Cookin’ Up Numbers
• October 26, 2010

Rebecca Klemm holds a PhD in statistics and has taught students, judges and juries via storytelling. The Georgetown resident is also an avid patron of the arts and works with the Helen Hayes Awards to determine annual theater award decisions. She has created Numbers Alive! to demystify numbers and math. The first result is “Cookin’Up Numbers,” which premiered at this year’s Capital Fringe Festival. The play follows cookie baker Becca, who is guided by the mathematical character Pi through Numberland. Together they discover the unique personalities of puppet numbers and learn how mathematics is the ultimate universal language. The aroma of chocolate chip cookies wafted through the auditorium and cookies awaited happy playgoers after the performances. For more on this learning tool, visit www.numbersalive.org. — Mary Bird
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Georgetown Biz Group Offers Historic Fun at Halcyon House
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The Georgetown Business Association invited historical figures Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams, and Benjamin Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy, who built what is now Halcyon House on Prospect Street in 1783, for its monthly get-together at the historic Georgetown mansion on July 21. Guests wandered through the house and walked the grounds, enjoying food from 42 Degrees Catering.
— Robert Devaney [gallery ids="99305,99306,99307,99308" nav="thumbs"]

WARL Brunch at Old Ebbitt Grill
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On July 18, the Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL) took over the Cabinet Room at the Old Ebbitt Grill for a champagne brunch to raise funds for the league’s new Disaster Rescue Fund, which will be used exclusively to transport and care for large-scale dog and cat interventions. In cooperation with the Humane Society International, the League recently rescued dogs when the only shelter in Kuwait burned to the ground. WARL’s doors at its state-of-the art facility are never shut to local animals and CEO Gary Weitzman echoed the mission that “no adoptable dog will go without a home or be euthanized.” Chief Development Officer Rob Blizard mentioned upcoming programs, such as a late September reception to launch a $25,000 challenge grant from Friendship Animal Hospital. — Mary Bird [gallery ids="99300,99301,99302,99303,99304" nav="thumbs"]

John Legend at Dupont
• October 21, 2010

John Legend is an established presence in D.C. He is known for his support of President Obama and joined international artists at the Earth Day celebration on the National Mall in April. His first album “Get Lifted” went platinum and he has gone on to win six Grammy awards. His soon to be released album “Wake Up!” features social change-themed songs and earned him the cover of Capitol File. Niche Media CEO Jason Binn and Capitol File publisher Sarah Schaffer were on hand to welcome the recording artist, musician and actor to a reception in his honor on Aug. 18 in the Café Dupont of The Hotel Dupont. — Mary Bird [gallery ids="99283,99284,99285,99286,99287,99288,99289" nav="thumbs"]

Pampering for a Pet Project
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Several adoptable felines joined the usual canine contingent for a Fashion for Paws (F4P) event at One80 Salon on Aug. 15. Summer months overwhelm shelters as travelers abandon their pets. One80, “the uptown salon with the downtown address” generously donated 100 percent of the Sunday event proceeds to benefit the animals and programs of the Washington Humane Society. Extraordinary blowouts, cuts and color from leading stylists, as well as manicures, were supplemented by silent auction items, a raffle and abundant Delightings cupcakes. The well groomed departed with an overflowing goodie bag of top styling products. — Mary Bird [gallery ids="99282,104480,104476,104469,104473" nav="thumbs"]

‘The Big Uneasy’
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Harry Shearer, best known for his voice work on “The Simpsons” and his role in “This is Spinal Tap,” is a New Orleans resident. Prior to its national release on Aug. 11, Newseum Press Pass members were invited to a special reception and screening of his new film “The Big Uneasy.” On the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, his feature-length documentary exposes the flaws that led to the flooding of the levees and which have not been addressed in the current reconstruction process. The evening included a spirited conversation between Shearer and Dr. Ivor van Heerden, former deputy director of LSU’s Hurricane Center, whose warnings of an imminent disaster went unheeded. — Mary Bird [gallery ids="99281,104459,104470,104466,104464" nav="thumbs"]

Mie N Yu Rallies to a Noble Cause
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The first of three Capital City Ball launch parties was held on Aug. 12 at Mie N Yu. The event benefited three non-profits dedicated to combating the scourge of human trafficking — Polaris Fund, FAIR Fund and Courtney’s House. FAIR Fund is bound to have even more media exposure as former Miss DC Kate Marie Grinold recently came on board as Director of Development. — Mary Bird [gallery ids="99280,104454,104461,104458" nav="thumbs"]

Fashion Week
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Fashion writer Pamela Burns and photographer Robert Devaney hit the streets with the rest of DC’s fasionistas for Georgetown’s Fashion’s Night Out on Friday September 10. [gallery ids="99279,104444,104460,104456,104449,104453" nav="thumbs"]

Cure for Epilepsy
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J. McLaughlin, the M Street shop for cool prepsters, hosted a benefit for CURE Epilepsy, Sept. 14. Founder Susan Axelrod (wife of the White House’s David Axelrod; their daughter Lauren suffers from the disease) of Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy greeted MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski, her mother Emilie and brother Mark — along with other political and artistic types, such as Susan Sher, Debbie Dingell, Mike Allen, Tammy Haddad and Jayni Chase (yes, wife of Chevy). Also on hand was J. McLaughlin CEO Steven Siegler and the shop’s staff, whose sales aided the non-profit. The stylish and spirited Brzezinski, who grew up around Georgetown, is the daughter of President Carter’s National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinki and wears J. McLaughlin clothes on air during Morning Joe. For more info, visit www.CUREepilepsy.org. [gallery ids="99278,104450,104446,104439,104443" nav="thumbs"]

Washington National Opera Gala
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The Washington National Opera raised the curtain on its 55th season, Sept. 11, but not before the Kennedy Center audience sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” — an opera tradition here, as WNO general director Placido Domingo reminded all from the opera house stage. Giuseppe Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschara” — “A Masked Ball” — cracks a heartbreak of wrongful regicide in Sweden. With the masked ball ruse in the work, the post-opera ball was itself a masked one at the Embassy of Italy. With masks provided, along with dinner and dancing, the gala-goers beamed as well as the perfectly lighted venue. [gallery ids="99277,104429,104440,104436,104434" nav="thumbs"]