Social Scene

Mary Bird • May 3, 2012

Fashion for Paws’ Tara de Nicholas and Jayne Sandman teamed up at Nectar Skin Bar and on Aug. 24 for a shopping event to benefit the Washington Humane Society. Known primarily for its annual Fashion for Paws Runway Show, in five years F4P has raised over $1.5 for the WHS through high profile events. Nectar Skin Bar showcases top beauty lines and pampering spa treatments in a stunning Wisconsin Avenue townhouse and garden oasis. Owners Amy and Brian Thomas, who also have Ipsa down the block, donated a portion of the evening’s proceeds to WHS. [gallery ids="99227,103549,103580,103554,103576,103559,103572,103564,103568" nav="thumbs"]

Neshan Naltchayan •

A reception in honor of Amb. Andrew Young and Mrs. Carolyn Young on the occasion of the dedication
of the martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Aug. 25, 2011 [gallery ids="99230,103596,103589,103593" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

On Sept. 11, there was a respite in a day of remembrance as Thai Ambassador and Ms. Nuchjaree Klongsungsorn welcomed supporters of the Spanish Steps Project to a relaxing afternoon in their residence, Codman House, at the foot of the Kalorama landmark now requiring restoration. Spanish Steps Project board president David Bender made introductory remarks on proposed plans. He hailed the board’s vice president Jean Tippett as the “grandmother of the Spanish Steps.” The ambassador and his wife charmed their guests with classical Thai dance, a fabulous Thai buffet accompanied by special wines and Thai Chang beer with the bonus of a cooking demonstration which the ambassador narrated with chef Jitapa Haoharn. Historian Paul Williams traced the history of the residence commissioned by Miss Martha Codman in 1906, which the Government of Thailand purchased in 1995 and restored to its former splendor. There was also a raffle with many happy winners garnering a Smithsonian publication, “Treasures of Two Nations: Thai Royal Gifts to the United States of America.” [gallery ids="100297,107548,107522,107544,107540,107527,107536,107532" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Sister Foundation co-hosted an international heart-healthy luncheon at the World Bank with the Embassy of Hungary and the Royal Danish Embassy on Sept. 13. Founded by Irene Pollin in 1999, Sister to Sister has pioneered in enlightening women to the risks of heart disease and its link with obesity. Throughout the week, executive chefs from the embassies of Bulgaria, Denmark, Hungary, Sweden and Thailand offered healthful preparations of their national specialties to promote heart-healthy nutrition in the workplace. Luncheon speakers included Dr. Esther Brimmer of the Department of State, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian of Harvard and JoAnne Foody of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. [gallery ids="100298,107537,107549,107542,107546" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

The International Eye Foundation celebrated its golden anniversary Sept. 18 at an Ambassadors Wine Tasting, hosted by Dr. and Mrs. Steven B. Hopping. A highlight of the event was the presentation of the 2011 Promotion of Peace and Vision Award to the King family to honor the memory of Dr. John Harry King, Jr., and his belief in “the promotion of peace through the prevention of blindness.” The IEF is in the vanguard of preventing blindness and restoring sight in the developing world. [gallery ids="100299,107547,107563,107559,107552,107555" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

While the words, “The Amazing Race,” “Modern Family,” “Mad Men,” “The Good Wife” and “The Kennedys,” read like chapter headings in a book about our nation’s capital, they are, in fact, names of TV shows or movies that earned Primetime Emmy Awards Sept. 18 in a place called Hollywood.

With occasional appearances before Congress, at the Kennedy Center or in a downtown restaurant, denizens of Georgetown, Foggy Bottom and Capitol Hill are acquainted with a few of these actors, actresses, directors and producers but know little of the inner-workings of their powerful TV and film industry, those dream factories, in a state called California.

Luckily, D.C. had some knowledgeable representation out there during Emmy Awards weekend. Businesswoman Elizabeth Webster is newly employed as director of business outreach at the District’s Committee for Small and Local Business Development which oversees the Commission on Motion Pictures and Television Development, chaired by At-large Councilman Vincent Orange. So, Webster reached out to Los Angeles, attending pre- and after-parties and the awards show during a trip that she planned and paid for before her District government job began. She is also well known as secretary of the Georgetown Business Association.

“My favorite part of the Emmy Awards show was Michael Bolton’s performance and the beautiful, colorful staging throughout the show,” said Webster, who, like many, wore a red dress to the show. “I thought Melissa McCarthy was very down to earth. I could relate to her comments in her speech about her parents’ endless support of her career.”

Clearly in her element, Webster, a former actress and model, spoke of meeting friends and former colleagues at the Governor’s Ball, HBO’s after-party, the NBC party at Spago’s in Beverly Hills and the Vanity Fair pre-party in West Hollywood. She said she was also glad to see longtime and family friend, actor Vincent De Paul, a former Marylander who lives in L.A. and whose sister lives in Georgetown.

En route back, Webster said she is preparing for public hearings before the District Council on Nov. 9, 10 a.m., with “studio executives and experts in the entertainment industry to testify about what incentives and requirements D.C. needs to implement to be more movie- and production-friendly.” Orange and his TV-film team have set a goal of getting two permanent TV series to be produced regularly out of DC. as well as increasing film production. (Mayor Vincent Gray and Orange last met with film executives in L.A. on July 21.)

Aside from rushing to fly home from sunny Southern California so soon, Webster was asked, any other vexations? “Betty White should have won in her category.”
[gallery ids="100300,107568,107557,107565,107562" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Having lost her mother Pat to late diagnosed lung cancer, Andrea Stern Ferris was determined to find a cure for the nation’s number-one cancer killer. She now serves as president and chairman of LUNGevity Foundation, the largest national lung cancer research non-profit, which celebrated the opening of its D.C. office at a spectacular Sept. 16 gala at the Mellon Auditorium chaired by Grace Bender. The Stern family totally underwrote the event. Former Rep. Mike Oxley (R-Ohio), a non-smoker and lung cancer survivor, received LUNGevity’s first Face of Hope Award for his advocacy of better research and treatments. Design Cuisine served an elegant repast as auctioneer Lynne Zink and generous bidders enabled the foundation to reach its $1 million goal. [gallery ids="99239,103994,104025,104021,103999,104017,104013,104004,104009" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

The Love Ball supporting the work of the Montgomery Country Humane Society, an event “for everyone who loves animals,” was held at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda on Nov. 13. Clearly many people fit that description. They were accompanied by canines on their best party manners, many garbed in festive attire—elegant doggie coats, tutus and other fabulous creations. Nary a bark was heard at the seated dinner hosted by Holly Morris of FOX 5 Morning News with special guests Aly Jacobs of MIX 107.3, 9 NEWS NOW at Noon anchor JC Hayward and Angie Goff of WUSA9 TV. As one speaker refreshingly noted, “protecting our animal friends crosses all political lines. [gallery ids="99555,104564,104595,104569,104591,104574,104587,104579,104583" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary of Washington, DC, held its 61st annual luncheon and fashion show at The Ritz-Carlton West End on Sept. 29. Jan Smith Donaldson and Cynthia Steele Vance emceed “The Elite of the 2010 Collections” from Saks Fifth Avenue, Chevy Chase, modeled by Veronica Valencia-Sarukhan, wife of the Ambassador of Mexico, and Ronit Ziswiler, wife of the Ambassador of Switzerland. Local personalities walking the runway included Kay Kendall, Bob Ryan and Philip Bermingham. Event Chair Faye Morrissette was optimistic that the event would reach its $150,000 goal. [gallery ids="99273,104405,104384,104401,104397,104389,104393" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

Halloween in Georgetown is always a fun evening.

Check out Philip Bermingham’s images from this years Halloween night in Georgetown. [gallery ids="110037,109947,109942,109937,109932,109927,109922,109917,109912,109907,109902,109897,109892,109887,109882,109877,109952,109957,110032,110027,110022,110017,110012,110007,110002,109997,109992,109987,109982,109977,109972,109967,109962,109872,109867,109777,109772,109767,109762,109757,109752,109747,109742,109737,110041,109732,110045,110049,109727,110053,109782,109787,109862,109857,109852,109847,109842,109837,109832,109827,109822,109817,109812,109807,109802,109797,109792,100353" nav="thumbs"]