Social Scene

Mary Bird • November 6, 2014

Sally Jones and Irene Natividad co-chaired NMWA’s Fall Benefit on Oct. 30, featuring a dinner performance by concert and cabaret star Karen Akers, to benefit the Shenson Chamber Music Concerts led by Artistic Director Gilan Tocco Corn as well as education programming and the upcoming groundbreaking exhibition Picturing Mary: Woman, Mother, Idea. Following a standing ovation¸ Akers accepted the museum’s Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts from Founder Wilhelmina Cole Holladay by quoting Tommy Tune, “I find this very encouraging.” [gallery ids="101912,136258,136265,136252,136263" nav="thumbs"]

Erin Schaff •

The science fiction film, “Interstellar,” made its North American and Washington, D.C., premiere — appropriately enough — at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum Nov. 5. Directed, co-written and co-produced by Christopher Nolan, known for his Batman movies, “Interstellar” tells the tale of a dying Earth, which humankind must depart for its own survival through a wormhole and find a new home. Actors Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain along with Nolan and his wife Emma Thomas, a co-producer of “Interstellar,” greeted fans and media in front of the Air & Space Museum at the National Mall before viewing the film at the museum’s IMAX theater. The film is seen as a booster for manned space exploration and is influenced by such science fiction classics as “2001: a Space Odyssey.” It opens nationwide Nov. 7. [gallery ids="101908,136358,136332,136361,136354,136337,136341,136346,136350" nav="thumbs"]

Neshan Naltchayan • October 31, 2014

Unlike other fundraisers in D.C., the Go Bo party puts its emphasis on casual attire, fun, laughter, good live music, lots of booze and tries to include the best people that all have a blast under a wedding tent at the 29th Street home of Deb and Ben Johns, held on Sept. 5. This year’s theme was “the Tacky Wedding.”

“People are always fired up to get together after the summer, and this is their first opportunity to re-connect,” said Johns. While in the sixth grade, their son Bo battled cancer. He saw many kids and their families that needed help during his 87 days at Georgetown University Hospital. So, the Johns family created the Go Bo Fund to assist them. Money raised by the party goes straight into the Emergency Family Relief Fund.
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Robert Devaney • October 27, 2014

The Friends of Volta Park gathered June 8 for its 14th annual cocktail party and silent auction at Georgetown Visitation Prep, one block from the D.C. public park. The group — founded by John Richardson in 1995 and headed by Mimsy Lindner — rescued Volta Park from a closed pool and overgrown plants, maintains the landscape and is a strong advocate for this green place in the middle of town. Mayor Vincent Gray said at the party that the park with its playground, tennis courts, pool, baseball field, used by many Georgetown families, is an example of how a public-private partnership should work. Gray was also happy to announce that Volta Park would be receiving $200,000 for playground upgrades as part of the fiscal 2013 budget that includes $9.7 million for park improvements throughout the city. The well-arranged auction added money to the effort, of course, but the party (with food and beverages from 1789 Restaurant) still stole the show. It was a relaxed, noisy mix of neighbors, public servants and business leaders who lingered in the hallway and rooms, glad to see each other. [gallery ids="100845,126529,126523,126516" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • October 24, 2014

The second incarnation of Night Nouveau – “Not for the Quaint of Heart” – sought to evoke a surrealistic response from its attendees on Oct. 11. Many were up to the challenge, as they met a maze with mimes in the backyard of Halcyon House which led to the downstairs for the ballroom. The back driveway featured a projection of a fish tank, and guests and performance artists danced in the ballroom to the spins of DJ Dirty Hands. Daikaya and Sushiko provided savories with dessert from Dolci Gelati, Georgetown Cupcake and Peruvian Brothers; the after party was at Malmaison. All the fun and whimsy benefitted the S&R Foundation. [gallery ids="101895,136694,136689,136708,136712,136700,136705" nav="thumbs"]

Sonya Bernhardt •

The 46th Annual Meridian Ball held on Friday, Oct. 17, proved again to be one of Washington’s most elegant evenings. The ball was held at the Meridian House, Eugene Meyer’s home while raising daughter Katharine Graham, both past publishers of the Washington Post. The Meridian International Center’s mission of education on global leadership through the exchange of ideas, people and culture. The evening brought together more than 800 party-goers. Check out the Georgetowner’s photos from the evening’s celebration — and see them in the Oct. 22 print edition. [gallery ids="101889,136736,136740,136744,136747,136753,136751" nav="thumbs"]

Erin Schaff •

Chez Billy Sud was standing-room-only for its opening party in the former Cafe LaRuche space at 1039 31st St., NW. Owners Eric and Ian Hilton of the Thievery Corporation and executive chef Brendan L’Etoile greeted guests in the revamped French restaurant. [gallery ids="101898,136654,136661,136648,136643,136622,136639,136633,136628,136658" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Three theatrical legends were recognized with the William Shakespeare Award for Classical Theatre at the Harman Center for the Arts Gala Oct. 5. John Hurt and Stacy Keach received their awards from artistic director Michael Kahn. Master of ceremonies Judith Light accepted on behalf of Diana Rigg, who was unable to attend. The Beech Street Foundation received the Sidney Harman Award for Philanthropy in the Arts. Following the program, guests went to the National Building Museum with decor inspired by Leonato’s garden from “Much Ado About Nothing.” The gala raised more than $1 million for the theater’s art education programs

Mary Bird •

Iron Chef Jose Garces’s arrival on the Washington dining scene with the opening of Rural Society in the Loews Madison Hotel has been a resounding success. The steakhouse takes its name from an annual event in Argentina that honors the nation’s gaucho culture. The chef as well as the chairman of Loews Hotels Jonathan Tisch were on hand for the Oct. 1 opening party in the handsome restaurant that features South America’s traditional cuisine, along with food prepared on a $20,000 wood-fired grill. To paraphrase Tisch’s concluding remarks, the best indication of a restaurant’s success is “patrons” on the seats. That is clearly the case at Rural Society. [gallery ids="101880,136870" nav="thumbs"]