BUZZWORTHY / News Babes, a Bar for Buddha and a Ball on the Mall

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks NEWS BABES: On the first row, Laura Evans, Andrea Roane, Sandra Endo, Cynne' Simpson, Brianna Keilar. On the 2nd Row: Hillary Howard, Anita Brikman, Shawn Yancy, Lesli Foster, Pamela Brown, Lindsay Czarniak, Eun Yang, Sue Palka, Angie Goff and Alison Starling.

ALEXANDRIA, VA. - They've been talking about it for almost two years now, and finally, the long awaited and venerated Buddha Bar opened its doors for some early friends and family in D.C., just across the way from Chinatown
 

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks The Buddha traveled 10,613 miles from the jungles of Indonesia to serve as the backdrop at Buddha Bar-DC.

We were invited to the first opening night party of the Buddha Bar-DC, courtesy of Washington Life Magazine and its Associate Publisher John Arundel, who threw the VIP opening event for Buddha's owners.

Washington Restaurants LLC, a Maryland-based ownership group with high-end restaurants in Europe, opened the 9,500-square-foot space at 455 Massachusetts Avenue, NW,  just steps from Chinatown. This is the group’s first restaurant venture in Washington, and the second of nine Buddha-Bar locations open around the world.

Buddha-Bar DC features traditional Pan-Asian cuisine with a dollop of French influence, along with an extensive wine and sake collection and artisanal cocktails.

“My partners, Michael Don, Beni Golani, Dov Kliger, and I are excited to have the opportunity to open a Buddha-Bar in the nation’s capital,” said Eran Gorev, the CEO of Washington Restaurants LLC.  “We spent the past two years looking at dozens of possible locations for the restaurant, but had a hard time finding a venue with ceilings high enough to accommodate our chandeliers and 18-foot Buddha.  We love the location at 455 Massachusetts Avenue, with the 22-foot high ceilings in an up-and-coming part of town, close to the Convention Center, Chinatown and the Capitol.”

Korean-born Executive Chef Chul Kee Ko is spearheading the menu which will offer Pan-Asian cuisine with a touch of French influence.

Among the highlights planned for the menu are Curry Shrimp in Banana Leaves; Roasted Black Cod; Five Spices Chicken; Lacquered Pecking Duck; Wok Fried Beef with Bail along with an assortment of sushi and sashimi rolls for sharing.  A comprehensive wine list, premium sakes and artisanal cocktails are also planned to complement the pan-Asian fare.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks One Belle Haven's favorite couples Denise and Mike Constandy at the opening of Buddha Bar-DC.

Shelly Galloway has been appointed Buddha-Bar GM and will oversee the day-to-day operations at the soon-to-open hot spot.  Galloway brings an extensive amount of experience to her new position having spent the past eight years at the Little Buddha in Las Vegas.

DWA of Paris, France created the look for the Buddha Bar in DC.  The company collaborated with local design firm Gensler to help adapt the 170-seat restaurant’s design concept to meet DC’s strict codes and building standards.  The restaurant’s interior features an Asian-inspired aesthetic fused with elements of French opulence.

Asian tattoo murals created by Tanuja Bora are displayed throughout the restaurant with its lofty 22-foot high ceilings.  Rich colors of burgundy, gold, brown and black create an opulent scheme, setting off the focal point of Buddha-Bar: the signature 18-foot Buddha statue with black onyx finish, created by Mambo Art.

The 18-foot tall Buddha traveled 10,613 miles from the jungles of Indonesia to serve as the backdrop.
 
Guests arrived in a flurry of excitement and while the guest list for Washington Life was spectacular (think Saudi Royals, several ambassadors and congressmen, and ABC 7's Leon Harris), the flow of the evening seemed a bit off. Due to some last minute gate-crashers, there were long lines outside, and also at the bar and the toilet paper ran out in the ladies room.
 

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Kristen Krieger, Elizabeth Pignatello and Arienne Reilly shopping up a storm at The Campagna Center's Toast to Fashion.

Did people seem to mind?  A little bit, even if it is the "hot" new watering hole in town. But Washingtonians do love a new scene and the 9,500-square foot restaurant has only now opened to the public.  It features the traditional Pan-Asian cuisine with bit French influence that has made the chain popular in Las Vegas and New York.  
 
Investors spent a rumored $10 million to plant the famed Buddha flag in DC.
 
Social Safeway Rocks Georgetown
 
A dee jay in the grocery aisles? Veuve Clinquot served to shoppers?  This is not your momma's grocery store. Georgetown's new "Social Safeway" arrived with a dramatic flourish last week.
 
After receiving a gracious invitation from Alexandria resident and Shannon Campagna, the VP-Governmental Affairs for Safeway, we buzzed over the Key Bridge to one heck of a grand re-opening!  
 
The Social Safeway is back! After a year of remodeling one of the District's most famous supermarkets is roomier, greener, foodier.  
 
The re-opening of the largest supermarket in DC, Georgetown's "Social Safeway" was one of the hottest happenings in the city this spring.  
 

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Models at the Toast to Fashion

Last Wednesday's grocery gala included corporate bigwigs, Congressional representation, and the most extensive sampling stations imaginable.  

The company saw fit to throw a red-carpet celebration worthy of a State Dinner where Cristal, Dom Perignon and vintage Veuve Clicquot flowed freely at the gala opening of the rebuilt supermarket.  

Guests included Eleanor Holmes Norton, Tammy Haddad, ABC 7's Leon Harris, Rep. Roy Blunt and on and on; it truly was a who's who of Social Washington.

Guests all seemed giddy gobbling up samples, posing for pictures, skipping down aisles, and even grocery shopping.  It was a fabulous and very social re-opening to the beloved store.

Annual Toast to Fashion

Members of the Alexandria community came out last week to support The Campagna Center at The Annual Toast to Fashion held at Belle Haven Country Club.  

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Kelly Dibardin, Tommy McFly, Leah Dyrud and Ashley Estill at NewsBabes at the Ritz

Hosted by the Junior Friends of The Campagna Center, this pop favorite yearly event featured a marketplace and fashions from Alexandria's hottest boutiques, including Hysteria, Shoe Hive, The Purple Goose, Appleseed, Gossypia and Mystique.  

The Junior Friends also honored three of their own. Kim Speed was awarded the Barbara Pratt Lee Heart of Gold Award, The Golden Halo Award was given to Tamara Mlynarczyk, and a new award was created, given and named for truly dedicated Junior Friend, the Anne Culbert Legacy of Service Award.  

This year's Toast to Fashion Co-Chairs Jennifer Ashby, Anne Ashley Crocker and Natalie Johnston did a marvelous job with the event and raised thousands of dollars for The Campagna Center.

The Junior Friends of The Campagna Center are also supporting the fight against Breast Cancer and have formed a team to walk in the June 5th Race for the Cure in DC.  

If you are interested in donating or walking with the Junior Friends, please visit:

http://globalrace.info-komen.org/site/TR/GlobalRaceForTheCure/GlobalRace/1225615387?pg=team&fr_id=1370&team_id=131636

A Ball ... On the Mall

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Nancy Brinker is the founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization named after her only sister, Susan, who died from breast cancer in 1980 at age 36. Ambassador Brinker is seen here at The NewsBabes Event.

The L’Enfant Society hosted their Second Annual Ball on the Mall to raise funds for efforts to restore and improve The National Mall. Over 800 people attended the sold-out event that was held in a series of tents on the National Mall overlooking the U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument.

The ball exceeded the L’Enfant Society’s fundraising goals raking in a total of $350,000 to restore and improve the National Mall.  

Since its founding in 2008, the L’Enfant Society has raised more than $2 million for the Trust for the National Mall’s efforts to restore and improve the National Mall.  
 
The event has quickly become one of the top events of the year for the young philanthropic crowd and Allison Signorelli, the Trust for the National Mall's fund-raising consultant, along with her committee, wanted to retain and capitalize on that status when they began planning this year’s event.

“After last year we took a hard look at what people liked about the event and what they didn’t like,” Signorelli said.

“We thought there was a hole in the event market for people in their 30's and 40's when it came to exciting, affordable black-tie events; especially ones that included a seated dinner. There are plenty of super-expensive dinner events and cocktail parties, but nothing in the middle.”  

The event has been named by Washington Life magazine as the Best Young Philanthropic Event, and this year's ball did not disappoint.  

Guests enjoyed signature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and elaborate buffets including dessert and espresso bars, and DJ Heather’s mashups kept the dance floor packed all night.  

Spotted guests included Rick Schroder (yes, of "Silver Spoons" fame), NBC's Luke Russert, Susan Roberts, The Bachelor's Andy Baldwin, Reed Landry of Late Night Shots, Pamela Sorenson of Pamela's Punch and not Whitney Houston who was rumored to have been a confirmed guest.  

It didn't matter. We will always love her and we are already looking forward to next year's Ball.  For more information visit http://www.nationalmall.org/lenfant-society.php  

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Val and Sophie Hawkins at The Ball on The Ball.

NewsBabes Bash

The 2010 NewsBabes Bash was hosted Monday night by some of the hottest TV personalities in the D.C. area at the Ritz-Carlton in Georgetown. We joined over 500 others who were pretty in pink for the second annual fundraiser to prevent breast cancer.  

Local anchors and reporters, including Andrea Roane (WUSA), Angie Goff (WUSA), Lindsay Czarniak (NBC4), Eun Yang (NBC 4) and Sue Palka (FOX5),  Pamela Brown (WJLA) and Alison Starling of Old Town (WJLA) mingled with the crowd as they helped raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation to fight breast cancer.

Special guests included Susan G. Komen founder Nancy Brinker and D.C.'s  First Lady Michelle Fenty.  

The event was way oversold and while some guests could not brave the crowds for long many were thrilled over the popularity of the event.
 
The Buzzworthy Calendar

What's the buzz for the rest of this week?  Besides trying to get some rest you will find us out and about...

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Anna Tant and date Ryan O'Dwyer at Ball on the Mall.

Wednesday, May 12 beginning at 6:00 PM, join FGI of Great Washington for DC’s Fall Trend Event featuring fall/winter 2010 fashions at Tysons Galleria, 2001 International Drive, McLean, VA. Hosted by Betsy Lowther, fashion writer/blogger. Donations of costume jewelry and accessories are encouraged to benefit Suited for Change. Price: $45/person, for tickets or more information: http://washingtondcfgi.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=263629.
 
Thursday, May 13 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM, join Fashion for Paws for Pawtini Happy Hour at the W Hotel, 515 15th Street NW. 20% of proceeds benefit the Washington Humane Society. Dogs will be on site ready to be adopted. Price: free, no RSVP. For more information visit:
www.fashionforpaws.org.  

Friday, May 14- Sunday, May 16: Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral's Greek Festival at  36th St. and Massachusetts Ave. NW in Washington, D.C., Noon-9 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Held rain or shine, the fair offers plenty of food, including an indoor buffet, outdoor grills, whole lambs on spits, an ice cream wagon and Greek wines and beers. Kids will enjoy special food treats just for them, as well as the moon bounce, a caricature artist, crafts and games. Tours of the cathedral, live music and dancing are also part of the weekend plans.

May 15, 2010 The Team Believe Monte Carlo Night

The Team Believe Monte Carlo Night hosted by Sugar Ray Leonard will take place at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. This event is one of the major fundraising activities for Team Believe! and Katie Rost, who is participating in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's annual Man & Woman of the Year fundraising competition. Fun-filled evening including Silent Auction, Casino Games, Swimwear Fashion Show, DJ, Buffet and Open Bar. Tickets on sale at http://www.believeinacureforcancer.com and will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Saturday, May 15: The St. Mary's School Spring Fling.  Festivities start at 10:30 a.m. and last until 3 p.m. at 310 S Royal Street in Old Town Alexandria. Virginia. Food, festival, games, rides, cake-walks and much more.  This is a can't miss event for the under 12 set in Old Town.  Free to attend and tickets available for purchase. Call (703) 836-4100 for more information.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Chitta Mallik, Sunanda Patel and Ryan O'Dwyer at Ball on the Mall.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Alexandrians had a great time at Ball on the Mall. Seen here are Gordon and Kim Speed with Kristen and Chris Gullott.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Allison Brooks with Alexandria City Councilmen Frank Fannon at the Toast of Fashion After Party at Vermillion.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks The Junior Friends gathered at Vermillion for the official Toast to Fashion After Party.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks The gorgeous mother-daughter duo of Mai Trinh Joubert and Anais on the catwalk at Belle Haven Country Club's Toast to Fashion.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks The Politico's Kiki Ryan and journalist-author Tim Berger hamming it up at the Social Safeway opening.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Christine Delargy, Matthew Dornic and Tammy Haddad at The Social Safeway opening.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Belle Haven's Bob Jones and Old Town's Shannon and Chris Campagna at the Social Safeway opening.