Carmine’s Honors The Trust for the National Mall At One-Year Anniversary Celebration!

PENN QUARTER -- Since it first opened its doors in August 2010, the Penn Quarter outpost of “Legendary Family Style Italian Restaurant” Carmine’s has played host to Congressmen and Senators, athletes, actors, soccer moms, and school kids alike. In the process, it accumulated a constant stream of positive reviews and even an unheard of two awards (“Power Spot” and “Most Favorite Restaurant”) at this year’s annual RAMMYs ceremony.

And on Tuesday night, the New York City-based eatery went all out during its one-year anniversary party, in thanking the Washington community that has been so supportive from day one. In a grand “Celebrazione Italiana!” that took over much of the massive restaurant’s 20,000 square feet of dining space, Carmine’s invited supporters of The Trust for the National Mall’s young professionals organization to enjoy a sumptuous dinner buffet, with all proceeds benefiting the L’Enfant Society directly.

The celebration attracted hundreds of guests – some existing members of the L’Enfant Society (who were granted free admission); some new ones; and some that were simply sympathetic friends – and raised more than $9,000 for the non-profit over the course of a scant 2.5 hours.

Everyone from Carmine’s CEO Jeffrey Bank to Trust Chairman John E. “Chip” Akridge, III to downtown property mogul Douglas Jemal was in attendance, including much of the L’Enfant Society Board.

In addition to a lavish spread of Italian specialty dishes and wine, a live raffle was conducted mid-evening that offered up prizes from Dolci Gelati, Neiman Marcus, Sephora, the Shakespeare Theater, and, naturally, Carmine’s itself, among others.

Not content with hosting simply one charity event on its anniversary, Carmine’s even sweetened the proverbial pot earlier in the evening, with a more intimate happy hour fundraiser at its bar benefiting the fight against breast cancer.

Apparently, generosity comes ‘family style’ at Carmine’s too… Happy birthday!