Somewhere Over the Rainbow

The Strang Cancer Prevention Center put on a classic New York party Monday night at the Metropolitan Club, complete with a big band, beef entrees, pretty dresses, and glittering jewels. There were also gracious award speeches from the president of the center, Dr. Michael Osborne, and honoree Matilda Cuomo, who has worked with the center to introduce nutrition education to the children who participate in her Mentoring USA program.

The event had one fantastic surprise: a performance by singer and songwriter Rufus Wainwright. The singer may not have been well known to this particular audience, but he looked right at home. He was joined by his mother, Kate McGarrigle, on piano while singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

The center, meanwhile, has just moved into a new home at the New York Blood Center, where eight to nine teams of researchers are working on early-detection methods as well as ways to prevent cancer.

agordon@nysun.com