December 2010

Cupcake STHLM introduces American tradition to the Swedish capital

Posted by Susanna at 4:19 PM, Dec 22, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Food & Drink

Inauguration of Cupcake STHLM in Stockholm. From the left, owners Mikael Ingeltun and Martin Johansson, together with the U.S. Ambassador to Sweden Matthew Barzun, and Eva Hafström, wife of the Swedish Ambassador to the United States Jonas Hafström.

AFTER RETURNING to Sweden from his job as the former chef at the Embassy of Sweden in Washington, D.C., Martin Johansson, together with colleague Mikael Ingeltun, started a cupcake business -- Cupcake STHLM (http://www.cupcakesthlm.se) - in the Swedish capital.

Martin Johansson and Mikael Ingeltun of Cupcake STHLM in Stockholm

INSPIRED BY the American trend, they opened this store with only cupcakes a few months ago, and the locals can taste their creations while listen to American Jazz. "It would be great to see all my old friends from Washington and the U.S. over the holidays, and we welcome them to stop by and enjoy the delights of our new cupcake bakery," says owner Martin Johansson.

Cupcake STHLM is located at S:t Eriksgatan 83, 113 32 Stockholm. Hours: Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 noon - 5 p.m. Tel. 08- 83 80 83.

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Georgetown Business Association holds its Annual Meeting and Holiday Reception

Posted by Susanna at 12:37 PM, Dec 16, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Bo Börje Jonsson, Bank of Georgetown; Billy Martin, Billy Martin's Tavern; and Patrick Burke, Assistant Chief, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department

GEORGETOWN Business Association (GBA) in Washington, D.C. held its traditional annual meeting and holiday reception at Historic Dumbarton House (www.dumbartonhouse.org) on Wednesday evening, Dec. 15, 2010. During the annual meeting the 2011 Board of Directors were elected, followed by the awards presentation. The Georgetown Dish was elected "Business of the Year," the "Art Schultz Communitarian Award" went to John Dreyfuss, Halcyon House, and the "Joe Pozell Public Safety Award" was presented to Officer Robert Ferretti and Assistant Chief Patrick Burke of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. A holiday reception and music by Radio King Orchestra followed the awards ceremony.

Bill Farrand and Cecilia Browning

Photographer Neshan Naltchayan, Marilyn Thompson and George Steinbraker from The Current Newspapers

Mark Adams, Tatyana Day and Tony Monell

Angel F. Zambrano, Executive Manager of Scavolini by Living Design Center in Washington, D.C.; and Randall Thacker of Deloitte Consulting LLP.

Manuel Charpentier and Heidi Hess of POPPY One-of-a-kind Jewelry & Fine Art in Georgetown

Katrina Rubin, Bill Farrand and Janine Schoonover, who was elected to the GBA Board.

Michael Muscenti and Kimberly Robinson

Bill Farrand and Bo Börje Jonsson

The awards ceremony

The holiday reception

The holiday reception

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Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America held its 2nd Annual State of the Alcohol Industry briefing and reception in Washington

Posted by Susanna at 4:09 PM, Dec 15, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Craig Wolf, President and CEO of Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, speaks to the guests at the reception.

WINE & Spirits Wholesalers of America held its 2nd Annual State of the Alcohol Industry media briefing and reception at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010. This year's theme was Domestic Industry, Global Impact. Prior to the reception, an elite panel of supplier, wholesaler and retailer executives shared their perspectives and assessments on how global economic factors impact America's beverage alcohol industry. The panel was moderated by Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America.

Donte Clavo, Rosalind Riddick and Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., President & CEO of Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Theresa Werner, Alan N. Schlaifer and Lauren Best

Rudy Arredondo, Editor-in-Chief, National Hispanic Political Reporter; Kerrye Braxton; and Carlos R. Calderón, CEO/OAS Staff, Federal Credit Union

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Holiday Happy Hour with the Washington European Society

Posted by Susanna at 11:51 AM, Dec 14, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Matthew H.T.M. Stephenson, Izaskun Valdazo and Peter Johnsen

FRIENDS AND members of the Washington European Society (www.eu-society.org) met for a Holiday Happy Hour on Monday evening, Dec. 13 at One Lounge in the Dupont Circle area of Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON European Society is a nonprofit organization with the objective to foster debate, discussion, mutual networks and exchange ideas among young European professionals living and working in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

Rada Dagher, Fabio Comelli and Nahla Hafez

Asama Ahmed, Nick Fitzhugh, Saskia Wrausmann and Mark Vlasic

Pablo Pardo and a friend

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Party Crashers at Artisphere show opens in Arlington, Virginia

Posted by Susanna at 9:58 AM, Dec 13, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Acclaimed Swedish artist Anna U. Davis and her new artwork "Vikings"

THE OPENING reception for the "Party Crashers at Artisphere" show - "Comic Book Culture Invades the Art World" -- was held on Saturday evening, Dec. 11, 2010, at the Terrace Gallery at the Artisphere in Arlington, Va.

THE EXHIBIT - a collaboration between Artisphere and the Arlington Arts Center -- examines the ways in which comic art's influence is evident in the pieces and working methods of fine artists: Bold black lines, flat expanses of solid color, sequential storytelling and the joining of literature and imagery are common facets of artworks made today. Whether consciously or unconsciously, fine artists co-opt this powerful pop culture idiom's history, formal elements and narrative devices to tell their own stories. The participating artists at Artisphere are D. Billy (NY), iona rozeal brown (NY/DC), Eric Cheevers (DC), Anna U. Davis (DC), Nekisha Durrett (DC), Jim Houser (PA), Tim Kerr (TX), Matt Leines (PA), Thom Lessner (PA), Ryan Nelson (MI), Oura Sananikone (VA), and Zach Storm (DC/MD).

Swedish artist Anna U. Davis and her husband Peter Davis in front of Anna's Midsummer painting.

The sister exhibit at the Arlington Arts Center features the work of alternative comic artists, including published works, original pages and pieces in a variety of media made specifically for the gallery. The exhibitions are curated by Cynthia Connolly (Artisphere) and Jeffry Cudlin (Arlington Arts Center).

The exhibition at Artisphere is open until Sunday, February 12, 2011. Artisphere is located at 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. 22209. Gallery Hours: Mon - Sat 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sun 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tel. 703-875-1100. For more information: www.artisphere.com.

Lena Skanby and Jackie Steven

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New exhibition with artists Magnolia Laurie and Jon Bobby Benjamin opens at Hamiltonian Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Posted by Susanna at 11:46 AM, Dec 12, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Design & Art

Artists Jon Bobby Benjamin and Magnolia Laurie

A NEW TWO-PERSON exhibition with artists Magnolia Laurie "holding up," and Jon Bobby Benjamin "going home" opened at Hamiltonian Gallery on U Street, N.W. in Washington, D.C. on Saturday evening, Dec. 11, 2010.

BOTH LAURIE AND BENJAMIN have employed the politics of place, each highlighting the debris of our throw-away culture, breathing new life into the idle spaces and objects which surround us in an ever-expanding field.

Mark Braswell, Hamiltonian Gallery Director Jacqueline Ionita, Elena Ionita and Josh Warmack

IN HER NEW series, "holding up," Ms. Laurie illustrates geometric structures that depict cumulated residual heaps of natural and man-made materials that remain after a storm. Seemingly disordered, her paintings are composed of architectural elements that suggest the engineering of Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion as well as the intricate weaving of bird nests. These delicate, precarious systems in Magnolia Laurie's paintings speak of endurance, survival, the activity of dwelling and "making-do."

Photographer Elen Awalom

JON BOBBY Benjamin's new work, going home, reflects his physical exploration of the natural world. Mr. Benjamin creates sculptural amalgamations of familiar industrial materials and found maritime objects. Consisting of buoys, docks, channel markers, and tide bells, Benjamin creates systems that are seemingly inaccessible and unreadable. These irrational arrangements distill a sense of timelessness, placeless-ness and solitude.

Artist Carolina Mayorga and Craig Garrett

The exhibition will go on until January 15, 2011. Hamiltonian Gallery is located at 1353 U Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009. Tel. 202-332-1116. For more information: www.hamiltoniangallery.com.

Painting by Magnolia Laurie

Artwork by Jon Bobby Benjamin

Painting by Magnolia Laurie

Artwork by Jon Bobby Benjamin

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Christmas Scenes from Gothenburg, Sweden

Posted by Susanna at 5:50 PM, Dec 11, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Travel

Gothenburg, Sweden

Gothenburg, Sweden

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Exhibition with "New Work," paintings by Paula Crawford opens at Long View Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Posted by Susanna at 5:16 PM, Dec 10, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Artist Paula Crawford and her husband Jeffrey Brown, senior correspondent at PBS Newshour

AN OPENING reception for "New Work," paintings by artist Paula Crawford (www.paulacrawford.com) was held at Long View Gallery in Washington, D.C. on Thursday evening, Dec. 9, 2010.

Photographer Madonna Belton, Thomas Snowden and Gwen Ifill, managing editor and moderator for Washington Week (PBS) and a senior correspondent for The Newshour (PBS).

MS. CRAWFORD has showcased her art at exhibitions in New York, California, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and Washington, as well as internationally at shows in Peru, Paraguay, Canada and Jordan.

Artist Paula Crawford

PAULA CRAWFORD was born and raised in Berkely, California, and she received her MFA in 1988 from San Francisco Art Institute, with a year's residency at the Whitney Museum of American Art Independent Study Program in New York. Prior to her art studies at SFAI, she held a graduate fellowship in U.C. Berkeley's Comparative Literature department after completing her B.A. there. She is currently an Associate Professor of Painting at George Mason University's School of Art.

Valerie Dicke and Shalom Baranes

THE SHOW dates at Long View Gallery are Dec. 9 through Jan. 16, 2010. Long View Gallery is located at 1234 9th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.20001. Tel. 202-232-4788. For more information: www.longviewgallery.com.

Artist Paula Crawford and Siobhan Gavagan of Long View Gallery

Matthew H.T.M. Stephenson, Saskia Wrausmann and Brian Bailey

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Exhibition with Peruvian artist Milagros Pongo opens at Gary Taylor Art Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Posted by Susanna at 4:31 PM, Dec 10, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Peruvian artist Milagros Pongo

AN EXHIBITION of the works of Peruvian artist Milagros Pongo (www.milagrospongo.blogspot.com) opened on Thursday evening, Dec. 9, 2010, at Gary Taylor Art Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Ambassador Rigoberto Gauto of Paraguay, Peruvian artist Milagros Pongo, and Fernando Quirós, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Peru

THIS IS the artist's latest collection of abstract paintings in mixed techniques inspired by the work of Rhonda Byrne's "The Power." The 20 paintings in medium and large formats reflect the strength that each human being carries within themselves, that creative force that causes people to freely address their life and destiny of their choice. That force is summarized in one feeling - "love."

EVERY PAINTING reflects this strength in the field of the human relations, work, health and daily life. Each piece was made with golden laminas and essential oils used in aromatherapy from South Africa. With this exhibit the artist will end her cultural tour that started in January in Punta del Este, Uruguay, in March in Peru, in April in Murcia, Spain, in May in South Africa, in July in Paraguay, in August in Venice, Italy, and now in Washington, D.C.

Ambassador Rigoberto Gauto of Paraguay; Alejandra Espinola, Cultural Attaché at the Embassy of Paraguay; Peruvian artist Milagros Pongo; Fernando Quirós, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Peru; and Luis Chang Boldrini, Minister Counselor at the Embassy of Peru

THE OPENING reception was sponsored by the Embassy of Peru. The exhibit runs until Dec. 26, 2010. Gary Taylor Art Gallery is located at 1843 Columbia Road (between N. Biltmore St & N. Mintwood Pl), N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009. Tel. 202-483-5853. Hours: Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Fernando Allo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay, Lucy Ruiz, Jenny Yuli Morante, Elena Jungbluth and Luis Chang Boldrini, Minister Counselor at the Embassy of Peru

Gabriela Filippelli; Estela Gauto, wife of the Ambassador of Paraguay; artist Milagros Pongo; and Ambassador Rigoberto Gauto of Paraguay

Elena Jungbluth and Gabriela Filippelli

Alejandra Espinola, Cultural Attaché at the Embassy of Paraguay; and Gabriela Filippelli

Artwork by Peruvian artist Milagros Pongo

Artwork by Milagros Pongo

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New York - Christmas Wonderland

Posted by Susanna at 11:00 AM, Dec 9, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Travel

Fifth Avenue

Saks Fifth Avenue

Bergdorf Goodman

Barney's

Henri Bendel

Bloomingdale's

Cartier

Macy's

Lord & Taylor

Fifth Avenue

FAO Schwarz

Fifth Avenue Food Stand

Empire State Building

Rockefeller Center

Tiffany's

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Scandinavian Christmas Festival in Potomac, Maryland on Saturday, Dec. 11

Posted by Susanna at 11:44 AM, Dec 8, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Traditional Santa Lucia procession. The photo is from last Saturday's successful SWEA Bazaar at the House of Sweden in Georgetown. Photo by Peggy Orchowski

THE HOLIDAY SEASON for Scandinavians will be celebrated with a traditional Scandinavian Christmas Festival in St. James' Episcopal Church in Potomac, Maryland, on Saturday, Dec. 11, between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. The event is hosted by The American Scandinavian Association of the National Capital, Area, Inc., and will feature a St. Lucia Pageant, which begins at 5 p.m. in the sanctuary and Bazaar Sales begin at 5:30 p.m in the parish hall. Additionally there will be dancing around the Christmas tree, a visit by Santa, Nordic Dancer's and Children's Dance Group, coffee, glögg (the traditional Swedish Christmas drink) and cookies. Admission: $6 for adults, $3 for ages 2-12, free under 2, and $20 max cost per family.

ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH is located at 11815 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, Maryland 20854. For more information: www.Scandinavian-DC.org.

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Well-known Washington photographer Jason Miccolo Johnson promotes his latest publication, "Cooking Up South," for which he did all the photography

Posted by Susanna at 2:43 PM, Dec 6, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Well-known Washington photographer Jason Miccolo Johnson

WELL-KNOWN Washington photographer Jason Miccolo Johnson held a reception on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 5, 2010, to promote his latest book, "Cooking Up South: Entertaining with Soulful Recipes, Poems and Remembrances," for which he did the photography that illustrates the cuisine presented in the book. Sylvia Dianne Beverly is the author, with accompanying poems and remembrances by Nikki Giovanni, Tinesah Davis, Le Hinton, Susan Laughter Meyers, Van Garrett and Marjory Wentworth, and an introduction by Kwame Alexander.

MR. JOHNSON also presented exquisite photographs of landscapes, Africa and Jamaica, along with historic images of Thurgood Marshall, Dorothy Height and a reunion of leaders of SNCC (the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee).

FOR MORE information about Mr. Johnson and his work, visit his Web site: www.miccolo.com.

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Swedish Advent Service held at Augustana Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C.

Posted by Susanna at 1:24 PM, Dec 6, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

A beautiful Santa Lucia procession at the Swedish Advent Service in Augustana Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C. on Sunday afternoon.

THE TRADITIONAL - and annual -- Swedish Advent Service at Augustana Lutheran Church was held Sunday afternoon, Dec. 5. The Rev. Kajsa Öhlmér from the Church of Sweden in New York officiated and Ambassador Jonas Hafström extended Christmas Greetings to the Swedish Community in the nation's capital. After the service, the lights went down low and the congregation was treated to a traditional Lucia procession with lighted candles and the singing of Swedish Christmas carols. Afterwards, people gathered for the "kyrkkaffe" in the church's social hall, where coffee, gingerbread cookies and home baked buns were served.

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Record number of people come to SWEA Christmas Bazaar in Washington

Posted by Susanna at 12:21 AM, Dec 5, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

A huge crowd came to the SWEA Christmas Bazaar at the House of Sweden on Saturday afternoon. To the right is the Santa Lucia procession.

A RECORD NUMBER OF people - around 3,200 - came to the SWEA (Swedish Women's Educational Association) Christmas Bazaar at the House of Sweden on banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 4. There were so many people that the lines quickly became long and the building filled up, starting at the opening at 11 in the morning, when Eva Hafström, wife of the Swedish Ambassador Jonas Hafström, presided over the opening ceremony and cut the ribbon.

AND MORE people kept coming during the entire afternoon. When the Santa Lucia procession started at 4 p.m. it was so crowded that a lot of visitors couldn't get inside the building. But to resolve that problem, the Santa Lucia procession also made an appearance outside the entrance of the House of Sweden, singing the Swedish Christmas carols.

Anne Marie McGowan and Eva Hafström, wife of Swedish Ambassador Jonas Hafström, presided over the opening ceremony.

The Christmas Bazaar is an annual SWEA tradition, hosted by SWEA Washington, D.C. and supported by Embassy of Sweden. It offers Swedish delicacies for sale, a cafeteria with typical Swedish sandwiches and home-baked cakes and the traditional hot Christmas drink glögg, among other things. There are also Swedish products such as crystal, artwork, crafts, textiles and books for sale. The highlight of the event is the Santa Lucia procession.

The Santa Lucia procession. Photo: Peggy Orchowski

Sara Holmberg and Christopher Harvin

Jonas Sohlin and John W. Hunter

Sofia Lazdins, Christina Lazdins, Julia Lazdins and Lena Behrens

Kajsa Öhlmér, the priest at the Swedish Church in New York and at the Swedish monthly service at Augustana Church in Northwest Washington, along with Gunnel Hamilton

Kerstin Stewart and Peggy Orchowski

Sandra Frejd and Fanny Berggren

Paul Johnson and Bo Börje Jonsson represented Swedish-American Cultural Union (SACU).

The Swedish Residence as a ginger-bread house.

Bodil Millberg and Gunilla Ramella

SWEA members Inka Reilly and Gunnel Gyllenhoff

The Santa Lucia procession also sang outside the House of Sweden for visitors who were not able to enter because of the many people already inside the building.

The Santa Lucia procession sang outside the House of Sweden.

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Opening reception for painter Nurieh Mozaffari at Parish Gallery in Georgetown

Posted by Susanna at 12:07 PM, Dec 4, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Design & Art

Painter and jewelry designer Nurieh Mozaffari and her husband Kamran Tiv

AN EXHIBIT showcasing dramatic paintings by Vancouver artist Nurieh Mozaffari (www.nurieh-mozaffari.com) opened at Parish Gallery in Georgetown in Washington, D.C. on Friday evening, December 3, 2010.

MS. MOZAFFARI, who also is a jewelry designer, was born in Iran. She earned a bachelor's degree in art, and a masters degree in painting at Art University. She has also served as a faculty member at an Iranian university. Upon her arrival in Vancouver in 1998, she pursued a diploma in jewelry design. Ms. Mozaffari's work has been exhibited in Iran, Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

Gallery owner Norman Parish, his wife Gwen Parish, painter and jewelry designer Nurieh Mozaffari and her husband Kamran Tiv

IN DESCRIBING her work, Ms. Mozaffari says: "I try to capture my emotions and my perceptions through the simplicity of shape, the harmony of color, and the paradox of light and dark. My paintings are symbolic of my interpretation of live, of my love of what is natural and true."

MS. MOZAFFARI'S paintings will be at Parish Gallery through January 12, 2011. On Friday, December 17, 2010, from 6 to 8 p.m., Parish Gallery will have a reception for her to show her jewelry designs. All are invited.

Parish Gallery is located at 1054 31st Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007. Tel. 202-944-2310. For more information: www.parishgallery.com.

Tala Abbasi and Adela Poudratchi

Stephany J. Smith and Babak Hafezi

Paintings by Nurieh Mozaffari

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Exhibit with photos of the Atacama Desert by Judith V. May opens at the Embassy of Chile in Washington, D.C.

Posted by Susanna at 11:47 AM, Dec 3, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Natalia Allende, the Cultural Department of the Embassy of Chile; Nicolas Bär, Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of Chile; his wife Maria José Larrain; and Emilia Edwards, Press Attaché of the Embassy of Chile

THE INAUGURATION of an exhibit with photos of the Atacama Desert - "A Desert Captured" -- by Judith V. May was held at the Embassy of Chile in Washington, D.C. on Thursday evening, December 3, 2010. Ms. May's approach to the landscape from multiple points of view results in surprising and very attractive images.

THE EMBASSY OF CHILE is located at 1732 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. For more information and photos of the event: www.chile-usa.org.

Barbara Bennett, artist Rafael Gallardo and Irene Zimmerman

Counselor Julio Bravo, Chief of the Department of Political Affairs at the Embassy of Chile, and Jorge Velozo, Police Attaché at the Embassy of Chile

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Artist reception at POPPY One-of-a-kind Jewelry & Fine Art in Georgetown

Posted by Susanna at 10:36 AM, Dec 3, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Design & Art

Véronique Barbin and gallery owner Heidi Hess

AN ARTIST reception was held at POPPY One-of-a-kind Jewelry & Fine Art in Georgetown in Washington, D.C. on Thursday evening, December 2, 2010. The gallery is currently showing paintings by French artist Virginie Hoyaux (www.Virginie.Hoyaux.Artblog.fr), and during the reception, owner Heidi Hess talked about Hoyaux's visions and inspirations that led her into the abstract world of "Urban Space, Concentration & Vacuum."

Laetitia Brock, Dhawel Sharma and Rupa Lalchandani

HOYAUX'S ARTWORK is a series of abstract paintings exploring memories, dreams, time and space. Brush strokes are repetitive and rhythmic, at once defining and erasing space. The artist works with this duality of repetition and absence to evoke built environments and their gradual dissolution and evolution.

POPPY is located at 3235 P Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007. Tel. 202-290-1377. For more information: www.poppymetals.com.

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SACC-DC holds Holiday Reception

Posted by Susanna at 12:31 PM, Dec 1, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Barbara Baffer, Vice President, Public Affairs and Regulations for Ericsson in its Washington, D.C. office; Congressman Ed Royce (R-Calif.); his wife Marie Thérèse Royce, Senior Director, International Affairs for the Americas, Alcatel-Lucent; and John W. Hunter, Deputy Chief, Pricing Policy Division, Federal Communications Commission.

A FESTIVE SACC-DC (The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce's Washington Chapter) (www.sacc-dc.org) holiday reception with Santa Lucia procession and celebration was held at the House of Sweden in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday evening, November 30, 2010. The program included welcome drink of glögg, the traditional Swedish Christmas season drink; a photo exhibit by Ericsson titled "Technology for Good;" and a delicious traditional Swedish holiday buffet and smörgåsbord, provided by Swedish Caterers.

The evening's guest speaker was Dr. Joel Selanikio, CEO and Co-Founder of DataDyne and Assistant Professor at Georgetown University, Department of Pediatrics. Ericsson - a world-leading provider of telecommunications equipment and related services to mobile and fixed network operators globally - sponsored the event.

Oskar Litton, Barbara Wennerholm, Maxwell Litton and Amanda Uhlman

John W. Hunter, FCC; Janice Obuchowski, president of Freedom Technologies, Inc.; and Dr. Joel Selanikio, CEO and Co-Founder of DataDyne and the evening's speaker.

Gunilla Ekberg, Ekberg International; and Christian A. Ekberg

Lynne Milne, Nese Guendelsberger, Secretary of French American Chamber of Commerce of Washington D.C. Jean-François Orsini and Audrey P. Rasmussen

Cecilia Kullman, SACC-USA, and Anna Wiinberg, SACC Washington DC

Kelley Shields and Desirée Ruiz, both with Ericsson, Inc.

Steven Brodd, organist at Augustana Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C., and Kerstin Hendrickson, leader and coordinator of the annual Santa Lucia procession

The Santa Lucia procession performs traditional Swedish Christmas and holiday songs.

Bradley J. Olson, Chairman of SACC Washington, DC, introduces the evening's speaker Dr. Joel Selanikio, CEO and Co-Founder of DataDyne.

Steven Brodd