The Excitement of Hollywood in Your Own Backyard

Whether you favor the biting cynicism of Moneyball or the saccharine charm of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, there's one thing a movie-lover can't deny: the Oscars are a spectacle like no other. This year, you can partake of the glitz and glamor without shelling out for a cross-country flight. Two local venues have festive celebrations planned for this Sunday night, Feb. 26-and they're extending the invitation to you.

A Night at The Kate

Your chance to touch a piece of Academy Award gold-in the form of late legend (and Westbrook resident) Art Carney's Oscar-comes around this Sunday night at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook. Carney's grandson, Devin Carney, will invite party-goers to get up close with the statue at the event beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The Kate's Oscar Night Benefit Party features a red carpet, a silent auction, champagne toast, hearty appetizers, and a cash bar-not to mention a live simulcast of the Oscars on a large screen. Come dressed in Hollywood cocktail attire and cast your ballot for your favorite movies and actors.

The Kate presents Oscar Night in association with Comcast. The party will be co-hosted by WTNH News 8 anchor Ann Nyberg, who serves as vice president of The Kate Board of Directors, and Kristen Roberts, an Old Saybrook resident and vice president of public relations and community investment for Comcast's western New England region. Oscar Night, the second for The Kate, is dedicated to Art Carney. Carney nabbed the Best Actor Oscar in 1974 for his performance as Harry Coombes in Harry and Tonto.

Tickets to the Oscar Night Party are $50 for the general public and $45 for members of The Kate. Proceeds will benefit theater programs at The Kate. The evening is sponsored by Comcast, Connecticut Magazine, Guilford Land Rover, and many others. For more information, call 860-510-0473 or visit www.thekate.org. The Kate is located at 300 Main Street in Old Saybrook.

A Soirée in Madison

Gourmet dining, an exclusive fashion show, champagne, and cocktails will complement a big-screen telecast of the awards ceremony at the first annual Oscars in Madison event. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at Café Allegre, followed by a Red Carpet & Cocktails reception at Madison Art Cinemas (MAC) at 7 p.m. The night continues at MAC, with a fashion show at 7:30 p.m. and the main event-the Oscars-at 8 p.m.

Presented by Asiye's Boutique, and together with Café Allegre and MAC, Oscars in Madison will be hosted by Sonia Baghdady of WTNH News 8.

There are two ticket options for this event: dinner and cocktail tickets are $100 per person; cocktail-only tickets are $75. With the purchase of tickets, guests will receive a total of $100 in gift certificates from participating business. Tickets are available at Asiye's Boutique, 757 Boston Post Road, Madison; Madison Art Cinemas, 761 Boston Post Road, Madison; by visiting SavingsClique.com; and by calling 203-901-8868.

Oscars in Madison is sponsored by William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty, Shore Publishing, Guilford Savings Bank, Timothy Pamment Salon, Franco's Wine Shop, Sparrow Visuals, Guilford White House Florest, Minuteman Press,Whitfield Street, LLC, Village On the Guilford Green, Angie Lu Tailors, and Savvy Tea Gourmet. Contributors include Foxglove & Madison Cheese, R.J. Julia Booksellers, WTNH News 8, and SavingsClique.com.