Partygoers wait on the "green" carpet.

What: Second Annual Fashion for Paws hosted by the Washington Humane Society

Where: Italian Embassy

When: 7 PM to midnight (the after-party continued at K Street Lounge)

Ticket price: Standing room $65, VIP tickets (seated) $110, table service beginning at $600

Attire: Runway chic

Who: Style gurus, journalists, designers, nonprofit heads, and other Washington elite came out to socialize and strut their style for needy canines. Former NBA player and US congressman Tom McMillen towered over the crowd. Philippe Cousteau, president and cofounder of Earth Eco International, made a runway appearance, as did Fox 5’s Steve Chenevey and The Hill’s Jackie Kucinich. Washington Examiner gossip columnist Jeff Dufour walked the runway with Jayne Sandman, associate publisher of Capitol File. Stylist Lana Orloff and Paul Wharton, producer of fashion and style segments on Fox 5, also modeled for the benefit. Pamela Brown, general assignment reporter for ABC News, hosted and modeled in the event.

The scene: Forget the red carpet. A green Astroturf carpet, spotted with red fire hydrants, made the entrance easy on guests’ paws (although, aside from modeling dogs, furry friends weren’t allowed). Once inside, guests received an extra piece of jewelry—a colored paw-print bracelet indicating where they could view the fashion show. Past the Italian guards and metal detectors, standing tables and bright orange-pink lights dazzled guests. Table centerpieces included large orchid-lined structures and donation boxes plus cards indicating “Save the Date” for the Washington Humane Society’s next event: the Bark Ball on June 7. Stylish, tan, and young, the crowd networked and mingled across the linoleum floors and at the four full bars and silent-auction table located in opposite corners of the room. Champagne was the drink of choice, and guests sported bold, round-framed glasses, matching ties and handkerchiefs, and plenty of bare shoulders and backs. Grass-green, sunny yellow, and teal hues dominated cocktail dresses and the light sports jackets worn by guests and models. The look that drew the most attention? Anyone carrying a dozing pit-bull/Labrador-mix puppy that passed among guests throughout the evening.

Rob Miler, who won a $950 autographed guitar, poses with Loretta DeLuca

What: Fifth Annual Blue Jeans Ball to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank

Where: Marriott Wardman Park

When: Tuesday, April 8, from 6 to 10pm

Ticket price: $150 a person

Attire: Blue jeans!

Who: Hundreds of denim-clad Washingtonians turned out with their appetites and checkbooks for the Capital Area Food Bank’s annual benefit. Thirty restaurants were on hand with their chefs—including Central Michel Richard’s Cedric Maupillier and Restaurant K’s Alison Swope—to serve up delicious bite-size treats. Bill Marriott worked the crowd—he was there to accept an award for service to the organization—as did Kathleen Matthews, Marriott International’s executive vice president and wife of MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews (the Hardball host wasn’t there). Other notable guests: Donna Brazile, Democratic political strategist; Congressmen Bart Stupak and John Sarbanes; Frank Guzzetta, former CEO of Macy’s northern group and Hecht’s department stores; and political satirist Mark Russell.

Scene: The theme was—well—denim, and it set the mood for a fun, casual gathering, a welcome change from the typical black-tie affairs. Guests were greeted by a cocktail reception and silent auction in the foyer from 6 to 7 before being ushered into the main room for dinner and dancing. Restaurants set up tables around the perimeter, and guests helped themselves to small plates. Some guests, who purchased tables, sat to eat, but most were content to stand and mingle while eating. Canned music was pumped through the sound system, but the dance floor remained empty.

What: Caron Butler’s 28th-birthday party

Where: The Park at Fourteenth (920 14th St., NW)

When: Thursday, March 13, 8 PM to 2 AM

Who: Caron Butler celebrated with his entire squad, including superstar Gilbert Arenas, seven-footer Oleksiy Pecherov, and head coach Eddie Jordan. They were joined by Carmen Electra, Kim Kardashian (hey, Butler was traded from LA, remember?), and NFL players Jason Campbell, Ray Lewis, LaVar Arrington, and Vernon Davis.

Pickup line of the night: This conversation between the elevator attendant and a random young lady was overheard in the Park’s elevator:
Young lady: “Phew, it’s a lot nicer in this elevator than it is out there.”
Elevator attendant: “You can stay in here all night if you’d like.”

Photographs by Jim Folliard, Gearshift Productions LLC 

What: A black-tie gathering to watch the Academy Awards

Where: The Westin Grand, 2350 M St., NW

When: Sunday, February 24, 6:30 PM

Who: A slew of unrecognizable Washington VIPs. (Hey, VIP in Washington doesn’t always mean you look familiar.) The most awesome person we met: James McCarthy, president and CEO of the Snack Food Association. Now, that’s a fun business card.

Scene: After a welcome from “Joan Rivers” (the lucky were pulled onto a mini-stage for a sham interview), guests walked down the red carpet into one spectacularly decorated room after another. Setup had begun Thursday to transform the Westin’s breakfast nook, outdoor courtyard (tented for the event), and more into rooms representing each movie nominated for Best Picture. Some were straightforward—a giant wooden oil rig loomed in the center of the There Will Be Blood room—and others more abstract (the Juno room sported hot-pink fur-covered stools that only a teenager would buy). Speakers played each movie’s soundtrack, which drew us into the Juno area for a good chunk of the night. But no matter where you perched, you could see at least one screen broadcasting the real red carpet and award presentations. After a few hours of mingling, people actually sat to watch.

What: The Washington Press Club Foundation’s 64th annual fundraising dinner for the press, politicos, and the folks who love them.

Where: The Ritz-Carlton in the West End

When: Wednesday, February 13, from 6:30 PM until late.

Who: A who’s who of the Washington press corps and media types, along with various politicians (Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnell) and a crowd of whoever paid for a ticket to get in. MSNBC’s Chris Matthews stepped in as a last-minute emcee replacement for Tony Snow, who was stuck at home with the flu. Plus Miss America (standing out in a short red dress in the sea of black gowns), and a couple of actors from HBO’s critically acclaimed series The Wire. Oh, and Ted Danson. No, we don’t know why, either.

Food: Light salad, filet mignon accompanied by a risotto dollop, pastries, and the winner—a sundae bar at the after-party, complete with cherries and bananas Foster.

Drink: Open bar with standard cocktails. Our Manhattan was particularly good. Red and white wines were served at dinner.

All photos by Chris Leaman.

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That’s what more than 200 Washingtonians did last night, braving the frigid weather to attend a 50th-anniversary Grammy bash hosted by the DC chapter of the Recording Academy. The night started out slow, with a less-than-stellar head count for the 7 PM reception, but as the awards telecast got under way, the place filled up steadily.

A silent auction—which included electric guitars signed by Angie Stone and the members of Def Leopard—drew some interested bidders, but the highlight of the evening seemed to be the free food and drinks and, of course, the dozens of TVs and a large projection screen playing the awards show live. Partygoers sipped Haywood Merlot and golden-pear martinis—Absolut pear vodka, apple juice, and ginger ale—while servers passed around barbecue-chicken skewers, miniature pulled-pork sandwiches, bruschetta, and tiny quiches. One buffet station featured carving stations, steamed broccoli and garlic mashed potatoes; the other—which seemed more popular, judging by the lines—served make-your-own pasta dishes, with a variety of sauces, meats, and veggies to choose from.

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Teachers from across the area got the celebrity treatment Friday night at the NEA Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Gala. A red carpet welcomed guests to the Building Museum while “paparazzi”—local high-school students armed with cameras and above-average lung capacities—lined the entrance.

“We want them to feel special tonight,” said NEA president Reg Weaver. “They work hard, and this is their night.”

The night took on a n Oscars vibe as more than 50 awards were given to the nation’s best educators. The top prize? The $25,000 NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence, given to one of five finalists—all public-school teachers.

Minnesota first-grade teacher Lynette Wayne was awarded the coveted prize, and the remaining finalists, including Herndon High School political-science teacher Doug Graney, beamed as they were individually announced, congratulated, and awarded $10,000 checks courtesy of the Horace Mann Companies. (Wayne also received a separate $10,000 check.)