Legal, With Leno

Turning 21 is often a memorable rite of passage. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society was no exception on Saturday, as it marked its 21st annual ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, featuring the Roaring Twenties theme of “Ain’t We Got Fun.”

“Every year we try to sit down and get creative,” said Donna McKelvey, the society's executive director, who worked with Paige Bishop, chair of the operations and logistics committee, on developing a Prohibition-era feel for the evening as a twist on the "hey, I can drink" thrill of turning 21. "Since it's the 21st anniversary, we wanted to celebrate being legal without being quite as obvious," Bishop said. They turned to Julie Hanson of Hanson Production to bring their concept to life, from flappers on the main stage to the swing band that greeted the 2,500 incoming guests.In the convention center’s ballroom, which has been the event’s hub for four years, Hanson brought attention to the entertainment, from Jones & Brown Productions, with two separate stages. Headliner Jay Leno performed his stand-up on a standalone center platform, amidst the tables, while the main stage, set in front of a New York cityscape, featured a swing band and, later, a jazzy set from Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.

Three-foot-tall table centerpieces from Exquisite Design Studio garnered notice throughout the night, as did tall glass cylinders filled with magenta orchids. The tabletop designs were appropriately '20s-themed, with silver sequined tablecloths and white and silver plates. Centerplate catered the three-course dinner, which consisted of vegetable napoleon with herb-seared shrimp, beef tenderloin coupled with Chesapeake jumbo crab medallions, and an Art Deco-designed dessert bombe.

A silent auction featured more than 400 items, ranging from weekend getaways to autographed sports paraphernalia. The evening, as a whole, was expected to raise $3.3 million.