Scene ... The NFL Alumni Foundation held a cocktail reception at Morello Bistro on Greenwich Avenue on Wednesday night. Former NFL players were on hand to kick off the sixth annual NFL Alumni CT Chapter Golf Celebrity Golf Classic on June 18 at The Country Club of Darien. On hand at the party were former NFL greats and members of the alumni foundation: Steve Thurlow, New York Giants and chapter president; Bob Hyland, Giants; John Lium, Giants; Dick Swatland, Houston Oilers; Pete Gogolak, Giants; Dave Herman, New York Jets; Terry Hanratty, Pittsburgh Steelers; Skip Lane, Jets and Kansas City Chiefs; Jeffrey White, New England Patriots; and Bob Simms, Giants and Steelers. Celebrity coordinator Mark Yusko served as emcee along with Kelly McCoy, senior vice president of sales and marketing. Also present was Jimmy Brannigan, host and manager of Morello Bistro; event organizer Pari Hirsch; Greg LaMontagne of Sidney Frank Importing Co., donators of their vodka brand American Harvest; artist Eric Forstmann and Jane Eckert of Eckert Fine Art; and Gabrielle Balzano, who wowed the crowd with her version of the Star-Spangled Banner and Adele's "Rolling in the Deep." Balzano holds a 9-handicap on New Canaan High School's girls golf team. The June 18 tournament will feature 18 holes of golf starting with celebrity introductions, a live and silent auction and a lobster bake. Since its inception in 2007, the chapter has raised more than $400,000 benefitting charities throughout Connecticut, Westchester County and New York City, including Connecticut Special Olympics, The First Tee of CT, The Umbrella Club, Circle of Care, Boys & Girls Clubs of Stamford and Greenwich, The Darien/Norwalk YWCA, ITP Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of CT, Kids in Crisis, Standing Tall and the Joe Namath Football Camp. For more information, contact Pari Hirsch at 203-219-7499 or parihirsch@aol.com.

-

Scene ... Actor Ian Ziering, aka Steve Sanders on "Beverly Hills 90210," was seen on Tuesday at Fitness Edge in Riverside. Ziering was at the club to pitch his anti-aging products to the staff.

-

Out there ... Green & Tonic, owned by Greenwich resident Jeffrey Pandolfino, formerly of Plum Pure Foods in Cos Cob, opened last week in Cos Cob. Opening day proved to be a huge success for the eatery on Strickland Road, which serves raw, vegan prepared foods, cold-pressed juices and functional smoothies.

-

Scene ... Actress Sean Young seems to be frequenting Rye (N.Y.) Bar and Grill lately. Young is best known for her roles in "No Way Out with Kevin Costner, "Blade Runner" and "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective."

-

Out there ... Greenwich native Les Russo will debut and sign copies of his first novel "The Biggest Door" at Diane's Books of Greenwich on Grigg Street on June 16 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Russo, who resides in Chicago with his wife, Patricia and their five children, is a graduate of St. Mary High School and Manhattanville College. He is the son of Les and Sheila Russo, of Greenwich. For more information, call 203-869-1515.

-

Originally posted here:
The Dish: NFL alumni get ready for big party