Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund Annual 3-On-3 Tournament - Saturday June 14th

It’s that time of the year again, folks!  That’s right, the Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund Annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is right around the corner.  This charity basketball competition and street festival always, in my mind, marks the true beginning of summer in DC.  The all day event (9:00am - 6:30pm) is one of the most fun and entertaining day events in town.  I do mean entertaining. You will laugh out loud at the commentary, both color and play by play, the announcers provide during the “Celebrity” game over the loudspeakers.  That spectacle itself is worth the trip.  You get to watch Tom McMillen, Bill Hall and Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans elbow each other like school boys on the playground.  Is it my imagination, or are those guys getting better and better at this game on the asphalt court every year?

On top of the Celebrity Tournament, this fundraising event brings together DC public high school students and business professionals from across the region.  The Tournament offers “open” competition, and does not seek to match teams by age, height, or any other criteria. All skill levels are welcome.

On a highlighted note, the day will featuring Special Guest former UMD Terp and current San Francisco 49er Vernon Davis!

To register your team or to volunteer, visit:
http://tournament.hoopdreams.org/tournament/

When: Saturday, June 14, 2008

Time: 9:00am - 6:30pm

Location: http://tournament.hoopdreams.org/tournament/

Street:  Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd to 6th Street

Come out and support Susie Kay, her staff, mentors and high school kids and have a great time doing it.

Intermixing in Georgetown

M Street’s Intermix was packed full of lovers of the boutique’s hot fashions, supporters of the Washington Humane Society (WHS) and Capitol File Magazine, and of course, those who just like looking at pretty people (the gorgeous staff of Intermix for one), sipping champagne and nibbling on sushi from OYA.  Thank you to the store who generously offered 10% off all merchandise and donated 10% back to the WHS’s Fashion for Paws.  Thanks also to the Erwin Gomez Salon & Spa who filled up the goodie bag with complimentary services and some high end product samples.

(Pictured above: The crowd at Intermix; below: Joe Robert III, Tiffany Carter, John Cecchi and the WHS’s Tara deNicolas)

Intermix is known for its cool, hip, chic, and very fashion forward designers, however, for the faint of heart and wallet - nothing in there is inexpensive (we were ogling a bag that was only $3,500), but everything in there is something you would want in your closet.  Visit Intermix at 3222 M Street NW in the heart of Georgetown

Olympic Artist Mark T. Smith at Teatro Goldoni

Teatro Goldoni played host to an official Olympic Artist, Mark T. Smith on Tuesday evening.  Smith’s brilliant colors and ultra contemporary designs and shapes are stunning to see in person.  For a few hours, he did a meet and greet, signing posters, posing for photo opps, and talking with fans of his work. 

Did I get a signed poster? Yes I did. Did I get it signed to me? Yes I did. Was that a mistake? Yes it was. Apparently, had I only had him sign his name, I could sell it on eBay a few decades from now and make a mint. Sigh.

(Pictured: The artist with a poster and Writer/Media PR Queen Janet Donovan)

Natural Body Spa and Shoppe

Congrats go out to the Natural Body Spa and Shoppe. They made it to Allure Magazine’s Best of the Best as the "Best Spa in DC".  It is definitely one of my favorite spas, especially because of their green initiative and their natural approach.  Look for article in the June 2008 issue, hitting stands soon.

For immediate release:

For those folks who think the Washington Humane Society (WHS) is ONLY about animals, it is not.  They have wonderful programs that integrate humans - children, women, the elderly and hopefully soon wounded veterans.  Here is an example of just one of the great things the WHS is doing in our community with kids, thanks to Tara deNicolas:

Washington Humane Society to Host Fourth Grade Students from Hendley Elementary School on an Animal Sanctuary Field Trip

Washington, DC – The Washington Humane Society’s (WHS) Humane Education Program will take twenty-five fourth graders from Hendley Elementary School in Southeast Washington, DC on Thursday May 22nd from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., on a field trip to Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary (15200 Mt. Nebo Road, Poolesville, MD), a 400 acre non-profit refuge for farm animals and wildlife.

The students in Mr. Kenneth Robinson’s fourth grade class have been working with WHS’s Humane Education Program Manager, Shakela Brown, over the course of the school year. The WHS Humane Education program is an enriching curriculum teaching students more than just animal care basics. Young people in the program also learn about issues affecting their everyday lives. They are taught about bullying, violence in their community, violence against people and violence against animals. Most importantly, they are empowered to speak up for themselves and for animals rather than just accept the role of the passive observers.

“One of the goals of the program is to teach children to make compassionate and responsible decisions. I have been working with Mr. Robinson for 3 years; he’s a wonderful teacher that not only teaches his class math and history lessons, but also life lessons, pushing his students to strive for excellence.  It is a great opportunity to take these students out of a neighborhood riddled with violence and into a new and stimulating learning environment,” said Shakela Brown.
The students will arrive with WHS’s Shakela Brown to Poplar Springs Animal Sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. They will be given an overview on the work of the sanctuary and how the animals came to Poplar Springs. Then, the students will be led on a tour of the sanctuary where they will see, touch and feed pigs, cows, chickens, goats and horses. 

For more information please call or e-mail the media contact above or visit: www.washhumane.org

Congrats to KStreetKate on the new home

They say moving/buying a home, getting married, getting divorced, changing jobs, and having a baby are the most stressful courses of action in our lives.  Kate Michael has just taken on two at once and she is doing it with a smile (a Miss DC smile that is!).  Congrats to Kate on her new job and her new home!  - Yes, the other was a new job, darlings ….

Tuesdays at Skye Lounge

Come to Skye Lounge after a hard day’s work for some relaxing live music, tapas, martinis and the best fresh fruit mojitos you’ll ever sip.  Every Tuesday from 6pm-8pm you can hang with your friends and unwind indoors or outdoors on the patio and enjoy the cool sounds of Harrison Street. 

Tonight, however, is a very special night because the lounge will be playing the "big game" - Celtics vs. Pistons at 8:30pm.  In honor of the game, at 4pm, you will be able to enjoy the drink delights of an $8 Martini of the Month, a $8 Classic Mojito, $3 Bud Lights, $5 Rail Drinks and snack on half price appetizers (the Martini and Mojito prices go all night, the others end at 9pm).

You have drink and dining specials starting at 4pm, live music at 6pm and the Big Game at 8:30pm … this may be some people’s version of heaven.

Skye Lounge is located at 19th & Eye Streets in the heart of DC’s Financial District.  www.skyedc.com

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

Save the Date - Young Benefactors Smithsonian Cup Kick Off Party - June 5th

Ladies and Gents - the Argentine theme is underway in the Nation’s Capital and no one is complaining.  After all, who doesn’t love fantastic wines (Malbec in particular), the best beef (exception maybe the vegetarians) and leathers in the world, cheeses, breads, celebration, polo and beautiful, beautiful, beautiful people, who just embrace life with such true vigor?  By the way, when I was in Buenos Aires, I had the privilege to meet Evita’s niece, Cristina Alverez Rodriguez, during a private tour of the Eva Perone Museum or the Museo Evita.  The evidence of the passion Argentineans carry down from generation to generation is just breathtaking. 

Please mark your calendars for Thursday June 5th.  From 8pm - 10pm, the Embassy of Argentina and Capitol File Magazine will welcome supporters of the Smithsonian Young Benefactors Polo Cup with live music, tango dancers, mouth watering food and drinks and lots more.  Tickets are $40 for YB Members, $60 for non-YB Members and should you be a smarty pants and want to join YB, your ticket price will only be $30 upon signing up for membership. 

Registration details to come as well as … perhaps an After Party? Come on - this is DC!  Don’t forget to reserve your sponsorship, table and or ticket for September 6th!  This year’s YB Polo Cup on the Mall will feature one of the hottest (and I mean smoking hot … en fuego) polo players/Ralph Lauren Polo Black models/Argentine men this world has seen: drum roll please … THE Nacho Figueras.  You’d be crazy to miss this event - more to come, but make sure you get yourself a table!

A step toward tying the knot …

Congratulations go out to one generous, gorgeous and fun couple - Amy Angelo and Tripp Donnelly!  Tripp proposed to Amy Friday evening and the couple are "excited to celebrate with our friends!" I know friends and family of both sides of the couple are equally ecstatic about this - and we "cannot wait to celebrate with them!" … celebration party details? 

An Asado in Virginia …

The Gala Host Committee for the 2008 Capital Hospice Gala “Argentina and Its Passions” met at the sprawling, yet quaint, cozy and welcoming Spring Brook Farm in Waterford, VA on Sunday.  The Adelers of Great Falls Adeler Jewelers had generously opened up their home and barn space for a celebratory traditional Argentinean “asado”.  An asado is the equivalent of our backyard BBQ, but with Argentine style.  Picture huge slabs of meat firing up over gigantic stone grills accompanied by tons of mouthwatering vegetables, salads, empanandas (beef and veggie, thank you Wendy!), and a variety of breads while gallons of Malbecs grace the wooden tables.  Too many desserts were passed and eaten and by golly a secret recipe version of Jorge Adeler’s take on pesto sauce turned out to be the hit of the asado.

(Pictured above: The table before we started to dig in; below: Jorge Adeler and Gala Chair Wendy Adeler Hall thanking the guests for attending)

The rain didn’t keep the guests away, in fact, it apparently gave them a reason to get out of the house and take in some of the best dining west of well… everything.  Roughly 80 folks braved the drizzle and potential muddy country roads to learn about Capital Hospice, the October 4th Passion for Caring Gala Celebration at the National Building Museum, and how they can help make this event a success. 

Please look for more pertinent information about the Gala as well as Capital Hospice and the wonderful work they do for families, children and patients who need care in Northern Virginia, Washington DC and Prince George’s County, MD.  If you are interested in learning more about Capital Hospice or the Gala, please contact Carol Kennedy, Director of Special Events at 703.531.6216 or ckennedy@capitahospice.org or email pamela.sorensen@gmail.com.  

Thank you so much to the Adeler’s, the staff of Capital Hospice and Billington Wines for such a fantastic way to spend a Sunday. 

(Pictured above right: Jorge Adeler and Malene Davis, the President & CEO of Capital Hospice, who gave us a riveting talk; left: Kim Luk of the Park Hyatt and Heather Guay of Bloomingdale’s, two Gala Executive Committee Members with me)