Monet cultivated his gardens as a continual source of renewal and inspiration, choosing plantings as carefully as he chose the colours of his palette. Dr. Debra Mancoff, Adjunct Professor of Art History, Theory and Criticism, Art Institute of Chicargo, explores Monet's dual identity as gardener and as painter and how these two roles intertwined in his pursuit of his artistic vision: a lifelong reverie on the integral relationship of nature and art.

After the lecture, enjoy a glass of wine and visit the exhibition in The Sackler Wing.

Meet: 6.30pm prompt Royal Academy Reynolds Room

Cost: £25 (lecture, wine & exhibition entry)

As you know, we try to source intersting, fashionably ‘now’ venues for our regular club drinks parties. This month we are going to be at Eight Club in the heart of the City - one of London’s newest and smartest private members clubs.

www.eightclub.co.uk

You and your friends are invited to join us from 6.30pm onwards for drinks and nibbles.

Cost: members £25 (welcome drink and tapas). Non-members £35

Members of the EEC have been invited by The Button Club to its next big party - The Fall of Rome, at Beauberry House in Dulwich.

The Fall of Rome is a celebration of Ancient Rome. The empire has fallen into the hands of barbarians. Brave Romans have taken solace in Dulwicheum Capitoleum for one last time to indulge in the pleasures of love and life, feast on the nectars of mother Earth and forget about the worries of what is to become of them when the new day dawns.

The Fall of Rome is a night to be decadent,
daring and greedy. Think Julius Ceasar, Roman centurions, gladiators, beautiful and manipulative women, power games and seduction.

8pm - 9.30pm Welcome drinks accompanied by harps, flutes and bongos.

9pm - 11pm Lavish feast in Ancient Roman style of spit roast, grill, sides and salads, cheeses and delicatessen, fruits, chocolates and sweets, accompanied by Roman wine.

Pleasurable activities on 3 terraces, 4 bars, gazebos and gardens.

DJ Ebe, musicians, fire dancers, living statues, temple dancers and gladiators.

Chariots at 5am.

While a representative from the EEC will not be there, we hope you and your friends will go along to this fabulous event.

For more information and to book tickets visit: http://www.thebuttonclub.com

Guiseppi Verdi's Nabucco
Sung in Italian with English surtitles

Set amid the immense historical context of the conquests of Nabucco Nebuchadnezzar, Verdi's masterpiece is given heart by the very human story of love and jealousy between daughters Fenena and Abigaille (one of opera's greatest schemers). Verdi's epic settings and intimate subtexts make for a gripping and spectacular evening of drama, enhanced by the wonderful surroundings of Opera Holland Park.

Conductor
Brad Cohen Director: John Fulljames Designer: Yannis Thavoris

Nabucco
David Wakeman Abigaille: Elena Baramova Fenena: Kristina Hammarström

Last year this was a hugely popular sell-out event so early booking is advised.

7.00pm for champagne & canapes
7.30pm curtain up
Interval picnic with wine

Cost: £95 (best seats, programme & all refreshments)

#There is only one way to experience Royal Ascot and that is in the Royal Enclosure, and for those in the know, Tuesday is always the most popular day.

We will organise transport, and a champagne luncheon. You will need to apply to Her Majesty's Representative in January for entry to the Royal Enclosure. If you have never been before we will act as your sponsor but please call the office for full details about how to register.

Cost: Royal Enclosure badge £78. Transport and luncheon tbc - approx £135

The debate will take place at:
Royal Geographical Society
1 Kensington Gore
London
SW7 2AR

Speakers for the motion:
Toby Young Co-founder of The Modern Review (motto: "low culture for highbrows"), drama critic for the Spectator and co-author with Lloyd Evans of the sex farce Who's the Daddy? about the scandals which beset that magazine. Author of How to Lose Friends and Alienate People and The Sound of No Hands Clapping, memoirs of his failed efforts to make it in Manhattan and Hollywood respectively.

Peter Bazalgette Chairman of Endemol UK who introduced Big Brother to British TV. Pioneer of reality TV shows such as Ready Steady Cook, Changing Rooms and Ground Force.

Tim Gardam Principal of St Anne's College, Oxford. Prior to this he was Director of Television and Director of Programmes at Channel 4 for five years, from November 1998 to November 2003. He was Controller of News and Documentaries at Channel Five where he was a founding member of the editorial team (1996–1998). He began his career as a journalist at the BBC from 1977 to 1996, during which time he founded the history programme Timewatch and served as Editor of Panorama and of Newsnight. Between 1993 and 1996 Tim Gardam was Head of Current Affairs for BBC television and radio.

Speakers against the motion:
Howard Jacobson Distinguished novelist, critic and broadcaster. He writes a weekly column in the Independent.

Lloyd Evans Freelance journalist and scriptwriter. Drama critic for the Spectator and occasional feature writer for the Evening Standard and the Mail on Sunday. He has collaborated with Toby Young on various projects, notably the satirical play Who's The Daddy? which won the WhatsOnStage award for Best New Comedy in 2005.

Remaining speaker to be announced

The debate will be chaired by Peter York Peter York is a social commentator and management consultant. Peter Wallis was co-founder of the influential management consultancy SRU with Lord Stevenson (now Chairman of Pearson Plc, Halifax plc and The Appointments Commission). He is also well-known as Peter York, the writer, author and broadcaster on social styles and trends. He is a columnist for The Independent on Sunday, Manageme

Meet: 6.30 for 6.40pm start

Cost: £30
N.B. Priority will be given to those booking both the debate & the post-debate supper at Hugo's. Please book separately

Our favourite post debate haunt - delicious organic food & wine in simple surroundings.

Cost: £40

FIFTY, situated in the heart of Mayfair is London's most exclusive private members' club. We are therefore delighted to offer EEC members the rare opportunity to enjoy the FIFTY experience.

We dine in the superb restaurant V, which is all about worldly good taste, sophistication, exemplary produce and exacting standards. Fifty's executive chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten is the celebrated master and pioneer of contemporary fusion cooking so you can expect an incredible menu encompassing cuisine's from around the globe.

The bar area where we meet for pre-dinner drinks has an elegance all of its own, from the leather and stone bar-top, to the antique mirror panels and rosewood frames.

After dinner we descend to "Fifty Below", the basement nightclub specially created for Fifty's elite membership. This cool space, designed by Jeffrey Beers and operated by Marc Merran the talented, trendsetting social engineer behind such London clubs as Aura and Chinawhite is perfect for late-night relaxing and dancing.

This special evening is restricted to 5 ladies and 5 gentlemen so early booking is advisable.

Meet: 8.00pm

Cost: £25 entrance
Dinner and drinks to be paid for on the night (dinner approx £85)