On Thursday night, the nonprofit Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund offered 200 guests a chance to sneak a peek at the Liaison Capitol Hill's unfinished 2,500-square-foot rooftop lounge and bar. Although the hotel had its soft opening on April 1, the open-air space will not officially open until summer 2009 (currently only hotel guests are allowed access).
The sun-filled, poolside cocktail party for Hoop Dreams, which works to send D.C. public school students to college, took advantage of the hotel's temporary cabana-style patio furnishings (large white canvas umbrellas and lime green outdoor sofas) and catering services, which included a grilling station for shrimp. Waiters passed peach-flavored "Impeachmint" mojitos and cucumber bites topped with salmon mousse and caviar while food stations offered sliders and grilled chicken.
The evening also gave the organization a chance to reach out to a new crowd. Hoop Dreams director of communications Lester Davis estimated that about 40 percent of the attendees were newcomers to the group's events.
"It's an introduction for a lot of people coming tonight," said Davis, noting the pamphlets and displays around the space that touted Hoop Dreams stories and promoted upcoming functions. "We want them to walk away with an idea of our purpose."
