Social Scene

Robert Devaney • October 10, 2013

Amid scenes of the Paris opera house and Eiffel Tower, the Wolf Trap Ball Sept. 21 — under the patronage of Ambassador of France Francois Delattre and his wife Sophie L’Helias-Delattre — moved elegantly into songs, dining and dancing despite the evening’s downpours. On stage in front of the opera house backdrop, built by the Wolf Trap Opera Company production team, soprano Mireille Asselin sang “Juliette’s Waltz.” Ball co-chairs Karen Schaufeld spoke of the power of music and memory and Sean O’Keefe thanked major sponsor Airbus and saluted the U.S.-France partnership, which Delattre said has “never been stronger than … today.” It was the first ball for the new boss, Wolf Trap’s President and CEO Arvind Manocha. The gala-goers stayed to dance to the likes of “I Got a Feeling” and “Blurred Lines.” The ball raised more than $1 million — a record — for Wolf Trap. [gallery ids="101464,152966,152976,152972,152960,152980" nav="thumbs"]

Neshan Naltchayan • October 3, 2013

The opening of Opera Ultra Lounge. [gallery ids="99229,103579,103595,103591,103584,103587" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • October 2, 2013

The 2013 Georgetown Gala — the annual black tie Citizens Association of Georgetown event that brings together more than 350 guests, neighbors, sponsors and politicos to celebrate Georgetown and CAG’s mission of historic preservation and improving the life of the community — will be held Oct. 18 and will honor Herbert and Patrice Miller. 

As this is the Year of Italian Culture in the U.S., the event will be held for the first time at the stunning Italian Embassy on Whitehaven Street. Ambassador and Mrs. Claudio Bisogniero will be honorary chairs. The Venetian Carnivale masked ball features a refined Italian dinner buffet, fabulous entertainment, unique live auction items, a hip after party and more. 

The honorees, Herbert and Patrice Miller are long-time Georgetown residents and patrons. In 1967, Herb Miller founded Western Development Corporation, a Washington D.C.-based real estate development and management organization with a 44-year history of innovative mixed-use development. Of particular interest to Georgetown, WDC has been involved in the Georgetown Park retail development, as well as the beautification of Washington Harbor. The Millers were Georgetown residents for decades until this past April when they sold their Federal-style row house on N Street.  The gala committee agreed: “We couldn’t let them leave without a proper goodbye.” 

Gala co-chairs Colleen Girouard and Robin Jones are making exciting changes to the evening’s program. For the first time in the history of the gala, the formal event will be followed by an after party with dancing until 1 a.m., to be hosted and attended by the younger set of Georgetown. The evening’s entertainment will include guests serenaded by opera performers upon arrival, the D.C. Love Band playing dance music during cocktails and dinner, followed by DJ Adrian Loving, upping the tempo and getting everyone  dancing . Floral décor will once again be coordinated by Fabio Ripoli of Georgetown’s own Ultra Violet. His take on the Venetian Carnivale theme will be cutting edge.

Live auction items include a week in a luxury apartment in Florence, three nights in Siena and an exceptional view of the world renowned Palio Di Siena horse race, donated by Simone Bemporad at Bemporad and Associates, the popular Scavenger Hunt Dinner Adventure, an opulent Four Seasons package, an Ermenegildo Zegna Made-to-Measure suit, donated by Ermenegildo Zegna, and “Skin Is In” Men’s and Women’s revolutionary treatment packages, donated by Tina Alster, M.D., Washington Institute for Dermatological Laser Surgery. 

The gala’s honorary chairs are Ambassador and Mrs. Claudio Bisogniero, D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, Selwa “Lucky” Roosevelt, Senator and Mrs. Joseph Lieberman, John J. DeGioia, president of Georgetown University, author Kitty Kelley and entrepreneur and philanthropist Mark Ein.

Sponsors, as of Sept. 17, include Capital Asset Management Group, Manhattan Construction Company, Beasley Real Estate, Long & Foster-Exclusive Affiliate of Christie’s International, Nancy Taylor Bubes of Washington Fine Properties,  Clyde’s Restaurant Group, Georgetown University, the Levy Group, Jamestown Properties, Western Development Corporation, Vornado Realty Trust, Coldwell Banker Georgetown, Georgetown University Hospital, M.C. Dean, Inc., Securitas Security Services USA, Creel Printing – Digital Lizard, EagleBank, the Georgetowner, Bruce & Shelley Ross-Larson, CDI, PNC Mortgage and the Georgetown Current. 

One of the “Community Pillars” to be noted for the gala is Manhattan Construction, a privately held company in its fourth generation of Rooney family ownership. It is ranked in the top 50 largest construction companies in America. Founded in 1896, Manhattan has been building major projects in Washington for over 30 years. The company history includes legacy works like the Capitol Visitors Center and Dallas Cowboys Stadium. The company has a deep commitment to Georgetown and the owner, Ambassador Francis Rooney, is not only a graduate of Georgetown Prep, Georgetown University and Georgetown University Law Center, but he and his wife Kathleen are also new neighbors in the Georgetown community. Another Georgetown neighbor, James Lee, runs the company’s regional construction operation and is president of Rooney Properties, a real estate investment and development division. 

For more information, visit the CAG website — www.CAGtown.org — or contact the CAG office.

Robert Devaney •

The Georgetown Business Association said goodbye to summer and hello to fall Sept. 18 near the banks of the Potomac at the newly opened Malmaison Restaurant at 34th & K Streets. The group looks to enlarge its membership and extend its advocacy of all things Georgetown this coming season. [gallery ids="101470,152901,152893,152896,152907,152905" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner • September 26, 2013

The Kennedy Center Concert Hall burst at the seams Feb. 29, as music lovers delighted in a rare Washington appearance of the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Maestro Lorin Mazel. The dazzling program included works by Mozart, Sibelius and Richard Strauss with a wonderful encore of The Blue Danube Waltz. Wells Fargo underwrote the evening which for the fortunate included a post-performance dinner upstairs in the atrium, where WPAS president and CEO Neale Perl welcomed guests. Austrian Ambassador Hans Peter Manz remarked, “I am just the luckiest ambassador you could imagine. I have only been here three months and claim full responsibility for the success of this evening.” [gallery ids="100522,119258,119214,119251,119223,119244,119232,119239" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • September 25, 2013

“Do I have to pick just one?” asked Kevin Chaffee, senior editor at Washington Life and senior associate at Qorvis Communications, when asked about his favorite galas and charitable events. Among other editorial duties, Chaffee has covered the Washington social scene for decades, beginning with assignments around Georgetown to the Washington Times and then to Washington Life.

Chaffee looks to events, seasoned with style and creativity. While saying that the opening nights for the Washington National Opera, Washington Symphony, Washington Ballet and other performing arts galas are always high on the list, Chaffee tagged the PEN-Faulkner Gala as a top favorite, which he has attended for many years. “It always has an interesting theme,” he said. “I look to see how the authors run with the one-word theme.” The gala is on Oct. 7.

The Georgetowner’s own social scene correspondent Mary Bird had a few favorites on her mind. “There are so many gala events to attract supporters of every persuasion that it is difficult to single out only a few,” she said. ” The competition is fierce. My personal loves are animals and the arts. Major events that I support — the Washington Humane Society, Sugar and Champagne, Fashion for Paws and the Bark Ball — do not occur in the fall.”

“If I were to single out a few for the season just launched, I would start with the Harman Center for the Arts, on Oct. 6,” Bird said. “This year, Elizabeth McGovern will accept the William Shakespeare Award for Classical Theatre and the Sidney Harman Award for Philanthropy in the Arts will be presented to KPMG, LLP. The evening begins with a reception and performance at Sidney Harman Hall after which guests are escorted to the National Building Museum for dinner and dancing.”

Bird’s other favorites include: Unmask the Night, “a grande masquerade soirée,” presented by the Jeté Society and the Women’s Committee of the Washington Ballet on Oct. 26; the 25th Arts for the Aging Benefit Gala on Nov. 5; and a longtime care, Knock Out Abuse, on Nov. 14.

As for yours truly, choosing what to cover is mostly an editorial choice for our readers. I agree with what my colleagues said. I also enjoy events that focus on the sciences and the military. For me, National Geographic Gala this year knocked it out of the park. The upcoming Georgetown Gala is a must: fun with the neighbors. Also, S&R’s Night Nouveau should prove interesting. Be that as it may, go to what you love. [gallery ids="101466,152950" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

With a good amount of shows set in Washington, D.C., although not filmed here, Elizabeth Webster of the District Council paid her own way to the 65th Primetime Emmys Sept. 22 in Los Angeles. Working on Councilman Vincent Orange’s team to promote film production jobs in D.C., Webster met with her Hollywood friends to attend the big show. “Veep,” “Homeland,” “House of Cards” and “Kennedy Center Honors” grabbed some Emmys Sunday night. [gallery ids="101465,152959,152958,152953" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

Committee members gathered Sept. 10 at Meridian House in anticipation of Meridian’s daylong summit and big ball on Oct. 18. The Global Leadership Summit is part of the Meridian-Gallup Global Leadership Series, which examines the state of global leadership at the global and national levels and discusses factors driving public opinion of U.S. leadership in more than 160 countries. The Global Leadership Summit will culminate at the 45th Annual Meridian Ball Oct. 18 at Meridian House. [gallery ids="101463,152986,152987,152981" nav="thumbs"]