Social Scene

Robert Devaney • April 6, 2011

First Lady Dolley Madison was one of the first Washingtonians to realize the value – practical, artistic and financial – of a good gala. Her outgoing nature helped her husband, President James Madison, in his public life, and made a lasting impression on America.

The 20th century brought the likes of Evangeline Bruce, Katharine Graham and Pamela Harriman. The younger Sally Quinn remains of that group to discuss social life, manners and offer party advice.
Despite Sen. John McCain’s deriding of “Georgetown cocktail parties,” media coverage of these galas and smaller parties has expanded from the local newspaper to slick luxe publications and websites along with e-mail party bloggers amid ubiquitous digital cameras.

Old faithfuls mix with fresh affairs – preview parties for the Georgetown House Tour and Garden Tour (and even a gala for the re-opening of the Georgetown Safeway); Washington House Correspondents’ Association dinner and its attending parties. Add to that The Kennedy Center Honors, Mark Twain Awards, the Opera Balls, Ambassador Ball and Meridian Ball, to say nothing of inaugural balls and the hipper parties at places like the Newseum (Larry King still reserves the Ritz; Bono can be seen there, too, and at the Irish Embassy). Historic venues from Halcyon House and Dumbarton House to the National Building Museum, the Mellon Auditorium and the Library of Congress are joined by the British Embassy, House of Sweden, Wolf Trap and the National Mall, itself.

A wider range of gala patrons are on the scene, from ambassadors and businessmen to social media mavens and corporations. In the 21st century, crowds are larger, venues bigger, events more elaborate, lists exclusive and fundraising impressive. The point of the party remains the same: good times for good causes. Raise the roof, money and awareness in the nation’s capital. Below you will find a list of The Georgetowner’s most anticipated galas this season.

Gala Guide
—
Consultation for the guide by Mary Bird & Robert Devaney

The Radio & Television Correspondents’ Association Dinner

Wednesday, March 30

The annual affair for those in radio and TV. Invitation only.
Reception-6:45 p.m. Dinner-7:45 p.m.

The Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mt. Vernon Place NW

Washington Performing Arts Society Annual Auction and Gala

Saturday, April 2

6:00 p.m. Cocktails and silent auction; 8:00 p.m. Dinner followed by the featured performance, a live auction and dancing, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Black tie. Individual tickets $500. Please call 202-293-9325 for more details.
The WPAS Annual Gala raises money for artistic initiatives and extensive educational programs, including the Embassy Adoption Program, Summer Performing Arts Academy, The Capitol Jazz Project and Enriching Experiences for Seniors.

Dinner With Larry King and Friends

Saturday, April 2

To benefit the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, Mary J. Blige

The Ritz Carlton. Time TBA

Kennedy Center Spring Gala

Sunday, April 3

8:30 p.m. Kennedy Center. Reception, performance orchestra seating, dinner on the Center’s Roof Terrace level with a live band and dancing at the ‘Til Midnight Party, $1000. For further information please call (202) 416-8338

Taste of the Nation DC

Monday, April 4

7:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m. National Building Museum
Tickets $95

The annual event benefiting Share Our Strength, a national effort to end childhood hunger in America. For more information visit Strength.org/Washington/

N Street Village Gala

Wednesday, April 6

6:30 p.m. Cocktails and Hors D’oeuvres
Entertainment by Tommy Cecil Quartet
7:30 pm Dinner and Program

The annual affair raises money to provide shelter and support for homeless and low-income women in the DC area. For more information call 202-421-3211

The Wellness Community 5th Annual Celebration of Hope Gala

Thursday, April 7

6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Fairfax at Embassy Row. Reception, seated dinner, awards program, raffle and live auction. Cocktail attire. Individual tickets $250. For more information call 301 493-5002.

5th Annual Fashion for Paws Runway Show

Saturday, April 9

8 p.m.-12 a.m. National Building Museum. Benefactor Reception at 7 p.m. Runway show 9:15 p.m.
Standard tickets $95. VIP tickets $200. VIP Table $3,000

The event is a fundraising program of the Washington Humane Society. Named best fashion even of the year by BizBash and Washington Life magazines.

8th Annual Blue Jeans Ball

Sunday, April 10

6:00 p.m.- 10p.m. Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
Tickets $150

The Blue Jeans Ball is a community-wide charitable event that encourages residents in the D.C. area to “come as you are,” learn more about the high prevalence of hunger among our neighbors throughout the metro region, and become part of the solution.

Embassy Chef Challenge

Tuesday, April 12

VIP Reception 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 pm, main event 6:30p.m. – 10 pm. The Ronald Reagan Building and

International Trade Center. Individual tickets $250. For information call 202 638-8363 or visit CulturalTourismDC.org.

Folger Shakespeare Library Gala

Wednesday, April 13

Folger Shakespeare Library Time TBA Tickets $600

The 2011 Folger Gala will pay tribute to Gail Kern Paster, the Library’s Director, who will be retiring at the end of June. For information call 202-675-0377.

National Museum of Women in the Arts Spring Gala

Friday, April 15

6:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. National Museum of Women in the Arts. Individual tickets $600. For more information call Ginny Page, at 202-266-2815 or GPage@nmwa.org. Proceeds from the event support the exhibitions, activities and projects that make the NMWA the leading museum solely dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women in the visual, performing and literary arts.

The 2011 Bachelors and Spinsters Ball

Saturday, April 16

9:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. The City Tavern Club. Invitation Only

The evening features live music by the Mustangs and a silent auction to benefit TAPS. For more information visit BachelorsAndSpinsters.com.

56th Annual Corcoran Ball

Friday, April 29

Corcoran Gallery of Art. Cocktails at 7:00 p.m., dinner at 8:15 p.m. Individual tickets $500. Please call (301) 951-3780.

Ball proceeds provide scholarships for the College, underwrite community outreach and education programs and support the Corcoran’s long tradition of bringing outstanding artists and their collections to the museum.

Washington Animal Rescue League’s Rescue Me Gala

Saturday, April 30

8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Union Station. VIP Reception 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Gala 8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Black tie optional for dogs and humans. Leashed dogs are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information call 202 375-7746 or visit warl.org.

The 2011 White House Correspondents’ Association Ball

Saturday, April 30

The Washington Hilton. Time TBA. Invitation Only

Hosted by Saturday Night Live’s Seth Meyers

For information call 202-266-7453

Washington National Opera’s Opera Ball

Saturday, May 7

Dinners begin at 7:00 p.m., Ball at 9:30 p.m. Chancery of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. Individual tickets $1000. For more information please contact WNO’s Special Events office at 202 295.2437.

L’Enfant Society Ball on the Mall

Saturday, May 7

6:00 p.m.- 11:30 p.m. The National Mall at Madison Drive and 13th Street
6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. VIP Reception and Dinner
Tickets $325 Champagne reception, formal seated dinner, Ball on the Mall

8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Ball on the Mall
Tickets $150 Dancing to live music, dessert buffet, signature cocktails
Ball on the Mall supports the Trust’s efforts to make the National Mall the best park in the world.
For more information call 202-407-9408

The Washington Ballet Rock & Roll Ball

Thursday, May 12

Cocktails 7:00 p.m. Dinner 8:00 p.m. The Embassy of the Russian Federation. Individual tickets $1000. For additional information contact Elizabeth Early, Manager of Special Events & Stewardship at 202 274-4518

Proceeds from the Ball fund programs that reach 800 DC public school children through DanceDC and provide tuition relief for students from Anacostia who attend the remarkable program at THEARC, where more than 300 disadvantaged children are studying ballet.

Washington Humane Society 24th Annual Bark Ball

Saturday, June 4.

VIP Reception 6:30 pm; Reception, Silent Auction, & Doggie Bar 7:00 p.m.; Dinner, Live Auction, & Program 8:00 p.m. Washington Hilton. Individual tickets $250 For more information please call 202 723-5730, ext. 204.

The Bark Ball draws many of the area’s most illustrious residents and their four-legged friends, all in honor of the programs and services of the Washington Humane Society.

Georgetowner • March 25, 2011

The 2011 Gala for the Catholic Charities Spanish Catholic Center in Washington was held at the Organization of American States on Mar. 19. Franco Nuschese, principal owner of Café Milano, was gala chair and His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, attended. Several awards were presented and live auctions featured three luxury trips to Italy. The evening raised a record $720,000 for the Center which provides more than 43,000 immigrants in DC and Maryland with services that include medical and dental clinics, job training programs and social services. [gallery ids="99214,103496,103494" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • March 22, 2011

The Georgetowner and Downtowner newspapers held their Spring Arts Preview Part at the Daily Grill in the Georgetown Inn, Feb. 24. Publisher Sonya Bernhardt and marketing director Adra Williams welcomed the friendly crowd. Features editor Gary Tischler, well known and respected in the arts community, touted Washington’s arts scene and reminded everyone that, despite all the digital media in our hands, it is best to experience the arts first hand as a member of the audience. It is an intimacy you cannot simply download. [gallery ids="99616,105079,105100,105096,105092,105084,105088" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner • March 17, 2011

For more information visit ProjectHopeFoundation.org

Georgetowner • March 16, 2011

To benefit Childhelp on Feb 22, 2011 [gallery ids="99620,105109,105125,105121,105114,105117" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

On Feb. 28, the 2011 Helen Hayes Awards Nominations were fittingly announced in the Helen Hayes Gallery at the National Theatre where the actress saw her first play. Chairman of the Board Victor Shargai termed Washington theatre amazing and said that it not only entertains, it transforms. He went on to announce that No Rules Theater Company and Factory 449 would each receive the 2010 John Aniello Award for outstanding emerging theater company. The Folger Theatre’s three productions all received nominations for outstanding resident play. President and CEO Linda Levy Grossman said the organization will be undergoing significant changes in coming months. A Helen Hayes stamp will be official released at the 27th Helen Hayes Awards of Apr. 25. [gallery ids="99618,105094,105110,105106,105099,105103" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

In preparation for their 40th Anniversary Concert Celebration which raised $500,000 for the Duke Ellington School of the Arts at the Kennedy Center on Feb. 24, the legendary band held a master class at the school the preceding day. For over four decades, Earth, Wind & Fire has captivated audiences through its blend of soul, funk, gospel, blues, rock, and jazz. The concert was the latest installment in the Performance Series of Legends that has featured David Chappelle, Denyce Graves and Stevie Wonder as a revenue source for the school. Founded in l974, Duke Ellington is the only D.C. high school that provides pre-professional arts training and college preparation to more than 500 talented area students and can boast a 98% graduation rate with 95% of its seniors being accepted into colleges, universities and conservatories.
[gallery ids="99617,105089,105093" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner • February 23, 2011

On Feb. 16, the L’Enfant Society chose Cities on 19th Street to host the 2011 Ball on the Mall Kick-Off Event. Now in its third year, the Society has raised $700,000 to support the Trust for the National Mall. The Trust is the official non-profit partner of the National Park Service dedicated to restoring and improving the National Mall. The goal is to build awareness of the current disrepair and make the Mall the best park in the world. This year’s Ball will be held of May 7 on the National Mall.