(L-R) Pamela Sorenson, Tiffany Carter, Tara de Nicolas, and Alan G. Popovsky celebrated Hudson's third anniversary on Saturday night.
Be sure to check out all 100 of our photographs from this event HERE and tell us what you were wearing that night!
NORTHWEST -- With a flourish of both artistic and culinary creativity this weekend,
Hudson Restaurant & Lounge celebrated its third anniversary, with an intimate (huge) gathering (party) for a few (hundreds) of its closest friends (friends/customers/foodies).
Since it first opened its doors, the West End-based hotspot has selflessly played host to a countless number of events from practically every non-profit in Washington. Fashion for Paws, Blondes vs. Brunettes, Refugees International, etc. They've all raised money at the corner of M and 21st Street. And on Saturday night, attendees from all of those past events rushed to return the favor and help Hudson celebrate its third year as one of the city's favorite places to relax.
While the night's festivities were strictly guest list only so as to prevent a stampede, Hudson nevertheless displayed the same level of hospitality that its name has become synonymous with since it launched.
After walking the customary red carpet into the venue's inviting bar area, guests were greeted by the dynamic beats of
DJ Seyhan, who was the party's music guide for the night. Models on pedestals lined the far side of the building, each wearing a different T-shirt from
Crooked Monkey (one of the party's sponsors).
Respected artist
Maggie O'Neill of
O'Neill Studios had taken over Hudson's secondary dining room area and cheerily chatted with passersby as she applied the finishing touches to some of her most recent paintings.
While
Executive Chef Demetriou Zavala did find the time to mingle among the crowd, he nevertheless spent much of Saturday night in the kitchen, supervising the preparation of the seventeen-some odd flavorful dishes he had created just for the occassion.
For seafood lovers there were spicy tuna lollypops, tuna and strawberry Croque Monsieur, "Le Cordon Bleu" sushi rolls, and scallop sliders, while those looking for more heartier fare could indulge in mini pot roast dinner bites, "Way Beyond" grill cheese sandwiches (complete with banana red wine jelly watercress), Korean spare ribs, and chicken apple and gorgonzola Pop Tarts.
Attendees with a sweet tooth were treated to platters of tempura bananas with a caramel chocolate gnache and peanut button and chocolate s'mores. And, naturally, an army of bartenders kept the drinks flowing all night long, including a series of Belvedere Vodka specialty cocktails.
Hudson's Managing Partner,
Alan G. Popovsky, seemed to be everywhere at once that night, as he swiftly moved between the tented patio area (complete with faux chandeliers and greenery) and the restaurant's main dining room, greeting guests, stopping to share a joke or posing for the occasional photograph.
Perhaps most interesting of all, however, was how the anniversary party served a dual purpose in simultaneously announcing the 2011 launch of Alan and friends' next restaurant on Vermont Avenue:
Lincoln.
If the new location is half as "cozy chic" as Hudson is, then we're sure that there will be many more anniversary parties in our future! Awww, poor us...
Congratulations Hudson!
Be sure to check out all 100 of our photographs from this event HERE and tell us what you were wearing that night!