Wednesday, July 12, 2006, 9 PM-12 AM, The Loeb Boathouse, Central Park, New York City--Young Friends of "SAVE VENICE" Summer Revelry To Celebrate La Festa Del Redentore: Co-Chairmen: Olivia Chantecaille, Coralie Charriol, Blair Clarke, Adelina Wong Ettelson, Marguerite Krikhaar, Alexandra Lind Rose, Lottie Oakley, George Rudenauer, & Christian Salvati. Other guests included, Selda Bensusan, Meredith Darrow, Philip Gorrivan, Lara Meiland, Marianna Olszewski, Yvonne Morabito, Victoria Powers, Amedeo Scognamiglio, Eric Villency & Kimberly Guilfoyle Villency, Susan Shin, Tinsley & Topper Mortimer, Tracy Stern, Tiffany Koury, Chad Ritchie, Melanie Charlton, Kipton Cronkite, Michel Witmer, Alison Minton, Karla Farach and more. The evening celebrated festa del Redentore, a high-spirited holiday highlighting the Venetian summer season. Proceeds from the event will go towards the restoration of the Doge's Private Chapel in Palazzo Ducale, situated along Venice's renowned Grand Canal. The beauty of Central Park is dotted with bridges, a labyrinth of walkways, lakes, and even a lagoon with a gondola, says Adelina Wong Ettelson, Chairman of the Young Friends of Save Venice. What better place is there in New York to spend an evening imagining you are in Venice? La festa del Redentore, or the Feast of the Redeemer, is a Venetian holiday celebrated on the third Sunday of July. The eve of the holiday is celebrated as boats of all types parade the Grand Canal, under a tremendous fireworks display, making their way into the Venetian Lagoon. From 1575-1577 a terrible plague devastated Venice, claiming a third of the population, including the artist Titian. The Venetian Senate showed its thanks for the plague's end by commissioning a church dedicated to Christ the Redeemer (Redentore). Soon after, this feast of gratitude was born. Young Friends of Save Venice: The mission of Young Friends of Save Venice is to introduce supporters in their 20s and 30s to the artistic patrimony of Venice and to instill in them the desire to help to preserve her timeless treasures. Save Venice Inc. is an American non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the art and architecture of Venice, Italy, and to safe-guarding the cultural heritage of this unique and fragile city. Founded in 1971, Save Venice has provided funding for the restoration of more than three hundred important works of art and buildings in Venice. FOR MORE INFO CONTACT: Liz Makrauer at Save Venice Inc.|e-mail: newyork@savevenice.org | tel: 212-737-3141 PHOTO CREDIT: ©Manhattan Society.com 2006 by Christopher London tel: private | e-mail: ChrisLondon@manhattansociety.com