How sweet it is … Sweet Charity 2008

Or rather, how sweet it was.  On Monday night, for the second year in a row, the Mandarin Oriental Washington, DC hosted “Sweet Charity”, which benefited the children’s literacy focused Heart of America Foundation (R).  This was by far, from conversations I overheard, the best Sweet Charity yet.  The place was packed and I mean packed with people (Cinco de Mayo? What Cinco de Mayo?).  There was not a space not being used for delicate pastries, mind blowing cakes, savory dishes from the area’s top restaurants, and water, beer, wine, and vodka stations (chocolate martinis ruled this event).  Guests could venture upstairs to the Chocolate Lounge (the Announcer really wanted everyone to check that place out) or just herd along in the huge banquet room whose sides were stuffed with chefs and their cooking stations and mulitple levels of pastries, even ice creams.  The hallways and side rooms gave everyone a chance to dip into chocolate fountains and taste various wines. 

While foodies, winos, sweet teeth and lovers au chocolat got to mingle as they were getting their “fix”, the real icing on the cake (ha ha, get it?) was the Chocolate Fashion Show.  But first, we got to hear from the emcees.  The well-dressed Leon Harris of WJLA-TV News and the man with the microphone permanately in his hand, WTOP’s Bob Madigan, kept the show moving with quips back and forth from either side of the stage.  The Founders of The Heart of America Foundation (R) Bill and Angela Halamandaris greeted the jam packed crowd, gave a few thankful and inspirational words, introduced the numerous honorees then got the room excited for the show … and what a show it was. 

Gratitude goes out to all of the sponsors, ticket purchasers, in-kind and auction donors, volunteers, DC Magazine (thanks for the seats!), and especially Chairs Charrisse Jackson-Jordan, President, Behind the Bench, National Basketball Wives Association and Michele Fenty, First Lady of Washington, DC and their Host Committee.

(Pictured top to bottom: Kate Michael as Miss Sweet Charity and Windy Shepard; Little Red Riding Hood and friends dressed in chocolate dresses and accoutrements; The Sweet Life, Inc.’s delights in the Chocolate Lounge; below: Chair Charisse Jackson-Jordan and me; Captain Hook all decked out in chocolate with his creator to his left)

For more information on this foundation, please visit www.heartofamerica.org and donate your time, books, and funds today!  To view more photos of this event, go to my profile on Facebook and look under the album “Sweet Charity”.