Time here, and purchase tickets to the April 11th Gala (they're going fast!) here. Thank you for your support!

Thank You + Raffle Winners

To everyone who contributed to the Tsunami Relief Fundraiser,

THANK YOU for your amazing generosity.

The 3 winners of Sakura Bloom slings are...

Louise Bebbington

Alice Hollowed

Sarah Ludwig

Congratulations, ladies :)

Fundraiser for Japan

We are all heartbroken, watching the horrifying events that are unfolding in Japan. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless in the face of such massive suffering, and yet it is of paramount importance that we gather our resources and reach out to the victims in every way possible to help them survive and rebuild. It is in this spirit of hope and love that Sakura Bloom has decided to spearhead a three-day fundraiser to benefit the Japan relief efforts.

Sakura Bloom is raffling three slings from the Essential Collection, and the winners will be free to choose between linen or silk in their favorite colorway.

Tickets are available for purchase by clicking here. The more you give, the more chances there are to win: $10 will get you one ticket, $25 will get you three tickets, and $50 will get you ten tickets.

All proceeds from this fundraiser will be donated to the Red Cross.

Thank you so much for your generosity.

Fabulous Auction for a Fabulous Cause

I am pleased to announce that an online auction benefiting Our Time went live this afternoon with a plethora of amazing items (and extraordinary experiences) up for grabs! I donated two sculptures from my Wire Couture and Miss Thangs collections (shown above). Since I've been kinda busy raising kiddos and blogging this blog for the last few years instead of making wire sculpture, this is a rare chance to own an original Leigh Pennebaker ;)

Be sure to check out all the items that are available by clicking here, and have fun bidding for a great cause. Here are a few of my favorites, which I know will be of special interest to my fabulous readers:

The Business of Being Born DVD and onsie (size 6 months), and Your Best Birth, all SIGNED BY RICKI LAKE

A gorgeous pair of hoop earrings

by Barbara Michelle Jacobs Jewelry.

These are made from reclaimed silver and cast from real twigs found in Central Park! How fresh is that?

An original script of an episode of The Office,

SIGNED BY THE ENTIRE CAST

An iPad!

Tickets are still available to the Benefit Gala honoring Carly Simon, and we'd love to have you join us! Click here for more information and to buy tickets.

a great way to help Haiti TODAY if you are in NYC

There’s a plane leaving NYC for Haiti on Tuesday, 1/19, and charity: water needs your help filling it with cargo. As you may know, charity: water is a non-profit organization that brings clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.

Members of the charity: water staff have been in close contact with their field partners; they are turning the charity: water office in Manhattan into a drop-off point for the following items (those most urgently needed in Haiti this week):

Blankets*
Tents*
Sleeping bags*

Soap
Feminine hygiene products
Medical gloves
Bandages/gauze
Cases of bottled water

* these items can be gently used

If you can make a donation, please stop by the charity: water office at 200 VARICK STREET on Monday, 1/18, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. DO NOT MAIL THESE ITEMS TO THEIR OFFICE.

IF YOU CAN CARRY THE DONATIONS BY HAND IN ONE LOAD: Please enter through the front door at 200 Varick St. You will need a photo ID to enter the building. charity: water is located on the 2nd floor, Suite 201.

IF YOU ARE A BUSINESS OR ARE DONATING IN BULK: Please email Lane Wood to schedule a drop-off time. Lane's e address: lane.wood[at]charitywater[dot]org

All supplies will be transported this week by Partners in Health and distributed where they are needed most. charity: water's other partners in Haiti, Concern Worldwide US, are sending supplies from Ireland and still have a pressing need for donations.

Thank you to Diana for getting this information to me!

Bloggers Day of Action: Spotlight on Haitian Artist Marithou Dupoux

My research for this post led me to the powerful work of Marithou Dupoux and I knew I would have to feature it here. I was immediately captivated by the energy and originality of these ceramic sculptures that were shown in a recent exhibit in Haiti. Read more about this celebrated artist, here.

These images are via Frederic Dupoux's (Marithou Dupoux's son) captivating blog. Follow Frederic on Twitter for updates from the disaster area. His observations are riveting and heartbreaking. My thoughts and prayers go out to him, his mother, and their community.

I hope you will join the blogging community in raising attention and aid for those who have been affected by the earthquake. Check out all of the posts from the Blogger's Day of Action, and don't forget to bid on the auction items. Here are the participating blogs:

1. It's Oh So Grand

2. Hammocks & High Tea

3. A Life More Fabulous

4. Bay Area Style File

5. Single Bubble Pop

6. Lindsey Lou Blogs

7. Styleture

8. Simply Grove

9. Make Under My Life

10. Design For Mankind

11. Urban Casita

12. Nuvany Nice

13. Jodine's Corner

14. The Cubicle Chick

15. Aphrochic

16. Marvelous Kiddo

17. Tam-Sam

...and more to come...

For more ways to help, go here.

Bloggers Day of Action

The more that I read and see and hear about the tragedy that is unfolding in Haiti, the more I ache with a sense of horror and helplessness. The event is so overwhelming that it is easy to feel lost and unsure of how to assist the people that are so desperately in need. Yesterday I made a donation to the International Response Fund of the Red Cross, but I wanted to do more.

That's why I was so glad to run across this effort, spearheaded by Jeanine of Aphrochic:

Bloggers from around the country are committing to a Bloggers Day of Action for Haiti. Today we use our blogs not just to discuss design and fashion, but to identify ways to help with the relief effort in a country that has been devastated by disaster. The participating blogs are taking this day to post about the amazing culture and diversity of this island country and ways that you can help make a difference. Later today AphroChic will be hosting a charity auction to help raise funds for efforts on the ground, auctioning works from some of your very favorite designers including Laidback Home, Hammocks & High Tea, Verre New York, and Name Your Design, just to name a few.

Today we are committed to taking action, and I ask you to join us. If you are a blogger or designer who would like to participate in the Bloggers Day of Action for Haiti, please e-mail Jeanine at jeanine@aphrochicshop.com

Together, we can raise thousands for all those in need.

Charitable donations can be sent to:
- Red Cross
- UNICEF
- Yele Haiti