Pink Tie Party Petals Launch Of Centennial Cherry Blossom Festival!

NORTHWEST -- District petal partiers descended en masse on the Mayflower Renaissance on Tuesday night, for the sixth annual Pink Tie Party heralding the centennial launch of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

A decidedly ‘all pink’ affair, the sold-out blossom bash saw hundreds of guests clad in their springtime finest overtake the ground floor of the hotel, first for a gourmet tasting buffet courtesy of many of the area’s favorite restaurants, and then subsequently for a late night cocktail and dance party.

A handful of lucky ticketholders were even treated to an early evening VIP reception, with party hosts and world renown chefs José Andrés and Roy Yamaguchi. After a series of heartfelt remarks (Andres recalled how D.C.’s cherry blossoms reminded him of the cherry trees that grew outside his childhood home in Spain), the two guests of honor were spotted sipping chilled glasses of Moet & Chandon Imperial champagne while mingling with their colorfully adorned VIP guests, including Art & Soul chef/owner Art Smith and members of the festival’s host committee.

Other notables in attendance last night included, Japanese Ambassador to the United States Ichiro Fujisaki, Man v. Food TV Host Adam Richmond, and ABC 7 news anchor Alison Starling.

The centennial celebration paying tribute to Tokyo’s original gift of 3,000 cherry trees to the District in 1912 is a five week festival that has been years in the making. And while the peak time to see the trees lining the Tidal Basin in full bloom only lasts from now until Friday, March 23rd, the 2012 celebration will continue to span hundreds of events throughout the area until April 27th.

That’s the power of the pretty pink petal.