Author Archives: Chuck Gregory

Brainfood Grill-off Bash

Cute volunteers at the sign-in (including the bobblehead!).

When all the wine ran out prematurely, everyone flocked to Country Vittner's Doug Mohr who kept the taste pours to a minimum and the crowds to the maximum. Can't go wrong when labelled like that!

All the volunteers from the different teams with the participating chefs for the evening.

 

Publisher Lak Vohra with Roll Call's Ali McSherry, Washington Blade's Amy Cavanaugh and fans.

P. Kevin Smith of LTU Technologies chairs the board for the charity and posed with Betsy Dahm whose husband Paul runs the Brainfood charity; along with Bethany Potter, Client Relations Manager for Open Table. Potter has been repping for OpenTable locally for over a year now and says the online reservation system is doing quite well despite the downturn and currently has over 432 local restaurants in its system. Impressive!

John Butt, General Partner, Conduit Ventures, flew down from London to attend the event and do vodka tastings with his friend Irina Filippova, International Commercial Director, 2degrees.

Husband-wife duo having the time of their life. Jonathan D. Taylor, Managing Partner, TTR Sotheby's International Realty with his better-half who also co-owns the realty business at the event.

That's Clarice M. Dionot, daughter of the famous Patrice & Francois Dionot who started L'Academie de Cuisine. She's now managing the business.

Last but not the least, anchor-emcee for the evening Leon Harris of ABC-7 with Ralph Rosenberg, Partner, Stir Food Group and Bryan Moscatello of Zola restaurant.

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Playboy Golf Tournament in Leesburg

 

A private DJ at the Sky Vodka Lounge on the first hole teed things off to some groovy music and some Playmate-wannabes.

Sky Lounge in DC had a booth where they mixed heady cocktails and passed out $10 gift cards for comp meals at the hot lounge in DC. If you'd like one of those gift cards, contact us.

Marriages may be made in heaven but bliss could be had on the golf course! Just ask Chris Moore, Publisher of The Observer Newspapers in Herndon who was a pint away from divorce. (His digital cell phone saved him as he kept texting his wife pictures and sweet nothings of all the no-good he was upto! Or maybe was just just sexting!)

Publisher Lak Vohra shared the 'rough life' with ex-Redskins great Ricky Irwins who has a mean swing but doesn't drink not smoke (don't pay any attention to the guy shooting the picture.)

The ladies who worked the hospitality rounds during the game cleaned up pretty good for the dinner reception and awards ceremony.

That's Jennifer E. Lewis, National Events Manager, TAJ LLC, the group that organized the Playboy Golf Tournament nationwide with one of the trophies for the evening.

Redskins' greats Brian Mitchell and Ricky Irwins all smiles at the after-party and ceremony. 

We snapped Playboy's Miss June Candice Cassidy with Ajay Pathak, Founder & COO, Playboy Golf enjoying each other's company at the after-party. 

And- the final line-up:

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'Sip, Savor and Sleep' Package for Cleveland Wine Festival

Wine needs to breathe. So do you. During the Cleveland Wine Festival, taking place on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27, 2009, why not take a couple of days to wine, dine and unwind with the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center's new “Sip, Savor and Sleep” Cleveland hotel deal. The property was recently named the event's host hotel in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.

Presented by Giant Eagle, the annual festival provides attendees the opportunity to sample more than 220 wines from around the world. Wine seminars and cooking demonstrations by event sponsors, area chefs, exhibiting wineries and restaurateurs will be showcased. Local musical talent will also be performing live each day.
A portion of the proceeds from the Cleveland Wine Festival will be donated to the Bright Side of the Road Foundation, which aims to help find a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
The “Sip, Savor and Sleep” Package includes:
— Concierge room Cleveland, Ohio accommodations (one king or two double
beds) with stunning city and lake views
— Complimentary valet parking
— A featured bottle of wine
— Admittance for two to the festival
— Complimentary festival tasting at the Marriott Downtown at Key Center
booth
— Breakfast for two the following morning
— Rates from $219

— Valid through June 28, 2009

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Courage Cup Summer Swing Under the Stars

 

Kirsten Murdock was showing everyone the money. It was a good cause after all raising funds for the Courage Cup.

Event host Andrea Rodgers in the swanky penthouse at AKA The White House which graciously donated the space for the evening. The brie was delicious!

Realtor Tanya Lynn Sabel (the blonde in the middle) with DJ Seyhan Duru's Parisian girlfriend who just moved to the US to be with Duru and enjoy the Washington social scenery.

Cheryl P. Ibanez, Community Affairs Coordinator, Public Affairs, GEICO (2nd to right) had five and then some minutes to kill with her recessionistahs.

Lot's of classy couture and cocktails throughout the evening.

Co-organizers Andrea Rodgers and Mike Carson, Owner & Social Media Producer, Mike Carson Creative basking in the glow at the event. Kudos to Rodgers for pulling off the fab affair even after the swing band canceled at 5 pm fearing rain. She quickly substituted with DJ Seyhan Duru who was out for a drive when he got a SOS call from Rodgers and agreed on the spot to DJ the party! (see below)

Laid-off-lobbyist Kara networked with Bruce Boxer, Systems Engineer, DoD Intelligence Support Services, General Dynamics (r) and a friend.

Josh Hedrington, Corporate Sales Manager for AKA White House with a volunteer made sure the penthouse was swanky for the sizzle. Josh tells us AKA White House, a extended stay hotel, has over 75% occupancy and rooms rent from $235 to $345. Guess whatä They still have rooms available for the Fourth of July and with the top-floor deck watching the fireworks could be amazing! Contact Josh and tell him we sent ya!

DC Girls in the Know co-founders Chris Jacobs (l) and Julie O'Brien (r) were ensconsed by Andrea Rodgers. The girls travel in pairs and almost missed the party. Better late than never!

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Cancer101 Benefit at the Bowery

CANCER101 held its much anticipated BIG TOP AT THE BOWERY cocktail benefit  July 30 at the Bowery Terrace at the Bowery Hotel, to celebrate cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers.  Despite the deluge of rain and thunderstorms, over 350 exciting and notable supporters attended the energetic, colorful, circus-themed cocktail party — replete with popcorn, cotton candy, candy apples, STOGO ice cream, and of course, live performances by the Donnell Adler, Inc. and the renowned Broadway in South Africa troupe, including aerialists, acrobats, jugglers, stilt walkers, tarot card reader, magicians and hula hoopers.   The Bowery Terrace was flooded with revelers who chased the rain away as they hula-hooped (it looks so much easier when someone else is doing it!) and danced to Xplosive Entertainment’s tunes.

Here are some scenes from the bash:

 

 

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"Roar for a Cure" Carnival & Family Fun Day

 The Max Cure Foundation — a non-profit organization whose mission is to fund pediatric cancer causes — announced today its first charity benefit, the first annual "Roar for a Cure" Carnival and family fun day, to take place on Saturday, August 22, from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. (rain date: Sunday, August 23) on the grounds of the East Hampton Indoor Tennis Club, 175 Daniels Hole Road, East Hampton, N.Y. The outdoor event will have fun-filled activities for adults and kids of all ages. Highlights include: games; inflatables from https://jumpersnrentals.com/phoenix/; prizes; food and beverages; raffles; auctions; face painting; balloon artists; gift bags; celebrity guests (to be announced); a live performance by pop music sensation Push Play; and more.

Push Play, one of the hottest new music groups in the area who consistently pack venues, will preview songs from "Found," their forthcoming album.

Tickets to the "Roar for a Cure" Carnival may be purchased in advance through The Max Cure Foundation website (www.maxcurefoundation.org) or by phone: 631-949-4160. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Max Cure Fund For Pediatric Cancer Research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, dedicated to researching pediatric cancers, improving treatments and finding cures that will save children's lives; The T.J. Martell Foundation, for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS research; and Katy's Courage Fund, which financially assists in the care of 10-year-old Katy Stewart from Sag Harbor, N.Y., as she and her family battle her rare form of liver cancer.

"On behalf of my son Max, my family and The Max Cure Foundation, we are thrilled to announce our first benefit event, the 'Roar for a Cure' Carnival and family fun day," said David Plotkin, president of The Max Cure Foundation. "It is certain to be an exciting and memorable afternoon that will be benefiting three very worthwhile causes."

A "Family Package" admits a family of four for $200; adult tickets are $100 each. The admission price includes unlimited food and drinks, all carnival activities, the Push Play concert and parking. A significant portion of the ticket price and event contributions will be tax deductible. Additional information about the event is available at The Max Cure Foundation website (www.maxcurefoundation.org).

The "Roar for a Cure" Carnival brings together the efforts of two New York-area families valiantly fighting pediatric cancer, the Plotkins and the Stewarts. Six-year-old Max Plotkin, from Manhattan and Amagansett, is the inspiration behind both The Max Cure Foundation and The Max Cure Fund. Diagnosed with an extremely rare form of B-cell Lymphoma two years ago, Max continues to hold his cancer at bay with strength beyond his years. Ten-year-old Katy Stewart, from Sag Harbor, learned that she has a rare and potentially lethal form of liver cancer earlier this year. Both children are receiving care at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

ABOUT THE MAX CURE FOUNDATION

The Max Cure Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2008 whose mission is to fund pediatric cancer causes. The Foundation was established by the Plotkin family in honor of Maxwell Grant Plotkin, who, in May 2007 at age four, was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of B-cell Lymphoma and continues to bravely fight his disease and inspire others to rise above adversity. For more information about The Max Cure Foundation, go to: www.maxcurefoundation.org.

ABOUT THE MAX CURE FUND FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH

The Max Cure Fund For Pediatric Cancer Research, at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City, is dedicated to researching pediatric cancers, improving treatments and finding cures that will save children's lives. The primary mission of The Max Cure Fund is to raise $5 million to underwrite the establishment of a research laboratory at MSKCC in the Department of Pediatrics. The lab will be devoted to researching, treating and curing childhood cancers. The Max Cure Fund was established in June 2007 by the Plotkin family, in honor of Maxwell Grant Plotkin, who was diagnosed with cancer on May 2, 2007 — one day before his fourth birthday. Eight days later, they learned Max's cancer was an extremely rare form of B-Cell Lymphoma. It is every parent's worst nightmare. Max's cancer was so rare that doctors at MSKCC, one of the premier cancer treatment facilities in the world, had never seen it before. To complicate matters, it wasn't a straight-forward case. The cancer had spread and the oncologists were blunt. Without the proper immediate treatment, the consequences would be devastating. Without delay, Max started a two-year protocol of intense chemotherapy at MSKCC, where he continues in its care and where Max's family founded The Max Cure Fund. The Max Cure Fund For Pediatric Cancer Research has already raised hundreds of thousands of dollars towards its goal and has been honored by organizations including Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and The New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. For more information about The Max Cure Fund, visit: www.maxcurefund.org.

ABOUT MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is the world's oldest and largest private institution devoted to prevention, patient care, research and education in cancer. Its scientists and clinicians generate innovative approaches to better understand, diagnose and treat cancer. Its specialists are leaders in biomedical research and in translating the latest research to advance the standard of cancer care worldwide. For more information, go to: www.mskcc.org.

ABOUT KATY'S COURAGE FUND

Katy Stewart is ten years old and lives with her family in Sag Harbor, N.Y. She is the daughter of two Eastern Long Island educators — Jim, a teacher and wrestling, soccer and tennis coach at East Hampton High School; and Brigid, assistant principal at Montauk Public School. Their lives were forever changed on the night of April 3, 2009, when Katy awoke at a slumber party with excruciating stomach pains. She was raced to the emergency room at Southampton Hospital. By late morning, she and her family were on their way to Stony Brook Hospital where she had a CAT scan. The scan revealed a tumor on her liver. Biopsy results were reported one week later — the tumor was malignant. She had Hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer. Katy is currently undergoing treatment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, where she is courageously fighting her cancer. The mission of Katy's Courage Fund is to assist the Stewart family with their financial needs while caring for Katy as the family and Katy jointly battle this potentially lethal disease.

ABOUT THE T.J. MARTELL FOUNDATION

The T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research was founded in 1975 by music industry executive Tony Martell and his colleagues, in loving memory of his son, T.J., who died of leukemia. It is dedicated to raising funds for the innovative initial and ongoing research for improved treatments and cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDS. The Foundation has provided over $225 million dollars for research through a variety of events including concerts, gala awards dinners, family day activities, golf tournaments, wine dinners, and walk-a-thons. Research facilities funded by the foundation include T.J. Martell Memorial Laboratories at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Cancer Center and The Mayo Clinic. This year marks the 34th anniversary for the T.J. Martell Foundation. For more information on T.J. Martell Foundation events or the foundation in general, please view: www.TJMartellFoundation.org.

ABOUT PUSH PLAY

Pop rock band Push Play, from Long Island, N.Y., is quickly becoming one of the music industry's most sought-after talents. Push Play's online presence and their recent U.S. tour stops have brought them fervent fans throughout the country. The band's colorful edge has made them a household name in the New York area, where they routinely sell out their shows. Push Play have been featured in publications including The New York Times, Newsday, Tiger Beat, J-14 and Pop Star! magazine and have appeared on MTV's TRL and in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. They have performed in concert with Miley Cyrus and alongside such groups as No Doubt and Fall Out Boy. Their MySpace page (www.myspace.com/pushplayrox) has received over five million plays and as many profile views to date and their first single off their new album Midnight Romeo is already playing on national radio. Push Play's next album, Found, is due out in late September 2009. 

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$5000 Cash Giveaway at Katie Mullen's Irish Restaurant & Pub

 Beginning Saturday July 11, and running for five consecutive Saturday nights, one lucky customer at Katie Mullen's Irish Restaurant and Pub will go home $1000 richer.

"Denver has been very good to Katie," states Paul Maye, Katie Mullen's principal owner. "This promotion is our way of saying thank you to Denver locals who have supported us since our February opening with such enthusiasm and loyalty. We recognise the challenging economic times we are all experiencing, but in celebration of our new cabaret licence, we felt a little hard cash reward was an appropriate gesture. Every Saturday night from July 11th through to August 15th, one lucky customer will go home feeling a little bit more financially secure!"

"Our goal is to become a destination venue on Saturday nights," says Tom Cronin, Katie Mullen's director of operations. "Customers are looking for value and we feel that a cash offer will help us grow this night and make it a success." He continued that Katie Mullen's offers four themed areas encompassing The Victorian Bar, Gaelic Bar, Pharmacy Bar and Shop Bar, all which allow for a different ambiance. Utilising premium brands provides a unique setting for all demographics and while doing so offer values on promotional cocktails and house draft beer.

Katie Mullen's launches the new Saturday night concept coinciding with the approval of a cabaret licence. D.J. Qwyla Mae will provide tunes on the Victorian Bar stage, and Katie Mullen's will offer premium cocktail promotions and special prices on Durango brewed draft beers.

Katie Mullen's Irish Restaurant and Pub, which is 100% Irish owned and operated, is Denver's newest and most authentic Irish dining and socialising experience. With seating for over 600 and hosting the largest patio on the 16th Street Mall, Katie Mullen's provides the ideal setting for all occasions and can cater for groups from 50 to 500.

Katie Mullen's is located on the 16th Street Mall at 1550 Court Street beside the newly renovated Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. See www.Katiemullens.com for additional information. 

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Two Day Fashion Extravaganza Oct 1 & 2

This October 1 & 2, 2009, the Motor City will transform into Fashion City, as Fashion In Detroit – a two-day fashion show extravaganza to rival other Fashion Weeks around the U.S. – makes its debut in a tented, high-end setting at the Detroit Zoo, in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Created by Project Runway's Joe Faris, of Birmingham, the Fashion In Detroit executive committee is made up of Detroit's heaviest hitters in fashion, beauty and event management: Leslie Ann Pilling, nationally renowned designer and president of Presence II Productions and Leslie Ann Pilling Design, Rino, owner of FIGO salon, Karen Buscemi, editor of StyleLine magazine, Lians, international fashion photographer and co-owner of LM Studios, and K'Kio Hardin, international designer/art director.

"My purpose for spearheading this event is to put a fashion spotlight on Detroit and create a venue that fills the needs of many locally based designers and the Detroit fashion community," says Faris, who will show two of his lines at the event.

The two-day event will include 12 fashion shows by premier designers, a VIP private reception, an Afterglow bash with top-name rock concert and "Made In Michigan" product displays. Each day's admission ticket includes six fashion shows, gift bags, a souvenir guidebook/lookbook and other fun surprises.

Situated between the dates of New York Fashion Week and LA Fashion Week, Fashion In Detroit will feature top models showcasing the best designs of Spring 2010 on a 60-foot runway in a spacious tent with VIP seating, risers and standing room for 500 guests. StyleLine's Karen Buscemi will host the event, with music by some of the hottest artists from Detroit.

In addition to creating a sensational fashion event, the FID executive committee wants to help make a difference for Michigan. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to a local charity, plus a grant will be presented to one local fashion designer. Recognition will also be given to one person who has made a difference in the Detroit fashion community, with a donation in his or her name presented to the Detroit Zoo.

For more information, to learn about sponsorship and advertising opportunities or to see the updated designer list, visit www.fashionindetroit.com, call 248.723.9770 or email info@fashionindetroit.com. 

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