Things to Do: St. Jude Gourmet Gala

Recently, I was invited to attend the upcoming 14th Annual St. Jude Gourmet Gala which is being held on February 21, 2012 from 5:30 - 9:30PM at the National Building Museum.

I've heard so many great things about the event in the past and have always wanted to participate, but couldn't for one reason or another. Looks like this year I will finally have a chance.

If you're not familiar with the St. Jude Gourmet Gala, please see below for more information, as obtained from their press release.

Led by Honorary Chair and Chef Geoff Tracy, more than 40 top chefs from the area’s finest restaurants will lend their culinary skills to create a memorable experience for more than 750 business, financial and political leaders.

“It’s an honor to share our talents at an event that will help St. Jude find answers to save the lives of countless children,” said Tracy. “On a lighter note, the gala presents the perfect setting for collaboration among some of the industry’s best and a friendly competition to produce the perfect dish.

Attendees will vote for their favorite dish of the evening to determine which chef is the winner of the Taster’s Choice Award. Last year’s award recipient was Chef Scott Drewno from The Source by Wolfgang Puck who prepared spicy tuna tartare-filled sesame miso cones with shaved bonito and tobiko. Additionally, guests may choose to participate in live and silent auctions, featuring items such as a trip to Memphis to tour St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

To date, the St. Jude Gourmet Gala has raised approximately $3 million for the hospital, which opened its doors 50 years ago. St. Jude relies primarily on the public’s generosity to support its lifesaving mission. It costs $1.7 million to operate the hospital every day, with more than 75 percent of that funding coming from the public through fundraising events like the Gourmet Gala. And in keeping with its mission, families never pay St. Jude for anything. St. Jude covers the cost of treatment, travel, lodging and food for each patient and a family member.

Below are some of my faves who are participating in the gala:

Brasserie Beck, Cakelove, Estadio, Founding Farmers, Graffiato, Indique, Michel Richard's Citronelle, Sou’Wester, Taberna del Alabardero, Zaytinya

For more information, to become a sponsor, and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.stjude.org/gourmetgala.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stjudemidatlantic
Twitter: @StJudeGourmet

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering research and treatment of children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The hospital’s research has helped push overall survival rates for childhood cancer from less than 20 percent when the institution opened to almost 80 percent today. It is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children, and no family ever pays St. Jude for care. For more information, visit www.stjude.org and follow St. Jude on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

National Building Museum

401 F Street, NW
Washington, D.C.

Things to Do: College & Career Pathways Happy Hour

A friend just sent this to me and of course I had to spread the word. Who doesn't love happy hour, especially ones for a good cause?

College and Career Pathways' 2nd Annual New Year's Fundraising Event!
Friday, January 27, 2012
5:30 - 8:30 PM
Jin Lounge

They will be celebrating the new year by having fun and raising funds for the students of College and Career Pathways! You can look forward to an evening of great music, networking, appetizer and drink specials, and yet another exciting raffle with great prizes! Please spread the word and bring a friend (or two)!

Suggested minimum donation for admission is a tax-deductible contribution of only $10 to College and Career Pathways. Your donation will help to supply the staffing, resources, and materials necessary for us to provide students with academic advisement and tutoring, college campus tours, workshops, job shadowing experiences, scholarships and much more!

Purchase your tickets in advance by clicking here
For more information about the organization, visit http://www.collegeandcareerpathways.org.

Jin Lounge
2017 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 2009
http://www.jindc.com/

Things to Do: 1K Wine Walk

Just came across a weekend event called the 1K Wine & Beer Walk and had to share. Unfortunately, I'll be away on a ski trip for the wine walk, so please have a glass, or two, in my honor. Cheers! See below for more information.

1K Wine & Beer Walk

January 14 & 15 (Wine) - $40
January 21 & 22 (Beer) - $35

Calling all athletes and couch-potatoes alike! Cross the start line into the shops of Crystal City and rest your weary legs periodically at our hydration stations along the race course- but you won’t find any sports drinks or bananas here- just beer and wine! With 30 + beers & wines to choose from before the finish line, spend your Saturday or Sunday walking with friends along the indoor, shops of Crystal City.

Choose heats starting every half hour from 2:00 to 5:30 PM and make your way through the race course in the Shops at Crystal City with your 20 tasting tickets while snacking on cheese, bread and more to keep those muscles working. Best part, each racer receives a1K Race Tee Shirt! Remember...no running please

To learn more about this event and to purchase your tickets, click here.
***Note several of the times are already sold out so if you're interested, you should act fast.

Crystal City Shops
http://thecrystalcityshops.com/

Things to Do: FREE Play Two Gents --> Sunday 1/8

Happy New Year! Hope your holidays were as great as mine.

If you don't have anything planned this weekend, you should take a trip to see The Shakespeare Theatre Company's newest play, The Two Gents of Verona. They are hosting 2 open rehearsals, which of course means they're FREE. The play is scheduled to run January 17 - March 4, 2012, but this is your chance to see it before everyone else, plus it's free.

Here's a brief description of the play, "...Directed by PJ Paparelli, a bold staging of Shakespeare’s classic play of excess, young love and shape-shifting selves." Sounds interesting, right?

For more information about the play visit:
http://tinyurl.com/savvy0106b

The Two Gentlemen of Verona - Open Rehearsal
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Seatings: 2:30PM & 3:50PM
Cost: FREE (seating is first come, first served)

Lansburgh Theatre
450 7th Street NW
Washington, DC
202.547.1122

Things to Do: Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

I know it's been a while since I posted anything, please forgive my absence. What can I say, life has been hectic but I promise to get back into the swing of things in the new year.

But anywho, last weekend I went to and participated in my very first Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. I'd heard people joke about them but didn't know anyone who had gone to one. When my friend invited me to one that a group of his friends were hosting, I had no idea what to expect.

Prior to the night's festivities, I have to say it was quite challenging to find an ugly sweater. If I would've had more notice, I definitely would have scoured eBay for their worst offenders. Instead, I figured I'd try my luck looking at places like Ross, TJ Maxx, Old Navy, and Burlington Coat Factory, you would think they would have some ugly Christmas sweaters, but they didn't. Finally, I gave in and went to a local thrift store. Within a matter of minutes of browsing the sweater selection I found my perfect ugly sweater.

When I met up with the group, there were nothing but laughs. They began the evening with a White Elephant exchange, then headed to Clarendon for dinner and ended the night in the basement of Eleventh Street Lounge where they played mainly old school rap and hip-hop, who knew? Our ugly sweater crew definitely made us stand out among the crowd and everyone was so amused by our outfits. Mission accomplished!

Check out the photos we took over the course of an evening while wearing our collectively ugly sweaters. A great time was had by all and I look forward to stepping up my ugly sweater game next year.

Things to Do: Shakespeare Theatre's 'Much Ado About Nothing'

Just passing along some information...

Join the STC for its second Young Prose Night of the season on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 7:30PM! See a performance of the romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing, and mingle at a preshow reception sponsored by On Tap Magazine and Blue Moon beer.

About the show: Everyone can see that Beatrice and Benedick are meant for each other except Beatrice and Benedick. Hero and Claudio, themselves newly betrothed, conspire to trick them into announcing their feelings and falling for each other. Meanwhile, a bitter and troublesome Don John schemes to destroy Claudio and Hero’s engagement by besmirching Hero’s honor.

Tickets: $20 for those 35 years of age and younger for the pre-show party on 12/14 and $15 for other nights.

To purchase tickets, call 202.547.1122 or visit http://ShakespeareTheatre.org and use promo code 'PROSE'.

Sidney Harman Hall
610 F Street NW
Washington, DC 20004
202.547.1122