Social Scene

Robert Devaney • September 25, 2014

DBGB Kitchen and Bar kicked off its opening with a Sept. 12 food party that will be tough to top. The great food and good, Gallic cheer did not subside. Chef Daniel Boulud, who got his start in Washington, said he was happy to welcome to D.C. The casual French-American restaurant DBGB marks the New York-based chef’s first restaurant in D.C. and is at CityCenter on H Street, NW. On hand were hundreds of Boulud’s friends and admirers — and, of course, his family and his famous chef pals. Boulud said of his D.C. mentor and pioneering chef Jean-Louis Palladin: “He was the finest chef Washington ever had.”
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Robert Devaney •

The entire Behar family was on hand Sept. 18 for a grand opening party for the new Ike Behar store at 2900 M St., NW. The shop has been open for a few months. Founder Ike Behar along with Regina, Steven, Alan and Lawrence Behar greeted friends and clients. [gallery ids="101865,137642" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner • September 15, 2014

The 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards was held Aug. 25 at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles to salute the best in prime television programming. Comedian Seth Myers was the host. Elizabeth Webster of the District Council attended the show and the L.A. parties. On her own dime, she mixed business with pleasure, seeing her California friends and talking up film production in Washington, D.C. Webster works for At-Large Councilmember Vincent Orange, who is an advocate for small business as well as bringing more film production jobs to the District.

For Webster, one of her favorite moments at the Emmys was Billy Crystal’s tribute to Robin Williams for his many decades in TV. “It was so touching,” she said. At the same time, she said, “I was sorry not to see “House of Cards” and Kevin Spacey win more awards, as they had been nominated in 13 categories.”

Webster and her friends — one of them, Joyce Chow said she just “loved the humor of Sofia Vergara” — checked out most of the parties before and after the awards show, including Entertainment Weekly at Fig & Olive, BAFTA Tea, the post-Emmys Governor’s Ball, the very exclusive Netflix party at Chateau Marmount and the after after VIP Netflix party with the Emmy winners.

Robert Devaney •

For those who love rum and love those who love rum, National Rum Day brought a nice mix of people and mixed drinks. First up was media day Aug. 11, catered by the Mason Dixie Biscuit Company, at Project 4 Gallery on U Street. The 4th Annual Rum Day D.C. hosted a three-day celebration for rum lovers with a Rooftop Rum & Smoke Soiree Aug. 14 atop the Graham Hotel, with the multi-destination Rum Runner Party Bus on Aug. 15 and concluded Aug. 16 with the Rum-B-Que at Jack Rose. [gallery ids="101852,138269,138250,138267,138261,138256" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird • September 11, 2014

Avid supporters of dance flocked to the Sofitel Hotel for the Diplomats of Dance Society’s “inaugural soiree” in support of D.C.’s Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company and its upcoming tour to Suriname with the U.S. State Department. Ambassador Subhas Mungra of Suriname was an honored guest. The Diplomats of Dance Society foresees an annual event around the dance company’s touring because “Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company brings a much needed cross-cultural perspective to the arts scene.” Burgess was recently named the first Smithsonian choreographer-in-residence at the National Portrait Gallery and will begin a residency at the Kreeger Museum, as well as a partnership with NASA, in 2015.

Georgetowner • September 10, 2014

At-large councilmember Vincent Orange received the Spirit Award for his work in the community from the Nationals Aug. 24. He secured increases in the minimum and living wages to $11.50 per hour and $13.60 per hour and paid sick leave for tipped wage workers as well as resolving issues allowing the permanent presence of food trucks in the District. Orange is well known a Washington Nationals fan and provided the seventh — and deciding — vote for the return of baseball to the nation’s capital.

“It was a great honor to receive the Nationals’ Spirit Award and bear witness to an exciting victory over the San Francisco Giants,” said Orange, as his wife Gwen looked on. “I also enjoyed sharing the day and field with my ‘starting nine youth,’ who greeted the Nationals’ starting nine on the field.”

Mary Bird • September 3, 2014

Georgetown University alums Tom Schlafly — chairman of the board and co-founder of the Saint Louis Brewery, Missouri’s largest locally owned independent brewery, class of 1970 — and chef and restaurateur Geoff Tracy, class of 1995, hosted a Beeracle at Chef Geoff’s on Aug. 9. Fifty-five fortunate diners enjoyed a six-course repast, prepared by Chef Geoff’s executive chefs and highlighted by signature beers. Chef Santos Fuentes’s chipotle glazed pork belly and chef Oscar Bendeck’s pan seared trout were tied as guests voted for their favorite dishes.
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Mary Bird •

This year’s theme was “A Night in Nashville” for the Washington Area Concierge Association Gala at the Hamilton Aug. 17, headlined by Northern Virginia’s Amy Wilcox, who is an upcoming Nashville rock star. As Tommy McFly introduced the proceedings, he wondered, “Who’s in charge of guiding tourists around town?” Leading concierges enjoyed a well deserved night off.
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Robert Devaney • August 20, 2014

For those who love rum and love those who love rum, National Rum Day brought a nice mix of people and mixed drinks. First up was media day Aug. 11, catered by the Mason Dixie Biscuit Company, at Project 4 Gallery on U Street. The 4th Annual Rum Day D.C. hosted a three-day celebration for rum lovers with a Rooftop Rum & Smoke Soiree Aug. 14 atop the Graham Hotel, with the multi-destination Rum Runner Party Bus on Aug. 15 and concluded Aug. 16 with the Rum-B-Que at Jack Rose.

Mary Bird • August 14, 2014

Marking the 200th anniversary of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the Monaco Boys’ Choir (Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco) gave a concert July 15 in the National Museum of American History’s Flag Hall. A private reception, hosted by Ambassador Maguy Maccario Doyle of Monaco and museum director John Gray, followed. Now in its 40th year, the choir under the direction of Pierre Debat was on a U.S. tour from New York to Miami. The ambassador said, “It is always very exciting when our cultural emissaries come to town.” The 30-member group, ranging from 8 to 18 years of age, also sang at the French Embassy on Bastille Day and at the Children’s National Health Center. [gallery ids="116109,116123,116126,116113,116117,116120" nav="thumbs"]