The Madison Dons Their Dirndl; Takes D.C. To Oktoberfest!

NORTHWEST -- It's that time of year again. When the leaves on the trees begin to change color and many a young Washingtonian's mind turns to costumes... Halloween you say? Nope. I'm, of course, referring to Oktoberfest!

Originally conceived of in Munich, Germany back in 1810, the Oktoberfest of the present day now spans multiple weeks and accounts for more than 5 million annual visitors to the capital city of Bavaria.

But what if you're one of those odd D.C. residents who can't afford to take two weeks off from work to go beer tasting? Or even worse still, you're a do-gooder who insists on being surrounded by fellow do-gooders -- all trying to "make a difference" in your community?

Not to worry then. For us, okay "you", there's The Madison's annual Oktoberfest event! Really a benefit (here's the do-gooder part) cleverly disguised as a party (here's the beer tasting part), this year's celebration was held Wednesday night on the second floor of The Rookery.

Here's how it worked: $20 bought ticketholders unfettered access to four distinct beer tasting stations, with Beck’s Oktoberfest, Fordham Scotch Ale, Starr Hill Love, and Kona Pipeline Porter all featured.

Additionally, each individual beer had been carefully paired with a matching appetizer that complemented its flavors. For example, the Kona Pipeline Porter (a coffee blend) was matched with a plate of brownie bites.

And with close to 150 people turning out for Wednesday's event, The Madison was determined to give their German counterparts a run for their money!

A selective professional, civic, and social young women's group, strictly limited to 100 active members (any more would make it too difficult for the members to get to know one another), The Madison seeks to improve its community and the lives of its members through volunteerism and fundraising.

Each year, the organization chooses a single local charity as the recipient of all of its fundraising activities, with StreetWise Partners designated as the beneficiary for 2010. To date, The Madison has raised more than $100,000 since it was first founded in 2004.

That could buy a lot of lederhosen!