FASHIONABLE NEW YORK ART LOVERS (c) By Polly Guerin

Fashionable New York steps into the limelight with a major show at the MET; Two Divas Talk about Fashion, Churchill in the news and book launches, and SIX Centuries of Music tunes up the cultural happenings this week. Here’s the scoop!!! 
THE CHURCHILL ARCHIVES at THE MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM launches a new website http://www.discoverchurchill.org/, which is developed in conjunction with the upcoming exhibition, Churchill: The Power of Words.  The site was created to generate interest in Churchill among a younger audience and includes video footage, photographs and surprising facts. Such remembered phrases as "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few," are among so many powerful, humorous and clever statements, which still resonate in today's politics, and referred to in Presidential speeches,  nearly fifty years fater Churchill's death. Visit http://www.discoverchurchill.org/.

CHARTWELL BOOKSELLERS, The world’s only bookshop devoted to the works of Winston Churchill books presents bookseller and author, Barry Singer’s new book, CHURCHILL STYLE, The Art of Being Winston Churchill at a champagne reception Wednesday, May 2 at 55 E. 52nd Street. RSVP: 212.229.7188. Barry Singer is a New York Times’ notable author and a regular contributor to the New Yorker and New York Magazine.
THE CANTERBURY CHORAL SOCIETY, under the direction of founder and conductor Charles Dodsley Walker opens its 60th season with a polychoral-with-brass Spring Concert entitled, “Six Centuries of Music for Chorus, Brass and Organ.” Come and revel in the sonorous sounds of voices and a brass ensemble of trumpets, trombones and tuba. A resounding experience, not to be missed, two of the compositions to be heard include kettledrums. Soloists include Kathleen Kelly, Soprano; Joan Fuerstman, Mezzo-Soprano; Thomas Mooney, Tenor and Ralph Braun, Bass-Baritone. Neal Campbell and Mollie Nichols, Organists. On Sunday, May 6 at 4 pm. At Church of the Heavenly Rest, Fifth Ave. at 90th St. Tickets $20, general admission; seniors and students $15, children 12 and under, free. Advance tickets visit, www.smarttix.com or www.canterburychoral.org.
ELSA SCHIAPARELLI and MIUCCIA PRADA: Impossible Conversations. Fine talking Divas, one dead, one alive explores the striking affinities between these two Italian designers from different eras. Given the role that Surrealism and other art movements play in the designs of Schiaparelli (pronounced Skap-a-relly) the blockbuster exhibition by the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a ‘must see.’ Schiap’s collaborations with Dali and Cocteau as well as Prada’s Fondazione push art and fashion ever closer and young accessory designers are taking note. Just this morning in Women’s Wear Daily the front page, “Hello Dali,” suggests Surrealism is alive and chic for fall.” Experimental videos in the MET galleries will juxtapose masterworks from the designers in an unexpected series of conversations on the relationship between fashion and culture. An impressive display of Schiap and Prada designs: Hard Chic, Surreal Body and Waist Up/Waist Down in the galleries. May 10-August 19. www.metmuseum.org/impossibleconversations .
MANHATTTAN, MANITOULIN, A new novel by Bonnie Kogos, author of Manitoulin Adventures 2001, shares with readers the magic of Manhattan and Manitoulin Island, the pastoral Canadian island in Lake Huron, part of Rainbow Country. It is a romantic, a love affair novel dealing with universal themes; love, conflict, loss and learning. The novel, a result of 20 years living and writing on both the islands of Manhattan and Manitoulin delights with Bonnie’s universal humor and candid observations. Publisher, Scrivener Book’s Spring launch is May 8th, in Sudbury at the Art Gallery of Sudbury, Canada. Contact Bonnie in NYC at 212.679.9438. for local openings. BonnieKogos@aol.com.
Ta Ta darlings!!! I’m looking forward to Canterbury concert in more ways than one, because I’m singing in the chorus. It’ll be quite a brilliant music experience…so be there!!! Fan mail welcome: pollytalk@verizon.net. Visit Polly’s Blogs at www.pollytalk.com. Just click on the link in the left-hand column list like thefashionhistorianpollyguerin or amazingartdecodivas.