Social Scene

Mary Bird • October 19, 2011

The Blessing of the Animals at St. John’s Georgetown Parish on O Street is always a joyous occasion. This year’s event took place on the unusually chilly afternoon of Oct. 2 on the church lawn. Treasured pets happily greeted their friends from various parks and neighborhood jaunts and seemed to recognize that this was a special occasion to honor St. Francis and his protection. Charles DeSantis’s basset Bella bayed on key throughout the gathering hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful. The event is canine dominant but at least two cats joined in and an unusual addition was Ben Sutherland’s leopard gecko Screech. Pets were individually blessed and received St. Francis medals. Treats for all followed in Blake Hall. [gallery ids="99242,104124,104119,104133,104114,104137,104109,104141,104104,104145,104099,104129" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

The Olney Ballet Theatre 20011 Gala celebrated 50 years of Mary Day’s Classic The Nutcracker, Sept. 17 OBT’s Artistic Director Pat Berrend was long associated with Mary Day, founder of The Washington Ballet. She recalled that Miss Day’s Nutcracker opened at Constitution Hall with the National Symphony Orchestra. The vibrant gala included choreography by Aaron Jackson and performances by many of Miss Day’s dancers now with leading dance companies. OBT is a non-profit performing arts, educational organization providing training to young dancers, who perform in the theater before live audiences. [gallery ids="100315,108067,108079,108072,108076" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

On Sept. 15, The Embassy Series opened its new season with a series of moving tributes in conjunction with the Lithuanian government’s declaration of 2011 as The Year of Remembrance for Victims of the Holocaust, with performances in Washington, New York City and Vilnius, Lithuania. The evening featured acclaimed baritone Jerome Barry with award-winners pianist Edvinas Minkstimas and violinist Peter Sirotin. “It is truly amazing that despite the great calamity befalling the Jewish people in Vilnius, they still did lead an inspired life replete with theater and musical presentations,” Barry said, who founded the Embassy Series in 1994 as a way to promote cultural exchange through “musical diplomacy.” [gallery ids="100316,108077,108080" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

It is hard to believe that Last Kiss of Summer in support of Second Chance Employment Services recently held at The Four Seasons Hotel is the eighth such gala. ABC7/WJLA-TV anchor Alison Starling was master of ceremonies at an evening of silent and live auctions, dinner and dancing. SCES Board Chair Ronald S. Perlman, M.D., hailed SCES as a “one stop show” to empower women. Ludy Green founded the non-profit organization in 2002 to promote financial security for at-risk women and their children through free and professional comprehensive employment training and placement services. SCES has helped more than 3,000 women and placed more than 800 clients in meaningful long-term employment positions. Already serving clients nationwide from its D.C. base, SCES is opening sites in Palm Beach and Los Angeles. [gallery ids="100317,108081" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Alan and Nancy Taylor Bubes opened their doors on a recent rainy evening to hail Georgetown Village. The soon to open non-profit membership organization will provide support and physical and social activities allowing participants to remain at home rather than relying on relatives or an assisted living facility. Founder and chair Sharon Lockwood enthusiastically introduced members of her board of directors and advisory board and reported that 152 members had pledged, and more than 90 offered to be volunteers. More good news is that an experienced executive director has been identified and is expected to be hired within the month. Guests departed with daffodil bulbs and treats from Georgetown Cupcake. [gallery ids="100318,108082,108088,108084" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Dr. James D’Orta, the current owner of the legendary N Street residence formerly home to Averell and Pamela Harriman, welcomed The Friends of Rose Park on Oct. 6 to raise funds to support the beloved Georgetown oasis. The host paid tribute to Georgetown doyenne Frida Burling, who served as the evening’s honorary host, a radiant 96 years old and going strong. Rose Park enhances Georgetown as it provides families and their pets with space to romp and thrive. [gallery ids="100328,108522,108543,108527,108539,108532,108536" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • October 17, 2011

With smart, strong women in the Fairmont Washington Hotel ballroom, the fight against breast cancer was on during Living in Pink’s eighth annual luncheon and boutique, Sept. 23. ABC7/WJLA-TV anchorman Greta Kreuz introduced the awardees and speakers. Presentation of the Living in Pink Award was awarded posthumously to Thomas J. Sanzaro, M.D., and accepted by Mrs. Kathy Sanzaro with remarks by Colette Magnant, M.D. The Noel Soderberg-Evans Award was presented to Christine Teal, M.D., by Jack Evans, Ward 2 councilman. Guest speaker was Pamela Peeke, M.D., M.P.H. Founded in 2004 by two-time breast cancer survivor and mother of four, Michele Conley, Living in Pink is set to help find a cure for breast cancer so that the next generation of women will not have to endure the emotional and physical pain of breast cancer surgery and treatment. [gallery ids="100322,108099,108097" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner • October 13, 2011

The Meridian International Center, celebrating its 50th anniversary, did it up right Oct. 1 with its 42nd Meridian Ball that kept old and young dancing past 1 a.m. The evening began for us at a dinner
with the gracious Claudia Fritsche, Ambassador of Liechtenstein, on the Georgetown waterfront. Meridian House was decked out and packed with gala-goers from the foyer to the gardens and onto the party tent. Drinks flowed, desserts were top-drawer, and the music moved from ‘70s rock to the latest hip-hop. — Robert Devaney [gallery ids="99271,104380,104349,104376,104372,104354,104368,104359,104364" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • October 6, 2011

Bob Schieffer’s 20 years as anchor of CBS News’s “Face the Nation” — which premiered November 1954 — was applauded Sept. 21 at the St. Regis with politicians, journalists and other Washington types enjoying the warmth (or humidity), food and bipartisanship. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.) was in the room along with former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Old and new media moved freely — from familiar Posties, ThomsonReuters editors to Media Bistro. [gallery ids="100321,108092,108095" nav="thumbs"]

Jeff Malet •

The United States Navy Memorial’s Lone Sailor Award is given to Sea Service veterans who have excelled with distinction in their respective civilian careers while exemplifying the Navy core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment.The 2011 award recipients will join an impressive list of men and women who have distinguished themselves by drawing upon their military experience to become successful in their subsequent careers and lives, while exemplifying the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment.

This year’s recipients of the Lone Sailor Award
Beau Bridges—Actor, Director, Producer, United States Coast Guard Veteran
Jeff Bridges—Actor, Producer, United States Coast Guard Veteran
Lloyd Bridges (in-memoriam)—Actor, Producer, United States Coast Guard Veteran
Brian Lamb—Founder and Chief Executive Officer, C-SPAN, United States Navy Veteran
Jerry Coleman—Famed Major League Baseball Second Baseman and Broadcast Announcer, United States Marine Corps WWII and Korean War Combat Veteran
Bob Feller (in-memoriam)—Famed Major League Baseball Pitcher, United States Navy WWII Combat Veteran
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