Family Fun on Volta Park Day . . . Then, the Thunder
• July 13, 2011

Volta Park Day lived up to its familiar, neighborhood charm: hamburgers, hot dogs, coconut cake, popcorn, snow cones with the slide, water dunk, sprinklers, band and flea market. Moms, dads and the kids were still smiling, although the picnic was cut short by thunder and light rain around 5:15 p.m. on June 12. The park’s C.M. Anderson reminds us that the Volta Park pool opens its full summer schedule on June 21: Tuesday through Thursday, 1 to 8 p.m., public; Saturday and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.; closed Monday.
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Comcast and NBC Universal
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Comcast and NBC Universal celebrated the 15th anniversary of MSNNC on Thursday, July 7th, at America’s Square 300 New Jersey Avenue. Guests toasted to “The Place for Politics,” while enjoying Japanese and Mexican appetizers, and indulging in Sprinkles cupcakes. [gallery ids="100237,106585,106574,106582,106579" nav="thumbs"]

Monaco Toasts Prince Albert’s Nuptials
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Ambassador of Monaco and Mrs. Gilles Noghes celebrated the sixth anniversary of Prince Albert II’s accession to the throne and his recent wedding to Charlene Wittstock at a July 7 reception at the Metropolitan Club. Following a rendition of national anthems, the Ambassador said that the Prince had found the Princess he was looking for and shared that Prince Albert had quoted poet Robert Frost in honoring his new Princess as being the one he found on “the road less traveled.” Guests enjoyed a video presentation of the nuptials followed by an eloquent ambassadorial toast to US-Monaco friendship and, of course, to the newlyweds. [gallery ids="102536,120113,120119,120097,120105,120131,120125" nav="thumbs"]

Bulgaria Honors Azar Foundation
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On June 30, Ambassador of Bulgaria Elena Poptodorova hosted a buffet dinner at her residence to introduce her diplomatic colleagues and US officials and friends to the Azar Foundation for Children of the World founded by Shahin Mafi. The foundation focuses on issues related to underprivileged and orphaned children as well as women’s issues internationally. The Ambassador spoke of children as often a “threatened species.” In welcoming the support for Azar, Shahin said “The smile or cry of children has no language. It is universal.” The evening was enhanced by the delightful singing of Bulgarian artist Elitsa Yordanova Stoyneva. [gallery ids="100235,106539,106565,106561,106544,106557,106549,106553" nav="thumbs"]

Turkey Celebrates the Washington Ballet
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Ambassador of Turkey Namik Tan held a June 28 reception to celebrate the Washington Ballet’s upcoming cultural mission to Turkey and participation in the international Dance Festival in Bodrum on the Turkish coast. Board Chair Sylvia de Leon thanked the Ambassador for Turkey’s leadership in the arts and acknowledged the presence of Turkish dance students. The Ambassador traced the history of the residence and its role as a jazz center when Turkey’s second ambassador in Washington Münir Ertegün hosted black jazz musicians during the 1930s and 1940s in a racially segregated capital. The Ballet’s eight day tour in late August will include visits to historic sites in Istanbul and Ephesus, Whirling Dervishes and a performance at famed Bodum Castle. [gallery ids="100234,106524,106545,106529,106541,106534,106538" nav="thumbs"]

Champagne Brunch Toasts Paloma Picasso
• July 7, 2011

In conjunction with the current exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), on June 6 outgoing Co-Presidents of the Women’s Committee Cyd Everett and Isin Ludlow invited members to join them for a champagne brunch in the museum board room and the chance to touch the amazing jewels of Tiffany jeweler Paloma Picasso. The designer honors her family name as the daughter of the famed artist and her mother Francoise Gilot. Paloma Picasso is represented in the Smithsonian’s famed jewel collection. NMWA Director Susan Sterling spoke of Cyd’s “spark and oomph” and thanked Isin for hosting an event and her constant support. Tiffany representatives Mary Adams and Bryant Rice traced the designer’s evolution from early designs to the current Moroccan inspired theme and brought outstanding pieces to hold and admire. [gallery ids="100049,100050,100051,100052,100053" nav="thumbs"]

Luxembourg Honors Ambassador Melanne Verveer and Innocents At Risk
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The stunning Luxembourg residence was the place to be on May 17 as Ambassador Jean-Paul Senninger and Mrs. Louise Akerbloom entertained supporters of Deborah Sigmund’s Innocents at Risk (IAR). The Ambassador said that women’s advancement should be a centerpiece in government plans. Barbara Harrison of NBC championed the evening’s honoree Melanne Verveer, President Obama’s Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues. The Ambassador previously served as Chief Assistant to First Lady Hillary Clinton and as Chair and Co-CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership. Deborah has garnered staunch international backing for her campaign to combat the scourge of human trafficking. [gallery ids="99833,99834,99835,99836,99837,99838,99839,99840,99841" nav="thumbs"]

Nooristan
• July 6, 2011

On June 3, Ambassador of India Meera Shankar in conjunction with The Nooristan Foundation hosted a Spring Soirée, “The Evening of Hope for Afghanistan.” The Nooristan Foundation is a volunteer, non-profit organization established in l999 to provide humanitarian, medical and education support for rural areas of Afghanistan. Current projects include assisting 91 refugee families outside Kabul, a village school in Nooristan and midwife training. Board President Marie Kux thanked the Ambassador and her guests for empowering women through their support for literacy programs and grassroots projects. Ambassador
Shankar said that India views itself as a development partner with Afghanistan “for the long term.” Ambassador Thomas Pickering stressed the importance that schools for girls stay open even under Taliban control.
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Al Tiramisu Celebrates Puglia
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In the third of a series of year-long cooking demonstrations celebrating regional Italian cuisine, on June 25 Chef Luigi Diotaiuti, the owner of Al Tiramisu near Dupont Circle captivated loyal patrons with the cooking, history and culture of Puglia, “the heel of Italy’s boot.” The region is best known for its olive oil production and pastas from durum wheat, including Orecchiette. The class gathered in the kitchen as the chef prepared fava bean puree with chicory, strascinati pasta with broccoli rabe and stuffed beef rolls. As a reward for their participation, they enjoyed the sumptuous results accompanied by three regional wines, a lesser known Locorotondo Bianco and the more frequently exported Primitivo and Negroamaro reds. Puglia has long been a crossroads of the Mediterranean. The famed Via Appia Antica stretched from Rome to the Adriatic port of Brindisi. [gallery ids="100214,100215,100216,100217" nav="thumbs"]

Crave Kimpton Mid-Atlantic
• June 30, 2011

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants celebrated the tenth anniversary of their stellar arrival in our midst with a veritable bash at the Monaco Washington DC on June 23. From the moment valets swept away cars and guests were greeted by beaming hostesses, it was clear that it would be fun-filled evening. The weather even cooperated as guests sipped cocktails and enjoyed fabulous hors d’oeuvres on the patio with festive entertainment before venturing indoors to enjoy the splendors of Kimpton’s special touch. Fabulous prizes included luxurious getaways to Kimpton properties and privately prepared chef dinners. [gallery ids="100209,100210,100211,100212,100213" nav="thumbs"]