DUPONT -- The allure of a little down-to-earth Southern hospitality is the stuff of American folklore and nowhere is this more evident in the District than during the city's annual
Taste of the South gala.
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What began back in 1982 as a way for a small group of transplanted southerners living in Washington to share some of their traditions from back home has turned into an enormous celebration attended by over two thousand guests.
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Saturday's bash, which featured a tongue-in-cheek 'Southern Wonderland' (a rift on Alice in Wonderland) theme, sold-out in a record-breaking 23 minutes.
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This year marked the 34th incarnation of the popular black tie affair and raised more than $500,000 for featured charities
Camp Koinonia and
Dog Tag Bakery and nearly a dozen other nonprofits.
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Ticketholders enjoyed a night of live music, dancing, and Southern fare, with vendors from across America's lower tier contributing products native to their respective states (Coca-Cola and Chick-fil-A from Georgia, for example).
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Since its inception, Taste of the South has donated more than $4 million to charities across the South and in Washington, D.C. Indeed, it's easy to see why the organization boasts an Honorary Congressional Host Committee comprising of more than 150 lawmakers.
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Dixie does good.