Hasty Pudding 2025 Woman of the Year

THE HASTY PUDDING THEATRICALS ANNOUNCES

 

CYNTHIA ERIVO

AS 2025 WOMAN OF THE YEAR

 

CAMBRIDGE, MA (January 21, 2025) – The Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the oldest theatrical

organization in the United States, announces Emmy, Tony, Grammy-winning and 2x Oscar

nominee CYNTHIA ERIVO as the recipient of its 2025 Woman of the Year Award. From her

iconic performances in Harriet and Broadway’s The Color Purple, to her recently critically

acclaimed role as Elphaba in Universal’s Wicked: Part One, the Pudding is proud to celebrate her

truly unique and impactful presence in the world of entertainment.

The Woman of the Year Award is the Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ oldest honor, bestowed

annually on performers who have made lasting and impressive contributions to the world of

entertainment. Established in 1951, the Woman of the Year Award has been given to many

notable and talented entertainers including Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johansson, Anne

Hathaway, Kerry Washington, and most recently Annette Bening, the 74th Woman of the Year.

The Hasty Pudding Theatricals is a program of The Hasty Pudding – Institute of 1770.

The Hasty Pudding Theatricals will host a celebratory roast for Ms. Erivo on February 5th at

7:00pm, after which she will be presented with her Pudding Pot at Farkas Hall, the Hasty

Pudding’s historic home in Harvard Square since 1888. A press conference will follow the

presentation at 7:20pm. Afterwards, Ms. Erivo will attend a performance of the Hasty Pudding

Theatricals’ 176th production, 101 Damnations.

“We are holding space for Cynthia Erivo’s arrival,” said Man and Woman of the Year Events

Coordinator Hannah Frazer, “We’re sweeping out our broomstick closets and prepping some

wicked smart humor as we eagerly await her in February. Before she flies off with her Pudding

Pot, she’ll have to work a little magic to earn it.”

Hasty Pudding 2018

The Red Balloon brings you behind the scenes in the press room for this year's Hasty Pudding: Man of the Year. This year's honoree, Paul Rudd, graciously accepted the honor in the Hasty Pudding playhouse otherwise known as Farkas Hall. Before Paul entered the press room, a reporter from People Magazine called a restaurant asking what Paul ate for lunch. When Paul entered and he was asked the question of who he would be rooting for during the Patriot's game you can only imagine the grimaces and shock and horror when he announced that he would not be cheering on the Patriots!

Needless to say, Paul made quite an impression in Boston!

Feast your eyes on some photos:

To purchase for the Hasty Pudding's current theatrical: Intermission Impossible go here:
https://hastypudding.org/buy-tickets

Live Music Brunch at Club Passim

In the heart of Harvard Square, Club Passim serves up more than a hearty brunch. Club Passim has quite a history beginning originally as Club 47, a jazz and blues club. Now in a different location in Harvard Square, at 47 Palmer Street in Cambridge, Club Passim pays homage to its original roots, bringing a live music brunch to the masses.

If you are interested in a true brunch experience, look no further than Club Passim. Once known for performances by the likes of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Jimmy Buffet to name a few, Club 47 has transformed into Club Passim, pairing great food with moving acoustic performances during each Saturday and Sunday for their Live Music Brunch.

Club Passim's brunch menu has a wide array of culinary creations including stuffed french toast, avocado eggs benedict, and breakfast scramble. There are vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options available. There is a kid's menu as well for the little music lovers in your life! The menu is sure to provide options for even the most discerning palate.

A must try on the brunch menu is Club Passim's avocado toast, consisting of sliced avocado, cherry tomato, and herbs. The avocado toast contains just the right combination of ingredients to delight those looking for a culinary adventure. The stuffed french toast consists of a lemon cream cheese and berry filling, whipped butter, and Vermont maple syrup. The club provides ample portions.  On Sunday, March 5th, musician Bertrand Laurence provided a soulful accompaniment to brunch. Club Passim's live music brunch rolls on every Saturday and Sunday.

A "Brunch" of favorite photos:











*The Red Balloon was invited to attend this brunch as part of NEFB, however, all options expressed are as always, that of The Red Balloon.
 https://newenglandfoodbloggers.com/category/passim/ 

Hasty Pudding's Man & Woman of the Year

Woman of the Year: Octavia Spencer

The Hasty Pudding Institute honored Octavia Spencer as the 2017 Woman of the Year. The distinction of Woman of the Year began in 1951 and has been bestowed upon such notable actresses as Meryl Streep, Bette Midler, Shirley MacLaine, Cher, Lucille Ball, Sally Field, Debbie Reyolds, and Dame Helen Mirren.

Octavia Spencer is one of the stars of the film Hidden Figures and has received a SAG, Golden Globe, NCAAP Image, and Oscar nominations for her role. Octavia has acted in a number of films including Zootopia, The Help, Get on Up, and most recently Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water. Octavia Spencer was all smiles upon receiving her very own Pudding Pot.

Man of the Year: Ryan Reynolds

The Hasty Pudding Theatrical's recently named Ryan Reynolds as the 2017 Hasty Pudding Man of the Year. Reynolds has starred in countless films including Deadpool, Woman in Gold, Definitely Maybe, The Croods, Safe House, The Proposal, Turbo, Paperman, and The Change Up.

As part of the Hasty Pudding roast, Ryan Reynolds had to endure tormenting a number of notables including a Meryl Streep impersonator. He appeared not at all at ease with the daunting task. However, he had to complete this task in order to earn his Pudding Pot. At last, Reynolds told Meryl that she was "overrated." Sounds of laughter could be heard throughout the evening from the sold-out crowd in the Hasty Pudding's Farkas Hall.    

TO PURCHASE TICKETS to the Hasty Pudding's production, Casino Evil, contact the HPT Box Office at 617-495-5205 or order online at www.hastypudding.org/buy- tickets.

Walk to End Alzheimer's

The 2016 Walk to End Alzheimer's Greater Boston takes place on September 25th 2016. The event is the world's largest event to raise funds and awareness of Alzheimer's. The facts about Alzheimer's are startling:

Currently, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's Disease.

In the U.S., approximately two-thirds of those with Alzheimer's are women.

Alzheimer's is a chronic and progressive condition.

There are over 3 million people diagnosed each year with the disease in the U.S. alone.

Alzheimer's Disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer examined the brain of a woman who had passed away after experiencing memory loss, speech impairment, and unexplained atypical behavior. Following her passing, Dr. Alzheimer noticed abnormalities within her brain, now known to be amyloid plaques, which are a hallmark of Alzheimer's Disease.

The annual walk is held  in over 600 communities. The greater Boston Walk will take place at DCR's North Point Park in Cambridge. The Alzheimer's Association is a global organization with a goal of supporting research across the globe. The walk is all ages and all abilities, spanning two to three miles. The event sends a message of hope to the community.

For more information, specifics about the event, or to find a walk close to you go to: www.alzwalkmanh.org

Man of the Year 2016

The Red Balloon is posting a favorite photo from this past Friday night's Hasty Pudding 50th Man of the Year Celebration: seriously, women everyone are asking, "Who wouldn't want to be that Pudding Pot?"

It was an honor to be part of a tradition with the utmost artistic integrity, including that one part when Joseph Gordon-Levitt took his pants off.

This year Joseph Gordon-Levitt became the 50th Hasty Pudding Man of the Year joining the ranks of Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, Christopher Walken, Steven Spielberg, Sean Connery, Robert Downey Jr. and Billy Crystal, all of whom have their very own Hasty Pudding Pot. The story of how the Man of the Year title started comes from the very first man of the year, Bob Hope, who contacted the Hasty Pudding Theatre as he knew they had only a Woman of the Year distinction at the time. He told them he had the perfect candidate for Man of the Year: Himself! And so the rest is history. Today the tradition continues as Joseph Gordon-Levitt received his latest title with honor! Here's to the Man of the Year!

Esmeralda: Inside Look

The Red Balloon was recently invited to a special inside look at Esmeralda's in Cambridge. The shop Esmeralda is the hidden gem of Harvard Square. Conveniently located at 54 Church St., the store offers an array of jewelry, accessories, and more.

The talented designer and owner of the Harvard Square shop is Esmeralda Lambert. Esmeralda hails from a family of entrepreneurs and knew that she too wanted to follow in her family's footsteps. Esmeralda grew up in the Dominican Republic. Esmeralda's first step toward entrepreneurship began when she enrolled at Babson College to complete her MBA. It was there that she met her husband, who is also a major part of the business. Esmeralda's business is very family focused and she credits her family for being supportive and enabling her dream to become a reality. However, making her own dream a reality was not enough for Esmeralda, for she also wanted to help women back in her home country of the Dominican Republic.

Esmeralda employs women from the Dominican Republic to create all of her designs. She provides opportunity for these women to be employed from the comfort of their own home and earn an income. See below one design which Esmeralda calls her, "Oscar piece." This beautiful necklace is one that Esmeralda hopes Sofia Vergara may one day wear to an award ceremony.

Esmeralda's store has a wide array of designs, including more casual pieces. Whether looking for jewelry for a glamorous night out of the town or a piece for daytime wear, Esmeralda's is the place to find it. See more of Esmeralda's designs below.

Esmeralda also features artists, some of which are new and others who have been designing jewelry for many years. She showcases many artists and provides them with opportunities within her shop. In addition, she provides new artists with mentoring and knows first hand that starting out in business is not easy. She shares many of the tips and tools that she has learned first-hand, having been there herself. 

Esmeralda's shop is a unique and beautiful store. Below is one more photo from another artist featured in Esmeralda's in Cambridge. See Esmeralda's first-hand for yourself at 54 Church St. in the heart of Harvard Square.

Harvard Square Chocolate Fest

Today, Harvard Square held the 2016 Chocolate Festival. The Red Balloon was part of the annual event which includes all things sweet, savory, and well....chocolate! Hot chocolate was available from Shake Shack for those in need of a warm up this winter.

Many local restaurants participated in the event including:

Ben & Jerry's

Evelyn and Angels

Finale 

Shake Shack

The Sinclair

Sweet

Toscano

Some photos from the 2016 Chocolate Festival:

Have a Sweet Saturday!

Sincerely, 

The Red Balloon

Hyatt Regency: Inside Look

The Hyatt Regency Cambridge at 575 Memorial Avenue offers an extensive array of spaces for hosting events. They've recently remodeled and The Red Balloon takes you on an inside look of the hotel.

The Riverside Pavilion offers a white tent with French windows. The space offers both modern and classic charm to create an elegant and timeless space. See for yourself how beautiful it is:

Conveniently located along the Charles River, the Riverside Pavilion offers an impressive space for you and your guests as well as a selection of food and drink that is in a category of its own.

For those who are looking for a space with a view of high above the city, the Hyatt offers a variety of options including the 14th floor's Empress Ballroom. Here is a view from the ballroom:

As if that's not enough, on the 16th floor, you will find the Charles View Ballroom, which offers 180 degree panoramic views of Boston. Fun fact: that space used to belong to Boston's only restaurant that spun (yes it is true.) The restaurant was named the Spinnaker. The restaurant may not be there anymore but the view remains the same. See below why they call it the Charles "View" Ballroom:

And the food is nothing short of amazing.

The Hyatt Regency Cambridge transforms spaces into places. The Hyatt has everything covered for all of your event needs to make your special occasion a lasting memory.

Happy Hosting!

Sights & Sounds: Part Cinco

The fifth installment in The Red Balloon's Sight & Sounds series.

First, if you haven't seen the Museum of Natural History at Harvard there's no better time than the present.

Not only is the museum filled with a gigantic array of artifacts that you will not find anywhere else but it has some pretty impressively LARGE collections (see one above) which spans an entire wall.

Below, there is an actual skin of a zebra which someone tried to bring with them through Logan Airport (and you thought you had a long wait in line during your last trip to the airport, imagine being behind that individual!)

Admission to the Museum of Natural History includes admission to the Peabody Museum which contains more collections so be sure to stop be there as well. The photo below is from the Peabody's Annual Day of the Dead Celebration.

Happy Travels!

Giving Tuesday: Holiday Gift Swap

On Giving Tuesday, I attended the Holiday Glamour Swap at the CambridgeSide Galleria along with a group of other local on-line writers. Giving Tuesday, is a day designated when people are encouraged after Black Friday and CyberMonday to give something of themselves.

The shops at the CambridgeSide Galleria, were especially generous on Giving Tuesday as they donated many gifts for this event.
The CambrideSide Galleria also set up a number of displays for gift-giving ideas as well as fashionable attire ideas for holiday parties, such as shown below:

The California Pizza Kitchen donated snacks some of which are pictured here. (Not pictured is the Salted Caramel Pudding which is a must taste this holiday season.)

Santa even dropped by for a surprise visit and donated some good cheer for the occasion, offering to take some "Santa Selfies."

Now for the details of the Swap: as each person arrived at the event, they picked a number. The rules were set forth as follows:

• Each person would be allowed to choose a gift based on your number
• If you were fortunate to be Lucky #1, you were able to steal any gift after everyone had chosen a gift
• If you were not fortunate enough to be Lucky #1, you gift will more in likely (greater than 99% chance statistically speaking) be taken from you 

Okay so that last rule was not explicitly stated but I think you catch my drift. Now allow me to take you back to a previous Holiday Swap event that I attended at the Cambridgeside Galleria. For that previous event, participants needed to answer a trivia question in order to select a gift. I was so happy when I, very early on in the event, was able to correctly answer a very difficult trivia question and opened my gift to reveal a $50 Sephora gift card! Unfortunately, someone else wanted my gift and I ended up going home with: an umbrella (yes...that's right folks. I had a $50 gift card and then POOF! I had an umbrella) I officially was done with gift swaps for that year. Then, a new year began!

Now that you're up to speed with that past event I can now properly discuss this current event and how I was clearly there for one thing: REDEMPTION.

So, I will answer the most pressing question on your mind: I did not in fact have Lucky number 1, if I did then clearly I would have been able to succeed in my plan for: REDEMPTION. But alas, so the story unfolds, I opened my gift, decided to swap it for a $50 gift card to the Cheesecake Factory and then, as quickly as the gift card fell upon me it was gone. But, in the time that has passed since then, I have come to the realization that the card was not really taken from me so much as I gave it away. After all, that is what Giving Tuesday is all about: to give something. So I encourage everyone to go find something that they love (yes it has to be something you care about otherwise it doesn't count) and give it away. And, if you happen to have a gift card to the Cheesecake Factory, well, feel free to send it my way!

*The Holiday Glamour Swap was gratis for me to attend however, all opinions, as always, are entirely my own.