Social Scene

Mary Bird • April 20, 2011

Now in its third year and growing exponentially, Cultural Tourism DC’s Embassy Chef Challenge was a hit at the Ronald Reagan Building on Apr. 12. Ann Scoffier chaired the friendly culinary competition. Proceeds support an awareness of the city’s myriad cultural offerings. Barbara Harrison of NBC4 emceed the program, remarking “boy does it smell good in here.” Mayor Vincent Gray, who did not eat heartily the night before, said “I invite everyone here to go to jail with me” and continued “it is time for justice to come to the District of Columbia. Enough is enough.” Lars Beese of the Royal Danish Embassy received the Judges Choice Award while Jose Luis Fernandez of the Embassy of Peru captured the People’s Choice Award for his outstanding ceviche. Throughout May, Passport DC, with over 60 embassies and 100 cultural institutions participating, will offer an unforgettable global journey throughout our city. [gallery ids="99648,105289,105315,105311,105307,105294,105303,105299" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

Leadership Greater Washington celebrated its 25th birthday at the Newseum, April 12, as members of different years reunited. The impressive group of newsmakers and influencers — connecting business leaders and going beyond regional borders — continues to advance and live by its mission of networking and collaboration through education and other programs that brings leaders together to solve problems. It serves more than 17 city and county governments in D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia. [gallery ids="99652,105330,105326,105319,105322" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

At the National Building Museum
on March 16th.

Mary Bird •

On Apr. 4, members of Washington Women and Wine held a Wine, Women and Shoes “Shop til You drop” Spring Celebration in the shoe department at Saks Fifth Avenue, Chevy Chase to support Dress for Success-DC. Dress for Success (DFS) is an international non-profit organization promoting the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and career development tools. Since 1997, DFS has served more than 550,000 women around the world. Saks partnered corporately with Napa Valley’s St. Suprey Vineyards and Winery which provided a “shoemmelier.” Guests enjoyed wine and hors d’oeuvres while admiring the latest shoes with a portion of purchases benefiting DFS. [gallery ids="102555,119973,119981,119984" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

The Citizens Association of Georgetown joined with Boffi, the high-end kitchen and bathroom showroom on M Street, and neighborhood chefs on March 21 to give residents an exquisite setting for a springtime taste of their restaurants’ culinary talents. From Clydes, Salvatore Ferro’s crab and spring vegetable salad; from Farmers & Fishers, Al Nappo’s baby cheeseburgers; from Mate, Kahn’s colorful sushi; from Mie N Yu, mixologist Mike Cherner’s cherry blossom cocktail; and from Paolo’s, Tom Chenshaw’s gnocchi. With demonstrations and advice from the chefs, the crowd noshed and chatted through the glassy lit, sleekly modern space. And secrets from the chefs? Ferro said, “Fresh ingredients and this guy,” pointing to his boss John Guattery, Clyde’s corporate chef. Farmers & Fishers’ Nappo revealed: “It’s all in the seasoning, my friend.” And one of the winners for a gift certificate at one of these places? This newspaper’s publisher, Sonya Bernhardt. [gallery ids="99629,105166,105164" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Supporters of Second Family, Inc. (SFI) gathered upstairs at Café Milano on Mar. 18 at a dinner honoring Shahin Mafi, MBA, CEO of Home Health Connections, and Betty Rainsford, RN, PAC, Second Family Pediatric Medical Specialist and Education Advocate. Sisters Shilda Frost and Marion Hailey founded SFI in l998 as a non-profit providing care in a home-like environment for special needs children. SFI currently has expanded to seven homes on two Maryland campuses. MC Mike Walter termed their work “unconditional love in motion.” [gallery ids="99213,103484,103495,103492,103489" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner • April 6, 2011

Ambassador of India Meera Shankar and her husband Ajay Shankar served as Honorary Chairs of the WPAS annual auction and gala at the Marriott Wardman Park on Apr. 2. In 2010, WPAS served over 100,000 youth and adults through programs that encourage creativity, talent and appreciation for the arts. Col. Bill Billingsley conducted the live auction. A private concert by Wynton Marsalis raised $60,000 to support WPAS’ artistic initiatives and extensive education programs. Grammy Award-winner Roberta Flack, who once taught music in the DC public school system, was the evening’s headliner.

Robert Devaney •

First Lady Dolley Madison was one of the first Washingtonians to realize the value – practical, artistic and financial – of a good gala. Her outgoing nature helped her husband, President James Madison, in his public life, and made a lasting impression on America.

The 20th century brought the likes of Evangeline Bruce, Katharine Graham and Pamela Harriman. The younger Sally Quinn remains of that group to discuss social life, manners and offer party advice.
Despite Sen. John McCain’s deriding of “Georgetown cocktail parties,” media coverage of these galas and smaller parties has expanded from the local newspaper to slick luxe publications and websites along with e-mail party bloggers amid ubiquitous digital cameras.

Old faithfuls mix with fresh affairs – preview parties for the Georgetown House Tour and Garden Tour (and even a gala for the re-opening of the Georgetown Safeway); Washington House Correspondents’ Association dinner and its attending parties. Add to that The Kennedy Center Honors, Mark Twain Awards, the Opera Balls, Ambassador Ball and Meridian Ball, to say nothing of inaugural balls and the hipper parties at places like the Newseum (Larry King still reserves the Ritz; Bono can be seen there, too, and at the Irish Embassy). Historic venues from Halcyon House and Dumbarton House to the National Building Museum, the Mellon Auditorium and the Library of Congress are joined by the British Embassy, House of Sweden, Wolf Trap and the National Mall, itself.

A wider range of gala patrons are on the scene, from ambassadors and businessmen to social media mavens and corporations. In the 21st century, crowds are larger, venues bigger, events more elaborate, lists exclusive and fundraising impressive. The point of the party remains the same: good times for good causes. Raise the roof, money and awareness in the nation’s capital. Below you will find a list of The Georgetowner’s most anticipated galas this season.

Gala Guide
—
Consultation for the guide by Mary Bird & Robert Devaney

The Radio & Television Correspondents’ Association Dinner

Wednesday, March 30

The annual affair for those in radio and TV. Invitation only.
Reception-6:45 p.m. Dinner-7:45 p.m.

The Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mt. Vernon Place NW

Washington Performing Arts Society Annual Auction and Gala

Saturday, April 2

6:00 p.m. Cocktails and silent auction; 8:00 p.m. Dinner followed by the featured performance, a live auction and dancing, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Black tie. Individual tickets $500. Please call 202-293-9325 for more details.
The WPAS Annual Gala raises money for artistic initiatives and extensive educational programs, including the Embassy Adoption Program, Summer Performing Arts Academy, The Capitol Jazz Project and Enriching Experiences for Seniors.

Dinner With Larry King and Friends

Saturday, April 2

To benefit the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, Mary J. Blige

The Ritz Carlton. Time TBA

Kennedy Center Spring Gala

Sunday, April 3

8:30 p.m. Kennedy Center. Reception, performance orchestra seating, dinner on the Center’s Roof Terrace level with a live band and dancing at the ‘Til Midnight Party, $1000. For further information please call (202) 416-8338

Taste of the Nation DC

Monday, April 4

7:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m. National Building Museum
Tickets $95

The annual event benefiting Share Our Strength, a national effort to end childhood hunger in America. For more information visit Strength.org/Washington/

N Street Village Gala

Wednesday, April 6

6:30 p.m. Cocktails and Hors D’oeuvres
Entertainment by Tommy Cecil Quartet
7:30 pm Dinner and Program

The annual affair raises money to provide shelter and support for homeless and low-income women in the DC area. For more information call 202-421-3211

The Wellness Community 5th Annual Celebration of Hope Gala

Thursday, April 7

6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Fairfax at Embassy Row. Reception, seated dinner, awards program, raffle and live auction. Cocktail attire. Individual tickets $250. For more information call 301 493-5002.

5th Annual Fashion for Paws Runway Show

Saturday, April 9

8 p.m.-12 a.m. National Building Museum. Benefactor Reception at 7 p.m. Runway show 9:15 p.m.
Standard tickets $95. VIP tickets $200. VIP Table $3,000

The event is a fundraising program of the Washington Humane Society. Named best fashion even of the year by BizBash and Washington Life magazines.

8th Annual Blue Jeans Ball

Sunday, April 10

6:00 p.m.- 10p.m. Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
Tickets $150

The Blue Jeans Ball is a community-wide charitable event that encourages residents in the D.C. area to “come as you are,” learn more about the high prevalence of hunger among our neighbors throughout the metro region, and become part of the solution.

Embassy Chef Challenge

Tuesday, April 12

VIP Reception 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 pm, main event 6:30p.m. – 10 pm. The Ronald Reagan Building and

International Trade Center. Individual tickets $250. For information call 202 638-8363 or visit CulturalTourismDC.org.

Folger Shakespeare Library Gala

Wednesday, April 13

Folger Shakespeare Library Time TBA Tickets $600

The 2011 Folger Gala will pay tribute to Gail Kern Paster, the Library’s Director, who will be retiring at the end of June. For information call 202-675-0377.

National Museum of Women in the Arts Spring Gala

Friday, April 15

6:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. National Museum of Women in the Arts. Individual tickets $600. For more information call Ginny Page, at 202-266-2815 or GPage@nmwa.org. Proceeds from the event support the exhibitions, activities and projects that make the NMWA the leading museum solely dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women in the visual, performing and literary arts.

The 2011 Bachelors and Spinsters Ball

Saturday, April 16

9:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. The City Tavern Club. Invitation Only

The evening features live music by the Mustangs and a silent auction to benefit TAPS. For more information visit BachelorsAndSpinsters.com.

56th Annual Corcoran Ball

Friday, April 29

Corcoran Gallery of Art. Cocktails at 7:00 p.m., dinner at 8:15 p.m. Individual tickets $500. Please call (301) 951-3780.

Ball proceeds provide scholarships for the College, underwrite community outreach and education programs and support the Corcoran’s long tradition of bringing outstanding artists and their collections to the museum.

Washington Animal Rescue League’s Rescue Me Gala

Saturday, April 30

8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Union Station. VIP Reception 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Gala 8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Black tie optional for dogs and humans. Leashed dogs are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information call 202 375-7746 or visit warl.org.

The 2011 White House Correspondents’ Association Ball

Saturday, April 30

The Washington Hilton. Time TBA. Invitation Only

Hosted by Saturday Night Live’s Seth Meyers

For information call 202-266-7453

Washington National Opera’s Opera Ball

Saturday, May 7

Dinners begin at 7:00 p.m., Ball at 9:30 p.m. Chancery of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. Individual tickets $1000. For more information please contact WNO’s Special Events office at 202 295.2437.

L’Enfant Society Ball on the Mall

Saturday, May 7

6:00 p.m.- 11:30 p.m. The National Mall at Madison Drive and 13th Street
6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. VIP Reception and Dinner
Tickets $325 Champagne reception, formal seated dinner, Ball on the Mall

8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Ball on the Mall
Tickets $150 Dancing to live music, dessert buffet, signature cocktails
Ball on the Mall supports the Trust’s efforts to make the National Mall the best park in the world.
For more information call 202-407-9408

The Washington Ballet Rock & Roll Ball

Thursday, May 12

Cocktails 7:00 p.m. Dinner 8:00 p.m. The Embassy of the Russian Federation. Individual tickets $1000. For additional information contact Elizabeth Early, Manager of Special Events & Stewardship at 202 274-4518

Proceeds from the Ball fund programs that reach 800 DC public school children through DanceDC and provide tuition relief for students from Anacostia who attend the remarkable program at THEARC, where more than 300 disadvantaged children are studying ballet.

Washington Humane Society 24th Annual Bark Ball

Saturday, June 4.

VIP Reception 6:30 pm; Reception, Silent Auction, & Doggie Bar 7:00 p.m.; Dinner, Live Auction, & Program 8:00 p.m. Washington Hilton. Individual tickets $250 For more information please call 202 723-5730, ext. 204.

The Bark Ball draws many of the area’s most illustrious residents and their four-legged friends, all in honor of the programs and services of the Washington Humane Society.

Georgetowner • March 25, 2011

The 2011 Gala for the Catholic Charities Spanish Catholic Center in Washington was held at the Organization of American States on Mar. 19. Franco Nuschese, principal owner of Café Milano, was gala chair and His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, attended. Several awards were presented and live auctions featured three luxury trips to Italy. The evening raised a record $720,000 for the Center which provides more than 43,000 immigrants in DC and Maryland with services that include medical and dental clinics, job training programs and social services. [gallery ids="99214,103496,103494" nav="thumbs"]