Business Hall of Fame Shines at Building Museum
• December 22, 2015

The 28th annual Washington Business Hall of Fame was held at the National Building Museum Dec. 2. About 1,100 attended the black-tie event, founded by Greater Washington Board of Trade, Junior Achievement of Greater Washington and Washingtonian magazine. A record $1.3 million was raised for Junior Achievement.

Five laureates were inducted into the Hall of Fame for their professional and philanthropic contributions to the Washington region: Seth Goldman, Sheila Johnson, Joe Rigby, John Toups, and Scott Wilfong. News anchor Leon Harris of WJLA-TV/ABC7 emceed with some help from caped JA Superheroes Vivian Poe and Kennedy Cawley. [gallery ids="102198,131560,131541,131554,131549" nav="thumbs"]

David Yurman Celebrates a CityCenter Debut With Georgetown Cupcakes
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David Yurman’s first boutique in Washington, D.C., celebrated its grand opening Dec. 8 with Georgetown’s own cupcake queens, the Kallinis sisters and in partnership with Hope for Henry, a portion of the evening’s proceeds will benefit the organization. It joins Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Carolina Herrera, Paul Stuart, Salvatore Ferragamo and others at CityCenter, where holiday shopping is a must at D.C.’s newest top boutique headquarters.
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Andrew Cockburn Headlines Founding Friends Luncheon
• December 8, 2015

Charlie Cerf and Cynthia Dunbar co-hosted with Katherine Field Stephen PEN/Faulkner’s Nov. 18 Founding Fathers Literary Luncheon. Author Andrew Cockburn spoke of his book, “Kill Chain: The Rise of High-Tech Assassins.” It takes the reader inside the world of national security. Cockburn opined that the present strategy of taking out the key person of a terrorist group by using drones and remote controlled technology has not yielded positive results. In his opinion, “Clearly, we’re not doing the right thing.” PEN/Faulkner initiatives include Writers in Schools, a literary arts outreach program committed to developing the next generation of readers.
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‘Engaging’ Tommy McFly at Carol Joynt’s Q&A Luncheon
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Tommy McFly was in the best of company on Nov. 20 as Carol Joynt interviewed him for her Q&A luncheons at the George Town Club. Weekday mornings, 5 to 9 a.m., Tommy hosts “The Tommy Show” on 94.7 Fresh FM joined with co-hosts Kelly Collis and Jen Richer and heard by approximately one million listeners each week. Tommy shared his early roots in Scranton, PA, and national prominence as first emcee at the White House Easter Egg Hunt. He also confirmed the recent announcement of his marriage proposal to partner Chrys Kefalas.

New Way of Walking: Athletes, Models Against Domestic Violence
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Some of Washington, D.C.’s top professional athletes from the Washington Nationals, Redskins and Wizards, as well as D.C. United, came together Nov. 19 for the Becky’s Fund 7th Annual Walk This Way charity fashion show at the Embassy of Italy. The event raised more than $150,000 for Becky’s Fund, a non profit committed to the prevention of intimate partner violence. [gallery ids="102179,132213,132221,132228,132232" nav="thumbs"]

Burleith Toasts Its Historic Call Boxes
• November 11, 2015

The Burleith Citizens Association and the Burleith Community Fund celebrated the restoration of five historic fire call boxes Oct. 15 at one of the newest business in town, the liquor store, Hop Cask & Barrel, on Wisconsin Avenue, which provided the drinks, which food came from Shanghai Lounge. Eric Langenbacher, president of the Burleith Citizens Association, thanked Linda Brooks and Ross Schipper for their work on the project as well as Liane Jones and Kay Twomey, president of the Burleith Community Fund, for working on the get-together. Adding to the almost 100 donors to the restoration program was Liza Gookin Hodskins, who wrote a $500 check for the call box project in honor of her mother Suzi Gookin, a longtime Georgetowner columnist — and all-around colorful character and neighborhood activist —who lived in Burleith for decades before her death in 2014. [gallery ids="102357,125413,125425,125421" nav="thumbs"]

Tadich Grill Gets Congressional Blessing
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Straight from San Francisco, Tadich Grill opened its first restaurant outside the city where we left our hearts at 1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, between the White House and the U.S. Capitol. At its Sept. 30 grand opening party, bipartisan and legislative-executive cooperation prevailed thanks to the seafood, special dishes and drinks. Before the hundreds sampled it all, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), whose congressional district includes the original restaurant, proposed a toast, and Rev. Patrick Conroy, S.J., Chaplain of the House of Representatives, offered a blessing for the new restaurant. [gallery ids="102356,125434,125440,125429" nav="thumbs"]

Concierges Get a Little Wild on the Odyssey
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The Washington Area Concierge Association set sail for “WACA on the Wild Side,” the annual fundraising gala hosted by Washington tourism and hospitality professionals to benefit the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project, Les Clefs d’Or Foundation and the John B. Campbell Hospitality Scholarship. It was an elegant adventure Oct. 5 onboard the Odyssey Washington.
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Georgetown Salutes Jack and Michele Evans at Annual Gala
• November 10, 2015

The theme was “Fly Me to the Moon” for the annual Georgetown Gala at the Italian Embassy Oct. 24 with a definite 1960s Sinatra and “Mad Men” vibe — and Georgetowners responded by getting down and dancing to “Shout” and other popular tunes. The ball is the main fundraiser for the Citizens Association of Georgetown, the town’s biggest booster and protector.

Gala co-chairs Jennifer Altemus, Colleen Girouard and Robin Jones brought back Danny Meyers and his D.C. Love band.
There was a silent auction and then a live auction, called by Griff Jenkins of Fox News. The after party put deejay Trophy Brothers on the stage. The main dinner buffet was by Cafe Milano catering — with pizza baked outside later in the night.

Councilman Jack Evans and his Michele were the gala’s honorees. Jack is the longest-serving District councilmember, and Michele is involved in many community projects. CAG President Pamla Moore in her presentation to the couple — who live on P Street with their six children — said, “Everyone in the room can look around at someone whose life has been touched by the Evanses.” [gallery ids="101902,136458,136462,136453,136432,136438,136444,136449" nav="thumbs"]

Chamber Salutes D.C.’s Business Leaders
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The 2015 D.C. Chamber of Commerce’s Choice Awards and Gala, drew more than 1,000 of Washington’s dignitaries, national political figures, corporate citizens and business owners to celebrate the year’s business and civic successes together at the Marriott Marquis Hotel Oct. 30. PEPCO held the title as the event sponsor, and awards were presented to Joe Rigby, chairman of the board of director as well as president and CEO of Pepco Holdings, Comcast, George Washington University, Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, Marcella A. Jones, and the Washington Area Community Investment Fund. The award show was emceed by Fox5 News-WTTG meteorologist Tucker Barnes and Mary Abbajay of Careerstone Group. Guests enjoyed entertainment from the legendary S.O.S. Band to top off the amazing festivities. [gallery ids="102354,125445,125450,125457" nav="thumbs"]