The Nicholsons--Soiree of Wednesday
--August2,1995
the700 anniversary of the secon secutive soirees.
The special guest for the occasion was his "Honor the Mayor of Montreal
--
Monsieur Pierre Bourque".
Before I give a short account of the evening, I would like to write a few
words onMr. and Mrs.Nicholson. Diana and Davidas known to their friends
and guests. The anniversary date is always a good opport unity to look back
and view the events from adifferent point of view i.e. inhind sight. When
David and Diana start ed these unique soirees --long long long time
ago ... almost 14 years ago... their first special guest was< b>Dr.CarlBeigie
--the US Made Economist who was residing then with the Nicholsons
family -- in Canada. 14 years multiplied by 365 days is along time in
anyone's calendar. But it seems that David -- is breathing the same air he
was breathing almost a decade and ahalf ago. The air that David breathes
is "the success of the soirees, the exchange of information, the
discussion, the arguments, the video out put during the soirees, the video
input during the off-hours, the faxes to the guests, the telephone calls to
the special guests ... and on and on and on... "Indeed very few of us realize
what goes on behind the scenes and for that matter in the specially
designed studio basement of the Nicholsons until that special Wednesday
arrives on our agenda. Then we have to rush for that "bottle" from the
Government controlled Liquor Store --where the staff have become friendlier
in recent years. I don't know why! Maybe there is some kind of
privatization or competition in the air! Back to the Nicholsons --theirs by
contrast is aprivate initiative-- not government supported and yet it has
survivedf or 4years. Chapeau. Hatsoff.
All in all -- the Nicholsons soirees are very special--"don't leave home
without it"
I do want o mention-- in aspecial way-- the name of Diana-- the hostess,
the other partner in this private enterprise of the Nicholsons. She plays a
different role. In fact while David is the official spokesman of the agenda
and the official moderator of the production known to all attendees as the
"Wednesdaynight out chez lesNicholson"-- Diana is infact the un-official
moderator. She is the one that senses the pulse and depth of the discussion
and attimes brings the discussions tangentially to virtual reality.
I am writing on the Nicholsons soirees the way I see in the dimlight when
I enter that well known house in Westmount. Yes,inWestmount-- but not
necessarily for westmounters. The guests come from all over the world. If
my memory serves me well, dignitaries that walked in through the doors
included the Managing Director of the IMF, well knownd iplomats,
ambassadors, consuls, politicians-- including the x-Premier of the
Province, professionals from all walks of life-- specially lawyers and
investment executives, and multiple choice of others.... from AtoZ. The
point is that indeed the sesoirees attract "by invitationsonly" people
from all countries and professions. The commondenominatoris hat someone
knows either David or Diana or their guests. Anyhow-- an interesting mix of
people and topics and "wine" is what makes up these evenings-- officially
from 8:00p.m. onto mid-night. The first hour on each side of the spectrum
is for the very brave. In fact from eight to nine p.m. there is some
socializing-- one greets each other and the hosts and people try to figure
out both" what you do and how you happen to be on the samespot that same
evening! "The shallowness of these casual discussions is very much in
contrast with what is to come after "David"-- gives his famous signal on
the huge bell right above the bar! That signals that the drinking period
will besitting in stead of standing! Seriously-- that is when guests are
channeled to anadjacent room and then those sitting round the large
rectangular table andother staking the back seats better distinguish the
triage of "whoiswho". No blesse oblige-- everyone finds his little niche
in heat mosphere of silence among attendees and blasting video scontouring
the three sides of the elegant room--signaling indeed the tumultuous
discussions are yet to commence.
Etvoila...
That is when realaction begins. Both politicians and diplomats are relaxed
when the famous motto "offtherecord" is reiterated officially. Then there
is springin the air-- and everyone wants to talk more than just sit back
and listen to the wisdom freely expanded around! This is not exactly it!
One realizes that tis very difficult to assemble imageson the spoken
word salone. Something I am trying to do-- right atthismoment.
Inresume--to visualize what exactly transpireson the sceneat the
Nicholsons Wednesday soirees you have to be there in person. "Point
finale". All hear say can give you a clue to what some people call-- comme
lessoire esintellectuellesdu XIXiemesie cleen Europe!.
That'sit!--you never know what to expect from the hosts and for that
matter from the guests. What appears on the surface tobe a simple subject
of discussion is more complex when peopleo fall walks of life present
different points of view. I witnessed discussions on the conflict in the
former Yugoslavia and came out of these soirees, perplexed on what I
learned tobe "the otherman's point of view." There will be at times a
feeling of "deja-vu" and other times you will be filled with so much new
information that you can hardly wait for the next New York Times Sunday
edition to re-educate yourself.
SamTotah
Montreal, August,1995
Goto the 700th acec the Mayor of Montréal
List of Wednesday Nights past By Herb Bercovitz SamTotah
