Whenever we used to visit Rochester, we always went to the Eastman House. I love photographs of all kind and am in awe of people who are good at photography. Photographs are pure magic to me. They capture a moment in time that will never come again. Even in the age of digital photos that can be taken from your cell phone, photographs in all their forms are still relevant. No matter how fast our society moves, a photograph can still capture a moment that we will never see again. It is my profound respect for photography that got me involved in the Eastman House. They have one of the leading collections of images, movies and technology that tell the story of photographs and motion pictures throughout history. Their archive is world-renowned and is an incredible gem in a world that moves so fast that we barely remember the names of our childhood friends. And they share it with the community. For my fellow children of the 80s, there was a John Hughes retrospective at the Dryden Theater last year. This weekend, a friend and I attended an event honoring Graham Nash. (If you have not yet been to the “Taking Aim” exhibit, go see it! Your inner rock star will reach out and kiss you if you do.)

The non-profit is centered in the former residence of George Eastman. The house and grounds are breathtaking. And, like their famous archive, they share the house and grounds with the public too. We often just stroll the gardens or go grab some gelato at their café. They have concerts on their lawn in the summer too. And they throw a spankin’ party every year around Academy Awards® time. Here’s where I come in. I am on the planning committee for the party. And I wanted to give a huge shout out for the event! It is February 27 and you can buy tickets ($60) online, via phone or at the Eastman House. You get to dress up, be mobbed by paparazzi, dance, eat, drink and be merry. The awards show is shown in the Dryden Theater, so you can wander in and out or sit down and watch the whole thing. And – my favorite – you get to hold a real Oscar. One tip from Adam and me: If you plan to take a picture with the Oscar, do it before you get all hot and sweaty dancing so you don’t look all shiny and dorky like we do.