
Frank Sinatra himself welcomed Gala goers to the Italian Embassy festivities, sorta. / MyLittleBird photo.

New Washington Post Publisher and CEO Fred Ryan and wife Genny are soon to be Georgetown residents and turned out to support the community. / MyLittleBird photo.

N Street residents Tina Alster, the well-known dermatologist, and husband Paul Frazer vamped with Sinatra-style accessories. . . / MyLittleBird photo.

. . . Then Alster and Frazer had their party picture taken. Alster served on the Gala committee. / MyLittleBird photo.

Bill and Anna Massey at the Gala. She’s in a navy-and-black Carolina Herrera gown. He announced, “And this is the same tuxedo I’ve had for 15 years!” (And, we noted, it still fits!) / MyLittleBird photo.

Georgetown real estate agent Nancy Taylor Bubes. Nancy and Washington Fine Properties were a sponsor of the Gala. / MyLittleBird photo.

Gala committee member Cherry Baumbusch hangs out with Frank at the entrance to the Gala. Cherry, a painter, was on the Gala committee. A Georgetown resident, she obviously supports the neighborhood, but her real passion is the Rotary club ‘s polio eradication program. / MyLittleBird photo.

Committee member Cherry Baumbusch poses with her pot-luck-party pal Norean (Annie) Sharpe, Undergraduate Dean, McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University.

Natalie Grasso, Gala committee member, was fabulous in her caped dress from BCBG. She said she bought it at Macy’s, then added, laughing, “but they also sell it [BCBG] at Saks.” / MyLittleBird photo.

Valerie and Mike Kirkman. Valerie can be seen frequently at Georgetown’s Rose Park with her enormous (and gorgeous) Great Dane. / MyLittleBird photo.

Dale Gray has the Frankie look down pat. His wife, Cheryl Gray, helped to organize the auction. / MyLittleBird photo.

Alva Williams has a secret under her glittery vintage sweater: The sequined skirt is actually her prom dress! (Also vintage, we pointed out.). Her belt is from Everard’s, one of Georgetown’s favorite clothiers. Alva has worked with the Georgetowner newspaper and the Georgetown Business Association. / MyLittleBird photo.

This handsome (though blurry) devil is Neil Mulholland, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. He also was the winning bidder for a luxury stay at the Four Seasons Vail! Money well spent./ MyLittleBird photo.

Interior designer Tricia Huntley helped distribute auction paddles. / MyLittleBird photo

Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Tom Birch had his trademark happy smile on for the Gala occasion. / MyLittleBird photo.

Journalist Annie Groer and her neighbor Kenny Kraft. / Photo by Sidney Lawrence.

ANC Commissioner Bill Starrels, left, and Robert Devaney, editor-in-chief of The Georgetowner newspaper, enjoy the outdoor after-party. / MyLittleBird photo.

After dinner there was . . . pizza! The brick-and-clay oven was set up on the patio outside the Embassy atrium, and pizzas were custom made for partygoers who lingered in the mild night air. / MyLittleBird photo.

CAG executive director Betsy Cooley enjoys a moment out by the pizza oven, after months of coordination and hard work with the Gala committee. Betsy is a MyLittleBird nominee for Perfect Hair–always! / MyLittleBird photo.

Doe Browning, part-time resident of Georgetown, donated some cultural perks to the Four Seasons Vail auction package. She, and what the French call her “belle poitrine,” make their principal residence in Vail. / MyLittleBird photo.

Annie Groer and Pat Sherr flank Little Bird Nancy McKeon at the Gala. Pat is president of the board of the Gateway Georgetown condo building, where Annie is a resident. / Photo by Brian Lam.
THE CITIZENS ASSOCIATION of Georgetown invited patrons of its annual Gala to “Fly Me to the Moon” in Frank Sinatra mode. The 2014 black-tie party, held at the Italian Embassy on October 24, attracted a few people who may have remembered the Sinatra ’50s and ’60s, but most were rocking a more recent vibe and, while they were at it, raising money for CAG’s programs.
The evening’s receipts have not been tallied yet, but CAG Executive Director Betsy Cooley reports that the Gala was a financial success.
Here are pictures of some of the Rat Pack partygoers. We missed the chance to get a picture of D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray but were happy to catch up with some neighbors.
–Nancy McKeon