Social Scene

Robert Devaney • May 23, 2016

It isn’t every day that you get to walk in the building and in the yard of a great inventor, especially when you happen to be in Georgetown.

The Georgetown Business Association held its monthly reception at Alexander Graham Bell’s Volta Bureau on 35th Street to talk up innovation in Washington, D.C., past and present. Most Georgetowners, much less Washingtonians, have never come to the AG Bell headquarters, but all use Bell’s most famous invention, the telephone.

The nonprofit, also known as the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, aims to change that. It welcomed guests to the yellow building at 35th Street and Volta Place, built in 1893, and explained that it is celebrating 125 years of Bell’s laboratory and legacy in Georgetown. Across Volta Place stands Bell’s original laboratory and the home of the inventor’s father, Alexander Melville Bell.

GBA President Sonya Bernhardt touted Georgetown’s innovation credo — take Herman Hollerith, for example, who located his Tabulating Machine Company in what is now the Canal Square Building on 31st Street, next to the C&O Canal. The company merged with others to become International Business Machines, IBM. You could say that the computer was invented here — at least part of it.

Tech firms, such as Palantir Technologies and EverFi, thrive in D.C.’s oldest neighborhood. Add to that initiatives like StartupHoyas at Georgetown University and S&R Foundation’s Halcyon Incubator. Bernhardt also mentioned that the D.C. government is calling this month, innoMAYtion, a program that provided resources to 500 disadvantaged small businesses, and welcomed at-large council member Vincent Orange.

There are anniversaries coming up, guests learned.

The GBA will celebrate 40 years as Georgetown’s biggest business advocate at the Rosewood Hotel, June 15, and salute one of its founders, Rick Hindin, who also began the legendary clothing store

To celebrate Bell and AG Bell’s 125th anniversary, a gala will be held Sept. 29 at the National Geographic Society. One of the awardees at the gala will be Gilbert Grosvenor, who retired as chairman of the society in 2011.
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Robert Devaney • May 9, 2016

They call this week and long weekend many things for the main event that is the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner (what with the president, politicos and journalists showing up) and all the attending parties before, during and after — “Harmless fun,” “Nerd prom,” “Yes, I was invited,” “the End Times,” “Look, it’s Joe Biden.”

Thursday, April 28

Dog Tag Storms the Hill Day Reception (with the Altria Group) — 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., 101 Constitution Ave. NW (Suite 400W).

Third Annual Women & Journalism Awards — 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Kalorama home of Gloria Dittus.

“Global Beat” Party: Devex, Foreign Affairs, UN Foundation — 6:30 p.m. to 8:30pm, 1750 Pennsylvania Ave. NW (UN Foundation headquarters).

“Bytes and Bylines” reception-buffet — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Spanish Ambassador’s residence, 2350 Foxhall Road NW.

“Swipe the Vote” Party: Tinder and Independent Journal Review with Rock the Vote — 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., Hotel W Rooftop, 555 15th St. NW.

Friday, April 29

Time and People Magazine Reception — 6 p.m. to 8pm, St. Regis hotel, 923 16th St. NW.

“Celebration of Journalism” Reception with Screen Actors Guild-Variety-Washington Post — 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Washington Post, 1301 K Street NW.

Voto Latino-Our Voices (“Diversity in Media”) — 6:30 to 9:30pm, Hay Adams (rooftop terrace), 800 16th St. NW.

The Hill-Extra-Thomson Reuters reception — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Embassy of Canada, 501 Pennsylvania Ave NW.

The Creative Coalition’s Night Before Dinner (hosted by Tim Daly, Emily Ratajkowski, Nina Dobrev, Rosario Dawson, Neve Campbell, Gabrielle Union, Tyler Posey, Wendi McLendon-Covey,  AnnaLynne McCord, Constance Zimmer, Lisa Edelstein, Richard Schiff and others TBA) — 8 p.m., the Supper Suite by STK, 1250 Connecticut Ave. NW.

Google, HBO and Smithsonian American Art Museum party — 8 p.m., Renwick Gallery, 1661 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.

White House Correspondents Jam II (bands with those in the media) — 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., the Hamilton, 600 14th St. NW.

The New Yorker reception — 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., W Hotel, 555 15th St. NW.

Funny or Die 4th Annual Party (location disclosed to those invited) — 11 p.m.

Saturday, April 30

Annual Garden Brunch — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Beall-Washington House, 2920 R St. NW.

The New Media Party Party — noon to 3 p.m., the Brixton, 901 U St. NW.

BuzzFeed’s WHCD Pregame — 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., D.C. office, 1630 Connecticut Ave. NW.

The Young Turks-the Huffington Post-TYT Network — 8 p.m. to 11p.m., 1875 Connecticut Ave. NW.

WHCAD pre-parties — 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW. Reuters; Atlantic Media-CBS News; others.

White House House Correspondents’ Association Dinner — 7:30 p.m, POTUS plus entertainer Larry Wilmore, Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW.

WHCAD post-parties — 10:30 p.m., the Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW. Reuters; others. Nearby: Annual Bloomberg-Vanity Fair (at the French Ambassador’s residence on Kalorama Road).

“Diamond Joe Biden’s Badass Balls-to-the-Wall Fiesta,” hosted by the Onion — 9 p.m. to 1 am, the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.

MSNBC after-party — 10:30 p.m., U.S. Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Ave. NW.

Sunday, May 1

CNN’s Political Hangover Brunch —10 a.m. to 2pm, Longview Gallery, 1234 9th St. NW.

Thomson-Reuters Brunch — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hay Adams, 800 16th St. NW.

Albritton brunch — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Q Street residence in Georgetown.

Arianna Huffington’s “The Sleep Revolution” book brunch — 11 a.m., the Four Seasons Hotel, 2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.

Robert Devaney • May 4, 2016

The 85th Georgetown House Tour celebrations began with a bang-up Patrons’ Party at Bill Dean’s house April 20. There was a record-breaking crowd — even the Secretary of Homeland Security showed up to check out the scene. (O.K., Jeh Johnson is a neighbor.)

The party — which raised more than $100,000, a record sum, for the social services of St. John’s Church on O Street in Georgetown — is gaining buzz as the place for thirsty Washingtonians to be on the last Wednesday night in April. It wound down too soon, and lingering party-goers simply opted to continue at the George Town Club around 9 p.m.

At Saturday’s house tour, tickets sales neared 1,500, and the afternoon tea was packed in the parish hall of St. John’s Church on O Street. (The morning rain stopped no one.)

The tour displayed 10 houses — three on the west and seven on the east side of town. Observers enjoyed the designs of living rooms, libraries, dining rooms and kitchens. Contemporary art, such as that of Colby Caldwell in the Lacheys’ house on O Street, was examined as readily as that of the Wilkisons’ image of “The Samian Sybil” after Guercino above the mantle in their N Street home.

While all of those who donated the use of their houses for the day are to be commended, we might just give the grand prize to Jane and Timothy Matz. A little more than three weeks ago, the tree in front of their house fell against their roof, hitting the chimney, which collapsed with bricks falling and smashing the car in the driveway. When people showed up at the Matz home on O Street Saturday, everything was fixed for the tour except for a few loose cable wires. Now that’s commitment.
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Robert Devaney •

More or less, it started Thursday at Gloria Dittus’s house with Women & Journalists Awards, the Tinder-Independent Journal Review party at the W, a Dog Tag reception. Friday parties included Voto Latino, Washington Post-Variety-SAG party, Google-HBO, Hill Newspaper-Reuters at the Canadian Embassy. Saturday: Garden Brunch on R Street, Buzzfeed, Reuters, Atlantic-CBS News, the Onion, Vanity Field-Bloomberg — and the main event, POTUS at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton. Sunday included brunches by Thomson-Reuters, CNN and the Allbrittons on Q Street. Which did we — or you — miss? [gallery ids="102227,130412,130456,130439,130433,130420,130425,130444,130449" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

Evonne Connolly, Jean-Marie Fernandez and Anna Marie Parisi-Trone hosted a fashion luncheon at Saks Fifth Avenue Chevy Chase on April 20 in anticipation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” a joint production of Imagination Stage and the Washington Ballet. Saks marketing director Kerri Larkin welcomed guests and assistant general manager Amanda Whiting introduced the sporty and feminine fashions. Imagination Stage founder Bonnie Fogel spoke of providing the best of children’s cultural activities. The Washington Ballet artistic director said “working in the theater seems like home.” “Little Mermaid” Justice Icy Moral performed the signature song. [gallery ids="102226,130445,130472,130453,130466,130461" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • April 22, 2016

“This is groovy,” said Rev. Kevin Gillespie, S.J., pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, at his blessing of the temporary discotheque at Holy Trinity School on 36th Street. At Studio 36 (not 54), the April 9 disco inferno of more than 200 parents — many dressed a la 1970s and ’80s — raised more than $100,000 for the school, with help from auctioneer Martin Gammon. Edward Reno won best male costume; Kerry Myers, best female costume. Thanks to event chairs Teresa Dolan, Melissa Giuffrida and Jennifer Touchette, it was the first major fundraiser on school property in years. [gallery ids="102416,122125,122131,122137,122158,122147,122113,122143,122153,122119" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

Concerts in the Park supporters found their way through Gypsy Sally’s to the Vinyl Lounge down at the Georgetown waterfront April 14 to chill with classic tunes, bar food, beer and the music of singer-guitarist Steve Siekkinen. “More cowbell,“ announced the T-shirt of John Rentzepis, the public safety chair of the Citizens Association of Georgetown. Concerts in the Park is a CAG program — with these summer dates: May 22, June 19 (Fathers’ Day) and July 10. [gallery ids="102415,122163,122172,122168" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner • April 20, 2016

Gayela Bynum, chair of the non-profit “We Will Survive Cancer,” was honored at Peacock Café on April 5 by Copa Style Magazine, a digital lifestyle publication. Copa Style publisher Rodney Branche spoke of Bynum,’s support during his mother’s bout with cancer before toasting the honoree. Emcee Renee Starlynn Allen called Bynum a role model. Greg Davis saluted Bynum as “the woman of the 21st century.” [gallery ids="102417,122105" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

In his welcome to more than 500 supporters of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation at the Ritz-Carlton on 22nd Street April 13, Leonard Lauder said that every penny raised goes directly to research as ADDF seeks to accelerate the discovery of drugs to cure Alzheimer’s disease within our lifetimes. Elise Lefkowitz launched the event to honor her mother Estelle Gelman. Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace emceed. Following Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie’s presentation of Oscar de la Rentas’s Fall 2016 Collection, the Great Ladies Award was presented to honorees Trish and George Vradenburg, co-founders of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s. [gallery ids="122156,122149,122161,122165" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

Supporters of the National Museum of Women in the Arts were invited to a reception April 7 to preview “She Who Tells a Story: Women Photographers from Iran and the Arab World.” More than 80 photographs and a video presentation probe ideas about personal identity and topical political issues. Museum founder Wilhelmina Holladay hailed the beauty of Muslim artists. Kristen Gersh, who curated the exhibit at the Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, spoke of putting arts and culture before politics and media.