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"]

Go Bo Fund Jersey Party
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Annual party to benefit the Go Bo Fund. Georgetowners came out in their New Jersey attire for this annual themed party on September 10. [gallery ids="99275,104430,104409,104426,104422,104414,104418" nav="thumbs"]

Washington Ballet
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The Women’s Committee of the Washington Ballet celebrated the upcoming season “Untamed” with a wine infused jewelry sale by Michelle Hughes and Vanessa Murray followed by an open rehearsal and post-performance reception at the Ballet studio on Sept. 29. Everyone enjoyed the young dancers in the Ballet’s recent two-year post-high school training program who excelled to “Old Blue Eye’s’ classics. The evening’s highlight was the full performance of Rooster danced to Christopher Bruce’s choreography and Rolling Stone classics, an awesome preview of the delights to come. [gallery ids="99274,104394,104410,104399,104407,104404" nav="thumbs"]

Women Making Choices
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On Sept, 28, a few intrepid men joined several hundred women bedecked in red feather boas at 701 Restaurant for a reception prior to the screening at Burke Theater of Hot Flash Havoc, a provocative and revealing film about menopause. In her opening remarks Phyllis Greenberger, President & CEO of the Society for Women’s Health Research, introduced the film as entertaining, informative and educational. The film presents compelling personal accounts by women who maintain that the Women’s Health Initiative study released in 2002 misrepresented the benefits of hormonal replacement therapy. Their stories were validated through in-depth interviews with leading experts, several of whom formed a panel after the screening to answer questions. [gallery ids="99272,104369,104385,104374,104382,104379" nav="thumbs"]