Neshan Naltchayan • November 21, 2014

The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, founded by Warren Rogers in 1964 in a Capitol Hill townhouse that once belonged to Frederick Douglass, celebrated 50 years Nov. 7 with a star-studded gala. Special guests were Camille and Bill Cosby, who loaned their art collection to the museum for inclusion in the newly opened “Conversations: African and African American Artworks in Dialogue.” Gala honorees were artist Bruce Onobrakpeya and Lydia Puccinelli Robbins of the Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communication. [gallery ids="101926,136160,136164" nav="thumbs"]

Neshan Naltchayan • October 31, 2014

Unlike other fundraisers in D.C., the Go Bo party puts its emphasis on casual attire, fun, laughter, good live music, lots of booze and tries to include the best people that all have a blast under a wedding tent at the 29th Street home of Deb and Ben Johns, held on Sept. 5. This year’s theme was “the Tacky Wedding.”

“People are always fired up to get together after the summer, and this is their first opportunity to re-connect,” said Johns. While in the sixth grade, their son Bo battled cancer. He saw many kids and their families that needed help during his 87 days at Georgetown University Hospital. So, the Johns family created the Go Bo Fund to assist them. Money raised by the party goes straight into the Emergency Family Relief Fund.
[gallery ids="101906,136400,136394,136388,136401" nav="thumbs"]

Neshan Naltchayan • June 5, 2014

Sachiko Kuno and Ryuji Ueno of S&R Foundation hosted the annual Washington Awards Gala May 31 with a stunning unveiling of renovated Halcyon House. The gala wowed the crowd with cocktails, performances, an exciting live auction with Martin Gammon of Bonhams as well as an innovative dinner by CityZen chef Eric Ziebold. Each course was carefully paired with music by the awardees. The 2013 Washington Award Winners are: Michael Djupstrom, grand prize, composer, piano; Tanya Gabriellian, piano; Ryu Goto, violin; Soichi Muraji, guitar; Tim Park, grand prize, cello. There was also a pas de deux from “Swan Lake” by Maki Onuki and Tamas Krizsa. [gallery ids="116424,116393,116414,116385,116401,116419,116409" nav="thumbs"]

Neshan Naltchayan • October 3, 2013

The opening of Opera Ultra Lounge. [gallery ids="99229,103579,103595,103591,103584,103587" nav="thumbs"]

Neshan Naltchayan • May 3, 2012

A reception in honor of Amb. Andrew Young and Mrs. Carolyn Young on the occasion of the dedication
of the martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Aug. 25, 2011 [gallery ids="99230,103596,103589,103593" nav="thumbs"]

Neshan Naltchayan • October 6, 2011

Christine Warnke invited media pals to the City Tavern Club to meet actress Charlotte Ross, best known for roles in NYPD Blue and currently Glee. The actress was in Washington to join The Humane Society of the United States in Congressional briefings. The intent is to seek an end to invasive research on chimpanzees and promote passage of the Great Ape Protection and Costs Savings Act of 2011, which has strong bipartisan support in today’s cost-cutting climate. The United States is the only developed country continuing to confine chimpanzees in laboratories where they are frequently not used in active research but spend long solitary lives. The goal is to save taxpayers approximately $30 million annually by releasing our closest relatives in the animal kingdom to humane sanctuaries. [gallery ids="100319,108085" nav="thumbs"]

Neshan Naltchayan • May 18, 2011

Woodrow Wilson House annual Garden Party on May 11th. [gallery ids="99752,99753,99754" nav="thumbs"]