A Cuban restaurant and lounge should have excellent mojitos, and DC's Yuca did not disappoint. In fact, regular mb partygoer Brandy Simms had his first mojito ever, and if his initial reaction ("That's really good!") was any indication, he probably had a lot more. Kudos to mb hostess Susan Breitkopf for making the party despite the fact that she's expecting, and for rocking a hot soon-to-be-mama outfit to boot. And congrats to mb hostess Rina Rapuano, who closes on her new house this month. Special thanks to writer Chad Sekerchak for dutifully fetching a digital camera from his car to snap party photos when the photographer failed to show. Chad, when you sell your screenplay, we promise to come to the movie premiere.

At Yuca, September 15th, 2005

Photos by Chad Sekerchak

IFC officer Neeraj Jain, mb hostess Lisa Gschwandtner, writer and director Richard Chu, and Smithsonian assistant editor Anne Bolen.

Freelancer Jada Bradley, writer Jennifer Donatelli, and Prince George's County marketing and communications coordinator Paul Wilson

TV journalist Camille Elhassan, FishbowlDC's Patrick W. Gavin, Legal Times reporter Emma Schwartz, and Julie Donofrio

Booz Allen associate Rick Paroline, Lisa Gschwandtner, and Voice of America writer David McAlary

CQ Press editor Anna Schardt, International Association of Firefighters media assistant James McBride and CQ Press editorial assistant Anne Stewart

Journalist Amanda McClements and Lisa Gschwandtner

Writer Megan Lisagor, Amanda McClements, and National Geographic design specialist Oliver Uberti

New Economy Strategies chief knowledge officer Yali Friedman

The Examiner copy desk chief Elizabeth R. Dehoff and journalist Lee Michael Katz

U.S. News & World Report senior editor Anna Mulrine, novelist Stefan Sullivan, Karie E. Atkinson, journalist Brendan L. Smith, and Lisa Gschwandtner