Photo by Neshan H. Naltchayan

Sally Quinn, Katharine Weymouth and Steven Siegler, CEO of J.McLaughlin

J.McLaughlin has always stood for classic design with flair, much like Georgetown. This holiday season the M St. boutique — one of 45 sister stores nationwide — took its affinity with Georgetown one step further, hosting a holiday event to benefit the Georgetown Ministry Center in a ceremony featuring Sally Quinn, Katharine Weymouth, Publisher of the Washington Post, Frida Burling and the Ministry Center’s director, Gunther Stern.  

“It’s important to us to be part of the community,” said President & CEO Steven Siegler, who flew in from New York to attend the event organized by Store Manager Lauren Colyer. “It’s always been what we’re about.” He said Colyer “has made a big difference” in attracting an exceptional clientele to the store.

Neighbors were drawn in by J.McLaughlin’s community spirit and, literally, followed suit. With J.McLaughlin donating 15% of sales to the Ministry Center, it was an event that did good as it was doing well.

Burling, known as Georgetown’s “patron saint,” described the diverse nature of the Ministry Center, which galvanizes the churches and synagogues of Georgetown to help the homeless — providing shelter and services all year. “We’re Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, black and white,” she said. “Everybody gets along.”

Quinn, for her part, expressed her admiration for the tireless charitable work of Burling. Having known Georgetown Ministry Center’s Gunther Stern and his father for many years, Quinn said authoritatively, “I think Gunther is a saint.” The prize-winning writer and author founded the “On Faith” section of The Washington Post. Recognized for her contributions to Literature & Style, she received a vase from Keith Lipert Gallery designed by artist Cec LePage, who is known, appropriately, for creating “sculpture with a purpose.”

Fans of the honorees filled the store, including Maggie Shannon, Kate Michael, Pallavi Kumar, Alix Sundquist, Mary Frances Monroe, David Harrison, Diane Peacor, Donna Christenson, Heather Previn of Adolfo Dominguez, Christine Warnke, Nancy Taylor Bubes, Jennifer Altemus, Page Evans, Mark Cohen, Lesley Murphy Lee, Leslie Maysak, Stephanie Slewka, Wendy Gordon, Rokas Beresniovas, Sue Hamilton, Mel Davis and Paul Fogg.

Photo by Judith Beermann

Rokas Beresniovas with Duke Ellington’s Ellen Copley and Tia Powell Harris

(Photo by: Judith Beermann) Rehearsing “DreamGirls”

The Georgetown Business Association, hosted a reception and tour of the school Thursday evening.

Rehearsals were underway (with a live orchestra) for their upcoming production of “DreamGirls” opening Dec. 2, while a student/faculty art exhibition, a vibrant display of sculpture, costume, paint and photographs, filled the halls.

With three upcoming invitations for his students to perform at the White House in December, Rory Pullens, head of the school and CEO told the crowd of over 60 business leaders and patrons of the arts, “the First Lady calls us her private glee club.”

(Photo by: Judith Beermann) Former student, teacher and artist Zenobia

“All graduates leave one piece of art behind,” Pullens explained as he pointed to  an especially large canvas. Why this one, he asked the student? “Because it‘s too big to take in the Metro” the student answered. Pullens lead the group down to the full recording studio and into a student lounge where Duke Ellington donated one of his own pianos.

(Photo by: Judith Beermann) Christian Videla, Ron Newman, and Riyad Said

Former student and singer, Ron Newman, now the school’s operations manager explained, “more than anything else, Duke Ellington helped me understand the importance of discipline to be a great artist.”

(Photo by: Judith Beermann) Marta Reid Stewart with Solomon Howard’s “Chocolate Lover”

Marta Reid Stewart proudly shared the story of a former photography student Solomon Howard, a “kid from Southeast who had failed at Ballou High School, but because of his talent was accepted into Duke Ellington, and went on to graduate from the Corcoran.”

(Photo by: Judith Beermann) Head of School and CEO, Rory Pullens

For more information and tickets to “DreamGirls” (original DreamGirl Jennifer Holliday makes a special appearance Gala Night, Dec. 9) visit Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

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Photo by Kate Michael

Guests gathered around gaming tables at the 5th Annual High Rollers Night to benefit CSAAC

DJ Kirk McEwen of Classic Rock Radio 105.9 The Edge and special guests including Miss DC 2010, Stephanie Williams and H.E. Nelson Lewis, two time Emmy award winning Fox News producer, currently staff columnist for Rolling Stone, and Special Arts Ambassador at the Bahamas Embassy hosted High Rollers for Autism,

the 5th Annual Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (CSAAC) Honors Gala this past Friday at the Bethesda Marriott.

Guests including GBA VP Rokas Beresniovas, Janine Schoonover of Tic Tac Toe Global, Miss DC, Stephanie Ariel Williams, K Street Kate, Kate Michael, Jessica James Golden of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, CSAAC Director of Community Development, Ayda Sanver and CSAAC founder, Jane Salzano, along with many prominent Washingtonians who hit the tables and the dance floor to benefit this worthy cause.

A live auction featured items such as an Eric Clapton signed guitar, airfare and accommodations for four to Santa Fe, NM, trips to Paris, Key West,

and San Diego to ride the Stars and Stripes America’s Cup Yacht,  and jewelry from Adleler Jewelers.  Between event donations, auction and ticket sales, the event raised $120,000.

Founded in 1979 through the vision of four families in Montgomery County, Maryland, Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (CSAAC) is a private, non-profit agency which provides direct services to children and adults with autism across the lifespan.  CSAAC’s mission is “to enable individuals with autism to reach their highest potential and contribute as confident individuals to their community.”  CSAAC’s founders saw a future where adults with autism lived and worked in the community and not in institutions, and they were the pioneers of this effort.  Today, CSAAC is the largest provider in the nation to serve individuals with autism exclusively with comprehensive programs from early childhood through retirement.

CSAAC is a nationally recognized leader in developing state-of-the-art services for people with autism and serves as a model for other agencies developing community based housing, employment, and other related services.  CSAAC’s Supported Employment program was the first of its kindin the United States and, today, enables many CSAAC individuals to perform jobs within the community and at over 40 different employment locations, including The Gazette Newspapers, TJ Maxx, Todd Allen Printing, Shoppers Food Warehouse, and The Home Depot.

For further information and to donate, log into CSAAC.

(Georgetown Dish – Wendy Gordon)

Before the traffic picks up and all of us hightail it out of the city for the long holiday weekend, what better thing to do than to know that there has been some a little fun, a little glitz, a little fancy footwork and a lot of good done for a great cause? The Washington Club glittered Saturday evening as guests donned black tie attire for The Capital City Ball, one of the most anticipated galas of the season.

Among the guests were mommy-to-be Angie Goff and husband Robert Ellis, Hanover Research’s Laura Webb, Rokas and Christine Beresniovas, Janine Schoonover of Tic Tac Toe Global, and H.E. Abdulwahab Al-Hajjri of the Republic of Yemen.

Photo by The Georgetown Dish

Joe Giannino, Georgetown Business Association President and General Manager of The Latham Hotel, addresses the gathering

The Georgetown Business Association hosted a genial meet-and-greet for prospective board members Thursday at Michel Richard Citronelle led by officers Joe Giannino of The Latham Hotel (President), Rokas Beresniovas, Wells Fargo & Co. (Vice President), Jonathan Higgins, Bank of Georgetown (Treasurer), and Elizabeth Webster, Coldwell Banker (Secretary).

Trays of Richard’s unmistakable parmesan smoked salmon cupcakes with orange roe bobbed and weaved delicately through the intimate gathering. Rumor has it, Citronelle is offering these and other delights beyond dining hours….stay tuned to The Georgetown Dish for more information about a delectable debut…

Photo by Rokas Beresniovas

Ambassador Jaime Aleman and Rokas Beresniovas

Guests gathered at the residence of the Ambassador of Panama via invitation from Fundacion Panama on Monday evening to enjoy an evening of fashion and music to benefit Fundación Sinfonía Concertante de Panamá, an organization that promotes the educational and cultural enrichment of Panama’s young people that reside in less privileged environments, as well as promote the musical arts.

After opening remarks by Pilar de Aleman, wife of Panama’s Ambassador Jaime Aleman and Fundacion Panama President Jessica Palmieri, guests were treated to a fashion show by CAbi followed by a musical presentation by award-winning singer/composer Manuel Escala.

Event attendees included Rokas Beresniovas, Janine Schoonover, Ambassador and Mrs. Jaime Aleman, Angelique Velez and David Pardini, Jessica James Golden and Nelson Lewis.

October 18, 2010 | by G’town Gravyboat

Photo by RJSmith

Dancers including Victoria Rixey at the CAG Gala

An estimated 400 Georgetowners and friends traveled to Russia with Love Friday night — or at least to the elegant Russian Embassy complex — for the annual CAG Gala.

(Photo by: RJSmith) Carol Joynt, Jack Evans, Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and hostess Jennifer Altemus

Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak welcomed the glamorous group to dine and dance for the second year in a row. CAG President Jennifer Altemus led the festivities, recognizing Barbara Downs and Anna Fuhrman for their contributions to the community, and celebrating the continued neighborhood relationship between the Citizens Association of Georgetown and Moscow’s historic district known as the Arbat.

(Photo by: RJSmith) Nancy Taylor Bubes and Mark Tercek, CEO of The Nature Conservancy

The Right On Band ignited the dance floor after welcoming remarks by Councilmember Jack Evans and a live auction led by Carol Joynt. Former Councilmember Vincent Orange and a number of local officials were on hand for the event, which was chaired by Altemus, Nancy Taylor Bubes, and Lesley Lee.

(Photo by: Neshan H. Naltchayan ) Auctioneer for the evening, Carol Joynt

(Photo by: RJSmith) Annie Lou Berman and Erika Donohue

(Photo by: RJSmith) Mary Fox and her friend Jay

(Photo by: RJSmith) Marina and Igor Alekseev and Bonnie Cain

(Photo by: RJSmith) Laurie Beckeman, Michael Horst, Karen and Rick Murphy, Robin Jones

(Photo by: Neshan H. Naltchayan ) The Georgetown Dish’s Wendy Gordon

(Photo by: RJSmith) Florence Auld and Bill Boczany

(Photo by: RJSmith) Ashley Hubbard, Meghan Apfelbaum, Susan Hendrick and Elizbeth Maloy

(Photo by: RJSmith) Christine and Rokas Beresniovas

(Photo by: RJSmith) Former Councilmember Vincent Orange (third from left) with Commissioners Bill Starrels, Bill Skelsey and ANC Chair Ron Lewis

(Photo by: RJSmith) An ANC couple: Commissioner Aaron Golds, a GU student, and Hope Solomon, daughter of Commissioner Ed Solomon

(

Photo by: RJSmith) ANC Commissioner Ed Solomon

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Photo by Wendy Gordon

Rokas and Christine Beresniovas

Guests gathered at the historic home of Niloo and David Howe  as the Georgetown Ministry Center presented the  2010 Spirit of Georgetown Benefit. This year’s event honored  Rev. Stuart Kenworthy of Christ Church Georgetown for his many contributions to the community and for his long time support of the Georgetown Ministry Center.

Serendipity3 DC graciously arranged for the food, which was prepared by Modern Events who offered a delicious and serendipitous array of macaroni and cheese pizza, mozzarella and tomato skewers with balsamic glaze, beef and chicken satay, avocado pate and incredibly luscious  homemade cupcakes.

Those in attendance included real estate maven, Sherie Gabriel, K Street Kate, Kate Michael, Rokas Beresniovas of Wells Fargo and the GBA and his wife, Christine, Google marketing diva Kimberly Robinson, Georgetown restaurant doyenne, Janine Schoonover and writer Mary Bird.

The historic property hosting this year’s Spirit event was built in 1840 and has served as President Ulysses Grant’s coach house, a purported stop on the Underground Railroad, and a guest home for a number of celebrities, politicians and other DC notables.