D.C Arts Collaborates at French Embassy
• April 21, 2011

The D.C. Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative gathered in La Maison Française at the French Embassy, April 8, to honor the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation — and to show off its students and raise funds for programs which give public school students a chance to experience the D.C. arts scene. The lively crowd of arts and business leaders at “Taking Flight: The Transformative Power of Arts Education” applauded Calvin Cafritz who accepted the first-ever Annual Spirited Leadership Award. NBC4 news anchor Wendy Rieger, who will jet off to cover the royal wedding in London, remarked, “My mother was a teacher. God bless you. God love you.” Bob Levey, former Washington Post columnist, quipped: “Wendy said I have been here since the Johnson Administration, but it was the administration of Lyndon Baines Johnson.” [gallery ids="99651,105316,105314" nav="thumbs"]

Al Tiramisu Promotes Italian Cuisine
• April 20, 2011

The weather outside was frightful but inside Al Tiramisu restaurant on Apr. 16, it was only sunshine and Italian cuisine at its authentic best. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy and the 15th anniversary of his Dupont Circle restaurant, chef/owner and enchanting host Luigi Diotaiuti launched the first in a series of cooking classes featuring 20 regions. Each class will feature insights into the history, culture, inhabitants, food and wine through a hands on cooking demonstration and three course repast with wine pairings. Saturday’s program focused on Sicily with baked sardines and a molded pasta dish highlighting eggplant followed by stuffed cuttlefish. The wines were the region’s stellar offerings. The next event will be May 21 showcasing Sardinia. The program will conclude with an anniversary feast in the fall. [gallery ids="99646,105279,105286,105283" nav="thumbs"]

N Street Village: Powerful Women and Women Becoming Powerful
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The N Street Village Gala, always a joyous and easy-going affair, celebrated the powerful women of the nation’s capital and the shelter’s women in recovery at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, April 6. Honored for turning their lives around were Camela Carney, Rene Petaway and Carol Toran. Founders’ awards were given to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and board member Carol Wheeler. Presenter and political pundit Mark Shields remarked: “If you want something done, ask a woman.” PBS’s Gwen Ifill was mistress of ceremonies. Melissa Maxfield was the gala chair was with Diana Enzi and Julianna Smoot as honorary chairs. [gallery ids="99653,105331,105324,105328" nav="thumbs"]

Wellness Community Celebration of Hope Gala
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Susie Dyer and Liza Marshall co-chaired the Fifth Annual Celebration of Hope Gala supporting The Wellness Community of Greater Washington, DC (TWC-DC). The event was held at The Fairfax Hotel on Apr. 7 and honored former Board Chair Barbara Bey, who received the Celebration of Hope Award. Specialties, Inc. was honored with the Partnership Award. TWC-DC offers people with cancer and their loved ones a free of charge professional program providing emotional support, education and hope. Board Chair Scott Ogden said “we help participants help themselves.” President & CEO Paula Rothenberg echoed that sentiment noting “the roller coaster of emotions.” [gallery ids="99647,105284,105290,105288" nav="thumbs"]

It’s My Birthday, Too — Yeah
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Approaching the Ides of March, it seemed so many friends and colleagues were celebrating their birthdays: Victoria Michael of VM Public Relations and Kate Michael, a former Miss D.C. and social media maven, of K Street Kate, Washington’s photographer Neshan Naltchayan, whose photos have appeared in this newspaper and other national media, such as the Washington Post, and Franco Nuschese, who runs the enduringly happening Cafe Milano, where K Street Kate drank champagne for her birthday on March 7. Sorry we missed yours. We trust it was a fun party, too. [gallery ids="102553,120000,119996" nav="thumbs"]

American Ireland Fund Gala
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At the National Building Museum
on March 16th.

Citizens ‘Boffi’ Over Chefs’ Treats
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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"]

Washington Women and Wine “Shoemania” at Saks Chevy Chase
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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"]

Second Family, Inc. Awards Dinner
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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"]

Embassy Chef Challenge 2011
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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"]