This year was Washington City Paper’s 3rd Annual Best of D.C. Celebration.  City Paper readers choose their favorite people, places, and services in over 300 categories each year and this event celebrates those winners.  It was my pleasure to join over 50 top restaurants, local breweries, distilleries and musicians for the season’s best event!  A list of the participating food providers for the night included 1905, &pizza, Acre 121, Art & Soul, Bar Pilar, Bier Baron, Blue 44, Boqueria, Boss Shepherd’s, Brabo, Cashion’s Eat Place, Daikaya, Del Campo, Del Frisco’s Grille, Dirty South Deli, El Camino, El Centro DF, Fainting Goat, Firefly, Founding Farmers, GBD, Gibson, Graffiato, Hank’s Oyster Bar, Masa 14, Jack Rose, Lebanese Taverna, Meridian Pint, Ocopa, P.J. Clarke’s, Pearl Dive Oyster Palace, Pinea, Ping Pong Dim Sum, Policy, Pop’s Sea Bar, Poste, Rare Sweets, Right Proper Brewing Company, Room 11, Taylor Gourmet, Ted’s Bulletin, Tico, Vinoteca, Zengo as well as local breweries: Atlas Brew Works, Bluejacket, DC Brau, Port City Brewing, Right Proper Brewing Company, Three Stars Brewing.

This year was a little different from last year because the party had been extended outside to welcome all the various brews.  Upon arrival this year everyone was greeted with cars and beers in tent on the front steps of the Carnegie Library.  I love the versatility and size of the Carnegie Library but this year it was clear that Best of DC may have outgrown it.  The problem with throwing a great party is that word gets out!  This year there was barely room to move once the doors were open!! Keep in mind that there are three floors and various side rooms but every one was filled with people eating and drinking and laughing.  The thing that gets me excited to go every year is that every where you turn, there is something delicious to eat:

Almost missed the basement level, until I smelled the pork belly wafting up the stairs:

You could definitely also find something delicious to drink:

Or something sweet to eat:

Or some awesome music: Live or DJ, your choice!

Some other highlights from the night were catching this guy wearing the decorations:

And this guys winning free airline tickets (It shouldve been me!!!):

While we never need a reason to have a good time, it’s always even better when it’s for a good cause.  Each year Washington City Paper is proud to support youth-focused local non-profits related to both the hospitality and arts industries.  The 2015 food/hospitality non-profit beneficiary will be Brainfood. Brainfood is a non-profit youth development organization that uses food as a tool to build life skills and promotes healthy living in a fun and safe environment.  The 2015 art/education non-profit beneficiary will be Girls Rock! DC. Girls Rock is a D.C.-based non-profit that creates a supportive, inclusive, and creative space for girls to develop their self confidence, build a community, and rock out!

On the way out, I spotted one of my favorite companies Car2Go letting people see how spacious their smart cars are. (If you don’t have a membership, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!)  See you around DC, maybe in a smart car!