:: SEP 2009 $2.95 6 37 14 22 08 21 Greek Americans to 28 host U. S. House and The New A different kind of Senate Leaders Generation of Leaders Universal Care 16 Lefteris Bournias: 29 Clarinet master of St. Spyridon Youth music East and West Help hellenicare 13 10 22 Mimis Plessas: 19 Maria’s Slate featuring… 34 A Man for All Seasons Beverly Hills event A Special Interview My Summer Journey Returns to New York to support Dina Titus with Elli Kokkinou to the Ionian Village 19 20 Harry Markopolos, 26 38 10 the man who Undefined by their HACC Young Professionals 33 Alexi goes to…Hollywood! uncovered Madoff Circumstance Happy Hour A Musical Issue This issue has a lot of music in it, from the new sensation of singing star Elli Kokkinou, to the :: magazine synthesized mix of old and new by clarinet virtuoso Lefteris Bournias, to the long line of popular music tradition by grand master Mimis Plessas. Editor in Chief: Dimitri C. Michalakis I was born in Chios and still love the klarino more [email protected] than any other instrument. The hairs stand on the :: Features Editor back of my head when I hear the clarinet player Katerina Georgiou tuning up before every wedding and the first dance [email protected] usually has me up on the dance floor immediately—and staying there—as long as the :: klarino is playing. And when a virtuoso of both the old and new like Lefteris Bournias Lifestyle Editor Maria Athanasopoulos begins to play a tsifteli in the old style then I feel no pain and life has become just one [email protected] sweet glendi that I wish would never end. Lefteris is also a musical explorer and :: pioneer, fearless in dipping into all sorts of styles and working with masters in all Western Region Desk Alexander Mizan backgrounds, and also recreating the legends of his own tradition, as one example, [email protected] his participation a few years ago in resurrecting the songs of the old Café Aman :: composers of the New World. I treasure that CD, and both treasure Lefteri’s playing at Baltimore Desk any occasion and any new experiments he makes in varied musical genres. Georgia Vavas [email protected] :: I grew up, of course, as all of us, with the music of Mimis Plessas. The endless early Photo/Fashion magnitofona I listened to when I was growing up had the music of Mimis Plessas. The ETA Press :: films I saw in the ‘60s in Astoria and Eighth Avenue in Manhattan and in the ‘70s in Graphic Design Chicago at old movie theaters outfitted for Greek films for the weekend all resonated NEOgraphics Inc. with Mimis Plessas tunes. My favorite Greek movie stars all sang Mimis Plessas Adrian Salescu :: standards. The rides we took to the beach in my uncle’s old Chevy station wagon Publishing Committee Chairman: (powdered with flour from his donut business) were all sing-alongs to Mimi Plessas Demetrios Rhompotis tunes. I think he was a part of every Greek expatriates musical connection to home [email protected] :: and part of the soundtrack of our lives. Marketing and Advertising Director Kyprianos Bazenikas Demetri Martin, our cover story, has nothing to do with music himself (except his new [email protected] movie is about Woodstock), but there is a certain music to the loopy logic of his :: Athens Liaison comedy. He said his entire family thought he was insane to give up law school with Konstantinos Rhompotis only one year left and to venture into comedy. He recounts the universal (01130) 210 51 42 446 disappointment of his clan, but he struck out, anyway, on the treacherous waters of a (01130) 6937 02 39 94 comedy career and he’s become a comedy original and one of its most creative and [email protected] : innovative stars. His new movie career was a complete surprise to him, but he seems Check our website perfectly cast in the part of the bookish young man who makes possible a social www.neomagazine.com revolution—and a musical one, at that. :: NEO Magazine is published monthly by Neocorp Media Inc. P.O. Box 560105 College Point, NY 11356 Dimitri C. Michalakis Phone: (718) 554-0308 e-Fax: (718) 878-4448 [email protected] Cover photo: Martin Schoeller At this time, given the near veto proof majority of Senate Democrats, Senator Reid Greek Americans to host U. S. House bears a tremendous responsibility for the direction of the Country, plus he is up for election in 2010. He will be hosted September 13, 2009, 6-8PM, at Persephone Restaurant, and Senate Leaders in New York Manhattan. Next on agenda is a favorite son of the Greek The 2010 campaign season kicks off in full swing this American Community, Congressman Gus Bilirakis of Tampa, Florida. Gus’ father, Mike September as the Greek and Cypriot communities Bilirakis, served in the Congress for 24 years during which time he became the leading host the leaders of United States Congress in a series advocate for veterans of the military services, and like his father, Gus has taken up the cause of receptions and dinners in Manhattan. The Greek for veteran rights since he succeeded his American community has made great strides in father in 2006. Congressman Bilirakis serves on the House recent years and has become known as a force in Committees on Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs. Known on national politics. Capitol Hill as a consensus builder and a common sense Congressman, Gus has earned a reputation as a member who can draft and move legislation through the maze of the House of Representatives. He will h o s t e d S e p t e m b e r 1 7 , 2 0 0 9 , 5:30PM–7:30PM, at the Friars Club, Manhattan New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is the community’s next guest. She was Senator a Congresswoman from upstate New York when she was chosen to fill the vacancy after Senator Clinton was appointed to Secretary of State. Senator Gillibrand is up for election in 2010. Senator Gillibrand serves on the Environment Greek American entrepreneur Congressman John Sarbanes and political activist John Catsimatidis and Public Works, Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, Special Committee on Aging and the all important Foreign Relations committee. The Greek American community is just getting to know the new Senator and nearly all the leaders of the Community are the host committee, September 25, 2009, 6PM - 8PM at the Regency Hotel, Manhattan. Another favorite son of the Greek American community comes to New York this fall. Congressman John Sarbanes, the son of former U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes, represents Maryland’s 3rd Congressional district in the U.S. Congress. The young Sarbanes sits on the Energy and Commerce and the Natural Resources Committees. This Congressman Gus Bilirakis Senator Kirsten Gillibrand US Senator Harry Reid is the Congressman’s second term and has gained a reputation of a hard working According to entrepreneur and political a big hand in seeing that it succeeds,” said legislator who strives to provide first rate activist John Catsimatides,”the Community Catsimatides. “These gatherings are constituent services and practical solutions has finally come together as a cohesive Democracy in action." for the challenges that face Maryland’s political force in the United States. Our working families. community and our Church has so many First on the calendar is the Majority Leader of issues the Congress can help us with, such as the United States Senate Harry Reid of Senator Paul Sarbanes will be coming with Nevada. He began his political career in the the safety and well being of our Ecumenical the Congressman to a New York reception 70’s when at the age of 30, he was elected the Patriarch or the unification of Cyprus. These and dinner October 9, 2009, 6PM -8PM, also youngest Lt. Governor in the history of dinners and receptions give us the in Manhattan. Nevada. After two terms in the U.S. House of opportunity to talk with these leaders on a Representatives, Senator Reid was elected to Full details on each of the events are available personal level.” It’s also a question of abiding the U.S. Senate in 1986. Now in his 4th term, from the offices of John Catsimatidis (212- to tradition when it comes to Hellenes: he was elected Senate Majority Leader in 956-5803, [email protected]). “Greeks invented Democracy, we should have 2005. SEPTEMBER 2009 news and notes 8 vi live alides os Raf t Plessas and E Mimis Plessas Mimis Plessas with Chris For love and death, eros and love, gallantry, freedom, faith and ideals, I sang and I screamed. And I lived my life trying not to hurt the silence because I know that inside of her, the world's harmony is nested. – Plessas’ words of wisdom Mimis Plessas: A Man for All Seasons Returns to New York Sometimes you need to look back to move was a mouthful to pronounce. And since In 1951, as a young pianist studying in the in Athens called “Trianta Defterolepta” (30 His music was original and ahead of its time. New York. “There is no doubt that many forward. Just ask Mimis Plessas. He is the then, “D” has become the Mimis Plessas we U.S. at the University of Minnesota Duluth, Seconds) with various one-on-one He had a keen talent in composing music to Greeks have the talent to produce man for all seasons.