The United States Navy Memorial’s Lone Sailor Award
• October 6, 2011

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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Lunch with Actress Charlotte Ross
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Christine Warnke invited media pals to the City Tavern Club to meet actress Charlotte Ross, best known for roles in NYPD Blue and currently Glee. The actress was in Washington to join The Humane Society of the United States in Congressional briefings. The intent is to seek an end to invasive research on chimpanzees and promote passage of the Great Ape Protection and Costs Savings Act of 2011, which has strong bipartisan support in today’s cost-cutting climate. The United States is the only developed country continuing to confine chimpanzees in laboratories where they are frequently not used in active research but spend long solitary lives. The goal is to save taxpayers approximately $30 million annually by releasing our closest relatives in the animal kingdom to humane sanctuaries. [gallery ids="100319,108085" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetown Business Association Monthly Reception
• September 22, 2011

On a perfect summer evening, a near record crowd attended the GBA’s monthly reception held at the House of Sweden on Aug. 17. House of Sweden General Manager Cecilia Browning welcomed guests. GBA Events Chair Sue Hamilton acknowledged the evening’s special guests Wendy, Bernie and Chris Furin, who lamentably shuttered their eponymous treasured M Street eatery last month. The Furins were presented with an engraved plaque commemorating their 27 wonderful years in business, a compilation of their many press clippings, topped off with a complimentary stay plus pampering at the Four Seasons. DC Councilman at-Large Vincent Orange wondered what their many fans would do without Furin’s pancakes. Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres by Ridgwells Caterers, beverages supplied by the Georgetown Business Improvement District and concluded the evening with signature cupcakes by Chris Furin, who will continue his stellar career as a cake designer. [gallery ids="100271,107039,107065,107061,107044,107057,107049,107053" nav="thumbs"]

Washington Women and Wine on the Road
• September 7, 2011

On Aug. 15, members of WW&W hopped aboard a motor coach in Ballston. The first stop was Doukénie Winery in Hillsboro, VA. In June of this year the Land Trust of Virginia honored winery owners George and Nicola Bazaco for their commitment to preserving “one of Northern Loudon Country’s most spectacular properties.” Maria Canora poured a variety of wines and family member Hope Bazaco brought homemade baklava and freshly picked figs. It was then on to Breaux Vineyards in Purcellville, one of the largest wineries East of the Mississippi, where the sampling continued. Several local residents joined up for luncheon at the Yellow Brick Bank in Shepherdstown, WV. Terry Swift spoke of his involvement with the arts and asked the group to his historic home. Jim Surkamp led an insider’s walking tour and WW&W co-founder Karen McMullen directed the bus driver around town before everyone contently headed home. [gallery ids="99226,103560,103556,103539,103552,103544,103548" nav="thumbs"]

Washington Area Concierge Association Gala
• August 25, 2011

The Washington Area Concierge Association themed its annual gala “Uncover Your Code” as guests converged at Barcode on Aug. 14. WACA has donated over $400,000 to charitable organizations. This year’s recipients are The John B. Campbell Hospitality Scholarship, Les Clefs d’Or and Les Clefs d’Or Foundation as well as the Katzen Center Research Center at GW University Hospital. The festive evening featured a fundraising raffle and silent auction. WACA President Luis Colmenares said “I can’t wait to celebrate the monumental achievements of our tourism industry….regardless of the political or economic climate around us.” [gallery ids="100273,107064,107095,107091,107069,107087,107083,107074,107079" nav="thumbs"]

Second Annual Green Fair at The Fairmont
• August 24, 2011

On Aug. 12, The Fairmont Washington held its Second Annual Green Fair in the sunlit Colonnade room. The hotel’s green partners, including the neighboring World Wildlife Fund, Capital Bikeshare, FRESHFARM Markets, Nusta Spa and Carbon – A Sustainable Chic Boutique, manned exhibits. Guests could meet the hotel’s resident beekeeper and sample Executive Chef Jason Dalling’s organic hors d’oeuvres. [gallery ids="100272,107054,107066,107059,107063" nav="thumbs"]

PAL at Pete’s
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People Animals Love invited supporters to join PAL volunteers at a Yappy Hour on Aug. 16 at Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza. Pete’s regular patrons are so accustomed to seeing family pets that they did not initially grasp that this was a fundraiser. Founded in l982, PAL is today the premier pet visit organization in the DC area with 300 certified volunteer teams. These two- and four-legged volunteers make thousands of visits annually, lifting spirits in nursing homes, mental health facilities, hospices, military hospitals and undeserved schools. [gallery ids="102540,120046,120028,120020,120033,120039" nav="thumbs"]

Washington Animal Rescue League’s Paws at the Park
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The League held an Aug. 10 Paws at the Park cocktail hour where canines and bipeds mingled on the patio of the Park Hyatt. The event followed the previous weekend’s hugely successful Adopt-A-Thon when 79 dogs and 34 cats were adopted under a “pay what you will for priceless pets” policy. Several adoptables were at the Park Hyatt which bills itself as the “city’s most sophisticated pet-friendly hotel.” Raul Catangui was proud to announce the launching of the new website BowWowMatch.com. Pro Feed supplied doggie goodie bags. [gallery ids="99237,103964,103995,103969,103991,103974,103987,103979,103983" nav="thumbs"]

Summer in the South of France Dinner at Rivers
• 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"]

Happenstance Theater Scores in Capital Fringe Festival
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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"]