Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/68908
F ront Runners Taylor in 2005 Carly Simon and Kate CARLY SIMON AND KATE TAYLOR LAUNCHED THE VINEYARD'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS AUCTION WITH A DUET THAT PREVIEWED AN $83,000 DREAM EXPERIENCE. by alex solomon serenade by the seashore I t was a very special evening at the 2005 Possible Dreams Auction, when singer Carly Simon took the stage at The Harborside Inn in Edgartown with former sister-in-law Kate Taylor (sister of James Taylor). The duo sang Patti Page's "Old Cape Cod" before introducing the unforgettable experience of a cruise and sing-along with Simon on Walter Cronkite's boat. That particular dream was auctioned for $83,000, and the evening broke records by raising $750,000. The event—attended by nearly 800 people, including many luminaries of television, media, and film—was started in 1978 by a group of Vineyard resi- dents to support Martha's Vineyard Community Services (MVCS). The group's idea was to offer unique, once-in-a-lifetime prizes. Since its inception the event has evolved into a star-studded tradition on the island, bringing in more than $8 million in funding for programs such as women's support services and early childhood initiatives. In 1993 Simon made the excitement soar to new heights by offering two feuding bidders each an exclusive performance at her home, raising $162,000. Throughout the last 33 years, bidders also have won lunch with Katharine Graham at The Washington Post, a stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge with David McCullough, and a tour of the 60 Minutes set with Mike Wallace. Others have learned from leaders in their field, including sculpting with Travis Tuck. This summer, on August 6, the island will host the Possible Dreams Auction at Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs, and guests will have the chance to bid on sushi with Jim Belushi or a stay at a villa on Lake Como in Italy. The baseball fan in us wants to put a bid on Sox It to 'Em, where the winner and a guest will watch a game from the owner's suite at Fenway Park with Red Sox vice chairman David Ginsberg and fan Alan Dershowitz. The package includes dinner, drinks, the game, and a game ball souvenir. Now that's a dream come true. BC 14 bostoncommon-magazine.com photography by peter simon