THEARC’s “Tea with Mrs. B”

Children enjoy at the THEARC’S ‘Wacky and Whimsical Tea with Mrs. B’. (Photo by Tony Powell)

ONE FISH, TWO FISH: Washington families turned out for THEARC’s “Tea with Mrs. B,” a sold-out afternoon of Dr. Seuss-themed activities with characters from the books, plus face painting, croquet, juggling, and storytelling.

CATS IN THE HAT: Event chairwoman Ali Wentworth and her family, Agnes Miller and Elizabeth Miller, Severina Nicely, Tony Brody and EJ Brody, Edmund Fleet, Gina Adams, Skip McMahon, Kay Kendall, and Mary Kunkel and Katie Kunkel.

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The 14th annual record of notably social individuals from politics, diplomacy, business, philanthropy, and the arts.

Enrico and Andrea Cecchi (Photo by Joseph Allen)

A
Mr. and Mrs. JAMES ABDO (Mai)
Mr. and Mrs. WILLIAM ABEL-SMITH (Mimi)
The Honorable and Mrs. TYLER ABELL (Bess)
The Honorable DAVID C. ACHESON
Mr. GLEN ACKERMAN and Mr. ERNESTO SANTALLA
Mr. THEO ADAMSTEIN and Ms. OLVIA DEMETRIOU

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The Washington Ballet and Bloomingdale’s show-off winter’s coolest looks and local personalities.

The W Hotel Washington and John Legend put on a grand opening performance, Pollywood style

By Michael M. Clements

Operatic performers set a classical mood. Photo by Tony Powell

Purple lights flooded the historic Beaux Arts exterior of the officially opened W Hotel Washington on a perfect fall evening. There was a formidable red carpet with a large logo-emboldened step-and-repeat with a special “VIP-only” entrance – for those worthy of being photographed in front of said corporate logos; photographers who waited patiently outside the velvet rope for the star power to roll in; and black-clad PR mavens with clipboards and headsets greeting guests with “Are you on the list?” Indeed, it was an event game-planned straight out of film screening/celebrity restaurant openings of Los Angeles and New York. But, this isn’t Los Angeles or New York. It’s Washington. Not to say Washington can’t be chic. It can be. But we don’t have to be Los Angeles or New York, or Miami for that matter. In fact, we revel in not being any of these cities because of how hard they try sometimes. If the opening of the W Hotel Washington proves anything, it’s that Washington is continuing to develop its unique Pollywood style – and that, is a good thing.

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The 2009 Choral Arts Gala, Photo by Kyle Samperton

The 2009 Washington Life Guide to Balls and Galas.

SEPTEMBER

WNO’S OPENING NIGHT GALA
WL SPON
What to Expect: Join fellow opera enthusiasts for the Washington National Opera’s highly-anticipated Season Opening Night Gala dinner dance following the premiere performance of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, where the funds raised benefit the WNO’s performance programs and educational outreach projects.
Date: Saturday, September 12; 7 p.m.
Location: Performance at the Opera House, The Kennedy Center; gala dinner at the Hall of the Americas, Organization of American States Building
Attire: Black-tie
Price: Starting at $500; sponsorship packages starting at $5,000; performance tickets sold separately
Contact: WNO Special Events Hotline, 202-295-2449, specialevents@dc-opera.org; performance tickets, 202-295-2420

2009 WOLF TRAP BALL
What to Expect: The vast Filene Center stage transforms into a magical setting as Germany marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and celebrates “Freedom without Walls” at the performance venue’s annual ball. As the foundation’s largest fundraiser, proceeds benefit Wolf Trap’s arts and education programs.
Date: Saturday, September 12; 7 p.m.
Location: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
Attire: Black-tie
Event Chairmen: Mary E. Arnold and James C. Nesbitt III
Price: $500 to $1,000; tables from $5,500 to $25,000
Contact: Melanie Allan McCarty, 703-255-1944, events@wolftrap.org

 NATIONAL HISPANIC FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS’ NOCHE DE GALA
WL SPON
What to Expect: Always high on the caliente chart, the evening brings A-List Hispanic entertainers together for dinner, dancing, and fundraising. Founded by actors Jimmy Smits, Sonia Braga, Esai Morales, and Washington attorney Felix Sanchez, the foundation offers graduate scholarships and programs to young Latinos pursuing careers in entertainment and media.
Date: Tuesday, September 15; 6:30 p.m.
Location: Corcoran Gallery of Art
Attire: Black-tie
Event Chairmen: Joaquin Bacardi III, Sonia Braga, Ginny Grenham, Merel Julia, Esai Morales, Felix Sanchez, and Jimmy Smits
Price: $1,000; corporate sponsorships available
Contact: Jennifer Castillo, 202-293-8330

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Luisa Zarate

Location: Cartier, Tysons Galleria

WL EXCLUSIVE - Photos by Tony Powell

A RARE VIEW: Like the jewels, all eyes were sparkling as guests gathered at Tysons Corner to celebrate “100 Years of Cartier in America” while enjoying an exclusive view of the famed company’s precious jewelry and timepiece collections. Co-hosted by Paula and Robert Hisaoka, the reception benefited the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery at the Smith Farm Center, named in memory of the late PR guru. ON DISPLAY: Mirella Levinas, Jack Davies, Kay Kendall, Fariba Jahanbani, Feri Oveissi, Keyvan Sayadian, and Young Kim.

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Michael Saylor, Ashley Taylor, and Winston Bao Lord

Location: Embassy of the Russian Federation

WL SPONSORED – Photos by Tony Powell

RUSSIA WITH LOVE: The tickets for this annual party sold out in less than three days, cementing its status as one of young Washington’s most popular nights of the year. The main party was held at the Russian Embassy (a rare event venue), and featured performances by Burnt Sienna on stage, and the premiere of an original Septime Webre piece of dance, performed by Jonathan Jordan. At midnight, guests were ferried down Wisconsin Ave. to the City Tavern Club, where the Winn Brothers entertained and Emperor vodka provided refreshments till the wee hours. DANCE COMPANY: Czar-level sponsor Tim Owens, Kay Kendall, Pam Pressly, Winslowe Moore, Carl Becker, Matt Fierce, Corinne and Mike Falencki, Marybeth Coleman, Katie Tarbox, Ashlee Reid, Matt Lowe, Tara de Nicolas, Coventry Burke, Bo Blair, and Lorie Peters.

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Kay Kendall and Jack Davies

Location: Spices Asian Restaurant and Uptown Theater

WL SPONSORED – Photos by Kyle Samperton

YES! Continuing its connection with the Valenti family and Hollywood, Woodley House screened Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures’ smash hit, Yes Man, to celebrate its 50th anniversary and its mission to help people suffering from mental illness. ON SET: After an exceptionally catered reception, guests sauntered to the Uptown Theatre screening where Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and his son, Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, were honored for their work on the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.

The 13th annual record of notably social personalities from the worlds of politics, diplomacy, business, philanthropy, and the arts.

By Kevin Chaffee

John Pyles and Barbara Harrison

This roster is neither the first, nor will it (inevitably) be the last to single out certain individuals, who, by virtue of birth, rank, wealth or accomplishment, take part in the social life of the nation’s capital. Estimable precursors – drumroll here – include The Green Book,” so-called for its faux green suede cover, which has appeared continuously since 1930; and the Blue Book of Washington, D.C., which ceased publication around 1990 after a century in print. The Social Register, sometimes called the “Black Book,” also contains the names of numerous prominent local figures, many hailing from so-called “blue blood” families, although it merged its thin Washington volume into a much larger 12-city national version back in the 1980s.

A major difference separating Washington Life’s list from the others – apart from having no discernible color – is that we do not publish a “phone book” containing addresses and contact information, much less schools attended, club memberships and yacht listings. Ours is merely an alphabetical nomenclature of people who make a difference by adding immeasurably to their city, and by extension, their country and the world. Another point of contrast is size. Compared to the many thousands of entries contained in other directories past and present, WL’s Social List, currently about 700 names and counting, is relatively small. We do not see the need to include every member of the Congress, Cabinet or Court (i.e., Supreme), much less all those with top jobs listed in the “Plum Book” of political appointments.

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Aimee Lehrman and Septime Webre

Location: Robert and Aimee Lehrman Residence

WL EXCLUSIVE – Photos by Tony Powell

EN POINTE: Fêting Septime Webre’s 10th anniversary as artistic director of the Washington Ballet. PARTYTIME: Jaw-drop factors included: (1) tutu-clad male “ballet valets” doing a sidewalk pas de quatre while parking cars; (2) the hosts’ most impressive modern art collection; (3) icy mojitos and a Havana-style feast in two separate tents to honor Webre’s Cuban roots; and (4) the irresistible sounds of Sin Miedo, his fave Latin band, that kept dancers, trustees and other elasticallyinclined guests mambo- rhumba- and salsa-ing well into the not-so-silent night. THE CAST: Kay Kendall, Bill and Dorothy McSweeny, Aldie Chapin, Bitsey Folger, Izette Folger, Carol Feld and Winston Bao Lord.

Whether by jet a la Donald or by Western Union, getting around town is a must.

By Donna Shor

Cyd Everett and friends at the Turkish Embassay.

A GLOBAL MAGNATE (AND MAGNET)

Christina Gold has dimples, a wide smile, and an easy charm that instantly draws you to her; she is also a CEO with international clout. Fortune magazine rates her one of the “100 most powerful women in the world.”

Panamanian ambassador Federico Humbert Arias and his wife Daphne honored Christina with a warm reception at their home, when she and husband Peter were here to receive the 2008 Leadership in Excellence Award of the Inter-American Development Council. It was awarded at the IADC’s seventh annual Winter Gala at the Organization of American States, where she was lauded for her work benefiting underdeveloped areas world wide and for the charitable initiatives she has instituted.

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