Samech Sameach

Samech Sameach (ס׳ שמח) is the name of a huge Israeli dance party scheduled for Saturday night, May 10 2014, in celebration of Larry Denenberg's sixtieth birthday, which falls on that very day.

Time, Place, and Food

The event will take place at the St. James Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston adjacent to Cambridge. Open dancing will begin at 8:30 PM and will continue until the dancers are forcibly ejected from the hall.

Refreshments will be provided by Ani Catering, makers of fine Armenian and Middle Eastern Cuisine. Moshe Eskayo may or may not make falafel.

Dancing

The harkadah will be under the direction of Elad Perel, superstar markid from the Haifa area. (In Larry's opinion, Elad's Thursday night session at the Technion is one of the best in the country.) Elad is familiar with the local repertoire from his leadership at Gvanim 2013 and is expected to provide a good time for all. He may or may not teach a dance or two in the course of the evening.

There will also be exciting activities and entertainment for nondancing spouses, to include at least parcheesi, acey-deucey, and mah jongg.

Zikukim Performance (new!)

Early in the evening, we will have a break in the dancing for a performance by Zikukim, one of Boston's premier semiprofessional Israeli dance troupes. Zikukim will perform a piece choreographed by group director Becca Rausch for the 2014 Boston Israeli Dance Festival. (Becca herself will not be dancing in the performance, because by the time of Samech Sameach her belly would knock the other dancers off the stage.)

History

Eleven years ago, this same venue hosted the Boston party celebrating Larry's marriage to Rachael Rosner. The original invitation is here. Note, however, that the complex admission price structure from that event will not be repeated; Samech Sameach is free to all.

Directions, Parking, Public Transportation

St. James Armenian Church is at 465 Mount Auburn Street in Watertown (map) at the intersection of Mt. Auburn and School Streets.

From anywhere on I-90, the Mass Turnpike, get off at exit 17, head toward Watertown on Galen Street, go straight through Watertown Square onto Mount Auburn Street and proceed to number 465, on your right.

From Harvard Square take Mount Auburn Street westbound. Bear left just past the Star Market. Proceed to number 465, on your left.

There is parking next to the building (enter from School Street) and on the other side of Mt. Auburn Street, a block or two closer to Harvard Square.

The #71 bus runs between Harvard Square and Watertown Square along Mount Auburn Street, roughly every fifteen minutes on Saturday night. The last bus inbound arrives at School Street at about 1:25.

No Gifts!

In lieu of gifts, attendees are encouraged to make a contribution to their own retirement savings. They will appreciate it when they themselves become 60, or have children approaching college age. Trust me.

Links

You can send email here if you have questions or need further information.

A flyer for the event, created by Rina Wagman.

RSVPs

No RSVP is necessary, but if you are planning to attend you are encouraged to record the fact below by editing this page. (If you haven't already, you must first register at HoraWiki.) Other changes to the page will be summarily reverted. Unless they're improvements.

Ari and Mona Atkinson would have LOVED to come to this party. Unfortunately Ari will be in the middle of finals during this weekend. Ari and Mona are very sad to not attend. They wish Larry D the happiest birthday ever!

Becca Rausch and Lior Barnoon will be there! Can't wait to dance the night away while poking fun at the old guy.

Alexis Maharam will attend really just to see which is greater - Larry's age or the number of t-shirts he requires during the evening.

Erica Goldman will attend, but only because she thinks she has plenty of time to work up a better present than the L-for-50 t-shirt. If she comes up empty, she ain't coming.

Edy Greenblatt will attend because she needs an occasion on which to return the compliment he paid me a few years ago, "You used to be a great dancer." We'll see if the shoe fits, gramps.