September is gala month; here are four great ones: PEN/Faulkner, Lone Sailor Awards, Holy Cross Hospital, and Black Caucus.

In celebration of the Black Caucus, we went to the Corcoran to party and preview the new 30 Americans exhibit. We saw The Root's Joel Dreyfuss and Donna Byrd and Spotted MP's Maurisa Potts.

We snapped TV One’s Washington Watch anchor Roland Martin surrounded by the Corcoran’s Rachel Cothran, Kristin Guiter, Eileen Kennedy, and Melanie Kimmelman. At left: FL House of Reps Deputy Whip Alan Williams.

The exhibit is so new that the museum hadn't finished the descriptions of the paintings on the wall. It’s free through the end of the month, so we hope everyone checks it out.

Guests could choose among three signature cocktails; we were a fan of The Root. Here, Vox Global SVP Corey Ealons, wife EPA's Dru Elons, and DNC’s Rick Wade.

Monday night the PEN/Faulkner gala was held at the Folger Shakespeare Library, as a diverse group of authors read from their books in the Shakespeare Theatre, followed by drinks in the Great Hall and an elegant black tie dinner for 250 in the Reading Room. Here, education philanthropist and CityBridge founder Katherine Bradley is with her husband, entrepreneur and media mogul (National Journal, Atlantic) David Bradley.

Proceeds go to the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and the Writers in Schools program. Here, former CPSC chief Ann Brown, gala co-chair Mary Haft, PEN/Faulkner Board EVP Willee Lewis, and former Chief of Protocol Molly Raiser. Ann announced a generous matching gift from her and husband Donald, and surprised the crowd by saying it was to honor Willee for her tireless work for the foundation for 30 years and her “long-suffering husband Finlay.” Thanks James Brantley for these photos.

PEN/Faulkner co-chair Sen Thad Cochran is with (from right to left) his friend Kay Webber, his daughter Kate Cochran—a college prof who flew in from Mississippi for the gala—and her former colleague now at Georgetown Molly Clark-Hilliard.

Saturday we went to the Marriott Wardman Park for the Holy Cross Hospital Gala benefiting the hospital’s two big new construction projects. We snapped the hospital’s CEO Kevin Sexton with its foundation trustee and gala co-chair Vandana Trehan.

Holy Cross Hospital is building a new 93-bed full-service acute care hospital on the Germantown Campus of Montgomery College, MoCo’s first new hospital in 35 years, and a new seven-story patient tower with 150 beds on their current campus in Silver Spring. Here, its foundation exec director Dan Studnicky with WUSA9’s and emcee JC Hayward.

Guests dined and danced, following a reception and silent auction featuring 100 terrific items, like trips to Tuscany and Lake Como. Here: King & Spalding’s Elizabeth King with husband, WilmerHale’s Andrew King.

Picard Kentz & Rowe’s Andrew Kentz and Microbionetics’ Tom Russo.

Military formal dress outranked black tie at the Lone Sailor Awards gala at the Building Museum Thursday night to celebrate the Navy Memorial’s honorees. One was actor Beau Bridges, here with his wife Wendy, who also represented his brother Jeff and late father Lloyd (all 3 were in the Coast Guard).

Admiral Ted Walker, head of the Navy Memorial, is with award recipients C-Span’s Brian Lamb (Navy) and baseball great Jerry Coleman (Marines).

The award is given to sea service veterans who’ve excelled in their civilian careers while exemplifying Navy core values: courage, honor, commitment. Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, here with his wife Lynne, congratulated the winners.

Caitlin Byrnes and Mary Kate Rasa contributed to this issue.

Wednesday, September 28 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM, DCYRs Happy Hour at Biergarten Haus,1355 H St NE. Network, eat, drink, info.  

Wednesday, September 28 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM, Diamonds & Denim at the Lost Society, 2001 14th St NW. $13, must rsvp.  

Wednesday, September 28 starting at 12:40 PM, DC celebrates National Literacy Month with saxophonist Ski Johnson at Marie Reed Community Learning Center, 18th & Chaplain St, NW. info.

Wednesday, September 28 sundown to Thursday, September 29 sundown: Rosh Hashanah. Happy New Year!

Thursday, September 29 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM, the Gift of Hope l Charity Event at Busboys and Poets, U St at 2021 14th St NW. $25, RSVP Required – info.

Thursday, September 29 from 8:00 - 11:00 PM, FFP at The Gibson, 2009 14th St NW. Support Fashion Fights Poverty, watch Jon Harris speak about mixology while pouring cocktails. $15, RSVP Required - info.

Thursday, September 29 starting at 7:00 PM, Viva Chile! Latin American Food & Wine Festival at Caribbean Breeze, 4100 Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA. Enjoy Latin events, food, and music - $40/advanced $60/door, info.

Friday, September 30 from 6:30 – 10:30 PM, Runway Moms for a Cause, presented by L~Shandi, at the Embassy of Nigeria, 3519 International Ct. NW. $100 or $150/VIP, info

Friday, September 30 from 12:00 – 9:00 PM, Stuff a Truck at Truckeroo, Half St. SE. Bring a canned donation from home or buy produce from the virtual store at the bus.   info.

Friday, September 30 from 7:00 - 11:00 PM, The Great Gatsby Prohibition Party at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 1615 H St. NW. Prohibition cocktails and a performance by Washington Ballet dancers. $175, info.

Friday, September 30 from 6:00 - 8:30 PM, join the Fitness Walk of DC’s Circles and Squares, starting at Thomas Circle Park, 14th and M St. NW. Tour DC’s unusual parks and landmarks. Free, info. 

 Friday, September 30 at 7:30PM, Thomas Shelton: HAIR XPLOSION, showcasing his 2011 hair creations with live models and music at L2 Lounge, 3315 Cady's Alley NW. $15 suggested donation, portions supports Whitman-Walker Clinic, info. 

Saturday, October 1 from 11:00 - 4:00 PM, Taste of Bethesda 2011 in Downtown Bethesda, Norfolk & Woodmont Ave., info.

Saturday, October 1 from 12:00 - 5:00 PM, Thai Village in Georgetown at The Royal Thai Embassy, 1024 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Food, drinks and free cultural performances. Free, info.

Saturday, October 1 from 5:00 - 10:00 PM, Structure of Sprit – Design of the Heart reception at the American Institute of Architects National HQ 1735 New York Ave. NW. Free, info.

Saturday, October 1 from 6:00 - 10:00 PM, the 2011 Latin Fashion Gala Awards, benefits United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation at Washington Marriott at Metro Center, 775 12th St NW. $150, info

Saturday, October 1 from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, the DC State Fair in the Craft Food Market area of Crafty Bastards at Marie Reed Elementary, 2200 Champlain St. NW. Free, info.

Sunday, October 2 from 10:00 - 5:00 PM, the 2011 Takoma Park Folk Festival at Carroll Ave., Takoma Park. Enjoy music, artisans, community groups, children's activities and food vendors. Free, info.

Sunday, October 2, 1:30-3:30 PM, Art + Coffee: Luce Unplugged with Amy K. Bormet at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th & F St. NW. Art talk followed by performances. Free, info.

Sunday, October 2 from 8:00 - 10:00 PM, enjoy performances at the Local Music Showcase hosted by Future of Music Coalition at IOTA Club & Café, 2832 Wilson Blvd, Arlington. Free, info.

Thursday, October 6 from 6:30 – 9:30 PM, join the Rachael’s Women’s Center for its Annual Silent Auction Gala at The Warner Building, 1299 Pennsylvania Ave. Heavy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, entertainment and 100 auction items to bid on. $60/young professionals, $80/advance, $100/door, info. 

Thursday, October 13 beginning at 6:30 PM, The Higher Achievement Program announces The fourth annual GoingPlaces! Gala at The Warner Theater, 1299 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. $250, includes dinner and dancing - info.

Friday, October 14 beginning at 6:30 PM, The Meridian International Center presents the 43rd annual Meridian Ball, 1630 Crescent Place NW. Black tie - $450-$650, info.

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