Art Museum of the Americas Goes Dark; Invites Thousands Of Friends...

Be sure to check out all 52 of our photographs from this event HERE and tell us what you were wearing that night!

NORTHWEST -- Washington, D.C. might play second fiddle to New York when it comes to designer fashion, but the city reigns supreme when it comes to world-class museums.

Like cultural institutions all around the world, however, D.C.'s Art Museum of the Americas must confront the issue of how to appeal to a new generation of visitors: one significantly younger and more diverse than in the past.

One way that has proven enormously successful in recent years has been to invite such "young professionals" out after hours to special events that blend elements of music, dance, and, of course, various forms of art. A well-stocked bar (or two or three) doesn't hurt either...

Borrowing from the success of the "Hirshhorn's After Hours" and "Phillips After 5" programs, the Art Museum of the Americas launched its own late night "museum intervention" last night with a celebration appropriately titled "Art After Dark".

Hosted by the Friends of the Art Museum of the Americas with the support of The Pink Line Project, the evening built upon the venue's focus on North, Central, and South American and Caribbean culture, with an exhibit featuring the architectural designs of Paul Philippe Cret, improvisational percussion from Argentina's Marcelo Woloski, and live music by DJ Smudge and Adrian Parson's band, Exactly.

The historic building also served as host for a series of video installations by Kathryn Cornelius and performance art by Carolina Mayorga, although guests spent the majority of their time outside on the gorgeous terrace (despite the summer heat).

As we mingled with the crowd of smartly dressed art lovers, we ran into many friends, including the Corcoran's Kristin Guiter, soon-to-open Serendipity 3's Janine Schoonover, 8112 Studios' Nicholas Cambata, Douglas Sonders, and Pergrin Pervez, K Street Kate's Kate Michael, Rolling Stone Contributor H.E. W. Nelson Lewis, Hill staffer Angelique Vélez and David C. Pardini, popular legal recruiter Matthew Schwartz, Hisaoka Communications' Wendy J. Gordon, and the always affable Allen M. Lewin.

While we didn't get a chance to attend, the evening's official after-party was held at George. It was equally cultured we're sure!

Be sure to check out all 52 of our photographs from this event HERE and tell us what you were wearing that night!