Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company at NGA
• August 21, 2013

In honor of Diaghilev and the Ballet Russes, on Aug. 11 DTSBC performed the premiere of Revenant Elegy on the East Building mezzanine. The work, a visual and psychological exploration of “inner landscape,” was inspired by the hidden attitudes about youth and aging in George Balanchine’s Le Bal from the Ballet Russes’ final 1929 season. Artistic director Burgess is chair of the Department of Theater and Dance at George Washington University and a cultural envoy for the U.S. Department of State. His company has appeared at the United Nations, the White House and internationally.
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Bulgari Hosts National Museum of Women in the Arts
• August 15, 2013

The Women’s Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts held its first meeting of the year at Bulgari in Chevy Chase Jan. 18. The meeting was devoted to auction items for the April 26 gala celebrating the museum’s 25th anniversary. Women’s committee president Fran Usher welcomed NMWA Founder Wilhelmina Holladay, Women’s Committee founder Ruthanna Weber, Ambassador of Bulgaria Elena Poptodorova, former Ambassador of Macedonia Ljubica Acevska Novello and Gamila Karjawally, who had been the liaison with Bulgari. Store Manager Andrea Mitchell showed a video and discussed the collection. Guests then enjoyed Bellinis and canapés prepared by Design Cuisine. [gallery ids="101138,140575,140570" nav="thumbs"]

Mari Vanna Opening Party
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On Jan. 16, a new Washington treasure of a restaurant, Mari Vanna, hosted a friends and family preview in its second U.S. location at 1141 Connecticut Avenue. The three-level eatery is named after a fairytale grandmother of Slavic legend who welcomed hungry travelers. The first floor has an attractive bar, high-top tables and open-air kitchen. The second floor or “Imperial Suite” is more formal dining and the upper level an enticing disco. The decor is cozy with old Russian tchotchkes. The menu promises such traditional Russian dishes as piroshky, homemade blinis and beef Stroga- noff accompanied by signature cocktails and vodkas galore. [gallery ids="101139,140622,140616,140610,140604,140597,140591,140635,140584,140640,140645,140577,140650,140628" nav="thumbs"]

The Creative Coalition ‘Night Before Dinner’
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D.C.’s new Russian eatery, Mari Vanna D.C., hosted the Creative Coali- tion’s Inauguration “Night Before Dinner” with Svedka Vodka. The dinner served as a way to welcome the hosts to town the night before the Creative Coalition Inaugural Ball. Celebrity guests in attendance included Creative Coalition president Tim Daly, Paula Abdul, John Leguizamo, Omar Epps, Marlon Wayans, David Arquette, Wayne Knight, Sen. Paul Strauss, among others. [gallery ids="102581,119796,119829,119789,119818,119804,119812,119824,119835" nav="thumbs"]

Inauguration Night Party at Café Milano
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Gina Adams, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for FedEx Corporation; Bob Johnson, Founder and Chairman of the RLF Companies, and Café Milano owner Franco Nuschese invited friends to celebrate the inauguration of President Barack Obama on Jan. 21. Franco recalled that the restaurant opened the night that Bill Clinton was elected to his first term. It is a premier gathering spot for leaders and personalities from many spheres and was privileged to be the site for Michelle Obama’s 49th birthday when the president and first lady recently dined with friends in the upstairs wine room. [gallery ids="102582,119792,119787,119775,119768,119745,119761,119753,119782,119798" nav="thumbs"]

Embassy Series Honors Gertrude d’Amecourt
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The Jan. 23 Embassy Series program of Schubert/Mozart Birthday Celebrations at the Embassy of Austria was dedicated to the late Viscountess Gertrude d’Amecourt to the delight of her family and many friends attending. Board Chair Ian Portnoy spoke of the “mission of musical diplomacy.” Founder and Artistic Director hailed “Gertie” as a grande dame of Washington and of the world.” He then took to the stage accompanied by pianist George Peachey to enchant with his internationally acclaimed baritone. The remaining program was ably interpreted by Lithuanian pianist Edvinas Minkštimas, and later by Yevgeny Kutik on violin and Timothy Bozarth on piano. A post-performance reception included tempting sweets from the Sweet Diablo Portuguese bakery. [gallery ids="102579,119856,119833,119841,119848,119861,119867,119874" nav="thumbs"]

Redskins Legend John Riggins Headlines ProFish Benefit at Tony & Joe’s
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If you can’t beat ’em, eat ’em.

That was the theme of ProFish’s Annual Invasive Species Benefit Dinner at Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place at Washington Harbour Jan. 28. Top on the list: the snakehead, an invasive species native to China and Korea that found its way into the Chesapeake Bay and is one ugly, fierce-looking fish. ProFish, a seafood provider, figures to make the snakehead more marketable, thus leading to its decline in the bay.

Washington Redskins legendary running back John Riggins was the benefit headliner. The NFL Hall of Famer has a show on the Sportsman Channel, “Riggo on the Range,” where he hunts for the prey which he later shows how to cook in his kitchen.
Dining with Riggo was a who’s who of chefs, fishery operators, watermen, outdoorsmen, community leaders and those who wanted to have a unique five-course dinner and donate their $125 meal ticket money to the Oyster Recovery Partnership, a Maryland non-profit that is bringing more oysters back to the Chesapeake Bay, and D.C.’s Miriam’s Kitchen, committed to ending chronic homelessness.

Besides the surprising tasty snakehead — think grouper, a firm, white fish — was mackerel, rockfish and pork. Hors d’oeuvre included oysters, crab cakes, yellow perch and “local invasive blue catfish.”

The guys in the kitchen included Scott Drewno from the Source, Chad Wells of the Rockfish, Phillipe Reininger from J&G Steakhouse, Dennis Marron of Poste Moderne Brasserie — and, of course, David Stein, executive chef at Tony and Joe’s Seafood Place.

ProFish’s director of sustainable efforts John Rorapaugh issued this mission statement on the evening’s menu: “This issue of the flip side to the sustainable coin. Snakeheads need to be eradicated. Not controlled, not managed, eradicated!” While auctioning off two of his cooking aprons from his show, Riggins — who has a very good auctioneer’s pace — said snakeheads “need a makeover.” Perhaps even a name change, he said. The benefit raised at least $15,000.

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Cool and Hot GoldenGlobes
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Showing off a Sue Wong gown, District Council staffer Elizabeth Webster again made the Hollywood scene: this time for the Jan. 13 Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. The annual film and TV awards dinner is seen as a prelude to the Academy Awards in February. Big winners: “Argo” and “Les Miserables.” Webster works for Councilman-at-large Vincent Orange who encourages the District’s efforts to bring more film industry jobs to the city. “It was so cold in Los Angeles this past week,” she said. “But it was great to catch with my L.A. friends.” Webster’s Globes’ highlight: “Jodie Foster’s speech was the most touching of the evening as she brought everyone to tears when she announced she’s starting a new chapter in her life after being in front of the camera for the past 47 years.” [gallery ids="101125,139582,139572,139576" nav="thumbs"]

‘The Candle Burns’
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Three generations of family and more than 120 well-wishers gathered at the National Press Club on Jan. 12 for a late afternoon reception and program that honored Mrs. Azar Vakil Gilani (Mafi), author of a new book of Persian poems, “The Candle Burns.” Incoming club president Myron Belkind welcomed guests, who enjoyed Persian music and Dr. John Mafi’s rendition of U2’s I Still Haven’t Found What I‘m Looking For.” As the keynote speaker, Dr. Mafi spoke lovingly of “Maman Azar.” Other family members echoed his sentiments and read several of her published poems in both English and Farsi. Ambassador of Bulgaria Elena Poptodorova extolled the importance of the work of the family’s Azar Foundation in protecting abandoned and underprivileged children.

Washington Performing Arts Society Presents Yo-Yo Ma
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WPAS launched the first of this season’s Stars Series with a sold-out concert by cellist Yo-Yo at the Kennedy Center Dec. 3. WPAS’s staunchest supporters enjoyed a pre-concert Silk Road buffet in tribute to Ma’s Silk Road Project, a nonprofit arts and educational organization. The performance was generously underwritten by Gary Mather and Christina Mather. The program included the first three Bach cellos suites and marked the 30th anniversary of Ma’s first appearance under WPAS auspices. The cellist conducted several workshops at the Savoy Elementary in Southeast Washington the following day. [gallery ids="101095,137968,137964,137947,137959,137954" nav="thumbs"]