On Wednesday night the local chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women, a national association representing women in the industry, held its fifth annual awards reception in the Homer Building’s atrium in downtown Washington. The evening simultaneously celebrated CREW’s 30th anniversary party.
Co-chaired by Phyllis Liebman of Vornado/Charles E. Smith and Jenny Shtipelman of Eaglebank, the 350 guests were invited to don faux pearls at the entrance as a nod to the traditional 30-year anniversary gift. The pearls also spawned the evening’s under the sea theme.
Windows Catering’s senior event planner Chris Dunn anchored the space with a multitiered raw bar featuring a jumbo clam and pearl. Two steel bars with embedded fish bowls flanked the buffets, showcasing several live goldfish.
JBV Production’s Jana Chovanec, who handled to lighting, audio production, and staging, created a lapping water lighting effect on the atrium’s wall and helped put together a slideshow of photographs projected on two large flat screens.
Modern white leather sofas and glass tables with “treasure” centerpieces (wooden boxes full of shells and faux pearls) filled the venue, which was donated for the evening by Akridge Real Estate.
Windows offered a variety of passed appetizers and small plates, including cheeseburger sliders, potato-zucchini pancakes topped with caviar, and chicken samosas with cilantro-yogurt dip. A blue chocolate fountain completed the evening’s theme.
