AARP the Magazine hosted its annual Inspire Awards at the National Museum of Women in the Arts on Monday night. In conjunction with its yearlong 50th anniversary festivities in Washington, the dinner moved from New York to D.C. for the first time.
The intimate event for 250 honored 10 AARP-aged activists, including Glenn Close, Quincy Jones, and Alma Powell, Colin Powell's wife. The acceptance speeches covered everything from raising awareness about mental illness to fighting global poverty. With that in mind, the decor was minimal. “What we tried to do is complement the museum itself as much as possible. It’s got a very distinct color theme,” said Kristan Mathews, an AARP events consultant. “[We wanted] to let the honorees stand out. It’s really all about them.”
With the museum’s pink-hued marble and dramatic chandeliers setting the tone, Mathews worked with Windows Catering and Devers Design to devise a simple decor scheme for the event. Tables with muted red silk linens and red, white, and green floral centerpieces dotted the first floor; planners used the mezzanine level for a pre-banquet cocktail reception and red carpet arrivals.
The event kicked off at 6 p.m., with guests mingling on the mezzanine overlooking the main banquet room. Passed hors d’oeuvres, two bars, and a harpist and flutist were on hand to entertain guests while the honorees walked the raised red carpet, which Hargrove created to protect the museum's rug.
The dinner commenced at 7:30 with three courses served before the award ceremony began. The menu, also by Windows, included a main course of grilled jumbo crab-stuffed shrimp and mesquite-grilled tenderloin of beef.
The evening closed with a video tribute to Glenn Close and her work with Fountain House, a nonprofit that assists mentally ill men and women. Guests picked-up gift bags, including a copy of the January/February issue of AARP the Magazine, which featured the honorees, at the museum exit.
