6˚of Separación

Not that you need an excuse to enjoy a cocktail and some carousing with your friends, but how about with people whom you’ve never met prior?  You know, that weird awkward communication stage called “networking”?  School is back in session and while some of us still are only concerned about our Labor Day plans, we must not forget that business in this town often revolves around the concept of “who knows you”.

6˚of Separación is just the platform for you, you young professional, to get your rusty networking skills back in shape before the summer is over and you are thrown to the wolves at numerous breakfast functions, luncheons, and cocktail events.  Try it, you may like it, this meeting new people and connecting concept.

When and What:  Hudson Restaurant & Lounge.  Thursday, August 26 from 7pm- 11pm.  Enjoy cocktail specials, complimentary hors d’oeuvres and DJ Seyhan mixing some great LIVE tunes at one of the hottest patios in the city.

Featured Specials: $6 Sky and Stoli Vodka, $5 Draft Amstel Light and Peroni. Perk of the night: Drop your business card to win a 3 course meal.

2030 M Street, NW www.hudson-dc.com

Hudson is a Pamela’s Punch Partner

Midnight in Marrakesh

I swear I’ve been channeling all things Morocco this year.  Believe me you, tis not a bad thing, not a bad thing at all.  In fact, ever since returning from the sexy state in north Africa, I’ve found more and more people have plans to visit or have just returned.  It makes for a lively discussion which nevertheless leaves us pining for more Morocco.  Obviously, the logistics of actually getting to Morocco are not easy.  So, as the idiom goes, If Mohammed won’t come to the mountain, the mountain must come to Mohammed, so must Morocco come to us, though this time in the form of a benefit called Midnight in Marrakesh.

This is the first of a series of events highlighting local customs and artisan traditions in the countries where the organization Nest provides microlending support to women-run businesses.  The series, called Nestation 2010 plans to showcase some of the other countries in the future, but this launch looks to be quite special.

The night will take place on Thursday, October 7th from 6pm-9pm at where else, but Marrekesh Palace (2147 P Street, NW) and will include an address from His Excellency Mr. Aziz Mekouar, delicious Moroccan dishes served with wine and beer, a souq (bazaar) experience (let’s go shopping!), henna tattoos, a silent auction, live entertainment and much more.  This all to the tune of  a mere $35 for General Admission and VIP is $50.

I cannot encourage you enough to come to this event, especially if you have been or never have been to the Kingdom of Morocco.  Also, this will be a wonderful opportunity for you to be introduced to Nest, the non-profit that provides interest-free microfinance loans to women in developing countries.

Details and tickets are found here: www.buildanest.com/joinus.asp

More Photos from John Legend Party

Jennifer Nycz-Conner and Jayne Sandman Dufour

As promised, here are some photos from last Wednesday’s party of the week, the Capitol File magazine cover boy celebration of recording artist John Legend at the Dupont Hotel’s Cafe Dupont.  Thanks to Hudson’s Alan Popovsky who handled the Punch shutterbug responsibilities that night in a scene that could be described as mass chaos, loud, crowded, and halfway to the moon with the generous pours of Grey Goose cocktails.  Seriously, what was in those drinks? Or better question is, what was not in those drinks?

Sara Trab Nielsen, Maggie O’Neill and Victoria Michael

John Legend

Hail to the iPhone and BlackBerry cameras

Katy Adams and Nikki Schwab (Yeas and Nays)

A Reason (or Three) to Celebrate

While you were still wondering how Jennifer Aniston went from Hollywood’s “It Girl” to the Queen of the Snoozefest rom-com’s (J-Lo is not far behind), some people were having the Best Friday Night Ever.  That’s right.  John Burns, the attorney who has on his list of accomplishments being the youngest person to graduate Georgetown University’s Law School (so I’m told) but even more so, apparently he knows more people in DC in his spring chicken age than the Palm’s Tommy Jacomo, turned another year.  And they were all out to see him Friday night.  Well, he and lawyer Camelia Mazard.  The two threw a civilized birthday soiree complete with speciality cocktails and catered dishes on the rooftop of The Madrigal Lofts then things got nutty with the official party at one lounge in Dupont Circle.  I overheard a few comments from the guests “John Burns knows EVERYONE in town” and “Did you know this place even existed?” and “I’m sorry honey, I think there’s some birthday party or something going on here tonight, I’ve never seen it this crowded.”

At last count, I would guessimate a few hundred people were packed in on both floors of one lounge and out on the patio.  Maybe more. So happy birthday to both fellow Leos.  May you have a year, well no, a lifetime, of health and wealth.

Speaking of birthday celebrations, I just got the word that Qorvis Communications turns 10 this month.   Back in the beginning of the aughts, the PR firm started with 8 employees and today has close to 100 professionals on its roster.  Over the decade it has earned the status of being one of the largest independent agencies in the country (and also the one that I count on every year for Kastles information).  Their client list spans the globe and includes Fortune 500 companies.  Congratulations to the nice people at Qorvis and keep up the good work.

Oh and one last notable note. One of my favorite photographers in the city, Moshe Zusman, just released the news that he’s delivering an “amped up” version of his website, showcasing his best works from weddings to corporate, to red carpet, to events, and beyond.  Seems like everyone has been busy this summer.

So congratulations to everyone … the doldrums of August has got me thinking about how the rest of the year will play out.  The invitations and save the dates are starting to rumble in my inbox and mailbox, reminding me of about the multiplicity of events.  It’s been a good summer – traveling, writing, taking photographs, falling in love for three days then falling out immediately after, and then in August, taking it easy.  The Punch team is about to be officially announced and we will be embracing the close of year FOUR and the welcoming of year FIVE in November.

And if that’s not enough to take in, whet your whistle and cool down with this week’s Beer Week in DC.

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

And National Geographic photographers have spent decades upon decades presenting us with still scenes that can only best be described as “Simply Beautiful”.  The exhibit named just that comes to the Museum on September 3rd in the form of a 50+ photograph exhibition which takes us on a “visual journey through variations on the universal theme of beauty.”

The collection represents the best of the best in the theme of beauty taken from National Geographic’s Image Collection.  From landscapes to wildlife, people and places, the end result looks to speak to our inner love of all things beautiful, how we are naturally drawn to beauty, and how even the smallest detail or most unlikely person, can exhibit this trait.  We just have to look for it.

“Simply Beautiful” is free to the public and will be open through February 6, 2011. The exhibition is part of FotoWeek DC 2010, a celebration of photography in the nation’s capital November 6th-13th.

The National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed Dec. 25. For more information on the exhibition, the public should call (202) 857-7588 or visit www.ngmuseum.org.

Take It While You Can

Since we have less than 2 weeks left in this blessed month before the craziness of the event scene starts up, I’m taking the day off while I still can.  We’ll be working this weekend on a photo shoot of the Season 2010-11 Punch Team, our topic focused Correspondents who scour the city so they can bring you the best and most interesting content in the worlds of food, fashion, wine and other potions, causes, art, live music, travel and more.

Also, I’ll be testing out the newly opened and much raved about Estadio Saturday evening and if you are in the Arlington area, please come by the Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation booth indoors at the Arlington County Fair. We’ll be there all weekend with games, trivia contests and fun for the kids.  And don’t forget to get in your last days and nights during Restaurant Week!

See you back online Monday.