Last Thursday, more than 230 mayors and some 500 additional guests gathered at the National Building Museum for the U.S. Conference of Mayor’s 78th annual Winter Meeting Gala. On our list of Washington's Top 100 Events, the gala dinner was produced by the Bulfinch Company's Babette Penton and is part of a three-day conference that brings mayors from across the country to Washington to discuss hot-button issues like unemployment and transportation.
This year’s conference attendees met with President Obama, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Congressional representatives, and cabinet members.
Gold dominated the evening’s decor, with gold chargers, napkins, votives, and cream-colored roses from Randy Watts Design at each of the round tables in the venue’s Great Hall.
As guests dined on a meal of smoked salmon and beef tenderloin provided by Occasions Caterers, speakers such as U.S. Conference of Mayors president Elizabeth B. Kautz recognized new mayors, honored the 50th anniversary of nonprofit organization Americans for the Arts, and bestowed the 2010 Legendary Artist Award on singer Michael Feinstein. Gala sponsors included American Airlines and Safeguard Properties.
