Social Scene

Kelley Hudak • March 28, 2013

Cold may have lingered, but the National Cherry Blossom Festival?s Pink Tie Party at the Renaissance Hotel March 20 was hot. And while the bloom date of the Tidal Basin?s famous cherry trees was pushed back, cherries were incorporated into the small plates offered by 30 participating D.C. restaurants. Miami chef Lorena Garcia was the chef of honor and celebrated by dancing the night away with her staff and attendees to music by DJ Heather Femia. Event staff outfits were donated by Lilly Pulitzer, and Escada debuted a new limited-edition scent for spring, called ?Cherry in the Air.? Other sponsors included Sucampo Pharmaceuticals and Chandon Champagne.

Mary Bird • March 26, 2013

Ambassador of the Russian Federation and Mrs. Sergey Kislyak and their guests festively celebrated Russian New Year (Maslenitsa) in the embassy’s grand ballroom on Mar. 15. Following a cocktail reception and silent auction, Russian appetizers, blini and caviar abounded, accompanied by vodka and several wines as well as lively entertainment and dancing. The evening benefited the Benevolent Fund of the Russian Orthodox Cathedrals of Saint Nicholas and St. John the Baptist. [gallery ids="119397,119447,119442,119389,119406,119413,119421,119429,119435" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

An invitation only guest list previewed Dupont Circle’s newest sports bar, The Gryphon, on Mar. 19. Owners Tony Hudgins, David Karim and Rich Vasey were on-hand to introduce the venue, which boasts the social dining atmosphere of a restaurant, the heart of a pub and the view of a stadium. Executive Chef Joseph Evans served up towering plates of bite-sized menu highlights. The pub-meets-posh venue opens its doors just in time for March Madness 2013. The Gryphon’s fully-integrated media system, including 31 televisions, ensures that college basketball fans catch every air ball and alley-oop. [gallery ids="99234,103696,103694" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

We Will Survive Cancer (WWSC) recently hosted Ann Atkins, author of Eleanor Roosevelt’s Live of Soul Searching and Self Discovery at a sell-out Women’s History Month Lunch and Learn fundraiser at the National Press Club sponsored by Howard Fletcher and TTR|Sotheby’s. Gayela Bynum founded the non-profit WWSC to assist the families of cancer patients. In honor of Women’s History Month, Ann Atkins presented a compelling talk: Eleanor Roosevelt – the Arc of Her Journey. A card at each place setting reminded guests “We Stand Together With the Families. The message is clear: We Will Survive Cancer.” [gallery ids="99232,103684" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird • March 18, 2013

Placard bearing stern “suffragists” greeted guests to the Embassy of Finland on March 1 where Ambassador Ritva Koukku-Ronde and Joan Bradley Wages, president and CEO of the National Women’ History Museum, hosted a reception for the Suffrage Centennial Celebration. The evening was part of a weekend honoring U.S women who made history by marching in 1913 for voting rights ultimately obtained with passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. The ambassador spoke of her country’s stellar track record in promoting gender equality. In 1906, the women of Finland gained full political rights and today constitute 50 percent of the Finnish diplomatic corps. [gallery ids="101201,143859,143837,143854,143844,143850" nav="thumbs"]

Kelley Hudak • March 16, 2013

The “Luck of the Irish” was the evening’s wish as 500 guests flooded the atrium of the Ronald Reagan Building March 2 for a casino night to benefit the National Kidney Foundation. Notables included Washington Redskins Pro Bowler and honorary chair Lorenzo Alexander with fellow teammates Reed Doughty, Kedric Golston and Chris Wilson as well as Dallas Cowboy Anthony Armstrong. The event was emceed by ABC7’s Jummy Olanbanji and ESPN 980 host Scott Jackson. Each of the speakers has been personally affected by kidney disease in some way and came out to raise awareness for the cause. There are approximately 700,000 in the D.C. area suffering from kidney disease, nearly 6,000 on dialysis and 1,500 waiting for a lifesaving kidney transplant.

Highlights included traditional casino games, a silent auction, a performance by the ladies of the O’Neil James School of Irish Dance and a dress-up photo booth where guests donned their favorite costumes and snapped silly pictures. The night was capped off by a version of the latest viral Internet dance craze, the Harlem Shake, where NFL players and guests alike joined in the fun.
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Robert Devaney • March 14, 2013

It may seem far off, but April 27 is coming fast for home-owners, volunteers and designers working to make the 82nd Georgetown House Tour a success. The main players met to strategize and socialize March 6 at the 34th Street home of Frank Randolph, who is again co-chairing the house tour with Stephanie Bothwell. There are eight houses on the tour. The tour’s popular Patrons’ Party will be held April 24 at the home of Marc Schappell and Tom Anderson, both executives at Washington Fine Properties, LLC. For more details, visit www.GeorgetownHouseTour.com, or call 202-338-2287. [gallery ids="119500,119490,119495,119483" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird • March 13, 2013

The Fourth Annual “Wacky & Whimsical Tea to benefit THEARC” was a joyous astronaut-theme afternoon at the Ritz Carlton March 3. NBC4 newscaster Eun Yang served as the event’s honorary chair. Elegantly attired young partygoers and their beaming parents and grandparents enjoyed a sumptuous high tea, silent auction and a variety of creative games for all ages as well as performances by students at THEARC. Under the leadership of Building Bridges Across the River, 11 nonprofit agencies including the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Levine School of Music and The Washington Ballet provide cultural, health, educational, recreational and social service programs “East of the Anacostia River.”
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Mary Bird •

Washington lost one of its leading artists a year ago when figurative painter Manon Cleary succumbed to the lung disease she had contracted from many years of teaching in improperly ventilated studios. Her husband F. Steven Kijek memorialized his love for her and shed light on her artistry in an Evening with Extraordinary Artist series at the Arts Club Feb. 27. Kijek spoke of the classical precision gleaned through her study of Caravaggio and went on to chronicle the various stages of her work through slide and film. As he tackles five trunks of untouched archives, he hopes to bring Manon’s art to a higher level of recognition, which will require “time, money and connections.” [gallery ids="119486,119462,119469,119476,119479" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

The 52nd Anniversary of the National Day of the State of Kuwait was elegantly celebrated at the Four Seasons Hotel Feb. 20. The prominence of Ambassador and Mrs. Salem Al Sabah was reflected in the presence of many familiar Washington leaders in the always lengthy receiving line. Much important business is conducted after office hours and this was abundantly apparent as guests exchanged greetings while sampling the exquisite international buffet. Global delights included Peking duck, chicken and beef Shawarma, lobster ravioli, crab cakes mini cheese cakes and a chocolate fountain. Departing guests received a chocolate and nut confection to savor the evening.