Social Scene

Georgetowner • May 17, 2012

Wednesday, April 17th was the kickoff reception at Café Milano to announce the co-chairs for the 2012 Knock Out Abuse Against Women fundraising dinner.

The co-chairs are Charrisse Jackson-Jordan and Michelle Schoenfeld. The date is November 1, at the Ritz-Carlton in the West End (the one at 22nd & M). Andre Wells will once again design the gala.
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Georgetowner • May 16, 2012

On Apr. 30, Councilman Jack Evans presented the 2012 Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington to former D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams. The event at the Hamilton recognized Williams?s dedication and leadership on behalf of the Washington?s vibrant restaurant industry. For over 90 years, RAMW has been ?fighting for the right to eat, drink and be merry, hospitably, responsibly and profitably.? The annual gala ?Hats Off to Restaurants!? will be held at the Marriot Wardman Park June 24.

Jade Floyd •

The perfect pairing goes beyond bites and sips as food and wine festivals spring to life throughout the summer, many of them with a purpose of not only nourishing your palette, but also feeding the community. Add to the recipe a dash of music and a charitable endeavor and you have a dish that just might overwhelm the senses.

Celebrity chefs like Tom Colicchio, Emeril Lagasse and Mario Batali have all sharpened their knives for a cause and spearheaded their own philanthropic endeavors from pediatric AIDS to anti-hunger initiatives. DC’s own Spike Mendelsohn is joining their ranks, as he hosts “Sound Bites” on May 20th for DC Central Kitchen (DCCK). For more than 23 years DCCK has whipped up meals feeding underprivileged populations across the city, all with the purpose of using food as a tool for empowerment. DC chefs have engaged by mentoring DCCK students, inviting them for internships in their kitchens and judging student cook-offs.

Mendelsohn, along with 9:30 Club, the Thievery Corporation’s Eric Hilton, Brightest Young Things, and 15 noted D.C. restaurants have come together to raise awareness and funds for DCCK. The event mixes charity, food and music with DJ sets by Will Eastman and performances by Bones Fur Feather, The Archives and Nappy Riddem. Participating restaurants include BONMI, Borinquen, Cork, Della?s, Dolce Gelati, Harry?s Smokehouse, Indique, Jackie?s, Mie N Yu, Pepe Food Truck by Jose Andres, Policy, Rappahannock Oysters, Room 11, Shake Shack and Taylor Gourmet. Also part of the festivities is a cocktail competition with DC’s spiciest mixologists from Oyamel, the Passenger, Fujimar and The Gibson.

We are uniquely positioned to take further advantage of the relationships built within the restaurant and hospitality industry through these events, says Paul Day of DCCK. Sound Bites taps into a younger audience with its festival atmosphere, the 9:30 club, and hip beats from local bands.

The event is designed to raise funds for the eight programs housed at DCCK, including the Culinary Job Training program that utilizes experienced local chefs to mentor students and guide them towards their culinary futures. DCCK identifies 25 students each semester to participate in 16-week-long culinary immersion courses. Their mission is to prepare unemployed, underemployed, formerly incarcerated persons, and homeless adults for careers in the foodservice industry.? Careers that can land them a position in restaurants such as the ones that have joined forces for Sound Bites. In fact, 90 percent of graduates obtain jobs after graduation and today they serve in reputable places like the Gaylord National Resort and Smithsonian Institution.

Day said that “Events like Sound Bites help us build relationships in the culinary world and find internships, employment and additional training experiences for our Culinary Job Training program students.” In 2011, 78 percent of graduates from the program were formerly incarcerated and nearly 70 percent had struggled with addiction. DCCK goes beyond the traditional roles associated with anti-hunger programs. They train low-income and disadvantaged populations to become productive members of the community.

Tickets for Sound Bites are $40 and are available at www.ticketfly.com or the 9:30 Club and Merriweather Post Pavilion box offices. For more information, visit [www.soundbitesdc.com](http://www.soundbitesdc.com).

**Upcoming Food and Wine Festivals for a Cause**
* DC101 Chili Cook-Off May 21st at the RFK Stadium benefiting the National Kidney Foundation’s programs.

* The 19th Annual Taste of Georgetown takes place June 2nd benefitting
the Georgetown Ministry Center’s services supporting the homeless.

* National Association for the Specialty Food Trade Summer Fancy Food Show on June 17th to 19th with more than 2,400 exhibitors from around the world, presenting more than 180,000 specialty foods. Last year, exhibitors donated 100,000 pounds of specialty foods and beverages – enough to fill eight tractor trailers – to the DC Central Kitchen.

***Jade Floyd is a managing associate at a D.C.-based international public relations firm and has served on the board of directors for the D.C. Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative for nearly five years. She is a frequent volunteer and host of fundraising events across the District, supporting arts, animal welfare and education related causes.***

Georgetowner • May 15, 2012

Recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award, the Shakespeare Theatre presented the tenth Will on the Hill, Speak the Speech, I Pray You!, at Sidney Harman Hall on May 7. Politicians, lobbyists and journalists clearly delighted in spoofing the Bard as a director and stage manager corralled a stellar cast for a benefit performance of Romeo and Juliet. Proceeds from the evening, which included a reception and buffet dinner, support the theatre?s many education, artistic and community engagement programs to instill an appreciation of classical theatre in learners of all ages.

Emma Watters • May 10, 2012

The Trust for the National Mall held its fifth annual benefit luncheon on a sunny Thursday at the National Mall May 3. Former first lady Laura Bush, honorary chair of the Campaign for the National Mall, spoke to fellow supporters at the historic space, administered by the National Park Service. The trust announced the winners of the National Mall Design Competition where renowned design teams produced sustainable and functional concepts.

Three teams will redesign Constitution Gardens, Union Square, an 11-acre area, west of the Capitol, that contains the Capitol Reflecting Pool and Grant Memorial, and the Washington Monument grounds. The trust plans to make these designs a reality in time for the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016.

Winners Are:

Constitution Gardens: Rogers Marvel & Peter Walker and Partners

Union Square: Gustafson Guthrie Nichol & Brody Bond

The Washington Monumnet Grounds: OLIN & Weiss/ Manfredi

For details, visit www.nps.gov

Winners of the National Mall Design Competition [gallery ids="100785,123761" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner • May 4, 2012

Voto Latino’s “Our Voices: Celebrating Diversity in Media” made a great start to the pre-parties surrounding the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, April 27, on the rooftop of the Hay-Adams Hotel.
Along with Maria Teresa Kumar and Brunswick Group’s David Sutphen, actress Rosario Dawson, co-founder of Voto Latino, had awards for Huffington Post’s Arianna Huffington, MSNBC president Phil Griffin and Debra Lee, CEO of BET, who could not make the Friday night party because President Barack Obama was at her house for a fundraiser.
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Mary Bird • May 3, 2012

Oklahoma is not the only play enjoying a return visit this season. Constellation Theatre Company is bringing back Ramayana based on Indian mythology, which played to sold out houses at Source last year. The production, which will open a three-week run on Aug. 4, will reassemble half the cast and have the welcome addition of Matthew McGloin, who charmed in On the Razzle, playing the monkey Hanuman. On July 11, Constellation’s Artistic Director Allison Stockman presided over a design presentation introducing new and old members of the ensemble and showcasing Kendra Rai’s stunning costumes and two-time Helen Hayes Award winner Tom Teasley’s onstage music. Guests then mingled at a wine and cheese reception. [gallery ids="100243,106660,106656,106639,106652,106648,106644" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Amy and Brian Thomas held a cocktail reception on July 12 to introduce their new Georgetown beauty emporium. Guests toured the two-floor “beauty and body retreat” and enjoyed canapés and cocktails by DC Taste in the landscaped garden. The first floor features rarely found product lines such as Becca Cosmetics, Butter London and GlamGlow. The second-floor offers top European and Asian spa treatments including Intraceuticals Oxygen Infusion facials, exclusive LashDip mascara treatments and Softsense gentle waxing from Italy. Interior designer William McGovern terms his design concept “nostalgic modern glamour,” in other words, stunning. The Thomases intend to expand in the Washington area in the next two years and then bring their luxury treatments to cities in Texas. [gallery ids="102537,120090,120100,120096,120081" nav="thumbs"]