PHOTO STORY

Britney Spears' Femme Fatale Tour at Verizon Center featuring Nicki Minaj

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

Pure pop pleasure. There's not much more to say about Britney Spears' latest return to yet another sold-out show at the Verizon Center featuring special guest Nicki Minaj. The concert featured many of the same bells and whistles that have been used by pop starlets of her caliber. Britney rode fancy motorcycles a la Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas. She pranced around in a golden bikini much like Lady Gaga did in her recent tour. She even flew on angel wings while bombs filled with glitter exploded all around her making the shiny stuff rain on the crowd, which has been done by Pink and several others.

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Opera Ultra Lounge Grand Opening Party

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

DC's newest lounge made its grand debut in dramatic style on Thursday August 25th. Its design, atmosphere and elegant sophistication is worthy of one name -- Opera (1400 I Street N.W.). When the venue opens to the public on September 8th, guests are in for a treat -- as Opera brings the best features found in some of the world's finest posh nightclubs to D.C. With their sights on industry leading talent, celebrities and guests, Opera combines a one-of-a-kind venue exquisitly designed by renowned nightlife designer Francois Frossard, a state-of-the-art Funktion One sound system from BAHA Design Group, and lighting by acclaimed designer Michael Meacham of iDesign. The venue will host both DJ-driven events and live music performances for an experience D.C. has yet to see or feel.e venue is brought together by managing partners John Alexiades, Mood Bacho, Alex Haje and Walid Zeytoun, a dream team of people behind some of the top nightclubs in New York and Miami, and now bring that expertise to D.C. with Opera.

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Keith Urban's "Get Closer" Tour at Verizon Center

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

You can easily tell that Keith Urban is a good ol’ country boy. Extremely affable, kind, and engaging with his fans, Urban went out of his way to make sure that everyone in the audience got a chance to get an up an close and personal experience at Verizon Center. While many arena shows feature a brief acoustic song or two for the audience in the back of the venue, Urban spent nearly a third of his two-hour-plus show from a special rotating stage in the back of the arena much to the delight of the fans in that section. That stage also rose up so that even those in the nosebleeds got a solid view of the Nashville crooner and hubby to actress Nicole Kidman. Urban made the intimate evening even more special for a select few in the audience who were lucky enough to perform “Kiss A Girl” with the multi-Grammy award winner on center stage.

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Maná "Drama Y Luz" World Tour 2011 at the Patriot Center

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

While many in the District were celebrating Bastille Day, there was a different kind of rocking party altogether in Fairfax as the three-time Grammy winning Mana brought their record setting arena tour to the sold-out Patriot Center. Widely regarded as the most sought after ticket in all of Latin music, and recently coming off of four-straight sold out shows at Los Angeles’ Staples Center, the concert lived up to its billing as one of the must-see shows of 2011, regardless of language. The show was in support of Maná’s new album “Drama y Luz” (Drama & Light)—and the band thrilled the crowd with its powerful ballads and beautifully backlit stage. The stunning stage set the mood for each of their performances such as their current No. 1 hit “Lluvia al Corazón” (images of hearts beating and rain falling as the colors in the backdrop changed after each stanza). A truly epic performance that left the crowd enthralled well after the 2.5 hour set.

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A Night of Tennis with Serena Williams featuring Michelle Obama

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

At the brand new Kastles Stadium at the Wharf on the waterfront, guests got to see the first lady of tennis, superstar Serena Williams, as well as First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama as Williams played her first match back in the U.S. since 2009. A capacity crowd of 2,600 were in attendance with some of the proceeds going to Fashion for Paws benefiting the Washington Humane Society (WHS). The WHS cares for nearly 30,000 animals a year in DC through its broad range of programs and services, taking in an average of 33 animals a day in need of help. Fashion for Paws is a high caliber marketing and fundraising program of the WHS that infuses the nation’s capital with cutting-edge high fashion and luxury lifestyle brand events, drawing an extraordinary crowd of VIP’s, fashion and animal lovers alike.

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Hennessy Prestige Range Tasting

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Washington Life Magazine

COGNAC SCION: Traveling the world as global ambassador for Hennessy, his eponymous cognac house, Maurice Hennessy dropped into the French Embassy as guest of Amb. Francois Delattre and Moet-Hennessey's Michael Pelissier. Conducting a one-of-a-kind product tasting, he guided his guests through the mark's various prestige labels: Hennessy Black, Hennessy VSOP and Paradis/RIchard. Each was paired with a food or dessert complementing the sophisticated taste that gives the label its renown. Saving best for last, the host opened a $2,700, 200-year-old bottle of his cognac, sending guests happily into the night.

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Ozomatli w/ NSO at The Kennedy Center

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

The National Symphony Orchestra joined forces with two-time Grammy Award–winning band Ozomatli for a special fusion performance that combined the NSO’s classical stylings with the Latin flair of Los Angeles’ Ozo. A packed house at the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall got to enjoy a different setting for Ozo, as they mixed in their trademark hip hop, salsa, funk, R&B, reggae mélange with NSO providing lovely musical accompaniment. It was a treat for both classical music aficionados and rockers alike.

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Evening of Exploration at National Geographic Society

Photo Credit: Alfredo Flores, Washington Life Magazine

Featuring director James Cameron

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NKOTBSB at Verizon Center

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

The screams could be heard outside the Verizon Center as thousands of fans enjoyed an evening with NKOTBSB. Boy band legends New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys lit up the stage Friday night and performed their most memorable hits from their illustrious careers. As the boys sang their famous ballads, fans were transported to a time when the bands ruled the radio airwaves. It was a night on one in attendance will soon forget!

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2011 Sport For Social Change Awards at the Embassy of France

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Washington Life Magazine

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Grand opening party of the Moshe Zusman Photography Studio

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, DC Modern Luxury Magazine

On Wednesday, June 15, 2011, right on the 14th and U Street corridor,
many gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Moshe Zhuman's new studio.

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Gina Erazo birthday photo shoot

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, www.alfredoflores.net

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Glee Live! In Concert! at Verizon Center

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

Gleeks came out in full force Thursday night at Verizon Center for Glee Live! In Concert! The stars of the hit television show performed some of the show’s most memorable music numbers from seasons one and two. In what could be described as the greatest karaoke display of all-time, the show’s characters—Rachel, Finn, Mercedes, Kurt, Artie, Tina, Puck, Quinn, Santana, Brittany, Mike, Sam, and Blaine—belted out theatrical, rock star covers of classic show tunes of yesteryear, to hit songs from today’s Top 40. Regardless of what genre you liked, there was probably several tracks you could rock out to as the Glee cast belted out tracks like "It's My Life," "Toxic," "Empire State of Mind," "My Life Would Suck Without You," and the show's anthem--"Don't Stop Believin'." It was a visually spectacular show that had everyone in attendance Gleeking out!

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BYT & Capital Pride Present: Somewhere... Party at the Newseum

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

Brightest Young Things and Capital Pride joined forces to throw one epic Pride party turning the whole Newseum into a rainbow fantasyland. This rainbow themed party included bright light displays, a plethora a glow sticks and inflatable animals, and a variety of fun colorful cocktails. The party also featured DJs Ultra Naté and Lauren Flax, Lisa Moody, Natty Boom, and DJ MAJR as well as a live performance by Sherell Rowe a.k.a. Rainbow Brite.

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DC101's Chili Cook-Off 2011 w/ Weezer and Seether

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

DC101's Chili Cook-Off rocked RFK Stadium on Saturday May 21, bringing in thousands of fans with a line up that included Weezer, Papa Roach, Seether, Panic! At the Disco, Neon Trees, Paper Tongues, and Middle Class Rut. The event was also true to its namesake, featruing 101 of the Metro area's top chili cooks (with team names including Arnold's Illegitimate Chili, F.A.R.T., and some that we cannot repeat on this website) -- all competing for top honors in International Chili Society-sanctioned categories that included Red, Green, Salsa, Freestyle, and People’s Choice. Brave judges for the cook-off included “Top Chef” star Spike Mendelsohn, Kory Lichtensteiger and Clint Oldenburg from the Washington Redskins, Visanthe Shiancoe of the Minnesota Vikings, Cat Ommaney from “Real Housewives of DC,” WUSA9's Anita Brikman and even Metromix's own Jason Adams. A benefit for the National Kidney Foundation, the DC101 Chili Cook Off is the Foundation’s largest fundraiser nationwide. Washington DC the nation in the prevalence of kidney disease and since 2005, the Chili Cook-Off has raised $5.8 Million Dollars to support the NKF's programs in research, patient services, education and organ donation awareness. This year’s event alone raised over $1 million.

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Washington Performing Arts Society Annual Gala

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Washington Life Magazine
SWEET SUCCESS: Having Grammy-Award winning Roberta Flack headlining with "Killing Me Softly" and "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" was only party of the excitement at this year's lively WPAS Gala. AUCTION ACTION: There was a frenzied bidding on a private "salon concert" by Wynton Marsalis that was finally hammered down for $60,000 and a vocal lesson from Miss Flack ($7,500) that contributed to the event's record $1 million proceeds.

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National Wildlife Federation’s 75th Anniversary Gala

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Washington Life Magazine

WALLABYS UNITE: Hollywood long ago recognized Robert Redford as one of its most gifted actors and filmmakers, but it was the Australian wallabies and American Bald Eagles that helped honor him as Conservationist of the Year. Notable for the scores of zoo animals present, the group celebrated his achievements along with those of seven other awardees. Actor-comedian Chevy Chase honored his wife Jayni and NWF President Larry Schweiger presented award to First Lady Michelle Oabama, Sen. Richard Lugar, naturalist Dave Mizejewski, Dr. Virginia Burkett and Grace Breitenbeck. After dinner, the 800 guests were asked to plant their dinner menu in a garden, as it was printed on recycled parchment full of seeds.

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Friends of Choice in Urban Schools (FOCUS) 15th Anniversary Celebration

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Washington Life Magazine

HEAD OF THE CLASS: Educators and their academia-minded peers gathered to hear Mayor Vince Gray share insights about education reform at the FOCUS 15th anniversary celebration. The groups executive directors, Robert Crane, and founder/chairman, Malcolm Peabody, told of the impact FOCUS has had on the education system in recent years and their hope of more success to come. HIGH GRADES: Tom Aida, Taisha Adams, Kaye Savage, Skip McKoy, Henry Sanders and Debbie Moncure helped celebrate the organization's tireless work to bring vital resources to local charter schools.

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Modus Union 2011

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

The 5th Annual Fashion for Paws Runway Show (F4P) was held at the National Building Museum on Saturday April 9 to benefit the Washington Humane Society. This year, the event was hosted by "The Fashion Guy," Lawrence Zarian and co-chaired by Amanda Polk and Dr. Dondi Dahlgaard, and MC'ed by Pamela Sorensen. F4P began in 2007 and has raised more than $1 million dollars for WHS so far, infusing the nation’s capital with cutting edge high fashion and drawing an extraordinary crowd of VIPs, fashion lovers and animal lovers alike. The fashion show and fundraising event features 60 notable personalities as models on the runway, mostly comprised of fundraisers who must raised a minimum of $3000 in order to walk.

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Bachelors and Spinsters Ball 2011

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

The annual Bachelors and Spinsters Ball, held this year at the City Tavern Club on April 16, has been a fixture of the Washington DC social calendar for over half a century. Adhering to tradition, the 'B&S Ball,' as it is often referred to, is strictly for those invitees who are officially ‘unattached.' The event also supports a local charity through a silent auction held the night of the event, with hosts and local merchants providing donated items. This year the designated beneficiary was TAPS, an organization assisting the families of our fallen American heroes.

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