С Днем Рождения (or, Happy Birthday in Russian) to Mari Vanna!

Mari Vanna, a Dupont favorite, celebrated its two-year anniversary in style on Tuesday night, February 24th. The birthday celebration took place at the third floor cocktail lounge of the Russian bar. At the opening of the event, guests entered the lounge to Mari Vanna’s usual electro-house sound. Upon arrival, we were treated to an open bar of vodka and champagne. The house-infused vodka list featured some of the most distinctive vodka flavors I’ve had the pleasure of trying. In particular, the refreshing cucumber and dill vodka stood out as a favorite. It paired well with the strong flavors of the Russian bites, one of which was the melt-in-your-mouth salmon and cream cheese roll. Other heart-warming tarts were the cured herring on rye, the Olivier salad, and the vinegret bites. The amount of food at this event seemed endless, with the plates quickly refilled one after the other. It was much needed, as the lounge soon became packed with guests.

Once guests had plenty of time to enjoy their food and drink, internationally renowned accordionist Peter Dranga took center stage. Not too long after Dranga started playing, guests paused in their chatter to circle around. They could either be seen capturing the moment with their smartphones or dancing to the music. You could, really, feel the excitement in the air. Dranga’s passionate energy and upbeat dance music brought big smiles and cheers to the lively crowd. Simply speaking, Dranga makes the accordion cool.

Then, the huge chocolate birthday cake and more champagne emerged. The night felt like one fun indulgence after another, for the pleasure of the ears, mouth, and heart. Mari Vanna knows how to celebrate their birthday right. I will definitely be going back to Mari Vanna soon.

Photo Credit: Travis Vaughn.

-SDM