Social Scene

Neshan Naltchayan • June 8, 2015

The Lobster Extravaganza on May 2 in Fairfax enhanced the fun and friendship of those giving to Life with Cancer, part of Northern Virginia’s Inova Health System. Sponsors included Robert Hisaoka, the Peterson Companies, Paul and Linda Saville and Virginia Run Turkey Trot.

Mary Bird • June 7, 2015

Guests enjoyed cocktails in the Kreeger Museum’s lower galleries, a seated dinner in the Great Hall and Monet Gallery and dessert on the Sculpture Terrace May 16.  Belgian Ambassador Johan Verbeke, the gala’s honorary patron, spoke about the recent Flemish Expressionism exhibition and introduced the jazz quartet which performed a number of works by Django Reinhardt.  He called the Kreeger “a neighbor and jewel in Washington.” Contributions enable the museum to provide innovative arts education workshops and programs for schools throughout the Washington area, focusing on underserved communities.
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Mary Bird •

GALA Theatre’s Noche de Estrellas or Night of the Stars honored José Andrés for Arts Business and Philanthropy and Marta Casals Isthmian for Service in the Arts May 19. The evening began on the theater’s rooftop with a Latino buffet and segued downstairs to performances by the Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company and Paseo Nuevo video presentation, interspersed with a live auction and more. The evening concluded with a champagne toast and dessert, all in support of GALA’s outreach to our community’s at-risk Latino teens. [gallery ids="102097,133906,133908,133903" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird • May 23, 2015

Dutch Ambassador Rudolf Bekink and his wife Gabrielle de Kuyper Bekink welcomed leaders and supporters of Restore Mass Ave and other guests May 7 to their S Street residence, just off Massachusetts Avenue. The nonprofit was founded to bring Embassy Row back to its original design by engaging residents, embassies and public and private partners to plant and sustain a full canopy of trees along D.C.’s most famous diplomatic avenue. John Peters Irelan is spearheading the project which has already secured 330 new trees. There is also an education and outreach component as volunteer “treekeepers” learn tree care. [gallery ids="102090,134224,134211,134218,134221,134215" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

Georgetown Village “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” celebrated May 13 with its supporters and volunteers on the rooftop at Georgetown Harbour in the handsome penthouse offices of Foley & Lardner. Executive Director Lynn Golub-Rofrano was cited as the heart of Georgetown Village, the volunteers as the second heart and the guests as the third heart. The non-profit provides services and programs so that older residents can live better and longer in their homes. Major donor Nancy Taylor Bubes sent everyone home with a marigold plant and gardening gloves in appreciation for helping her business “bloom.” [gallery ids="102089,134228,134226,134223,134219" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

Spanish Ambassador Ramón Gil-Casares hosted Opera Camerata’s production of “Carmen” at his Foxhall residence May 15 with a cocktail reception and seated buffet dinner before the performance. Randall Roe, president of Opera Camerata, spoke of the power of voices in an intimate setting and expressed appreciation to Robin Phillips, the evening’s narrator. Opera Camerata also brings complimentary opera performances to classrooms around D.C. throughout the year. [gallery ids="102088,134227,134232,134230" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

Washington Performing Arts Gala Passport at the Marriott Marquis May 2 celebrated the 40th anniversary of its Embassy Adoption Program, which acquaints D.C. Public School fifth and sixth graders to the people, culture and arts of another country. D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson was honored at the dinner, which ended to the sounds of the Hot Sardines, whose jazz evokes the spirit of an earlier Paris and New Orleans.

Robert Devaney • May 21, 2015

The National Museum of Women in the Arts celebrated its landmark show, “Picturing Mary: Woman, Mother, Idea,” which ended April 12, with a spring gala April 10 that opened up the floors of the New York Avenue building to lively art lovers. Concerning one of the most powerful women in history and art, gala co-chair Janice Obuchowski said that “The Virgin Mary in her self-giving is the antithesis” of what goes on in D.C. “Mary has left the building but not our hearts,” said Bertha Soto Braddock, gala co-chair. [gallery ids="117983,117957,117988,117994,117967,117976" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird • May 11, 2015

Levine alumni Zak Sander, who has performed on Broadway, and Alyson Cambridge with the Metropolitan Opera headlined the program at the 2015 Levine Gala held at the National Geographic Society on April 29. Founded 40 years to bring the best music education through scholarships to children who could not afford it, today Levine has four campuses and offers instruction in 22 instruments and voice. Gala co-chairs Craig Benson and Robert Crawford thanked supporters for their commitment to the children of Washington and their dreams. [gallery ids="102078,134333,134332" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

While most of us knew (or even were on) the reception lists, we were reminded that the weekend was indeed about freedom of the press and White House correspondents. Speakers made a point to ask the audience not to forget imprisoned (and killed) journalists. While Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer advised party-goers, “Don’t peak too early,” President Barack Obama told those at the big dinner to keep martyred journalist James Foley and others in their thoughts. Yes, reporting the news can be hazardous to one’s health, as made more evident this year. Nevertheless, there is a time for some fun, and this was that weekend.

On Thursday, April 23, Story Partners hosted its second annual “Welcome to Washington: A Salute to Women in Journalism” at the home of Gloria Story Dittus. The United Nations Foundation hosted “The Global Beat,” a cocktail reception “celebrating journalism around the world.” Rock the Vote hosted a party with Fusion and Twitter at the Blind Whino.

On Friday, April 24, People and Time magazines held their annual reception at the St. Regis Hotel. Voto Latino’s sixth annual “Our Voices: Celebrating Diversity in Media” was again at the Hay Adams Hotel. Capitol File was the British Embassy again with comedienne Cecily Strong along the likes of cast members from “The Walking Dead” along with Valerie Jarrett and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter. Party-goers made leather bracelets, too. The Hill newspaper, the Canadian Embassy and Extra co-hosted an energized party at the embassy on Pennsylvania Avenue. The New Yorker held its an annual reception at the W Hotel Rooftop. The New Media Party returned to bring together the next generation of media, entrepreneurs, policy makers and tech leaders at the Carnegie Library.

On Saturday, April 25, the annual Garden Brunch on R Street in Georgetown benefited Dog Tag Bakery and Blue Star Families. Pre-parties included the Washington Post, CBS News and Atlantic Media as well as U.S. Today. Then came the main event: the White House Correspondent’s Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton with President Barack Obama in attendance and comedian Cecily Strong telling jokes, too. After parties included the packed MSNBC after party at the U.S. Institute of Peace, the bright-white Reuters after party and the Bloomberg-Vanity Fair at the French ambassador’s house.

On Sunday, April 26, brunches included Politico at the Allbrittons’ house on Q Street in Georgetown, CNN in an alley off Connecticut Avenue and the classic Reuters get-together at the Hay Adams, overlooking Lafayette Square and the White House. Plus ca change . . .
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