Happy Veterans’ Day

Living in Arlington, VA so near the Iwo Jima Memorial ,  Arlington National Cemetery  and The Pentagon is a blessing.  It reminds me everyday of the men and women who have fought and are still fighting for our country.  There are men and women who lost lives and left behind devastated loved ones.  There are those who were wounded terribly, both physically and emotionally.  There are those who in battle, were witness to seeing friends have their lives taken from them.  Each of these men and women from our country’s past and present are brave heroes and we salute them on this Veterans’ Day for giving up so much, so we can have so much.

If you know a Veteran or even just meet one today, please make sure to thank him or her.  It is the least we can do.

Who will be the “America’s Next First Dog”?

And you thought the road to the White House was long and tedious! Well, let’s be frank.  It was. The road to the Dog House however, is going to be FUN and let’s just say that they have already “released the hounds”. 

Check out the clip that was done live for FOX NEWS on Sunday with none other than Punch Community Partner (so proud!) Washington Humane Society:

FOX NEWS AND WHS   Brett Baier interviews WHS CEO Lisa LaFontaine and Director of Communications and Marketing,Tara de Nicolas (remember F4P on Saturday, March 28th!).  Thanks to the lovely Hadley Gamble of FOX NEWS for facilitating this interview.

Smithsonian National Museum of American History - Get a sneak preview with Nathan’s Q&A Cafe interview

Don’t forget to call in your reservations for the last 3 remaining Nathan’s Q&A Cafe’s, the first one being this Wednesday the 12th with Brent Glass of the soon to be re-opened, newly renovated Smithsonian National Museum of American History, who will tempt us all with his interesting tidbits about what we can see once the Museum is re-opened ON NOVEMBER 21ST, 2009.  That will be an historic day for sure.

Call Jon Moss at 202.338.2000 for your reservation!

Blondes versus Brunettes tear up the field for a good cause

Congratulations to both Team Blonde and Team Brunette of the Annual Blondes versus Brunettes Powder Puff football game, for continuing to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association of the National Capital Area.

Each year, these young ladies come together to tough it out off the football field by competitively fundraising, then on the football field, showing their athletic prowess, competitive nature (and good nature), and enjoying the entire day (and night) with friends and fans.  With the pre-game brunch starting at Hudson Restaurant & Lounge, the Game (which was packed!) at Francis Field on 24th & N Streets, NW, and then THREE post-game celebrations (the Glover Park tour: BreadSoda, Town Hall and ending late at Gin & Tonic), this event was the best ever.

Thanks to all of the sponsors for participating, those who supported ALZ NCA by donating, and the hard working ladies who played well, more importantly, who raised money for ALZ NCA.

And ahem … while Team Blonde put up quite the fight, yet again, Team Brunette won on the football field, so job well done! 

(Pictured from top to bottom: Team Blonde watches from the sidelines; the action on the field; Mix 107.3 FM DJ Tommy McFly as a commentator; the crowd cheers on the teams with complimentary Vitamin Water)

Designer Kathlin Argiro at Esprit de Noel

Saturday we checked out Esprit de Noel which was held on the Georgetown Visitation School campus.  This bazaar features boutique vendors from all over Washington selling their wares at a major discount.  Friend of the Punch and Visitation alum, Kathlin Argiro, was there with tons of her beautiful dress designs for sale.

(Pictured above: some of Kathlin’s wrap dresses for sale; below: the designer and me as we gather up some purchases)

While I was lucky to make it out of there with a few pieces for this season’s parties, my FAVORITE new item is her “Dressong”.  It’s basically at least 6 dresses in one.  Made of kind of a spandex-y/Lycra material and beautiful vibrant colors and patterns, a woman can wear these dresses/sarongs tied in various ways, which are VERY flattering and VERY sexy.  I knew I was planning on donning them while traveling this winter to warmer, fairer weather, but I was too excited to wait.  So, Saturday evening I created a little twist halter look, threw on a long black knit sweater and black pants and off I went.  It was daring, but it worked because I got tons of compliments and “Where did you get that?” of course, I directed them to Kathlin Argiro.com. 

Check out these versatile pieces in other press pieces:

http://myitthings.com/Yuli/Post/fashion/It_Designer/Look_of_the_Day:_Kathlin_Argiro_Dressong./51812008233438399.htm

http://kathlinargiro.blogspot.com/2008/07/kathlin-argiro-on-shefindscom.html

To order your dressong or learn more, please go to http://www.kathlinargiro.com/.  Feel free to contact her directly and make sure you tell her the Punch sent you!

Fashion Fights Poverty (FFP) Thank You Soiree … Bond Style. James Bond that is.

The stylin’ folks at Punch Community Partner FFP want to thank you for supporting this year’s Fashion Show by throwing a stylin’ soiree.  That’s just so like them!  Please join us on Wednesday, November 19th, from 7-10pm, and please … make sure you are dressed to kill.

Please see below:

Wednesday, November 19th, 7PM
The Park 920 14th Street, NW
FFP and the Board of Directors would like to say thank you again for your support, dedication, and commitment to making this years benefit a success. As a token of our appreciation please join us on Wednesday, November 19th at The Park at Fourteenth (third floor) from 7:00pm - 10:00pm for "THE STYLE SAVANTS PRESENTS A BOND SOIREE."

Celebrate elegant Bond chic with A VIEW TO A KILL, sponsored by Metromix. Come dress with a LICENSE TO KILL as your favorite iconic Bond, Spy or glamorous femme fatale…the Bond Girls. Are you Goldfinger or Dr. No? HoneyRider or Solitaire?

TOMORROW NEVER DIES so please RSVP before you DIE ANOTHER DAY to rsvp@fashionfightspoverty.org 

Complimentary hors d’oeuvres & food stations from 7-9pm
Prizes awarded for most stylish Bond-inspired creation
This is a costume optional Party at The Park. Cocktail attire or Black Tie are encouraged but not required.

Two more Save the Date’s for your 2009 Calendar

My goodness do we have our picks of things to do for the early part of 2009.  Not only will we be inundated with multiple events for this historical Inauguration on January 20th (with many leading up to the Inauguration), but in the months following, there will be plenty to do.

You got an idea for a few of our Punch Picks last week, but here are two more to jaunt down on your calendar:

Saturday, February 28th:  The American Heart Association Heart Ball will be held at the Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner and Chaired by none other than one of Northern Virginia’s tech world’s iconic leaders, Sudhakar Shenoy.  With over 500 attendees last year, the event raised over $825,000 which went research, education, community programs and advocacy with regard to heart diseases and stroke.  www.ahaheartgala.com

Thursday, March 12th:  The 2009 DC SCORES Soccer Ball presented by Latin Concepts is back at the beautiful Organization of American States Building (17th& Constitution, NW) and this year, chaired by Tony Hudgins of DC Magazine.  This annual event raises funds and awareness for DC SCORES, which is an after school program for inner city children, combining poetry, literacy, and the sport of soccer.  www.dcscores.org

This week’s birthday wishes

go to:  Fernanda Tamancoldi, Dr. Jay Varma, Anna Kimsey, Bennett Richardson, Trace Johnson, Lisa LaFontaine, John Keeley, Tae Crotty, Hamid Moinamin, Joe Carden, Tony Powell, Eric Lund and David Cronin. 

Apologies as usual if we’ve missed anyone!  Wishing you all great health and wealth …

Speaking of birthdays … we are very proud to announce that THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH, is the OFFICIAL TWO-YEAR Anniversary date of this blog.  Born around 11pm’ish on November 13th, 2006 as a personal blog called The Daily Adventures of Pamela Sorensen (pretty clever, huh? … uh, riiiight) and then transformed over time with the help of the talented folks of Viget Labs, into Pamela’s Punch (dear friend and Advisor Fernando Murias gets credit for the new title) and the site as you see it today.

Thank you to Brian Williams, co-Founder and CEO of Viget Labs (web strategy, development and consulting), for being there from the very beginning.  The night of the 13th when I emailed him inquiring how to start a blog, he responded back immediately with thoughtful advice and assistance.  Brian and his willing staff have been nothing but professional, creative, strategic and responsive. Thank you also to all of the Loyal Punch Readers for continuing to help in the growth of this site, to the many Special Highlighted Partners (especially Hudson Restaurant & Lounge and Platinum Lifestyle Management, who were our first sponsors and longest running to date), to the Community Sponsors who fill up this site with great philanthropic content, to everyone who has referred readers, media opportunities and sponsorships to us - THANK YOU!

By the way, we are also proud to say that from September 2007 to September 2008, the Punch has grown by 87% in terms of readers, so again, THANK YOU!  This is YOUR Punch!

"Where were you?"

That will be the question, without a doubt, for years to come with regard to where YOU were when Barack Obama was elected President of the United States of America.  

Personally, I was first at Hudson Restaurant & Lounge early for a few hours (it got more than crowded) then traveled over to Teatro Goldoni to check out the scene there.  During John McCain’s concession speech and Obama’s acceptance speech, I, among a few others, were found right there on K Street. 

Paul Morigi, a photographer friend who seems to be everywhere YOU (we) want to be, was actually dead center in Grant Park at the Obama Rally.  Check out his phenomenal pictures. http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.asp?navtyp=gls====341413  Thank you Paul for sending them to the Punch!

Pictured above:  U.S. President-elect Barack Obama waves during his election night victory rally in Grant Park on November 4, 2008 in Chicago,
Illinois; below:  Oprah Winfrey is interviewed in Grant Park on November 4, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois - all photo credit Paul Morigi.

You’ve Come a Looooong Way, Baby!

Last night the ladies came out en force for the Annual Knock Out Abuse (KOA) Against Women Gala.  They were celebrating 15 years of serving this community by raising awareness about domestic violence as well as money for the handful of KOA’s local Beneficiaries.  These beneficiaries concentrate on stopping domestic abuse and assisting victims of those crimes.

KOA has come a long way.  Past event Chairs Debra Lee, Holly Muldoon, Ann Walker Marchant, Holidae Hayes, and Norma Ramsey were honored last night by KOA Founders Jill Sorensen (no, no relation) and Cheryl Masri.  As each came up to the mic to say a few words of gratitude, it was apparent that they were overwhelmed by how this growing event has come so far from the dinner at Cafe Milano they held their very first year.

Congratulations to all of the Honorees and Founders and thank you to every person who has donated and sponsored in the past and continues to support this very important cause.  It was a gorgeous night and we were fortunate to be there!

Highlights:  Husky-voiced Actress Kathleen Turner (pictured left) MC’d and uh … entertained us while regaling us with uh, colorful jokes … NFL #1 Running Back Washington Redskin Clinton Portis (who wore pink and black striped socks) and teammate Santana Moss (also dressed to kill) were on stage to help in closing the Live Auction items. 

When the ladies were asked the leave and meet the men from Fight Night outside of the locked ballroom doors, we passed the time by getting dripped on by the quickly melting ice bar (it was HOT in there!), drinking more cocktails and flirting (did I say that?). 

Then the doors were reopened to the transformed ballroom and the hounds were unleashed … but as R&B performer Kevin Michael (I felt sorry for him - he had to follow last year’s surprise amazing act: Lenny Kravitz) crooned, only some danced. 

All in all, it was a night to remember and if you were near the Ritz on 22nd Street last night, you got a taste of what “Washington’s Adult Playground” might possibly look like.

Until next year …

To learn more about Knock Out Abuse Against Women, please go to www.knockoutabuse.org

For Fight for Children (Fight Night), please go to www.fightforchildren.org