Washington Life Magazine
Washington Life Magazine

Around Town

with Donna Shor

 

A VERY SPECIAL LADY
Our former United Nations Peace Prize recipient, Esther Coopersmith, is an indomitable woman: she spearheads and gives generously to causes, is a tireless political campaigner, christened a "kingmaker" by many, and is an inveterate traveler who is on a first name basis with many world leaders. Several causes and movements have originated in her living room, and another was revealed at a party honoring her at the imposing home across from Mount Vernon of Ray and Shaista Mahmood, co-hosts with Susan Allen, next door neighbor and wife of Senator George Allen.

"Seeds of Peace" was conceived by the late journalist John Wallach after a discussion on the war-torn state of the world at Esther's. It brings together, at a camp in the Maine woods, youths of enemy nations who form friendships and learn valuable lessons about their "enemies." Several of them spoke, Jews and Arabs, Pakistanis and Indians, of the value of the experience. Janet Wallach, a journalist and the author of eight books, is continuing the work of her husband. As for the hospitable Mahmoods, two nights later they held another big "do," this time for Michael Chertoff, secretary of homeland security, and the Allens.

QUEEN FOR A LIFETIME
Another remarkable woman was honored when 250 Washingtonians helped Virginia Hayes Williams, the mother of Washington Mayor Anthony Williams, celebrate her 80th birthday. Coordinator Jan DuPlain emceed the event, and the dozen speakers included Chairman of the D.C. Commission on the Arts Dorothy McSweeny, and her husband Bill; Charlene Drew Jarvis, president of Southeastern University; arts patron Judith Terra, who created the family photo "memory boards" displayed at the party; and Christine Warnke, chairman of the D.C. Commission on Women, among other notables. Neale Perl, the president of the Washington Performing Arts Society, and an accomplished cellist, performed what he termed "A little Birthday Bach" as an added treat. Virginia raised nine children, three of whom were adopted, including Mayor Williams. She had just begun a career as an opera singer (following in the footsteps of her uncle, Roland Hayes, the first African American to take the stage in major roles) when she was about to adopt Tony. "You know," said her husband, "you can adopt another child, or you can continue on your operatic career, but it is impossible to do both." She chose Tony, and the rest is history. Several spoke of her regal bearing, and the many good causes Virginia has begun and labored for, emphasizing her insistence that others get involved too. Then Mayor Williams took the floor, saying "My wife will kill me for this, but I guess it is all right to say since Katie Couric had hers on national television - I had a colonoscopy this morning. I felt horrible this afternoon, and I really didn't think I could make it tonight. Mother thought otherwise, saying 'You be here! Just get yourself together, and do it!' It was a royal command; regal is the right word for her, and as far as I can remember, she has been queen for a lifetime!"

FRED and MARLENE MALEK with California Governor ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

CLINTON PORTIS (in purple hat) and BOB BELMONT

JANE LIPTON CAFRITZ, Chinese Ambassador ZHOU WENZHONG and Washington Performing Arts Society board member LINDA RAB

 

WITH A DO-SI-DO
"Montevideo," the Poolesville property of Gogo and Austin Kiplinger rang with "Swing your partner!" when they hosted a barbecue and barn dance to benefit the Washington Chorus, which the Kiplinger family, and especially son Knight, have long supported. It was more "Promenade the barn" than the traditional "Promenade the hall" and couples danced (skirting the hay bales), stroked the pet llamas in the pasture and ate barbecue till the cows came home.

KALEIDOSCOPE
When her sister and brother-inlaw came to town, glamorous neurolog ist Sheila Jahan celebrated with a major bash at her McLean home. The buffet table was loaded with Middle Eastern dishes, and the dancing, to throbbing Middle Eastern music, went on non-stop. Everyone but the dog danced… Another memorable meet-up, the party Richard De Sonier gave at his cathedral-ceilinged home. Through those portals passed some seriously chic party guests… One of the liveliest tables at the SemperComm Foundation gala was hosted by Rick Cutrera of American Airlines, a sponsor of the evening. The airline underwrote several of the trips awarded during the silent auction at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. SemperComm is a charitable nonprofit foundation which brings entertainment equipment and the means to communicate with their families back home to United States service personnel at remote overseas postings, where such facilities are sparse … Washington Ballet's guiding light, Septime Webre, glimpsed at the opening cocktail party at Urbana, the striking new wine bar and restaurant next to Dupont Circle's Hotel Palomar. The chef 's take on the cocktail hour "thingies" is witty, delicious, and wicked on the calories, and the watermelon martinis made new converts … Grecian Ambassador Alexandros P. Mallias hosted a lively party with Edy Fraser, sparkplug of the women's empowerment group WOW and its members. There were Australian parliamentarians briefly in town who attended and several New Yorkers as well, including Gloria Starr Kins, long a fixture at the United Nations. Ever been called on out of the blue to address 200 people? That happened to Carlota Pardini, who was amazed when she was singled out from the audience to speak. After she greeted the crowd in Greek, Carlota acquitted herself well, speaking of numerous trips to Greece when her sister was ambassador there.

NOHRA PASTRANA (wife of former Colombian Ambassador ANDRÉS PASTRANA), Coach KATHY KEMPER, SHAMIM JAWAD (wife of Afghan Ambassador SAID TAYEB JAWA and LUMA KAWAR (wife of Jordanian Ambassador KARIM KAWAR )

PETER STIFEL and TOM NIGRA
ROBERT MACNEIL, JIM LEHRER,

MASSIMO CIVITELLI,P.WESLEY FOSTER, GERRI BUCHANAN
TED ALLEN

JAN ELIASSON,  JOHN SHAW

 

GIVE US THE MUSIC-MAKERS
La Maison Française offered a Fête de la Musique matching the musical street parties held on the same day all over France and French-speaking countries. This celebration of the summer solstice on June 21st, celebrated since pagan days, was first organized as a world-wide festival in 1981. Here at the French embassy's fete, music kept breaking out in every corner of the spacious building and its grounds, with professional and amateur musical groups strumming, singing and keyboarding while the crowd danced. Rain drove everyone indoors for part of the evening, but didn't dampen the spirits of the party-goers, fueled by Bobby Kacher's wines and baguettes stuffed with terrific roasted sausages. Operation of the entire event was brought off with considerable aplomb (despite the weather) by Roland Celette, director of the Maison Française, who never misses a beat when organization is called for.

If you have an upcoming event Around Town should know about, send advance word to Donnashor@aol.com

 



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