Happy New Year!

We at the Punch wish you a beautiful, healthy and bountiful 2009.  As we reflect back on 2008, we must remember to count our blessings, especially those which come to us in human form.  Thank you to each of you who has supported this effort in every way possible this year.  Thank you to all of my true friends, who have been there for me through this interesting year.  I can’t wait to experience 2009 with you!

By the way, as you are at home (or not) over the next few days and during the weekend, if you have Comcast as your cable provider, tune into CNN HLN (Headline News) as our Oscar Night DC 2009 benefiting the Red Cross of the National Capital Area interview with Tony Hill is now looping during the Comcast Newsmakers segment (:24 and :54 after the hour).  Tickets are on sale now for this Rock’in event!

In the meantime, for kicks and giggles, get a chuckle at the ever in your face JibJab, as they give us their year in review.  Go to YouTube and click JibJab - 2008 Year in Review. 

Cheers to you and see you in the new year!

Get ready …

… because there’s a new Sheriff in town and he and his family (as in the soon to be FIRST family) are coming this weekend according to the CNN report.  The Obama family is set to move into a Washington hotel this weekend through the 15th and then move to the Blair House before the White House.

Welcome home Mr. President-Elect!

Ring in 2009 at Skye Lounge …

… actually, it may be too late, as there are only a few more tickets left.  This is an exclusive party with some local celebs (think pro sports). 

Host Committee: Brendan Harris, Tom Snedeker, Brendan Sullivan, Ryan Zimmerman, Claire Sullivan, Kori Hill, Nikki Hill, Sabrina Bells, Melissa Villemarette, Angie Jusino and Katie Tompkins

The $110 ticket gets you a Premium Open Bar, Champagne & Martinis, Tapas all night, DJ Curious and DJ Oz, and a guaranteed hangover on New Year’s Day.  Don’t forget that guests will enjoy the heated tent over the large outdoor terrace!

The party starts at 9pm and ends when the lights come on…just don’t ever be the last one to leave the party.

www.skyedc.com/nye09

**Punch Highlighted Partner Skye Lounge is located at 19th & Eye Streets, NW**

Please celebrate in a responsible manner!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: INAUGURATION MEDIA MAVEN PHOTOS NOW AVAILABLE

My closest friends knew I had a photo shoot on the Sunday after Christmas, which is partly why I came home early from visiting my parents.  Let me be clear, I am NOT an early morning person, so when I heard our meet time for hair and makeup was 6AM on Sunday, let’s just say, I wasn’t thrilled.  After my alarm went off at 4:50AM and I cried a bit, but got over it.  After three hours in the chair for hair and makeup and over six hours of shooting and waiting around and shooting and touching up and waiting around, we were all a bit delirious, but thrilled to see what the end results would be.  I am happy to say that it was a total team effort. 

Thank you to Dennis Roche and his staff, the amazing people at the Ritz Carlton Georgetown, Heather Guay at Bloomie’s Chevy Chase, Lacey Kirstein, Aba Kwawu, Keith Lipert and his folks, and most of all, to the talented Zaid Hamid for his meticulous direction.   

December 30, 2008

Contact: Andrea Rodgers

Ask Miss A
Phone: 202-422-2692
Email: missa@askmissa.com

Website: www.askmissa.com

WASHINGTON, DC AREA BUSINESSES SHOWCASE THEIR VISION FOR INAUGURAL FASHION IN A PHOTO PICTORIAL FEATURING DC’S MEDIA MAVENS

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Washington, D.C. area businesses came together to showcase their vision of what will be worn to Inaugural events this year in an artistic photo pictorial by photographer Zaid Hamid which features three local women at the forefront of social media: Andrea Rodgers of www.askmissa.com, Kate Michael of www.kstreetkate.com and Pamela Sorensen of www.pamelaspunch.com. Aba Bonney Kwawu, President of the Aba Agency, a luxury marketing, public relations and special events boutique, styled the shoot with the intent to create images that represent the fresh face of fashion at this year’s Inaugural events, and to highlight each blogger’s personality. “President Barack Obama’s inauguration will not be like inaugurations of old.  As he is ‘The People’s President’, we will see much variety in the types of celebrations.  From the formal State Balls to the hot cocktail parties and after parties, the red carpets will look much more like that of those in Hollywood and beyond,” said Kwawu.

Kwawu selected formal and cocktail dresses from Bloomingdale’s, Chevy Chase with a variety of designers including Chetta B, BCBG, Marc Bouwer, Teri Jon and Diane von Furstenberg. Local designer Lacey Kirstein of LaceyK Shoes provided the footwear, which are available at Saks Jandel as well as online. Keith Lipert chose the jewelry for each look from his collection at Keith Lipert Gallery. “It’s very exciting that the lead taken by the incoming First Lady, Michelle Obama allows us to explore design and style in new ways,” said Keith Lipert.

“The choice in hair, makeup, jewelry, clothing, shoes and our models in the photo shoot were reflective of the newness overwhelming the Nation’s Capital. The Obama Campaign showed us the power of being contemporary and diverse, and their use of the new technologies was unprecedented,” said Dennis Roche, whose Georgetown Roche Salon offered the shoot’s hair and makeup styling.

The photos were taken at the architecturally unique Ritz-Carlton in Georgetown. The hotel’s industrial chic design incorporated the property’s historic incinerator architecture with contemporary luxury to a stunning effect. Images were taken in Executive Chef Quang Duong’s Fahrenheit restaurant, the Ritz-Carlton Suite, and made use of the spectacular height and architecture in the Round Room underneath the former smokestack.

(Pictured from left to right: Kate Michael, Andrea Rodgers, Pamela Sorensen by Zaid Hamid in the Ritz Carlton Georgetown’s smokestack room - to enlarge the image, please click on it directly)

Images from the shoot will be available on December 30, 2008. Please contact Zaid Hamid at info@zaidhamid.com 

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And the birthdays just keep on comin’

A HUGE birthday greeting goes to one of my favorite people in the whole world, Elaine Leibsohn.  Elaine has been a supporter and loyal reader of the Punch since the very beginning, but more importantly, a long time friend.  Happy Birthday to you Elaine and may this year bring you great health and wealth.

Also, lest we forget … Happy Birthday to Mark Ein, aka “King of the Kastles”.  Wishing you all the best in the new year as well! 

Countdown to New Year’s Eve

I don’t know about you, but I can candidly say, I don’t know ONE place in this area that is not hosting a New Year’s Eve party/event.  Not one.  This of course makes it a bit impossible for the true "party hopping" to happen because most places have a Host or Host Committee and charge upwards of $95 for their all night open bar/food/party favors/DJ/restroom line/champagne stains, so many folks have chosen one venue to be their first and final destination for the night.

If you haven’t yet found a place to dine though, may I recommend Punch Highlighted Partner Hudson (unless they are sold out, in which case I may be in trouble) for the Early or Late seating.  Feel free to call them or check out their menu online at www.hudson-dc.com. 

202.872.8700 and of course, please tell them the Punch sent you!

Consignment Cocktails: Be Fiscally AND Fashionably Responsible

My friend/fellow bloggerette/Former Miss DC for Miss America/fashionista/entrepreneur, Kate Michael of KStreetKate, has started a new venture which marries her love of fashion to her comprehension of the dressing challenges which define a social butterfly’s plight.  It’s called Consignment Cocktails.

As a young woman who works for the DC Government by day and is out at social, philanthropic, and business functions most nights, Kate realized that unless you are independently wealthy (and most young women are not), it becomes tough on the plastic to have a sexy cocktail dress on the cutting edge of fashion for each and every event. On top of that, our savvy businesswoman is often photographed for publications, has her blog, and of course, recognizes our neighborhood frenemy, good old Facebook, which by definition, allows anyone who catches a shot of you to post it, thereby letting everyone in the world know what you wore to that cocktail occasion last Monday night. Or Tuesday. Or Wednesday. You get my drift.

What’s a girl to do?  Well, you can go through your closet and say, “Off with her head!”  Wait, no, I mean, “Out with the old and in with the new!”  Consignment Cocktails allows you to sell your “gently used” cocktail dresses while making another fashionista’s past treasure your treasure today.

Check it out at www.consignmentcocktails.com - 

*Note: I think in these challenging economic times, this is a fantastic, creative way to get a handle on your finances and fashion. Congratulations Kate and best of luck!  I am going through my closets right now.

Want to be on the Punch?

Well, you can be!  All you have to do is be everywhere we can’t during the Inauguration festivities.  Take unique photos, give us a quick well written re-cap, and you might find yourself on the Punch (with credit).

Whether it’s a Ball, private event, the parade, or anything else, send it in.  

We reserve the right to choose, but we want many from which to choose! 

Please send photos and re-caps and your contact information to sales@pamelaspunch.com.

Join Washington Life Magazine for The Fourth Annual Capitol Movement, Inc. Fundraiser - January 8th, 2009

(Wow, where did the year go? I can’t believe I am promoting something that says 2009 and the new year actually starts THIS WEEK. Wow.)

The evening of the White House Correspondents Dinner was the night of the Capitol Movement Project’s (CMP) annual performance at Lisner Auditorium which was put on by Capitol Movement, Inc. (CMI) .  I remember that eve well, because it was pouring rain and I had to get from Lisner to the Newseum for a WHC After Party.  What I witnessed in the Lisner was something that will stay with me for a long time.  I can frankly say, I was so bowled over by the raw talent, the precision, the passion, the use of space, the use of the dancers’ bodies and the use of music, that this concert was the only thing I wanted to talk about for weeks following.

To learn more about CMI and CMP, come to Champions of Georgetown on Thursday, January 8th from 6:30pm-9:30pm.  You will meet people from the corporate and retail community who support this non-for profit dance company which focuses on bringing opportunities for underprivileged young people and adults to learn and perform all dance forms.

Washington Life Magazine, the elite Event Host Committee, Special Sponsors and the Washington Redskinettes invite you to a special fundraiser the night of the 8th with Admission being $50.  You will also be able to buy raffle tickets for $25 to win a Genuine Scooter signed by the Washington Wizards (the drawing will take place at the March 7th Capitol Movement Project concert).  All proceeds will go to CMI and the 4th Annual CMP. 

You can RSVP now at http://www.capitolmovement.org/auction-rsvp.htm

Capitol Movement, Inc. (CMI) believes in diversity and “Dance for All”.

It is our mission to build better lives through dance by partnering with community organizations to provide disadvantaged youth and underserved citizens the chance to participate in and patronize the arts in Washington, DC.

We also create opportunities for underprivileged DC area dancers to train and perform at the professional level. We represent dance in all its forms and styles as this transcends all boundaries and nurtures our mission. 

(Photo by Anthony Vazquez)

Happy Birthday Otto

A big birthday shout out goes to the Punch Bowl’s Otto Hoernig III of Casa Noble Tequila.  Enjoy this gorgeous day Otto and thank you for your support of the Punch! 

By the way, if you, Dear Loyal Punch Reader, have not yet tried this liquid gold, you must. It is by far, the best tequila I have tasted and the bottles are gorgeous - which makes it a great gift.

www.casanoble.com