Body Art!

Last night, we went to Crystal Couture, a free fashion extravaganza in Crystal City, going on for the next two weeks. Models dazzled on the runway while onlookers enjoyed beer and Z Pizza at “Tat Tuesday.” Want to know what that means? Read on!

Belladonna, who awed guests with her belly dancing; DJ Heather Femia; President of Crystal City BID Angie Fox; and Vornado’s Mitch Bonanno wait for the body art fashion show set to the beats of Heather’s hot house music.

Wow! Models, painted by artists Kim Reyes and Roger Riggles, posed on platforms throughout the space. This peacock-inspired model was one of the night’s biggest hits. We can’t wait for Wedding Wednesday tonight! For a complete list of Crystal Couture events, see ad to right.

SEIU’s Valarie Bachelor and Maralyn O’Brien get matching henna tattoos drawn by Rachana. Unfortunately, they didn’t win the best tattoo contest; that went to a woman whose tattoo took 16 hours!

Turner Construction’s Joel Causey and Arlington’s Synetic Theater CEO Paata Tsikurishvili enjoyed scenes from the show, Dante; tantalizing teases from it were performed during the evening. If you want to catch it: Rosslyn’s Spectrum Theatre through March 21. 

We dropped by Skye Lounge after Bisnow's Valentine's party Friday night to see how the fundraising was going for Luke's Wings. Front row: Stefanny Geo, co-founders Fletcher Gill and Sarah Wingfield, and The Scene Bisnow reporter Makeda Saggau-Sackey. Behind them: Patrick Ryan and Patrick Rien. Standing: friends who flew in from California, Justin Barnes, Jesse Woodhull, Jeff Jones, and Joey Borrelli, Besides raising money, they raised a toast: it was Sarah’s birthday!

The young professionals group of So Others Might Eat threw a gala at the Corcoran Friday night. Here, Jones Lang’s Jonathan Walk, Jane’s Matt Donohue, Georgetown Law Student Brad Laken and Array Info Tech’s Narges Gheissari partied for a cause.

Attorney Gina Jun, on the gala host committee, and O’Keefe’s Olivia Malloy lit up the room in orange.

Mary Huff, CB Richard Ellis’ Wright Sigmund and Man-Machine’s Lilly Harris take a break from dancing to music from Sick Feed.

American Contracting’s Reggie Godin and Polsinelli Shughart’s Jordan Haas were about to hit the dance floor.

Tonight, Wednesday, Feb 18, 6:00-9:00 PM, Come to a Happy Hour at Mate, 3101 K St. for DC Scores, an after-school program that emphasizes homework and soccer, to learn about the March 12th Soccer Ball. 

There are a number of terrific galas coming up – we’ve been to many of them over the years, and they are exactly what everyone should support: great events for worthy causes:

This Friday Feb 20, 7:00 PM, Reflections of the Spirit Ball at the Ritz Carlton Tysons to benefit Catholic Charities. $300 includes dinner. 703-937-3988

This Saturday Feb 21, 8:00-12:00 PM, Black and White Ball is a swing dance party to benefit the Childrens' Inn at NIH. Cocktails, dance lessons from 8:30-9:00 and entertainment at the Woman’s Club in Chevy Chase, 7931 Connecticut Ave., $25. 703 864 7070 www.jwccc.org

This Saturday Feb 21, 8:00 – 12:00PM, Casino Night to benefit the Kidney Foundation, with casino games, music, silent auction, cocktails and dessert, at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave., $110. 202 244-7900

Next Thursday Feb 26, 7:30-11:00 PM, Artrageous Annual Gala at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and F Streets, buffet dinner, live music and dancing, $125. 202-633-4550 or www.americanart.si.edu.

Next Saturday Feb 28, Annual Heart Ball at the Ritz Carlton Tysons. Black tie, seated dinner, live music and dancing by Retrospect, auction items including dinner for 10 with the French Ambassador or dinner cooked at your home by chef Robert Wiedmaier, $750. 703.248.1717 or http://ahaheartgala.com. 

Next Saturday Feb 28, 7:00 – 12:00 PM, Monte Carlo Night with cocktails, casino games, Texas hold ‘em tournament, silent auction and entertainment to benefit the Children’s National Medical Center at the Ritz Carlton DC, $250. 240-482-8112

Saturday March 7, 6:00 PM for silent auction and cocktails, then dinner and dancing at 8:00 PM. Annual Georgetown Pediatrics Gala at the Omni Shoreham, $400. 202-510-9703 or http://pediatricsgala.georgetown.edu

Saturday March 7, 6:00 PM, Thirty-fourth Annual WPA Art Auction Gala at the Katzen Center at American University, 4000 Massachusetts Ave., cocktail reception, seated dinner, silent auction of more than 100 original works of art, and entertainment, $300. 202-234-7103x4 or aatkinson@wpadc.org

The Scene Bisnow reporters Vanessa Meccarielli, Makeda Saggau-Sackey and Kristina D’Ambrosio contributed to this issue.

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