Creative Coalition Gets Heats Up ‘The Night Before’

It was HOT in Washington — but not so hot that celebrities, members of Congress, donors, and media executives didn’t flock to Flavio’s Italian Restaurant in Georgetown last week for the Creative Coalition’s annual “The Night Before” (the WHCD) dinner party to support their campaign for arts education, #righttobeararts #rtba.

So many pre-WHCD events were cancelled, so if you were in the camp to promote arts education… The Creative Coalition’s was your only shot among the weekend’s social and philanthropic events.

After a day of lobbying on the Hill, The Creative Coalition’s notable attendees, President and actor Tim Daly (“Madam Secretary”), CEO Robin Bronk, Sarah Wayne Callies (“Prison Break”), Wendi McLendon-Covey (“The Goldbergs”), Chad Lowe (“Pretty Little Liars”), Alyssa Milano (“Mistresses”), Denis O’Hare (“American Horror Story”), Nick Sandow (“Orange Is the New Black”), Aaron Staton (“Mad Men”), Matt Walsh (“Veep”), and Kathrine Herzer (“Madam Secretary”) were joined by MSNBC’s Greta Van Susteren, Huffington Post Editorial Director Howard Fineman, DC Senators Paul Strauss and Mike Brown, representatives Deborah Ann “Debbie” Dingell (D-MI), David Cicilline (D-RI), and Susan Bonamici (D-OR). “Fame’s” Lori Singer opened the evening with a Bach cello solo.

Guests enjoyed libations from partners Maestro Dobel Tequila, Line 39 Wines and Blue Moon Brewing. Maestro Dobel Diamante Tequila featured their signature Black Diamond Margarita served with black Hawaiian salt. Wine pairings for the dinners included Line 39’s Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and newly released Day Owl Rose. Additionally, Miller-Coors offered its Blue Moon Belgian White, which is a Belgian-style witbier that paired well from the appetizer through main course service. The three course dinner included house salad, chicken Parmesan, Alaskan salmon and wild mushroom ravioli.  Celebrity guests signed a copy of the evening’s menu with the Blackwing 602 pencil, a favorite of writers, creatives and artists everywhere.

Photos courtesy The Creative Coalition #rightobeararts gala sponsored by Hollywood on the Potomac, Maestro Dobel Tequila, Line 39 Wines, Blue Moon Brewing, and Blackwing Pencils.