Social Scene

Mary Bird • April 24, 2013

Winter’s big snow alert caused the In Series to postpone their 30th Anniversary celebration to Apr. 9 at the residence of the Ambassador of Chile Felipe Bulnes and Mrs. Pelllegirini-Bulnes. The ambassador made opening remarks for a program of four singers accompanied by pianist José Cáceres that included Italian and Latin favorites and concluded with Richard Tappen’s rendition of Cole Porter’s I Concentrate On You. He remarked “I have grown older and grown up with the In Series.” In Series Artistic Director and Founder Carla Hübner came on stage to encourage a “shout out for support for young artists.” Guests remained to enjoy a Latin inspired buffet. [gallery ids="101253,147610,147594,147606,147601" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Co-Chairman Leonard and Ronald Lauder founded the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation in l989 to accelerate the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat and cure the disease and related disorders. Washington’s Third annual Great Ladies Luncheon and Fashion show was held on Apr.11 under a spectacular tent at Saks Fifth Avenue Chevy Chase as the store celebrates its ongoing renovation. The Great Ladies Award was presented to Sharon Percy Rockefeller. Barbara Harrison of NBC4 Washington emceed the event which was highlighted by a stunning fashion show of designs from the Fall 2013 collection by Jason Wu, a favorite designer of First Lady Michelle Obama. [gallery ids="101254,147617,147608,147613" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

On Apr. 11, Sitar Art’s Center’s annual event gathered supporters at the Mexican Cultural Institute to fund high-quality arts education to underserved children and youth. The Kalorama-based facility offers afterschool, weekend and summer classes to over 700 students annually. Participating arts organizations include the Washington Ballet, Corcoran Gallery of Art and Washington performing Arts Society. In 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama presented Sitar with the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. [gallery ids="119322,119295,119312,119304,119315" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Tony Award winner Chita Rivera headlined The Washington Performing Arts Society annual gala at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel on May 8. Argentine Ambassador Héctor Marcos Timerman and Mrs. Anabelle Sielcki served as Honorary Diplomatic Chairs of the evening entitled From Broadway to Buenos Aires. The Children of the Gospel Choir opened the program. Ambassador Timerman quipped that “politicians and actors learn young to never share the stage with kids.” The event supports education programs for all ages. WPAS President and CEO Neale Perl noted that students with access to the arts do better in school. – Mary Bird [gallery ids="99332,99340,99339,99338,99337,99336,99335,99334,99333,99341" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner • April 23, 2013

Ruth and Arne Sorensen were Gala Chairs and Ambassador of Ireland Michael Collins and Mrs. Collins were Diplomatic Chairs as WPAS held its 2013 Gala and Auction at the Ritz-Carlton, Washington, DC, on Apr. 13. WPAS Children of the Gospel Choir entertained in a program headlined by Broadway star Mathew Morrison, well known for his portrayal of Spanish teacher Will Schuester on Glee. Founded in l965, WPAS is a nonprofit arts presenter of approximately 100 public engagements and arts education activities each year. It also runs or helps coordinate a variety of education programs for children and adults including Concerts in Schools and the Embassy Adoption program.

Robert Devaney •

The Washington Ballet celebrated the world premiere of Septime Webre’s “Hemingway: The Sun Also Rises” with the Moveable Feast: Hemingway in Paris Ball at the Library of Congress in the Jefferson Building April 12.

One of D.C.’s premier fundraising events, the annual gala celebrated ballet’s deep ties with the community and raises critical funds for the ballet’s training and outreach programs. Moveable Feast: The Hemingway in Paris Ball was chaired by Jackie Clegg Dodd and former Sen. Chris Dodd with honorary chair Mariel Hemingway and the Washington Ballet’s board of directors. Among the thanks was a big one for Councilman Jack Evans who made sure ballet programs got D.C. government funding.

After dinner by Susan Gage Caterers, guests enjoyed performances by the ballet’s professional dancers and students of TWB@THEARC and joined in for some dancing themselves as DJ Pitch One got everyone out on the dance floor in the central hall of the beautiful Jefferson Building.
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Georgetowner •

On April 19, 2013, Organization of American State hosted an amazing event in called Spirit of the Americas. Ambassadors, representatives from the diplomatic community, international organizations and government officials are brought together at the OAS headquarters to celebrate the culture and people of the Americas. This year’s goal was to raise $250,000 through donations and silent and live auctions to reconstruct an operating theater at Maternite Hospital for women in Cite Soliel, Haiti. [gallery ids="101251,147544,147531,147538" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird • April 19, 2013

Youth Orchestra of the Americas held its Spring Benefit on April 5 at the Organization of American States. The dinner program began with a video presentation narrated by YOA artistic advisor Placido Domingo. Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero spoke of “healing the world through music” and enchanted her listeners with a classical improvisation of “When the Saints Go Marching In.” She donated a private recital, with the caution of “Don’t make me wash the Dishes,” which raised an additional $7,000 for YOA’s Global Leaders Program, a tuition-free year-long fellowship program empowering the next generation of social entrepreneurs. [gallery ids="101229,145362,145357,145337,145351,145344" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird • April 10, 2013

On March 11, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center brought several hundred D.C. top business women together for a cancer briefing followed by Women & Wine, a cocktail reception and silent auction at the Four Seasons Hotel. Proceeds will support breast cancer research at Georgetown University Hospital’s Lombardi Cancer Center. Baker Tilly and Brandywine Realty Trust were presenting sponsors with Greta Kreuz of ABC 7 News as honorary chair. Georgetown Lombardi is the only comprehensive cancer center in the D.C. area, designated by the National Cancer Institute. [gallery ids="101218,145061,145050,145056" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Chef Nathan Bates of the Embassy of New Zealand is the first chef to win in all three categories: Challenge Hungary, a preliminary “Top Chef”-like competition; The Judge’s choice and People’s Choice awards. Bates served his garnished roast lamb cutlet to more than 450 guests, including “Top Chef All-Star” chef Carla Hill at Cultural Tourism’s Fifth Annual Embassy Chef Challenge at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on March 14. The event promotes diplomacy and celebrates arts, culture and heritage by supporting the organization’s free programs and events. Benefit chair Shahin Mafi introduced a video honoring the event’s first gala chair, the late elegant Pat Skantze, and introducing the Pat Skantze Lifetime Achievement Award.
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