Social Scene

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.

Robert Devaney • September 25, 2014

DBGB Kitchen and Bar kicked off its opening with a Sept. 12 food party that will be tough to top. The great food and good, Gallic cheer did not subside. Chef Daniel Boulud, who got his start in Washington, said he was happy to welcome to D.C. The casual French-American restaurant DBGB marks the New York-based chef’s first restaurant in D.C. and is at CityCenter on H Street, NW. On hand were hundreds of Boulud’s friends and admirers — and, of course, his family and his famous chef pals. Boulud said of his D.C. mentor and pioneering chef Jean-Louis Palladin: “He was the finest chef Washington ever had.”
[gallery ids="101864,137658,137648,137654" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

The entire Behar family was on hand Sept. 18 for a grand opening party for the new Ike Behar store at 2900 M St., NW. The shop has been open for a few months. Founder Ike Behar along with Regina, Steven, Alan and Lawrence Behar greeted friends and clients. [gallery ids="101865,137642" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner • September 15, 2014

The 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards was held Aug. 25 at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles to salute the best in prime television programming. Comedian Seth Myers was the host. Elizabeth Webster of the District Council attended the show and the L.A. parties. On her own dime, she mixed business with pleasure, seeing her California friends and talking up film production in Washington, D.C. Webster works for At-Large Councilmember Vincent Orange, who is an advocate for small business as well as bringing more film production jobs to the District.

For Webster, one of her favorite moments at the Emmys was Billy Crystal’s tribute to Robin Williams for his many decades in TV. “It was so touching,” she said. At the same time, she said, “I was sorry not to see “House of Cards” and Kevin Spacey win more awards, as they had been nominated in 13 categories.”

Webster and her friends — one of them, Joyce Chow said she just “loved the humor of Sofia Vergara” — checked out most of the parties before and after the awards show, including Entertainment Weekly at Fig & Olive, BAFTA Tea, the post-Emmys Governor’s Ball, the very exclusive Netflix party at Chateau Marmount and the after after VIP Netflix party with the Emmy winners.