CAG's Dazzling Black and White Ball Lights Up Halcyon House

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- View silent auction items
- View photos from the event

The CAG Black & White Masked Ball on October 2 drew 220 people to the beautiful Halcyon House terrace for cocktails with a panoramic view of the city at twilight. Arrayed in gorgeous black and white finery, the group sported an amazing array of masks – from classic Venetian to elaborate feathers and plumes. Take a look at the photos to see the imaginative revelers.

Guests streamed back into the spectacular house for a buffet dinner and descended the dramatic staircase to the studio ball room (awash in special white and rose lighting) to dance – and enjoy the singers of the amazing Doc Scantlin and his Imperial Palms Orchestra. CAG’s party was inspired by Truman Capote’s 1966 "Party of the Century" which feted Katherine Graham. CAG was proud to have Sally Quinn and Ben Bradlee as honorary chairs for the event. Halcyon House owner John Dreyfuss officially welcomed everyone to his home, and introduced Denise Cunningham and Councilmember Jack Evans who made presentations to the evening’s special honorees: Frida Burling and Luca Pivato.

Denise said, "It’s hard to know where to begin when you talk about Frida Burling. Frida has made such a valued impact on Georgetown, the District of Columbia and indeed the nation. Each and every one of us has been touched by her generosity of spirit and her joie de vivre." In accepting her award, Frida said, "I feel like the grandmother or maybe the godmother of this Georgetown as I am now 93 years old, and have lived here for most of my life; 50 years on 29th Street, ever since I married Eddie Burling, before some of you were even born." I notice "the wonderful arrival of so many young people with little ones in strollers -- a joy to behold. We are a community, a neighborhood, and I truly believe that we are the luckiest people in the whole world."

Denise introduced Luca Pivato as a "relative newcomer on the CAG scene, Luca joined our board two years ago, became co-chair of the Public Safety Committee -- and shook things up! He hit the ground running and has helped transform and elevate this program. He is out there on the streets with the MPD at all hours of the night. He is in constant communication with our Securitas guards and our MPD reimbursable detail and Georgetown University." Plus "he developed a method of tracking incidents and measuring the effectiveness of our program." Luca responded he was "honored to work with all the dedicated people at the Citizens Association and the ANC. You couldn't pay enough money to have all these highly professional individuals working at the same organization. It's fun and I'm happy to be part of CAG, happy to live in Georgetown and help make it the special place it is."

Denise also thanked the many generous businesses and organizations who sponsored the Gala: Western Development Corporation, the lead sponsor of the festive evening, along with BB&T, Capital Restaurant Concepts, Clyde's Restaurant Group, EastBanc, Georgetown University, Georgetown University Hospital, The Georgetown Retirement Residence, HSBC National Bank USA, M.C. Dean, Inc., Opus East L.L.C., Securitas Security Services USA, Inc., Refuel Consultants and The Georgetown Current. Check out the photos to see many of the key people who lead these groups so important to our community.

Doc Scantlin coordinated the jitterbug dance contest, and, although some guests left to hear the vice presidential debate, most stayed on to dine, finalize auction bids and dance the beautiful night away. The merrymakers, led by the band’s "Carmen Miranda" in full costume, conga-line danced through the spectacular sculpture studio and some even made it to the "after party" at L2 Lounge.

Many thanks to Gala Chair, Jennifer Altemus, and her hardworking committee. It was a spectacular autumn evening with many people from all over Georgetown -- along with embassies, Georgetown University, banks, GU Hospital, numerous well-known restaurants and businesses, our Advisory Neighborhood Commission -- coming together to get to know one another better and to support the Citizens Association of Georgetown.

Check out the list of auction items and please make a point to thank our auction donors for their generosity!

CAG FALL GALA COMMITTEE, 2008

  • Jennifer Altemus, Chair
  • Annie Lou Bayly Berman, Silent Auction
  • Constance Chatfield-Taylor
  • Lee Child
  • Betsy Cooley
  • Patti Cumming
  • Denise Cunningham
  • Karen "Cookie" Cruse
  • Barbara Downs
  • Ann vom Eigen
  • Renee Esfandiary
  • Erika Donohue
  • Lesley Lee
  • Leslie Maysak
  • Elizabeth Miller
  • Shaun Murphy
  • Kathryn Park
  • Hayley Gordon Pivato
  • Betsy Rackley
  • Tara Scopelliti