Richard Ridge, host of Broadway Beat for 20 years, spoke at Bradshaw Smith's memorial.

Speaking at yesterday's memorial for the award-winning cabaret singer, producer and videographer Bradshaw Smith, actor and ventriloquist Todd Stockman announced to the somber crowd, “I have a surprise for you.” Bending down, he pulled a fire-haired puppet from a small black bag, a puppet he hasn’t performed with for 15 years. “Are Bradshaw and John in heaven?” the puppet asked Mr. Stockman, referring to Mr. Smith’s partner John Scoullar, who passed in March 2011. “Because I can smell the marijuana all the way down here.”

Mr. Smith, who died in January from a sudden stroke, began his career as a cabaret artist, winning the 1987 MAC Award for Best Male Vocalist and the 1985 Backstage Bistro Award. In 1885, Mr. Smith went behind the camera and began the cable television show, Cabaret Beat, which eventually morphed into Broadway Beat. The show featured over 1,000 Broadway and cabaret performances, interviews with artists, opening and award ceremonies and other theatre events.

Though a memorial, Monday night’s performances at the Pershing Square Signature Center were not all filled with tears and painful goodbyes. “Bradshaw always told me, ‘Don’t sing sad songs, life is sad enough,’" Mr. Stockman said. Thus, the group of cabaret singers, Broadway actors and lifelong friends of the deceased performer tried their best to remember Mr. Smith with smiles.

Jamie deRoy, a singer and comedian, laughed and shook her head as she recalled the time Mr. Smith recorded one of her performances over a porno tape. “Bradshaw, I will miss you so,” she exclaimed, blowing a kiss upward.

She credited Mr. Smith for the success of her own cable television show, Jamie deRoy and Friends, her solo venture after co-hosting Cabaret Beat with Sydney Myer, who also spoke at the memorial.

“When we did my cable TV show, we would sit in his room and edit. Those were some of my favorite moments. The tape is rolling, and we’re just bearing our souls,” she told The Observer after the ceremony. “Sometimes it was him bitching about something, but he was a softie, really.”

Cabaret singer Linda Harris listed the things she would miss sharing with Mr. Smith: dinners at the Westway, DVDs of True Blood and his famous tuna pasta salad. Other speakers fondly remembered his cat, Butch, who relaxed on the equipment while Mr. Smith and his guests edited videos. Nearly everyone who performed commented on his generosity, crediting Mr. Smith for their careers.

“He was like the best friend who told you what nobody else would tell you,” singer and songwriter Meg Flather told The Observer. Cabaret performer Karen Mason said he would give her the best beauty advice. “He was always very conscious, if I was in one of those gala lines, making sure I looked good,” she told The Observer, laughing. “It’s really good, to have somebody in your face who’s lovingly saying, ‘Karen, put on a little lipstick.’”

Other friends remembered Mr. Smith with clever musical numbers. Theatre star Lee Roy Reams donned a red feather boa to perform the suggestive “La Cage Aux Folles” from the musical with the same name. “It takes a man to wear a boa like this!” he bellowed as his performance began, claiming the song was one of Mr. Smith’s favorites. Comedian Mario Cantone performed a parody of the theme song from Twilight of the Golds, singing, “His head could be shaped like a perfect balloon. But what if he’s gay in the womb?” Dan Daly, who lived near Mr. Smith and his partner at their Grove Manor home in Fire Island, sang a hand-written song about a broken-hearted man and his prince. “I hope I can make it through this,” he said somberly before the performance.

Susie Mosher, one of Mr. Smith’s neighbors, also performed at the memorial. “His spirit was so generous. It’s almost shocking. It’s almost archaic. I mean, who’s like that anymore?” Ms. Mosher told The Observer after the memorial, recalling late nights spent talking in Mr. Smith’s apartment. “He made me feel so taken care of. He was such a daddy.”

She was home the night Mr. Smith has his stroke. “My partner, Hope, was over at his apartment, editing with him, editing a brand new beginning for Broadway Beat. We’d finally convinced him, after 20 years, to put ‘Bradshaw Smith Presents Broadway Beat,’” Ms. Mosher said.

Mr. Myer, who co-hosted Cabaret Beat, remembered meeting Mr. Smith at the cabaret club Panache in 1981. “He was wonderful, larger than life,” he told the crowd. “He was to cabaret like what MTV was to rock-and roll… Bradshaw’s visionary videography has made it possible for many cabaret performers to live forever.”

The evening also featured presentations from Steven Skeels, Jerad Bortz, Jeff Harnar, Julie Halston and Richard Ridge and two slideshows depicting Mr. Smith’s life in pictures and in clips from his videography and cabaret careers.

Looking around the memorial, Ms. Flather smiled, commenting, “This is elegant and perfectly Bradshaw.”

Brent Barbour. (Photo by flickr.com/imonfort)

Twelve years ago, Brendt Barbur was happily riding his bicycle through the streets of New York City when one oblivious driver doored the hapless biker, throwing him into the path of an oncoming bus. “I saw the light,” Mr. Barbur said, quickly adding, "just kidding.” While he was able to walk away from the accident with limbs in tact, it inspired him to found the Bicycle Film Festival (adorably acronymed BFF) to “do something positive for bikes,” he said. Since its 2001 founding, the festival has traveled to over 30 cities around the world, including Moscow, Sydney, Paris, San Francisco and, of course, New York. This weekend BFF is back for the 12th annual Bicycle Film Festival NYC, and before the credits roll tonight at Anthology Film Archives, Mr. Barbur sat down with The Observer to talk about snooty bikers, lemonade massages and Meryl Streep’s secret biking fetish.

What’s the best bicycle scene in a big time movie?

One of the most tragic scenes is when the son in Bicycle Thieves sees his father get caught stealing another bike. And I really like Large Marge in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure--when the guy at the diner is telling the story about Large Marge. That was just funny. But there aren't too many Hollywood movies [about bicycles]. I guess there’s Quicksilver. The messengers are doing tricks on their bikes.

Who is your favorite New York bike celebrity?

I don’t know her at all, but I heard Lucy Liu was riding a bike. She’s just cute. I also heard that Meryl Streep was. Oh my god. I’m not supposed to say that … I don’t think Meryl Streep wants people to know she rides bikes. I know that Cindy Sherman’s riding bikes. I like her. I’ve named all women so far, haven’t I? My favorite really is Blonde Redhead. I don’t know if they’re celebrity or an unknown band.  Oh! Matthew Modine--my only celebrity friend is Matthew Modine.

What do you think of Mayor Bloomberg’s new bike-share program?

I’ve used the one’s in Paris and Montreal and London, and I think it’s great that people are talking about bikes.

What’s your favorite bike route in New York City?

I do really enjoy going over the Williamsburg Bridge. The view is nice and the hill.

What is the most ridiculous New York biker habit?

I think it’s really funny how new bikers are kind of snooty toward other bikers. You can tell they’re new bikers. Bicycle etiquette is very funny.

One film in the festival this year, Line of Sight, has gotten some flack for the crazy stunts it features. What is the wildest bicycle stunt that you’ve ever done?

At the Bicycle Film Festival, I had to jump on a BMX in front of hundreds of people, and I hadn't done that since I was a kid. I’ve done a lot more wild things. I mean, I’ve ridden all over the world. I think I’ve ridden with three people on my bike before. Well, two people, three including myself. Someone on the handlebars and then someone with their feet on the bolts on the back wheel.

After a really long bike ride, what’s your favorite thing to do to relax?

I like to get a massage. The pros, they get massages before and after races. And maybe some lemonade. A lemonade massage. On our roof garden. You should see our roof garden. It’s a beautiful roof. So, a massage and lemonade on my roof garden.

Ukuleles in McCarren Park
Name: Rick Bruner
Age: 47
Occupation: Market research
What are New York ukulele players like?
"A lot of us know each other here. It's a small community. We're an unpretentious group as far as musicians go."
How do you choose what songs to play?
"The mark of a great song is if it can be covered on a ukulele."

Percussion in Soho Square
Name: Mika Godbole
Age: 32
Occupation: Musician (percussionist)
Is it hard to keep time in the experimental piece you’re playing today, Frederic Rzewski's “Les Moutons de Panurge”?
“It looks easy, but it’s harder than you think. You really have to concentrate, and when you’re in the moment, you’re like, ‘Oh my god. Oh my god.’ The instructions are that if you get lost to stay lost. So you hear people zooming by you, and you’re like, ‘Wait I’m not with them, but I’m with them. But wait. Wait. No!’ You’re trying to catch up, but you can’t. So it’s this really cool experience. It’s my first time. So I guess I’m like a ‘Mouton’ virgin.”

Guitars in Union Square
Name: Damon Shelton
Age: 31
Occupation: Audio engineer; has been playing guitar for almost three years
How do you feel when you play guitar?
"Playing guitar is relaxing. I mean, it's time consuming, but in a good way. It's mainly relaxing. As you can see, music is the universal language. Look at all of the different people here. You don't even have to speak English to enjoy it."

Guitars in Union Square
Name: Irina Hernandez
Age: 16
Occupation: Student; guitar player in a band called Silentium (as of four days ago!)
Why did you choose to pick up the guitar?
"I love everything about guitar, especially the creativity you can exude. I wanna be the next Jason Becker [a metal guitarist], but more than that I just want everyone to play music. It brings a feeling in you that you can't feel anywhere else."

Bagpipes in Herald Square
Name: Don Ross
Affiliation: Performs with his group, the New York Scottish, and has been playing the bagpipes for 20 years
What’s it like to be in a bagpipe band?
“It’s fun. We have a variety of Scottish and Irish tunes and a few other kinds of tunes."
How are you coping with this weather?
“I’m just letting the breeze blow up my kilt.”

From left to right: Tracy Wolfson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Billie Jean King, Summer Sanders and Cheyenne Woods. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Coca-Cola)

As Billie Jean King walked onto the stage at Monday night’s celebration of the 40th anniversary of Title IX, the 68-year-old retired tennis star fist-bumped former track-and-field Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

Ms. King and Ms. Joyner-Kersee joined the retired swimmer and sports commentator Summer Sanders and the golfer Cheyenne Woods, Tiger’s niece, at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for the premiere of the NCAA’s documentary, Sporting Chance. The film focuses on the history and success of Title IX, a 1972 act that made gender discrimination in educational programs, including sports, illegal. The four women also participated in a panel discussion hosted by Tracy Wolfson of CBS Sports.

As she rushed off to prepare for the panel, The Observer caught up with Ms. King who told us about her experience going to college prior to the passing of Title IX. Ms. King went to California State University in L.A. because other schools were too expensive without financial aid.

“About 30 miles away, Arthur Ashe had a full scholarship to UCLA … and Stan Smith, who became number one, also had a full ride to USC. They’re my fellow players, same age. But because they’re a guy, they can get full scholarship. And because I was a girl, because of my gender, I couldn’t get a scholarship or get federal financial assistance,” she said.

Ms. King was in England for Wimbledon in June 1972 when she heard that the amendment had been passed. “I was ecstatic,” she said. “I was absolutely thrilled.” One year later, Ms. King showed everyone how to hit like a girl when she defeated tennis champion Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes.”

“The reason I wanted to win that match so badly was to start getting the hearts and minds of people to match up with Title IX. My match with Bobby Riggs was about social change. It wasn’t about a tennis match,” she said. But, you know, defeating the former number one tennis player in the world wasn’t so bad either.

Ms. Joyner-Kersee was a bit younger when the act was passed. In order to participate in sports, she initially had to join the cheerleading squad because her school did not offer track-and-field for girls. When her school began to open sports up to women, they had to practice late at night after the male teams were done with the gym.

“I got into track-and-field because I wasn’t good, and I really wanted to be good,” she said, leaving The Observer to ponder this three-time Olympic medalist’s definition of “good.”

She also emphasized the importance of educating the younger generation about Title IX through the documentary.

“It’s one thing you can bask in the glory, but also you have go to understand the struggles, the ups and downs that Title IX has gone through,” she said.

Talking about basking in the glory, the other two honored guests of the evening have had the opportunity to appreciate their older counterpart’s work in implementing Title IX. “There was never a question, and I’m so grateful there was never a question whether or not I could compete in college,” Ms. Sanders said.

Ms. Woods, who made her professional debut at the LPGA Championship earlier this month, also said she didn’t have any difficulty breaking into golf or in escaping Uncle Tiger’s shadow. “The pressure with having the last name Woods … is something that I grew up with, so I’m not too thrown off by it,” she said.

The now-retired gymnast Shawn Johnson, WNBA star Kim Hampton and president of the NCAA Dr. Mark Emmert also attended the premiere. The centerpiece of the evening, Sporting Chance, was sweet and inspirational, á la Remember the Titans, and sort of makes you want to take a stand against something. The Observer was thinking of fighting for the rare free food at our office. Maybe Coca-Cola would make a documentary about that, too.

Sarah Reinertsen and Aviva Drescher. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

If you throw chocolate milk martinis, real housewives and world-renowned athletes into the Waldorf Astoria’s Grand Ballroom, what do you get? Besides having quite a story to tell friends, you would find yourself amidst the sixth annual, “Heroes, Heart and Hope” Gala, sponsored by the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Wednesday night’s festivities brought together amputee athletes of all ages to raise money for prosthetic running legs and other special equipment.

Sarah Reinertsen, the first female leg amputee to complete an Ironman, said her prosthetic running leg cost $36,000 and was not covered by insurance. One of the most popular guests of the evening, Ms. Reinertsen unveiled her new “Got Chocolate Milk?” ad at the fundraiser. “I’ve actually been drinking chocolate milk for years,” she said. “A triathlete boyfriend of mine—well, ex-boyfriend—used chocolate milk in his recovery.”

Down the Silver Corridor, The Observer met up with Aviva Drescher, a Real Housewife of NYC and a below-the-knee amputee, as she spoke with a young woman about her self-esteem issues growing up. “I try very hard not to worry about the eyes gazing on my leg and on me or on anything,” Ms. Drescher said. She applauded her young admirer for wearing a short dress, saying that as a young girl, she often felt uncomfortable exposing her leg.

Now, working with C.A.F., Ms. Drescher enjoys, “helping women getting adjusted to being new amputees,” she said. “Own it and be proud because differences are what make you special.”

Despite being much more comfortable with her disability, she said she has encountered some difficulties when filming for the The Real Housewives of New York City.

“There has been some insensitivity by some of my cast mates surrounding issues that are related to my limb loss,” she said. (Did you hear that? There’s drama in Manhattan.)

Many recipients of the foundation’s generosity, including U.S. Army Major Daniel Gade, Scout Bassett and Jim Cuevas, also appeared to feast on delicious specialties from the Waldorf’s famous kitchen and to talk with aspiring athletes. Major Gade lost his leg while serving in Iraq and said the C.A.F helped him get back to being “somebody with a physical goal and a physical passion.”

Despite his difficulties, he has remained positive about his disability. “I think everybody has disabilities of some kind. The difference between being somebody with a different kind of disability is I can see my baggage,” he said. “I know what my baggage is. But other people can’t see theirs. So in that sense, it’s kind of a blessing.”

Ms. Bassett received a prosthetic running leg from the foundation at the age of 14 and has since become a three-time silver medalist at the above-the-knee physically challenged division at the ITU World Triathlon Championships. “I think it’s really important to provide an opportunity for young kids to know right away what’s possible for their future and that they can be competitive in athletics,” she said.

Mr. Cuevas was recruited to join his school’s wheelchair track team while going home from school with his mother one day. “My mom, she wasn’t used to people approaching her. She thought that he was going to sell her something. So she told us, ‘Just keep walking. Don’t worry about it,’” he laughed, recalling the experience.

Bob Babbit, the founder of C.A.F, said he hoped to raise more than $1.5 million at the gala, beating last year’s amount. To raise the funds, the foundation held a silent and live auction for such items as a Harley Davidson motorcycle and entry to the Ironman World Championships.

Roosevelt Credit, Rita Harvey, Brigid Brady and Natalie Toro perform "Seasons of Love" from Rent with students from the Computer School.

“I think they heard him in New Jersey,” joked Stacia Teele, the emcee at Monday’s fifth annual “Night of Stars.” Broadway actor Roosevelt Credit’s impossibly loud voice had just reverberating through the halls of the Upper West Side's Computer School, a small public school with a curricular focus on technology, during a star-studded musical event to benefit their music programs.

After a “jazz mocktail hour,” during which the school’s small band played numbers by Count Basie and the Beatles, Mr. Credit and five other Broadway stars took the stage to perform a series of solos and duets.

Rita Harvey, who has starred in Broadway renditions of Fiddler on the Roof and Phantom of the Opera, wowed with performances of “Think of Me” and “For Good,” the latter in a duet with Dee Roscioli, who is the longest-performing Elphaba in North America. Ms. Harvey also performed at last year’s event, and said she initially got involved because she is close with some parents of children that attend the school. “We all feel strongly that we should keep music a part of our schools,” she said.

Ms. Roscioli, who later belted another tune from Wicked, “The Wizard and I,” traveled all the way from Pennsylvania, where she is in final rehearsals for the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s upcoming rendition of Sweeney Todd. She is not the only actor to go out of the way to perform at the event. Juliette Trafton had to rush away after flawlessly performing “Imagine My Surprise,” “Bill” and “On My Own” to star as Luisa in the Fantasticks.

Brigid Brady and Natalie Toro also performed at the event. Ms. Toro’s performance of “I Dreamed a Dream” was probably one of the most arresting moments of the night, and she inspired fits of giggles from the audience as she sang lines complaining about Britney Spears in her version of Spamalot’s “Diva’s Lament (Whatever Happened to My Part?).”

Mr. Credit performed only one night after winning a Tony for Best Revival of a Musical as a cast member of Porgy and Bess, an award he said the cast was not expecting to win. “It looked very serious, like we weren’t going to get it, because of the way things were falling,” he said.

But fate favored the talented cast Sunday night. “Oh my gosh, it was amazing,” he said. His cheerful demeanor carried over to his performance last night. Between booming laughs, Mr. Credit enticed the school’s principal, Henry Zymeck, onto the stage and proceeded to sing “Your Feet’s Too Big” from Ain’t Misbehavin’ much to the audience’s delight. Later in the night, Mr. Zymeck took the stage of his own volition to perform “Let It Be.”

While many of the children in the audience may have not recognized the names of each of the performers, they certainly appreciated their impeccable talent. The exuberant audience awarded many of the acts with standing ovations, including the final number, where the Broadway beloveds performed Rent’s “Seasons of Love” alongside a group of middle schoolers who hope to join the school’s chorus when it officially forms next year.

These young performers, along with those in the small jazz band, were the real stars of the evening. The music program began around 6 years ago with only 10 or so participants, said Sara Sloves, the music program administrator. Now, the after-school program hosts between 30 and 40 young musicians.

“We want to encourage them to grow as artists,” Ms. Teele said during the event. “Someday, they’re going to be playing in amazing theatres all over the world.”