It’s Holiday Doody Time …

…ok, so I actually listened to my father quote the "Howdy Doody Show" theme song at some point in my life.  But the start of December means that you must be fully prepared, both mentally and physically, for all of the parties and social requirements being thrown at you from front and back and left and right.

Whether it’s Jolly Holiday, Santa Soiree, the GWSA Holiday Poker Tournament or every Holiday Happy Hour under the sun, you will be inundated for sure (no one said that a down economy doesn’t know how to party).  As the list continues to grow for end-of- year bashes, as well as beginning- of-year bashes, feel free to send them into the Punch.  We will sift through them all and gift to you the Best of the Best. 

But wait, there’s more. It may only barely be December 1st, but you are most likely already being asked to make your New Year’s Eve plans (never mind the Inauguration parties which are following shortly).  Hey, we want to know about all of them.  Hopefully, we can create a pretty fun, comprehensive list for Loyal Punch Readers. 

Lastly, we always want to make sure our Punch Highlighted Partners are taken care of, as they continue to take care of us.  The two venues (albeit very different from each other), Skye Lounge and Hudson Restaurant & Lounge, are open for Private Holiday Parties and Inauguration Events, should you have the need for a cool space and great service.  Feel free to contact them directly and mention the Punch or you can go through me at sales@pamelaspunch.com and I am happy to make an intro for you.

Thanks again for always reading the Punch and we look forward to cruising with you through the end of 2008 and into 2009!

Hudson Holiday Happy Hour to Benefit the Starlight Children’s Foundation Mid-Atlantic

On Tuesday, December 9th from 6:30-9:30pm, join Hudson Restaurant & Lounge and the Starlight Children’s Foundation Mid-Atlantic for a "Holiday Happy Hour". 

The Holiday Happy Hour will feature drink specials, a special Starlight Mid-Atlantic cocktail and 10% of the entire evening proceeds will be donated to the foundation.  Thank you to the generosity of Punch Highlighted Partner Hudson Restaurant & Lounge… for ’tis the season for giving!

Hudson Restaurant & Lounge is located at 2030 M Street, NW.

Starlight MidAtlantic helps seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities. The foundation softens the hard edges of what a family experiences when a child has a serious illness all along their journey, from the time of diagnosis all the way through, in the hospital and at home. Starlight Mid-Atlantic focuses on the children of DC, DE, MD, PA, VA and WV. For more information please visit www.starlight-midatlantic.org

Q&A Cafe Returns Thursday

Those who have enjoyed Nathan’s Q&A Cafe for many years and who have missed seeing Carol Joynt for several weeks… she’s baaack.  Thanks goodness for that.  The Q&A Cafe picks back up again with Brent Glass (left) of the newly re-opened Smithsonian Museum of American History (the luncheon interview had been postponed previously).  Think Star Spangled Banner (and Ralph Lauren), First Ladies gowns and more.  Mr. Glass, who is the Museum’s Director, will enthrall us with all that lies within. 

Thursday, December 4th. Doors open at noon. Please call Jon Moss at 202.338.2000, weekdays between 10 and 5:30.

Lunch is only fee is $35, all inclusive, and dessert is provided by Q&A sponsor Georgetown Cupcake.

Spotted:

Governor “Ahhhnold” Schwarzenegger working out on Thanksgiving Day in the Four Seasons gym, while his wife Maria and part of the royal Shriver and Kennedy clan did some food shopping at Dean & Deluca.  Elsewhere in Georgetown, talk show host Jerry Springer was seen dining at the ever celebrity-ridden Cafe Milano.

World AIDS Day to celebrate 20 years

December 1st, 2008 is the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day.  The law firm Thompson Hine, who has partnered with the international advocacy organization AIDS-Free World, will hold a charity happy hour on Wednesday, December 3rd, from 6-8pm at Gazuza (1629 Connecticut Ave, NW). 

There is a minimum donation of $10 (which will buy you a drink ticket) at the door, but you are welcome to give more!

For more information on this powerful organization, please check out www.aids-freeworld.org.

Extra Birthday Wishes …

go to Janet Donovan, Scott Lubore and Bill Hughes.  Enjoy your long weekend!

Thanksgiving is over, time to shop.

Speaking of Thanksgiving (hey, don’t you know that once the bird is carved, we are onto Christmas and Hanukah? geeez …) yesterday was the First Annual Martucci & McFly’s Kitchen Crew.  Kim Martucci is the morning weather woman on WUSA9 and Tommy McFly is the prime time DJ for Mix 107.3FM.

As everyone looks for a way to give back during the hectic holiday season, these two media pros grabbed 50 volunteers and headed to the Capital Area Food Bank with the intention of helping to sort through the non-perishables they have been collecting.

In just two hours the group assembled over 800 ‘weekend bags’ so hungry kids will have something to eat when school lunch programs are not available and over 20 pallets of can goods for dozens of local agencies to distribute.

Check out the video and "out-takes" on the following links:

http://www.mix1073fm.com/showdj.asp?DJID=34931

Thank you Kim and Tommy and especially to the kind folks who gave up their own turkey time for others.  Now that’s something to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving …

Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday.  The Punch will return on Friday!  Until then eat, drink and RELAX.

The Four Seasons Georgetown Hosts the 9th Annual Taste of the Stars … and the After Party

The 9th Annual Taste of the Stars benefiting Starlight Children’s Foundation Mid-Atlantic was held on Saturday evening at the Four Seasons in Georgetown (which, in case you have not visited there in recent months, is undergoing a major reconstruction, but with holiday decor strewn everywhere, no one’s the wiser).  The Master of Ceremonies was the MSNBC’s very own former bow-tie wearing Tucker Carlson and attendees packed into the sit down dinner, only to let loose for the first ever “After Party”. 

The After Party officially started at 10pm and went to 1am with a DJ, desserts, champagne, drinks and some, ahem, interesting dance moves, as the theme was very “Studio 54″.  Oh, did I mention the cigar room?  Basically, it was an all out partayy that the Mid-Atlantic’s Young Professionals Council threw in order to engage that ever growing powerful group of “young professionals in DC”. 

Tickets to the After Party went to the children in the Mid-Atlantic region who are suffering from serious illnesses.  To find out more about the Starlight Children’s Foundation Mid-Atlantic, please go to: www.starlight-midatlantic.org

(Pictured from top to bottom: Christina Wilkie and Francis Hoang; Amy and Brett Baier; Jamie Dorros and me)

Mix 107.3 FM’s 18th Annual Toys for Tots Toy Drive and Online Auction

The holiday season is about giving and not just extravagant gifts (all though we all love those) but also basic needs.  Unfortunately, there are so many families who are requiring the simplest of life’s necessities like food and shelter, even more so now with the challenging state of the economy.  I do hope that whenever you see a canned or non-perishable food or even a turkey drive, please take a few minutes to give what you can.  A little giving can go a long way. 

This season, the Punch is proud to endorse DJ Tommy McFly and Mix 107.3 FM’s 18th Annual Toys for Tots Drive.  This is yet another way we can give.  The radio station is collaborating with the U.S. Marine Corps and numerous generous local businesses in an online auction, as well as through a toy drive, to bring smiles to the faces of children in need.  The concept of online bidding is not new (think eBay), but this time, you not only are giving to Toy for Tots, but you are also receiving a unique item in return.

Check out how you can give to the area’s neediest children by clicking on this link:  Mix 107.3FM Toys for Tots Drive

Thank you to Tommy and Mix 107.3 FM!