Portland jeweler Stephani Briggs will be in New York this weekend, showing a necklace she recently completed featuring 18- and 22-karat gold and natural Mississippi River pearls.

The necklace will be auctioned at a charity event that is part of the exclusive Explorers Club Banquet at the Waldorf-Astoria. Briggs said the value of the necklace is estimated at $14,000.

Two years ago at the Explorers Club event, a piece of hers sold for $12,000 at auction.

Briggs is a 1981 graduate of Maine College of Art.

The theme of this year's banquet is "The Balancing Act: Exploring Biodiversity." Briggs' necklace features pearls that come from mollusks threatened by eco-degradation. The pearls she used in her necklace were purchased from an old collection harvested with sustainable yields, she said.

The necklace was commissioned by New Jersey philanthropist Susan Babson. "She is one of my best customers, and also a conservationist. She suggested I make a piece for the Explorers Club to help them raise money for scientific research," Briggs said.

All sales from the auction will benefit the Explorers Club.

In the "Further Evidence the Economy Stinks" category, I give you PORTopera.

The Portland opera company, which for 14 years has presented first-rate opera productions once a summer at Merrill Auditorium, is scaling back this year, fearful of being engulfed by the economic swoon.

Instead of two fully-staged performances of "Don Pasquale," PORTopera will present a single grand concert, with full orchestra, singers from past productions and Robert Moody at the podium, on July 30 at Merrill.

Don Head, PORTopera board president, said the decision to scale back has everything to do with money. The opera company does not want to face the prospects of trying to sell tickets to two performances. By doing a single concert instead of a two fully-staged productions, the company saves money on production costs, salaries and other expenses.

"As we anticipate continuing financial uncertainty, we are eliminating the risk a full opera production poses, replacing it with an alternative event that celebrates our 15 years of producing world-class opera for audiences in Maine," Head said in a statement.

He also said the company would return in 2010 with a fully-staged opera. "We will not lose track of our mission: to present great operatic masterpieces in Maine."

Maine painter Mary Brooking brings this sad news: On March 8 in the late afternoon, someone stole one of her paintings from the Frog & Turtle restaurant in Westbrook.

The title of the painting is "Startle Blue." It is a soft landscape, in blue and earth tones, showing a marsh, water and mountains. Its title is written on the back, along with Brooking's full signature and the year, 2008. Brooking's small signature ("m-a-r-y" in a square) is in the lower right corner of the painting.

She writes, "If anyone approaches you about buying this painting, please act interested enough to get the contact information, or, if you see it in someone's house, please contact either me or Detective Steve Crocker of the Westbrook Police at scrocker@westbrook.me.us."

The Ogunquit Museum of American Art has a new director, at least for the time being.

The museum's board of directors have announced that Ron Crusan will take over as interim director.

Crusan has more than 20 years of arts management experience. He comes to Ogunquit from the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London, Conn., where he worked as executive director and chief curator. Before that, he spent six years as executive director and curator at the Danforth Museum in Framingham, Mass.

He had this to say about coming to Ogunquit: "It is an honor to join the museum at this momentous time in its long history. The museum is well-respected in the museum community for its important permanent collection, its beauty and its historical connection to the Ogunquit art colony. We have an important role to play nationally relative to Maine art and the Ogunquit art colony, but equally important is our mission to bring the very best in American art to the local communities we serve. It's an exciting time, and I am pleased to be a part of achieving that mission."

The museum opens its 56th season on July 1.

In February, 17,839 people attended the Portland Museum of Art, eclipsing the previous attendance record for the month.

In February 2000, 17,519 people showed up to see an Ansel Adams photography show. This February, the major exhibition was "Backstage Pass: Rock & Roll Photography." It remains on view through March 22.

"It's been more an event than an exhibition," said the museum's chief curator, Thomas Denenberg.

During the First Friday Art Walk on Feb. 6, almost 3,500 attended the exhibition.

"We just don't get density like that in our public buildings in Maine. It's like being in Heathrow Airport in London or Grand Central terminal in New York. It's very unusual, and a different kind of feel," Denenberg said.

"Says You," the popular syndicated radio show, returns to Camden on March 28-29.

Led by Richard Sher, "Says You" is broadcast on 130 public radio stations. Audience members will be present for two live tapings, which will air at a later date. The taping begins at 7 p.m. March 28 and 1:30 p.m. March 29. Reserved tickets cost $25, or $20 for members of Maine Public Broadcasting Network.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 470-7066, or at www.camdenoperahouse.com. For information, visit the Opera House's site or www.saysyou.org.