Social Scene

Mary Bird • January 11, 2016

The Washington International Piano Arts Council celebrated the culture and music of the Americas at its annual gala held on Nov. 13 at the Organization of American States. WIPAC’s board chair and founder Chateau Gardecki expressed her appreciation to the co-chairs: OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro and Ambassador of the Philippines Jose L. Cusia, Jr. Proceeds from the annual gala benefit the Festival of Music and the Washington International Piano Competition for talented amateur pianists from around the world. [gallery ids="102178,132229,132240,132236" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

The Library of Congress awarded 82-year-old Willie Nelson, country music singer and songwriter, the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song — its top musical award. Nelson is the seventh recipient of the prize. A stirring musical tribute was held Nov. 18 at DAR Constitution Hall.

Mary Bird •

The American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation (ARCCF) saluted its outgoing longtime chairman, James W. Symington, at the Russian Ambassador’s residence on Nov. 17. U.S. Ambassadors to Russia John Beyrle and Thomas Pickering were among the speakers on a program that also featured renowned Russian bass from the Mariinsky Theater Askar Abdrazakov. Recalling his student days singing folk songs in Russian parks, the honoree said, “I was hooked on Russia before I went and ever since.” He capped the evening by performing “Moscow Nights” before guests departed with a signed copy of his book, “Heard and Overheard: Words Wise (and Otherwise) with Politicians, Statesmen¸ and Real People.”
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Robert Devaney •

A Yuletide gathering of friends and colleagues by the D.C. Council’s Elizabeth Webster along with her co-hosts Kimberly Skyrm and Yuriy Zubabev celebrated the Washington debut of “Beverly Hills Christmas,” just in time for the big day, at Paper Moon Restaurant in Georgetown Dec. 22.

The movie, starring Dean Cain, Vincent De Paul, Donna Spangler and Ravin Spangler, is a sweet Christmastime story of life and death and of mother and daughter — and illustrates the power of redemption and unconditional love, revealing the true meaning of Christmas.

“Beverly Hills Christmas” premiered Dec. 6 on UPtv. [gallery ids="102207,131429,131431" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • December 23, 2015

The Trees for Georgetown’s Sept. 24 Fall Fling was hosted by Tom Anderson and Marc Schappell at their updated and historic home at P Street, also known as the Bodisco House. Headed by Betsy Emes, Trees for Georgetown is celebrating its 26th years as a committee of the Citizens Association of Georgetown. The group provides maintenance services for trees in the oldest neighborhood in Washington, D.C., and it has planted more than 2,500 trees. [gallery ids="102204,131486,131469,131474,131445,131453,131461,131479" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

Author Kitty Kelley celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of America’s greatest crooner by signing copies of her reissused 1986 book, “His Way: The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra,” with hundreds of her friends Dec. 9 at Ristorante i Ricchi on 19th Street NW.

“Who would’ve thought that we’d be here tonight celebrating the 100th birthday of Frank Sinatra?” said Kelley, who added that she was sued by the singer before she’d written a word. “The day he hit me with his $2 million lawsuit was the day I fully understood what the First Amendment was all about.” Writers’ and journalists’ groups stepped up to support her.

“For me, the best part of tonight is that the life story of a man with only 47 days of education before he dropped out of high school in Hoboken, New Jersey, will benefit Reading is Fundamental,” said Kelley, raising her champagne glass to toast both Ol’ Eyes and the First Amendment.

Chef Christianne Ricchi chose Italian immigrant food as light fare, ranging from sausages, mozzarella sticks to meatballs in spaghetti nests. And, yes, Sinatra dropped that lawsuit.
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Mary Bird • December 22, 2015

This year’s featured film was a special screening of Ron Howard’s “In the Heart of the Sea,” relating the true story of the whaler Essex which inspired Herman Melville to write “Moby Dick.” The evening began with an Asian buffet at Spices Dec. 9 before guests strolled across Connecticut Avenue to the Uptown Theater, where PBS Newshour’s Judy Woodruff emceed a program honoring Vicky Marchand, former president of Woodley House, and Kana Enomoto, Acting Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Since 1958, Woodley House has been a leader in innovative mental health care, helping more than 15,000 men and women on a pathway to recovery from crisis care to eventual supported independence in shared apartments.
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Georgetowner •

The 35th Annual Choral Arts Holiday Concert & Gala filled the Kennedy Center with song Dec. 14. Under the honorary patronage of Singapore Ambassador Ashok Mirpuri and Mrs. Gouri Mirpuri, the evening celebrated the 50th anniversary of Choral Arts and the 50th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Singapore. The concert featured Singapore Youth Choir singers from Singapore in special arrangement with the embassy. Founded in 1965 by its artistic director emeritus Norman Scribner and led by artistic director Scott Tucker, the Choral Arts Society of Washington connects choral music to all Americans and partners with worldwide organizations to develop inspiring programs.
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Georgetowner •

The newly formed Washington Opera Society celebrated the holidays Dec. 11 at the Q St. Fine Art Gallery. The group’s executive director Michael J. Reilly spoke of the mission of programming older show music, operetta and lesser known opera as well as bringing students the magic of classical music. Between hors d’oeuvres and dinner Scott Beard conducted a program of holiday music and operatic favorites sung by Nicole Butler, Jesús Daniel Hernández, Kwangkyu Lee, Narda Munoz and Dariusz Ocetek. The 2016 season will showcase Gounod’s “Romeo et Juliette” and an evening of opera and Latin dancing under the stars.
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Georgetowner •

Santa Claus and Rudolph made an early appearance Dec. 1 at the Fairmont’s 12th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. The event collected more than 500 gifts for Toys for Tots. Festivities included entertainment by the Georgetown Visitation Madrigals, presentation of colors by the U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard, family photographs as well as arts and crafts for children. NBC4 News anchor Angie Goff emceed, as 200 people enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies.
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