Events

Washington real estate developer Alan Novak receives the Insignia of Knight of the Royal Order of the Polar Star at the Swedish Ambassador's Residence in the U.S. Capital

Posted by Susanna at 10:17 AM, Jan 24, 2012 (Comments)

Category: Events

Washington real estate developer Alan Novak, who received the Insignia of Knight of the Royal Order of the Polar Star, and his wife Kate Novak.

WASHINGTON real estate developer Alan Novak was awarded the Insignia of Knight of the Royal Order of the Polar Star by Swedish Ambassador Jonas Hafström at a buffet reception at the Ambassador's residence on Nebraska Ave. in Northwest Washington on Monday evening, Jan. 23. Mr. Novak was instrumental in helping the Swedish government acquire the plot of land next to the Potomac River in Georgetown, where the new Swedish Embassy and the House of Sweden was built in 2006. That prime location has played a significant role in the success of the Embassy and the House of Sweden as one of Washington's preeminent venues for leadership business, social and educational events.

AMONG THE many guests who enjoyed the delicious buffet in the beautiful residence were former Swedish vice prime-minister and former leader of the Centrist Party Maud Olofsson; Lars Thunell, Executive Vice President and CEO of IFC (International Finance Corporation) at the World Bank, and his wife Yvonne Thunell, chair of Mentor International; Swedish daily Göteborgs-Posten's Senior Reporter Britt-Marie Mattsson and her husband Professor Sören Holmberg, Gothenburg University; Ambassador Claudia Fritsche of Liechtenstein; and The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) President Allan Sessoms and Mrs. Sessoms.

Anna Lidhagen, former Swedish vice prime-minister Maud Olofsson, and Gunilla Thorstensson, Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket).

Cecilia Browning, chair of SWEA Washington, DC, and Ingrid Beach, founder of the Swedish-American Cultural Union (SACU).

Per Augustsson, who is a Senior Fellow and Diplomat-in-Residence at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of the Johns Hopkins University in Washington D.C., and his wife Gabriella Augustsson, press counselor at the Embassy of Sweden in Washington.

Swedish Ambassador Jonas Hafström awards Washington real estate developer Alan Novak the Insignia of Knight of the Royal Order of the Polar Star.

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Closing reception for Daphne Dougall Hogg de Zileri exhibition in Washington, D.C.

Posted by Susanna at 1:34 PM, Dec 8, 2011 (Comments)

Category: Events

Fernando Quirós, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Peru; Pedro E. Gracey Araoz, Defense and Air Attache at the Embassy of Peru, and his wife Rosa Léon de Gracey; Alexander Watson, former U.S. Ambassador to Peru; and Simon Henshaw, Director of the Office of Andean Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.

THE EMBASSY of Peru held the closing reception of the fabulous photo exhibit - "Daphne - The Subtle Power of a Woman's Eye" -- with work by Peruvian photographer Daphne Dougall Hogg de Zileri (1936-2011) on Tuesday evening, December 6. Ms. Zileri's works capture the quiet magic and sparkle of everyday life in Peru and elsewhere. Among the many guests during the opening reception on November 18 was Nobel Laureate in literature 2010 Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa and his wife Patricia.

Shirley Tejada, Carolina Carranza and Fiorela Gutierrez of the Embassy of Peru in Washington, D.C.

Photographs by Daphne Dougall Hogg de Zileri

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SWEA Bazaar at House of Sweden in Washington draws more than 3,000 visitors on Saturday

Posted by Susanna at 4:53 PM, Dec 6, 2011 (Comments)

Category: Events

Santa Lucia procession outside House of Sweden in Washington on Saturday evening.

THE SWEDISH Christmas Bazaar - arranged by SWEA (Swedish Women's Educational Association, www.swea.org) and sponsored by the Swedish Embassy - was again a great success. It attracted more than 3,000 visitors to the House of Sweden on the Potomac River in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C. on Saturday afternoon, December 3.

Santa Lucia procession.

THE EVENT was opened in late morning, when Eva Hafström, wife of Swedish Ambassador Jonas Hafström, cut the red-green ribbon, and already at that early hour there was a line outside House of Sweden! But people didn't seem to mind. The line moved quickly and soon the visitors could enjoy Swedish glögg (a Christmas drink), traditional sandwiches and baked goods and other Swedish delicacies, and look at all the Christmas items that were for sale.

Santa Lucia procession.

THERE WERE also two Santa Lucia processions this day, with girls singing traditional Christmas hymns and songs. This year, the processions were held outside the House of Sweden so that more people could enjoy the singing and performance. And the beautiful evening contributed additionally to the ambience. The first procession was held early in the day for children, and a second one was held around closing time for the bazaar at 5 p.m. The second procession was led by Kerstin Hendrickson, who has led the Swedish Santa Lucia procession in the nation's capital for the last 20 years.

Eva Hess and Arne Dunhem promoting Swedish Church in Washington, D.C.

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SACC-DC celebrates the holiday season with party at House of Sweden in Washington

Posted by Susanna at 1:30 PM, Dec 2, 2011 (Comments)

Category: Events

John Hunter, FCC; Robert McDowell, FCC Commissioner; Marie Royce and her husband Congressman Ed Royce (R-Calif.)

THE WASHINGTON, D.C. chapter of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce (SACC-DC, www.sacc-dc.org) held its traditional Holiday Party with a Santa Lucia procession at the House of Sweden on Thursday evening, December 1. Bradley J. Olson, who serves as chairman of SACC-DC and SACC-USA, gave the opening remarks in Anna Lindh Hall to this festive evening. Afterwards guests enjoyed a delicious Swedish Christmas buffet and smörgåsbord. The evening's keynote speaker was FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell.

Bradley J. Olson, chairman of SACC-DC as well as SACC-USA, gives the welcome remarks in Anna Lindh Hall.

Representatives from IKEA Woodbridge - in the front row Stacey LeGates, Wendy Rogers and Ciannie Rodriguez. In the back row Fredrik Rabe, who is the head of Ikea Woodbridge and his wife Ashleigh.

Barbara Baffer, of Ericsson, announces the winners of the raffle tickets, with fine prizes such as tickets to a Redskin Game, baskets with IKEA products and other great prizes.

Stefan Brodd, Ingrid Albaugh, Elisabeth Albaugh and Kerstin Hendrickson. Ms. Hendrickson arranged the traditional Swedish Lucia procession in the Washington area for the last 20 years.

Emmy Melander of SACC-USA

Alan Schlaifer and Maja Persson, Manager of SACC-DC

FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell was the evening's keynote speaker.

The Lucia Procession

Congressman Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and his wife Marie.

The Lucia Procession

The IKEA team from Woodbridge, Virginia

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The 62nd Annual Christmas in Finland Bazaar in the Washington area held on Saturday

Posted by Susanna at 1:01 PM, Nov 21, 2011 (Comments)

Category: Events

Marianne Pärssinen

THE WASHINGTON area's 62nd Annual Christmas in Finland Bazaar drew a big crowd on Saturday, Nov. 19. Held at the Unitarian Church on River Road in Bethesda, Maryland, the bazaar featured delicious traditional Finnish sandwiches and baked goods at the cafe, as well as music, a design and art gift shop, a gourmet food and candy shop, a book and DVD shop, a baker's shop of Christmas pastries made with original Finnish recipes, and raffles and a silent auction.

Musicians at the Annual Christmas in Finland Bazaar in Bethesda, Maryland

Renato and Teija Reyes

Margret Agustsdottir and Sigrid Johannesdottir of Dedua (www.dedua.com)

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National Press Club's 34th Annual Book Fair & Author's Night held November 15

Posted by Susanna at 3:00 PM, Nov 17, 2011 (Comments)

Category: Events

Sisters Sophie Kallinis and Katherine Kallinis LaMontagne presented their book "The Cupcake Diaries: Recipes and Memories from the Sisters of Georgetown Cupcake" at the National Press Club Book Fair.

THE NATONAL PRESS CLUB in Washington, D.C. held its 34th Annual Book Fair & Author's Night on Tuesday evening, November 15. Among the authors were such well-known politicians as U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman, who promoted his book "The Gift of Rest: Rediscovering the Beauty of Sabbath," and former U.S. Senator Bob Graham of Florida, who has written a thriller named "Keys to the Kingdom." Other political writers represented at the Book Fair were Georgie Anne Geyer, Ron Suskind, Jim Lehrer, Ann Coulter and Marvin Kalb.

Ellen Sweets, writer of "Stirring It Up with Molly Ivins: A Memoir with Recipes," her brother Fred Sweets, and former White House Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, with his book "A Sweet World of White House Desserts: From Brown Sugar Baskets to Gingerbread Houses, a Pastry Chef Remembers."

ADDITIONALLY, there were plenty of food books offered, like former White House Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier's "A Sweet World of White House Desserts: From Blown Sugar Baskets to Gingerbread Houses, a Pastry Chef Remembers." Mr. Mesnier was hired by First Lady Rosalyn Carter in 1979, and served as White House Pastry Chef under Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Veteran newsman Jim Lehrer, who has presided over 11 presidential debates and vice presidential debates, provides an insight from some of the epic battles of American political history in his book "Tension City: Inside the Presidential Debates, from Kennedy-Nixon to McCain-Obama."

ANOTHER FOOD book "Stirring It Up with Molly Ivins: A Memoir with Recipes" is an account of the friendship between Austin reporter Ellen Sweets and noted columnist Molly Ivins, complete with recipes they cooked together.

AND SISTERS Katherine Kallinis and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne, who opened Georgetown Cupcake in Washington, D.C., presented their book "The Cupcake Diaries: Recipes and Memories from the Sisters of Georgetown Cupcake." These stars of the TLC series DC Cupcakes, present recipes in their book and tell the secrets of their business success - where they sell as many as 10,000 cupcakes a day!

The National Press Club's 34th Annual Book Fair & Author's Night.

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KTH Alumni starts chapters in North America

Posted by Susanna at 9:39 PM, Nov 7, 2011 (Comments)

Category: Events

ON OCTOBER 20 a group of alumni from KTH (The Stockholm Institute of Technology or Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan in Stockholm, Sweden) met at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. to discuss establishing a Washington, D.C. Chapter, and plans for future activities. Many ideas and priorities were presented, including the creation of a social and professional network for KTH alumni to assist new KTH arrivals to the Washington area, and the implementation of a platform for information and knowledge exchange. Future activities will include seminars, lectures and networking events. The chapter also hopes to welcome representatives from KTH faculty to meet with local alumni.

THE GROUP IS also hoping to develop activities in collaboration with other KTH Chapters in North America. The local chapter plans to hold meetings about every six weeks, and the next meeting is scheduled to the first week of December (date to be announced). Key contact person is Thomas Unander-Scharin. He can be reached at Thomas.unanderscharin@gmail.com.

ON SEPTEMBER 14 an Alumni "meet & greet" event was held in New York, when five alumni got together to discuss the establishment of a KTH Alumni NYC Chapter. The planned activities include networking, arranging cultural and academic events, supporting new graduates from KTH and promoting their alma mater in general. Initial contact person is Sebastian Nordgrén. The group hopes to hold a more formal inaugural event with representatives from KTH also in attendance.

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Mentor Foundation USA holds conference focusing on the growing trend of prescription drug abuse among youth

Posted by Susanna at 11:02 AM, Nov 7, 2011 (Comments)

Category: Events

Councilmember for Ward 7 in Washington, D.C. Yvette Alexander informs the audience about the prescription medicine abuse in her area. On the right the chair of Mentor Foundation Yvonne Thunell and Robert DuPont of the Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc.

MENTOR FOUNDATION USA, the international organization that is focused on preventing drug abuse among youth, joined the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Embassy of Sweden observed National Drug Abuse Facts Day on Nov. 2, bringing together top scientists, parents, educators, counselors, community members and students to find ways to address the growing problem of prescription drug abuse by youth.

SPEAKERS at the conference, which was held at the House of Sweden in Washington, included Dr. Robert L. DuPont, former head of NIDA and former Drug Czar; Dr. Wilson Compton of NIDA; David Mineta, deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy; Cecilia Fant, Detective Inspector from the Swedish National Bureau of Investigation (who talked by telephone from Stockholm); Ken Winters, from the University of Minnesota; Jamila Sams, program director for Mentor Foundation USA; and Sharon Brigner, deputy vice president for PhARMA.

YVONNE THUNELL, chairman of Mentor Foundation and Mentor Foundation USA, welcomed the audience at the start of the conference and stated, "It is extremely important to raise the awareness regarding the magnitude of the misuse of prescription medicine among youth, and that is what we hope this conference will achieve. We have gathered parents, educators, and other experts in the field to talk about this growing problem and learn best practices on how it can best be prevented. We need to work together in preventing the newest threats of substance abuse among today's youth."

The facts about prescription drug abuse by youth are striking:

An estimated 56 percent of youth aged 12 or older report that they got and most recently used prescription drugs "from a friend or relative for free."

In the United States, there are more unintentional overdose drug deaths due to prescription drugs than for heroin or cocaine.

According to a 2010 report by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 71 percent of drug-induced overdose deaths were due to prescription drugs.

Some 20 percent of all high school seniors in the U.S. admit to using an illicit drug within the past year.

EARLIER IN THE DAY, Mentor Foundation USA invited 100 D.C. high school students to the House of Sweden to interact with top U.S. scientific experts and guest speakers to shatter the myths about drugs and to pledge to stay drug free. The guest speakers included NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow and R&B recording artist Mario (Barrett), of The Mario Do Right Foundation. The George Washington University Center for Alcohol/Peer Drug Educators presented workshops in a game show format, and the fashion clothing retailer H&M announced the winner of the drug free T-shirt slogan contest, which they sponsored.

To access and copy photos from the day's events, visit: www.mentorfoundation.org/usa/drug-facts-day-2011.

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Arts for the Aging 23rd Annual Benefit Gala celebrated at the Embassy of Luxembourg in Washington, D.C.

Posted by Susanna at 7:24 AM, Nov 3, 2011 (Comments)

Category: Events

Ambassador Jean-Paul Senninger of Luxembourg and his wife, Mrs. Louise Åkerblom

ARTS FOR THE AGING (AFTA) - the Washington DC area arts service organization founded by Lolo Sarnoff - held its 23rd Annual Benefit Gala at the elegant Embassy of the grand Duchy of Luxembourg on Embassy Row on Tuesday evening, November 1, 2011.

AMBASSADOR Jean-Paul Senninger of Luxembourg gave the opening remarks to the guests. Master of Ceremonies was Patrick Haggerty. Additionally the event featured the 4th Annual Lolo Sarnoff Award Presentation to Dr. Dorothy Kosinski, Director at The Phillips Collection. Violinist Anthony Hyatt performed during the event. After the program, a delicious buffet was served at the chancery's second floor.

Anthony C. Morella, Monique Summers-Mally, former Maryland Congresswoman and former U.S. Permanent Representative to the OECD Connie Morella, and Gerhard Mally.

FOR 23 YEARS Arts for the Aging has been a pioneer in the concept of providing free community arts resources for older adults, focusing their mission services on those who are vulnerable and living with a broad range of physical and cognitive impairments.

FOUNDED by Lolo Sarnoff, who has worked as a professional artist learning first-hand the health benefits of lifelong creative activity, the organization's arts engagement workshops are specifically designed to improve older adult's mental and physical health, longevity and overall quality of life. For more information: www.AFTAarts.org.

AFTA Chair Susan Rosenbaum, Gala Co-Chair Joyce S. Hagel-Silverman, Executive Director Janine Tursini, and Gala Co-Chair Susanne E. Eisinger

Eva and Steven Lamb

Ambassador Jean Paul Senninger of Luxembourg gives a speech to the guests. On the left AFTA Chair Susan Rosenbaum.

Photographer Neshan H. Naltchayan and Chris Warnke

Dominic and Gunilla Ramella, and Don Bliss

George Chavez, Ambassador Jean-Paul Senninger of Luxembourg and his wife Mrs. Louise Åkerblom

AFTA Chair Susan Rosenbaum and Executive Director Janine Tursini

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'A Song for the Horse Nation' - exhibition at Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian opens in Washington

Posted by Susanna at 9:17 AM, Nov 1, 2011 (Comments)

Category: Events

Randall L. Willis, chairman of the National Museum of the American Indian Board of Trustees, his wife Teresa, and the curator of the exhibition Emil Her Many Horse.

"A SONG FOR THE HORSE NATION" - a critically acclaimed exhibition about the enduring relationship between Native people and horses - held its opening reception at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. on Thursday evening, October 27. Previously the exhibition was showed at the museum's George Gustav Heye Center in New York. The expanded Washington version shows 15 more objects, including a 16-foot high, 38-foot circumference hand-painted 19th century Sioux tipi depicting battle and horse raiding scenes. Other highlights among the 112 items are a life-size horse-mannequin in spectacular, fully-beaded regalia and Geronimo and Chief Joseph's rifles.

A 16-foot high, 38-foot circumference hand-painted 19th century Sioux tipi depicting battle and horse raiding scenes.

"A SONG for the Horse Nation" presents the story of the horse's influence on American Indian tribes beginning with the return of horses to the Western Hemisphere by Christopher Columbus to the present day. The exhibition traces how horses changed the lives of Native people from the way they traveled, hunted and defended themselves to how horse trade among tribes was the conduit for the magnificent spread of horses in the Plains and Plateau regions of the United States. It shows beautifully how horses became the inspiration for new artworks and how horse traditions continue today in Indian Country at fairs, rodeos and annual youth rides.

THE EXHIBITION runs through January 7, 2013. National Museum of the American Indian is located at 4th Street and Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. For more information: www.nmai.si.edu.

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