Chloe Gotsis
City Hall was a who’s who of Newton cultural and business leaders Thursday night as Mayor Setti Warren welcomed diplomats from more than 30 countries to the city.
Warren hosted a reception for consuls general from around the world including Israel, Finland, Columbia, Morocco, and Ecuador, inviting them to taste delicacies from Newton’s restaurants and mingle with Garden City business owners. Warren hosted the event Thursday as an opportunity for the consuls general – many of whom live in Newton and the surrounding area – to experience what the Garden City has to offer.
Thursday’s event, which was sponsored by Newton Community Pride, marked only the second time the entire delegation came together for an event outside of their Boston offices.
“Newton is a beautiful city,” Beatriz Almeida de Stein, consul general of Ecuador and a Newton resident, said. “This is very, very nice to exchange ideas. I had the opportunity to meet business people and be with my colleagues.”
In addition to tasting what Newton has to offer and listening to the sounds from the Suzuki School of Newton, guests glanced at artwork from local artists shown by Newton Open Studios.
Warren said he was pleased to introduce the diplomats to business and cultural leaders and “help promote the vitality of Newton.”
The diplomats munched on food provided by local establishments including Jake’s Falafel Corner – which state Treasurer Steve Grossman said had the best falafel he’s had since a visit to Jerusalem in 1978 – B Street, Bread and Chocolate, Christina’s, O’Hara’s, Tango Mango, Karoun and Blue Ribbon BBQ.
Ruth Barnett, president of Newton Community Prideand vice president of Cambridge Savings Bank, said she and the other organizers of the event — Linda Plaut, director of the Newton Cultural Center, and Megan Costello, the mayor’s director of community relations – aimed to bring an international flavor to the event.
“No one said ‘no’ and no one hesitated” in contributing to the event, Barnett said.
“Combining food with culture, it reminds you of why you moved to Newton – the culture and diversity,” she said.
For many of the consuls general, it was their first time meeting Warren. Pedro Graciano Gomes de Carvalho, the consul general of Cape Verde, told the Newton TAB he was very impressed by the mayor.
“He is a young mayor,” Carvalho said about Warren. “I see that he has a political future.
Carvalho said as a consul general his mission is to develop relationships with business professionals and the event was a great venue for doing so.
Rabbi Y. A. Korff, consul general to Austria, told the Newton TAB that he thinks the event should be annual.
Warren told the crowd that Newton is “a global center.”
Grossman, a Newton resident, praised Warren for his leadership and sense of community.
“The things that bring us all together whether it’s food, faith or family – that is what Setti is all about,” Grossman said.
Staff writer Chloe Gotsis can be reached at 781-433-8333 or at cgotsis
