New York, February 23: Clean Monday benefit dinner for Gennadius

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From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <[email protected]>

Originally From: Jane C. Goble <[email protected]>

News from the Gennadius Library, the American School of Classical Studies at Athens

Contact: Jane C. Goble (609) 683-0800

Fourth Annual Clean Monday Celebration Benefiting Gennadius Library Slated for February 23 in NYC

Under the patronage of H.E. the Ambassador of Greece and Mrs. George V. Savvaides, friends of Athens' Gennadius Library are organizing a traditional Clean Monday ("Kathari Deftera") celebration on February 23 at Estiatorio Milos in New York City to mark the end of Carnival and beginning of the Lenten season. The event features special Clean Monday cuisine prepared under the direction of Milos' famed Costas Spiliades. 2004 Zagat Survey states "Heaven is pristine fish...simply grilled at this exceptional Midtown Greek ...where the hospitality ...wide open space make for a thalassic classic."

For Greek families, Clean Monday is one of the most festive holidays of the year. Often coinciding with the first hints of spring, when almond trees and mimosas burst into bloom, the day lures children and their parents into the countryside and up the hills of Athens to fly kites and to feast on special fare at local tavernas. Cuttlefish stewed in wine, rice pilaf with mussels, varieties of bean stews and salads, squid stuffed with spinach and rice, Lenten dolmades and halva, and the once-a-year appearance of lagana, a yeastless bread, make up just a portion of the unique tastes of the day, often accompanied by joyous music and dancing.

The Clean Monday celebration will help raise funds for the multi-year campaign for renovation, expansion, and endowment of the Gennadius Library, which houses one of the world's most important collections illuminating the history and culture of Greece of the post-ancient world. With generous donations from Greeks and Americans alike, the Library completed in late 1999 a $2.5 million renovation and underground expansion to the historic Main Building, in the first phase of the building project.

Nearly two years ago, the President of Greece, Mr. Constantine Stephanopoulos, laid the foundation stone for the $4 million dollar renovation and expansion of the Library's East Wing, which will include the 330-seat Cotsen Hall. Work is nearing completion and the dedication ceremony and grand opening reception will take place on May 25, 2004.

This phase has been made possible through the generosity of many individuals, corporations and foundation. Among them are Lloyd E. Cotsen, Chairman of the Gennadius Library Board; KOSMOCAR, S.A. in memory of John B. Mandilas; the family of Dory Papastratou, in her memory; Elaine and Ted Athanassiades and family, in memory of Mary and Stratos Athanassiades, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; the A. G. Leventis Foundation; the Stavros S. Niarchos Foundation; and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Board is currently raising funds for a third phase, the remodelling of the West Wing into galleries for the exhibition of rare books, prints, maps, drawings, and archives, and for the fourth phase, the renovation of the gardens.

The campaign for the Gennadius Library aims to place the Library at the forefront of centers for research and study in the history of Hellenism. Opened in 1926, the Library houses the collection of diplomat and bibliophile, John Gennadius, who presented some 26,000 volumes and archives to the American School of Classical Studies at Athens to house and to make accessible to the public.

The Clean Monday celebration begins at 6 p.m. Monday, February 23, 2003, and includes a buffet dinner and dancing to the music performed by the Mylos All-Star Band. Estiatorio Milos is located at 125 West 55 Street. Open-seating tickets are $150 per person and must be reserved and paid for in advance. In addition, a limited number of reserved tables are available. A few Junior tickets are available at $75. For invitations, tickets and information, call the U.S. office of the Gennadius Library at (609) 683-0800.

Jane C. Goble
Development Assistant
American School of Classical Studies at Athens
The Gennadius Library
6-8 Charlton Street
Princeton, NJ 08540
609-683-0800
Fax 609-924-0578

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