Social Scene

Mary Bird • May 3, 2012

The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) hosted a holiday party on Nov. 28 at Watershed, which renowned restaurateurs Todd and Ellen Kassoff Gray opened last April in NoMa’s Hilton Garden Inn. The restaurant showcases the bounty of the Eastern Seaboard. The warm evening meant that guests could congregate on the outdoor patio to feast on abundant freshly shucked oysters. Watershed helps support a collective of East Coast fishermen as well as the Oyster Shell Alliance Program, which recycles oyster shells in the Chesapeake Bay for reforesting. Since 1920, RAMW has represented and promoted the foodservice industry in our area through education, government relations and socio-professional activities. [gallery ids="100418,113487,113541,113497,113533,113507,113525,113517" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Actor Kevin Kline joined Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) Artistic Director Michael Kahn at Sidney Harman Hall on Nov. 28 for the second installment of Classic Conversations, a series of discussions with classically-trained actors during STC’s 25th Anniversary Season. Kahn opened the program by noting that critic Frank Rich deemed Kline “the American Olivier.” Kline spoke of his training at Juilliard and being approached by Joseph Papp to play Richard III in Shakespeare in the Park, noting “I didn’t start small.” In response to Kahn’s query about what he liked in working with a director, he responded “fun.” Kahn said that his legendary reluctance to accept parts had earned him the nickname “Kevin Declined.” Both concurred that “great actors become great by doing great roles.”

Mary Bird •

The Opera Camerata of Washington, D.C., brought an early holiday treat with the frothiest of operas under the patronage of Ambassador of Monaco and Mrs. Gilles Noghes on Nov. 29 at the Sulgrave Club. Following a cocktail reception, guests were seated in the ballroom which glittered in true Viennese splendor. Elizabeth Turchi as Rosalinda and José Sacin as Eisenstein led a stellar cast accompanied by Opera Camerata’s top orchestra and chorus. The behind the scenes shenanigans of Viennese society were hilariously described by narrator Stefan Lopatkiewicz who captivated his audience with such insights as “the icing was put on the strudel, so to speak.” [gallery ids="100419,113588,113527,113579,113570,113537,113562,113554,113547" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

On Dec. 7, Bernie and Janice Robinson opened their historic Capitol Hill home to honor the founding board of Hope Connections for Cancer Support. The last of its members will rotate off the board at the end of this year. The 20 founding board members, led by Founding Board Chair Bernie Kogod, raised $500,000 in two years to open a cancer support center that has, since its opening in 2007, had more than 25,000 visits to its facility by people with cancer and their loved ones to participate in free programs of emotional support, education, wellness and hope. Bernie hailed executive director Paula Rothenberg as “the glue to everything that we have always done.” He said “what better reward can you get but helping people.” [gallery ids="100436,114358,114317,114350,114342,114327,114335" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

The University Club hosted the 22nd annual local authors night on Nov. 30. Former Secretary of Defense William Cohen and Thomas Friedman, journalist and political economist, were among the 40 authors represented. Just in time for holiday giving, Dinah Corley presented her recent book Gourmet Gifts published by Harvard Common Press. The book has been described as “the first food-gifting book to give equal weight to the recipes and to their wrapping and presentation.” The author feels that “good things to eat should be a feast for the eyes, as well as the palate, whether they are on a plate or in a package.”
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Robert Devaney •

You know you got a hot party going on, when the Mayor of Washington, D.C., boogies until the last dance, wearing a red boa. Yes, hizzoner Vincent Gray along with hundreds of Georgetowners got down at the Russian Embassy Dec. 2 at “Winter Wonderland,” the annual gala for the Citizens Association of Georgetown.

Fine food, Russian vodka and caviar with disco and motown music were the formula for fun — and with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and his wife Natalia providing their elegant venue once more. The Right On Band returned with its high-energy ’70s music with tunes like “Disco Inferno,” “Love Train” and “I Will Survive.”

Gala co-chairs Nancy Taylor Bubes, Michele Evans and Patrice Miller organized the night which honored Georgetowners John Richardson and Franco Nuschese. Richardson helped transform Volta Park in the 1990s; his contracting firm has renovated many houses in Georgetown. Nuschese, owner of Café Milano, supports many community charities. The lively auction, run by newcomer Martin Gammon of Bonhams, got the crowd to put their hands up and bid — and they did. Councilmembers Jack Evans and Vincent Orange were dancing; former Mayor Anthony Williams showed up, too.

Sponsors included Vornado Realty Trust & Angelo Gordon & Co. on behalf of the Shops at Georgetown Park, M.C. Dean Inc., MRP Realty, Washington Fine Properties (Nancy Taylor Bubes), Western Development Corporation, EagleBank, EastBanc Technologies LLC, Georgetown Cupcake, Georgetown University Hospital, Clyde’s Restaurant Group and The Georgetowner.

Oh, yes, Mayor Gray joined the conga line with the band’s Arline Baxter nudging him on.
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Mary Bird •

Internationally renowned jewelry designer Ann Hand hosted a holiday tea at her eponymous MacArthur Boulevard boutique Dec. 8 to celebrate Innocents at Risk with champagne and holiday shopping. A generous percentage of the day’s proceeds went to Innocents at Risk, the non-profit which Deborah Sigmund founded in 2005 to fight child exploitation and human trafficking. Guests were encouraged to bring a gift for a young woman or child to be donated to Courtney’s House, Crossway Community and Youth for Tomorrow. Deborah Kanafani was on hand to sign her new book Kate, Kate the Fashion Plate designed to encourage girls of all ages to realize their dreams. [gallery ids="100444,114697,114706" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Guests were greeted by a bagpiper as they arrived at The Arts Club of Washington on Jan. 20 to celebrate the life of art scene icon Manon Cleary. Manon’s husband F. Steven Kijek encouraged everyone gathered in the Monroe Gallery to “dig deep in your hearts for memories and speak.” When they met, Manon was active on the social scene and Steven recalled voicing some hesitation en route to an embassy reception, to which Manon replied “we don’t need social standing. We’re artists, they want us.” Manon’s twin Shirley Cleary-Cooper recalled their St. Louis childhood when they dressed alike and replied to “twin.” Jean Lawlor Cohen spoke of the irony of Manon’s fondness for sfumato or smoky light portraits given her long illness precipitated by chemical poisoning and too many cigarettes. Other speakers recalled her conviction that an artist must support the art world. Arts Club President Jack Hannula read his poem “Ode to Manon Cleary.” A caregiver said “she lived inside her private life like outside.” A mentored art student recalled her present of a book inscribed to him as “my window on the future.” The tribute ended with a slide presentation honoring a “friend, wife, sister, teacher, artist.” The ensuing reception was alive with memories. Manon and her beloved white rats were present in spirit. [gallery ids="100477,116570,116548,116564,116557" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Cherished pets knew it was a special evening as they escorted their two footers to the 11th Annual Sugar & Champagne Affair hosted by chef Todd and Ellen Gray and sponsored by Trade Center Management Associates at the Ronald Reagan Building on Feb. 1 to benefit the Washington Humane Society (WHS). Radio host Tommy McFly of 94.7 Fresh FM radio emceed, as guests enjoyed a VIP chef’s Tasting Room with savory bites from such leading restaurants as the Grays’ Equinox and Watershed as well as Restaurant Eve, The Source Brasserie Beck and Kushi. The general reception showcased desserts and champagne. The evening honors WHS law enforcement officers, animal control officers, humane educators and community humane heroes.
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Mary Bird •

The dress code for the 42nd Annual Russian New Year’s Ball, held in the Grand Ball Room at the Mayflower Hotel Jan. 13, was “white or black tie/Russian costume.” Princess Selene Obolensky led the way in the traditional “boyar” pearl-encrusted gala headdress. The evening included entertainment by The Washington Balalaika Society and Sydney’s Orchestra and The Russian Dance troupe. Noting that it was “not Fabergé but very close,” Princess Obolensky presented an award to Raisa Scriabine as a leading “defender of the child.” In thanking everyone who made the evening possible to benefit the “Children of Berezichi,” residing at the Boarding Schools for Special Children in Ulianova and Sosenskaya, Russian Federation, she happily welcomed the fifth generation of family to attend the ball, two-year-old great grandnephew Ronan Obolensky. [gallery ids="102432,121576,121569,121547,121563,121539,121519,121511,121556,121528,121587,121582" nav="thumbs"]