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President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff and 44th Kennedy Center Honorees. Photo by Michael Butcher.

The Great Return: Kennedy Center Honors Sparkles

BY ROBERT DEVANEY

“How did I get here?” asked honoree Bette Midler a la David Byrne. She along with operatic bass-baritone Justino Díaz, Motown founder Berry Gordy, Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels and singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell were the 44th honorees for lifetime artistic achievements, bestowed by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Dec. 5. The president and first lady were back to make a magical evening complete.

Tonya Vidal Kinlow, DC Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Vice President of Community Engagement, Advocacy & Government Affairs at Children’s National Hospital, Kurt Newman, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Children’s National Hospital, Heather Ness, Principal, Robert Bobb Group, and Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio. Photo by Imagine Photography.

DC Chamber’s Awards: ’Stronger Together’

BY ROBERT DEVANEY

After a challenging year, Angela Franco, President and CEO, DC Chamber of Commerce, welcomed 600 guests Nov. 19 to an in-person event at the Omni Shoreham Hotel that honored Chamber Choice Awardees — Gelberg Signs, Rudy Seikaly, CEO of MCN Build, The Shop Salon, Golden Triangle Business Improvement District, Dr. LaQuandra S. Nesbitt, Children’s National Hospital. 2021 Kennedy Center Honors Class Photo: Justino Díaz, Lorne Michaels, Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler and Berry Gordy. Photo by Scott Suchman.

Dr. Carolyn Rudd, President and CEO of CRP Inc., DC Chamber of Commerce Board Chair, Shawn Yancy, NBC4, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Angela Franco, DC Chamber of Commerce President and CEO. Photo by Imagine Photography.