Newport Polo's 'Bal du Soleil' to Benefit newportFILM

The International Polo Charity Ball has announced its theme for the annual summer gala.

'Bal du Soleil' lends itself to the glamorous French Riviera, an image that can only be appropriate for the French Polo team, the gala's honored guests.

Hosted by Newport Polo, Bal du Soleil will take place at Rosecliff on Bellevue Avenue in historic Newport, Rhode Island. A separate ticket for the cocktail party allows 400 guests to an exclusive meet-and-greet with the French Polo Team at Forty 1° North.

The sell-out event draws nearly 400 attendees for an evening that will begin with a pre-gala Cocktail Meet & Greet with the French Team at the chic Forty 1° North, where the team will be headquartered, then on to Rosecliff for a reception on the terrace, where an enchanting panorama of gardens and twilight ocean views will be ecclipsed by enticing hors d'oeuvres, specialty cocktails created by the Cocktail Guru, and highly anticipated Silent Auction display in which a carefully curated collection of unique items and exclusive opportunities will be offered for the highest bidder. Guests will adjourn for a seated gourmet dinner in the gilded ballroom where live musical entertainment will set the tone, and a whirlwind Live Auction wizarded by Sotheby's auctioneer, will offer up the night's crown jewels. Under the spell of the orchestra, desserts and dancing will ensue til the stroke of midnight . The odyssey's finale ascends to the Skybar atop Clarke Cooke House for a last dance.

newportFILM, the beneficiary of the gala, is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the Newport residents and visitors about current policy issues through the power of film and documentary.  The organization continues to gain momentum in the Newport community for people of all ages who are eager to become more aware of what's happening in the world we live in. I believe it's one of Newport's local treasures.

For tickets and more information, visit Newport Polo's website.

newportFILM Iris Film Screening and Picnic Contest

Once you witness newportFILM's picnic contest at one of their outdoor film screenings, you'll be inspired to sip nothing finer than champagne and eat nothing more decadent than catered sandwiches and macarons.

newportFILM screened "IRIS," a documentary on Iris Apfel fashion's "geriatric starlet" and renowned style icon—it only made sense to pay homage to Iris by having one of Newport's most stylish contests in her honor. 

Most Authentically Iris 

"Through the Looking Glass" by Chateau & Bungalow

Picnic judges were Bettie Ann Pardee, Kiel James Patrick, Sarah Vickers of Classy Girls Wear Pearls and the owners of RIB & RHEIN, Thomas and Erin Ribeiro (center)

Most Creative Interpretation of "Iris in Wonderland" Theme

Alice and Iris in Wonderland by Haarstick Jewelry

The rest of newportFILM's summer lineup is fantastic—the next screening, "The Diplomat," will take place on Thursday, July 23 at the Redwood Library.

newportFILM to Screen IRIS for 2015 Summer Series

Starting July 2, newportFILM's 2015 Summer Screening Series will feature eleven documentaries all over Newport, Rhode Island. To accommodate a variety of interests, the subject matter of the documentaries spans from sports to the arts, from public policy and to human passion.  

One documentary I am particularly interested in seeing is IRIS, a documentary on fashion and lifestyle icon Iris Apfel. 

Here's the description:

The latest film from legendary documentarian Albert Maysles (GREY GARDENS, GIMME SHELTER), IRIS pairs the late 88-year-old filmmaker (who passed away on March 5) with Iris Apfel, the quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed 93-year-old style maven who has had an outsized presence on the New York fashion scene for decades. 

More than a fashion film, the documentary is a story about creativity and how a soaring free spirit continues to inspire. IRIS portrays a singular woman whose enthusiasm for fashion, art and people are life's sustenance and reminds us that dressing, and indeed life, is nothing but an experiment.  

Despite the abundance of glamour in her current life, she continues to embrace the values and work ethic established during a middle-class Queens upbringing during the Great Depression. "I feel lucky to be working. If you're lucky enough to do something you love, everything else follows."

To buy tickets for newportFILM's screening of IRIS, visit their website.

Style Inspiration for newportFILM's Bollywood Friendraiser

I'll be honest--I just searched "bollywood fashion" on Pinterest to find some inspiration for what to wear to newportFILM's upcoming Bollywood theme fundraiser. 

With the exception of a brief introduction to it during a global media course, I am not terribly familiar with Bollywood, so I am trusting Pinterest's beautiful images. I think all of the pictures are actually bridal inspired, but it should be fine...

Photo Credit: Hub Pages

Photo Credit: Miss Malini

Photo Credit: Exclusively

Photo Credit: Maharani Weddings

Photo Credit: Bollywood Fashion tumblr

Photo Credit: Bijoux Noir tumblr

For more Bollywood-inspired style, check out this tumblr.

newportFILM's 2015 Bollywood "Friend-Raiser"

If you haven't heard of newportFILM, it's one of the coolest nonprofits in Rhode Island. 

newportFILM does screen some amazing movies, but I believe the real purpose behind the organization is to cultivate a greater sense of community through an educational vehicle that can touch anyone, regardless of their background or their circumstances.  Each movie that is selected welcomes a discussion among family, friends, and neighbors about what's happening in the world and how it connects to our everyday lives.

Maybe it's because I am a product of the liberal arts curriculum, or because I work at a university research center named in honor of the late Senator Claiborne Pell--who was a major proponent of the arts and humanities--but I think nonprofits like newportFILM are important because they offer a different sort of public good. A cultural service for the community's intellectual well-being, so to speak. 

Every year, newportFILM hosts its annual "friend-raiser" to help keep the program going. This year's theme is Bollywood, something that will be a ton of fun to dress up for. There are several boutiques and salons that are offering discounts to help people get a fashionable, theme-appropriate look for the night.

I still regret not going to last year's Warhol-themed friend-raiser...

If you're interested in supporting a good cause and having a great time doing, I would suggest you check out more information on newportFILM's friend-raiser on their website.