BUZZWORTHY/Buzzing into Spring on the Red Carpet

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Alexandria's best dressed residents flank WJLA's legendary Arch Campbell: Kristen Kreiger, Cheryl Romero, Arch, Elizabeth Pignatello and Jonathon Krieger at the 3rd Annual Oscar Night DC.

ALEXANDRIA, VA. - Washingtonians are quite antsy to get the Spring Social season started and this weekend folks were flinging into Spring with several fun high-energy events in and around Alexandria.  

The exclusive downtown Washington, DC private dining club – The University Club - hosted its annual Casino Royale party Friday.  Put on by The Proctor Dougherty Society (for Club members 35 and under) the party featured Poker, Roulette, Black Jack and Craps tables.  
 

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Anna Kimsey and Bailey Edwards were BIG winners at The University Club's annual Casino Royale party.

Guests were encouraged to dress in James Bond attire or come “dressed to impress.”  Club member Anna Kimsey and her date Bailey Edwards were two big winners of the night and were thrilled to have attended. “The University Club always throws such fun parties," Kimsey said. "We always have such a great time here.”  

People interested in membership in the University Club can take advantage of a special summer membership program for just $250.  The three month membership runs Memorial Day through Labor Day.  Full membership in the club is voted on quarterly and there are several levels based on the proposed member’s age. http://www.universityclubdc.com

Another members-only club hosted a spectacular event in Alexandria over the weekend.  The first Family Fun Night of the new year was held at the Mount Vernon Country Club Saturday night.  More than 100 children, parents, and friends packed MVCC’s ball-room for a rousing good time – complete with face painting, balloon artistry, crafts, a children’s musical performer and a scrumptious Italian Buffet.  The price for the event could not be beat: $15 for adults and $8 for children.

It’s these types of fun, family-friendly and well-priced events that are making the Mount Vernon Country Club so popular in Alexandria.  “We joined the club just last week and have already been here three times," enthused new Club member Brooks McElwain. "We love it here and can’t wait for summer and for the pool to open.”  The pool was re-done last summer, to the tune of $1 million dollars, and many members find the new layout to be one of the nicest in Alexandria.  

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks The author, Elizabeth Pignatello, Cheryl Romero and Stephanie Green on Sunday at The National Museum for Women in the Arts.

Fiscal responsibility is one of the reason MVCC has been able to keep its membership costs reasonable – especially when compared to other private clubs in the area.  There are three different levels of membership at the Mount Vernon Country Club.  
 
Social house initiation starts at $3,500, Social Golf is $10,000 and there are various levels of full golf membership. For more information on membership opportunities, contact Liz Cooper, MVCC's Director of Membership,  at 703-780-8700 or Lcooper@mountvernoncc.org.
 
Many of you may know that Sunday was the 82nd Academy Awards night.  Alexandrians and Washingtonians got to walk the Red Carpet and get in on all of the Oscar’s action.
 
Local Kicks' own Editor and Publisher John H. Arundel threw a Countdown to the Oscars bash on Thursday with Fitness Together's Matt McKinnis of Old Town in the courtyard behind Georgetown's Cafe Milano, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the American Red Cross of the National Capital Region. Over 280 showed for the Washington Life-sponsored event, enjoying sumptuous hors d'oeuvres from Milano's Embassy Row Catering and a light supper provided by Mie n Yu restaurant and Sweetgreen, washed down with Moet & Chandon and wines from Paradise Springs Winery.
 

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Alex Merriman, Junior League of Northern Virginia President Erica McCants, Former Junior League of Washington President Constance Christakos and Cheryl Romero at the Third Annual Oscar Night DC on Sunday.

Guests left the event with goodie bags of items provided by Fitness Together, Honest Beverages, Muscle Milk, Georgetown Cupcakes, Fresh Boutique of Georgetown and Warner Bros. Studios.
 
While the classic Humphrey Bogart/Ingrid Bergman flick "Casablanca" was projected against the wall outside of Fitness Together's new Georgetown location (McKinnis got his start as a personal trainer in Old Town), a dance troupe, Dancin' Unlimited performed a few numbers, including "Tequila Sunrise." The funniest part of the evening was when Washington Life papparazzo photographer Tony Powell put out a small fire on the popcorn machine with his camera bag - while never putting down his camera to shoot the pic.
 
On Sunday, Oscars night, the American Red Cross in the National Capital Region hosted its Third Annual Oscar Night DC at the National Museum for Women in the Arts.  This event is the only official Academy sanctioned Washington, DC Oscar Night viewing party and serves as a major fundraiser for The Red Cross.   

The fun-filled evening included a silent auction, a red carpet and real time Oscar coverage – simulcast on several large screens throughout the Museum. Members of Congress, the business sector, the philanthropic community, DC's fashion community and movie buffs came together to celebrate the American cinema and  to see who would go home with the famed golden Oscar.
 
The emcee of the evening was ABC 7 reporter Pamela Brown, and entertainment anchor Arch Campbell covered the event live for WJLA's 11 o’clock news.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Nader Aghili and Tina Krivorotova on Sunday.

"The setting was spectacular, the food was wonderful, and people throughout the region enjoyed being a part of this unique event," Linda Mathes, CEO of The American Red Cross in the National Capital Region, told Local Kicks. "Many participants already have asked to be a part of the event next year. The real winners of the evening are the people of our community who will receive essential Red Cross services as a result of the support generated."

Spring may not have fully sprung quite yet, but we are all ready to get out and get moving!  Stay tuned for a body-moving Buzzworthy special column next week high-lighting one of the most beloved dance and exercise instructors in Northern Virginia.  
 
BUZZ BUZZ
 
Email the writer at allison@queenbee.com.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks One of Alexandria's favorite couples, Jonathon and Kristen Krieger on Sunday at The National Museum for Women in the Arts.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Alexandria dad Larry Arthur and two of his four daughters at The Mount Vernon Country Club's Family Fun Night.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks What was on the menu at the Mount Vernon Country Club's Family Fun Night? Too much sugar, of course!

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Gregory Ross, Kate Bradford and Lauren Walker hitting the Black Jack table at The University Club's annual Casino Royale party.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Allie Wright and Ashley White at The University Club's annual Casino Royale party.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Letting it ride on red at The University Club's Annual Casino Royale party.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks The Red Cross hosted Oscar Night DC Sunday at The National Museum for Women in the Arts in the District.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Alexandria's loveliest ladies -- Anna Knapp, Beth Ring, and Mara Stengler -- at Oscar Night DC on Sunday.

Photo by Allison Priebe Brooks/Local Kicks Kristen Kreiger and Allison Priebe Brooks flank WJLA's Arch Campbell at Oscar Night DC.