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