Runaway Spoon
Monaco This Year; Mars By 2030
September 9, 2018Monaco or Mars: Either way, fasten your seatbelts.
The first woman to lead the National Air and Space Museum, Dr. Ellen Stofan, thinks it is not impossible for humans to reach Mars by 2030. In the meantime, Monaco’s ambassador said, why not visit her principality’s Thanksgiving celebration of the good relationship with the United States and to further explore NASA initiatives.
(Photo by: Natalia Janetti)
Embassy authority Linda Harper (L) chats with Claudia Eggspuhler, general manager of Hilton Washington DC National Mall
“Mark your calendars to travel to Monaco from Nov. 19-25 to celebrate our deep ties with the USA,” said Ambassador Maguy Maccario Doyle. [www.MonacoEventsUSA.com]
The trip was discussed at The Washington Diplomat’s Insider Series – moderated by the newspaper’s Managing Editor Anna Gawel -- Thursday night at The Line Hotel in Adams Morgan.
In November, Monaco is doing various events throught the principality to mark the historial links between the Monaco and New Orleans.
So what’s the Monaco-New Orleans tie-in? It’s complicated. As is most in The Big Easy.
American-born Alice, Princess of Monaco, was the wife of the current Prince Albert’s great-great-grandfather Prince Albert I. Princess Alice was born Marie Alice Heine in New Orleans’ French Quarter in 1857.
After separating from her husband, Alice settled in London, where she became the hostess of a glittering salon. Marcel Proust used her as a model for the Princesse de Luxembourg in his novel, In Search of Time. Prince Albert recently dedicated a plaque to Alice at New Orleans’ Royal Street where she was born.
Ambassador Doyle is in the news now. Washingtonian magazine’s September issue has a story about her favorite eating spots in the City and other culinary connections. “Meiwah is great for Peking duck and the Dabney is another excellent, unpretentious favorite.”
(Photo by: Natalia Janette)
Anna Gawel, Ambassador Maguy Maccario Doyle & Dr. Ellen Stofan
In her remarks. Doyle said the “Pioneers & Innovation” series in Monaco will celebrate the 60 years of NASA, hosting Commander Robert Gibson and astronauts of the 1986 Columbia space shuttle, among other programs to explore air and space travel and technology.
NASA’s Stofan told the audience of 200+ that it’s a “question of will and money” when humans will reach Mars, but it’s possible by 2030. Asked when there might be “space tourism,” she replied that the private sector is getting more and more involved in space travel…” but we are not there yet….fasten your seat belts…it will happen.”
Stofan, who viewed her first space launch at age 4 with her dad, was chief scientist at NASA before taking charge of the National Air and Space Museum. She noted that the Museum, built in 1976, will undergo a seven year renovation beginning in November. When done, it'll include new updated exhibits, projects on space exploration both private and government, as well as other cutting-edge developments, she said.
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Lei'd
August 8, 2018The 200 or so guests were abundantly forewarned in the invitation: “Prepare To Get Lei’d!”
No joke.
(Photo by: PBCHRC)
Congresswoman Lois Frankel and constituent
As each guest came into the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council’s (PBCHRC) Fantasy Island gala last week, they were bedecked with complimentary Hawaiian-style paper leis. Pictured at top is Steven Licari handing out the leis.
The summer soirée (with a Georgetown connection!) was held at the National Croquet Club in West Palm Beach to show support for human rights communities. The party also was a chance for political hopefuls to hobnob for support, for already elected officials to mingle, and friends to catch up despite the big summer exodus to cooler climes.
(Photo by: PBCHRC)
Lauren Baer cultivating supporters
Outside, the deck and manicured lawns were decorated with tables shaded by colorful ruffled-top umbrellas. Inside, the guests lounged on spacious sofas and plush chairs. Hors d’oeuvres were passed but the food played second fiddle to the main theme of spirited conversation. Nibbling, chatting and balancing drinks at the same time is a challenge no matter how seasoned partygoers are.
Attorney Rand Hoch, a Georgetown University grad, is president and founder of PBCHRC, which was founded in 1988. Two of the group’s landmark achievements: In 1990, their advocacy led to Palm Beach County becoming the first public employer in Florida to include in its affirmative action plan a ban on discrimination against hiring. In 1992, PBCHRC persuaded West Palm Beach to become the first public employer in Florida to provide domestic partnership benefits. PBCHRC is dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
“This event has become a staple on the summer social calendar, the place where South Floridians committed to equality can kick up their heels and invest in a good cause at the same time,” said Hoch.
(Photo by: PBCHRC)
Rand Hoch (left) shares a laugh with guest
Among the event sponsors were Palm Beach Town Council member Lew Crampton, Ocean Ridge Mayor James Bonfiglio, and West Palm Beach City Commissioner Keith James.
The gaggle of politicos included Congresswoman Lois Frankel, with Congressional candidate Lauren Baer; former County Commissioner and West Palm Beach mayoral candidate Priscilla Taylor; political/polling consultant Daryl Glenney (also a Georgetown alum); Michael McAuliffe, who is running for Circuit Court Judge; Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks, with her husband, Britt Deviney; incumbent School Board member Karen Brill; and Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher, taking a breather before Florida’s heated August 28 primary.
(Photo by: PBCHRC)
Karen Brill (left) & Susan Bucher
(Photo by: PBCHRC)
Priscilla Taylor (left) & Daryl Glenney
(Photo by: PBCHRC)
Hawaiian shirts go Palm Beach chic
(Photo by: PBCHRC)
Mingling on the patio
(Photo by: PBCHRC)
Michael McAuliffe & daughter
(Photo by: PBCHRC)
Dorothy Jacks with her husband Britt Deviney
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Never Too Hot To Party
July 22, 2018An astonishingly few guests checked their smart phones for breaking news at the Monaco garden party Wednesday night. Who had to when White House counselor Kellyanne Conway was right there…mingling, chatting… with Monaco’s ambassador Maguy Maccario Doyle and scores of others.
(Photo by: Natalia Janette)
Kay Kendall, chair, DC Commission on The Arts and Humanities
Not that she shared any secrets about the Trump-Putin summit or anything else, chuckled one guest who engaged her briefly in friendly conversation.
(Photo by: Natalia Janetti)
Rubbing shoulders at the Monaco residence garden party
The scene, almost like a LA movie set, was the gorgeous patio at Ambassador Maguy Maccario Doyle’s residence in Kalorama. Fortunately, the rain gods stayed away.
(Photo by: Natalia Janetti)
Architect Theo Adamstein glances up from conversations on the patio
The mid-summer soirée drew diplomats, aerospace executives, government and business leaders, as well as art and cultural personalities. The buffet was truly uptown fare: salmon, steak filet, salads, cheese and petite desserts.
(Photo by: (c) Embassy of Monaco/By Zaid Hamid)
Washington Ballet's Brittany Stone & Brooklyn Mack
“July has a very special meaning for all of us in the Principality,” said Monaco’s Ambassador. “It was July 12, 2005 that our sovereign Prince Albert ascended to the throne of Monaco,” She then noted that his late mother, Princess Grace, was from the United States (where she had been film star Grace Kelly).
(Photo by: (c) Embassy of Monaco/By Zaid Hamid)
Adrienne Arsht, Amb. Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al-Thani & Amb. Doyle
“Join me in toasting his very good health and long reign.”
(Photo by: (c) Embassy of Monaco/By Zaid Hamid)
The Kennedy Center's Alicia Adams (left) with Mary V. Mochary
The ambassador invited the gathering to participate in Monaco events this fall in DC, New York City and Monaco.
(Photo by: (c) Embassy of Monaco/By Zaid Hamid)
Alyssa & Jamie Brawner, Kellyanne Conway, Jackie Bolden, Amb. Doyle, General Charlie Bolden, Dr. Ellen Stofan & Tim Dunn
She said that on September 6, Monaco will partner with The Washington Diplomat newspaper and Dr. Ellen Stofan, director of the Smithsonian’s Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, for an ambassador insider series on Monaco’s role in the future of air and space travel, and the importance of earth and environmental science.
(Photo by: (c) Embassy of Monaco/By Zaid Hamid)
Karen Schaufeld, Monaco's Ambassador, Shahim Mafi & Anne Kline
Prince Albert has taken a leadership role globally in environment conservation everywhere: on land, the waterways and the oceans.
(Photo by: Natalia Janetti)
Dr. Tina Alster (left) with Kellyanne Conway
Among the some 50 guests were Qatar Ambassador Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al-Thani; Kazakhstan Ambassador Erzhan Kazykhanov; Iceland Ambassador Geir Haarde; Portugal Ambassador Domingos Fezas Vital; Rwanda Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana; Turkmenistan Ambassador Meret Orzov; Azerbaijan Ambassador Elin Sueymanov; Liechtenstein Ambassador Kurt Jaeger; NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and his wife Jackie; Kay Kendall, chair of the DC Arts and Humanities Commission; architect Theo Adamstein; Sheila Way of Capital One and Jim Way, executive director of the American Astronautical Society; cultural icon Adrienne Arsht; J.B . Kelly, president of the Prrince Albert II of Monaco Foundation-USA and cousin of HSH Prince Albert; society photographer Tony Powell; California Congressman Ed and Marie Royce; Dr. Tina Alster; Anna Gawel, managing editor of The Washington Diplomat; and Dr Stofan.
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