‘A Night of Broadway Stars’ Honors Ted Leonsis and Covenant House at THEARC
• August 10, 2012

Broadway stars lit up THEARC (Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus) in Anacostia June 20 to honor the multi-faceted Ted Leonsis and to benefit Covenant House Washington, which provides protection and mentoring for at-risk and homeless young people. Leonsis said, “We can do well while doing good.” Mayor Vincent Gray and Linda Mercado Greene were honorary co-chairs. Acclaimed composer and lyricist Neil Berg produced the performance, which featured Broadway headliners in such mega hits as “Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Miserables.” The evening also showcased Covenant House Washington youth, who garnered a standing ovation. Guests enjoyed a pre-performance reception and mingled with the stars for desserts afterwards. [gallery ids="100870,127318,127311,127303,127296,127288,127281,127333,127273,127340,127265,127347,127257,127353,127325" nav="thumbs"]

Women in Government Salute Duke Ellington High School
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On June 12, Duke Ellington School of the Arts and the Maryland Writing Project were the beneficiaries chosen by Women in Government Relations at a reception and program “Experience the Arts” at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The group promotes arts programming for students in the metro area. The evening featured remarks by legendary Ellington School co-founder and former Washington, D.C. school board chair Peggy Cooper Cafritz, who urged guests to “join us as we continue to stretch and become the best in our class in the world.” She said that Ellington graduates may not go on to stardom but would become good citizens. [gallery ids="100871,127375,127341,127368,127350,127364,127357" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetown Village Opens its Doors to Sponsor Wells Fargo
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Georgetown Village celebrated its first major corporate sponsor and thanked Wells Fargo Bank for its $10,000 donation June 21 at the N Street home of Thomas Nigra, M.D., and his wife Jane. The Nigras’ house once belonged to Averell and Pamela Harriman, legends in the circles of Washington power. In honor of their spirit, the Harriman House lives on in their name and contains much of the previous owners’ original furnishings along with its red den, classic drawing room and pool.

Georgetown Village is a non-profit membership organization providing services and programs in the Georgetown area so older residents can live better and longer in their homes. Among its services are transportation of appointments, grocery shopping, computer and cell phone help, gardening and household help. Volunteers and helpers are welcome: visit www.Georgetown-Village.org. [gallery ids="100872,127371,127365" nav="thumbs"]

U of MD Graduate Crowned Miss D.C. 2012
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Allyn Rose, a 24-year-old University of Maryland graduate and paralegal studying constitutional law, won the Miss D.C. title June 17 during a competition at the University of the District of Columbia. Rose, who lost her mother to cancer, has picked the Judy R.O.S.E. Method of Breast Cancer Prevention as her platform for the Miss America Organization. A former Miss Maryland USA, Rose will represent D.C. at the Miss America 2013 pageant in Las Vegas in January. Her talent is listed as artistic roller skating.

The winner and top five finalists are awarded a scholarship from the Miss D.C. Scholarship Organization [gallery ids="100873,127378,127373" nav="thumbs"]

ART METAMORPHOSIS Gala at Georgetown Waterfront
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Art Metamorphosis Gala was a great success with over 3500 attendees in attendance including DC Mayor Vincent C. Gray.

For one night only, the harbour area in the heart of the nation’s capital has been transformed into an artist’s canvas.

Twenty-seven (27) innovative artists of DC created 300 feet long works of art in front of attendees. Artistic video and light installations by SND+VSN on flood walls, music by MANIFESTO accompanied by his live violin act and live opera performance by Pablo Henrich, hair and fantasy show by Stella Bonds & Roche Salon will enhance the transformation.

Nick’s Riverside Grille and Tony & Joe’s offered summer inspired cocktails and full bar menu.

[gallery ids="100869,127239,127233,127225,127219,127213,127206,127200,127193,127251,127187,127256,127261,127179,127267,127245" nav="thumbs"]

Upcoming Fashion Straight from Marymount University
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On May 3, Marymount University held its annual student fashion show and reception. “Portfolio in Motion 2012” was presented by the university’s fashion merchandising and design students. The evening featured a showcase of garments designed, made and modeled by students and alums in an evening that transported the attendees through a lovely “Gilded Forest.” One of the many highlights of the evening was the presentation of the 2012 Designer of the Year Award to Eileen Fisher. Fisher was selected for this award because of her long history of outstanding fashion designs, fair labor practices and commitment to the empowerment of women. [gallery ids="100800,124453,124434,124448,124442" nav="thumbs"]

HMX and Modern Luxury
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On Wednesday, April 25, Streets of Georgetown and DC magazine celebrated DC magazine’s Men’s Issue and transformed their wardrobe with the latest fashions from all-American clothing brands, such as Hickey Freeman, Hart Schaffner Marx and Bobby Jones. All of these brands can be found in our local retail store, Streets of Georgetown. [gallery ids="100801,124473,124449,124465,124461" nav="thumbs"]

Singin’ in the Rain Celebrates 60th Anniversary at the Smithsonian
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Gene Kelly would have been 100 years old this August 23.

“Singing’ in the Rain”, the iconic MGM musical (and best ever Hollywood musical, according to most audiences and critics), which saw Kelly doing a slop-slippy tap dance in the rain, is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

Here is Pixie-haired Patricia Ward Kelly, widow to Gene Kelly and keeper of the flame for his dance and film legacy.

Here’s Rita Moreno, dazzling at 80 years old, and one of the few still living members of the “Singin’ in the Rain” troupe (along with Debbie Reynolds and co-director Stanley Donen), twirling a signature “Rain” umbrella.

Here’s a wall of momentos and puff and stuff from the Warner Brothers library of films, like Clint Eastwood’s costume-bedraggled cowboy wear from the Oscar-winning “Unforgiven.”

Here we are at the Smithsonian American History Museum for a screening of “Singin’ in the Rain,” and marking the arrival of a three-disc ultimate collector’s edition of the movie. This writer is celebrating.

Not only is Kelly and “Singin’ in the Rain” being celebrated, but so is the Smithsonian’s summer portion of its Warner Brother’s film festival, with three movies celebrating the advent of sound: “The Jazz Singer,” “The Broadway Melody” and “Don Juan,” screened last weekend.

Moreno—a triple threat winner of a Tony, an Emmy and an Oscar (for supporting actress in “West Side Story”)—looked like a red carpet wowser, at any age. She recalled being “in awe of Kelly. I worshipped him. I was 17 and I had a small part in the movie, and here was this man, already a legend, and it was just astonishing to be there, to be in this movie. I watched all the great song-and-dance segments being filmed: Donald O’Connor in “Be a Clown”, “Gotta Sing Gotta Dance”, Gene and Cyd (Charisse).”

“When I met Gene, he was a man in repose,” Kelly’s widow set. “I think by choice, in some ways. He wasn’t dancing any more, at least not in public, because he wasn’t the Kelly you saw on the screen anymore. But he was still dynamic, smart, handsome. I had a writing job back then on a Smithsonian project, he was doing something for a television show on the Smithsonian. I get embarrassed even now that back then I had no idea who he was.” They met, they eventually married, in spite of a much buzzed-about age difference—he was in his 70s, she was in her twenties. Now she’s everywhere, talking about Kelly, “Rain,” the man and American dance, and working on a biography of Kelly. She’s a Trustee of The Gene Kelly Image Trust, and Creative Director of “Gene Kelly: The Legacy,” a corporation established to commemorate Kelly’s centenary world-wide.

“There’s going to be lots going on,” she said. “Gene was all about dance as an American art form. He was muscular, confident. He embodied in dance, I think, what it was to be an American .”

Moreno remembers how tough it was to forge her career as a Latino actress in the 1950s. “I was always an Indian maid, a Mexican spitfire, something like that. When you were under contract, you had to do what they gave you.”

Washington theater goers will remember her from her entirely convincing and funny portrait as the slob of “The Odd Couple,” a female protagonist version of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple,” also starring Sally Struthers at the National Theatre.

She grabbed an umbrella and started coquettishly twirling. Cameras snapped. “Hey, how’d you do that,” Kelly yelled.

“I’m a pro,” Moreno said.

Kelly. Moreno. The movies.

Unforgettable. [gallery ids="100907,128433,128424,128414,128405,128396,128385,128377,128366,128357,128452,128346,128458,128467,128474,128443" nav="thumbs"]

K Street Kate Celebrates ‘6 on the Beach,’ Rebranding
• August 2, 2012

O.K., it began on the dock at Washington Harbour, and there were palm trees on the top deck of the Boomerang Party Yacht, which cruised on the Potomac from north of Key Bridge to south past Memorial Bridge. But life was a beach, as friends and fans of Kate Michael celebrated six years of her D.C. lifestyle website July 22 and enjoyed a two-hour ride with complimentary cocktails on board the boat and personal cans of C.R.E.A.M. whipped vodka bottles with flavors, such as vanilla, chocolate, caramel and raspberry. Michael and Nichole Devolites really got into the spirit with a whipping cream match on the top deck — sticky but fun, both agreed. At the party, Michael announced a name change for her site:

“As the site and content mature, our brand should as well. Readers can expect the same voice, the same local fanaticism, and K Street Kate is still at the helm… but we’re going to be known as K Street Magazine when the new site is up and running in August.” After the ride, Michael and friends dined at Peacock Cafe. [gallery ids="100913,128733,128683,128727,128692,128720,128700,128713,128708" nav="thumbs"]

Fringe Festival: 2 Last-Minute Favorites
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There is still time to catch a show at the Seventh Annual Capital Fringe Festival, which continues until July 29. With more than 140 productions, the vast selection has performances for all age groups.

For adult audiences, comedienne Vijai Nathan’s one-woman show, “McGoddess,” is grade-A humor with a side of religious insight. As the only American-born member of her Indian family, Nathan grapples with which traditions to embrace and ignore. The main issue is her family’s unabashed love of McDonald’s, which conflicts with her mother’s Hindu beliefs in the sacredness of cows. Nathan, who also wrote and directed the play, expands upon her journey of understanding the concept of God — all while influenced by a traditional Hindu mother, a born-again Christian sister and a cynical, Marxist father. With non-stop jokes and countless embarrassing yet relatable family stories, “McGoddess” is a provocative and clever performance that will have you craving for more laughs and a Big Mac.

As for a family affair, hear ye, hear ye, fair subjects of Georgetown! All ye in attendance at Scott Courlander’s “Medieval Story Land” are in for a treat. Noble and naïve elf Todd must fulfill his destiny by going on an epic quest to save the kingdom of Medieval Story Land from its impending doom. But fear thou not, for this show is the furthest thing from “Lord of the Rings.” With sword in tow, a disgraced knight, an overzealous dwarf, and a wisecracking troll accompany Todd on his pursuit. Along the way, he must wrestle up the courage to slay dragons, fight an evil army, triumph over a mystical wizard and defeat the eerie “dark, black darkness.” Entertaining for both children and adults, “Medieval Story Land” gives a wonderfully effortless twist on the classic renaissance hero story.

Visit capfringe.org for ticket information, or call 866-811-4111. Catch “McGoddess” on July 26, 7:30 p.m., or July 28, 9:15 p.m.; “Medieval Story Land,” July 28, 7:15 p.m., or July 29, noon. Both shows are performed at the Milton Theatre at the Studio Theatre located on 1501 14th St., N.W. [gallery ids="100914,128721" nav="thumbs"]