2013 DC Vote Champions of Democracy Awards Gala
• January 17, 2014

On Oct. 9, Mayor Vincent Gray and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton attended the annual gala hosted at the Mayflower Hotel by DC Vote, a national educational and advocacy organization. ?Honorees Mary Ann Stein, DC Veterans and Representative Jose E. Serrano (D-NY) were recognized for their dedication to fulfilling the promise of democracy. Mayor Gray noted that the federal shutdown only served to magnify the ramifications of District disenfranchisement. “The District of Columbia is not a federal agency,” Mayor Gray declared to applause “and we’re not asking anybody for federal money, we’re simply asking for the authority to spend our own dollars.” [gallery ids="101518,150830,150838,150835" nav="thumbs"]

Capricia Marshall Honored by Cultural Tourism DC
•

On Oct. 15, Shahin Mafi, Chair, 2013 Embassy Chef Challenge, and Tim Cox, Chair, and the Board of Cultural Tourism DC held at cocktail buffet in honor of Ambassador Capricia Penavic Marshall. Jan Du Plain, Embassy Liaison, Reagan Building and International Trade Center, and the evening’s emcee, said President Obama had “hit a home run in selecting Marshall for Chief of Protocol.” Ambassadors of Lichtenstein, Botswana, Mexico and Mauritius said “thank you for all you do for all of us,” “you made us feel welcome” and “each of the 192 ambassadors thought Capricia liked them the most.” Ambassador Marshall thanked Shahin for “opening up her heart” and her home. [gallery ids="101519,150829,150826,150822" nav="thumbs"]

Hope & Progress Gala
•

The Oct. 19 Hope & Progress 13th Annual Gala at the Four Seasons raised funds for the New Sibley and Cancer Programs at Sibley Memorial Hospital. Michael Farr, Chairman of the
Sibley Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, emceed the program with Niloofar Razi Howe and David Howe as Gala Chairs. Council Members Mary Cheh and David Catania attended the event. Executives of Wilmot Sanz Architecture Planning, which is “transforming Sibley,” were among the guests who enjoyed a cocktail reception, dinner and dancing to Odyssey. [gallery ids="101520,150820,150818,150813,150797,150801,150806,150810" nav="thumbs"]

Washington Concierges Gather at Tony & Joe’s for 30th gala
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Mardi Gras beads were the order of the evening as the Washington Area Concierge Association celebrated its 30th annual gala at Tony & Joe’s at Washington Harbour on Aug. 19. The weather was perfect, as guests enjoyed a plentiful array of the restaurant’s specialties along with signature cocktails and other libations. There were boat tours, auction and raffle items and the assurance that 100 percent of the proceeds raised would benefit the John B. Campbell Hospitality Scholarship, Les Clefs d’Or and the Washington Animal Rescue League. [gallery ids="101443,153724,153720,153727,153705,153710,153715" nav="thumbs"]

Washington Women and Wine’s Fifteenth Anniversary Celebration
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Washington Women and Wine (WWW) co-founder Karen McMullen gathered “a lot of women and a few good men” at Brian Voltaggio’s Range on Oct. 21 to recall 15 years of dinners, networking socials, wine excursions and international trips. NBC News 4 Anchor Wendy Rieger, an active WWW member, emceed the evening as she had the group’s first event. The gourmet canapés and several courses were paired with wines selected by Advisory Board Member Suzanne McGrath, proprietor of the Curious Grape in Shirlington. The group has visited France twice and will travel to Northern Italy next March. [gallery ids="118724,118728,118735,118702,118709,118717,118741" nav="thumbs"]

Washington Women and Wine
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Karen McMullen, a co-founder of Washington Women and Wine (WWW), chose Nick’s Riverside Grill in the Georgetown Harbour to host a “Farewell to Summer Waterfront Networking Social” on Aug. 27. WWW brings a cross section of the business community together monthly to network and enjoy fine food and wine. The group’s 15th anniversary will be held Oct. 21 at Bryan Voltaggio’s Range. In addition, WWW will enjoy its third international trip, journeying to Northern Italy, next March. [gallery ids="101445,153681,153674,153678,153669,153687,153686" nav="thumbs"]

A Tribute to Albert
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On Sept. 7, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain Houda Nonoo hosted a dinner buffet and program honoring the late legendary photographer Albert Francis Mogzec. For over 50 years “Albert,” as he was known to all, covered the international and diplomatic community. Jan Du Plain emceed a program of speakers including Ambassador of Bulgaria Elena Poptodorova; Patricia Elwood, who presented a special message from Mayor Vincent Gray, and Albert’s musician grandson Jeremy Carlstedt, who said Albert considered the diplomatic corps his “other family.” This would have been Albert’s 85th birthday. It was Ambassador Nonoo’s as well and Jerome Barry led the guests in “For She’s A Jolly Good Fellow.” [gallery ids="101446,153656,153668,153661,153664" nav="thumbs"]

Saying Farewell to ‘Man About Town’ Bob Madigan
•

Bob Madigan was saluted by his legion
of media pals and friends wearing sequined
bowties at Carmine’s in the Penn Quarter
for an afternoon reception on Jan. 11 as he
leaves 50 years on the air to head for Maine.
Tommy McFly heralded Madigan’s support of
nonprofits, restaurateurs and his many good
deeds before leading a vocal tribute “with
apologies to Billy Joel,” as “She’s Always A
Woman To Me” was revamped to “Bob, Man
About Town To Me.” Lyrics included “Fifty
years on the air have gone by in a flash. There’s
a hammock that’s calling him and his cat Max.”
It was a well-deserved heartfelt appreciation of
a special friend. [gallery ids="101599,147216,147210,147205,147201,147225,147232,147197,147229,147220" nav="thumbs"]

Russian Ball Reinvents Itself
• January 16, 2014

The Russian Ball reinvented itself this year. Without the presence of Prince Alexis and Princess
Selene Obolensky there were few familiar faces but the princess would be pleased that the hope she
expressed last year that “the young people will continue the ball” was realized. A young attractive
crowd more attuned to social media than presentation at court gathered in the elegant rooms of the
Cosmos Club Jan. 11. Proceeds benefited Russian American Community Services. [gallery ids="101598,147239,147242,147245,147233" nav="thumbs"]

Choral Arts: An Enchanted Christmas
• January 9, 2014

The Holiday Concert and Gala of the Choral Arts Society of Washington was held at the Kennedy Center Dec. 16. Olwen Pongrace was gala chair, and the Ambassador of Italy and Mrs. Bisogniero served as honorary patrons, as 2013 is the Year of Italian Culture in the United States. The program in the Concert Hall fittingly highlighted music from Italy, including traditional Christmas carols as well as music of Andrea Gabrieli and Salmone Rossi, who wrote scared Hebrew texts in the Baroque style. The Children’s Chorus of Washington, under the baton of Joan Gregoryk, performed selections from Benjamin Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols,” composed during a perilous Atlantic crossing during World War II. Guests rose to acknowledge the many invited military families. Artistic director Scott Tucker led the audience in several carols, including an Italian verse to “White Christmas.” Post-performance festivities included a silent auction and reception followed by dinner and dancing at the Roof Terrace level. [gallery ids="101582,147895,147869,147873,147879,147883,147888,147893" nav="thumbs"]