ThanksUSA Benefit Concert Rooftop After Party

If you are planning on attending this Saturday’s ThanksUSA benefit concert at the Warner Theatre, first, thank you for supporting this excellent cause, second, you are invited to the Rooftop After Party. 

Please join Erik Huey and the Surreal McCoys on the Warner Theatre Rooftop from 10pm-midnight.  Tickets for this After Party are $20 each (the concert tickets are $25) and will include open Beer and Wine and Lite Fare.  Come celebrate the good ThanksUSA does for our military families and have one heck of a patriotic view of our Nation’s Capital atop the roof of one of Washington’s most historic venues. 

Please RSVP for the After Party to events@ThanksUSA.org and purchase your ticket today for this once in a lifetime concert at www.ticketmaster.com

Book Signing for "Party Favors" Author Nicole Sexton

As someone who has lived in the Washington area since 1990, I am fascinated by books that are set in this community and expose it openly from all sides (which is one of the reasons David Baldacci is one of my favorite authors).  There’s a feeling of familiarity, of “oh, I know where that building/street/restaurant/movie theater/dark alley is!” Certainly, I am not alone in that thought, as more and more talented authors are exploding out of DC to our delight. 

One such author is Nicole Sexton.  In her former life, she was the 2nd ranking GOP fundraiser.  In her current and probably, if I may, cooler life, she now works for the Bono and just finished her first novel entitled “Party Favors”.  Thursday the 24th, she will be at Capitol Hill’s Trover (221 Pennsylvania, SE) from 12pm-1pm for a book signing.

The novel “Party Favors” gives readers a delicious taste of what it’s like to move up through the ranks on the Hill from intern to the most powerful fundraiser for the Right party and all the “hi-jinks” that go with that experience.  As this was written with Susan Johnston, a published playwright, the book will certainly provide a juicy and fun summer read.

Just who is Nicole Sexton?  She is quite the insider of Washington’s life, had been the finance director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee and several President’s Dinners, so she knows her stuff inside and out.  Best of all, she can articulate it extremely well.  Her book is already selling like ice cream on a hot summer day in DC and shhh… could eventually be seen on the silver screen (think major Hollywood studios, folks).

Nicole is currently a top executive at Bono’s global advocacy organization the ONE campaign.  She splits her time between DC and NYC and has an East Side restaurant in NYC.

If you can’t make it during your lunch hour Thursday-so sorry-but you can pick up your copy at any local bookstore or online.

Kastles Season Finale tonight

You think a year flies by (uh, yeah we do)?  Then think how quickly two weeks disappear before your very eyes.  It seems like yesterday the buzz of the town, the media, the DC sports world, and the business and charity communities was all about the arrival of the Washington Kastles and this crazy fun World TeamTennis thing. 

Well, tonight is the Season Finale of the series for 2008.  What? Yes, you read it here, not first, nor second, but you did read it here.  So if you have yet to see one match, shame on you, but you probably can still grab a ticket.  Remember, there are no bad seats in this stadium because of the layout. 

The Kastles take on Anna Kournikova’s St. Louis Aces for this evening’s theme "Guys Night Out" (for some tiny reason, that title seems totally appropriate for tonight … gee, wonder why?).  Come cheer for our home team as they take on the blonde cover girl and hopefully end the home season with a Win.

Tickets and information: www.washingtonkastles.com

Find your inner strength, outside

It’s that time of the month again!  Yes, it’s time to forget about all that ails you, troubles you, and wears you down.  But forget about taking a run in the park. Just breathe and go through the vinyasa at your own pace in the park with the Even Keel Outdoor Yoga Series (there’s no cost either!).

Thank you again to my great friend Liz Matthews, the co-Founder of Even Keel eco-friendly yoga apparel, for sending this to the Punch.  She is also the producer of this outdoor series: 

Join us this Sunday, July 27th from 10:30-11:30AM in Rock Creek Park.  Vanessa King will be the teacher representing Flow Yoga Center.  We are in for a treat because Vanessa is an amazing teacher, and she’s into Flying Yoga/AcroYoga (don’t worry, no circus moves required in this class).  You can learn more about Vanessa on her website, http://makeyoganotwar.com.

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Three Men and a Birthday

A few other birthday shout outs go to the ever enterprising Fritz Brogan, Reed Landry, aka Mr. Late Night Shots (yes, the creator of the closed networking social site that focuses on what went on last night in Georgetown and in which bars it happened), as well as to tech investment guru Grant Allen. 

FFP "Dress Responsibly with Style" Campaign Kick-Off Countdown

You still have time to RSVP for this Thursday evening’s Fashion Fights Poverty’s “Dress Responsibly with Style” event at Barney’s Co-op in Georgetown.  From 6-8pm, you’ll enjoy the highlighted eco-designers of the hip M Street boutique, cocktails and bites.  Remember, we are not in a recession - the media just told us that, so it has to be true!  So it’s our responsibility to buy, buy and buy some more, for 5% of your purchases will go to Nest - thanks to the generosity of Barney’s. 

Oh and yes, that is Kate Michael, Miss DC 2006 (!), on the poster. 

RSVP to rsvp@sinpr.com

Do the Write Thing Challenge 2008

This evening, Tuesday, marks the Closing Ceremony of the 2008 Do the Write Thing Challenge of the Founding Directors of the Kuwait-America Foundation.  The reception and dinner will be held at the Mellon Auditorium with Master of Ceremonies John Roberts of CNN and remarks by Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah). 

I had the privilege of attending last year’s Closing Ceremony and it was a very moving experience.  This year’s will surely be just as memorable as middle school students from across the country are challenged to create in written form how violence in their communities affect them.  This provides a non-violent forum and outlet for these kids who are at an age so ripe to act out on their emotions.  Seeing, hearing, and being surrounded by violence everyday can take an emotional toll on a person, especially a young person. 

The Do the Write Thing Challenge is part of the National Campaign to Stop the Violence, which is a non-partisan, non-profit organization comprised of community, business, and government leaders who are bonding together in order to stop youth violence. 

These kids have such passion, talent and an earnest interest in making a  difference not only in their own lives, but in the lives of their friends, families and communities as a whole.  It is a emotional experience to hear their words.

Tomorrow the Punch will have some pictures and highlights of the 2008 Closing Ceremony.  In the meantime, this is the write up of last year’s:

http://www.pamelaspunch.com/doing-the-write-thing-isnt-always-easy/

Cirque du Soleil adds performances in DC

Thank you to Aba Kwawu of The Aba Agency for getting this press release over to the Punch.  If you have never been to a Cirque du Soleil performance, here’s your chance.  You will want to return again and again (not to sound like a commercial for them, but I have seen a few shows in my life and they are mesmerizing and thrilling to watch). 

They are coming to DC this fall - get your tickets now: 

ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES FOR
KOOZA© IN WASHINGTON DC

19 performances added - through November 30, 2008
Due to overwhelming demand, Cirque du Soleil™ announced that 19 additional performances, from November 18 - 30, 2008, will be added to the KOOZA show schedule in Washington DC. KOOZA will perform for a limited engagement under the trademark blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) at The Plateau (at National Harbor).

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Happy Hours and Happy Tails

The Punch is an official Partner of a cause which is near and dear to my heart, the Washington Humane Society (WHS), whose blog has stepped it up a notch, so congrats!  We are happy to direct you to their posts anytime, however, this particular one that came across recently looked hot, so please enjoy:

Frisky Business Doggie Happy Hours to Benefit WHS!

http://washhumane.typepad.com/blog/2008/07/frisky-business-doggie-happy-hour-to-benefit-whs.html

If you attend any of these, please give us feedback.  If I was lucky enough to have a dog, I’d be there every Wednesday…

(Pictured: Maggie Sorensen, my parents pup)

Ever been strong armed?

You’ve heard of the Battle of the Bulge (and I don’t mean the issue with  getting rid of those last few lbs), but I bet you haven’t heard of the “Battle of the Biceps”.  Don’t feel bad.  It’s only because Thursday, July 31st is the Inaugural Battle of the Biceps at The Rookery and trust me, you won’t want to miss it, even if it’s for the sheer entertainment (you will recognize many of the participants as DC’s socially active young professionals).

This charity arm wrestling tournament will benefit The Neediest Kids organization, so the macho mania won’t just be for show.  And no worries ladies, we aren’t being left out.  There’s a female bracket as well.  So if you are in the tournament, great luck to you and keep eating that spinach.  For everyone else, check out www.battleofthebiceps.com for more information.  There is a $10 suggested donation at the door.

July 31st, 9pm-12am.  The Rookery is located at 2519 Pennsylvania Ave, NW.  Thank you to all those who will be participating, and sponsors: Late Night Shots, Five Guys, The Rookery, Red Bull (1/2 priced RBV’s all night - for you amateurs, that’s Red Bull vodkas).