Social Scene

Georgetowner • October 13, 2014

Diane Coburn Bruning, artistic director of the Chamber Dance Project, began an evening of evolving artistry, a progressive evening of creativity, with a garden reception at the Arts Club of Washington Oct. 2. Guests were then divided into two groups to hear an original piece for violin, viola and cello, “Wild Swans,” by Chia Patino or to assist in choreographing a new work danced by Francesca Dugarte and Andile Ndlovu. They then reassembled to view video highlights of the past season and learn about next year’s program before viewing the new work they had helped create. [gallery ids="101885,136785,136774,136787,136780" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary of Washington, D.C, President Deb Push welcomed more than 500 attendees to the Ritz Carlton Hotel at Tysons Corner Oct. 3 for its 65th Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show. Cynthia Steel Vance and Catherine Thompson co-chaired the fashion show committee. Fox 5’s Sue Palka and Tony Perkins emceed the program as Major Lewis Reckline presented the Berniece Edwards Auxiliary Leadership Award to Steele’s mother, Dotsy Steele. There were raves for the stunning fashions from Bloomingdale’s Tysons Corner, as selected by stylist and show producer Barbara McConaghy. Proceeds benefit the Turning Point Center and Camp Happyland.
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Georgetowner •

Newly installed Rector Gini Gerbasi invited furry friends or stuffed animals to the 9 a.m. service held at St. John’s Church on O Street Oct. 5. The four-footers received treats and blessed medals at Communion to mark the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. The Washington Animal Rescue League brought two adoptable dogs, and the Washington Humane Society passed out information at a 2 p.m. service on the lawn, which included a prayer for pets no longer with us. While the honorees enjoyed treats donated by the Cheeky Puppy in Dupont Circle, their humans were delighted with their own generous edibles provided by G’Town Bites, which recently opened on O Street. [gallery ids="101879,136875,136881,136888,136884" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • October 9, 2014

The Georgetown Gala, the annual black-tie soiree of the Citizens Association of Georgetown, will honor Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans and his wife Michele Seiver Evans on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Italian Embassy.

The gala will bring together more than 400 residents, organizations, businesses and politicos to celebrate Georgetown and CAG’s mission of historic preservation and improving the life of the community. Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero and his wife Laura Denise Bisogniero have opened the embassy, which is at Whitehaven Street and Massachusetts Avenue, NW, for the town’s big bash.

“Fly Me to the Moon” is the theme of the gala and will give the evening, which begins 7 p.m., “a cool Rat Pack-‘Mad Men’ vibe,” CAG assures – with cocktails, gourmet Italian dinner buffet, music and dancing, live auction items – along with an after party.

The honorees are long-time Georgetown residents and well known throughout Washington, D.C. Jack Evans is the longest-serving member of the District Council, representing Ward 2 since 1991. Chair of the Committee on Finance and Revenue, Jack Evans is closely involved with decisions on D.C. taxes and budgets. He was in the forefront in pushing for approval of the Verizon Center and Nationals Park. Most recently, he ran for Mayor of the District of Columbia. Michele Evans is very active in CAG and the Georgetown Gala, the main fundraiser for the community non-profit. She strongly supports the Georgetown House Tour and several groups which help maintain community parks.

Co-chairs Jennifer Altemus, Colleen Girouard and Robin Jones along with their committee are putting together the evening’s entertainment to include Danny Meyers and his D.C. Love band, playing dance music during cocktails and dinner, a live auction that features Fox News commentator Griff Jenkins and an after party – starting at 10 p.m. – with deejay Trophy Brothers and lots of dancing.

Live auction offerings include a Nationals MVP package (four Presidents Club tickets, a baseball autographed by Stephen Strasburg and more), a cocktail party for 25 persons at Evermay, a five-night stay in a Sicilian villa,
a three-night stay at the Vail Four Seasons, a three-night getaway to the Landings on Skidaway Island in Savannah, Ga., and a Washington weekend with an overnight at the Georgetown Four Seasons, spa treatments, dining and rooftop cocktails at the Capella. Silent auction items include dinners at Kafé Leopold, Unum and Peacock Café, plus glassware by A Mano, a wine package and more.

Honorary chairs for the gala are Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero and his wife Laura Denise, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, Selwa “Lucky” Roosevelt, former Sen. Joseph Lieberman and his wife Hadassah, and John DeGioia, president of Georgetown University, and Kitty Kelley.

Sponsors include Capital Asset Management Group, MRP Realty, Rooney Properties, Kitty Kelley, Long & Foster Exclusive Affiliate of Christie’s International, Nancy Taylor Bubes of Washington Fine Properties, SB Urban, Chesapeake Management Group, Clyde’s Restaurant Group, Jamestown Properties-EastBanc, Georgetown University, the JBG Companies, the Levy Group, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Securitas Security Services USA, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, M.C. Dean, Georgetown Exxon & Georgetown Shell, Four Seasons Hotel Washington D.C., Georgetown BID, Creel Printing-Digital Lizard, EagleBank, the Georgetowner, the Georgetown Current and Second Chance.

Visit CAG’s website – CAGtown.org – for details on ticket purchases as well as corporate and individual sponsorships, or call CAG headquarters at 202-337-7313.

Mary Bird • September 30, 2014

The Washington Home & Community Hospices held a memorial and tribute bricks dedication to loved ones in the reflection garden on Sept. 14. Alexandra Villard de Borchgrave, founder of the Light of Healing Hope Foundation, who has generously donated thousands of volumes of her inspirational poetry prompted by the losses September 11, provided copies of her most recent compilation, “Healing Courage Messages of Love, Hope, and Strength,” available Oct. 1. “We are blessed when we share the stories of our loved ones and when we listen to others’ stories,” Rev. Robert Wellington said, as red chrysanthemums were placed on the memorial bricks.

Mary Bird • September 29, 2014

The Friends of Book Hill Park was founded in 2000 by the late Ed Thomson and Julia Diaz-Asper to supplement government funding in supporting the grounds behind the Georgetown Public Library. On Sept, 18, a sellout crowd was in attendance as acclaimed author Kitty Kelley hosted a benefit to ensure the preservation and maintenance of this now vibrant park with the completion of the new shade garden and trident fence. [gallery ids="101868,137602,137629,137626,137608,137613,137617,137622" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner • September 26, 2014

The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts hosted its annual ball Saturday, Sept. 13. The soiree was held on the stage of the Filene Center and was presented in partnership with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates. The night’s entertainment, décor and cuisine paid tribute to Emirati culture, with guests smoking hookahs in a makeshift lounge and sporting henna art painted on-site. The event raised more than $1 million for the foundation’s arts and education programs and was well attended by members of the area’s political class, including Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) and Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe.

Photos by Neshan H. Naltchayan [gallery ids="101866,137639,137636" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

On Sept. 10, D.C.’s Dancing Stars Gala hosted a pre-event launch party to kick off its first annual black-tie dancing challenge taking place on Oct. 25. Event chair Maria Coakley David, executive director Susannah Moss and presenting sponsor Fred Astaire Dance Studio D.C. welcomed over 200 guests to the Huxley. The gala will generate thousands of dollars to support local charities. Eleven local celebrities will compete to be crowned the first D.C.’s Dancing Star Champion. [gallery ids="101869,137601,137597" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Judy A. Greenberg, director of the Kreeger Museum, welcomed neighbors for a glass of wine and a stroll through the Sculpture Garden on Sept. 7 to view the museum’s newest works. They included sculpture by Emile Brzezinski, whose exhibit, “The Lure of the Forest,” will be on display Sept. 16 to Dec. 27. Guests gathered by the reflecting pool to learn about the museum’s capital campaign to develop five acres of land. They were warmly told “don’t make this your first and only visit. We want you to think of this as your museum.” The sculpture garden is open free to the public. [gallery ids="101867,137631" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

On Sept. 4, the Fairmont hotel toasted the near completion of a five-month project of exterior resurfacing. Guests in the hotel’s courtyard enjoyed signature lemon honey highballs, barbecue, a photo booth and raffles on free stays at Fairmont resort hotels. All proceeds from the event will go towards Team Fairmont participating in the Best Buddies Challenge. The walk, run and bike ride raises funds for Best Buddies International, a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.