How sweet it is…

The 2008 Sweet Charity Host Committee (which includes Jim Spiro of Platinum Lifestyle Management, a fantastic Punch supporter) requests the pleasure of your company for a special evening benefiting The Heart of America Foundation®

Sweet Charity
Changing Lives, One Child At A Time

* Des Alpes Chocolate Fahion Show
* More than forty award winning chefs at your fingertips
* Sweet & savory demonstrations
* Mind bending chocolate sculptures
* Silent auction 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Event Chair:
Charrisse Jackson-Jordan, President, Behind the Bench, National Basketball Wives Association

Honorary Event Chair:
Michele Fenty, First Lady of Washington, DC

Emcees:
Leon Harris, ABC7/WJLA-TV News &
WTOP’s “Man About Town” Bob Madigan

$85.00 per person, $95 after May 2

Tickets may be purchased at www.heartofamerica.org

Monday, May 5
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC
1330 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20024

Self-parking available for $10.00

Thanks to the generosity of Albert Uster Imports, a distributor of fine gourmet foods, every dollar produced through ticket sales and the silent auction will buy at least one brand-new book for a child living in poverty and help replenish under-resourced libraries and classrooms in the Greater Washington region.

Bam! Emeril style ….

That’s right folks - the guy who made the term “Bam!” sexy is coming to DC - well, Fairfax, VA to be exact.  Friday the 25th the spicy man himself will be at the Whole Foods in Fairfax taping for his show “Emeril Green” which will be aired on Discovery Networks’ newest edition to the family, the Planet Green channel in July.  Are you a closet chef in the making or just an Emeril Lagasse stalker (trust me, I knew a stalker)?  Then check out this link for more information and get yourself THERE - but you have to act fast!   http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/emeril-green-casting-call.html

Hola mis amigos…

!Buenos dias, tardes, y noches!  The Punch is back from holiday (boo hoo) with tons of information on the gorgeous country of Argentina (and a few extra unwanted but not unanticipated lbs. from cheese, Malbecs and breads).  However, before you are overloaded with South American content, here’s a few things that you know about what’s coming up:

On Thursday April 24th from 3pm - 8pm you can check out the 2nd Annual Shoshanna Trunk Show at Urban Chic Georgetown (1626 Wisconsin Ave, NW).  Join designer and style-maker Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss as she previews her Spring 2008 collection.  She will be joined by friend Melanie Charlton Fascitelli, author of SHOP YOUR CLOSET: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ORGANZING YOUR CLOSET WITH STYLE.  Pick up spring essentials and an autographed copy of SHOP YOUR CLOSET. Enjoy 15% off all purchases, complimentary refreshments, and score a VIP goody bag with Shoshanna purchase!

This Friday April 25th head on over to Skye Lounge on 19th & Eye Streets, NW for a happy hour break and a good cause.  From 4pm - 8pm, Andrea Van Dell, a candidate running for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Woman of the Year (yes, it is that time of year again!) is hosting a fundraiser.  Donations will be accepted at the door and Happy Hour specials apply.  If you missed the Grand Opening party last Friday night (and apparently into the morning), the pictures will be up soon on www.skyeloungedc.com so you can view what happened while you weren’t there.  We hear it was quite the DC showing, so congratulations to George, Dan, Lydia, Brendan and the crew and hopefully, we will see you this Friday for the L&L Society Fundraiser.

If you aren’t worn out by Nats versus Mets games, the Cinderella Ball for the Washington Ballet, the Nats party at K Street Lounge or the Capital Olympics evening event by Saturday night, and you are looking for something a bit different than the White House Correspondents Dinner and its After Parties…

…then the Rock and Roll Hotel is where you need to be.  Saturday April 26th, the band The Frustrations is holding its album release party.  The local band is releasing an album along side NYC band Hello Tokyo (they’ve been on the Real World Key West, played South by Southwest, and more).  Doors open at 8:30pm and tickets are a mere $10.   www.myspace.com/frustrationsdc

Ok, so now you are feeling a bit spent are you?  Well, relax with some Zen and without any guilt.  The organic yoga apparel company Even Keel invites you to check out their sustainable yoga pants on a few occasions:

April 29-30 from 5-9PM (Tuesday and Wednesday)
Equinox
8065 Leesburg Pike
Vienna, VA
http://www2.equinoxfitness.com/clubs/id/140/r/111

May 10 from 1-5PM (Saturday)
WINK
3109 M Street – Georgetown
http://www.shopwinkdc.com

Whew!  I need a vacation from my vacation, but in DC, it never stops.  More, more and much more to come …

(**Skye Lounge is a Special Highlighted Partner of Pamela’s Punch**)

The Punch will be taking a small

hiatus through Wednesday April 23rd.  Please kindly excuse the absence.  In the meantime, enjoy “Rhone Renaissance” produced by The French Wine Society on Thursday at the French Embassy - surely more delectable wines and food to be tasted than you could wish for on a Thursday evening. 

Friday night is the Grand Opening of Skye Lounge in DC - 19th & Eye Streets, NW.  Weatherbug says Friday is going to be in the 70’s … do not miss an opportunity to enjoy this financial district’s hyped up venue’s patios.  The champagne starts flowing with tapas bites at 7pm.  Please RSVP to lydia@skyedc.com.

For some of us, the word “prom” brings back a flood of memories like, oh, I don’t know - way too much 80’s music, big hair, bad lipstick, poofy dresses in gem tones, white limos, wrist corsages, and slow dancing to Madonna (am I dating myself here?).  However, for all young ladies, no matter what the generation, prom is a time to embrace and remember - even if you laugh about it - holy cow - almost 2 decades later.  So, thank you to the ladies who founded Once Upon A Prom, Ashley Taylor, Katie Tarbox and Sarah Elder.  Saturday evening about 20 restaurants all over the city will be donating dinners to “Hosts” and their guests who will consist of 6-10 people each.  Then all will head over to the Kennedy Center for live music, an open Veuve Clicquot bar, tons of dancing and a prom re-dux.   A few (operative word is “few”) tickets remain for the party, so please visit http://www.onceuponaprom.org/Default1.aspx  to find out more and get yours.  This benefit will ensure young ladies who cannot afford their princess dresses now, they will have them for this spring. 

Until then next week, hasta luego!

It’s a cellfish world out there

I thought about writing on this topic awhile ago when I was inspired after watching a number of vintage Woody Allen movies several nights in a row.  I was struck by something so subtle, yet so apparent in today’s modern world (no, it wasn’t the continuous cerebral dialogue that seems to have vanished from many movies these days).  It was the absence of CELL PHONES.  As I absorbed the characters, their emotions, their troubles, their solutions, their conversations, I kept thinking to myself, “There is something weird going on here.  I cannot put my finger on it, but something is just not right.”  Mind you, it’s not like I have never seen a movie pre-cell phone era, duh, but there was something about these movies - perhaps because they had so much thoughtful dialogue in them - that it just popped in my head, “By George, they have no mobile devices.” 

Continue Reading »

Hudson’s Inside Out Happy Hour

was quite the success Monday evening, thanks to the creative work of Wendy Gordon of Flash Communications and the delightful libations one of the city’s best mixologists, John Hogan, created for guests who showed up to sit out on the spacious patio (under some large heaters, mind you).  The crispy fresh pizzas of which everyone got to nibble kept coming out pie after pie.  It appears Hudson’s open patio is a very comfortable, relaxing place to spend one’s time during lunch, the rush hour, and even into the evening, once the weather decides what it wants to do.  Because management has put up foliage to semi-block the scene of traffic, there is more of an intimate feel, if there ever could be in the midst of the West End/Dupont Circle.  Passersby look over the flower boxes with envy and some decide:  home can wait - the scene is too nice to leave - and come on in. 

Come check out the patio for future weekday happy hours as well as Sunday early evenings starting in the May timeframe.  www.hudson-dc.com

**Hudson Restaurant & Lounge is a Special Highlighted Partner of Pamela’s Punch**

Row, row, row your boat … gently down the river

The Capital Rowing Club is inviting you to participate in a FREE half-day clinic on Sunday April 20th at the Anacostia Community Boathouse (1115 O Street, SE) for it is “National Learn to Row Day”! 

From 1:00pm - 4:00pm novice rowers will learn the basics of the sport.  Please do come prepared by wearing athletic clothing including running or bike shorts as well as socks and sneakers.  Beware of loose fitting long shorts that could catch in the sliding seat.

Please contact Molly McCoy at molly_mccoy@capitalrowing.org for more information and to sign up.  Again, thanks to the Capital Rowing Club and the Anacostia Community Boathouse Association for the sponsorship.

The Boathouse is located under the 11th Street Bridge, next to the Washington Navy Yard.

Sashay into Spring at Terra - April 30th

The Dupont Circle boutique Terra invites those who know how to sashay (you know who you are) to its evening of shopping and sipping.  Those who spend will receive 15% discounts and all will receive mojitos from Gazuza (Latin Concepts), Dolci Gelati gelato and Cricket green tea beverages.  Finished spending and imbibing?  Then get your face fixed with the makeup artist and brow specialist traveling for Nars and Laura Mercier and you’ll be ready to hit the town.  P.S. - you can also enter to win a very chic prize.

Bring friends but please do not forget to RSVP: hello@shopterradc.com

Terra is located at 1706 Connecticut Ave, NW @ R Street.

Wendy Adeler-Hall to Chair Capital Hospice Passion for Caring Gala 2008

It was announced officially last month that Adeler Jeweler’s (Great Falls, VA) own Wendy Adeler-Hall will be this year’s Capital Hospice Gala Chair.  The Passion for Caring Gala will be held on Saturday, October 4th at the exquisite National Building Museum. 

Wendy and her family have been active participants in many community and philanthropic organizations for years.  They are many times the sole jewel donors for Live Auctions and often donate gorgeous one-of-a-kind items for Silent Auctions.  The Adeler’s are consistently generous in their involvement and are passionate about giving back to the Washington community.  Wendy has chaired the NARSAD (the word’s leading charity dedicated to mental health research) Gala and worked on several other fund raising events for various causes (including Leukemia & Lymphoma, Red Cross of the National Capital Area, the Washington Humane Society and many many more).  With an Argentine themed Gala this year, she is extremely excited to take the lead, as her family is from Argentina.  Wendy plans on creating the “passion, excitement and experience” of Buenos Aires at this year’s event. 

For more information on how to get involved, to support, donate, sponsor or buy tables and tickets, please go to http://www.capitalhospice.org/ or email Carol Kennedy at ckennedy@capitalhospice.org. Congratulations Wendy!

Skye Lounge Grand Opening - Friday April 18th

Don’t miss DC’s newest upscale martini and sports lounge official Grand Opening this Friday the 18th.  Doors open at 7pm, hope for a warm evening, as Skye Lounge has a large two sided patio for relaxing and people watching.  Get your friends to skip the Friday rush hour and have a few fresh fruit mojitos and some delish Mediterranean cuisine (love the tapas).  Because it is a special evening, Skye will be offering complimentary champagne and appetizers.  Already generating a buzz for hosting not only DC’s financial district’s movers and shakers for lunch and after hours, but also some MLB stars.  You will no doubt be very pleased with the atmosphere, cocktails and food, and oh, those five independently run plasma TV’s. 

Skye Lounge is located on the corner of 19th and Eye Street’s NW.  Street parking is available.

Please feel free to bring friends and RSVP to Lydia Arshadi at lydia@skyedc.com

**Skye Lounge is Special Highlighted Partner of Pamela’s Punch**