As The World Churns 1013

By Bob Nicolaides



Hera:Celebrated on Samos

The General Assembly of the UN, by unanimous vote adopted a resolution designating April 8^thas Athletics Worldwide Day for Growth and Peace in the presence of president of the International Olympics Committee Dr. Jacques Rogge and a plethora of athletes, among them tennis champ Novak Djokovic of Serbia. The decision to choose April 6^th as Athletics Worldwide Day as opposed to June 23^rd as it had been originally proposed emanates from a proposal made by the Permanent Mission of Greece to the UN, as this is the day of the rebirth of the modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896……Over 350 volunteers participated in the Heraia-Pythagoreia festival celebrating the ancient Greek women's races first introduced to the eastern Aegean island of Samos 2,200 years ago. In the seventh annual festival, events which began on August 18 with concerts at the archaeological museum and the ancient theatre of Pythagoreion, the central town, a procession replicating the ancient tradition took place and headed to the port. This was preceded by the lighting of a torch at the ancient sanctuary of Hera and women's races from the temple to Pythagoreio. In antiquity, the celebrations included women's foot races at night accompanied by torches, musicians, with poetry contests also held, among other religious and cultural events. The events wrapping up the next night, a full moon night celebrated at archaeological sites throughout Greece. On Samos, the celebration under the stars was dedicated to Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca.

The village of Carguese or Karzes, this Greek corner of Corsica was founded by Mani fugitives who wanted to save themselves from the Turkish yoke. Street names, monuments, all are reminiscent of something Greek. But most of all, is the Byzantine church of Karzes, with the marvelous icons, brought by the Maniates from Greece in the 17th century....Archaeologists working in an ancient church somewhere in Turkey think they've unearthed a piece of the world's most famous cross, the one used to crucify Jesus. It was in a stone chest unearthed during excavations at a 1350-year-old house of worship with the chest filled with relics associated with the Crucifixion.

Overheard outside the Greek Consulate General in New York the other day: "Let's take a photo of the building with you in it, son, so we can show pappou." I got curious and I asked. The speaker explained. "My son is half Greek from his mother who speaks fluent Greek, and I wanted to show her father his gradson standing outside the Consulate.".... George Capsis who publishes a Village weekly paper called WestView was at a Christine Quinn fundraiser when he turned and slapped first a Congressman and then an aid to Quinn, the aspiring mayoral candidate in NYC. Why did he do it? As far as the Congressman because he wouldn't listen to his complaining about the closure of St. Vincent Hospital which robbed Capsis of precious moments with his dying wife Andromache who was transferred to the Bronx, and died a few days before the incident and the aide because he restrained him wanting to eject him from the event....



Stamos:NO spotlight Hogging

Theroux with Aniston: Coming Nuptials

Saks Fifth Avenue and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) are proud to announce Jennifer Aniston, long-time supporter of cancer causes, as the spokesperson for their 2013 Key to the Cure campaign. This year marks the 15th annual campaign, and it will raise funds for EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund by selling a limited edition Emilio Pucci T-shirt, in addition to holding a charity shopping weekend. By the way, Aniston's wedding was faltering for a while  due to difference of opinion. The former Friends star also admits she falls to pieces when she is due to step on a plane, and even alcohol fails to calm her nerves. New Jersey and Pennsylvania’s TVer Greek Spirit show producer-host and good friend George Burlotos has compacted his Sunday evening production from a two-hour show to a one hour (8-9 pm) and everyone wonders how does he do it managing to contain in half the time all the rich content that he spread over two hours. But he does, and does it with gusto…. “He seldom hogs the spotlight as the star,” writes Bill Newcott in a profile of John Stamos. More often, he’ll pop up to provide essential support on TV, in movies or on Broadway (or with the beach Boys, as their semi-regular drummer.) But John is a guy we’re always glad to see, whose sheer joy for his craft is positively contagious. “Then he continues: I’m ready to have kids” the actor wo divorced in 2005 says. Meanwhile, he’s the spokesman for Project Cuddle fighting baby abandonment…. New releases from Greek American Alexander Payne and other directors will be featured at the New York Film Festival, which opened Sept. 27,.the

 

Karamitsos: Co-director

TV's Devlantes: Celebrates

On Thursday, September 5, a private, exclusive joint end-of-summer rooftop soiree at the riverside rooftop StarDeck of the hot newly refurbished bar Estate Ultra Bar, celebrates the 10th anniversary of Chicago's Greek Media Club, co-hosted by that club in tandem with I On The Scene and Ladies Night Chicago. Co-sponsor was Estate Ultra Bar with live 50s-60s music by singer guitarist Skip Griparis. A toast to the GMC's 10th anniversary, it's raising some cash for charity, introduces individuals associated with each respective group to one another's membership. I On The Scene is one of Chicago's foremost celebrity blogs, written by entrepreneuse and former General Hospital actress Irene Michaels. GMC is a social networking group of media, film, PR/advertising and other creative and communicatively-inclined individuals which was co-founded by George Bliss, FOX32 News anchor Anna Devlantes and media entrepreneur and NFL Replay Assistant Terry Poulos. Ladies Night Chicago is a women's networking group founded by Shari Duffy. Also, writer-editor Maria Karamitsos is one of the current GMC co-directors...George Drakoulias, a Long  Island-bread musician from Greece was the music producer for the flick Stupid, Crazy Love....Greek thrush Maria Farantouri celebrates her 50 years in singing with a big concert at the Herod Atticus Theatre (Irodio) on September 17. Farantouri has sung for major Greek composers, including Mikis Theodorakis and Manos Hatzidakis. She was joined on stage by Elli Paspala and Savina Yiannatou to sing of "the human who insists on seeking the elusive dream and utopia"…. The western Greek city of Agrinio hosted its third annual jazz festival on September 6 and 7 at the Kipotheatro outdoor theatre, with international musicians taking to the stage with Greek performers. On September 6, guitarist Davide Jambon (Italy), drummer Attila Qyarfas (Hungary) and local double bassist Grigoris Theodoridis gave the opening performance. They were followed by trumpeter Andreas Polyzogopoulos and his quartet improvising Pink Floyd songs. The day was wrapped up with a concert by Shahar Elnatar (Israel) on organ jazz with standards and his own original work, George Kontrafouris on organ, and Vassilis Podaras on drums with Dimitris Tsakas on saxophone. Locals Possible Trio opened the second day, with Serafim Fengoulis on drums, Pantelis Tzialas on guitar and Menios Gounaris on piano. The festival wrapped up with a concert by pianist Juraj Stanik (Holland) improvising on jazz greats, joined by drummer David Barker (Holland) and saxophonist Furni Gomez (Spain)….Upcoming events in Athens during this Fall: "Little Paris of Athens", October 9-16, with events performed at Athenian Streets named after French historical personalities; International Meeting of Graphic Arts, October 17-20, Technopolis; "Store of the Future" events, October 22-24, Technopolis, a virtual reproduction of retail trade stores and spaces, presenting all new trends and technologies in retail trade; and Athens Photo Festival, November 1-20, Technopolis...

 

Tritoxo Hotel

In the beautiful village of Koukouli in Zagori is where Eleftheria Dimou’s guesthouse, To Tritoxo is located, offering you unique hospitality, friendly family environment and excelent service. This family business meets the standards of the Hellenic Tourism Organization and offers the visitor warm hospitality in a family atmosphere. It is housed in a renovated traditional stone structure built in 1822 in the center of graphic Koukouli village. To Tritoxo is open year-round and its seven rooms are equipped with refrigirator, television, central heating and is charmingly decorated. Wake-up in one of its rooms with the aromas of the flowers around you and enjoy nature in its glory.

Word of the Month: Gnome: from the Greek, γνώμη, from γιγνώσκειν. Opinion, Knowledge.