To Russia with Love: Georgetown Gala at Russian Embassy October 15
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The invitations are in the mail for the Georgetown Gala to be held on Friday, October 15, at the Embassy of the Russian Federation. Ambassador and Mrs. Sergey Kislyak will host “To Russia With Love” at this elegant venue. Senator Chuck Hagel will be honorary co-chair. This formal and festive evening brings together over 300 Georgetowners in support of CAG and to honor Barbara Downs and Anna Fuhrman for their extraordinary efforts making our community a better place.
Cocktails will begin at seven o’clock followed by dinner and dancing. Nancy Taylor Bubes, Lesley Lee, and Jennifer Altemus and their committee are putting the finishing touches on the fabulous menu including Russian caviar and vodka. Committee member Brooke Carnot helped secure the fabulous Right On band (they’ve performed for Congress, the White House and two Presidents) to provide entertainment for the evening.
Highlights of the Gala auction include:
- a VIP, bed and breakfast trip to Martha’s Vineyard
- 10 tickets for the Nutcracker at the National Theatre and Tea Party following the performance with the cast
- twelve cupcakes a month from Georgetown Cupcake
- a Madeline Wade Total Look package
- jewelry from Poppy
- paintings by Georgetown artist Andrey Bogoslowsky
- a book club party with Kitty Kelley
- a floral design class with Michael Lanni of Volanni
- dinner at Ris, Hook, and other hot spots
- a custom sandwich named after you at Booeymonger’s
- private tennis lessons with a former tennis pro Juan Marulanda
Carol Joynt will be the live auction auctioneer. Annie Lou Berman, Erika Donohue, and their committee have spent the summer putting together the auction – and it’s not finished yet. If you have anything you would like to donate please call the office at 337-7313.
The committee and CAG board would like to give a special thanks to the evening’s sponsors: Georgetown Park - Angelo Gordon/Vornado Realty Trust, Washington Fine Properties - Nancy Taylor Bubes, Colonial Parking - Rusty & Mimsy Lindner, Capital Assets Management - John Girouard, EagleBank, EastBanc Technologies, Georgetown University Hospital, M.C. Dean, Inc., PNC Bank, Securitas Security Services USA, Clydes, Julia Diaz-Asper at TTR Sothebys Realty, Georgetown Current, The Georgetowner, and the Georgetown Business Association.
A little background on the Russian Embassy:
The Russian Embassy is located just north of Georgetown boundaries on Mount Alto, the third highest hill in Washington. This imposing structure is set behind a wrought-iron gate and is slightly removed from the community, giving it a mysterious air. Behind the rather stoic façade, the grand rooms within feature magnificent oil painting, tapestries, inlaid woodwork, intricate mosaics, and antique furniture. Each room is decorated with symbols reflecting Russian history. Intricate yet massive chandeliers can be seen throughout the second floor, each crafted with Bohemian crystal from the former Czechoslovakia.
The grand ballroom is decorated in a Russian style, with art painted on the ceiling, which is typical of Russian structures. Panels on both ends of the room further reflect Russian history. One enamel panel depicts the founding of Russian territories through images of great cathedrals. The other end of the room illustrates countries that were once under communist rule and are not independent. Great murals outside the ballroom show the Russian seal along with the emblems of various orders.
Memorable Midnight in Moscow - 2009 CAG Gala
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View 2009 Gala Photos > Security Guards! Photographers! Soloists from the Moscow Symphony! Caviar and vodka! Beautiful dresses, tuxedos and tails! Hockey stars! It all added up to a glamorous Midnight in Moscow as the CAG Gala drew over 400 guests to the stunning Embassy of the Russian Confederation on October 2, 2009. Mayor Adrian Fenty welcomed American and Russian guests to a VIP reception including hockey players Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin.
Ambassador Announces New Partnership with Arbat Historic District
During the sumptuous buffet (by Occasions Caterers) in the gorgeous ballroom, Ambassador Sergey Kislyak welcomed the crowd and officially announced the formation of a neighborhood relationship between Georgetown and the Arbat historic district in Moscow. The communities have much in common -- both neighborhoods are historic cradles of their two national capitals, they are home to many writers and artists, they both feature vibrant restaurants, galleries and boutiques and are popular tourist destinations. The Arbat is celebrating its 516th anniversary and, according to the Ambassador, is “ready to establish partnerships with CAG for cultural, business and youth cooperation.”
CAG President and Gala Co-Chair, Jennifer Altemus, and Councilmember Jack Evans presented awards to Sis and Jack Hedden and Mimsy Lindner “who have contributed generously of their time and resources to different aspects of life in our community.”
Honorees
Jack Hedden was a CAG Board Treasurer, and served on the vestry of Christ Church, on the Board of the Tudor Place Foundation, and on National Cathedral School Endowment Committee. Sis Hedden is a master of flower arranging and a certified judge for the Garden Club of America and excelled as president of the Georgetown Garden Club. She has also served on the Board of the Corcoran Gallery of Art and has been Chairman of the Board of the Corcoran College of Art and Design.
Mimsy Lindner is the Georgetown’s uber mom. For over ten years she has coached Georgetown kids soccer, cooked lunch for the seniors at St. Johns Church, worked with and for the homeless through the Georgetown Ministry, the Salvation Army and other church groups. She was and is a constant presence at various schools around town like the Intown Playgroup, Little Folks, Washington International School, Potomac School, Landon and Visitation. And as the dedicated president of the Friends of Volta Park she turned the park into one of Georgetown’s true treasures.
Auctions
WTOP Political Analyst Mark Plotkin was the auctioneer for a very competitive live auction featuring huge hand-painted panels from the late Nathan’s restaurant, a trip to Moscow, and an intriguing scavenger hunt/dinner for thirty people. This was all in addition to the amazing silent auction put together by Annie Lou Berman and Erika Donohue.
Sponsors
Our lead sponsors -- Aeroflot Russian Airlines, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Kathy Melrod of Georgetown Long & Foster, and HSBC Bank -- were all in attendance, along with representatives from other supporting groups: Georgetown University, Georgetown University Hospital, M.C. Dean, Inc., Securitas Security Services USA, Inc, & Western Development Corporation, Clyde’s Restaurant Group, and The Georgetown Current.
A special thank you to Safeway for donating table flowers which were arranged beautifully by Constance Chatfield- Taylor and Gala Co-Chair, Lesley Lee. Kudos for the magnificent buffet flowers go to Betsy Rackley and Lee Child.
Dancing the Night Away
Doc Scantlin and his Imperial Palms orchestra conducted the waltz contest won my Sharron and David Lockwood, with exciting competition from Davis Kennedy and his partner, as well as Shaun Murphy with a mysterious professional dancer.
Photos
Photos are available on two websites: professional photographer Greg Tinius’ photos are viewable (and down-loadable) at http://tinius-photo.com/CAG-Gala-2009. Amateur photographer, Ryan Sullivan, took individual pictures of many guests. To view and order, go to Shutterfly.com and sign in using cagmail@cagtown.org as email and caggala as password. You can order prints of the photos from both sites.
2010 Gala
Save the Date...the CAG Gala will be To Russia with Love on Friday, October 15, 2010.
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