France’s Opera Ball Fairytale This year’s Opera Ball at the French Residence, which raised $1.8 million for the Washington National Opera, was not just a place to have dessert and dance after the pre-ball diplomatic dinners around town. It was a show in and of itself — a light show in fact. The French mastermind behind the fantastical evening was Julien Pavillard, artistic director of the Fête des Lumières, a festival of lights enjoyed by 4 million people each year in Lyon, France. His successes also include the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and other major events around the world. Mourka Glogowski, his partner in life and work, helped to create the “street theater” scene for this year’s Opera Ball, with singers in extravagant costumes and a lighted swimming pool that resembled a space station. Another favorite was the lit crystal chandeliers hanging from the huge trees in the residence’s side garden, as well as the fashionable silhouettes decorating the front windows. Of course, the outdoor ballroom’s bounty of crêpe chefs was a delicious complement to the elaborate lighting, as were the peach confections that were unbelievable to the eye and palate. Along with this entire lighted fantasia, diplomatic florist Fred Paras created a forest of stunning flowers that perfectly embellished the already handsome French Residence, a chateau-like property in the heart of Kalorama. French Ambassador Pierre Vimont greeted hundreds of guests, while his head chef Bertrand Bellengier, assisted by Christophe Tanneau, showed the black-tie crowd just how inventive French cuisine can be. Also, bravo to Susan and Samuel Lehrman and Michael and Linda Sonnenreich, who chaired the glorious evening, and kudos to the dedicated staff at the French Residence who know how to handle such a big show with grace. Diplomatic florist extraordinaire Fred Paras puts the finishing touches on the floral entrance for the 2008 Opera Ball at the French Residence, which was hosted by French Ambassador Pierre Vimont, pictured on the front page with one of the evening's elaborately costumed performers. Photos: Gail Scott Bark Ball Has New ‘Ambassadog’ It’s not every night that you can put on a black tie and go out and vote — with your dog! But that’s just what the Washington Humane Society invited dog lovers to do at the very political 21st Annual Bark Ball held at the Renaissance Washington Hotel on June 7. Under the guidance of the Humane Society’s Anissa Grossman and her family pet Bart, this year’s festivities attracted 621 patrons and 400 dogs, raising more than $270,000 to make this year’s ball the most financially successful ever in the Washington Humane Society’s history. To the obvious dismay of the mostly Democratic human audience, their canine friends voted mostly Republican by choosing a wheat-and-honey elephant cookie over the Democratic donkey cookie, which had the same size and flavor as the Republican version during the “Pet Primary.” “I am ashamed of my pooch,” said one important Washingtonian, “I took him back to vote four times and he still chose the elephant!” D.C. City Councilman Jack Evans was there along with his triplet childrnand their favorite Golden Retriever, Kelly. “If you want a friend in Washington,” Evans told the phalanx of reporters, “get a dog.” He then announced, proudly, “Kelly voted Democrat, of course!” Along with this year’s political theme, the Bark Ball had a new diplomatic guest: Ambassador of Monaco Gilles Noghès and his American-born wife Ellen, who was fully occupied holding onto Maestro, which they called their “ambassadog.” Maestro is a handsome Lagotto Romagnolo, the famous Italian “truffle” dog breed that used to hunt the precious delicacy in the forest. “Monaco has a long tradition of a humane society,” the ambassador said. “Prince Rainier’s sister, Princess Antoinette, has been a lasting force to make sure our animals are treated humanely. And knowing that this Bark Ball is to help protect pets in Washington, it makes us very happy to be here and participate.” The Noghès will serve as the ball’s honorary diplomatic chairs next year, so start creating a black-tie outfit for your favorite diplomatic doggie. Along with a silent auction of the usual doggie portraits and fancy carriers, man’s best friends enjoyed gourmet bars by Doggie Style Bakery. The display looked so good, often a pet owner was seen taking a nibble. At the vegetarian dinner in the ballroom, doggies were under the table, sitting in chairs, obediently sleeping or checking out the cute “bitch” at the neighboring table. The variety of dogs was also astounding: Everything from Great Danes to Chihuahuas to pedigree show dogs to the Humane Society’s lovable mixed breeds. The funniest moment came during the Humane Society’s video, which showed, of all things, homeless cats! As if in organized protest, every dog in the ballroom immediately started howling. Well, it’s not the “Bark Ball” for nothing. Presenters included NBC political reporter David Gregory, who, with three little children at home, has no dog at the moment but grew up with a series of English Sheep dogs, dubbed Rocky 1, 2 and 3. “There is some evidence that the pets of our politicians have more conventional wisdom than their two-legged owners,” Gregory told the panting audience. “Hearsay is that [Barack] Obama is thinking about getting a family dog.” He added: “At least if you’re the lucky dog in the White House, you get a lot of room to pee and you get a personal attendant. [Bush] W’s dogs, Barney and Spot, are very well suited because they are ‘portable dogs’ — ready to fly away at a moment’s notice.” Upcoming events for the Washington Humane Society include the Third Annual Walk for the Animals on Oct. 5 sponsored by the Washington Humane Society and the Humane Society of the United States. Also watch out for the Washington Humane Society’s upcoming Sugar and Champagne Evening, when you can bring your dog, sip champagne and sample incredible desserts prepared by some of this city’s best pastry chefs. Ambassador of Monaco Gilles Noghès and his wife Ellen pose with their dog Maestro, which they describe as Monaco’s “ambassadog,” at the 21st Annual Bark Ball hosted by the Washington Humane Society. Photos: Gail Scott Record Number of Diplomats Race for the Cure More embassies than ever before participated in this year’s Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure to fight breast cancer in downtown Washington on June 7. A total of 31 embassy teams joined U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and more than 40,000 runners for the annual race, which grossed nearly $5 million toward breast cancer research, education and treatment. In addition to the embassy teams — which included ambassadors, diplomats and their spouses and children — the number of congressional teams (33) participating in this year’s race also broke previous records. But for diplomats in particular, this race had special meaning because Nancy Brinker, founder of the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Race for the Cure, is a former ambassador to Hungary who’s the U.S. chief of protocol, serving as foreign diplomats’ main liaison at the State Department. Twenty-five years ago, Brinker began the foundation in memory of her sister Susan, who died of breast cancer at the age of 36. Today, the foundation and its annual race are famous around the world for helping to raise awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection. In fact, the Race for the Cure is now run in more than 100 U.S. cities and abroad in Germany, Puerto Rico and Italy. “There are very, very few who have not been touched in some way by breast cancer,” said Secretary of State Rice — whose mother was diagnosed with the disease in 1970 — before she led the large crowd in warm-up exercises. Rice wasn’t the only high-profile racer at the Saturday event. “Sex in the City” actress Cynthia Nixon joined Brinker at the Parade of Pink pre-race ceremony. Nixon was also one of the 3,500 breast cancer survivors who ran in the 5K race that day. “We are very proud that we are giving $35 million to the Washington, D.C. area,” Brinker noted of the funds raised by the race. “Seventy-five percent of the proceeds of today’s race will stay in the community to benefit women and families of women who are medically underserved." Front page: U.S. Chief of Protocol Nancy Brinker, who also founded the Susan G. Komen for the Cure in honor of her sister, kicks off the Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure in downtown Washington, which drew more than 40,000 people, including a record 31 embassy teams, such as the team from Sweden pictured above. Front page photo: Courtesy of the Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure Innocents At Risk Gets Help From Colombia The first choice of many Washington charities and nonprofits is usually to hold their annual event in an embassy. But often, that doesn’t mean there is any meaningful connection between the organization and the country. But the second annual Innocents at Risk Gala, held at the Colombian Residence with the open-armed support of Ambassador Carolina Barco, was a perfect match to tell the story of how Debbie Sigmund’s young organization has already raised awareness about the global trafficking of women and children. Admittedly, Colombia is no stranger to the scourge of female trafficking, but the country is also now a model for finding solutions to this worldwide problem. In fact, Colombia is a “Tier 1 Nation” that complies with U.S. standards for eliminating trafficking, making it the only Latin America country with the distinction. Interpol estimates profits of $500 million in the trafficking of 50,000 Colombian women and children, making the country second only to the Dominican Republic in the Western Hemisphere for human trafficking. To combat the problem, Colombia has instituted prevention campaigns, law enforcement promotion, a criminal database, and facilitating intra-government cooperation. “I will speak from my heart tonight,” said Ambassador Barco, Colombia’s former foreign minister and a mother of three daughters. “For the [Foreign] Ministry, this has been one of our most difficult issues. This is a case where our most vulnerable citizens get hurt the most. But we found great support in the United States … and now we are actively prosecuting the predators.” She ended by reminding everyone, “We all are worth a lot, but we don’t have a price.” Other ambassadors in attendance included envoys and spouses from Afghanistan, Canada, Cyprus, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Paraguay and Romania. Innocents at Risk founder Debbie Sigmund could not have been more pleased with the turnout. “Our second gala was successful because we had top guests from the media, the philanthropic community, the corporate world, and not only local government, but the State Department and the Congress. It’s crucial that we all work together, including other NGOs, to create awareness about this outrageous modern day slavery,” she said, noting that the trafficking of women and children is a $32 billion global industry. “As a young girl,” Sigmund recalled, “I used to ask my parents how the entire world let the Jewish people be put in those concentration camps and killed. My parents replied, ‘People really did not know and, if they heard of it, they just couldn’t believe it.’ Today, another horror is happening that is ruining and taking lives and few believe it. Awareness is the first step and action is the second." Innocents at Risk supporters included the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic Flavio Espinal and his wife Minerva, left, and U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Guttierez and his wife Edi attend the second annual gala for Innocents at Risk, a nonprofit that raises awareness and works to combat the sex trafficking of women and children worldwide. Front page: From left, Innocents at Risk Gala co-chair Isabel Ernst, Ambassador of Colombia and diplomatic host Carolina Barco, and Innocents at Risk founder Debbie Sigmund attend the second annual Innocents at Risk Gala at the Colombian Residence. Photos: Gail Scott THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT P.O. Box 1345 Silver Spring, MD 20915-1345 Tel: 301.933.3552 Fax: 301.949.0065 www.washdiplomat.com