Whatta week! Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show began on Monday at Madison Square Garden and ran through Tuesday evening – with “Best of Show.” It was the 131st show, making it the oldest, continuous sporting even in the country. ‘Round Town had wonderful box seats – thanx to Suzie Reingold, Ex-MFH. Susan Miller Hall from Zionsville, Ind. Was in the group. Across the arena was Bob Stein, formerly of Dayton, who sat in the VIP section – he was one of the show’s judges.

As everyone knows, it was a cocker spaniel who took the trophy. Oakwood has had lots of cocker spaniel owners – Judy Comisar, Robbie Row…Every year the AKC awards six full scholarships to college grads who’ve applied to vet school. They are always introduced just before ‘Best of Show’….This year the super six students were five girls and one boy.

Another ‘sidebar’ re: Westminster. The Thursday New York Times carried several large photos taken at the airport showing piles of dog cages and carriers involved in the cancellations and delays due to the ice storms.

And you thought I was tough being stuck with that four-year-old child!!

Wednesday was an auction of French Impressionists at Christie’s. And Thursday was more of the same at Sotheby’s. Many of the same artists were in the two auctions… likewise the same audience…likewise exactly the same ‘system’ of phone bids v. the paddle holders. A person automatically thinks the ‘phone bidding’ could certainly be ‘arranged’ to enhance the fervor of live paddle-holding bidders.

Thursday was errand day. It’s possible to get anything fixed, mended or cleaned in NYC. And the hunt is always fun. Thursday evening the Ohio Buckeyes met at the Metropolitan Club for dinner. Busser Howell and Mike live on E. 35th St – they drove up to 60th St. and Fifth Avenue – and found a parking place on 60th! And the traffic at 7:30 p.m. is gridlock. Well, it’s gridlock beginning at 7 a.m.

Friday evening the New York City Ballet offered “A Banquet of Dance” at their beautiful hall in Lincoln Center. The Hall is beautiful – BUT – there is not a center aisle, nor any side aisles – so if  your seats are in the center of the orchestra section you must say “excuse me” one hundred times and step on at least fifty toes, totes and bags…and hope there’s not a fire alarm.

In the third presentation one of the dancers fell down! And between the third and     fourth presentation the orchestra director – fell sick! ‘Twas a bad night for the NYC Balley Company. Let’s all give a standing ovation for our own Dayton  Ballet and DCDC.

Sunday was a much-publicized performance of “Palenque” at La MaMa on E. Fourth St. The program was “Oyu Oro Afro-Cuban Folklore Experimental Dance” in honor of Black History Month. The music and the dancing and singing levitated you right off your seat! And the ‘people-watching’ in the audience was the best. Half the audience was ‘jivin’ right with the dancers – and looked as though they’d been performers themselves. It sure beat last night’s ballet at Lincoln Center.

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