By Erin Edwards
Special to the Reporter

For the 79th year, the biggest stars in Hollywood made their annual promenade down the red carpet, past the popping flashes of excited paparazzi and anxious reporters and television crews, where the most popular question is, "Who are you wearing?"

Three thousand miles from Hollywood Boulevard where the air was 30 degrees cooler, the glitz and glamour of last night's Academy Awards made a pit stop on "the Avenue," at Talbot Ave.'s Ashmont Grill.

The event was fit for a star. A red carpet leading to the front door of the Ashmont Grill was complete with the fashion critics Joan Rivers and Simon Cowell &endash; a.k.a. Christina Keefe and Larry Getting of Ashmont Hill &endash; and local professional photographer, Mike Ritter.

Upon entering the restaurant guests met the greeting "Welcome to the Oscars!" The restaurant was decorated with movie posters from the night's nominees. The winner for best picture and local favorite, The Departed, was among the many posters that hung from the ceilings and were plastered to walls and windows of the restaurant.

The event, "Oscars on the Avenue," was organized by St. Mark's Area Main Street (SMAMS), a non-profit corporation that helps coordinate Dorchester Avenue businesses. The event was a fundraiser for SMAMS as well as an attempt to bring people in the community together.

"We are raising money for our neighborhood to revitalizethe business industry," said Bill Richard, President of the board of directors for SMAMS.

Guests in red carpet attire sipped cocktails named after Oscar nominees, such as "the Jennifer Hudson," and were served fancy hors d'oeuvres as the Oscars played on two LCD screens. There was also an auction with such items as the Robert Wahlberg-signed working copy of the Departed script, which sold for $500. Wahlberg, brother of Oscar-nominated actor Mark Wahlberg and played a small role himself an FBI agent in the film, made an appearance at the Oscar party.

"This is a black tie event and you never know what the turn out will be, but I am very impressed," said Richard of the large turnout. We [SMAMS] feel more confident putting forth money for an event like this because I know they[the neighborhood] will come out and support it."

Judy Raup, an Ashmont resident, who came to Sunday's party wearing an outfit she says was inspired by Barbara Streisand's character, Fanny Brice, in the 1968 film Funny Girl was happy to attend the party although it was out of the ordinary for her.

"It was a tough decision, because I like to sit home and watch the Oscars, but [SMAMS] has been really busy and I wanted to be a part of it and make it a success," said Raup.

Rachel Schwolow, manager of the Ashmont Grill and a resident of South Boston was impressed by the large turnout for Sunday night's event.

"I think it's beautiful and nice to be able to celebrate and give back to a good cause," said Schwolow. "All of these people are really committed [to the neighborhood]."