City Butterfly

From roasts to toasts
If we had a nickel for every time we heard, “Forgive me, Ann Cadden, R.N., for what I’m about to say about your daughter…” at the community roast of Laurie M. Cadden on Thursday night at the Scranton Cultural Center, well, we’d be booking a Hawaiian getaway with our collection.
With a fabulously funny introduction by Deborah Peterson, Kiwanis Club of Scranton president-elect, roasters Evie Rafalko McNulty, Brenda Bistocchi, Wendy Wilson and Dunmore Mayor Patrick “Nibs” Loughney, held nothing back as they teased Cadden on everything from her excessive cell phone use to her insistence on using the proper glassware when drinking wine and cocktails, to her romantic life and her truly “fabulous” existence.
Even roasting each other at times, this comedy crew offered a hilarious evening of true, and we think “truly embellished,” stories surrounding this proud West Scranton High School graduate. Speaking of West Scranton, it was duly noted by the roasters that Cadden has betrayed her homeland because of her current Green Ridge address, thus proving that she has failed to adhere to the strict code of all west Scranton natives: “West Side is the best side!” And they are never ever to relocate. What was she thinking?
Cadden addressed this, and other distressing comments, at the end of the night. It seems the roasters didn’t have all of their facts straight … or so she says.
Again, our apologies to Ann Cadden, R.N.
Anyway, it made us feel much better, and undoubtedly her mother and fiancé Myer Moskovitz, breathed a sigh of relief when Cadden clarified all of these outrageous allegations as well.
Wearing a glistening rhinestone crown, Cadden took the jokes in stride and enjoyed every minute of the roast that served as a fundraiser for the charities of the Kiwanis Club of Scranton. Surrounded by hundreds (no exaggeration) of her closest friends, the “Queen of the World,” and “Empress of the Universe” chuckled the night away. She seemed to especially enjoy the Ballet Theatre of Scranton’s salute to her. The dance was choreographed by Artistic Director JoAnne Arduino, with the same sense of class, style and sense of humor as the Diva herself. A notable performance was also offered by a fabulous young twirler from Cadden’s alma matter — yes, indeed it was a night for the Invaders despite all of the Dunmoreans in the ballroom.
And local favorites Doug Smith and Marko Marcinko hit all the right notes every step of the way.
As we fluttered through the grand ballroom, we saw a regular who’s who of northeastern Pennsylvania, including plenty of local media personalities such as WNEP’s Marisa Burke, Laurie LaMaster and Scott Schaffer; Entercom’s Tony Bartocci; and Faith Golay and Terry Bonifanti from the Scranton Times-Tribune.
It’s an understatement to say a good time was had by all. When it comes to hosting a roast, Comedy Central has got nothing on Scranton.
After a couple days of rest, it was time to return to the beautiful Scranton Cultural Center for another fabulous event, the first ever Electric City Craft Brew Fest. Welcoming nearly 2,000 people through the doors on Sunday afternoon, the Brew Fest featured more than 50 varieties of craft brews, food, music, workshops and fun.
We kicked the day off right in Shopland Hall on the fourth floor at the VIP Party at noon, and then worked our way down to the grand ballroom a bit later, where we sampled a chocolate orange brew (among other tasty brews) that was to die for. We spotted plenty of friends in the brewing world along the way, and we can’t wait to see them all again at next year’s festival.
— cb