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Happy 4th!

Photo: Public Domain

Do you know who Stephen Foster was?  Didn’t think so, but being the 4th of July we thought we would share this factoid:

Foster was born on July 4th, 1927 and went on to compose “Oh Susanna”, “My Old Kentucky Home”, “Beautiful Dreamer”, “I Dream of Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair” - some of America’s most beloved folk songs  -  for which he was paid $100 dollars and never saw profits due to poor copyright and composer royalty rights.  Sure would have been rich today, so I guess we’ve come a long way.

Local Boy Makes “Very Good”

Photo credit: The Ritz Carlton

by contributor Donna Shor

While Washington’s most happy millionaire, good-natured Mark Ein, is no Horatio Alger, he has worked as hard as Horatio to get where he is now. From boyhood he has been able to triumph over obstacles, as Carol Joynt discovered when she interviewed him during her Q&A Café lunchtime series at the Georgetown Ritz Carlton.

Little Plates and Big Wines.

 by contributor Donna Shor

Gustavo Iniesta loves having fun with wine―and he’s happy to see others do the same.

Luckily for Gustavo, who is the sommelier at Taberna del Alabardero, the chef there, Javier Romero, has exactly the same attitude toward food Gustavo has toward his bottles.

Taberna diners are luckiest of all because the two, with imagination and teamwork, create some exciting meals.

The flavors of Tevatinis.

Debra Barrett and CEO Bill Marth

by contributor Donna Shor

Photo credit: Brendan Kownacki

TEVA Hosts a Magical Triple-Feature Benefit

Bill Marth, the president and CEO of Teva Americas, told party-goers their attendance  at Andrew Mellon Auditorium would again help support almost 93,000 of the Washington area’s sick and needy through the Teva-hosted benefit for Unity Health Care.

A backstage look at TOTEM

by senior contributor Brendan Kownacki

Continuing our backstage look at one of the newest Cirque Du Soleil shows, TOTEM, we had a chance to sit down with one of the performers from the show to talk about the production.

Sign of the times.

Sign of the times.

by contributor Wendy Gordon

What could be better than a book debut, racks of fashionable clothing accessories, food, SWAG bags and one of the most beautiful evenings of the year?  Um…nothing??  You got THAT right….even if we had to tell you.

Under the big top.

by senior contributor Brendan Kownacki

On August 15th, Cirque Du Soleil will premiere one of its newest creative productions to the DC area with the opening of TOTEM, under the big top at National Harbor.

Men of Destiny.

Bob Merry - prolific author, newsman, publishing executive and everyone's favorite renaissance man  - was the guest of honor at a book party at the home of Reamy Ancarrow and her husband Michael Forscey. 

Eddie Murphy may do What?

Former Mayor of D.C. Marion Barry

Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan

It's been rumored that Eddie Murphy may play Marion Barry in a flick about the on again off again colorful DC politician.

The comeback kid currently serves as a member of Council of the District of Columbia, representing DC's Ward 8 and remains a figure of enormous popularity and influence on the local political scene of Washington D.C.

And the winners were.....

Meteorologist, Fox 5 News Sue Palka with husband Joe Palka

by senior contributor Brendan Kownacki

Still photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan 

The wine flowed, the food was hearty, and the chefs proved they could party into the night just as well as they can cook.

A Gourmet evening.

Norah O'Donnell and Chef Geoff Tracy

Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan

About 1500 guests took the Restaurant Association's slogan"Dine Out...Dine Often...Dine Deliciously" seriously by attending a smorgasbord of food and wine at the 2012 Annual RAMMY Awards at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.

Spirits were high!

"Hat Off" to association president Lynne Breaux for a masterful blend of talent, cuisine and music at the 2012 RAMMY Awards Gala and fundraiser for the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) that honors the exceptional ability and accomplishments of the Washington, DC area restaurant industry.

The Thai Way....

The Royal Thai Embassy hosted a Thai Village in Georgetown featuring authentic Thai food and performances under the patronage of Ambassador Chaiyong Satjipanon who received an unexpected guest (see video)            

Third Way...

 Debbie and Rep. John Dingell with Rob Keast

Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan

Forget "Plan B", there's a "Third Way" in the form of a think tank that answers America’s challenges with modern ideas aimed at the center who advocate for private-sector economic growth, a tough and smart centrist security strategy, a clean energy revolution, and progress on divisive social issues, all through a moderate-led U.S. politics.

Color me pink.

The Newsbabes

by senior columnist Brendan Kownacki
Photo by Neshan H. Naltchayan

NBC Correspondent Andrea Mitchell addressed the packed, pink-clad house of supporters at the annual Newsbabes Bash, held this year at the Howard Theatre, talking candidly about her own diagnosis with breast cancer. 

Newsbabes and Newsmen in Pink, yes Pink

Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan

Ok, ok, so not a lot of Newsmen in Pink............no Palm Beach style jackets and pants, no pink shirts and green pants, but here are a few who sported pink ties, and yes, that counts.

The GATES.....all started here...

Carl Bernstein and former Washington Post journalist Myra MacPherson

by Janet Donovan
Event photo credit: same

"So here we are and the question is what was Watergate?  What is it now?  What will it be tomorrow and all the tomorrows still to come?  At the beginning, it was in fact just a piece of real estate.

Tales from the crypt.

Patton Boggs lawyer Vinoda Basnayake and KStreetKate's Kate Michael

by contributor Donna Shor

A recent private soiree celebrated the golden anniversary of the storied Georgetown Inn, whose style drew its inspiration from a time two hundred years earlier.

Exceptional individuals.

Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan

Two exceptional individuals were honored by the National Geographic Society at its "Evening of Exportation" event, presented by Rolex: the late Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard for his record-breaking dive to the ocean's deepest point in 1060 and Austrian alpinist Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner for summiting all 14 of the world's highest peaks without supplemental oxygen.

A mystical bud....

by senior contributor Brendan Kownacki

Photo credit: Courtesy of Kristina D'Ambrosio

The bites may be small in the signature "little steamed parcels of deliciousness" at Ping Pong Dim Sum, but the flavor is anything but miniature.......and not just in food, but the cocktails as well. 

Explore. Dream. Discover.

The Piccard family

by senior contributor Brendan Kownacki

Mark Twain encouraged folks to "explore, dream, discover" and the team from the National Geographic Society would likely agree. Thursday night they hosted their annual "Evening of Exploration" awards ceremony to honor the best of the best who have sought out new territory and tackled the toughest boundaries. 

Mariana Trench....

Don Walsh, Dr. Bob Ballard (who located the Titanic) and James Cameron

March 25, 2012

"At noon on Monday, local time, (10 p.m. Sunday ET) James Cameron's "vertical torpedo" sub broke the surface of the western Pacific, carrying the National Geographic explorer and filmmaker back from the Mariana Trench—Earth's deepest, and perhaps most alien, realm." National Geographic

Sugar Highs On The Rooftop

by contributor Donna Shor
Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan

Anyone wanting to get a sugar high had plenty of opportunity Tuesday night at the Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry “Cocktails and Confections” benefit.

En fin...so who showed up?

Wolf Blitzer

Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan

So, who did and didn't show up at The 68th Annual Radio & TV Congressional Correspondents' Dinner  held on Friday, June 8th at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center?

A Gentlemanly Lifestyle.

by senior contributor Brendan Kownacki

It was a moment of rarity and relaxation last week when the team from Gentleman Jack popped up at downtown DC's Grooming Lounge to truly put the "bar in barbershop."

NPC 5K: Beat the Deadline 2012

Tony Horton, P90X trainer

Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan

The BEAT THE DEADLINE 5K benefits the ongoing work of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, committed to helping working journalists improve their skills through ongoing training and programming of future journalists through scholarships that promote diversity within our profession.

Mad as Hell....Boycott!

Fox News talk show host Greta van Susteren and syndicated Radio & Current TV host Bill Press are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.

We love a good food fight!

by contributor Wendy Gordon

Taste is a very subjective thing.  Here in the District, we might even question the ratio of that from time to time.  But come October 6-8, Columbus Day weekend, it won’t be in question as Taste of DC, billed as the District’s “premier food event,” will take place from 9th to 14th Street on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. 

“Girls of Washington”

Georgetown Inn owner Nayan Patel

 Photo credit: Dave Phillipich

“Washington is a very horny town,” says former lobbyist Paula Parkinson, who appeared in the November 1980 pictorial for Playboy magazine.  Her notoriety illustrated that sex is just part of the game of politics.  Capitol Hill Blue

25 Years of Service

Rachel Maddow and Nancy Pelosi

Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was celebrated for her 25 years of service at The Sewall-Belmont House & Museum with a one on one conversation hosted by MSNBC's Rachel Maddow.

It takes a village....

Photo credit: Andrew Harrer

N Street Village, the award-winning social services agency that provides shelter and support to homeless and low-income women in the Washington, DC metro area hosted its Sixth Annual Luncheon this week at The National Press Club. 

He was a good man.

Photo credit: WHC Insider

 

Mark Shriver, son of  "Sarge" Shriver and Eunice Kennedy, paid tribute to his dad at an exclusive book party in his honor at The Jefferson Hotel.

 

Home invasion.

Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan

National Geographic presented the World Premiere Screening of "Untamed Americas" narrated by actor Josh Brolin at the Uptown Theater, followed by a reception at the National Zoo.

A Walk on the Wild Side!

by senior contributor Brendan Kownacki 

It was a walk on the wild side on Tuesday evening when The National Geographic Channel filled DC's historic Uptown Theater for the premiere of their newest miniseries --- "Untamed Americas" -- a four part film that explores the landscape and natural inhabitants of the Americas region, stretching from Canada down through Patagonia. 

Everything comes down to…. Lincoln

Morgan Freeman

by contributor Maria Fda Giron R

Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan

“I think that tonight you will see my best production yet for the Ford’s Theater," said  director and Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun.  "The performers include opera singer Anna Christy; musical duo The Civil Wars; R&B icon Bettye LaVette; "Glee"and Broadway actor and singer Matthew Morrison and Ford's Theatre's 1776 cast members Robert Cuccioli, Bobby Smith and others............ so of course you can expect anything from today’s show”.

Race for the Cure...so how did they hold up?

Actress Gabrielle Union

Photos by Neshan H. Naltchayan

Susan G. Komen’s  Global Ambassador Actress Gabrielle Union ("Think Like a Man") led a dedicated crowd on a run starting just below the Washington Monument. 

Woof! Pooch couture....

by contributor Maria Fda Giron R
Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan

Whoever invented the saying "people resemble their dogs," never believed that The Washington Human Society is taking seriously this similarity. 

Bays Boys...

Photo credits: Courtesy of Da Capo Press

"More than two decades ago, Bay Buchanan was thrown into the world of single parenting. 

Millions know Bay Buchanan as a top political analyst and strategist. Although she has debated national leaders, her toughest negotiations took place with her toddlers. In Bay and Her Boys, Bay offers moms her hard-won wisdom from raising three spirited kids." Da Capo Press

26 and moving on up.......

Photo credit: Doug van Sant

We wanted to know what people do when they turn 26 so we provide you with the following video. 

How many jewels does it take to make a crown?

We're not sure how many jewels it takes to make a crown, but there sure are a lot of them.

Hello Sugar...

by contributor Wendy Gordon

Friday may have been raining cats and dogs, but downtown, it was raining confections.  Hello, Sugar.    

Paul Bakery celebrated its opening at its new location at 1000 Connecticut Avenue at the  corner of the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and K Street northwest, right by the Farragut West Metro.  How excited are we?  Probably about as excited as all the local offices and residents who’ll be hitting the new location for a grab and go lunch and high end sugar fix.

How many times can you turn 40?

Tom McMillen  Nancy Pelosi  Joe Tydings

Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan

Tom McMillen turns 40 a lot.

McMillen is a retired NBA professional basketball player, Rhodes Scholar and Democratic U.S. Congressman who represented the 4th congressional district of Maryland from January 3, 1987 to January 3, 1993.  He celebrated his  "40th"  birthday at the Georgetown home of lobbyist and Democratic strategist Tommy Quinn.

Are you a winner or a loser?

Jackie Kucinich  Christopher Reiter  Jay Newton Small

Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan

A winner or loser in a G-Zero world that is. 

As Ian Bremmer, author of "Every Nation for Itself", puts it: "If you're swimming and there's a shark, you don't have to outrun the shark, you just have to out swim you're sister."   yikes.

Or to put it another way:  "If you're a camper with other campers, you're being chased by a bear, you don't have to outrun the bear, you have to outrun other campers." yikes.