Quick Notes 2/2

Dateline Palm Beach: Washington socialite Mary Ourisman, who has served for the last two and a half years as U.S. ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, is here in Florida–along with a score of other Washingtonians–for the International Red Cross Ball, the important annual fundraiser for the relief service held at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club. She came down the red carpet with ambassadors from around the world, actress Anne Archer, racer Kyle Petty, and other special guests at the glittery event.

Mary’s posting to the Caribbean just recently ended, after an embassy flag ceremony and a host of tributes to her successful mission. No “cookie-pusher” ambassador, Mary visited each of the seven countries in her assigned region numerous times. Furthering U.S. interests and cementing our global friendships, she managed a precedent-setting total of 155 trips, in addition to her embassy deskwork in Barbados.

Mary is in Palm Beach to relax for a bit before returning to D.C. She says she plans to “overdose” on movies here, as she had time to see only one during her 30-month stint.

Speaking of films, test your Academy Awards trivia smarts on the just-launched Oscar Dress Quiz from the Washington Post, and match which supporting actress wore which memorable gown.

On the paper’s interactive Web site for the 2009 Academy Awards, you can also watch trailers for the nominated films, check out details on the actors who’ll be part of the big event, read reviews, and get local show times to see the movies before the Oscars on February 22.

Fun look backwards: the you-are-there rundown on 2008’s big Oscar parties.

Plan Ahead: Pianist Eric Himy

Internationally acclaimed, Eric Himy launches the 2009 concert series for the Washington International Piano Arts Council (WIPAC) with “A Prelude to Spring Concert” on February 20, under the sponsorship of Ivan Vujacic, the ambassador of Serbia, and his wife, Jelica Petrovic Vujacic.

Widely hailed—the Post describes him as “enchanting his audience with an inspiring recital,” the New York Times calls his playing “flawlessly poised, elegant, and brilliant,” and the Los Angeles Times has dubbed him “a keyboard poet”—he will play works by Debussy, Gershwin, and Liszt, performing on the Steinway seven-foot grand piano in the Great Hall of the Charles Sumner School Museum.

A reception precedes the concert. WIPAC, a nonprofit founded by Chateau and John Gardecki, will use the proceeds from the concert to benefit two musical events it will present later this year, the “Winners Grand Prix Concert” at the Mexican Cultural Institute in April and the 2009 Washington International Piano Artists Competition in July, held jointly with the institute, the embassies of Poland, Mexico, and France, and the music department at GW.