Italian National Day Stops Traffic
• June 27, 2014

Ambassador of Italy and Mrs. Claudio Bisogniero hosted a reception at the embassy on June 2 to celebrate Italian National Day. The record crowd brought traffic on Massachusetts Avenue to a virtual halt. Guests clearly admired the embassy’s striking architecture as they enjoyed the best of Italian cuisine. The event highlighted next year’s universal exposition that will be held in Milan: Expo 2015 Milano “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.” [gallery ids="101781,141024,141021,141027" nav="thumbs"]

Hillwood Bedazzles
• June 20, 2014

Ambassador of France François Delattre was the honorary chair at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens on June 3 for an elegant dinner and preview of the current exhibit, “Cartier: Marjorie Merriweather Post’s Dazzling Gems.” The extraordinary jewels provided an insight into the collector’s commitment to “finest craftsmanship, historical significance, and true splendor.” Post’s granddaughter Ellen Charles is stepping down as board president after ensuring that the house museum will continue to be the well run venue that it is today. [gallery ids="101779,141058,141046,141051,141055" nav="thumbs"]

Dominican Week in the United States Salutes Professional Success
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Dominican Ambassador Aníbal De Castro hosted a reception honoring the professional success in the United States of Mino Lora, Manuel Méndez and Robert Abreu as well as American William Headrick for his legal contributions to the Dominican Republic. On behalf of the late Dr. Luis Heredia Bonetti, his widow Maureen Tejeda accepted a national flag and a presidential decree. The event was planned by the organizing committee of Dominican Week in this country and the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic. Dominican rum, cigars and chocolate set the stage for the cocktail reception and dinner buffet following the garden ceremony. [gallery ids="101783,141010,141007" nav="thumbs"]

Washington Stage Guild Applauds Its Season, Holds Preview
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The Washington Stage Guild, “a smart theater for a smart town,” raised a toast to its recent season and gave a preview of upcoming productions at a program and dinner at the Arts Club of Washington June 5. Board President Laura Giannarelli welcomed avid theatergoers who enjoyed an accomplished reading by a five-member classical ensemble of three brief plays, “Trifles and Tomfooleries,” by George Bernard Shaw. Guests then dined in the club’s courtyard with quite perfect Washington weather. [gallery ids="101782,141016,141019,141012" nav="thumbs"]

Future Rep. Don Beyer Fundraises in Georgetown
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Vicki and Roger Sant hosted a reception for the Democratic candidate for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District, Don Beyer, at their N Street home June 5. Beyer hopes to fill the seat, being vacated by retiring Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., whose district borders D.C. [gallery ids="101778,141082,141076,141084" nav="thumbs"]

Gala GuideJune 18, 2014
• June 18, 2014

**June 22**
*The RAMMY Awards and Gala*

The RAMMY Awards Gala, a fundraiser for the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, brings together hospitality leaders for an evening devoted to honoring excellence in the restaurant and food service community. For details, visit www.ramw.org/rammys. Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Pl., NW.

**July 17**
*Brew at the Zoo*

Join FONZ ? Friends of the National Zoo — at its annual Brew at the Zoo, where you can sample the best beers from more than 60 craft and microbreweries. Proceeds from this festive event go towards animal care and conservation at the Smithsonian?s National Zoo and around the world. 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW; 202-633-3045.

Forum Theatre Applauds 10 Years
• June 8, 2014

Forum Theatre celebrated 10 amazing years of groundbreaking theater in the D.C. area with a reception and Special Forum Awards Ceremony, followed by a performance of the critically acclaimed “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot!” at Round House Silver Spring May 31. Artistic Director Michael Dove recalled that the company had performed in 12 spaces in its first five years before settling into Round House. The first staging of “Judas,” he said, “taught us how to do our mission.” Dove presented engraved flasks inscribed with Forum’s productions to several early actors and supporters and in turn received a bottle of whiskey labeled “congratulations on 10 years of adventurous, relevant and challenging theatrical productions.”
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Hungarian American Coalition Celebrates 25th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall
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World-renowned Hungarian lyric soprano Andrea Rost made a rare recital appearance at the Warner Theatre May 29. The performance was followed by a gala dinner at the House of Sweden, where the Hungarian American Coalition honored two human right champions, the late Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., and Bishop László T?kés, as well as the Hungarian Communion of Friends, which supports non-denominational religious life and charitable work among people of Hungarian extraction. The evening celebrated the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and Hungary’s independence.
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Zenith Gallery Presents Zenith Zoo
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In conjunction with Washington, D.C., Week for the Animals, Zenith Gallery held a May 28 opening reception to meet the artists featured in its current exhibit, “Zenith Zoo: Artistic Interpretations of our planetary Partners,” at 1111 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.” Equinox restaurant catered the reception, courtesy of owner and animal lover Ellen Kassoff Gray with 10 percent of sales donated to the Washington, D.C., Humane Society. The exhibit seeks to foster a deeper understanding of the animal kingdom.
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News Women Roast Gwen Ifill of PBS
• June 5, 2014

Members and friends of the American News Women roasted and toasted PBS legend Gwen Ifill for Excellence in Journalism on March 19 in the ballroom of the National Press Club on 14th Street. Roasters included emcee Eleanor Clift, Martha Raddatz of ABC News, John Dickerson and Ray Suarez, formerly of PBS News. Chairman Julie Chase and co-Chair Karen Cody filled the room with their journalists and VIP friends in the media. Claire Sanders Swift, president of the American News Women Club, gave the award, a large question mark designed by Lolo Sarnoff. [gallery ids="101756,141525,141520,141532,141529" nav="thumbs"]