Blue Crush Rocks It

I admit I can be a naysayer, a doubter (though not a Debbie Downer), a skeptic.  I prefer to refer to this as being a “conservative realist”, not “negative.”  I mean, if you have no or low expectations, you can’t be too disappointed, right?  Ok, stop shaking your head with displeasure.  We can’t all be Lil Miss Sunshine.

So, when Michael Sapienza, Chairman and Founder of Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation, told me his grandiose plans for a big summer bash fundraiser with the intent of an art, both live performing and visual, compilation, I placated him with a smile.  Sure…sure… we can pull that off.  Now all we need to do is get a giant space that will fits this curious idea, along with the guests, the food, the bars, the silent auction, the everything.  Sure. We’ll get it done.

The crowd early on the main floor

By George (well, I should say By Michael, Philippa, Maurisa, Rodney, David, Amy, Jill, Stephanie, TiAndra and many many many more) we did get it done.  It takes an army … and a true gracious, humble leader (Michael).  After months of diligent planning and careful preparation, Tuesday evening’s Blue Crush, a Summer Celebration to Crush Colon Cancer, came together for excellent execution. Held at the hidden treasure of a space, STROGA in Adams Morgan, the few hundred attendees who paid a mere $35 for wine, beer, special cocktails, an abundance of food from Hudson Restaurant & Lounge and David Scribner, and numerous live performances, filled the multi-level venue.  Guests wandered the floors, checking out the Art Auction, where local artists had been commissioned to create pieces, then prints were made off the originals for sale as well. The Silent Auction was found on the same floor and included a tour of sponsor Boxwood Winery, a week’s stay at a house in the Outer Banks, and even a Queen bedset by the manufacturers of those who make Queen Elizabeth’s own bed.  Talk about a bed made for a queen…

Pink Line Project’s Philippa Hughes

On the first floor, tucked away to the left of the grand staircase, was the VIP room, where Evan Bliss, crooned and stroked his guitar strings as people sat in the cushy leather chairs, sipping wine from the private bar, and nibbled on plates of various charcuterie and pasta salads.  The performances were held on the main floor, one level up, where two bars flanked the space and a buffet of a variety of fresh serving dishes lay to everyone’s surprise and delight.  Even the white table clothed high tops had plates of hummus, pita and olives. No one was going hungry nor thirsty at this event.

Just Consulting’s Joe and Sarah Channing Grieboski

If you were lucky to bear witness to this mesh of genre, you saw Grammy-nominated human beatbox Christylez Bacon entertain us with his brilliant instrument-like sounds coming from his mouth (he wrote a song specifially for Blue Crush), heard the eccentric sounds of the Low End String Quartet and Jory Herman and even the cool vocals of The Four Horseman (the final performers doing cover acts and originals with extreme vibrato), and watched the contemporary choreography of CityDance Ensemble.

Art by Matt Sesow

Thank you to all of the sponsors, including Boxwood Winery, Decorating Den, MashPit, Absolut, Reyes Holdings LLC, Hudson, Just Consulting, Moshe Photography, 463 Communications, Hypnos, Delong, STROGA and many others.  Much gratitude to all those who attended, including the media.  All funds are going to the Patient Treatment and Care programs at Georgetown Hospital’s Lombardi Cancer Center, where Christine Sapienza ,the impetus for the charity’s creation, was treated.

For a full listing and more information on the artists click here: www.chris4life.org/events/bluecrush

Here are a few more photos:

Rachel Martin of Boxwood Winery

Maurisa Potts of Spotted MP and Christylez Bacon

Evan Bliss in the VIP room

The cocktails

Lite bites and VeeV Spirits water bottles

The information table on the landing

Silent Auction

Sunset on the rooftop of STROGA

MORE PHOTOS FROM BLUE CRUSH