G’town Biz News Bite: ‘100 Persons for 100 Degrees’
• August 10, 2011

You know you have a tight group of business leaders, when at least 100 persons show up for your June 20 networking reception at a MacArthur Boulevard dentist’s office in 100-degree weather. Georgetown Business Association members and guests met at the office and patio of Georgetown Smile, greeted by the likeable and professional Avraham “A.J.” Peretz, D.D.S., and his staff. Cold water, wine and soda along with sandwich wraps and pasta salad proved perfect at the end of a hot day. Maybe even better, there was a massage therapist — Janelle Jimason of Eastern Holistic Arts — administering soothing massages in the office’s receptionist space. Georgetown Smile t-shirts were handed out as well as samples from Sonicare and Colgate. One of the raffle winners of the Philips Sonicare toothbrushes was GBA secretary Beth Webster. (Plus: a quick thank you to GBA event chair Sue Hamilton for her headline quote.) [gallery ids="100249,106726,106719,106723" nav="thumbs"]

A Happy Birthday at Press Club: Arianna and AOL
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Less than six months since the biggest merger in online news history, AOL (America Online) chief executive Tim Armstrong and Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington were the headliners at a National Press Club lunch, July 15 — Huffington’s 61st birthday — to discuss the deal and the future of journalism, on-line and traditional. Since its $315 million purchase of Huffington Post in February, AOL has hired some of the biggest names in journalism while simultaneously eliminating the jobs of hundreds of full and part-time writers, editors and other employees across America. The rebuilding AOL is reshaping the entire news industry with outlets like Patch, Huffington Post and AOL specialty brands such as AOL Energy, AOL Defense and the planned AOL Government. “Self-expression is the new entertainment,” Huffington said. “People want to be part of the story of their times.” Among those at the lunch were former Sen.William Cohen and his wife Janet Langhart, Aspen Institute head Walter Isaacson, formerly of Time and CNN, media guru Tammy Haddad and publicist Jan Duplain. [gallery ids="100250,106724,106730,106728" nav="thumbs"]

Summer in the South of France Dinner at Rivers
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In anticipation of Washington Women and Wine’s triumphant return to France in 2012, on July 18 the group of bon vivants gathered for a “Summer in the South of France” dinner at Rivers at the Watergate. WWW founder Karen McMullen welcomed back Robin and Paul McKenzie-Smith who had led last year’s tour and came from Fort Lauderdale, eager to return to Florida’s sea breezes. Rivers Executive Chef Michael Smithson oversaw a splendid menu of cold watercress soup, mushroom vol au vent, filet mignon and chocolate hazelnut mousse paired with special wines. French Escapade 2’s March itinerary will include visits to Bordeaux, Carcassonne, Aix-en-Provence and end merrily on the Riviera. [gallery ids="100246,106679,106710,106684,106706,106689,106702,106694,106698" nav="thumbs"]

Happenstance Theater Scores in Capital Fringe Festival
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Back by popular demand, Happenstance Theater presented Manifesto! to rave reviews in this year’s Capital Fringe Festival. The setting is the surrealist Cabaret ReVoltaire where the guests are visionaries. The text is taken from real manifestos penned by Dadaists, Communists and Capitalists in the aftermath of World War I. The words are spoken by the frequenters of a cabaret run by clowns played by Happenstance’s Artistic Director Mark Jaster, his daughter Emma Jaster, Artistic Co-Director and Manager Sabrina Mandell, Gwen Grastorf, Karen Hansen and Matt Pearson. This professional company devises and produces original performer-created visual, poetic theatre that thoroughly engages the audience. [gallery ids="100247,106699,106707,106704" nav="thumbs"]

46th Birthday Party: ‘Onward, Singapore’
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Singapore celebrated its 46th National Day with an Aug. 2. party, which also honored its armed forces. Ambassador Chan Heng Chee greeted dignitaries and guests at the embassy’s International Place complex with a 50th birthday cheer for President Barack Obama — after the U.S. and Singapore national anthems were played — as well as a full and spicy buffet of food and ample drinks. (The city-state island republic was founded Aug. 9, 1965.) Also addressing the crowd were Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) and Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.). Webb saluted “the energy of the people of Singapore, who have performed an economic miracle.” Stearns admired Singapore’s double-digit growth rate. [gallery ids="100260,106934,106946,106939,106943" nav="thumbs"]

K Street Kate Takes the 5th . . . Anniversary, That Is
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Kate Michael, online magazine founder of K Street Kate, celebrated the fifth birthday of her D.C. lifestyle blog, July 27, at the National Press Club ballroom with drinks and music, themed to “Livin’ La Vida Local.” The media entrepreneur thanked her staff and said she sees a bright future for hyperlocal websites. Friends and fans of the popular Michael, a former Miss D.C., congratulated her for hitting the anniversary whose traditional gift is one made of wood. Life is local and ironic, too.

Children Uniting Nations
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As a prelude to a day-long forum at the Capitol Visitor Center where policy makers and academics discussed how our laws can better serve America’s children, on July 27 Children Uniting Nations Founder/Chair Daphna Edwards Ziman hosted a press reception at the City Club. Christine Warnke of Hogan & Lovells, an attorney and mother of two adopted Russian children, introduced Ms. Ziman. She said “she has taken on the whole world of foster care and is now combatting sex trafficking.” In return, Ms. Ziman said “Chris will make sure you are heard in the halls of Congress.” Children Uniting Nations is a proactive non-profit organization created to bring attention to the plight of at-risk and foster youth. As Congress was embroiled in the debt crisis, Nigerian Ambassador Ade Adefuye said the real crisis is “the debt we owe our children.”

Finnish Fond Farewell
• August 4, 2011

Ambassador of Finland Pekka Lintu and Mrs. Laurel Colless hosted a farewell reception at the embassy on June 27 as they prepare for their upcoming posting to Greece. In his welcoming remarks, the Ambassador thanked guests for coming “to wave us goodbye.” The popular couple has been in Washington for over five years during which time their daughter Julia was born. He hailed the “willingness of the American people to engage themselves” and spoke of their “friendliness and openness.” He also recognized the strong support of the embassy staff and of his talented wife “who seems to know everybody.” Mrs. Colless spoke of their pride in the “green” embassy, the first in the United States to receive the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Guests departed with an art book chronicling the embassy’s design and numerous events. [gallery ids="100233,106514,106535,106531,106527,106523,106519" nav="thumbs"]

RAMMY’s “Carnevale da Cuisine”
• July 26, 2011

The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s 29th annual gala took place June 26 at the Marriott Wardman Park. Masks were encouraged to reflect the theme of the D.C. restaurant scene as a veritable carnival feast. The event unites the entire restaurant industry for a fabulous evening that began with a reception featuring Virginia products followed by a 16-category awards ceremony. RAMW President Lynne Breaux and Gala Committee Chair Kristin Rohr of Guest Services, Inc. bid everyone welcome to “the best party of the year because you know how to party.” World renowned innovator José Andrés received the Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award. The ceremony culminated with the Chef of the Year Award bestowed upon Todd Gray of Equinox, who accepted alongside his beaming young son to a standing ovation. An overspill crowd proceeded to a resplendent feast that included the cuisines of Australia, Chile and Mexico before dancing the night away. [gallery ids="102568,102569,102570,102571,102572,102573,102574" nav="thumbs"]

Mexico Salutes “Pati’s Mexican Table”
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On Mar. 30, Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan proudly introduced Mexico’s newest culinary star Patricia Jinich as the “culinary ambassador to the United States” at a cocktail reception at the Mexican Cultural Center prior to the launch of “Pati’s Mexican Table” which aired on WETA TV 26 on Apr. 2. It happened to be the chef’s birthday which was duly applauded. The ambassador quoted the Washington Post’s comment that Pati is “a walking antidepressant.” Her charm is indeed infectious as the celebrity chef spoke of the Mexican Cultural Center as “”my home away from home.” [gallery ids="102554,120005,119988,119993,119999" nav="thumbs"]