A Few Good Men

On April 9, 2011, the Burlington-Camden Kappa Foundation hosted its third beautillion titled, "A Few Good Men."  The beautillion program consists of four months of workshops, enrichment activities, community service and individual mentoring designed to prepare high school juniors and seniors for college and subsequent life.  The culminating event, the beautillion ball, is a black-tie affair where the "beaux" and perform talents, dance a waltz with their "belles" and receive a scholarship.  The Society Pages Spotlight goes to "Mr. Beautillion 2011" (below), who was given the title as a result of his extraordinary performance throughout the program.

The event was held at Lucien's Manor in Berlin, New Jersey.  This venue offered a magnificent ballroom (which you can see in the bottom photo) and picturesque landscaping.  The photo below captures all 23 of the beaux and belles before the night's event began.

Although the beaux are young, each of them realized that the beautillion was a formal affair and required strict adherence to the rules of black-tie attire.  Each young man wore a black tux, white shirt and black bow tie.  This created a timeless and mature look for the beaux.  Their belles wore black evening gowns with black opera gloves.  They can all look forward to prom as an opportunity to spice up their black-tie looks.



Esquire1911 tip:  Oprah once commented that "love is in the details."  I strongly believe in this as well.  In decorating the ballroom, we selected red uplighting to line the room's ceiling.  It was a subtle addition, but a perfect touch to include the fraternity's colors.  I'd recommend uplighting/pinspot lighting at any formal affair.  It adds so much and is a true expression of love.

Its been a while...

Okay, so I know its been a while since I last blogged... Its certainly not due to a decrease in my social life. Its really just a testament to my ever-increasing workload. But after watching some of my closest friends launch blogs (Table for Two and then some) and (Visions of a V.I.P.), I've been inspired to get back in the game. So, let's see how long I can keep it up.

Laissez les bon temps roulez!

Family Reunion Sunday Brunch

On Sunday, October 25, 2009, the Phi Sigma Pi, Alpha Tau Chapter Endowment Fund, Inc. hosted its inaugural Family Reunion Sunday Brunch at Phillip's Flagship on the Washington, DC waterfront. The event ended the Howard University homecoming weekend and gave friends a chance to reminisce about good times while supporting a fantastic cause. The proceeds from this event went toward scholarships for DC area students pursuing a college education.

Howard homecoming is as sartorially savvy as Fashion Week in New York, and this event was no different. Brunch attendees donned big hats, bow ties, blazers and bags that made bold statements. It was great to see young ladies and gentlemen revert to wearing their Sunday's best when attending brunch.

The greatest thing about fall clothing is the ability to explore your tactile senses. Suede,

corduroy, velvet and moleskin are some of my favorites and all of them could be found at this brunch. This crew stuck with warm autumn colors, yet managed to stand out with their fall fabrics.

Esquire1911 tip: Although each charity fundraiser has its own flair, I suggest adding a silent auction or upscale raffle, when possible. Not only are they an opportunity to raise more money during the event, they keep the guests entertained and guarantee that everyone will stay until the end.

This Sunday Brunch fundraiser featured a Chinese auction with amazing prizes such as an autographed Washington Redskin jersey and Microsoft software. However, the most sought after prize was this unique painting donated by the Rachel D. Crouch Art Gallery which receives the Society Pages Spotlight. The generous artist is a Howard alumna and captivated the brunch attendees with her portrayal of President Obama and his interplay with the black church. The painting helped make the fundraiser a huge success.