Social Scene

Mary Bird • August 10, 2011

In anticipation of Washington Women and Wine’s triumphant return to France in 2012, on July 18 the group of bon vivants gathered for a “Summer in the South of France” dinner at Rivers at the Watergate. WWW founder Karen McMullen welcomed back Robin and Paul McKenzie-Smith who had led last year’s tour and came from Fort Lauderdale, eager to return to Florida’s sea breezes. Rivers Executive Chef Michael Smithson oversaw a splendid menu of cold watercress soup, mushroom vol au vent, filet mignon and chocolate hazelnut mousse paired with special wines. French Escapade 2’s March itinerary will include visits to Bordeaux, Carcassonne, Aix-en-Provence and end merrily on the Riviera. [gallery ids="100246,106679,106710,106684,106706,106689,106702,106694,106698" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Back by popular demand, Happenstance Theater presented Manifesto! to rave reviews in this year’s Capital Fringe Festival. The setting is the surrealist Cabaret ReVoltaire where the guests are visionaries. The text is taken from real manifestos penned by Dadaists, Communists and Capitalists in the aftermath of World War I. The words are spoken by the frequenters of a cabaret run by clowns played by Happenstance’s Artistic Director Mark Jaster, his daughter Emma Jaster, Artistic Co-Director and Manager Sabrina Mandell, Gwen Grastorf, Karen Hansen and Matt Pearson. This professional company devises and produces original performer-created visual, poetic theatre that thoroughly engages the audience. [gallery ids="100247,106699,106707,106704" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

You know you have a tight group of business leaders, when at least 100 persons show up for your June 20 networking reception at a MacArthur Boulevard dentist’s office in 100-degree weather. Georgetown Business Association members and guests met at the office and patio of Georgetown Smile, greeted by the likeable and professional Avraham “A.J.” Peretz, D.D.S., and his staff. Cold water, wine and soda along with sandwich wraps and pasta salad proved perfect at the end of a hot day. Maybe even better, there was a massage therapist — Janelle Jimason of Eastern Holistic Arts — administering soothing massages in the office’s receptionist space. Georgetown Smile t-shirts were handed out as well as samples from Sonicare and Colgate. One of the raffle winners of the Philips Sonicare toothbrushes was GBA secretary Beth Webster. (Plus: a quick thank you to GBA event chair Sue Hamilton for her headline quote.) [gallery ids="100249,106726,106719,106723" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

Less than six months since the biggest merger in online news history, AOL (America Online) chief executive Tim Armstrong and Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington were the headliners at a National Press Club lunch, July 15 — Huffington’s 61st birthday — to discuss the deal and the future of journalism, on-line and traditional. Since its $315 million purchase of Huffington Post in February, AOL has hired some of the biggest names in journalism while simultaneously eliminating the jobs of hundreds of full and part-time writers, editors and other employees across America. The rebuilding AOL is reshaping the entire news industry with outlets like Patch, Huffington Post and AOL specialty brands such as AOL Energy, AOL Defense and the planned AOL Government. “Self-expression is the new entertainment,” Huffington said. “People want to be part of the story of their times.” Among those at the lunch were former Sen.William Cohen and his wife Janet Langhart, Aspen Institute head Walter Isaacson, formerly of Time and CNN, media guru Tammy Haddad and publicist Jan Duplain. [gallery ids="100250,106724,106730,106728" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

Singapore celebrated its 46th National Day with an Aug. 2. party, which also honored its armed forces. Ambassador Chan Heng Chee greeted dignitaries and guests at the embassy’s International Place complex with a 50th birthday cheer for President Barack Obama — after the U.S. and Singapore national anthems were played — as well as a full and spicy buffet of food and ample drinks. (The city-state island republic was founded Aug. 9, 1965.) Also addressing the crowd were Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) and Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.). Webb saluted “the energy of the people of Singapore, who have performed an economic miracle.” Stearns admired Singapore’s double-digit growth rate. [gallery ids="100260,106934,106946,106939,106943" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

Kate Michael, online magazine founder of K Street Kate, celebrated the fifth birthday of her D.C. lifestyle blog, July 27, at the National Press Club ballroom with drinks and music, themed to “Livin’ La Vida Local.” The media entrepreneur thanked her staff and said she sees a bright future for hyperlocal websites. Friends and fans of the popular Michael, a former Miss D.C., congratulated her for hitting the anniversary whose traditional gift is one made of wood. Life is local and ironic, too.

Georgetowner •

As a prelude to a day-long forum at the Capitol Visitor Center where policy makers and academics discussed how our laws can better serve America’s children, on July 27 Children Uniting Nations Founder/Chair Daphna Edwards Ziman hosted a press reception at the City Club. Christine Warnke of Hogan & Lovells, an attorney and mother of two adopted Russian children, introduced Ms. Ziman. She said “she has taken on the whole world of foster care and is now combatting sex trafficking.” In return, Ms. Ziman said “Chris will make sure you are heard in the halls of Congress.” Children Uniting Nations is a proactive non-profit organization created to bring attention to the plight of at-risk and foster youth. As Congress was embroiled in the debt crisis, Nigerian Ambassador Ade Adefuye said the real crisis is “the debt we owe our children.”

Mary Bird • August 4, 2011

Ambassador of Finland Pekka Lintu and Mrs. Laurel Colless hosted a farewell reception at the embassy on June 27 as they prepare for their upcoming posting to Greece. In his welcoming remarks, the Ambassador thanked guests for coming “to wave us goodbye.” The popular couple has been in Washington for over five years during which time their daughter Julia was born. He hailed the “willingness of the American people to engage themselves” and spoke of their “friendliness and openness.” He also recognized the strong support of the embassy staff and of his talented wife “who seems to know everybody.” Mrs. Colless spoke of their pride in the “green” embassy, the first in the United States to receive the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Guests departed with an art book chronicling the embassy’s design and numerous events. [gallery ids="100233,106514,106535,106531,106527,106523,106519" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird • July 26, 2011

The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s 29th annual gala took place June 26 at the Marriott Wardman Park. Masks were encouraged to reflect the theme of the D.C. restaurant scene as a veritable carnival feast. The event unites the entire restaurant industry for a fabulous evening that began with a reception featuring Virginia products followed by a 16-category awards ceremony. RAMW President Lynne Breaux and Gala Committee Chair Kristin Rohr of Guest Services, Inc. bid everyone welcome to “the best party of the year because you know how to party.” World renowned innovator José Andrés received the Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award. The ceremony culminated with the Chef of the Year Award bestowed upon Todd Gray of Equinox, who accepted alongside his beaming young son to a standing ovation. An overspill crowd proceeded to a resplendent feast that included the cuisines of Australia, Chile and Mexico before dancing the night away. [gallery ids="102568,102569,102570,102571,102572,102573,102574" nav="thumbs"]

Veena Trehan •

Andre Wells is at the center of glitzy fundraisers, expensive weddings, and corporate parties. And that’s when he’s not scoping out the hottest hotels and restaurants.

But a glamorous life comes loaded with responsibility. As planner, producer, and owner of Events by Andre Wells, he orchestrates some of our city’s most beautiful events with energy and ambition. When I spoke with him at RIS restaurant, Andre shared his favorite type of client, some dream clients, and discussed how he thrives when little separates a messy disaster from a memorable spectacle.

What makes an event a success?

What is the goal of the event—that’s what we always ask. What are you trying to accomplish by having this event? What’s the message you want to give?

Also…when your guests don’t have to think. When you arrive there’s valet; when you walk in the door someone takes your coat; if they’re passing hor d’oeuvres, you’re not stuck with this long skewer; there are beautiful and intelligent people to talk to. All of that makes a great party or a great event.

How did you get involved in events?

I always wanted to be an event planner. During high school I was on this board called the Team Board. I grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. We had about 20 high schools. Two or three people from each high school represented the high school for this department store that was part of the May Company. You would do community service projects. You would get to work in the store, print ads for the stores, do fashion shows, go and visit senior citizens’ homes. There was one woman, her name was Jane Slater, and she was the special events coordinator for the store. I thought, I love what she does, it’s a great job.

I had interned at Bloomingdales in New York and JCPenney. I graduated in ‘91 [from Hampton University] when we were in a recession . I got offered a job by the May Company as an assistant buyer. Of course, I was taking the job because I was not going back to Florida. And so I started my career. I worked for May Company, I worked for JCPenney, and I was a merchandiser and a buyer and I hated every moment of it.

I did it for three years. I remember I was dating my [girlfriend, now wife]. I told her, “I might have to move back to Florida because I’m putting in my resignation and I don’t have another job offer.”

Then a position became available at PBS for an assistant meeting planning position the day I resigned. I was able to come right in and I started doing all their meetings and events throughout the US. After that I went to work for a catering company building their corporate and social markets, and then I went to work for an event planning company building their business. And seven years ago I started my own company.

How do you deal with people who have very high expectations, a lot of stress and a habit of controlling outcomes?

I always tell people from the beginning: “Are you going to let us manage the event or do you want to manage it? Because you can’t be a micromanager, you have to let us be able to do our job.

If you come to me to have an event and you want it to be an Events by Andre Wells event, but then you start telling me things like: I want to use this person, I want to do that…well, I can’t take ownership of that. We’re not just coordinators. We’re designers. We’re logistic experts.

Does the client who says, “You’re on your own” scare you?

Oh, I love that kind of client. That’s the kind of client that really trusts you, and they’re aware of your capability and skill set. They let you fly.

Who are all the people who come together for events?

Attorneys, insurance agents, staff, permitting, valet…The [people who work] the actual event. Then the décor, furniture, lighting, sound, AV, linens, flatware, china, wine selection…I always say it’s a big, big choir that does a wonderful performance in the end.

Lots of venues in the city?

One of my jobs is to stay abreast of every new and old venue in city, even some that people wouldn’t think they could do an event in. For instance, all of the Smithsonian museums are very good places to hold events. There are lots of little hidden gems.

Do people want the same quality of event as ones where celebrities might have a budget of 10 or even 100 times more?

Oh yeah. And I always say, manage those expectations. People think, “I want to do my wedding just like that.” But they don’t really think of the cost that is associated. That’s why, to me, it’s very important to budget. We meet with the client first, we talk about the event, we talk about all the logistics and the details and what they want. Then we go back and do a proposal and a budget based on that conversation and present it to you.

There must be people who just tend to have brainstorms throughout the entire process even after they sign off something.

Oh they do. And it’s their right. I always say that everyone has the right to change their mind and to come back to you with different ideas. Six months leading up to a wedding is the perfect time to plan it. A year out…so many changes.

What made you decide to go out on your own?

Because I was working really hard. I used to be the last one in the office. I would look up and it would be 12 and 1 o’clock. You get used to making a certain amount of money and you get accustomed to a certain lifestyle. But I really believed in myself, and my wife really believed in me, and she was very supportive. So I said, “What’s the worst thing that could happen? I would have to go back and work for someone else.”
It’s very hard, sometimes all-nighters. You have to constantly be on point. But I love working for myself.

Do you have any dream clients?

Of course. Come on over Oprah! HBO and Showtime…I like people who are interesting, people who are doing good things. I wouldn’t mind Facebook as a client. So I’d say I have some great clients that I have yet to work with.

Sounds like an exciting life.

It’s fun. I like that I get to meet so many different people, from celebrities to politicians to everyday good people.

I always ask the people that work with me, “What’s the creative lesson for today?”

I never want to be bored with this and I never want to be boring. I always want to create, have fun, make people laugh and share joy.

[Click here to listen to the audio](http://www.zshare.net/audio/8603693651c31808/) [gallery ids="99592,104999" nav="thumbs"]