Must Love Dogs, Sugar, and Champagne

For those of you who cannot (nor should not) deny your sweet tooth its guilty gluttonous pleasures, nor stop your love of bubbles in the form of various champagnes and sparkling wines, AND you also just happen to LOVE dogs – last night was your night.  Several hundred Washingtonian’s stepped out with leash in hand to support the Washington Humane Society’s “Sugar & Champagne Affair”. 

(Pictured: WHS President & CEO Lisa LaFontaine thanks the crowd and gives out worthy awards)

The 6th annual event hosted by Todd and Ellen Gray of Equinox Restaurant, with media sponsors DC Magazine and The List Are You On It, was held at the Galleria at Lafayette Center.  Some pooches were more decked out than their owners, but all were having a wonderful time (the dogs got tons of fancy treats, trust me).  The areas top pastry chefs were on hand all over the atrium’s first floor, creating, displaying and passing out their sugary creations (hence “Sugar”), while vintners, wineries, vineyards, distributors and vendors were there to give us something with which to wash down our desserts (hence “Champagne”). 

(Pictured above: new WHS Board Member Jan Cousteau and Liliana Baldassari of the Four Seasons; Pictured below: Tara de Nicolas of the WHS, Matt Lowe and “Emma” Lowe)

The WHS also had tons of volunteers scouring the place with the sweet K-9’s that needed adoption right on hand.  These dogs wore the bright orange “Adopt Me” jackets that just brought tears to our eyes.  I have never heard so many “ooooohs” and “ahhhhhs!” echoing all over an event, but it wasn’t just from the great pastries being gobbled up. 

All the guests’ dogs were so well behaved – I think they were just in heaven.  It was like the fancy black tie cocktail party version of their daily dog park play dates.   Meeting, greeting, sniffing behinds … not just during the day, but at night too!  And yes, it was quite a lovely affair all for an excellent charity (hence “Affair”).

To support the Washington Humane Society by way of donating or volunteering, please go to www.washhumane.org and tell them the Punch sent you!