If you don't see images, click here to view Story Ideas  .  Events  To ensure delivery, please add newsletter@bisnow.com to your address book, learn how     April 23, 2009              Usher! Hey Scene readers, we need your help!  Please take a few minutes to fill out a survey here and you will be automatically entered in a contest to win 4 movie passes to any AMC Theatre!   R & B superstar Usher was in town yesterday, not to further his recording career, but to promote philanthropy. We caught up with him at two different events during National Volunteer Week, a celebration of everyday people making a difference.   We snapped this yesterday at the UN Foundation of Usher with Ryan Allis, the 24 year old founder of iContact, the wonderful firm that sends out our emails to all of you. Usher was talking about his involvement in the UN Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign and his own New Look Foundation.    Here’s Usher on Capitol Hill last night with Senator Orrin Hatch who, along with Senator Ted Kennedy, was given the Points of Light Lifetime of Leadership Award for Volunteerism and Service. To cap it off, yesterday President Obama signed into law the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. Couture for a Cause!   Nadine Namoff, here with members of the DC United fan club, the Screaming Eagles, combines two of her passions: cheering for her husband, DC United player Brian Namoff, and raising awareness and funds to find a cure for Leukemia and Lymphoma – and she’s raised enough money that she’s a candidate for their Woman of the Year. Nadine’s been working to fight the disease since her father died from non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in ‘95.   We snapped this at RFK yesterday, when we went to talk to DC United Soccer players. On May 7 they’ll trade in their cleats and the turf for loafers and a catwalk at K Street’s Peacock Grande Cafe to support Nadine at Couture for a Cure, when some of Washington’s hottest (we mean as players, of course) strut on the runway. DC United midfielder Santino Quaranta and defenders Rodney Wallace and Brian Namoff, Nadine’s husband, told us they’re happy to give back to the community.   Midfielders Chris Pontius and Devon McTavish as they prepared to defend their US Open Cup last night. Maybe the good luck we wished them paid off: they beat Dallas 2-0! Best Buddies!   We stopped by Mate in Georgetown for a happy hour fundraiser last night with a new group: Business Buddies. Here, Best Buddies participant Eric Latcheran, with board secretary Raquel Maya, chair Jennifer Vasquez, board member James Barvinchak, state director Allison Coles, board member Geoff Harkness, vice chair Christa Barvinchak, and program manager Katie Kirkland.   Business Buddies is under the umbrella of Best Buddies, and is made up of dedicated young professionals who are committed to making a difference in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Here: Asian American Action Fund’s Junelle Cavero, Held Emloe's Rich Fenati, and BearingPoint’s Isma Zeghmi and Mike Teubner.   Mate owner Osmar Nunes-Viches and General Manager Farees Salim near the restaurant lounge, which featured drink and sushi specials for the large crowd. Jason Wu!   American sportswear designer Jason Wu became an overnight sensation after Michelle Obama wore his couture gown for the inaugural balls. On Tuesday night Capitol File solidified Wu’s rep in DC by hosting a preview of his fall ‘09 collection at Neiman Marcus in Chevy Chase, the only DC store where it will be available. Here: Editor-in-Chief Sherri Moeller and Jason Wu’s Director of Sales John Murphy after the presentation.   Heather Freeman PR’s Lindley Thornburg and tax attorney Donna Lee fell in love with Wu’s Alice in Wonderland inspired collection.   Ralph Lauren’s Nii Annan, Amnesty International’s Adriana Valenciano and law student Van Bloys learned about Wu’s commitment to making 100% of his sportswear in the USA. WHERE TO BE SCENE:   Thursday, April 23, Red Carpet at 6:00 PM, Gala at 7:00 PM, for the Gondobay Manga Foundation, founded by Isaiah Washington, will host its Inaugural Dinner Gala at the Westin Grand Hotel to raise funds for the foundation’s efforts in Sierra Leone. Dinner, live music and auction, Keynote by Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, honorees include Academy Award winner Forest Whittaker. Also there: former Redskins Charles Mann, Art Monk, and Ken Tickets: $500. Info: Nicole Stipp or Anna Karefa-Johnson, 202-466-6040 or www.gondobaymanga.org or www.reachonemillion.org. Thursday, April 23, Celebrate to Educate, with a cocktail party at the Willard from 6:00 – 9:00 PM with all proceeds benefitting the Lazarus Foundation, a nonprofit that provides educational support to disadvantaged, at-risk and foster care high school and college students. Only $100 for an open bar, food, music, and great prizes from Bloomingdales and Zegna, More info Thursday, April 23, from 6:30– 9:00 PM, join the Georgetown House Tour for its Annual Patron’s party to raise funds that support the many important ministries of St John's Georgetown. Enjoy cocktails, a tour of the DC Design House, and meeting the interior decorators: $150 contact laura.rodman@comcast.net or visit website. Thursday, April 23, from 5:30-8 P.M., join Connect and Collect: A Reception for Young Professionals at the Smithsonian Craft Show to benefit the Smithsonian Institution. Network with young professionals. Wine, hors d'oeuvres, tours of craft from the artists and experts. Tickets: $20 here. Thursday, April 23-Sunday, April 26, Thurs/Fri 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-6, Sun 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Join the Smithsonian Craft Show, the nation’s premier juried exhibition and sale of fine American Craft. A number of events, including cocktail parties and lectures, come with an admission ticket, $15 at the door. More info Friday, April 24, from 7:00pm -10:00 PM, join MYiLIVE and some of your favorite local retailers at Shadow Room in celebrating the launch of DC's new local shopping destination. Free entry for drink specials, live music, and gift card giveaways. More info.  Monday, April 27 join Jason Campbell and his Washington Redskins teammates for his Second Annual Golf Classic to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at the Lowes Island Club. No public gallery or individual tickets, but if you’re interested in sponsorship, contact 703-399-2906 or mary.angelo@lls.org. Thursday, April 30, VIP Reception starting at 6:30 PM, join youth development program DC Scores for their annual Soccer Ball at the Organization of American States for cocktails, dinner by Latin Concepts and music.  Tickets: $200 VIP and general $150 here Thursday, April 30, from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM, join The Angels Network for its Spring Fling Jewelry Thing to raise funds for Alternative House's Assisting Young Women Program for Homeless 18-21 year old  Moms.Excellent wine, plentiful hors d'oeuvres, awesome auction, and a great jewelry show. Cost: Give what you can. RSVP: events@theangelsnetwork.org. (preferably by 4/25) Friday, May 8, from 7:30 PM – 11:00 PM, join the Trust for the National Mall’s L’Enfant Society for its First Annual Ball on the Mall to raise funds for restoration of our National Mall. Cocktails, hors d’ourves, live music. Tickets: $150 at More info Tuesday, May 12, 12:00 – 2:00 PM. Yoga fashion show and luncheon at lululemon athletica in Georgetown to benefit Choral Arts. Tickets $40 here include a healthy lunch, fitness experts and speakers, live fashion show, and goodie bags. Wednesday, May 13, from 6:00 – 10:00 PM at the Mellon Auditorium for the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) 2009 Rays of Hope Awards Gala, a dinner awards benefit celebrating cancer survivorship and honoring leaders in the cancer survivorship movement. With emcee Face the Nation’s Bob Schieffer, and honoring Law & Order SVU’s Mariska Hargitay, Tickets are $250 by calling NCCS at 301-650-9127.  Info (but not ticket sales) here. Thursday, May 14, 6:00 – 9:30 PM at the Building Museum for Miriam’s Kitchen. Join the 100 Bowls of Compassion Gala with gourmet food, live music, and open bar, while helping the homeless with meals, housing support, and other assistance Tickets $250, dress is business cocktail (but feel free to mix things up.) More info Friday, May 15, from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, join The Phillips Collection for its Annual Gala to raise funds for its award-winning education programs.  Tickets: $1,000 per person for dinner, dessert and dancing; or $125 per person for dessert and dancing.  Please contact Keith Costas at (202) 387-2151 or kcostas@phillipscollection.org. Saturday, May 16 from 8PM-til 2:00AM, the 4th Annual Paint the Town Pink to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation at The Laughing Man Tavern, 1306 G Street at Metro Center. Cocktails, open Bar, light appetizers, music, silent auction. Tickets are $50 before May 2nd and $60 after at: http://paintthetownpinkdc.eventbrite.com/. Info seejanepartydc@gmail.com. Saturday, May 16, from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM, enjoy extraordinary wines and cuisine at the Barns at Wolf Trap, hosted by NSO conductor Emil De Cou, who will discuss the link between enjoying music and wine. Evo Bistro and Country Vintner are pairing wines rated 95 points and higher with a five course feast created by Chef Shannon of Design Cuisine. Proceeds support Wolf Trap’s education programs and artistic initiatives. Tickets: $300 and up. info available here. Saturday, May 16, from 8:00-11:00 PM,  All That Jazz: Smithsonian Young Benefactors' Roaring Twenties Gala  and Silent Auction, Entertainment provided by Raggs and the All Stars, Open Bar, Hors d'oeuvres, $125 for YB members, $175 for non-members Buy tickets at http://youngbenefactors.org/ticketing/events/yb_gala.aspx or (202) 633-8663 Thursday, June 4, from 6:30 -11:30 PM, join the Smithsonian’s Freer and Sackler Galleries for “ASIA after DARK,” a new after hours series celebrating Asian arts and culture. Cocktails, food tastings, gallery tours, DJ, live dance performance, hands-on art activities, andraffle.Tickets: $14 in advance, $18 at door.More info Kristina D’Ambrosio and Makeda Sagau-Sackey contributed to this issue. Want to see more pictures?  Join our facebook group: Send story ideas: TheScene@Bisnow.com         CONTACT EDITORIAL CONTACT ADVERTISING CONTACT GENERAL INFO This newsletter is a journalistic news source which accepts no payment for featured interviews. It is supported by conventional advertisers clearly identified in the right hand column. You have been selected to receive it either through prior contact or professional association. If you have received it in error, please accept our apologies and unsubscribe at bottom of the newsletter. © 2009, Bisnow on Business, Inc., 1323 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036. All rights reserved. Subscribe