October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

I would like to thank my readers for their support and patience while I've been busy with work. Thank you for listening to my last post about the jewelry I made and donated to a cause, for my client, that is near and dear to my heart.

Since October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, I wanted to reiterate some of my sentiments about the Last Kiss of Summer Gala held on September 27th at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown for Second Chance Employment Services.

I spent a good part of this past summer soliciting item donations and sponsorships for this event. I did other things as well for Second Chance, but I spent a great portion of my time marketing the event in a number of different forums. I even created the Second Chance Employment Services Blog to help get the word out there and stop the silence. It really means a lot to me that the event was such a success.

The Last Kiss of Summer Gala is an annual fundraiser that takes place every September, so please do remember this event when you are planning your annual giving and calendar.

I want to now highlight the evening's event that took place last month:

The picture above is from last year's Gala event with Ludy Green (Black Suit), daughter Megan, Kathleen "Kassie" Brown (Brown Dress), and me, Stephanie Willson (Burgundy Gown and Shawl).

The silent auction was beautiful with many items that had been donated including one of my own pieces of jewelry officially found at Stephanie Willson Jewelry and listed in my previous post.

The silent auction was followed a delicious seated dinner: The Four Seasons started us off with salad, then salmon, and finally dessert. During that time we had speakers and introductions. A video was played with a woman silhouetted in the shadows as she spoke about her heart wrenching tale of desperately trying to survive her divorce with little resources and the humiliation of having to ask friends constantly for help.

Another speaker and Second Chance client went on-stage and told her tearful tale, in Spanish - the only language she can speak. This woman spoke from her heart about her trials and tribulations in trying to get survive her situation and the loving help and support that she received from Second Chance in helping her with housing, food, child care, English training, and job placement. The English translation moved the room and it was difficult to hold back a tear.

Tanya Brown, internationally acclaimed domestic violence advocate, author, and sister of Nicole Brown Simpson gave the keynote address. Tanya spoke from her heart and moved the room with her personal story and sharing the life of Nicole Brown Simpson. Tanya Brown gave a speech that penetrated and moved the room. It is truly a wonderful service that Tanya is doing by sharing her story as she delivers her message so powerfully in a way that many women wish they also could share.

Dancing ended the event to a fantastic live band!

This wonderful organization would not even exist and women would never receive the services that are not found elsewhere if it were not for the incredible support of volunteers, donors, sponsors, and supporters. Thank you for letting me share this with you.

Best Crab Cakes in DC

I have been on vacation this month and also moved house - thus my quiet blog. Now I'm back! Thank you for reading and commenting while I was gone.

Ken, a reader, made the following comment in one of my posts:

"If you were to recommend 3 restaurants in the district, which would they be? and who do you think has the best crab cakes in the city?"

Thank you Ken for the question!

Recommendations for 3 restaurants in the District of Columbia would be:

1) Sequoia - for the view of the Potomac. (202) 944-4200

3000 K St Nw, Washington, DC 20007

2) Guapos - Mexican restaurant with the best Chile con Carne in town and friendly service.

(Yes - it is a chain - but done right).

4515 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20016

Phone: (202) 686-3588

3) CLYDE'S OF GEORGETOWN - It's old "cave dweller" Washington - Classic!

3236 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007 Phone (202) 333-9180

Best Crab Cakes in the City?

Town Hall

2218 Wisconsin Ave Nw, Washington, DC 20007

(202) 333-5640

What 3 restaurants do you recommend in DC?

Who do you think has the best crab cakes in Washington?

What do you think of the restaurants I listed?

Golfing at Hanes Point

American University offers a Golf Class to students. Last week our teacher Bill took us to Haines Point or East Potomac Blue Golf Course in Washington, DC to play a few holes. It was a lot of fun even with the heat.






Afterwards a group of us went to the driving range to hit balls. The class was a lot of fun and it was good to learn something new and useful in college. What are some of your favorite college classes?

Fenty Gets A Black Eye With DC Parents

Washington DC's young new mayor has yet to impress the residents of DC with children that attend the city's public schools! On January 6, 2007, Fenty brought DC some excitement with his Inaugural Ball that seemed to take in all of Washington.

I attended along with my friend Josette.

We met lots of politicians.

I thought the best part was the art! (Those are tennis rackets!!)

Now the honeymoon is over! As a DC parent I am outraged to hear that my children's school (one of the few functional elementary schools in DC despite major budget cuts) has had its budget slashed yet again. The budget cuts are no surprise to DC parents as we know that the schools and the children of this city take a backseat to everything else in DC including the potholes.

FYI - a few years ago every DC child was allocated $10,000 to the school, but only $6,000 made it to the child's school. The remaining $4,000 evaporated somewhere in "administrative costs" before it touched the school. That was in the better years?!

With Fenty new in office, DC parents were hoping for a change! We got one alright. We were just told that our budget will be cut so drastically that our school that has been "downsizing annually" will have to let 2 teachers go!!

Without children, DC does not have a future. I certainly hope that Fenty will turn around his administration before his reputation is ruined in letting down the hopes of the parents behind him to revitalize DC Public Schools. Perhaps again the best part of this administration will be the art without substance.