Each year we gather with a few hundred of our closest friends to celebrate
James Thurber’s 120th Birthday. Thurber House friends and supporters gathered at The Westin Columbus around for drinks and appetizers, followed by dinner, and of course, birthday cake. Our wonderful host, Wayne Lawson, made sure that the “laughter” portion of our mission was a big part of the evening with his charm and wit. As the role of the host is often to make sure that everyone knows each other, he asked our new Executive Director, Jennifer Gregg, a series of questions to give the crowd an idea of who she is and what she likes (yes, cheesy chips came up… more than once). She also had a surprise for the audience in the form of Golden Tickets that a handful of lucky guests found under their chairs, each of which held a gift certificate to the upcoming series of our 2015 Evenings with Authors.
The evening moved forward with our featured guest, Dan Zevin, the winner of the 2013 Thurber Prize for American Humor. Zevin’s book, Dan Gets A Minivan, Life at the Intersection of Dude and Dad, is the hilarious account of how he discovered and coped with the changes in life that come with being a father. His stories were accompanied by hilarious home movies, and passages from his book.
Last but not least, a party is not a party without gifts! Thanks to the generous contributions from organizations and businesses around the city, many guests took home prizes that ranged from wine, to hand made ceramics, to a great adventure at the Columbus Zoo.
Special thanks also to our corporate sponsors (listed below), The Westin Columbus,
The Ohio Arts Council, GCAC, and The Columbus Foundation!
Crane Group
Friends of The Ohio State University Libraries
Huntington National Bank
Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter
Nationwide
The Office of Student Life at The Ohio State University
Park National Bank
Phi Kappa Psi, In Honor of Norm Spain
PNC Bank
State Auto Insurance
Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease
The Westin
A birthday cake, guests and of course entertainment that had the room laughing the night away, these were the highlights of James Thurber’s 117th birthday celebrated during the annual Gala on December 8 at The Westin Columbus. The featured speaker of the evening was funny man and 2010 Thurber Prize for American Humor, Steve Hely, who wrote the hilarious novel How I Became a Famous Novelist and scripts for shows like The Office and The David Letterman Show. The event was hugely successful and a wonderful evening of reflecting on Thurber’s life and work.
In case you missed it, here are some photos to recap the evening’s events:
Guests mix and mingle before the Gala begins.
Attendees enjoy a fantastic dinner served by The Westin Columbus.
Hely shares a funny Thurber story from his childhood.
Hely and our host, Dr. Wayne P. Lawson, draw the winning raffle tickets.
Hely meets with guests after the event. Thanks for coming to Columbus, Steve!
“I write humor the way a surgeon operates, because it is a livelihood, because I have a great urge to do it, because many interesting challenges are set up, and because I have the hope it may do some good.”
-James Thurber
Steve Hely is the featured guest at this year's Birthday Gala.
Thurber’s writings have certainly withstood the times and continue to inspire laughter and the art of humor writing to this day. On Dec. 8, we’ll be celebrating his 117th birthday by holding our annual Thurber Birthday Gala in his honor at The Westin Columbus from 6-9 p.m. This year’s celebration will feature the 2010 Thurber Prize for American Humor winner, Steve Hely, writer for shows like The Office and The David Letterman Show, and author of How I Became a Famous Novelist.
This is an evening you won’t want to miss out on! Click here to purchase your tickets by Dec. 5 (hurry, there are only a limited amount available!).
In addition to the dinner, we’re holding a raffle with the chance to win one of five prize packages. And there’s something for everyone! Prizes include a script and Season 6 DVD set of The Office signed by the cast (including Steve Carrell!), tickets to The Ohio State sporting events, an assortment of wine, overnight stay at the Westin Columbus, and more!
Purchase your raffle tickets here for the following prize packages:
For the TV Fan
A DVD of Season 6 of The Office and a script, both signed by the cast, including Steve Carrell, and a signed copy of Steve Hely’s Thurber Prize winning book, How I Became a Famous Novelist.
For the Sports Fan
Two tickets to one OSU Men’s basketball game, two Men’s ice hockey games, and two Women’s basketball games.
For the Romantic
An overnight stay at the elegant Westin Columbus plus dinner for two at the hotel’s High Street Grill and drink vouchers at the incomparable Thurber’s Bar.
For the Entertainment Fan
Two tickets to a ProMusica Chamber Orchestra performance (excluding their gala) plus a copy of each of their two new CDs. Two tickets to a performance by BalletMet. Two tickets to a performance by CATCO. Two tickets to a performance by the Jazz Arts Orchestra. Two tickets to any Thurber House Winter/Spring Evenings with Authors event.
For the Art & Wine Lover
A case of assorted wines and a signed and framed print of Thurber House.
Note, you do not need to be present to win.
We hope you’ll join us for this exciting evening of laughter, celebration and fun!
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James Thurber’s 120th Birthday. Thurber House friends and supporters gathered at The Westin Columbus around for drinks and appetizers, followed by dinner, and of course, birthday cake. Our wonderful host, Wayne Lawson, made sure that the “laughter” portion of our mission was a big part of the evening with his charm and wit. As the role of the host is often to make sure that everyone knows each other, he asked our new Executive Director, Jennifer Gregg, a series of questions to give the crowd an idea of who she is and what she likes (yes, cheesy chips came up… more than once). She also had a surprise for the audience in the form of Golden Tickets that a handful of lucky guests found under their chairs, each of which held a gift certificate to the upcoming series of our 2015 Evenings with Authors.
