Black Book Party at the new National Harbor

Thursday evening was the Capitol File Magazine Black Book Party at Pose Ultra Lounge in non other than the new National Harbor.  Found at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, this sexy spot made us feel like we were not across the river in Maryland, but rather in a faraway land.  Vegas? Miami? NY? Boston? Maybe, maybe not, but certainly anywhere but PG County, MD.  It’s amazing what developers can do in a short amount of time.  The amount of retail shops and restaurants that are being thrown up there is dumbfounding.  To get there, one can yes, drive, or take the “water taxi” from either Old Town or Georgetown’s Harbor.  We did the latter which did not make for good hair nor makeup upon entering the hotel. 

(Pictured: The view from the water taxi of National Harbor)

The party was to celebrate DC’s most eligible singles.  Each year, since the magazine’s inception, Capitol File puts out their list of the elite singles found in the region, in their opinion.  While this is in no way a “beauty contest” and I have no idea what the list criteria is, it appears that they feature those who are from various ages, backgrounds, industries, professions, talents, interests, hobbies, education, etc.  This is a way for Washington to show off their best and brightest singles, so to speak, which is not a wholly new concept, but it is fun how Capitol File does their layout.

The Black Book List issue won’t come out until Fall (which now seems is right around the corner), however, you can check out the National Harbor, Pose Ultra Lounge and all the other retailers now.  

Urgent Message from the Washington Humane Society:

Thank you to Tara deNicolas of the Washington Humane Society for sending this.  Please do read and hopefully, take action:

On Friday the Washington Humane Society (WHS) received an urgent call asking for our help in caring for some of the nearly 700 dogs who were rescued recently from an inhumane dog breeding operation uncovered in Tennessee.
As the only open-access shelter in Washington, DC where no animal is ever turned away, we bear a heavy responsibility to the people and animals of the District. On a typical day, we take in an average of thirty three animals. As we fulfill this commitment, we also bear a responsibility to the greater national sheltering community. WHS wanted to make room for as many dogs as possible from the puppy mill and today will be taking in fifteen to twenty of the dogs rescued from the puppy mill to our private shelter on 7319 Georgia Avenue, NW.
Our dedicated staff, volunteers and medical team are working now to prepare the shelters and line up foster homes. We will be ready to care for these dogs who have been through so much in their lives, and thanks to donations made to WHS’s special Sophie’s Fund, we are prepared to attend to any special medical needs these dogs may have as soon as they arrive.

In addition to stepping forward to care for these dogs, we will offer our WHS National Capital Area Spay & Neuter Center for 2 free days of spay/neuter surgery to any of the dogs rescued from the puppy mill that are being cared for by various rescue groups in the Washington, DC metro region. Because the drastic pet overpopulation problem is the root cause of animal abandonment, neglect, and suffering, WHS makes every effort to ensure that as many dogs and cats as possible are spayed and neutered. The WHS National Capital Area Spay & Neuter Center – the only one in DC - serves animals being adopted, returned to owners, and animals belonging to members of the public.

If you, too, would like to find a way to help these dogs and the other animals in our care, please click here to make a donation, or consider becoming a foster parent. WHS will be holding an open Foster Parent Orientation on Wednesday, July 2nd at 7:00 p.m. at our 1201 New York Avenue location. Please contact our Foster Care and Rescue Coordinator, Kate Zapf, at 202-723-5730 (ext. 149) or kzapf@washhumane.org for more information.

Hoop Dreams Rooftop Rendezvous at The Liaison - July 31st

Mark your calendars ladies and gents for July 31st.  A new hotel’s in town and you’re gonna want to check it out.  The brand spanking new The Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel will be the venue that evening for a Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund benefit. 

Please join hosts:  Susie Kay, Jimmy Lynn, Michael Hines, Steve Boyd, Demetri Diavatis, Archie Rich, Morris Biggers, Justin Mink, Jeff King, Victoria Michael, Flavius Galiber, Curtis Symonds, Richard Strauss and the HDSF Board and Staff

Enjoy refreshing libations, The Liaison’s signature poolside cocktail: the "IMPEACHMINT MOJITO" and nosh on imaginative hors d’oeuvres created by the hotel’s celebrated culinary team.  This is a great opportunity to meet, greet and yes schmooze with fellow supporters of the HDSF.

Limited tickets are available for $50 while 100% of the proceeds will benefit The Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund.

RSVP on this link

For more information on the HDSF, please go to www.hoopdreams.org!

Broadway Gallery Special Event - July 9th

Broadway Gallery and Women Building & Investing in Success

Present A Special Workshop…

DON’T COMPETE ON PRICE!
CREATE A POWERFUL USP!

"Join WBIS for a Summer "Networthing Night" event as we help business owners Develop a Powerful USP. Your company’s Unique Selling Proposition is vital for distinguishing your offering from everybody else’s."

Please join your fellow females at Broadway Gallery’s Fairfax location on

Wednesday, July 9th
7:00 - 9:00pm

7:00-8:00pm
Informal Networking & Hors D’oeuvres
Meet WBIS Launch Managers as we celebrate the expansion
to Prince William County
8:00-9:00pm
ActionCOACH Business Coaching

$25.00 per person

Broadway Gallery
12231 Fair Lakes Promenade Drive
Fairfax, VA 22033
703.273.2388
www.broadwaygalleries.net

ALL proceeds from this event will benefit the Wolf Trap Education Program.

For more information:

www.wbis.biz
703-327-7624
email: info@wbis.biz 

(**Broadway Gallery is a Special Highlighted Partner of Pamela’s Punch**)

Weekend Birthday wishes

go to Freddie Wyatt, the DC king of big event productions, as well as to Omar Popal of the restaurants Napoleon and Cafe Bonaparte.  Of course we would be remiss if we didn’t give a shout out to a long time friend and supporter of the Punch, technology executive and philanthropist, Tien Wong, of Opus 8. 

"Kicking It" premier and Homeless World Cup

Tonight (Friday) is the theatrical premier of "Kicking It", the Ted Leonsis produced film, which was shown to sold out crowds at the big three: Sundance, Tribeca and Silverdocs film festivals.  While Washington Life Magazine, Leonsis, Susan Koch (Emmy Award winning director) cinematographer Neil Barrett, Washington Life CEO and executive producer Soroush Shehabi, Rick Allen, Mark Ein, Jack Davies, Raul Fernandez, Sheila Johnson, Nigel Morris, Russ Ramsey, and Doug Smith (all DC based executive producers) are hosting the premier at the E Street Cinema for their guests, you can see it at the same venue for one week only. 

(screening daily at 1:10, 4:10, 7:10, and 10 p.m.) at  555 11th Street  NW, DC, 20004, 202-452-7672, http://www.landmarktheatres.com/market/WashingtonDC/EStreetCinema.htm

In case you hadn’t read about the film in the various media outlets or heard Leonsis interviewed, here’s the synopsis:  This is a true story about how the power of sports can truly change lives.  Actor Colin Farrell is featured in the film as it chronicles the development of homeless players from around the globe who compete in an international street soccer tournament called the “Homeless World Cup.”  It is said to be a truly inspiring and moving story loved by audiences and critics alike.

By the way, the Homeless World Cup will find its home in DC at the new Washington Kastles Stadium this Friday through Sunday.  Found at 11th and H Streets NW (downtown at the old Convention Center parking lot) you can watch  100 players from 11 cities compete for a spot on the national USA team that will travel to the 2008 Homeless World Cup in Melbourne, Australia.

Friday, June 27th
Noon Opening Ceremony
1:15 - 7 p.m. Matches
Saturday, June 28th
9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Matches
2 p.m. - 4 p.m., Exhibition Game. U.S. National Street Team vs. F.C. Harlem and DC United Skills Session with Ben Olsen and Clyde Simms. 4 – 6 p.m. Semifinals
Sunday, June 29th
4 -5 p.m., Championship Matches (Finals)
5 - 6 p.m., National Team Announced, Trophies, Closing.

Ted Sorensen at the Q&A Cafe

When I heard that THE Ted Sorensen was coming to be interviewed by Carol Joynt at the Nathan’s Q&A Cafe, I immediately blocked that time off on my calendar.  I had to be there. Apparently so did a lot of other people because not only was the luncheon sold out, there was a waiting list.

Sitting at the table with him was such a memorable moment and honor.  This nearly now blind, humble, soft spoken, dryly witty man was not only John F. Kennedy’s first legislative assistant, then speechwriter then advisor, he was his closest counsel and friend.  After writing his tenth book “Counselor”, which recounts his own life as well as his relationship with Kennedy, he is now on the book tour.  We were so very fortunate to have him at the Q&A Cafe.  He has lost most of his sight and has to be guided by his assistant.  We joked about how our last names are never spelled correctly (with an “e” for Danish) and that the NY Times misspelled his name 162 times.

Some highlights from the lunch:

The day Kennedy was assassinated was the saddest day in Sorensen’s life. He does not visit the grave site.  It is still too hard for him.  “Life has to go on though”, he said as his eyes welled up.

Hailing from Nebraska, he is a Danish, Jewish Unitarian (no joke).  When the young lawyer came to Washington, DC, he got into his first taxi ever and got to drive right by the White House.  “Despite its occupant, I still look at it with great respect.” (that got a lot of laughs)

During the interview, his phone started ringing.  He said, “Oh, that’s mine.  It’s not Mr. Giuliani, I can tell you that!”

While Ted was often looked at as the “extra Kennedy brother”, Bobby Kennedy definitely showed how he felt about him in various ways.  One of those such times was when Jack, Ted and Bobby were in their suits on the White House lawn and were to “play football” for a photo opp.  Jack was to throw to Ted and Bobby was to defend.  As Ted went up in the air to catch the ball in his “one good suit”, Bobby dove in and tackled him, making sure he was on the ground hard. 

He became closer to Jackie after Kennedy died. While they were in the White House, Jackie tended to her children and her duties as First Lady and didn’t really interact as much with Ted.  When he wrote his first book, “Kennedy”, he shared with us that out of respect for the family, he gave the manuscript to Jackie so she could look at it first.  Amazingly, she had a lot of “changes” for him, including taking out that Jack ever EVER would drink, even on occasion.  She also wanted him to change how Jack and he felt about LBJ.  Ted was surprised about the “total lack of respect for LBJ” that she had.

Sorensen is such a well respected and admired speechwriter, that in 2007 he was asked to write an imaginary acceptance speech for the Democratic nominee in the Washington Monthly, without mention of the candidate.

To Sorensen, the most important quality in a President is having judgement.  Kennedy had that and exercised it.  Another vital quality is having the ability to pick the right team.  He said Obama did just that which is one reason why he beat Clinton.

What would he want to have as the caption of his obit?  “Server of Peace and Justice”, although, he said it will probably say “Shot by an angry husband”. 

Please pick up the book “Counselor:  A Life at the Edge of History” by Ted Sorensen.  The audio is excellent as well, according to Carol Joynt, as it is told in Ted’s voice personally. 

To watch the whole interview click on this link:  http://www.youtube.com/user/TheQandACafe

Hudson Restaurant & Lounge - July 4th Hours

This is good info to know, especially for the many folks who are staying in town for the various Georgetown parties during the long weekend of July 4th. 

Hudson is located at 2030 M Street, NW.

Friday July 4th:

Closed for Lunch
Opening at 6pm and serving our full menu until midnight.  They will continue to be open for the bar crowd until 2:30am.  Come out after the fireworks!!

Saturday July 5:

Regular Operational Hours

Sunday July 6:

Brunch 10am until 3pm
Afternoon Menu: 3pm - 5pm
Dinner: 5pm until 10pm
Late Night Menu: 10pm until 11pm

Hudson will close by 11:30pm on Sunday July 6.

**Hudson Restaurant & Lounge is a Special Highlighted Partner of the Punch**

Dress for Success’ Gala Kicks Off Thursday Night

Do not forget the Dress for Success Gala Kick-off at Ceviche’s Wine Bar tonight.  The event goes from 6pm-9pm in the restaurant’s Glover Park location.  Please stop by to learn more about this 6 year old organization, meet its supporters and of course, have some fine wine from the self-serve wine bar.

Please email maureenbryant@rocketmail.com for more information and to RSVP.

Stop Traffick with Fashion! Re-cap

Thank you to all who made it to last night’s “Stop Traffick with Fashion!” event at Lima.  It was quite a great success with a fabulous turnout.  I was honored to be a part of such a great cause and with such elite company (Beverly Kirk from Newschannel 8, Miss DC 2008 Kate Marie Grinold, Donna Rice Hughes, President of Enough is Enough; Deborah Sigmund of Innocents at Risk, and all the other fantastic folks who came out to support Charity Network Inc through buying tickets or sponsorship).

The fashion show was a hit and the models were gorgeous.  I personally saw  several designs I’d love to purchase and I am pretty sure Kate Grinold was eyeing a few hot numbers.  It would not have been such a well executed event if it hadn’t been for MC Natalie Buford-Young (Rainfield Group) and the co-Chairs:

Ingrid Mendoza
AMERICAN SYSTEMS Corporation
Dipika Bhagat Ahluwalla
First Trust Title & Escrow, LLC
Sakshi Bhagat
Keane, Inc.

Thanks to everyone again for your hard work to make last night happen and of course, to Lavika Bhagat Singh, who runs Charity Network Inc so that we can stop the horrible crime of child trafficking. 

(All photo credit: Pat Ryan, www.ryanphoto.com - above, local designer Aidah Fontenot with Kate Marie Grinold; all others, various look from the red carpet runway)