We already know that you’re not into maternity clothes. But looking at these totally swollen 7-month pregnant feet is rather painful to see. It might be time to wear some shoes that don’t cut off all circulation in your feet. Just sayin’.

Dozens of D.C.’s finest restaurants showed their support for Food & Friends Monday by whipping up tasty dinners and desserts for its 23rd annual Chef’s Best Dinner and Auction at the Washington Hilton.

The organization, which delivers meals to people with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, put on an event that was packed with people, food and prizes. At the VIP reception, guests perused the Hilton’s Terrace, bidding on dozens of silent auction offerings and sampling hors d’oeuvres from restaurants such as Logan Tavern, Dolci Gelati and Commissary. Although the menu was filled with excellent ceviche and gazpacho dishes, Logan Tavern’s sockeye salmon with wakame, seaweed salmon and tarot chips was one of the highlights.

The main event, held in the Hilton’s vast Intercontinental Ballroom, contained more of the same. Chefs from Firefly, Nage, Pearl Dive Oyster Bar, Rogue 24 and other restaurants presented their dishes, while guests enjoyed them with a generous open bar. We particularly enjoyed the Hilton’s own summer tomato water “Bloody Mary” shooter, along with the National Press Club’s beet and horseradish cured salmon and the Virginia peanut butter mousse cups from Farmers Fishers Bakers.

The main event also featured a live auction with packages like a week in a Hawaii, custom glass artwork and private culinary experiences with the chefs from Meridian Pint and Black Restaurant Group.

Still, the fundraiser tried not to lose sight of the people Food & Friends serves. Guests watched a brief video before the live auction started, which featured some of the people Food & Friends has helped.
“I think what Food & Friends has given me is hope,” said Andrew Jones, one of Food & Friends customers, in the video. To date, the group has helped more than 22,600 children and adults.

ELIMU is the next phase of Many Hopes’ mission to support children’s education in Kenya: university. Equipping those who have suffered the worst with confidence, education, and a network will create a revolution of positive change.

You’re invited to be a part of the revolution. Join us for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres to find out how partnering with Many Hopes can provide opportunity in the life of a girl and a future of justice and fairness for Kenya.

Join Hinge for their inaugural Monthly Mixer on the roof deck at H Street Country Club.

Exclusive Hinge specials going all night, including $3 Miller Lites and Dos Equis, $5 margs, $2 tacos and $2 mini golf. And the Hinge photobooth, powered by SnapDash!

The mixer will also be featured in their app beforehand, so you’ll be able to see which of your potentials have RSVP’d. If you end up matching with another guest, why not plan to meet up there? And feel free to invite any of your friends, just make sure they RSVP to the event on Facebook, and have Hinge downloaded on their phones before they arrive.

One thing to note– H Street Country Club is not a real country club…it’s just a sweet bar and restaurant with mini golf. So, don’t feel pressured to show up in croakies and a popped collar. Alternatively, you certainly may if you feel inclined, but all fashion decisions are toootally up to you.

WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, May 9, the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL)
will host its second annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Ball at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in honor of
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The Ball will feature prominent leaders and advocates of the
Asian Pacific American (APA) community, along with young professionals who are dedicated to public
service. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with peers and community leaders to
commemorate the role of APAs in our nation’s capital.

The event will feature celebrity Master of Ceremonies Brian Yang of Hawaii Five-O; Mayor of Campbell,
California Evan Low; and Doua Thor, executive director of the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center.
The featured individuals were chosen by the organization because of their ongoing commitment to
serving the APA community.

“We’re at a historic moment when Asian Pacific Americans are the fastest growing minority group in
America,” says CAPAL Chair Rebecca Lee. “And CAPAL’s honored to host this annual event where we can
celebrate the role and achievements of APAs and inspire greater civic engagement.”
The event has garnered far-reaching support among community leaders, such as host committee
members Norman Mineta, former Secretary of Commerce; Elaine Chao, former Secretary of Labor; and
Mazie Hirono, the first APA woman elected to the Senate. The proceeds from the Ball will benefit
CAPAL’s internship, scholarship, and career development programs for young APA professionals and
students.

Tickets to the Ball are available to the public at http://www.capal.org/ball until Wednesday, May 8, 11:55pm
EDT.

The Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational
organization dedicated to building leadership and public policy knowledge within the Asian Pacific
American community. Its mission is to promote APA interests and success in public service careers, to
provide information and education on policy issues affecting the community, and to serve the APA
community at large. For more information, visit http://www.capal.org.

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Winners of the Kennedy Awards for Coaching Commitment, Leticia Lacomba and John Guzman, with Amy Nakamoto, right.

The coaches of DC SCORES give a lot to the program, so last Tuesday DC SCORES decided to give back to them. The nonprofit, which runs after-school soccer teams and poetry classes for more than 1,450 low-income D.C. youths, hosted an awards ceremony at the trendy Long View Gallery for its volunteers.

The event, attended by DC SCORES staff and board members, honored the commitment and teamwork displayed by its volunteers over the past year. The winners of the four awards—the Kennedy Awards for Coaching Commitment, the Mingo Roberts Coaching Excellence Award, the Teamwork Awards and the Chris Richardson Community Service Award—all shared an intense passion for working with students and supporting DC SCORES.

“She takes that energy…and love of the game of soccer and translates that to 30 students each day,” said Executive Director Amy Nakamoto of Leticia Lacomba, one of the winners of the Kennedy Awards. Simon Landau, winner of the Chris Richardson Award, even took the time to film a heartfelt acceptance while on the road, because he couldn’t make the event.

The reception also featured performances by two of DC SCORES’ young “poet-atheletes,” DeAndre Walters and Kastenny Contreras, who recited their original poetry. Although they’re both still in elementary school, Contreras and Walters have performed their poems in venues such as the Apollo Theater and the New York Stock Exchange.

When asked why he likes to write poetry, Walters said, “Because it lets me inspire myself without getting angry or making assumptions.”

Before the ceremony, attendees watched a brief video that showed how DC SCORES has influenced the lives of other students. One, Nana, came to the U.S. an angry, disturbed kid. He couldn’t speak English and would often bite and kick other children. Once he started playing soccer through DC SCORES, his behavior and confidence vastly improved. Now, at 16, he works with kids as a soccer coach through the program.

Although working with students can be challenging, it’s this kind of creative and athletic expression that makes DC SCORES so rewarding, both for the coaches and for the students.

“If they don’t behave, they can’t participate,” said Kevin Scott, a DC SCORES coach at C.W. Harris Elementary. “They curb their behavior, because this is something they want to go to.”

DeAndre Walters

Kastenny Contreras

Former DC SCORES coach Mingo Roberts

Guests enjoyed banh mi sandwiches, spring rolls and other Asian cuisine served in cute takeaway boxes.

Left to right: Tom Mason, Jessica Gilbert and Kevin Scott, three DC SCORES coaches at C.W. Harris Elementary.