The Choral Arts Society Holiday Gala

Debra Kraft and Emily Riffle, Photo By Kyle Samperton

Always one of the most anticipated holiday events of the year, the Choral Arts Society’s Gallic-themed gala at the Kennedy Center was a perfect way to begin a “Joyeux Noël.” French Ambassador Pierre Vimont served as honorary chairman of the evening, which featured classic French carols during the performance in the Concert Hall, followed by dinner on the Roof Terrace. A surprise highlight was a performance by former Steely Dan and Dooby Brothers guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter that kept everyone on the dance floor late into the night. IN THE CROWD: Alan Schlaifer, Deborah Carlston, Cinnie Fehr, Susan Reichardt, Jenny Wallace, Eric Gates, Kazakhstan Amb. Erlan Idrisov and Nurilla Idrissova, Marilyn Pederson, and Jean and Don Wolf.

Hungarian Amb. Béla Szombati and Suzanna Szombati, Photo by Kyle Samperton

Bill and Karen Schuiling, Photo by Kyle Samperton

Jean Wolf and Patricia Sagon, Photo by Kyle Samperton

Deborah Houlihan and Betsy Holleman, Photo by Kyle Samperton

The Rebecca Project for Human Rights Party

Juleanna Glover Weiss (center) with the "Mother Leaders" of the Rebecca Project.

A BONDING EXPERIENCE: Women who have survived addiction, poverty, and violence came in their finest frocks to share stories with power players from media, lobbying, politics, and business backgrounds. “We thought it would be mutually inspirational to bring women together from disparate educational and economic backgrounds … most of whom have never had contact with one another,” said Rebecca Project director Malika Saada Saar at the event sponsored by Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Women Initiative and Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH).

The Lombardi Gala

Sally Sue and Vince Lombardi, Photo by Kyle Samperton

With glamorous auction items, a luxury car raffle, dinner, and dancing, the Georgetown Lombardi Cancer Center Gala at the Hilton Washington is always over the top. “Lombardi is a gift to our city,” said co-chairwoman Tanya Potter Adler, who honored Molly and Mark Decker with the Margaret L. Hodges Leadership Award. The Gala has raised over $17 million for cancer research at Lombardi. Garry O. Whipkey of Pohanka Lexus turned over the keys of a snazzy new Lexus convertible to raffle winner Emmebet Selassie.

Jack and Theresa DeGioia with Tanya Potter Adler and Howard Adler. Photo by Kyle Samperton

Tom Donahue and John Delahay. Photo by Kyle Samperton

Nancy Chistolini, Molly Decker, and Wendy Gagnon. Photo by Kyle Samperton

Pierre Lapeyre III, Margaret Hodges, Laurie, Jacqueline, and Pierre Lapeyre. Photo by Kyle Samperton

The Capital City Ball

Pamela Brehm, Bruce Fries, John Dunford, and Tanya Sabel (Photo by Samantha Strauss)

A group of generous donors attended this ever-elegant formal affair at the Washington Club, where proceeds benefited anti-human trafficking organizations Innocents at Risk, Polaris Project, and The Emancipation Network. Guests enjoyed dinner and a silent auction that featured original artwork, restaurant meals, and tickets to sporting events before moving to the dance floor to enjoy the sounds of the nine-piece dance and show band Bittersweet. THE SUPPORTERS: Co-chairmen John Dunford, Bruce Fries, and Deborah Sigmund; Executive Committee members Pamela Brehm, Michele Lebar, Tanya Lynn Sabel, Liz Sara, Tayler Wilhelm and Quin Woodward Pu.

Brian Addison, Benita Jenkins, Ashton Kunkle, and Zmarak Khan. Photo by Samantha Strauss

Barbara Gordon, June Libin, and Bonnie McElveen-Hunter

Location: Marriott Wardman Park Hotel

WL SPONSORED – Photos by Kyle Samperton

BLOWN AWAY: When the most renowned jazz musician and trumpter of his generation is the featured entertainment, your event is bound to be spectacular. Special guest artist Wynton Marsalis treated revelers to a set of swing-era jazz that matched perfectly with the roaring ‘20s “Cotton Club” theme. STEPPING OUT: The local dance troupe Step Afrika! performed after dinner and Tina Mather stepped up the auction action with a winning bid/donation of $45,000 for a private concert with violinist Gil Shaham. Corporate chairman Reggie Van Lee showed his own smooth moves as well by contributing a private dinner at his New York condominium, where an infamous Sex and The City balcony scene was shot.

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Newsweek's Evan Thomas and NBC anchor Tom Brokaw

Chevy Chase, Teresa Heinz Kerry, Honoree Tom Lovejoy, and Jayni Chase

By Christina Wilkie

“It is nothing short of scandalous that we probably only know one out of every ten species on earth, let alone where they are.” Tom Lovejoy

Chevy Chase, Tom Brokaw, UN Foundation President Tim Wirth, John Kerry, Russel Train, and Teresa Heinz all took to the stage for an evening at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in honor of renowned conservationist Tom Lovejoy, the current president of the Heinz Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment. Lovejoy, who has been working in tropical rainforests since the 1960’s is credited with first using the now-standard terms ‘biological diversity’ and ‘conservation biology’. He also founded the popular PBS show Nature.

Billed as a roast, the heat on Dr. Lovejoy never rose much above ‘warm’, but dinner emcee Chevy Chase was spot-on, as was a charismatic and funny Tom Brokaw, who recalled a 1988 CODAL trip to Lovejoy’s Amazon base camp (known as Camp 41) with Ben Bradlee and then-Senators Al Gore, Richard Shelby, and the late Jack Heinz, among others. The more than 400 enviros and policy folks laughed for nearly an hour. In a nod to the guest of honor’s strong preference for bow-ties, a prize for the best tie of the evening was awarded to climatologist Warren Washington, who sported a blinking red variety.

The Heinz Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment is a nonpartisan, nonprofit institution dedicated to improving the scientific and economic foundation for environmental policy. The evening was primarily sponsored by Coca-Cola.

Nancy Koide, Brynee Baylor, Dawn Jackson, Cynthia Anderson and Charisse Jackson

Location: Ritz-Carlton Washington

Photos by Tony Powell

GIRLS NIGHT OUT: Hunky local firefighters escorted the ladies into the silvery ballroom for drinks and dinner benefiting efforts to reduce domestic violence. SURPRISE PRIZE: Actress Kathleen Turner was duly impressed when two firemen stripped to the waist after auctioning their shirts to top bidders. DULY NOTED: Past chairwomen Holidae Hayes, Debra Lee, Holly Muldoon, Norma Ramsey, and Ann Walker-Marchant were honored before the much-anticipated arrival of gents from Fight Night.

Jon and Dorothea Bon Jovi

Location: Joe Lockhart Residence, Kalorama

WL EXCLUSIVE – Photos by Tony Powell

AGING IN PLACE: Former Al Gore aide and current Glover Park Group partner Mike Feldman celebrated the big four-oh with humor and grace, putting up with various friendly shenanigans at Joe Lockhart’s house that included a trick photo montage showing him progressively aging to the 100 mark and the inevitable snarky comments (“Women want Mike Feldman. Men want to be Mike Feldman.”)

PRESENTS: Quite a few, including “Happy Birthday” recorded by U2 and a rather nice bottle of vintage 1968 wine to mark the occasion from the absent Al and Tipper.

PRESENT: Jon and Dorothea Bon Jovi flew in for the party, joining the inevitable Democratic A-Listers plus various media types including Tammy Haddad, Jay Carney and Claire Shipman, and Betsy Fischer.

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Buffy and Bill Cafritz

Location: Fairfax Embassy Row Hotel

WL EXCLUSIVE – Photos by James R. Brantley

WELCOME HOME: “We missed it when it was gone, but now its back,” said Vernon Jordan, waxing rhapsodic about a long-missed haunt as he, his wife, Ann, and co-hosts Bill and Buffy Cafritz welcomed guests to dinner at the Jockey Club. Re-opened after 10 years with a chef poached from New York’s 21, “The Jockey” is back with soft lighting, the old red-and-white-checked tablecloths, and all the social set’s fattening favorites: crab cakes, puff potatoes, Dover sole, rack of lamb, and dessert soufflés.

THE GANG’S ALL THERE: Polly Kraft, Ben Bradlee, George and Liz Stevens, Molly Raiser, James Billington, Debbie Dingell, and Gahl Burt.

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Laure DiSerio, Sarah Lange, Keara O'Conner, and Ona Madonia

Location: National Mall

WL SPONSORED – Photos by Kyle Samperton

ON THE FIELD: It was a warm, sunny, picture-perfect day to kick off the America’s Polo Cup (which takes place next May) and to enjoy food and drink while watching the superb equestrian skills of Cup president and co-founder Tareq Salahi and other notable players. THE SPECTATORS: Michaele Salahi supporting her husband from the sidelines; Land Rover’s Andy Palmisano; and Miss D.C. Kate Marie Grinold saying farewell before leaving for L.A. for pageant duties. Also spotted: Greg and Dotty Schaeffer, Lane McIntosh, Jennifer Cheadle, Loren and Kimberly Glasser, Rochelle Carol, and Alina Zhukovskaya.

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Joan and Maurice Tobin Residence

Photos by James R. Brantley

Dancers Kristen Segin, Sara Adams, Mark Wax, Grace McLoughlin, and Lydia Wellington

THE EVENT: A buffet supper honoring young School of American Ballet dancers on the eve of their opening night performance at the Kennedy Center. THE SCENE: The buzz ratcheted up when the gorgeous troupe made its entrance into the Tobins’ glorious Kalorama home. “Beautiful art, beautiful food, a beautiful garden and now this …,” one guest marveled as an exquisite ballerina quintet posed for pictures at the bottom of the staircase in the front hall. No wonder several balletomanes-in-the-making ordered tickets on their cell phones right then and there. THE GUESTS: Duane Hampton, Lucky Roosevelt, Mary Weinmann, Aniko Gaal Schott, Phil and Nina Pillsbury, Henry von Eichel and veteran ABC correspondent Ann Compton, who regaled guests with tales from the Hillary Clinton campaign trail before reminiscing about the Reagans with former Nancy Reagan aide Jim Rosebush.