In Washington, the words jeans and gala don’t usually find themselves in the same sentence, or as part of the same event. For the last five years, however, the anti-hunger organization Capital Area Food Bank has brought the two together for its Blue Jeans Ball benefit. “There are not many events that you can wear your jeans to,” said Capital Area Food Bank special events manager Jana Richardson. “We wanted people to feel relaxed, have a good time, and walk away with our message.”
This year's ball, which took place on Tuesday, had the two trappings standard for a Washington benefit: a silent auction and chef stations. The behemoth Marriott Wardman Park has been the event’s venue for the past four years, though this edition took over the Lincoln Room, which has a raw, underground feel. With a blank canvas on her hands, Richardson opted to turn the space into a nightclub-style atmosphere using dark jean-blue lighting on the concrete columns and blue-and-brown-draped tables overlooking a dance floor and stage. “We didn’t want it to be too flashy but still wanted to add a touch of creativity,” she said.The 28 participating chefs set up stations around the room, with offerings such as smoked-chicken summer rolls and lobster bisque from Indigo Landing vanilla risotto with rabbit ragout from Mio. Above each station hung designer jeans on clotheslines, each etched with the restaurant names.
As the 600 guests filtered in—all fulfilling the blue-jeans dress code—they perused the predinner silent-auction area outside the ballroom and sampled platters of crudités and cheese from Stonyman Gourmet Farmer in Stanley, Virginia.
Sponsors and donors slowly trickled into the Couture Reception—the ball's spin on a V.I.P. area—which featured red-striped standing tables, bites from the Marriott’s new Stone’s Throw Restaurant (including shrimp skewers in a shot glass with guacamole), and a short performance by comedian Mark Russell.
The Second Amendments, a bipartisan band consisting of five congressmen, entertained with rock oldies (think “Pretty Woman” and “Brown Sugar”) later in the evening.
This year's ball, which took place on Tuesday, had the two trappings standard for a Washington benefit: a silent auction and chef stations. The behemoth Marriott Wardman Park has been the event’s venue for the past four years, though this edition took over the Lincoln Room, which has a raw, underground feel. With a blank canvas on her hands, Richardson opted to turn the space into a nightclub-style atmosphere using dark jean-blue lighting on the concrete columns and blue-and-brown-draped tables overlooking a dance floor and stage. “We didn’t want it to be too flashy but still wanted to add a touch of creativity,” she said.The 28 participating chefs set up stations around the room, with offerings such as smoked-chicken summer rolls and lobster bisque from Indigo Landing vanilla risotto with rabbit ragout from Mio. Above each station hung designer jeans on clotheslines, each etched with the restaurant names.
As the 600 guests filtered in—all fulfilling the blue-jeans dress code—they perused the predinner silent-auction area outside the ballroom and sampled platters of crudités and cheese from Stonyman Gourmet Farmer in Stanley, Virginia.
Sponsors and donors slowly trickled into the Couture Reception—the ball's spin on a V.I.P. area—which featured red-striped standing tables, bites from the Marriott’s new Stone’s Throw Restaurant (including shrimp skewers in a shot glass with guacamole), and a short performance by comedian Mark Russell.
The Second Amendments, a bipartisan band consisting of five congressmen, entertained with rock oldies (think “Pretty Woman” and “Brown Sugar”) later in the evening.
Photo: Mike Oliver
Photo: Steve Tuttle
Photo: Steve Tuttle
Photo: Mike Oliver
Photo: Mike Oliver
Photo: Mike Oliver