It’s ‘Valerie Wilson’s World’ at the Jefferson
• February 23, 2012

The Book Room of The Jefferson hotel was the ideal setting to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Valerie Wilson Travel and for the author to introduce her latest travel book “Valerie Wilson’s World: The Top Hotels & Resorts, Second Edition” at a Feb. 15 cocktail reception. Dubbed a “power broker” in the industry, Travel Weekly ranked her New York-based firm the 29th largest U.S. travel management company. As a heart attack and bypass survivor, Wilson is committed to the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women initiative ,which is receiving a portion of the proceeds from book sales. [gallery ids="100506,118292,118287,118275,118281" nav="thumbs"]

Maslenitsa at the Russian Embassy
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Maslenitsa, Orthodox Mardi Gras, was celebrated on Feb. 17 as The Ambassador of the Russian Federation and Mrs. Sergey Kislyak welcomed guests with bliny and other traditional Russian fare. Vladimir Tolstoy was Honorary Chair of the evening, which benefits the mission to help the neediest of the Russian Orthodox Cathedrals of Saint Nicholas and St. John the Baptist. The evening with entertainment by the Samovar Russian Folk Ensemble and dancing to Four Season Dance Group included a silent auction, raffle and great support for preserving ethnic ties and national traditions. [gallery ids="100512,118823,118817,118804,118813" nav="thumbs"]

P Street Pictures on O Celebrates Its Relocation with a Proclamation
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After many years on the east side of town, it was a true celebration on Feb. 9, as Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans attended the grand reopening of P Street Pictures on O. Loyal customers delighted in the new space. Evans, calling himself “a big patron,” read a unanimously passed ceremonial resolution honoring “a Georgetown institution” by declaring Feb. 9 “P Street Pictures day in the District of Columbia.” He queried where the proclamation might be framed as Judy Schlosser basked in the company of her husband Larry Enten and their son Michael, who had come down from Brooklyn for the occasion. [gallery ids="100502,118164,118147,118160,118155" nav="thumbs"]

Wacky, Whimsical Tea for THEARC
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It was a Willy Wonka world as families enjoyed child-oriented festivities and high tea at the Four Seasons Hotel Feb. 12 to honor the success of THEARC, Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus, which provides cultural, educational, health and social services to underserved children and families in Southeast Washington. Eleven nonprofit organizations participate, including the Levine School of Music, the Corcoran Gallery and the Washington Ballet. Eun Yang of NBC-4 Washington was honorary chair and Bank of Georgetown lead sponsor. [gallery ids="100503,118209,118201,118194,118187,118178,118225,118170,118232,118237,118161,118244,118218" nav="thumbs"]

Choral Arts Holiday Magic
• February 8, 2012

This Legacy Season concludes Norman Scribner’s tenure as Artistic Director of the Choral Arts Society of Washington, which he founded in 1965. The Ambassador of the Russian Federation and Mrs. Sergey Kislyak were honorary patrons of the Annual Christmas Concerts, opening their residence for a Dec. 15 reception. “Holiday Treasures from Russia” featured Choral Arts’ 160-strong symphonic chorus accompanied by the Ural Philharmonic Orchestra under the artistic direction of Dmitry Liss and Russian mezzo soprano Irina Shishkova. Avid supporter and current Choral Arts chorister Kandy Stroud was honorary chair with her daughter Brooke Stroud Carnot and husband Stephane serving as benefit co-chairs for the 31st Annual Holiday Concert and Benefit in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Dec. 19. The sellout crowd enjoyed a post-performance reception, silent auction, dinner and dancing at the Roof Terrace. The evening’s proceeds help support Choral Arts’ annual season of concerts as well as its educational and community programs. [gallery ids="100461,115629,115601,115499,115573,115545" nav="thumbs"]

Institute for Education Celebrates
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Belgian Ambassador Jan Matthysen and Mrs. Matthysen recently celebrated the 20th season of the Institute for Education’s Public Policy Roundtable (INFO) at their residence. Two hundred past INFO speakers, more than 20 ambassadors, several senators, representatives and Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer heralded 20 years of civility, collaboration and problem solving. IFE and INFO Founder Coach Kathy Kemper reflected on how INFO led the way for more “spin-off” roundtables on the forefront of issues facing the capital city, our nation and the world. Ambassador Matthysen presented Ina Ginsburg with the 2011 IFE International Diplomacy Award for her efforts to promote civility and collaboration between D.C. and world leaders. Her acceptance remarks in three languages captured the global spirit of the event. [gallery ids="100462,115602,115575,115548" nav="thumbs"]

Elisir Cocktail Primary
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With a tongue-in-cheek invitation to “vote once, drink often,” Janet Donovan gathered media pals at chef Enzo Fargione’s newly opened and already much acclaimed Elisir restaurant in the Penn Quarter Jan. 4 to rehash the Iowa caucuses. Mixologist Stephen Oshana had prepared a special cocktail primary “Libation Without Representation” menu of politically incorrect cocktails, encouraging imbibers to vote for a favorite GOP candidate in a cocktail straw poll with no political certainty. Selections included “Uh, The Uh, Um, Um …” which featured clove infused cognac and orange foam and “New Hampshire Or Bust” with vodka peach blossom tea and pomegranate liqueur.” This is reason enough to get out the vote. [gallery ids="100463,115630,115604,115578,115552" nav="thumbs"]

Embassy of Turkey Hosts The Ertegun Jazz Series
• January 4, 2012

The presence of so many ambassadors at the Turkish Ambassador’s residence on Dec. 6 for The Ertegun Jazz Series was assurance that jazz is an international language. The Embassy of Turkey is presenting the series in collaboration with Jazz At Lincoln Center in memory of Ahmet Ertegun, the founder and chairman of Atlantic Records and the son of the second Turkish ambassador to the United States. Ambassador Tan welcomed guests calling Mica Ertegun, who came from New York for the evening, “our princess,” along with Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and other congressmen, “great friends of Turkey.” During the racially segregated period of 1934-1944, the Turkish Embassy was considered a refuge for African Americans as it hosted racially mixed jazz performances. Gretchen Parlato, an inventive modern jazz singer whose work has been hailed as “utterly, unfailingly mesmerizing,” enchanted the audience. She was accompanied by Taylor Eigsti on piano, Justin Brown on drums and Harish Raghavan on bass. [gallery ids="100437,114378,114337,114369,114361,114354,114347" nav="thumbs"]

National Rehabilitation Hospital 25th Anniversary Victor Awards
• December 20, 2011

National Rehabilitation Hospital held the 25th Anniversary Gala Victory Awards at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel on Dec. 1. It was victorious in celebrating individuals who best exemplify exceptional strength and courage in the face of physical adversity. The cocktail reception was followed by a multi-course repast and live auction presided over by Kip Toner of Seattle. The evening’s honorees were Edward A. Eckenhoff, President Emeritus of NRH; entertainer Mickey Gilley, who cautioned “stay off the bull”; Robert David Hall, aka “Dr. Albert Robbins” on CBS TV’s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Kevin Pearce, who suffered a traumatic brain injury while training for the Olympics, and opera diva Marquita Lister, who was treated at NRH for a critical inflammation of the lungs and muscles. One must not omit the equally stellar presenters headed by Dancing with the Stars and All My Children phenomenon J. R. Martinez and including Grammy Award winning singer Yolanda Adams and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. All of the evening’s proceeds will support NRH’s five-year, $25-million fundraising effort to retain medical rehabilitation leadership in the next quarter century.
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The Links, Incorporated Celebrates
• December 8, 2011

The Links, Incorporated, an international nonprofit service organization of professional women of color, recently hosted its 65th Anniversary in Washington, D.C. Events included a rededication and ribbon cutting ceremony of Links’ newly renovated National Headquarters, a state of the art LEED certified building. At a black-tie gala at the Marriott Wardman Park, for the first time the organization’s highest honor was bestowed upon an organization. The Links Medal was presented to Johnson Publishing Company Chairman Linda Johnson Rice on behalf of Ebony magazine. The recipient must have significantly impacted the lives and culture of African-Americans and other persons of African ancestry. Links brings together more than 12,000 distinguished women who are individual achievers and have made a difference in their communities and the world.