SOCIAL SCENE

FALL GALA GUIDE:

MUST-ATTEND EVENTS AND BALLS

BY KATE OCZYPOK

Fall gala season is upon us! Here are the must-attend events, balls and galas from now into early November.

OCTOBER 2022

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19

THE SPIRIT OF GEORGETOWN 2022

Georgetown Ministry Center honors the John Dickson House, hosted by Pamela and Byrne Murphy at 1312 30th St. NW, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. THURSDAY, OCT. 20

HALCYON AWARDS

6 p.m., The Schuyler, 1001 14th St. NW

The Halcyon Awards recognize & honor change makers and trailblazers who dedicate their lives to positive social change. SATURDAY, OCT. 22

ROCK CREEK CONSERVANCY GALA

5-7:30 p.m., Rock Creek Park Nature Center, 5200 Glover Rd. NW

Rock Creek Conservancy has hosted an annual gala every fall since 2015, celebrating the Rock Creek community and all who make their work possible. All the proceeds of the Gala go towards the mission of the Conservancy, helping fuel the people-powered restoration that helps to protect the forests, keep our water clean, improve the park visitor experience, and increase equity of access to the park.

CITIZENS ASSOCIATION OF GEORGETOWN ANNUAL FALL FUNDRAISER & COCKTAIL PARTY

6 p.m., Ukraine House, 2134 Kalorama Road NW

Enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and entertainment, while celebrating the vibrance of CAG and the vitality of our Georgetown neighbors.

TONY & JOE’S SHUCK IT! OYSTER & BEER FESTIVAL

1-5 p.m., Tony & Joe’s, 3000 K St. NW

The ninth annual festival is back with all things oysters and beer. SATURDAY, OCT. 29

THE NATIONAL ITALIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION GALA

5:30 p.m., Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert St. NW

Each year, NIAF hosts events and activities that help the Foundation raise funds in support of its mission to build unity in the Italian American community nationwide.

HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN NATIONAL DINNER

5:30 p.m., Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Place NW

The support generated from this event will help fuel the work for equality.

BLUE HOPE BASH

8 p.m., The Ritz Carlton, 1150 22nd St. NW Chaired by Avi Benaim and Karen Paris and Estee and Elliott Portnoy, the bash makes its full return on Saturday, October 29, 2022.

NOVEMBER 2022

SATURDAY, NOV. 5

BUTTERFLY BASH: A NIGHT WITH THE STARS

6 p.m., The National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW

Fair Chance strengthens the sustainability and performance of community-based nonprofits to achieve life-changing results for children and youth experiencing poverty.

JDRF 2022 HOPE GALA

6 p.m., MGM National Harbor

This year’s event will take place at the MGM National Harbor and features seated dinner, fantastic silent and live auctions, Fund A Cure opportunities, and an exciting after party.

SOME ANNUAL GALA

6-11 p.m., Grand Hyatt, 1000 H St. NW

Break The Cycle: SOME’s Annual Gala, is held annually to celebrate the successes of our work at So Others Might Eat, the triumphs of our clients, and recipients of SOME’s highest honors.

SATURDAY, NOV. 12

PORTRAIT OF A NATION GALA

The 2022 Portrait of a Nation Gala (previously the American Portrait Gala) will take place at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. Guests will enjoy cocktails, a private viewing of the Portrait Gallery’s “Portrait of a Nation: 2022 Honorees” exhibition, a seated dinner, awards presentations and a special performance. Honorees include José Andrés, Clive Davis, Ava DuVernay, Marian Wright Edelman and Anthony Fauci ,M.D., Serena Williams and Venus Williams. Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Gwen Lohse, Friends of Rose Park Co-President Gail Daubert, Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto, Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio, Friends of Rose Park Co-President Sarah Leonard and former Council member Jack Evans. Photo by Andy Cline. Courtesy FORP.

The sunset along the Potomac in Georgetown during the Sept. 17 Washington Canoe Club dinner. Photo by Bill Starrels.

Rose Park’s 100th Birthday Celebration

Magical Sunset Dinner at the Washington Canoe Club

BY PEGGY SANDS

On Sept. 21, the Friends of Rose Park hosted a party at the farmers market with music and cupcakes for hundreds of Rose Park fans — included were the many regular vendors. On Sept. 22, the Friends of Rose Park organized an elegant evening reception and fundraiser — with Champagne and a birthday cake — at the home of board member Bill Dean on P Street a few blocks from the park. “We celebrate this wonderful park that has offered so much to the Georgetown community and guests since 1922 as one of the first integrated parks in the District,” said Co-Presidents Sarah Leonard and Gail Daubert in their toasts and remarks at the reception.

The Sunset Dinner at the Washington Canoe Club Sept. 17 truly lived up to its name. Raising funds for the boat club established in 1904 through auctions and donations, the gathering under the tent between the boathouse and the Potomac River was magical — with paddlers and rowers who care about their club (listed in the National Register of Historic Places) as well as our rivers and waterways. Sponsors, donors and partners included Sarah Minard Residential at Compass, Kathy and Tim Summers, Jennifer Touchette, Senior Vice President, Compass, Elaine Ewing and Christopher Viapiano, Kevin Rooney, Joel Clement. Guests enjoyed an Eastern Mediterranean menu by Kirby Club, soon to open in the Mosaic District, from the team behind Maydan and Compass Rose.

THERE’S MORE TO ALL THREE OF THESE STORIES — AND MORE PHOTOS — AT GEORGETOWNER.COM.

‘In Bloom’ Wolf Trap Ball Raises $1.8 Million

Wolf Trap Ball co-chairs Alka and Sudhakar Kesavan and Kevin and Kate Robbins welcomed

Wolf Trap Ball co-chairs Sudhakar and more than 750 guests to celebrate the end of

Alka Kesavan, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Wolf Trap’s summer season on Sept. 23. The

Performing Arts President and CEO Arvind Manocha, Gideon Malone, Wolf Trap Ball co-chairs Kate and Kevin Robbins. Photo by Tony Powell, copyright 2022. annual Wolf Trap Ball was held onstage at the Filene Center for the first time since 2019 and raised $1.8 million in support of Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts’ arts and education programs. The theme for this year’s celebration was “Wolf Trap In Bloom.” Guests and décor filled the space with vibrant colors and illustrious florals. Wolf Trap Opera alumna, Ann Toomey, soprano, accompanied by Christopher Cano, piano, opened the program with renditions of “America the Beautiful” and “Everything’s Comin’ Up Roses!”

BY ROBERT DEVANEY