Washington Life Magazine - April 2009

SPECIAL EARTH ISSUE AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH OBAMA’S TOP ENVIRO-WARRIOR • ECO-TRAVEL TOBAGO • YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO SUSTAINABLE LIVING

THE

WASHINGTON LIFE A P R I L 2 0 0 9 • $ 7.9 5

LIST

DAVID GREGORY MADE THE LIST CHENEY’S STILL HERE AND WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BOB JOHNSON?

EXCLUSIVE PARTIES! PARTIES! PARTIES!

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5510 Wisconsin Avenue

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C ON T E N T S APRIL 2009

THE A LIST

All heads turn when these instantly recognizable Washingtonians walk in the room. Plus, a special supplement on the city’s most “radioactive” personalities.

POLLYWOOD

“AN AMERICAN AFFAIR”

Stars turn out for the world premiere of a political thriller set in Kennedy-era Washington.

CHEF’S CHOICE

Six eco-conscious local taste makers dish on “green cuisine,” tricks of the trade and their personal pet peeves.

ON THE COVER Horizontal from Top: Vice President Joseph Biden, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, Alexandra Wentworth and George Stephanopolous, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Timothy Geithner, Teresa Heinz Kerry, John Kerry, Eric Holder and Sharon Malone, Plácido Domingo and Sir Nigel Sheinwald, Sen. Mark Warner, Katherine Weymouth, Rahm Emanuel, Beth Wilkinson and David Gregory, Desirée Rogers, Peter Orzsag, Robert Duvall, Valerie Jarrett, Michelle and Adrian Fenty, Victoria and Sen. Ted Kennedy, Justice Antonin Scalia, and Queen Noor. ABOVE LEFT Gretchen Mol at the premiere of “An American Affair” (Photo by Paul Morigi)TOP RIGHT David Gregory and Beth Wilkinson. (Photo by Kyle Samperton)BOTTOM RIGHT Carla Hall and Robert Weland at the National Arboretum. (Photo by Douglas Sonders)

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69 39

52

55 EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LETTER ...................................................

LIFE OF THE PARTY

WASHINGTON SOCIAL DIARY

FYIDC

WL SPONSORED EVENTS

AROUND TOWN Donna Shor meets legendary fashion

WHOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEXT Green restaurateur Nathaniel Ru.............

The performing arts society kicks off with a bang...................

THE INSIDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE Cherry blossom festivities and

CAPITAL CITY BALL This annual tradition benefitted the Polaris Project this year.................................................

steeplechase races are spring highlights .................................

SOCIAL CALENDAR A jam-packed month of benefits and galas ...........................

designer Mary McFadden..................................................

WPAS SEASON OPENING GALA

NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVALâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PINK TIE PARTY Guests think pink as they feast on Art Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cuisine at Art and Soul ..........................................

POLLYWOOD

DIVINE PERFORMING ARTS A colorful performance

HOLLYWOOD ON THE POTOMAC Janet Donovan on Gloria Estefan, Chazz Palminteri, and Gretchen Mol ......

highlights Chinese culture and spirituality ...........................

CHINESE ART AT MERIDIAN HOUSE An exhibit marks 30 years of diplomatic ties between the U.S. and China

DIPLOMATIC DANCE Walter Mondale receives a top Japanese honor..........................................................

TED KENNEDYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BIRTHDAY Family and friends celebrate the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lion of the Senate,â&#x20AC;? and President Obama does, too .......

MENZFIT TRUNK SHOW Saks Fifth Avenue helps the local menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s charity suit up .................................................

PARTIES PARTIES PARTIES! Hungaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Day, Decatur House reception, Cherie Blair luncheon, Eve Enslerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day gathering, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Difficult Transitionsâ&#x20AC;? book party, International Center for Research on Women gala, Denyce Graves at the Kennedy Center, Bernardo Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Higgins Award ceremony, and The Atlanticâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s State of the Union reception ........................

HOME LIFE

ST JUDEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GOURMET GALA Chefs vie for top tasting prizes ...........................................

INSIDE HOMES

â&#x20AC;&#x153;AN AMERICAN AFFAIRâ&#x20AC;? WORLD PREMIERE

McLeanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ground-breaking CO2 FreeLiving House .............

Gretchen Mol and her co-stars debut their Kennedy-era film ...

Designer Barry Dixonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s earth-friendly furniture finds ...........

Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ENFANT SOCIETY COCKTAIL RECEPTION

Goodstone Innâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Airynee May makes gardens even greener .....

Sashes and ties at Vineyard Vines for the National Mall............

OPEN HOUSE Hopeful spring sellers in the area ............

KENNEDY CENTERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ARAB FESTIVAL

WL EXCLUSIVE EVENTS

RE NEWS â&#x20AC;&#x153;Primo propertiesâ&#x20AC;? change hands ......................

The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Arabesqueâ&#x20AC;? festival kicks off with a dinner-to-die-for .....

ALVIN AILEY DANCE THEATRE GALA

ART AND AUCTION

THE A LIST The Obama team helps shake up the Washington power structure..........................................................

SPECIAL FEATURE

Washington celebrates the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50th anniversary ...........

RenĂŠe Drakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homage to painter Andrew Wyeth ..................

NATIONAL ALZHEIMERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ASSOCIATION GALA The fifth annual gala honors local politicians and volunteers. ...

CHEFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHOICE Six area chefs discuss their favorite tricks of the trade .....................................................................

EARTH FEATURE Make your life greener with ten pages of products, tips, and personalities on everything from food and family to transportation and design ...............................................

THE NEW GREEN TEAM EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson on the Obama administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eco-efforts .................

CANADA AN ENVIRONMENTAL LEADER

FROM TOP LEFT ARMANI COLLECZIONI off-white pants ($495); Saks Fifth Avenue, 2051 International Dr., McLean, Va., 703761-0700, www.saks.com. ECO-MYSTREE organic cotton and bamboo shirt ($42); South Moon Under, 2700 Clarendon Blvd. #R440, Arlington, Va., 703-807-4083, www.southmoonunder.com. J J SINGH JEWELRY â&#x20AC;&#x153;remnantâ&#x20AC;? ring ($125), fair trade clear quartz bracelet ($120), and resin/sapphire earrings ($298); Shah & Shah, 1001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 607, 202-223-6001, www.jjsinghjewelry.com. / A rendering of the CO2 FreeLiving House. (Rendering by David Walker) / Christine and Stephen Schwarzman at the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Arabesqueâ&#x20AC;? performance at the Kennedy Center. (Photo by Margot Schulman) /Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson. (Photo by Joseph Allen)

Canadian Ambassador Michael Wilson on our northern neighborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conservation efforts ...........................................................

AGAINST THE GRAIN Spring fashions that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t harm the environment ..................

WL TRAVEL Traveling to Tobago to find eco-luxury .................................

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Corrections from the March 2009 issue: On page 33, Sarah Baker should have been listed as editorial producer at CNN. On page 34, Nicholas Cambataâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s company, 8112 Productions, was misspelled; On page 38, Kate Shawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name was misspelled; On page 41, Barton Seaver should have been listed as executive chef at Blue Ridge; www.bartonseaver.org.; On page 74, realtor Ali Shapiroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name was misspelled; Micaela Oesteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name was accidentally omitted from the Young & The Guest List 2009.

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Take Metro to the

DUKE 5th Anniversary

T H E I N S I D E R’S G U I D E TO P OW E R , P H I L A N T H R O PY, A N D SO C I E T Y S I N C E 1 9 9 1

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Nancy Reynolds Bagley EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Michael M. Clements MANAGING EDITOR

ELLINGTON

Christina Wilkie

JAZZ

SENIOR EDITOR

DEPUTY EDITOR

Kevin Chaffee

Karin Tanabe ASSISTANT EDITOR

Kelly Fisher COPY EDITOR

Claudia Krieger COLUMNISTS

Janet Donovan, Renée Drake, Mary Mewborn, Gail Scott, and Donna Shor CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Gillian Caldwell, Barry Dixon, Gabe Klein, Airynee May, Eric Michael, Marcie Meditch, John Dennis Murphey, Nora Poullion, Ernesto Santalla, Robert M. Sponseller, Heather Stouffer, and Amb. Michael Wilson

FE ST I VA L

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

J.C. Suarès ART DIRECTOR

Bridget Manifold CONTRIBUTING GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

rlean O w e gN

s

in t hington, DC a s r a W b – C e l e 5, 2009 June

5 -1

Terence Blanchard % Harry Connick, Jr. % Paquito D’Rivera % Duke Ellington Orchestra % Bob French’s Original Tuxedo Jazz Band % Donald Harrison % Little Freddie King % Branford Marsalis % Delfeayo Marsalis % Ellis Marsalis % J a s o n Marsalis % Wynton Marsalis % Nicholas Payton % Rebirth Brass Band % Dr. Billy Taylor % Irma Thomas % Trombone Shorty % Uptown Jazz Orchestra % Don Vappie & the Creole Jazz Serenaders % Dr. Michael White % Buckwheat Zydeco % And Many More

Meghan Gallery and Jessica Salas-Acha CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Joseph Allen, Shmulik Almany, Rodney Bailey, James R. Brantley, Luke Christopher, Tim Coburn, Leslie Fields, James Graham, Christopher Itteilag, Paul Morigi, R.D. Muir, Kyle Samperton,Tony Powell, Kaveh Sardani, Margot Schulman, Camila Silva, Douglas Sonders, Cecil Soughton,William Waterton, and Pepper Watkins CONTRIBUTING STYLISTS

James Cornwell, Francesca Madri, and Carola Myers ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Kelly Ginter SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Alexandra Misci LUXURY BRAND MANAGER

Krista Connelly ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Daniel Monson BOOKKEEPERS

Trina Hodges and Kevin Smoot WEB TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPMENT

iStrategyLabs INTERNS

www.dejazzfest.org

Georgia Bobley, Megan Buerger, Blair Culbreth, Elise Gust,Tara Kumar, Krissy Laubach, Shandrilya Lewis, Caroline Markoski, Sara Siegel, Claire Tucker,Whitney Wegner, and Sabrina Ziaee FOUNDER

Vicki Bagley CHAIRMAN, EXECUTIVE BOARD

Gerry Byrne CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Soroush Richard Shehabi The Duke Ellington Jazz Festival is sponsored in part with a grant from the Government of the District of Columbia, Adrian M. Fenty, Mayor; and in part by awards from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, and the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, both supported in part by the NEA. © 2009 Festivals DC, Ltd. All rights reserved. "Duke Ellington" is a trademark of the Estate of Mercer K. Ellington.

Washington Life magazine publishes ten times a year. Issues are distributed in February, March, April, May, June, July/August, September, October, November and December and are hand-delivered on a rotating basis to over 150,000 homes throughout D.C., Northern Virginia, and Maryland. Additional copies are available at various upscale retailers, hotels, select newstands, and Whole Foods stores in the area. For a complete listing, please consult our website at www.washingtonlife.com. You can also subscribe online at www.washingtonlife.com or send a check for $79.95 (one year) to: Washington Life Magazine, 2301 Tracy Place NW, Washington D.C., 20008. BPA audited. Email us at info@washingtonlife.com with press releases, tips, and editorial comments. Copyright ©2008 by Washington Life. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial content or photos in any manner without permission is strictly prohibited.

Printed in the United States. We will not be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.

PAMPILLONIA JEWELERS NEIMAN MARCUS SAKS FIFTH AVENUE MENS STORE FILENE’S BASEMENT ROCK CREEK AT MAZZA TABANDEH CHAS SCHWARTZ & SON HARRIET KASSMAN BOUTIQUE & BRIDAL SALON CORBY COLLECTION LUA CHEIA HANDBAGS & SHOES KRON CHOCOLATIER VISIT WWW.MAZZAGALLERIE.COM 5300 WISCONSIN AVENUE, NW | WASHINGTON, DC 20015 | FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS RED LINE STOP | 202.966.6114

EDITOR’S LETTER

Green, with List Envy The earth issue and the A-List are the perfect spring bouquet

A

pril is a fitting month for the release of our much-awaited and always-controversial “A-List” made up of the most recognizable personalities in the intertwined worlds of politics, diplomacy, business, media, the arts, and philanthropy.

This time, the presidential election was responsible for most of the changes, so look for key names from the Obama team replacing their Bush II counterparts, along with additions from the Embassy Row and media firmaments.We also had a bit of fun composing our “Radioactive List” of a few characters who definitely get noticed – although not for reasons they might like – when they make the scene.

April also heralds our third annual “earth” issue, and we’ve assembled more than 20 pages of interviews, products, and suggestions to help you reduce your carbon footprint. Inside, you’ll find the best places to buy locally sourced dairy, the most energy-saving car service, and eight unique and sustainable hostess gifts.

On a more serious note, President Obama’s choice of Lisa Jackson to lead the Environmental Protection Agency was universally applauded, and in our exclusive interview with the new Administrator she lays out her plans and priorities for the next four years. In addition, Gillian Caldwell, director of the global warming citizen’s group 1Sky, explains why President Obama’s environmental strategy is truly unprecedented, and who some of the new thinkers are that helped formulate it.

We spent a good bit of time this month at the Kennedy Center getting an insider’s perspective on two command performances: the longawaited opening of the three-week long “Arabesque” Arab Arts Festival at the Kennedy Center (chockablock with royals from the Gulf states) and Sen.Ted Kennedy’s “Some Enchanted Evening” birthday bash, where we not only snapped the Obamas and the Bidens, but three generations of Kennedy clan members who were there.

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The social world continues to spin on various axes throughout the issue, as seen in our exclusive coverage of WL-sponsored events benefiting a host of good causes, including St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, the Cherry Blossom Festival, the Washington Performing Arts Society, The Trust for the National Mall’s L’Enfant Society, the Polaris Project, and Menzfit. We also covered many other gatherings, most notably the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre’s 50th anniversary, the National Alzheimers Association Gala, and the decoration of diplomatic columnist Gail Scott with the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary. We even hosted our own star-studded soiree: the premiere of the Cold War drama “An American Affair,” where star Gretchen Mol mingled with our special guests.

This month, save the date for these WLsponsored evenings: The Helen Hayes Awards (April 13), the magazine’s annual Young & the Guest List Party (April 16), the Corcoran Ball (April 17), the Sitar Arts Center Benefit (April 20), the Boys and Girls Clubs’ Tim Russert Memorial Dinner (April 28), the Mosaic Foundation Gala (April 28) and the Maya Angelou Celebration (April 30).

Nancy R. Bagley Editor in Chief

Readers wishing to contact Nancy can email columns@washingtonlife.com

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MAH JONG modular sofa / Les Contemporains Collection

WASHINGTON DC 5301 Wisconsin Ave NW 202.686.5667

BOSTON 2 Avery Street, Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Residences / 617.742.9611

NATICK 579 Worcester Rd., Route 9 W. / 508.650.5844

NAPLES 3601 Tamiami Trail North 239.435.1602

PALM BEACH City Place 700 S. Rosemary Ave., Suite 102 / 561.835.4982

MIAMI 450 Biltmore Way, Coral Gables 305.444.1168 360 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables 305.444.1016

Expressing your interior world

Catalogs, news and stores 1-800-717-2747 www.roche-bobois.com

THE WILLARD I N T ERCON T I N EN TA L , W HER E GR E AT MEETINGS H A PPEN.

From small meetings to large conferences, breakfasts to banquets, the Willard InterContinentalÂŽ always makes a good impression. With a location in the heart of D.C., this magnificent Washington landmark provides an inspiring setting for any gathering. Whatever your needs, our professional staff will ensure that every detail goes smoothly. At the Willard InterContinental, every event is a special one.

Do you live an InterContinental life?

Call 202.628.9100 or visit www.washington.intercontinental.com Š2007 InterContinental Hotels Group. All rights reserved. Most hotels are independently owned and/or operated.

FYIDC The Insider’s Guide to Washington | Social Calendar, Hot Tickets, Foodies Only

Who’s Next Green Restaurateur Nathaniel Ru

W

hile a senior at Georgetown, Nathaniel Ru, now 23, partnered with friends Jonathan Neman and Nicolas Jammet to develop an eco-friendly salad and frozen yogurt eatery. Ru graduated in 2007 and three months later sweetgreen opened, grossing over $1 million in its first year. Not a bad way to start a business career. (The trio plan to a Dupont Circle location this month and Bethesda location soon.)

HOW DOES SWEETGREEN STAY GREEN AND HOW WILL YOU PLAN TO BE EVEN MORE ECO-FRIENDLY IN THE FUTURE?

To us it’s not one level of staying “green.” It’s a constant evolution of adding sustainable elements. Currently we are certified by the Green Restaurant Association (GRA) and use 100 percent wind energy provided by Clean Currents.

YOU’RE OPENING TWO NEW LOCATIONS IN AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN WHAT’S YOUR SECRET TO SUCCESS?

Not sure if it’s a secret, but I think the simplicity of our concept is key.We offer a healthy entrée and a healthy dessert with the best ingredients possible.

YOU’RE A POLO PLAYER AND A DJ WHERE DO YOU PERFECT YOUR SKILLS?

I am playing in the America’s Cup this year with the First Chukker Team. I hear sweetgreen Dupont has a DJ that plays on Saturdays and Sundays …

FAVORITE WARM WEATHER WATERING HOLE? P H OTO BY J OS E P H A L L E N

My patio IF YOU HADN’T OPENED SWEETGREEN YOU WOULD BE …

Traveling THREE THINGS YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT ARE

Music, avocados, and my moleskine journal

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FYIDC | THE INSIDER’S GUIDE

Spring is the air…

IN

&

Buying carbon offsets when traveling to reduce your footprint (www.

OUT

Flying solo

carbonoffsets.org)

(www.citybikes.com)

Gas-guzzling vehicles

Celebrities in the news for their charity work

Celebrities in the news for their personal problems

• Indulge in a special National Cherry Blossom Festival Gala Dinner Cruise aboard the ODYSSEY with Japanese and American dignitaries that includes live entertainment, dancing, a four-course dinner, and an open bar. April 9; 7 p.m.; $125 per person; 202-661-7567.

The Willard InterContinental’s eco-sustainability plan

Energy inefficient hotels

• Area restaurants go all out for the festival creating sumptuous dishes like pan-seared Alaskan salmon with “cherry heering” jus at INDEBLEU (707 G St. NW); duck paté with dried cherries in bourbon-cherry compote at the ROOF TERRACE RESTAURANT AND BAR (Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW); and Cherry Blossom martinis at the PARK HYATT WASHINGTON (24th and M Sts. NW).

Wellingtons

Uggs

City Bikes

Editor’s Pick: a cherry good time • The LIAISON CAPITOL HILL, an Affinia hotel, offers a special cherry blossom package at $223/ night that includes gifts from Art and Soul to enjoy, picnic-style, while taking in the sights. Offer through April 11, www.affinia.com/liaison.

society pop: what’s your favorite thing to do outdoors?

TONY PODESTA

RIMA AL-SABAH

ED MARKEY

Chairman, the Podesta Group

Wife of Kuwaiti Ambassador Salem Al-Sabah

Chairman, House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming

“Walk the unpaved trails in Rock Creek Park on a beautiful spring day.”

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“I enjoy riding my bicycle from Rock Creek Park to Reagan National Airport with my husband.”

“Playing basketball in the park.”

Hot Ticket Bring on the Bayhawks Grab some sunscreen, get your lacrosse sticks ready, and head to Annapolis to see the WASHINGTON BAYHAWKS take to the field.

Season tickets are available at a special price exclusively for Washington Life readers. For ticket and schedule information, go to www.washingtonbayhawks. com or call 866-99-HAWKS.

FYIDC | THE INSIDER’S GUIDE

DC-ology

Hot Ticket Spring SteepleChases Spring has finally sprung, so grab your wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses for this year’s Virginia races.

• APRIL Middleburg Spring Races, Glenwood Park, Middleburg,Va.; 1:30 p.m.; 540-687-6545.

• APRIL Foxfield Spring Races , Charlottesville,Va.; 1 p.m.; 434-293-9501.

GO GREEN Decrease your environmental impact during trips to New York aboard AMTRAK’S ACELA EXPRESS. The express service not only has economically-friendly fares (some as low as $99 between D.C. and New York), but it uses 18 percent less energy -per-passenger than airplanes and 17 percent less than cars. For rates and fares, go to www.amtrak.com.

• MAY Virginia Gold Cup Races, Great Meadow, The Plains, Va.; 1 p.m.; 540-347-1215.

Foodies Only Heavenly pies Pizza lovers take note - FRATELLI LA BUFALA will open later this month in Georgetown when Italian chef Fabio Capestrano debuts the chain’s second U.S.-based operation. (There are 30 other F.L.B.’s in Europe, including the Naples flagship.) The authentic pizzas, sandwiches, burgers, and pasta, all prepared by pizzailoi emigranti, are sure to impress customers’ appetites with minimal wallet stress. 1063 31st St. NW, www.fratellilabufala.com.

Quick Trip

LIVE GREEN Georgetown’s ILO SALON & DAY SPA is getting some rejuvenation of its own. The spa’s transformation will introduce eco-friendly features in an effort to become the only Silver certified “green” salon in Washington. Nonporous stones (to help prevent dye and water damage), eco-ventilation fans, and natural lighting and flooring are just of few of the ecoconscious additions to the elegant salon. Ilo Salon and Day Spa, 1637 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-342-0350, www.ilosalonspa.com.

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The 2008 Virginia Gold Cup race. (Photo courtesy of the Virginia Gold Cup Association)

Eco-Friendly Stay in Bonaire Those looking to enjoy a no-carbonfootprint Caribbean vacation should think about exploring BONAIRE, an island aiming to become the first 100 percent-sustainable energy-supplied island by 2012. An 11MW wind farm, 14MW biodiesel plant, and a 3MW backup battery are being developed to reduce the island’s fossil fuel energy and create a cleaner slice of paradise. For more information, call 1-800-BONAIRE or visit www. tourismbonaire.com.

by the numbers 9.44

80

$34

Tons of CO2 emitted each year by the average American.

Percent reduction of carbon emissions when using an eco-friendly light bulb.

Billion dollars, a quarter of the United States’ annual electric bill, which comes from lighting.

Sources: Green Progress, EcoLights

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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tastic location

tastic dining

tastic views

tastic spa

Waterfront hotel with monumental views.

Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C.

1330 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024, USA

Tel: +1 (202) 554 8588

Fax: +1 (202) 554 8999

www.mandarinoriental.com

FYIDC | SOCIAL CALENDAR

Visit Washingtonlife.com’s online calendar for information about local benefits and galas. You can post your event online, where it will be considered for our print edition and annual Balls and Galas Directory.

april

contact Celeste Gilbert, 202-337-4572.

WL’S YOUNG & THE GUEST LIST PARTY

WL SPONSORED

Join the cream of the under-40 crop for one of the most anticipated events of the year to celebrate the most-talked about list in the city. Are you on it? By invitation only.

WL

UPCOMING WL-SPONSORED EVENTS MAY CARE AWARDS GALA MAY FREER AND SACKLER GALA

HELEN HAYES AWARDS

Over 2,000 actors, directors, producers, and other performing arts personalities celebrate the 25th anniversary of this high-energy SPONSORED event showcasing the capital’s thriving theater scene. Warner Theatre and the J.W. Marriott Hotel; 6 p.m.; $300-$500; black-tie;

SAVE THE DATE

HUNGARIAN AMERICAN COALITION GALA

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Distinguished diplomat and businessman John C. Whitehead will be honored with Gen. Colin Powell and former New York Gov. George Pataki among the guests. National Museum of Women in the Arts; 7 p.m.; $500-$2,500; black-tie; contact 202775-5175, hac@hacusa.org.

MAY MERIDIAN INTERNATIONAL CENTER SPRING GARDEN BENEFIT MAY TRUST FOR THE NATIONAL MALL LUNCHEON MAY POINT FOUNDATION BENEFIT MAY REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL’S TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER MAY SIEMATIC SHOWROOM OPENING

THE CORCORAN BALL

MAY ROCKIN’ THE RUNWAY

Over 1,000 guests will dine, dance, and socialize at this lavish fundraising event organized by the Women’s Committee of the Corcoran Gallery SPONSORED of Art and Corcoran College of Art + Design. Corcoran Gallery of Art; 7 p.m.; $600; black-tie; contact Janice Marks, jmarks@corocran.org.

WL

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Government, industry, and academic community guests are expected at the National Space Club’s dinner to celebrate the anniversary of Dr. Robert H. Goddard’s first successful flight in a liquid-fueled rocket. Hilton Washington; 6:30 p.m. reception, 7:30 p.m. dinner; $300 tickets, $3,250 tables; black-tie; contact 202973-8662, spaceclub@courtesyassoc.com.

SITAR ARTS CENTER “IN THE SPOTLIGHT”

Join the center’s efforts to support local arts programs with cocktails and a silent auction. NBC-4’s Barbara Harrison will emcee and SPONSORED The Washington Ballet’s Septime Webre will perform with Sitar students.

Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW; 6:30 p.m.; $500; contact Erin Bowers, 202-797-2145x106, erin@ sitarartscenter.org.

WL

ROUND HOUSE THEATRE’S ANNUAL GALA

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MAY AMERICA’S POLO CUP MAY THE WASHINGTON BALLET’S SPRING GALA MAY WPAS SPRING GALA MAY WOODROW WILSON HOUSE “PERENNIAL” GARDEN PARTY

GODDARD MEMORIAL DINNER

Darcy Jones and Nat Fogg at the 2008 Corcoran Ball, one of the most anticipated events of the spring gala season. (Photo by Tony Powell)

MAY BALL ON THE MALL

The evening of “Celestial Stories” features fine wines, dinner, a silent

MAY THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION GALA MAY SCHOOL NIGHT MAY INNOCENTS AT RISK GALA MAY NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN ART GALA

auction, and a program highlighting special guest’s favorite books. Round House Theatre; 6:30 p.m.; $500; black-tie; contact Sara Duke, 240-644-1403, sduke@roundhousetheatre.org.

FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY GALA

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Cocktails in the Great Hall are followed by musical and dramatic performances in the Elizabethan Theatre and dinner in the Folger’s splendid Reading Rooms with leaders of the social, business, government, and diplomatic communities at this year’s Mediterranean-themed event. Folger Shakespeare Library; 6:30 p.m.; $500; blacktie; contact Essence Newhoff, 202-675-0377, enewhoff@folger.edu.

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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Celebrate at

The Opera Ball Benefiting Washington National Opera

Susan E. Lehrman

Hosted by His Excellency The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany and Dr. Ulrike Scharioth Susan E. Lehrman, Chairman Michael and Linda Sonnenreich, Vice-Chairmen

Amb. Klaus Scharioth

Michael and Linda Sonnenreich

Friday, June 5 Intimate Embassy Dinners Fabulous Opera Ball Black Tie

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Call 202.295.2437

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Die Walküre Costume sketches by Catherine Zuber

tina

Friday, May 1 DAR Constitution Hall

One Night Only!

Plácido Domingo in Concert Order Your Tickets Today!

The Official Timepiece of Washington National Opera

202.397.SEAT•www.ticketmaster.com - For dinner and concert tickets, call 202.295.2486 Tickets available at all Ticketmaster locations. | For more information visit www.dc-opera.org. | Wheelchair accessible seating is available.

FYIDC | SOCIAL CALENDAR

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS SPRING GALA

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Guests will enjoy an exclusive private viewing of the currrent exhibit devoted to fashion icon Mary McFadden as well as sumptuous food, festive music, lavish decorations, and dancing in the Great Hall.

This year’s “Living Goddess”-themed event benefits the museum’s educational programs.

National Museum of Women in the Arts; 6 p.m.; $500 and $1,000; black-tie; contact Abbey Smith, 202-266-2815.

MOSAIC FOUNDATION BALL

Help make every drop count at this dinner in support of efforts to target global water issues affecting human life and environmental SPONSORED integ r ity. Cirque du Soleil performers will debut a new production.

National Building Museum; 6:30 p.m.; $500 and $1,000; black-tie; contact 202-388-0000, info@mosaicfound.org.

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TIM RUSSERT MEMORIAL DINNER

Celebrate the late journalist’s legacy at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington’s Tim Russert Memorial Dinner (formerly the Congressional SPONSORED Dinner). Proceeds will benefit the Club’s quality youth development programs for nearly 35,000 local kids and teens. J.W. Marriott Hotel; 6 p.m.; $500; business attire; contact Terri Johnson, tjohnson@bgcgw.org.

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THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL AWARDS DINNER

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Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the 60th anniversary of NATO while honoring former President George H.W. Bush, Gen. David Patreus, and the late Helmut Kohl. The Ritz Carlton Washington; 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner; $500; black-tie; contact Ania Volochin, 202778-4950, gala@acus.com.

CELEBRATING HEROES AND SHEROES

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Grammy award-winning vocalist Patti Austin and Emmy award-winning journalist Renee Poussaint host this annual fundraiser for the See Forever Foundation, supporting the

Maya Angelou Public Charter School. Lincoln Theatre; 5 p.m. receptions, 7:15 p.m. program; $500; black-tie; contact Ingrid Padgett, 202-7978250, ipadgett@seeforever.org.

May WNO’S “FROM MY LATIN SOUL”

Plácido Domingo steps out with the ladies for this opera-filled evening which includes a concert followed by a gala dinner and dancing with SPONSORED the stars. DAR Constitution Hall and Organization of the American States; 8 p.m. concert; $500-$1,000; festive attire; contact WNO Special Events, 202-295-2486.

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CHILDREN’S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER BALL

Young, philanthropically-minded patrons will help raise spirits and money - at a black-tie gala that includes dinner, dancing, and SPONSORED live entertainment. Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium; 6:30 p.m.; $500; blacktie; contact Danielle Beyda, 301-565-8522, dbeyda@cnmc.org.

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CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT CORP BASH

Join as the cultural group celebrates 10 years of making space for art with performances, dinner, dancing, and silent and live auctions. Atlas SPONSORED Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE; 7 p.m. cocktails, 8 p.m. dinner and performances; $75-$175; cocktail attire; contact 202-315-1322, gala@culturaldc.org.

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BET Executive Vice President Paxton Baker with his wife Rachel at last year’s Kennedy Center Spring Gala. (Photo by Tony Powell)

DREAM GALA

KENNEDY CENTER SPRING GALA

Expect dinner, dancing, and a silent auction at this evening to benefit the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, an organization that improves the lives of families in the region. Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center; 7 p.m. cocktails, 8 p.m. dinner; $500; black-tie; contact Vera Maher, 202-640-7124.

The Kennedy Center “Celebration of Women in the Arts” features cocktails and dinner followed by a star-studded performance in the Concert Hall SPONSORED and late night dessert and dancing in the Roof Terrace Restaurant. The Kennedy Center; starting at $1,000; black-tie; contact 202-416-8338, springgala@kennedy-center.org.

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LIFE OF THE PARTY WL-sponsored﹐ Hosted﹐ and Exclusive Events | Alzheimer Association’s Gala, St. Jude’s Gourmet Gala, and WPAS Season Opener

Michelle Fenty with Vanessa Reed and Joyce Repelyea at the Alvin Ailey 50th Anniverary gala. (Photo by Kyle Samperton)

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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LIFE

of the

PARTY

Terrell Owens, Harry Johns, and Chris Matthews Sen. Mark Warner and Harry Johns

Michael and Alissa Sheresky with Jeanine and Tyler Vradenburg

THE NATIONAL ALZHEIMERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GALA The Grand Hyatt PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

Charles Rockefeller, Sharon Percy Rockefeller, and Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV

REMEMBERING THOSE WHO FORGET The Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ %h annual gala was particularly memorable because of the candor of guests such as Sharon Percy Rockefeller, Maria Shriver, and BuďŹ&#x20AC;alo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens, who shared stories of the tragic decline of close family members.

HONORING THOSE WHO REMEMBER Awards were bestowed on four individuals who have served the cause: Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former Sen. Bob Kerrey, and Dr. JeďŹ&#x20AC;rey Cummings, an Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disease treatment pioneer. The event raised over $6 million for research and critical care services.

Marc Le owitz with Beth and James Glassman Mara Hutton, Tom Hutton, and Lisa Colburn

Meryl Comer, Kevin Sullivan, and Cindy Howar Steve Whitman and Taryn Fielder

Nancy and Harold Zirkin

Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin

Rep. G.K. ButterďŹ eld and Sen. Deborah Stabenow

Phyllis George and Pamela Brown

Rep. Chris Van Hollen and Sen. Robert Menendez

Tom Nelson with Trish and George Vradenburg

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WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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PARTY

Jill Biden, Judith Jamison, and Marian Robinson

John and Linda Donovan

Carolyn Niles and Jamal Simmons

Brad and Debbie Dockser

Mariella Trager and Septime Webre

ALVIN AILEY 50TH ANNIVERSARY GALA Kennedy Center PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

MUCH TO CELEBRATE Fifty years of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pre-eminent African American dance company, another joyous performance of the classic â&#x20AC;&#x153;Revelationsâ&#x20AC;? by the talented troupe, and a very special new first couple in the White House. SPECIAL GUESTS The Obamas didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make it into the presidential box until later in the run but Jill Biden and Marian Robinson (Michelle Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother) stayed for the show and a chat with Ailey artistic director Judith Jamison. ALSO SPOTTED Co-chairwomen Carolyn Brody and Beatrice Welters, Michael Kahn, Polly Kraft, George and Liz Stevens, Ann Stock, Debbie Dingell, Huda and Samia Farouki, Jim Kolbe, Marc and Jacqueline Leland, John Cochran, Bill Plante, Hilary Rosen, and Sissy Yates.

Rob and Lisa Edwards

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and Lauren Douglas Glover Scene on the dance ďŹ&#x201A;oor

Wendy Block and Katherine Bradley

Nick Rohatyn and Lisa Devon Streit

Riley Temple, Gina Adams, and Chris Cowan 26

Mayor Adrian Fenty

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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A CONCEPT BY MASOUD A.

SPRING FOR YOUR SENSES

THREE LEVELS OUTDOOR PATIO* CASUAL DINING $35 PRIX FIXE MENU TABLE & BOTTLE SERVICE* DJ AND DANCING*

Wednesday, April 15th (launch) LIMA and BISNOW present HAPPY HOUR ON K STREET Details: www.limarestaurant.com * Patio: Smoking permitted. Cigars available.

Third Floor: New DJ and music format on weekends

1401 K street NW 202.789.2800 (Available for Private Events) Online Reservations: www.opentable.com

Table & Bottle Service: Now on all 3 levels on weekends

Thaddeus Kim, Sara Kim, Meranda Kim, and Young Kim

Neale Perl with Veronica Sarukan and Mexican Amb. Arturo Sarukan

Tory Choate, Adam Hasler, and Darren Thomas

WL SPONSORED

WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY SEASON OPENING CELEBRATION The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

GALA OPENING WPAS made the brilliant choice of star German violinist Anne-Sophie Mu er accompanied by the musicians of the Camerata Salzburg for its season opening performance. Vilde Frang joined her in one Bach piece, the two-violin Concerto in D Minor, then Mu'er thrilled the sellout crowd with Tartini’s technically challenging Devil’s Trill. THE PLAYERS Diplomats enjoying dinner, the all-Baroque program, and post-performance desserts included envoys from Germany, Great Britain, and Cyprus, WPAS Chairman Jay Hammer, WPAS President Neale Perl, Shirley and Albert Small, Annie Totah, Paul Stern, June and Jerome Libin, and longtime supporter Barbara Gordon. Co-chairmen Rachel Tinsley Pearson and Kevin Fitzgerald helped raise $200,000 for WPAS educational programs.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Rachel Tinsley Pearson

Doran Flowers and Tina Hsu Doug Wheeler and Hank Schlossberg

Baroque supernumeraries

Madeleine McElveen, Pendleton Bogache, Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, and Tweed Bogache 28

Jay and Robin Hammer with Ned and Nell Shapiro WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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CREATING QUALITY, SUSTAINABLE SPACE FOR LIFE

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Kristen Olson and H.P. GoldďŹ eld

J. Ambler Cusick and Leland Bishop

David Park with Paula and Bob Hisaoka WL SPONSORED

ST. JUDEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GOURMET GALA National Building Museum PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

T. Allan McArtor and Judy Bishop Indebleuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strawberry shortcake

Ande and Mae Haney Grennan with Kelly and John Lugar

DINING FOR A CAUSE: Chefs from more than 40 of the metropolitan areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top eateries, bakeries, and caterers gathered to bake, braise, fry, fricassee, sear, and sautĂŠ their signature specialties to support children being treated for catastrophic illnesses at St. Judeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Research Hospital. SURPRISE PRIZE: With all the top-ranked restaurant maĂŽtres de cuisine vying to outdo each other, who would have guessed the tastersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; choice award would go to the extravagant dessert mĂŠlange prepared by Xavier Deshayes, chef of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center?

Pamela Sorensen and Jim Kimsey Sarah Cannova, Meg Ferguson, Michell Maddox, and Chris Ferguson

David and Mary Ritchie

Jorge Adeler

Peter Tanous, Rev. John Kemper, and Helen Thomas 30

Preston Miller and Morgan Cisternino WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

Tucker Eskew

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Devon Smith, Mary Amons, Lauren Pomponio, and Katherine Kennedy

Tim Kenney, Lyana Pearson, and Dan Hall

WL SPONSORED

CAPITAL CITY BALL The Washington Club PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL

ROLL THE DICE The Polaris Project had luck on its side when ballgoers selected its anti-human trafficking crusade as the beneficiary of the evening’s festivities. Partygoers gambled and gamboled for the cause, joining Miss D.C. Kate Marie Grinold and Olympian Kerri Strug, both strong supporters of the organization. THE PLAYERS Erin Barnes, Randy Brater, Deborah Sigmund, Alex Kor, Pamela Sorenson, Mike and Cheryl Morehouse, Tanya Sable, Veronica Sanchez, and Gargee Ghosh.

Steve Whitman, Kaela Dolan, and Heather and Noel Sesay

Laura Robinson and Max Bishop Bob Craft, Caroline Boutte, and Eric Fox

Capital City Ball founders John Dunford and Bruce Fries

Jacquelyn Hampton and Tonya Muse

Laurie and John Capacchiona

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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Todd Crespi and Nancie Bruce David Winer and Jan Cokinos

Sandra Pecina and David Berkey

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LIFE

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Ryan Morgan, Diana Mayhew, and Art Smith

Yukiko and Noel Tanaka

Bill Hanbury, Jeanne Theismann, Angie Fox, and John Catoe

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NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL PINK TIE PARTY The Liaison Capitol Hill PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

THINKING PINK Cherry Blossom Festival supporters enjoyed cocktail and food specialties prepared by Art and Soul celebrity chef Art Smith and colleagues from Charlie Palmer Steak, Mie N Yu, and other local restaurants. CHERRY PICKED Pink roses and ubiquitous cherry blossom branches competed with Adourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cherry-ďŹ&#x201A;avored macaroons and numerous cherry-themed cocktails (although no pink champagne was sighted). Proceeds funded various cultural events planned during the March 28April 12 festival celebrating spring and the 1912 gi% of 3,000 cherry trees to Washington to commemorate Japanese-American friendship.

Kara Kennedy, Michael and Mariella Trager, and Linda Semans Donovan

Alison Starling, Heather Shaw, and Dani Elhachem Christina Fulton and Erica Riley

Margaret Webster and Jay Nickerson Jamie and Amin Salam Yester Ozkam, Annie Totah, Yemeni Amb. Abdulwahab Al-Hajjri, and Natalya AnďŹ lofyeva

Jamie Sterling and Peter McKelvey Theodore Risher and Bill Batts

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Tina Mather, Joshua Bell, and Jenny Saad

Divine Performing Arts cast

Robin Richter, Annette Aaron, NuNu Deng, Lillya Bugakova, and Julia Bellafiore WL SPONSORED

DIVINE PERFORMING ARTS The Kennedy Center PHOTOS BY JAMES R BRANTLEY

GLORIOUS CULTURE REBORN Warriors, monks, dancers,

Gwen Holliday and Francis Colt deWolf III

singers, and musicians filled the Opera House stage for a three-hour extravaganza raising consciousness about Chinese culture and spirituality. CELEBRATING AFTERWARDS Event sponsor Stephen Norris pronounced the show “colorful, thought-provoking, and controversial” at the post-performance reception where he and his wife Pia-Maria greeted cast members and guests who included violinist Joshua Bell, Tommy Quinn, Nini Ferguson, Gratian M. Yatsevitch III, Marlene Malek, Bill Gertz, and Wya Dickerson.

Pia-Maria and Steve Norris

Anchyi Wei and Luke Christopher

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POLLYWOOD The Nexus of Politics﹐ Hollywood﹐ Media﹐ and Diplomacy | Hollywood on the Potomac, Diplomatic Dance, and Canada Goes Green

First lady Michelle Obama and Senator Ted Kennedy celebrate the senator’s birthday at the Kennedy Center. (Photo by Margot Schulman)

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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Michelle Obama and Sen. Ted Kennedy

President Obama waves from the stage

Katherine Anne Kennedy, Teddy Kennedy III, Kiley Kennedy and Teddy Kennedy Jr.

Mark and Jean Shriver

TED KENNEDY’S BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts PHOTOS BY MARGOT SCHULMAN

Maria Shriver

THE SENATE’S LION Sen. Ted Kennedy didn’t need a cake blazing with 77 candles to light up his belated birthday bash; there was enough electricity in the house to make the Kennedy Center visible from Mars. “SOME ENCHANTED EVENING” The ailing solon’s spirits were brightened just as much by the Broadway-style salute starring Lauren Bacall, Hal Prince, Frederika von Stade, Bernade e Peters, James Taylor, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Bill Cosby, and Denyse Graves as the surprise appearance of President Barack Obama to sing “Happy Birthday” along with his wife, Michelle, Vice President Joe Biden, Jill Biden, and about 40 Senate colleagues.

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and daughter Kate Townsend

ARAB FESTIVAL OPENING The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts PHOTOS BY JOSEPH ALLEN AND MARGOT SCHULMAN

Abdullah Shwain al-Hosni, Omani Amb. Hunaina Al-Mughairy, and Prince Alwaled Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz al Saud

CULTURAL BREAKTHROUGH The Kennedy Center’s $10 million “magic carpet ride” to 22 Arab League nations during its three-week “Arabesque” arts festival featured art, poetry, film, fashion, and performances by 800 actors, dancers, singers, and musicians. AN ARABIAN NIGHT Opening festivities showed just how “hip” the Arab world can be with an extravagantly avant-garde dinner hosted

by Bahraini Minister of Culture Mai Al-Khalifa in a huge, heated tent where modern Arab design elements included lighted aqua chairs, giant triangular Lucite tabletops, and sexy swags of Swarovski crystal.

Bahraini Amb. Houda Nonoo and Salman Idafar

Sheikh Jassim Al-Thani, Sheikha Al=Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Sheikha Rima Al-Sabah, and Kuwait Amb. Salem Al-Sabah

Wayneand Katherine Reynolds

Huma Abedin, United Arab Emirates Amb. Yousef Al-Otaiba, and Dina Powell Dana Makarem, Samia Farouki, Lucky Roosevelt, and Sheikha Mai bint Al-khalifa 36

Michael Kaiser and Helen Lee Henderson

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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THE

A

LIST

A New Administration Shakes Up the Washington Power Structure

B

ig changes are always in store when a new president takes office. The “out-with-theold, in-with-the-new” transition of power is even more historic when a change of party occurs (check) and especially when a two-term presidency ends (double check). Barack and Michelle Obama are also younger than their predecessors (they were born at the end of the Baby Boom era; the Bushes at its very beginning), and, most relevant of all, are the first African-Americans to occupy the White House.

It’s already clear that the Obama administration will be doing things very differently, and this is reflected in the men and women the president has chosen to serve on his team. So far, they comprise one of the most diverse and talented groups to take the reins of government since Franklin D. Roosevelt assembled his “Brain Trust,” and those who have been appointed know they have an enormous task ahead as they deal with the economy, foreign policy, defense, and the terrorist threat.

Certain offices confer A-List status as a matter of course, whether their occupants are colorful – or duds. That’s why you’ll see the new vice president, attorney general and secretaries of state, defense treasury, and homeland security automatically replacing their Bush Administration counterparts.

(We’ll miss the brainy and gracious Condoleezza Rice, but Hillary Rodham Clinton will also be “going places” – in both sense of the term.) Note also the addition of Energy Secretary Steven Chu, a Nobel-Prize-winning physicist, and such key White House personnel as Valerie Jarrett, David Axelrod, and Peter Orszag, whose crucial roles as presidential advisors prompted us to eliminate our usual “waitand-see” period. Even more groundbreaking is the début of the list’s first presidential mother-in-law,

Marian Robinson, and first White House social secretary, Desirée Rogers. (A stylish New Orleans native, former TV host, and business executive, Mrs. Rogers would be a likely candidate for a Washington “Fashion A-List” as well.)

Congressional leadership is always well represented, and this year we note the inclusion of Rep. Barney Frank, who has played a formidable role legislating bailouts and stimuli to fix our foundering economy, and Rep. Eric Cantor, the Richmond-based House Republican whip who’s been making quite a name for himself in the loyal opposition. On Embassy Row, we said farewell to Britain’s Sir David and Lady Manning and France’s Jean-David and MarieCecile Levitte and now welcome their respective successors, Sir Nigel and Lady Manning and Pierre Vimont, to our diplomatic pantheon. Media stars on the rise include NBC’s newly-dubbed Meet the Press host, David Gregory, and New York Timesman David Brooks, also a major television presence.

Business and philanthropic clans bearing the names Cafritz, Graham, Marriott, Mars, and Rockefeller add an element of élan as they rub elbows, so to speak, with more recent powerhouses named Lerner, Leonsis, Snyder, and Sant. There’s a world-famous tenor (Plácido Domingo), a certified movie star (Robert Duvall) and even a queen: Jordan’s Noor Al-Hussein.

While our A-Listers don’t need to be rich, royal, or have a TV show, we count on their magnetism to ratchet up the “buzz factor” whenever they enter a room. All named here have what it takes to be a center of gravity (even many of the “husbands- and wives-of ”) and we salute their distinctive presence on the Washington scene.

– Kevin Chaffee

Clockwise from bottom left: Eric Holder and Sharon Malone, Timothy Geithner, Valerie Jarrett, Kuwaiti Ambassador Salem AlSabah, Desirée Rogers, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, Rahm Emanuel, Calvin and Jane Cafritz, Bob Woodward, David and Katherine Bradley, Vice President Joseph Biden and Jill Biden, Donald Graham, Mayor Adrian Fenty and Michelle Fenty, Rep. Barney Frank, Jane Stanton Hitchcock, Peter Orszag

POLLYWOOD | THE A LIST

President BARACK H OBAMA and First Lady MICHELLE OBAMA

Representative BARNEY FRANK

Vice President and Mrs. JOSEPH R BIDEN JR (Jill)

The Honorable ROBERT M GATES, The Secretary of Defense, and Mrs. Gates (Becky)

His Excellency the Ambassador of Kuwait, Sheikh SALEM ABDULLAH AL-JABER AL-SABAH, and Sheikha RIMA AL-SABAH

The Honorable TIMOTHY H GEITHNER, The Secretary of the Treasury, and Mrs. Geithner (Carole)

Mr. and Mrs. DAVID AXELROD (Susan)

The Honorable and Mrs. DANIEL R GLICKMAN (Rhoda)

The Honorable BEN S BERNANKE, The Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, and Mrs. Bernanke (Anna) The Honorable and Mrs. JAMES H BILLINGTON (Marjorie) Representative and Mrs. JOHN A BOEHNER (Debbie) Mr. BENJAMIN C BRADLEE and Ms. SALLY QUINN Mr. and Mrs. DAVID G BRADLEY (Katherine) Justice and Mrs. STEPHEN G BREYER (Joanna) Mr. and Mrs. DAVID BROOKS (Sarah) Mr. and Mrs. CALVIN CAFRITZ (Jane) Mr. and Mrs. WILLIAM N CAFRITZ (Buffy) Representative and Mrs. ERIC I CANTOR (Diana) Mr. and Mrs. STEVEN B CASE (Jean) Mrs. EUGENE B CASEY (Betty) His Excellency the Ambassador of Italy and Mrs. GIOVANNI CASTELLANETA (Leila) The Honorable and Mrs. RICHARD B CHENEY (Lynne) The Honorable STEVEN CHU, The Secretary of Energy, and Mrs. Chu (Jean) The Honorable WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON and the Honorable HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, The Secretary of State Mr. GREG CRAIG and Ms. DERRY NOYES Representative and Mrs. JOHN D DINGELL (Deborah) Mr. and Mrs. PLﾃ，IDO DOMINGO (Marta) Mr. and Mrs. ROBERT S DUVALL (Luciana) The Honorable and Mrs. RAHM EMANUEL (Amy) The Honorable ADRIAN M FENTY, The Mayor of Washington, D.C., and Mrs. Fenty (Michelle)

Mr. DONALD E GRAHAM Mr. DAVID GREGORY and Ms. BETH WILKINSON Mr. CHRISTOPHER E HITCHENS and Ms. CAROL BLUE Mr. JIM HOAGLAND and Ms. JANE STANTON HITCHCOCK

The Honorable ERIC H HOLDER JR , The Attorney General, and Dr. SHARON MALONE Representative STENY H HOYER Mrs. VALERIE JARRETT General and Mrs. JAMES L JONES (Diane) Mr. and Mrs. VERNON E JORDAN JR (Ann) Justice and Mrs. ANTHONY KENNEDY (Mary) Senator and Mrs. EDWARD M KENNEDY (Vicki) Mrs. ROBERT F KENNEDY (Ethel) Senator JOHN F KERRY and Ms. TERESA HEINZ Mr. and Mrs. JAMES C LEHRER (Kate) Mr. and Mrs. THEODORE J LEONSIS (Lynn) Mr. and Mrs. THEODORE N LERNER (Annette) Mr. and Mrs. J WILLARD MARRIOTT JR (Donna) Mr. and Mrs. FORREST E MARS JR (Deborah) Ms. JACQUELINE BADGER MARS Senator and Mrs. JOHN S MCCAIN III (Cindy) Senator A MITCHELL MCCONNELL and the Honorable ELAINE LAN CHAO Gen. MIKE MULLEN, The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Mrs. Mullen (Deborah) The Honorable JANET NAPOLITANO, The Secretary of Homeland Security The Honorable and Mrs. WILLIAM T NEWMAN JR (Sheila Johnson) Her Majesty QUEEN NOOR AL-HUSSEIN

From top: Leila Castellaneta, George Stephanopoulos and Alexandra Wentworth, Liz and George Stevens, Roger Sant, Justice Antonin Scalia, Ted and Annette Lerner, Victoria Reggie Kennedy and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Katharine Weymouth, Justice Stephen Breyer

Mr. PETER ORSZAG The Honorable NANCY PELOSI, The Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Mr. PAUL PELOSI The Honorable and Mrs. COLIN L POWELL (Alma) Mr. and Mrs. EARL A POWELL III (Nancy) Senator and Mrs. HARRY M REID (Landra)

His Excellency the Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Sir NIGEL and Lady SHEINWALD (Julia) Mr. and Mrs. DANIEL M SNYDER (Tanya) Mr. GEORGE R STEPHANOPOULOS and Ms. ALEXANDRA WENTWORTH Mr. and Mrs. GEORGE C STEVENS JR (Liz)

Mr. JOSEPH E ROBERT JR

The Honorable and Mrs. LAWRENCE H â&#x20AC;&#x153;LARRYâ&#x20AC;?

SUMMERS (Elisa)

The Chief Justice and Mrs. JOHN G ROBERTS JR (Jane)

His Excellency the Ambassador of France,

Ms. MARIAN ROBINSON Senator and Mrs. JOHN D ROCKEFELLER IV (Sharon Percy) Mrs. DESIRĂ&#x2030;E ROGERS Mr. and Mrs. DAVID RUBENSTEIN (Alice) Mr. and Mrs. ROGER SANT (Victoria) Justice and Mrs. ANTONIN SCALIA (Maureen)

PIERRE VIMONT

Senator MARK R WARNER and Ms. LISA COLLIS Ms. KATHARINE WEYMOUTH Mr. and Mrs. GEORGE F WILL (Mari) Mr. ROBERT WOODWARD and Ms. ELSA WALSH The Honorable ROBERT B ZOELLNICK, President of the World Bank

From top: Betty Casey, Sen. Harry Reid, David Gregory and Beth Wilkinson, PlĂĄcido Domingo and British Ambassador Sir Nigel Sheinwald, Queen Noor Al-Hussein, Rep. Steny Hoyer, Paul Pelosi and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Sheila Johnson, French Ambassador Pierre Vimont

THE RADIOACTIVE LIST Guests Do a Double Take When They Enter a Room GEORGE ALLEN A misspoken â&#x20AC;&#x153;macacaâ&#x20AC;? moment ended this former Virginia senatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hopes for another term.

MARION BARRY Will the former â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mayorfor-Lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sâ&#x20AC;? woes (controlled substances, a kidney transplant, unpaid taxes) ever end?

ROLAND BURRIS Barack Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Senate replacement was canny enough to get appointed, but can he keep his seat?

ALAN GREENSPAN The former Fed chairman is getting blamed for not sounding his warning about â&#x20AC;&#x153;irrational exuberanceâ&#x20AC;? a lot sooner, louder, and longer.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;SCOOTERâ&#x20AC;? LIBBY Liar or scapegoat notwithstanding, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be no pardon anytime soon for Vice President Cheneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former chief of staff.

DONALD RUMSFELD The former defense secretary canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even walk down a public street without being accosted by irate opponents of the war in Iraq and the torture of prisoners there.

LAWRENCE SMALL An â&#x20AC;&#x153;imperialistic and insularâ&#x20AC;? management style and excessive perks doomed the Smithsonian secretaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reign despite his impressive fundraising achievements.

DAVID VITTER Getting exposed as a client of a notorious madam hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stopped the Louisiana senatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s moralizing against gambling, abortion, and same-sex marriage.

POLLYWOOD | HOLLYWOOD ON THE POTOMAC

Bronx and ‘Camelot’Tales Gloria Estefan, Chazz Palminteri and Gretchen Mol up the glitz factor at recent local events B Y J A N E T D O N O VA N

THE LEBANON CONNECTION “When you mix Cuban water and Cuban sunshine with Lebanese water and Lebanese sunshine, families will thrive,” international superstar Gloria Estefan said while introducing her husband, Emilio, at the American Task Force for Lebanon Gala Awards Night.The hot Miami Sound Machine mainstays keep in touch with dual cultural roots (his father was Lebanese, his mother Cuban).

There to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to her “first and only boyfriend,” it was clear the singer shares both a successful professional and personal life with her spouse.

Although married at 17, she thinks that’s nothing compared to his grandmother who was given away in an arranged marriage at the age of 12.

“She told me that on her wedding night she stood by the window waiting for the stork to bring her a baby,” Gloria told the crowd. “Boy, was she in for a surprise.”

The event wasn’t just about family though. Press corps doyenne Helen Thomas offered her take on White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs: “I like him but think he’s on a tight leash. He’s always saying he doesn’t want to get ahead of the president, but I think he doesn’t want to get ahead of all those advisors.”

A subdued Ralph Nader pondered the state of D.C. voting rights, which miff him; and no, he hasn’t decided on yet another presidential run.

References to Wall Street shenanigans were typified by investment guru Peter Tanous, who claimed he could have gotten to the stage to make his remarks faster if he’d had a better seat, while the presenter who followed him countered, “It’s amazing how fast you can get

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to the stage when you pay cash.”

Joining Ambassador of Lebanon Antoine Chedid in enjoying his country’s Ksara Reserve de Couvent Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 were Lebanese Americans Lucky Roosevelt, Sam Donaldson, and Bechara Nammour, the Lebanese owner of Neyla restaurant.

Above: Chazz Palmintieri and his wife Gianna Ranaudo. Left: Ralph Nader and Gloria Estefan at the American Task Force for Lebanon benefit.

man owns it.” Somewhere in between a boy of nine is torn between working class mores and the world of organized crime.

When asked how he could possibly remember so many lines, Palminteri was quick to remind backstage guests that he wrote it.The irony is that he had a hard time getting the stage role. If it were not for Robert De Niro, who chose the project for his directorial debut, this talented actor may have gone unnoticed.

Enjoying the performance: Eleanor Clift, Dan Glickman, Lani Hay, Mark Smith, and Rep. Linda Sanchez.

WHO’S WHO, OR MAYBE WASN’T Guests attending the Washington screening of An American Affair spent as much time trying to figure out whose house was used as the set and who all the players were in real life as they did watching the movie. Loosely based on John F. Kennedy’s administration, the story is set in 1963, which meant it was bound to have all the glamour, sex, and intrigue of “Camelot.” Those who lived in Washington then or who have lived here a long time were sure they knew every house on the street and every player in real life.

Much to their chagrin, it was later revealed that the film was shot in Baltimore and some of the characters were fictitious.The major appeal of the movie is the guessing game aspect. For those in the know, it was haunting.

Stars attending the after-party at Tattoo included Gretchen Mol (as JFK’s Mary Meyeresque mistress), Cameron Bright portraying the young boy infatuated with Mol’s character, and James Rebhorn, who played the scary CIA guy to the hilt.

Enjoying the cloak and dagger flick: director William Olsson; Kate and Jonathan Novak; Harriet Fulbright; Christine Warnker, and Norm Ornstein.

A BRONX TALE It’s hard to imagine that anyone could do a better solo performance than Chazz Palminteri, but the award-winning actor did just that when he brought his one-man stage show to The Warner Theatre. For about an hour and a half, the New York-born actor didn’t miss a beat as he took the audience down memory lane in A Bronx Tale, a saga about growing up in the sprawling New York City borough. Complete with music by Dion & the Belmonts, a set looking like a 1960’sera bar, and the star’s acting-out of multiple characters, the production’s tag-line said it all: Readers wishing to get in touch with Janet can “One man lives in the neighborhood, another email: columns@washingtonlife.com.

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Cameron Bright

James Rebhorn

Kath and Alan Novak

Kris Arnold

WL SPONSORED

“AN AMERICAN AFFAIR” PREMIERE E Street Cinema PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON AND PAUL MORIGI

Gretchen Mol AFFAIR OF THE HEART Gretchen Mol chose winter white for the movie premiere rather than the “American flag and nothing else” look that she wore on the film’s poster, but the crowd was still atwi'er at the E Street Cinema and later at Ta'oo Bar. Everyone was wondering who Mol’s character — a divorcee covertly dating President Kennedy — was based on. Socialite Mary Pinchot Meyer was the leading contender according to the knowledgeable crowd. THE GUESTS William Sten Olsson, Robin Bronk, Jessica Hoy, Carly Weisenberg, Kate Novak, James Debhorn, Alex Metcalf, and Kevin Leyden.

Suzanne Bleech

Bob and Mary Beth Powers

METROPOLIS NOW! A SELECTION OF CHINESE CONTEMPORARY ART Meridian International Center PHOTOS BY SHMULIK ALMANY

DIPLOMATIC DELIGHT Featuring 52 works by 31 artists, “Metropolis Now,” an exhibition curated by the Meridian Center with the National Art Museum of China in Beijing and the Embassy of China in Washington, marks 30 years of formal diplomatic ties between the U.S. and China. ART INTERNATIONAL Paintings, sculptures, video installations, and mixed media exhibited in the WhiteMeyer House Cafritz Galleries offer an inside look into the rapid urbanization of the Chinese landscape – specifically in Beijing and Shanghai.

Larry Barocas and Donna Chin with Meryl and Michael Chertoff

Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Fan Di’an

Meg Ferguson, Gwen Holliday, and Katelin Dial Haney

Chuck and Lynda Robb with Stuart Holliday

Ambassador of China and Mrs. Zhou Wenzhong

Evelyn DiBona and Olivia Jones

POLLYWOOD | DIPLOMATIC DANCE

Honors and Farewells The Mondales return, diplomatic moves and a movie queen on Embassy Row

BY GAIL SCOTT

MONDALE: A CRUCIAL BRIDGE Buddies from the Carter White House, Congress, and Cleveland Park welcomed Walter Mondale back to Washington when the former senator, vice president, and ambassador to Japan (from 1993 to 1997) was decorated with the highest imperial order Japan bestows upon a foreigner. Mondale and his wife, Joan, are still beloved in Japan.

Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki presented the guest of honor with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, saying he had “made the difference” in creating an “everlasting bridge” between the two countries.

Now 81 and still involved with JapaneseAmerican interests, Mondale noted the appropriateness of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s choice of Japan for her first Right: Bulgarian Amb. Latchezar Petkov and his wife, Boriana Puncheva, a well-known Bulgarian movie star. Below: Joan and Walter Mondale at the Japanese Embassy Residence. (Photos by Gail Scott)

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foreign visit. “They had wonderful talks … with such a strong partnership, every big problem can be easily solved.”

The receiving line was full of VIPs with favorite Mondale stories. Norwegian Ambassador Wegger Strommen said his famous friend was not only “Norway’s consul general in Minnesota but ‘chief of the tribe’ of six million Norwegian-Americans,” a “great friend” of King Harald V, and “the first person I called here.”

Food writer Marian Burros joked, “The first time I met Walter Mondale was at a Pillsbury Bake-Off in Minneapolis and we’ve been close friends ever since.”

NO TIME TO PACK Chilean Ambassador Mariano Fernández woke up in Washington as his country’s ambassador to the White House and went to sleep in Santiago as its new foreign minister. The wine connoisseur had no time to pack his bags, much less his precious vintages – many of which were made available to his guests at the intimate tastings he hosted throughout his tenure.

The Latino contingent is in total flux. The Dominican Republic’s Flavio and Minerva Espinal left after extended farewell parties and now Costa Rican favorites Tomas and Diana Dueñas are leaving as well. Nicaragua’s colorful Arturo Cruz has also departed, perhaps not so coincidentally, at the same time Colombia’s DCM Mariana Pacheco resigned. After a year’s extension, distinguished Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen and his popular

wife Kalpana are really retiring this time.

NEW FACES Iceland’s jolly Ambassador Hjálmar Hannesson got the most laughs at this year’s Small Nations Poetry Reading while Bulgaria’s new envoy, Latchezar Petkov, arrived with a movie star on his arm. She is Boriana Puncheva, daughter of Bulgaria’s legendary film director and cameraman Borislav Punchev – and Petkov’s wife of less than two years. “She is as famous to us as Julia Roberts is to you,” one embassy staffer noted. At the couple’s national day celebration debut, their countrymen queued to greet their beloved star who now produces, directs, and writes. Puncheva keeps in touch with her projects by e-mail, Skype, and trips to Sofia every four months.

No diplomatic spouse comes and goes as frequently as Pakistani Ambassador Husain Haqqani’s wife Farahnaz Ispahani, who’s a member of her nation’s parliament and a spokesperson for Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.

Although her family has been involved in her country’s diplomacy and politics for three generations (her grandfather was Pakistan’s first ambassador to the United States) and she and her family have had close ties to the late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Ispahani chose broadcasting as her first career. A Wellesley grad, this Karachi native first worked in ABC’s Washington bureau before going on to MSNBC and CNN. “I was always behind the scenes before,” she says, claiming to be “shy” her entire life before her husband encouraged her to accept Benazir Bhutto’s 2006 invitation to run for parliament.

Now, she speaks out for “the poorest of the poor” and in op-ed pieces in her role as the prime minister’s spokesperson.

Readers wishing to get in touch with Gail can email: columns@washingtonlife.com.

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POLLYWOOD | DIPLOMATIC SPOTLIGHT

CANADA!

CANADIAN AMBASSADOR MICHAEL WILSON REFLECTS ON OUR NORTHERN NEIGHBOR’S COMMITMENT TO PROTECT A SHARED ENVIRONMENT s citizens of the world’s second largest country, Canadians act as stewards of vast and diverse ecosystems on behalf of our planet. As neighbors, that stewardship extends to our shared continental environment and is a key part of the deep Canada-U.S. relationship.

Canadians and Americans breathe the same air, drink the same water, and share responsibility for ensuring that future generations have a safe, clean, and healthy continent. And that common cause extends to our role as global leaders in protecting our environment.

Climate change shows how leaders are required to deal with issues that have very real, local environmental consequences.

For Canada our path forward is clear - addressing climate change by reducing our carbon emissions through domestic, continental, and international action.

To that end, our countries have established a Clean Energy Dialogue to collaborate and innovate, with a view toward advancing technologies and infrastructure that will reduce greenhouse gases and combat climate change. Canada has recently committed over $750 million to clean energy research and demonstration projects, including carbon capture and storage. Working together with our provinces, in particular Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada has cumulatively set aside roughly $3 billion for advanced research.

As a country that shares a border with the Arctic Ocean, Canada plays an active role in international negotiations to develop a new post-

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

2012 agreement on climate change. In October 2008, Canada announced that it would set aside a significant amount of money for projects to support international climate change adaptation in those countries most vulnerable.

Domestically, we have set targets for greenhouse gas emissions, and are committed to reducing them by 20 percent from 2006 levels by 2020. We have also set an objective that 90 percent of Canada’s

Top: Elk Island National Park, Above left: Canadian Ambassador Michael Wilson Above right: The Canadian Embassy partners with Casey Trees for a tree planting on Massachusetts Avenue NW. (Photo by Leslie Fields)

electricity needs be provided by non-emitting sources, such as hydro, nuclear, clean coal, or wind power by 2020. Canada is making one of the world’s cleanest electricity systems even cleaner.

Our approach to protecting the environment goes beyond climate change, as it must for a country blessed with abundant natural resources.

Thanks to sustainable forest management

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practices, for example, Canada’s forest cover has remained constant over the past decade.

There is more original and protected forest in Canada than in any other country and an area of certified forest greater than the combined area of all other country certifications. With virtually zero deforestation, an excellent track record in forestry sector recycling and greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and some of the toughest forestry regulations in the world, Canada leads in sustainable forestry. We are adding to our already-stringent environmental regulations this year with significant increases in fines and new enforcement tools.

But to make changes happen, we have to live by the adage “think globally, act locally.” Here in Washington, the embassy staff demonstrates Canadian commitment to volunteerism, partnering with local environmental organizations to plant trees and engage in local clean-up projects.

We are also long-time supporters of the DC Environmental Film Festival, screening Canadian films that focus on environmental issues.

On a larger scale, our embassy is part of a government project (the Federal Buildings Initiative) to retrofit all government buildings to reduce electricity and water consumption. We already purchase all of our electricity from wind power, have low-energy lighting and full recycling throughout, require compliance with strict environmental standards for building maintenance, and are well on the way to replacing our embassy fleet with low-emission vehicles. Each project takes us that much closer to obtaining the esteemed LEED green-building certification, and reflects Canada’s commitment to acting to protect our shared environment.

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CHEF’S CHOICE Six organic trailblazers take Washington by storm PHOTOS BY DOUGLAS SONDERS MAKEUP BY CAROLA MYERS

Photographed at the U.S. National Arboretum

Our chefs were shot on location at the U.S. National Arboretum, 446 acres of elegant gardens, open meadows, and peaceful woodlands. A place to roam on quiet paths, to explore the world’s first bonsai museum and to wonder at the explosion of spring blooms in the region’s largest azalea collection, the Arboretum grounds are open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Dec. 25. Admission is free. For information about upcoming events including Azalea Collection tours in April and May, the annual Friends of the National Arboretum plant sale (April 24-25), and the Bonsai Festival (May 1-3) visit www.usna.usda.gov or call (202) 245-2726.

X BARTON SEAVER

X CARLA HALL

Executive chef, Blue Ridge

Chef and owner, Alchemy Caterers

MOST EXCITING PERSON YOU’VE EVER COOKED FOR?

WHAT ARE TWO SPICES EVERY CHEF NEEDS?

Quincy Jones

Cinnamon and thyme.

FAVORITE MEAL FROM CHILDHOOD?

MOST UNUSUAL FOOD YOU’VE EVER TRIED?

Dad’s mac and cheese.

Chicken feet.

IS THERE A RULE OF KITCHEN CONDUCT THAT YOU ENFORCE ABOVE ALL OTHERS?

FAVORITE MEAL FROM CHILDHOOD?

Cleanliness! I understand a pan will get dirty when cooking, but I don’t tolerate unnecessary messes.

Sounds strange, but oranges. I used to eat them by the pound when I was a child. Also, what kid doesn’t like mac and cheese?

WHY EAT ORGANIC?

FAVORITE DRINK?

Eating organic is one step toward a better dialogue between the consumer and food sources.

Cranberry juice, ginger syrup, and lime spritzer.

W CHRISTIAN HOLMES

W TODD GRAY

General manager, Founding Farmers

Executive chef and co-owner, Equinox Restaurant

IF YOU COULD COOK DINNER FOR ONE PERSON WHO WOULD IT BE?

MOST UNUSUAL FOOD YOU’VE EVER TRIED?

My wife. Opening a restaurant has made life so busy that I haven’t been able to cook for her in about seven months!

Water Buffalo brains at a Cantonese meal in Hong Kong. It was good!

IF YOU WEREN’T A CHEF YOU WOULD BE…

FAVORITE KITCHEN GADGET?

The blast chiller - it’s like a microwave in reverse. We use one at Founding Farmers to make ice cream.

I would either be a musician, or playing on the PGA tour.

FAVORITE MUSIC TO PLAY WHILE COOKING?

WHAT FOOD ITEMS ARE MOST WORTH THE PRICE OF BUYING THEM ORGANIC?

At risk of being labeled a “Deadhead”: The Grateful Dead.

Free-range chicken, for ethical reasons, and heirloom tomatoes, because they taste so much better!

X ROBERT WELAND

BEST HANGOVER REMEDY?

Another vodka!

X CATHAL ARMSTRONG

Executive chef, Poste Moderne Brasserie

Executive chef, Restaurant Eve

WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU WEREN’T A CHEF?

IF YOU COULD COOK FOR ONE PERSON ALIVE OR DEAD WHO WOULD IT BE?

I’d be a farmer in northern California.

FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD?

Eggplant parmesan.

WHY EAT ORGANIC?

In a nutshell: preservation. Preserving one’s health, the environment, … the list goes on and on.

FAVORITE MUSIC TO PLAY WHILE COOKING?

Glen Burtnik FAVORITE COCKTAIL?

Poste’s Bloody Mary.

John F. Kennedy.

MOST UNUSUAL FOOD YOU’VE EVER TRIED?

Lamb’s brains cooked and served right out of the head. It wasn’t bad, but I won’t be having it again anytime soon.

FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEAL?

My father’s paella.

MUSIC YOU PLAY IN THE KITCHEN?

Star Wars theme and Mission Impossible soundtrack to get pumped up, and classical music.

EARTH FEATURE | FOOD D • FOOD • FOOD • FOOD • FOOD • FOOD • FOOD • FOOD • FOOD • FOOD • FOOD • FOOD • FOOD • FOOD • FOOD • FOOD• FOOD • FOOD• EN

EATING GREEN

CULINARY ADVENTURES

Top Local Chefs’ Favorites

My Quest For Delicious Organic Fare

BY N O R A P O U I L LO N , F O U N D E R , R E STAU R A N T N O R A

W

hen Restaurant Nora opened in 1979, it was immediately recognized for not only healthy, but also delicious organic dishes.

Twenty years later, in 1999, the restaurant became the nation’s first certified organic eating establishment. Only a handful of restaurants have ever achieved this goal.

The rest of the population is now catching up with the organic lifestyle message. Our focus continues to be educating staff and customers on the importance of organic food and its sustainability. But my commitment to organic food, a balanced diet, regular exercise, and environmental issues does not end at Restaurant Nora. I am an active member of numerous boards including Amazon Conservation Team (ACT), the Environmental Film Festival (EFF), Fresh Farm Markets, Earth Day Network (EDN) and Wholesome Wave. All of these organizations are dedicated to improving communities through environmental efforts and by promoting sustainable, local and organic food.

In 1997 I initiated Freshfarm Markets, the producer-only markets that connect residents of Washington, D.C., to the farmers surrounding the city. I am currently working with them to expand the number of markets to new and under-served communities.

My work was recently the subject of the documentary Nora!, which was featured at the 2009 D.C. Environmental Film Festival.

It highlights relationships between restaurants

CHRISTOPHE POTEAUX’s grilled quail (Beaver Creek Farm, Strasburg, Pa.) with seared foie gras, canelini bean ragout and fried quail egg. Bastille Restaurant, 1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria,Va., 703-519-3776.

Nora Pouillon gathers eggplant.

(Photo by Mary Katz)

and local organic farms and my efforts to encourage chefs to cook with local, seasonal and organic produce.

My long-time wish is to open a chain of certified organic family restaurants that would make wholesome nutritious food accessible to everyone.

Restaurant Nora, 2132 Florida Ave. N.W., 202462-4153, www.noras.com

JONATHAN SENINGEN’s sustainable dorade (flown in from Greece within a day of being caught) braised with pickled eggplant, tomatojalapeno water and Spanish Picua olive oil. Hook, 3241 M St. NW, 202- 625-4428.

EDITOR’S PICKS • Natural and organic milk, cream, heavy cream, half and half, buttermilk, and drinkable yoghurt from TRICKLING SPRING CREAMERY (Chambersburg, Pa.), available at Timor Bodega, 200 Rhode Island Ave.,NW, 202-588-5612.

• FIREFLY FARMS (Bitinger, Md.) offers nine varieties of artisanal goat cheeses ($12-$18 per half-pound wedge) at the Freshfarm Dupont Circle and Silver Spring markets and local Whole Foods stores.

Photo courtesy of Freshfarm Markets

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• Tasty sweet and tart cherries (QUAKER VALLEY ORCHARDS, Adams County, Pa., left) may be found in summer at most local farmers’ markets.

COREY J ALEXANDER’s Amish chicken breast in red wine sauce (Murray’s Chicken from Lancaster County, Pa., farms) with Rappahanock asparagus, wax beans and wild ramps. Rock Creek at Mazza, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-966-7625.

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EARTH FEATURE | ENTERTAINING ENTERTAINING • ENTERTAINING • ENTERTAINING • ENTERTAINING • ENTERTAINING • ENTERTAINING • ENTERTAINING • ENTERTAINING •

EDITOR’S PICKS Bambu is the only company to offer products made from sustainably harvested organic bamboo sources, free of fertilizers or pesticides.

ECO-FRIENDLY ENTERTAINING W

e asked Eric Michael, co-founder, creative director, and president of Occasions Caterers — the nation’s only, and D.C.’s exclusive, off-premise catering company to achieve Certified Green Restaurant Caterer™ status — to design a cocktail buffet menu featuring locally-sourced greens, free-range chicken, sustainable seafood, and organic vodka. Occasions will prepare custom, eco-friendly menus at clients’ requests.

e Natural utensil collection (individual utensils range from $5 - $20); Dean & Deluca, 3276 M. St. NW, 202-342-2500, www. deandeluca.com. d Nesting baskets ($18 for a set of three); Dean & Deluca, 3276 M. St. NW, 202-342-2500, www.deandeluca.com.

SPECIALTY DRINK:

Cuke-i-tini

A refreshing Cucumber Martini made with Organic Vodka, Lime Juice, a splash of Bitters, Tonic, and fresh Cucumber.

SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD STATION:

Rockfish Ceviche Made through biodynamic agriculture, a step above mainstream organic processes, Ceago incorporates methods meant to heal the farmland for future generations. f CEAGO Sauvignon Blanc 2007 ($18); Addy Bassin’s MacArthur Beverages, 4877 MacArthur Blvd. NW, 202-338-1433, www.bassins.com.

Local Rockfish marinated in Lime Juice, Cumin, and Garlic. Blended with julienned Red Pepper, Purple Onions, Corn, Avocados, and fresh Cilantro. Served chilled.

Chilled Taylor Bay Scallop

Tiny and tender Bay Scallops are poached then tossed with White Wine Vinegar, Shallots, fresh Dill, and Crème Fraîche.

BUFFET:

e SQUARE ONE organic vodka ($39); Tunnel Fine Wines and Spirits, 311 H St. NW, 202-842-3838, www.tunnelliquor.com.

Vowing to make the greenest clear vodka, this women-owned company uses spring water from the Teton Mountains.

Relax on cork that originates as waste material from the bottle-stopper industry. d Cortica chaise longue, 72” long x 20” wide x 26” tall ($4,988); Daniel Michalik, www.danielmichalik.com.

Free-Range, Bell & Evans® Organic Chicken Salad with Grapefruit Shredded, poached Organic Chicken Breast presented on julienne Cucumber, sliced Radish and Pink Grapefruit Filets in a Rice Wine-Chili Vinaigrette. Garnished with fried Mint and edible Flower Petals.

Organic Carrot Soup Pousse-Café

Chilled Red, Yellow, and Orange Carrot Soups are layered in flared sipping shot glasses. Garnished with a tiny blanched Carrot Coin.

DESSERT:

Peche Melba Sorbet Column

A large column of Peach and Raspberry Sorbet layers “carved” into small Scoops and Served in Ginko Leaf bowls.

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EARTH FEATURE | ARCHITECTURE ARCHITECTURE • ARCHITECTURE • ARCHITECTURE • ARCHITECTURE • ARCHITECTURE • ARCHITECTURE • ARCHITECTURE •

ARCHITECTURE’S NEW ORDER The surprising ‘bottom up’ fashion of sustainable building

BY R O B E R T S P O N S E L L E R , A I A , S H A LO M B A R A N E S A S S O C I AT E S

W

ashington, D.C., is one of the most verdant metropolitan cities in the country – topping the nation in “trees per capita” among major American cities. As a practicing architect, I’ve participated in a second kind of greening here: the emergence of sustainable building design.

As much as architects and developers would like to take credit for this change, much of the new world order has been driven by the end users, or tenants. In a ‘bottom up’ fashion, future building occupants — law firms, lobbyists, associations, financial services firms, and the government – are demanding sustainable buildings and spaces.

Architectural firms survive by hiring the best and brightest graduates from top schools each year.To attract these stars, they need to respond to one of this youthful demographic’s main priorities – the green agenda.

One of the most sustainable things we can do as architects and planners is maximize our use of both urban sites and existing transit lines. By re-using existing buildings we can minimize the carbon footprint that comes with development.

In Tenleytown, we worked with Roadside Development to bring back an historic Art Deco building – formerly a Sears store – located directly over a Metro station. We reinforced the foundations of the existing building and added 200 residential units above the building to take

Clockwise from above: Rendering of the O Street Market in Shaw. The historic building has stood at 7th and O streets NW since 1881; 22 West Condominiums, 1177 22nd St., NW; Architect Robert Sponseller

advantage of this “urban opportunity.” The O Street Market project we are currently developing will be done on an even larger scale. Here, an historic food shopping site will be renovated into part of a larger grocery store, and surface parking will be placed below grade to allow for hotel, retail, and residential use.

At 22 West, a residential condominium building in the West End that we designed for Eastbanc Development, a novel material was used in combination with a new building technology known as a “rainscreen.” Developed in Europe, the principle behind the system is to provide an open-air “pressure-equalization”

chamber between the exterior cladding and the waterproofing layer of the building. To clad the structure, I chose panels made of zinc, a natural and highly recyclable material with a low embodied energy content, for its combination of sustainable properties and unusual aesthetics. Because of the rainscreen system, the building will perform better in terms of energy. Its “smart” envelope design and the interior environment will be improved thanks to better moisture control in its skin design. Eco-conscious design along with aesthetics, will keep our city’s new buildings desirable for a long time to come.

BETHESDA ZERO Meditch Murphey’s Net Zero Energy House

T

he challenge of building Bethesda Zero, a LEED Platinum spec house, was to meld good design with net zero energy usage.When this 4,600 square foot, five bedroom, four and a half bath house in Bethesda’s Bannockburn neighborhood steps into the open market this spring, it will already be producing as much energy as it consumes.

Geothermal heat pumps, powered by solar panels provide domestic heating and cooling by transferring the earth’s constant

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55-degree temperature through buried pipes along the west side of the house. The roof mounted photovoltaic solar array converts the sun’s energy into electricity. Requiring little maintenance, this system will supply 90 percent of domestic energy needs. And of course, the house is fully insulated. This is the future of home building: designs that work with our environment and don’t contribute to global warming. – John Dennis Murphey and Marcie Meditch, AIA

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EARTH FEATURE | FAMILY FAMILY • FAMILY • FAMILY • FAMILY • FAMILY • FAMILY • FAMILY • FAMILY • FAMILY • FAMILY • FAMILY • FAMILY • FAMILY • FAMILY • FAMILY

PET SMART Going green for your four-legged friends FOOD Eating all-natural food helps keep your pets healthy, including reducing skin and digestive disorders, while increasing longevity and quality of life. Try these organic political dog biscuits, www.capitoldogbakery.com.

TOYS Instead of tossing used toys in the garbage, recycle pet playthings to help reduce your pooch’s carbon paw print.

ACCESSORIES Many dog and cat accessories and bedding are made with chemically-treated materials. Try purchasing organic cotton bedding or toys made from recycled products, like plastic bottles.

SUPPLIES Instead of trashing your pet’s waste inside plastic baggies, use biodegradable waste bags and deposit them in a backyard compost pile to fertilize your garden and reduce pollution.

Heather and Craig Stouffer with their threeyear-old son Emory (Photo

by Wirken Photo)

EDITOR’S PICKS

FAMILY Growing up while going organic

BY H E AT H E R STO U F F E R , F O U N D E R O F M O M M A D E F O O D S

T

hree years ago, I launched Alexandria, Va. -based Mom Made® Foods to provide organic meal options that kids would love.

Exposing children to the flavors and nutritional benefits of organic food is a gift that they will keep with them for a lifetime. Although it may seem difficult, incorporating organic food into children’s everyday lives is simple.

• IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START Children develop their palates more from birth to age two than at any other time of their life. Start introducing organics as young as possible, but also know that it’s never too late to adopt an organic lifestyle.

• PRIORITIZE AN ORGANIC GROCERY LIST Keep the Environmental Working Group’s “dirty dozen” list in mind regarding foods that rank highest and lowest in pesticides.

• BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL Share meals as a family and remember that kids are exploring

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the world of food and watching you. They may need multiple introductions to certain foods before “learning to” like them.

• RESPECT THEIR DECISIONS Children have an innate understanding of when they’re full.

Never force food or bribe kids to eat.

• INVOLVE YOUR CHILDREN Plant a garden together. At the store, encourage them to participate in the selection of fresh produce and involve them in food preparation at home.

• ORGANIC CAN BE CONVENIENT TOO There are times when we need to rely on prepared food. Make sure to read labels. Frozen organics are better for you shelf products.This is true for veggies, baby food, and prepared meals.

f ISABOOTIES organic candy dot baby booties ($29); Keedo, 1600A Belle View Blvd., Alexandria,Va., 703-7689100, www.isabooties.com. d PEAR TREES STUDIOS original piglets made from reused sweater material ($20 each); Available through www.eco-artware.com.

d CELERY Lullaboo customizable bamboo crib ($1,195-$1,395); Yiro, 1419 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-3330032, www.celeryfurniture.com.

Mom Made®Foods are available in stores nationwide; www.mommadefoods.com.

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EARTH FEATURE | TRANSPORTATION SPORTATION • TRANSPORTATION • TRANSPORTATION • TRANSPORTATION • TRANSPORTATION • TRANSPORTATION • TRANSPORTATION •

EDITOR’S PICKS

GET AROUND TOWN By car, bus, subway, and ... trolley Q & A W I T H G A B E K L E I N , D . C . T R A N S P O R TAT I O N D E P T. D I R E C T O R

c HONDA 2009 Civic Hybrid ($23,650); Ourisman Honda, 4800 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, Md., 301-6561000, www.ourismanhonda.com.

c OLD TOWN CANOES AND KAYAKS Penobscot 16 RX ($1,389); REI, 1701 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md., 301-230-7670, www.rei.com. e CALFEE DESIGN bamboo city bike ($1,795); Calfee Design, 831728-1859, www. calfeedesign.com.

WL: How will transportation in the District change over the next 5 years?

GK: Public transit, specifically new initiatives like Rapid Bus and extensions to the Circulator bus routes, as well as the Dulles MetroRail. There will also be more publicprivate partnerships like SmartBike, dedicated bike lanes and traffic signal timing for cyclists.

Eventually, we hope to get a streetcar system back in place.

WL: Did you say “streetcar”?

GK: Yes. In the 1960’s, the city removed

hundreds of miles of streetcar tracks that ran all over the District. Some remnants still exist in Georgetown, and we’re considering ways we might rebuild that system.

WL: What will it take to get commuters to

leave their cars at home?

GK: Whether commuting to school or work,

Share a Ride: SMARTBIKE DC Perfect for taking in the cherry blossoms this spring. SmartBike D.C. ($40 annual subscription), 800-899-4449, www. smartbikedc.com.

ZIPCAR You’ll never get bored if you can drive a different car every time. Zipcar ($50 annual fee, hourly and daily rates vary), 202-737-4900,www. zipcar.com.

Get a Ride: PEDICABS As the weather gets warmer, step out of the taxi and take in the sights. D.C. Pedicab (call for rates), 202-345-8065, www.dcpedicab.com.

ENVIRORIDE Go guilt-free to your next gala in one of these luxurious but environmentallyfriendly vehicles. EnviroRide (call for rates), 301549-4111, www.enviroride.net.

The Mercedes E320 Ec-Diesel, available through Enviroride

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we need to provide safe routes. Bike and car sharing are also excellent endeavors. Up to 21 vehicles are taken off the road per car-share vehicle, and SmartBike has grown from a system initially used for leisure to something used to get to work.

WL: Why did you decide to leave the private

sector to join DDOT? GK: It’s an exciting time to work in government, and I’m a big fan of both Mayor Fenty and our new president. The attitude here is stellar, and I think my skill set is well matched with the organization’s needs, especially helping to increasing coordination within the different agencies with whom DDOT is working.

WL: What areas of the city are of greatest concern to you, transportation-wise?

GK: Each ward has different challenges, so I’d hesitate to point out just one. For example, Wards 3 and 4 have a shortage of Metro stops,

while Wards 1 and 2 are very densely populated and business-centered. We’re trying to link wards 7 and 8, which are isolated because of the Anacostia River, to the rest of the city with projects like the 11th Street Bridge.

WL: How do you get to work in the

morning?

GK: I walk, and if it’s a beautiful day, I’ll take my scooter. On days when I have to run to the cleaners, I have a SmartCar. I first saw them in Europe in the 1990’s, and when they came to the U.S., I was one of the first to sign up. I have the same model as Mayor Fenty, but mine is silver and his is black.

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B I KE P H OTO BY PAU L SC H RAU B

Leave Your Car at Home

EARTH FEATURE | POLICYMAKERS •

OBAMA’S GREEN TEAM Why this time it’s different

BY GILLIAN CALDWELL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 1SKY

They connect the dots between energy policy, the economic crisis, the climate crisis, and national security. President Obama and his team are unique in their understanding of the interrelation of our key challenges. Past energy policies and our ongoing refusal to place a cap on carbon emissions have emperiled the climate, weakened the economy, and increasing dependence on dirty – often foreign – fossil fuels. But with the right price signals, and consumer assistance to help manage an increase in energy prices, clean renewable energy sources will be able to take hold, creating millions of green jobs, building a 21st century economy, and increasing our national security

They are ready to look beyond regulation as the sole driver of change. Whereas past debates on environmental policy have focused on the costs and benefits of emissions regulation, the Obama team is using a broad array of tools, many within the economic recovery plan, to drive the transition to clean energy. Examples of this

include creating a capital fund to commercialize clean technology, catalyzing new businesses with revenue from cap and trade, and rewiring the electric grid to transmit new renewable energy.

They have been given a mandate for action on climate solutions. As a candidate, Obama discussed a “green” restructuring of urban policy by discussing the weatherizing of homes, investing in public transportation, and the potential of good construction jobs in renewable energy. He also promoted clean energy as a centerpiece of his agenda for rebuilding the nation’s manufacturing jobs base and linked climate solutions to the renewal of our industrial heartland.

They believe the greening of America can take place from the bottom up, and have the experience to accomplish this. The green jobs movement is growing in cities, and low-income, urban communities are demanding long-overdue places at the table.

Thankfully, the right people are now in place to facilitate this.They include Lisa Jackson, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, who is deeply familiar with urban environmental issues, and Nancy Sutley, who leads the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).

THE DRIVERS Gillian Caldwell picks three big thinkers BRACKEN HENDRICKS Co-founder of the Apollo A l l i a n c e, Hendr icks was an architect of the “Green Recovery” strategy which became a center piece of the Recover y Act, and worked as a senior advisor to Obama’s campaign.

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VAN JONES Fo u n d e r of Green for All, an organization devoted to providing green jobs to disadvantaged populations, he joined Obama’s team as a special advisor for green jobs, enterprise, and innovation at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

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BOB GREENSTEIN An expert on the federal budget and how it affects low- and middle-income households, he writes op-ed pieces on budget- and poverty-related issues, and plays an essential role in how people think about critical budget priorities.

CARBON CONSERVATION CREDITS A PROPOSAL

By Peter Seligman, Executive Director, Conservation International

I

n eight short months, nations will convene in Copenhagen to address the climate change crisis. Their solutions must work, and they must work quickly to drastically reduce CO2 emissions. “Cap and trade” is part of the solution, but immediate reductions in the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere are needed as well.

The process of deforestation releases approximately 20 percent of the planet’s total annual CO2 emissions, nearly double the amount of CO2 released by the world’s transportation sector. This makes the preservation of forests and carbon stocks absolutely essential. If the negotiators in Copenhagen fail to create effective incentives to reduce deforestation – other efforts will be of no avail.

With appropriate technology and good governance, nations can measure their carbon stocks and verify the effectiveness of emission reductions from improved conservation. The resulting carbon credits will be an immediate and substantial contribution to international targets, and can be sold in the marketplace. Who would buy them? Investors, corporations, and countries that need to offset excessive CO2 emissions.

In November of last year, CI’s team played a key role in formulating agreements between six of the largest states and provinces in Brazil and Indonesia with California, Illinois and Wisconsin to credit the measurable CO2 savings that accrue from tropical forest protection.The ideas are rippling into national level discussions, and important solutions are available now.

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EARTH FEATURE | POLICYMAKERS

A Breath of CLEAN AIR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ADMINISTRATOR LISA JACKSON IS POISED TO TACKLE THE MOST AMBITIOUS GREEN AGENDA IN YEARS

BY CHRISTINA WILKIE

n the eve of President Barack Obama’s inauguration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was, by all accounts, both demoralized and divided. The situation was caused by a two-term administration that viewed environmental regulation as a threat to economic growth, and which appointed senior administrators who shared this view. President Obama has promised dramatic change in policy, and after a little more than two months, there are signs this is happening. The threat of climate change hovers near the top of the new administration’s domestic priority list, which reflects widespread public support for conservation initiatives, renewable energy, and the reduction of carbon emissions.

The nexus between the administration’s agenda and the more than 18,000 full-time employees at the EPA is Administrator Lisa Perez Jackson, a warm, down-to-earth New Orleans native who is the mother of two young boys, and the first African-American to lead the agency. Sitting in the “green room” of her suite at EPA headquarters (named for the dark green marble floor), she is accompanied by two press secretaries and a special assistant, wielding a total of six Blackberries among them.

Jackson served as head of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection from early 2006 until last fall, when she was tapped to be Gov. Jon Corzine’s chief-of-staff.

She began her job in his office on Dec. 1, but as she describes it, there was barely time to set up her desk when the phone rang. The hiring process included interviews with thenPresident-elect Obama and meetings with Rahm Emmanuel, Valerie Jarret and John

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EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson in the “green room” at EPA Headquarters (Photo by Joseph Allen)

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Podesta. At her nomination announcement, Jackson recalls being struck by the Presidentelect’s kindness to her husband, Kenny, and her two sons, Marcus and Brian.

After a unanimous Senate confirmation, Jackson, who holds a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University, was sworn in as EPA Administrator on January 22, capping a previous career with the agency that had spanned more than 16 years, many spent tackling such politically sensitive issues as hazardous waste cleanup, enforcement of land use permits, and the creation of regulatory standards. This hard-won experience in the trenches of environmental policy has prepared Jackson for her current role, which thus far appears to require equal parts bold conviction (to reverse certain Bush-era directives) and deft diplomacy (to persuade coal plants to reduce emissions without forcing them to cut jobs).

In the end, it all boils down to a few simple priorities: clean air, water, and land; an adherence to science; and a focus on toxic chemicals.

Jackson’s first order of business at the EPA is addressing air quality standards, and she is clearly frustrated by the lack of progress on this issue. “Here we are in 2009, with essentially no real structure for assuring Americans clean air,” she says, incredulously. “We have a clean air act that dates back to the ’70s, but no way of making sure there’s a control on things like sulfur dioxide, which makes people sick!” At this point her exasperation turns to resolve. “We owe the American people a lot of work to put stringent, meaningful, controls on air pollution – now.”

President Obama shares Jackson’s sense of urgency, and on her first day at the EPA he signed a memorandum to begin the process of reversing the Bush Administration’s controversial refusal to allow California to impose tighter vehicle emissions standards. The signed document hangs on the wall in her office, but after 20 years in politics she knows better than to gloat, and describes the imminent reversal of the ban in a measured, non-partisan tone. Jackson’s words are carefully chosen: “We reopened the public comments and we intend to follow the law,” she says with a knowing gleam in her eye.

“Even though we haven’t made a decision, the president’s order, and our actions reflect the fact that states have already looked at this issue and

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Below: Administrator Jackson’s opening address to agency employees, her first day on the job at EPA (Photos courtesy of the US E.P.A.) Right: Administrator Jackson and First Lady Michelle Obama during the First Lady’s visit to the EPA.

decided that lower emission cars are good for the health of their citizens.” Pitch perfect.

Public health is a recurring theme in Jackson’s work, and it becomes increasingly clear the EPA administrator sees herself first and foremost as a public health advocate.She is more concerned with the impact polluted environments have on people than she is with more theoretical preservation of the environment per se, and she acknowledges that this represents a shift in mission at EPA. “We should be a public health agency, because right now there are people who are getting sick because their air and water have been neglected for the last eight years,” she explains. “So yes, I want to elevate that connection between health and our mission.”

For Jackson, the most important battles at EPA will be waged not in federal courtrooms or corporate negotiating tables, but in inner city medical clinics and rural poison control centers.

Informing her pragmatic, populist approach to public health and the environment at the EPA is Jackson’s fundamental belief that all Americans have “a right to clean air and clean water and clean land no matter where they live.” In theory, this sounds relatively straightforward, but the broader concept, known as environmental justice, has a long and complicated history in the United

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States. Examples abound of the disproportionate effects that environmental hazards have on the poor and powerless: African-American children are six times more likely to suffer from pollutionrelated asthma than white children, and Native American populations consistently record exorbitant rates of radiation-related diseases linked to nuclear waste dumps.

The newest frontier in the environmental justice movement has nothing to do with geography – and everything to do with employment. President Obama’s Economic Recovery Act provides billions of dollars for the creation of “green jobs” in sustainable industries, and Jackson sees a unique opportunity to engage traditionally marginalized groups; for example, urban minorities. “I love what Van Jones is saying about this,” she says, referring to the newly appointed special advisor for green jobs, enterprise and innovation at the White House.

“Let’s make sure the green economy isn’t just for those who already have advanced skills; because when you give an out-of-work person a green job, you make an environmentalist for life.”

Jackson’s ability to comprehend the nation’s environmental challenges on multiple levels (economic, sociological, political, etc.), and her willingness to collaborate with other federal departments are proving to be hallmarks of the Obama Cabinet.“It’s really amazing when Labor Secretary Hilda Solis comes in and says, “I’m really interested in green jobs.” Her face lights up as she says this, and her enthusiasm for her colleagues feels genuine and refreshing – a far cry from the well-publicized turf wars that rocked the Bush White House. “No one agency or department is going to transform the American economy,” she notes. “That’s our common mission, and it will be a group effort.”

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AGAINST THE

GRAIN

USHER IN SPRING WITH BAMBOO FIBER ORGANIC COTTON RECYCLED MATERIALS AND â&#x20AC;&#x153;MADE-IN-THE-USAâ&#x20AC;? CLOTHING

PHOTOGRAPY TIM COBURN STYLING JAMES CORNWELL PR @ PARTNERS HAIR AND MAKEUP FRANCESCA MASTRI PR @ PARTNERS MODEL CATHERINE MORIN STYLING ASSISTANT CATHY PHILLIPS

ARMANI COLLECZIONI Sahara jacket and trousers ($1,615, $495); Saks Fifth Avenue, 2051 International Dr., McLean, Va., 703-761-0700, www.saks.com. DĂ&#x2030; DĂ&#x2030; one-of-akind, hand-woven bag with raw materials and discarded, re-purposed leather ($178); South Moon Under, 2700 Clarendon Blvd. #R440, Arlington, Va., 703-807-4083, www. southmoonunder.com. EILEEN FISHER organic cotton stretch pink jersey ($68); Bloomingdaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, 5300 Western Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., 240-744-3700, www.bloomingdales.com.

J J SINGH JEWELRY fossil necklace ($298), lion ring ($398), serpent earrings ($298), jaguar necklace ($148), and fair trade beaded bracelet ($248); Shah & Shah, 1001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 607, 202-223-6001, www.jjsinghjewelry.com.

MISSONI striped dress ($645); Saks Fifth Avenue, 2051 International Dr., McLean, Va., 703-761-0700, www.saks.com.

FERRAGAMO mustard ecological bag made with ethical leather and vegetable tanning ($1,790); Bloomingdale’s, 5300 Western Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., 240744-3700, www.bloomingdales.com.

J J SINGH JEWELRY Eden necklace ($248), constellation necklace $650), and Carnivál ring ($498); Shah & Shah, 1001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 607, 202223-6001, www.jjsinghjewelry.com.

ECO-MYSTREE cotton and bamboo yellow shirt ($36); South Moon Under, 2700 Clarendon Blvd. #R440, Arlington, Va., 703-807-4083, www.southmoonunder. com. EILEEN FISHER jacket ($298); Bloomingdaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, 5300 Western Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., 240-744-3700, www. bloomingdales.com. SUZI ROHER belt ($308); Corby Collection, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-686-5363. J J SINGH JEWELRY recycled bronze and carved pink tourmaline necklace ($2,950); Shah & Shah, 1001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 607, 202-223-6001, www.jjsinghjewelry.com.

EILEEN FISHER 100 percent organic denim jeans ($118) and Ferragamo brown bag made with ethical leather and vegetable tanning ($1,790); Bloomingdaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, 5300 Western Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., 240-744-3700, www. bloomingdales.com. RALPH LAUREN BLACK LABEL 100 percent cotton T-shirt ($98) and Helen Kaminski 100 percent raffia visor ($100); Saks Fifth Avenue, 2051 International Dr., McLean, Va., 703-761-0700, www.saks.com.

ME&KASHMERE multi-colored cashmere scarf ($108); Corby Collection, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-686-5363.

Washington DCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Greenest Restaurant Founding Farmers is proud to be the first LEED Gold full-service upscale-casual restaurant in the United States.

Come celebrate with us!

TM

2009 Top 100 Restaurant, Washingtonian Magazine, March 2009 2009 Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Choice/Best New Restaurant, DC City Paper, March 2009 2009 Artini Fan Favorite/Corcoran Gallery of Art, March 2009 Grand Prize Award, Restaurant/Casual, 2009 Association for Retail Environments Retail Design Awards Project Winner, 2009 Earth-Minded Awards, Hospitality Design Magazine and the American Society of Interior Designers

LIFESTYLES | CARIBBEAN TRAVEL

TOBAGO CLEAN GREEN AND PRISTINE EXPLORING ONE OF THE CARIBBEANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HIDDEN GEMS

BY MICHAEL M CLEMENTS

raveling to Tobago means forgoing allinclusive over-the-top Caribbean megaresorts for something more natural and less damaging to the environment. Still, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to trade luxury for sustainability every night, so my ďŹ rst stop after Deltaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s convenient direct ďŹ&#x201A;ight from Atlanta are the posh Villas at Stonehaven (www.stonehavenvillas.com).

Built into a steep incline overlooking scenic Stonehaven Bay on the leeward side of the island, the property consists of 14 spacious 3,700-square-foot luxury villas built in an 18thcentury French Colonial style. All have large living areas, 50-foot covered verandahs, private pools, fully-equipped kitchens (a chef comes each morning to prepare breakfast), and three large airconditioned bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms.

When celebrities like Stevie Wonder visit, they stay here. Tip: Book Stevieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite villa, the Eagleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nest, located at the propertyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest point.

HEAD FIRST Speyside on the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s northernmost tip is Tobagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best-known dive destination.

We explored Black Jack Hole, located on the Atlantic side of Little Tobago Island, a 10minute boat ride from shore. Other well-known dive spots nearby include: Japanese Gardens, Special, Aquarium, Bookends, and Coral Gardens (which is known for brain coral). The Professional Association of Diving Instructors

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(PADI) Gold Palm-certiďŹ cated AquaMarine Dive (www.aquamarinedive.com) practices drift diving (they never anchor) and prides itself on reef conservation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aside from drift diving, there is no rubbish on the reef,â&#x20AC;? our Irish dive master says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re close enough to shore that we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to provide lunch or drinks.

What we take out on the boat comes back in the boat.â&#x20AC;?

For non-divers, Little Tobagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aquatic beauty, along with its dizzying array of avian wildlife, can be viewed via glass-bottom boat tours, snorkeling, hiking trips, and sea kayak rentals available at nearby Blue Waters Inn (www.bluewatersinn.com).

BIRDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S EYE VIEW Apart from the fact that Harrison Ford owns a mansion here, Tobago is known for the original eco-tourism pursuit: bird watching.

The island teems with binocular-carrying Argyle waterfall.

explorers who visit Great Estate at Stonehaven Bay, Tobago Main Ridge Forest, and the Hillsborough Dam district to spy the 240 tropical bird species. Most live in the Tobago Forest Preserve â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the oldest forest reserve in the Western Hemisphere, dating to 1765.

Errol Roachee, owner of Roachee Tours (868-374-2066) takes us on a muddy lowimpact hike to see Argyle waterfall. Along the way, he identiďŹ es nearly every bird, frog, and tree, turning a 20-minute walk into a three-hour environmental lesson. Tip: Rent Wellington boots from the vendors outside the trial head or risk destroying your shoes.

After the hike, we take a twisting 30minute drive along the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s narrow two-lane coastal â&#x20AC;&#x153;highwayâ&#x20AC;? to the adorable Jemmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Seaview Kitchen (868-660-4066), where a home-cooked Tobagonian comfort food lunch of mac and cheese, lobster, and breadfruit casserole hits the spot.

The restored boutique hotel Blue Haven is Tobagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only fully eco-friendly property.

HOLISTIC HAVEN It’s time to forsake the Eagle’s Nest for a bungalow at the Kariwak Holistic Haven and Hotel (www.kariwak.com). It feels more like a motel, but luxury is not why loyal patrons return here year after year. They come for yoga, tai chi, homegrown organic herbs, and the spa. My first holistic step is a hard one – switching off the Blackberry. There are no TVs here, so it seems appropriate to forgo wireless communications as well. My day begins with a 7:30 a.m. yoga class followed by hot-stone therapy and a stroll in the organic garden. Kariwak offers guests one daily complimentary spa treatment plus yoga and meditation classes for $185 per night.

BACK TO THE REEF My second dive at Bookends off Little Tobago Island is with Sean Robinson, director of the Tobago Dive Experience (868-660-4888). It proves to be highlight of the trip. Robinson was one of the first to operate commercial dives from Speyside. Since then, he has trained most of the master divers on the island and introduced the vibrant reefs around Little Tobago to countless visitors. “My favorite guest was Christiane Amanpour,” he says over the roar of the twostroke engine. “She got engaged here. Her husband doesn’t dive, so she went on her own.”

Once in his element, Robinson is quick to show his aquatic knowledge, pointing out a male hawksbill turtle, barracuda, a school of tarpon, a variety of reef fish, and a Banded Coral Shrimp half the size of my pinky. Bookends is a deep water dive recommended for advanced

TRY THESE FIVE MUST-DO’S! TURTLE WATCH: Five species call Trinidad and Tobago home: leatherback, hawksbill, green, olive ridley, and loggerhead.

GET CULTURAL: Catch dinner and dancing, theater or steel drum performances at the Itsy Bitsy Spider Theatre and Cultural Center.

BEACH IT: Visit Englishman’s Bay, considered to be one of the world’s top beaches.

EAT LOCAL: at the Blue Crab Restaurant (Robinson Street, Scarborough, 868-639-2737) DIVE SPEYSIDE: Contact Tobago Dive Experience (868-660-4888) or AquaMarine Dive (868-660-5445) for more information.

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divers interested in seeing the Atlantic’s larger inhabitants, including schools of hammerhead sharks and manta rays.

CLEAN GREEN AND SERENE Is Tobago doing enough to be green? Chris James, The Tobago chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce says the jury is still out. “Tobago is still behind in terms of sustainable infrastructure and getting the entire tourism industry on board, but there are bright spots.” James also owns a few hotels and is chairman of the Travel Foundation – a British group dedicated to incubating sustainable tourism projects throughout the world. In March 2008, with James at the helm, the foundation presented its work on Tobago to Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. Among the projects is a farmer’s co-op that enables hotels to source locally-grown herbs, spices, vegetables, and fruits.

Kariwak Haven owner Cynthia Clovis has also been a major advocate.

Blue Haven Hotel (www.bluehavenhotel.com) owners Karl and Marilyn Pilstl are also ahead of the curve when it comes to sustainable tourism.

They bought, rebuilt and reopened the Blue Haven property in 2000 after a 25-year hiatus, creating an eco-friendly hotel in the process.

It was voted “Boutique Hotel of the Year” in 2006 by Caribbean World Magazine and won the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s “Sustainable Tourism Award 2007.”

The property uses state-of-the-art sewage treatment plants; water saving toilets, showers and taps; solar heating; a modern three-phase transformer; bio-degradable detergents; and local organic vegetables. “Our goal was not only to renovate and preserve the historical architecture but to create an environmentally sound project,” Karl Pilstl says.

Ironically, Tobago’s environment has been spared the burdens of heavy tourism by fossil fuels.“Tobago is an oil economy, so we don’t rely on tourism to generate all our revenue. We can take it slow,” says Tourism and Transportation Secretary Neil Wilson. “We can be choosy about the hotels that come here. We don’t need a lot of large all-inclusive resorts.” Indeed, the island has no Sandals-type mega-properties.

As demand for food and resources increase, so does the island’s need for sustainability. I

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Englishman’s Bay is one of the world’s most picturesque beaches.

press Wilson on this issue. “The farmers coops are a start,” he replies. “We are also looking into seafood farming: fish, crab, lobster, and shrimp should all be considered. But we are about five years late in starting this.”

“Tilapia can support tourist’s need for fish and allow local fishing stocks to satiate local demand,” James says. “But progress has been slow and the waters off the coast are being over-fished.”

James is also hoping to be the first to build an eco-friendly luxury resort on the island.

He has plans to create a 300-room sustainable facility near a remote reef by 2010.

“This type of resort is the model for Tobago moving forward,” Wilson says. “We want to target to up-market, not mass tourism, to keep Tobago clean, green and serene.”

Eco-tourism is alive and well in Tobago, but the term is subjective. Pristine rain forests, dive spots, and the lack of mass all-inclusive resorts allow for a greener and safer travel experiences; but ultimately, eco-tourism is the responsibility of hotels and travelers alike. Indeed, eco-friendly vacations start with eco-smart and informed choices made by the traveler.

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And better than ever.

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WASHINGTON S O C I A L D I A R Y Around Town﹐ MenzFit﹐ L’Enfant Society Reception﹐ and Exclusive Parties﹐ Parties﹐ Parties!

Matt and Joe Kennedy attend Senator Ted Kennedy’s birthday tribute at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. (Photo by Margot Schulman)

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AROUND TOWN

Without a Stitch The National Museum of Women in the Arts pays tribute to Mary McFadden

BY DONNA SHOR

“S

o, Mary McFadden arrives at the Queen of Thailand’s palace with just a handbag and the clothes on her back…,” Esther Coopersmith recalled at her recent dinner in the legendary designer’s honor.

Gowns worth $50,000 had gone astray, to be found only after the need to wear them had passed.

Queen Sirikit, who had heard much about the fashion icon’s latest creations, was disappointed there was nothing to see. “Not to worry,” Esther reassured us,“Mary found a beautiful length of silk, draped it around herself, took a few stitches, and looked fabulous.”

McFadden still looks extraordinary. Oval-

Legendary fashion designer Mary McFadden poses near a wedding dress from her 1999 Mongolia collection on display at a National Museum of Women in the Arts retrospective of her work.

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faced, with pale, smooth porcelain skin and her signature coiffure (short and chic, crowned by a narrow black braid of her hair), apparently unchanged since this writer last saw her 20 years ago, she remains as timeless as her designs.

Her education and travels have added depth and richness to her work. Born into a well-todo Memphis cotton family, she was educated at Foxcroft, the Sorbonne, the Traphagen School of Design, the Dante Alghieri Institute in Rome, and studied sociology at New York’s Columbia University and New School for Social Research.

While living in Africa, McFadden worked as a political writer for the Rand Daily Mail.

Her early career landmarks in haute couture were as an assistant at Dior, and she has served as writer or editor for the American, Parisian, and South African editions of Vogue. Urged by others who loved the clothes she designed and wore, she began her own line.

Whether for clothing, jewelry, household furnishings, or knitwear, her immediately identifiable designs have always been marked by an active intelligence. Her pleated garments resembled those Mariano Fortuny had originated in Venice over a hundred years ago, but McFadden’s unique and patented manufacturing methods made them travelproof. By bonding satin to polyester backing, her clothing could be hand-washed and emerge bandbox fresh, a boon to her jet-setting clients.

McFadden resides in New York, after having traveled or lived in countries around the world (and drawing inspiration from them for her exotic patterns). She continues to design, though she has abandoned haute couture as too demanding. She has married often (11 times), and recently attended the launch of her fourth ex-husband Kohle Yohannan’s biography of the late Valentina, a once-famous 20th-century designer.

McFadden came to Washington for the

CORNERING THE ‘OZ’ VOTE

N

BC4 reporter Lindsay Czarniak (above) played Dorothy in the “Arena Stage in Oz” spoof benefiting the theater’s community outreach program. Media personalities and company actors joined local pols, including District Delegate and voting rights champion Eleanor Holmes Norton, who told Dorothy, after she landed in Virginia, “At least you have full representation here.”

opening of an important exhibit of 40 of her sumptuous gowns, (through Aug. 30), at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, several of whose board members and supporters were at the dinner.

One NMWA benefactor with Hungarian roots, Mary Mochary, was on the committee for another groundbreaking exhibit, which opened the same day. “Picturing Progress: Hungarian Women Photographers 1900-1945” chronicles, (through July 5), in stunning photographs, how Hungarian women won their first opportunity to become professional artists during this period of social upheaval.

Readers wishing to get in touch with Donna can email: columns@washingtonlife.com.

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Jimmy Ryan and Rhonda Willingham

Ed Levi and Dwayne Brown

Lorna Gross and Angel Cosado

Richard Price and Dr. Trent Tucker

MENZFIT BENEFIT Saks Fifth Avenue Men’s Store PHOTOS BY LUKE CHRISTOPHER

DRESS FOR SUCCESS It’s hard enough making a good impression in a job interview without having to appear wearing shabby clothes. That’s where MenzFit comes in – the tiny District boutique that helps low-income men get professional clothing as well as job training. A PERFECT FIT Guests at the group’s recent benefit paid with “gently worn suits” rather than dollars for the privilege of a%erhours shopping, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and the chance to bid on spa packages and Nationals tickets.

Earl Burgess and Carlos Day

Chauncey Foust and Terrance Boykon

WL SPONSORED

L’ENFANT SOCIETY COCKTAIL PARTY Vineyard Vines, Georgetown PHOTOS BY JOSEPH ALLEN

GREAT UNVEILING Guests gathered at Vineyard Vines in Georgetown for the unveiling of official ties and sashes for the Trust for the National Mall’s junior members. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were passed throughout the prepster-heavy premises as supporters discussed the new group’s efforts to help preserve the historic Mall. L’Enfant chairmen John Cecchi and Tripp Donnelly did their duty modeling the colorful neckware.

Trust for the National Mall President Caroline Cunningham

Cameron Gilreath and Sarah Craighill Tripp Donnelly, Lindsay Shulman, and John Cecchi

Abigail Swetz, Phillipe Bartosz, and Amy Angelo

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Judy Mayka and Courtney Stecker

Tony Colasanto and Chris Krebs 65

AROUND TOWN

Parties, Parties, Parties Celebrating the Duke Ellington School, Decatur House, and the American Heart Association

HUNGARY’S NATIONAL DAY Hungarian Ambassador FERENC SOMOGYI, and NANCY BRINKER with Washington Life diplomatic columnist GAIL SCOTT, who was decorated with The Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary.

(Photo by Kyle Samperton)

DECATUR HOUSE FUNDRAISER Ambassador of Cyprus

ANDREAS KAKOURIS and KAREEN FARRELL KAKOURIS (Photo by Rodney Bailey)

LUNCHEON FOR CHERIE BLAIR CHERIE BLAIR and hostess ANN WALKER MARCHANT / The ladies lunch at Café Milano.

(Photos by Pepper Watkins)

V-DAY GATHERING WITH EVE ENSLER President and CEO of BET DEBRA LEE, playwright EVE ENSLER and V-Board Member BETH DOZORETZ celebrate V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. / SEMHAR ARAIA and JOHN PRENDERGAST (Photos by Paul Morigi)

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‘DIFFICULT TRANSITIONS’ BOOK PARTY MADELINE ALBRIGHT, KURT CAMPBELL and JAMES STEINBERG celebrate the release of Campbell and Steinberg’s book on presidential foreign policy. / Ambassador of Singapore CHAN HENG CHEE and JAN LODAL (Photos by Tony Powell)

INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON WOMEN GALA Kuwaiti Ambassador SALEM and RIMA AL-SABAH, and ICRW president GEETA RAO GUPTA with DINA and RICK POWELL (Photo by Kaveh Sardari)

DENYCE GRAVES AT THE KENNEDY CENTER DENYCE GRAVES (center)with BONNIE and KENNETH FELD following Graves’ Kennedy Center performance benefiting the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. (Photos courtesy of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts)

BERNARDO O’HIGGINS AWARD ARTURO VALENZUELA, KARIN MUDGE and Arca Board Member JOE ELDRIDGE at the Chilean Embassy where Eldridge was decorated with the Bernardo O’Higgins Award in recognition of heroic work that significantly helps the people of Chile. (Photo by Camila Silva)

THE ATLANTIC’S STATE OF THE UNION VIEWING BRENDAN J MCCORMICK, JAMES BENNET and JOHN FOX SULLIVAN gather at the Newseum for President Obama’s first address to Congress. / KEITH MASON and MARCIA HALE (Photos by Kyle Samperton)

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HOME LIFE historical landscapes﹐ real estate news﹐ and art and auction | Impact Free Living, Eco Furniture, and Greener Gardening

THE CO

FREELIVING HOUSE

Architectural rendering of the CO2 FreeLiving House, currently under construction in McLean, Va. (David Walker)

WASHINGTON AREA ARCHITECTS DEVELOPERS AND BUILDERS JOIN TOGETHER TO MAKE LIVING WITHOUT A CARBON FOOTPRINT A REALITY

Architectural rendering - rear view of the CO2 FreeLiving House in McLean, Va. (David Walker)

ARCHITECT ERNESTO SANTALLA REFLECTS ON THE NEW WAY TO LIVE GREEN AND MCLEAN’S CO FREELIVING HOUSE reen. For centuries the color has connoted money, growth, hope, nature, and most recently, the next generation of building.

As we usher in a new age of sustainability, eco-friendly structures have become synonomous with modern building practices. Due to the damage we’ve inflicted on our planet, it’s a global necessity. Think of the environment as the U.S. economy: it has been falling apart recently, but we’re eagerly trying to put it back together.

Earth-friendly building practices like landscaping, the inclusion of daylight, and natural ventilation are only common sense.

Other green practices – reusing materials, conserving water and electricity – are simple to implement.

Carbon-neutral living – which is not a color scheme, as I recently overheard at a cocktail party – is slowly becoming a reality. Currently under construction in McLean, Va., is the CO2 FreeLiving House, being built to achieve LEED Platinum Certification and use 80 percent less energy-per-square-foot than a comparable new home. Designed by Cunningham + Quill Architects, and built by West*Group in partnership with Green Spur, Inc., the carbon-neutral house demonstrates how

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energy efficient design and renewable energy systems are easily integrated. Modern sustainable projects can be done using more traditional design. Cunningham+Quill’s Michael Day explains that the home was built with sensitivity to the color palette and the materials of the surrounding area.

The green team purchased an existing red brick rambler and, rather than demolishing it, took it apart piece-by-piece, explains Mark Lowham of West*Group. This allowed 97 percent of the original house to be recycled at only $5,000 more than the cost of demolition.

Building upon the theme of reintegration, its walls are being built with SIPS (structural insulation panel system) technology, meaning they are assembled on-site from prefabricated composite wood panels and insulation.

This translates into a quicker, more efficient construction process. The Craftsman-style house also integrates a geothermal heating and cooling system, a solar hot water system, and photovoltaic panels and wind turbines to generate on-site electricity.

Green Spur Inc. founder and president Mark Turner has seen the best and the worst of the building industry. The CO2 FreeLiving House, he assures us, is the latter. “[Green building] is as

Inside view of the CO2 FreeLiving House, currently under construction. Proper insulation is the first step to making a residence more energy efficient.

economical as traditional building and provides returns during the structure’s lifecycle,” Turner explains. “Buildings produce 43 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in the world.You can really make quick changes with buildings - they are the low-hanging fruit,” .

Green with envy yet? There’s more.This fall, the CO2 FreeLiving House will become the CharityWorks GreenHouse and will open to the public from Oct. 11-Nov. 8. The revolutionary structure will feature 18 prominent local interior designers to style the house following green standards. All proceeds benefit The Friendship Charter School and the McLean Project for the Arts.

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HOME LIFE | INSIDE HOMES

GREEN HOUSE DESIGN “All sofa upholstery is available with sustainable wood frames and soy padding in timeless designs.”

“Zero chemicals and water-based glue are used in this walnut table’s assembly.”

“Made from society’s ‘throwaways,’ these fabrics have texture, panache, and longevity!”

BARRY DIXON, head of the design committee for the CharityWorks GreenHouse, selects eco-friendly furniture for the McLean-based carbon-neutral house, the very first to be built on the East Coast. Using low-impact, recycled interior decor will help all homeowners reduce their carbon footprint.

“Siematic kitchens meet all Euro-standards

(more stringent than those in the U.S.) for environmentally-friendly products.”

“The Megerian collection is 100 percent organic wool with natural nontoxic dyes.”

“Farrow & Ball’s new eco-friendly paints have all my favorite tones.”

“Linoleum tiles, made

of totally natural linseed oil, can be cut and installed in myriad patterns.”

1. Alan sofa, Barry Dixon Furniture by Tomlinson Erwin-Lambeth (Price available upon request); J. Lambeth, Washington Design Center, 300 D St. SW, 202-646-1774, www.jlambeth.com. 2. Horizon dining table ($6,495 - $7,495); Roche Bobois, 5301 Wisconsin Ave. NW # 110, 202-686-5667, www.rochebobois.com. 3. S. Harris fabric ($80-$120 per yard); J. Lambeth, Washington Design Center, 300 D St. SW, 202-646-1774, www.jlambeth.com. 4. Siematic kitchens (price available upon request); Konst, 7500 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, Md., 301-657-3800, www.konstlifestyle.com. 5. Megerian rugs ($80 per square foot); Timothy Paul, 1404 14th St. NW, 202-319-1100, www.timothypaulcarpets.com. 6. Estate eggshell eco-finish ($125 per gallon); Farrow & Ball, 300 D St. SW, Suite 622, 202-479-6780, www.farrow-ball.com. 7. Marmoleum tiles ($6 per square foot); Floor Gallery, 12108 Wilkins Ave., Rockville, Md., 301-770-3366, www.thefloorgallery.com.

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HOME LIFE | INSIDE HOMES

GARDENING MADE GREENER “After years of waiting, Miracle Grow has finally come out with an organic potting soil. It’s rich, loamy, and beautiful.”

“Maku furniture is made from 100 percent reclaimed/ repurposed woods.”

“Felco makes a hand pruner

for everyone.The blades are easily replaced for about $5.”

“Buying from a farmer’s market or picking your own flowers is much more sustainable.”

“The first and only pesticides to qualify as ‘USDA Certified Organic,’ Pharm Solutions products include an organic herbicide and weed killer.”

“Rain barrels are a great way to save and recycle water at home by using the water you collect for your garden, pots, and planters.”

AIRYNEE MAY, head gardener for the Goodstone Inn & Estate in Middleburg, tends to 265 acres year-round using organic gardening practices and products. She shares her green thumb by selecting products that will make spring gardens even more eco-friendly.

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1. Teak chaise longue ($1,479); www.makufurniture.com. 2. Miracle Gro organic potting soil ($11 per 32-quart bag); Gardens of Delight, Paeonian Springs, Va., 540-882-9113. www.gardensofdelight.info. 3. A.M. Leonard supply catalog Felco pruning shears ($35-$55); www.amleo.com. 4. Purple crocus, two different varieties of Helleborus Orientals, euphorbia and daffodils picked on the grounds of the Goodstone Inn, Middleburg, Va. 5. Pharm Solutions ($10.95-$11.95); Whole Foods, 2323 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-333-5393, www.pharmsolutionsinc. com. 6. Wood grain rain barrel ($169.99); www.cleanairegardening.com. “Most local extension offices and county programs run rain barrel workshops. A $50 sign-up fee includes making and bringing home your rain barrel.” www.fairfaxcounty.gov/nvswcd/rainbarrels.htm, www.arlingtonenvironment.org/barrel.htm.

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green

starts

living

here

Sustainability starts at home.

Featured Designers Barry Dixon, Barry Dixon Inc. Skip Sroka, Sroka Design Incorporated Victoria Neale Victoria Neale Interiors, LLC

To prove the point, we are building one of the first carbon neutral homes in the region — in the heart of McLean, Virginia. The home features a walkable location, super efficient design and construction, and renewable energy systems — which all add up to living better with a smaller impact on the planet. And we invite you to tour the house in October as we partner with CharityWorks and the region’s leading interior designers to showcase just how desireable a sustainable lifestyle really can be. To learn more about WEST*GROUP and this project visit www.CO2FreeLiving.com.

1600 Anderson Road McLean,Virginia 22102 (703) 356-2400 west-group.com www.CO2FreeLiving.com

Springtime Sellers These beautiful homes will have buyers jumping at the chance to move

CLEVELAND PARK ELEGANCE HIGHLAND PLACE NW WASHINGTON DC

This classic Victorian boasts high ceilings, large windows, elegant woodwork, spacious front and side yards, a large porch, detached two-car garage, and impressive views. The first f loor features a grand entrance hall with original details; a renovated kitchen with large windows and breakfast sitting area; a living room with modern upgrades, built-in bookshelves, stained glass windows, and a fireplace; and a formal dining room. The second f loor offers a master suite with private bathroom, adjoining study and two additional living spaces. The third f loor has large rooms and two full baths, while the lower level features a finished basement with a full kitchen and bedroom.

Asking Price: $4,900,000 Listing Agents: Jamie Peva | 202-258-5050 Michael Sullivan | 202-365-9000 Washington Fine Properties

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;SMARTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; TUSCAN VILLA FOUNDERS RIDGE LANE MCLEAN VA

Asking Price: $5,500,000 Listing Agents: Michael Hines | 202-379-5868/202-333-1212 TTR Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Realty

Built by Associated Custom Builders in 2006 and located in The Reserve on over an acre of land, this Tuscan villa has the ultimate â&#x20AC;&#x153;Smart Houseâ&#x20AC;? design with Crestron control panels and Lutron lighting throughout. The six-bedroom, nine-bathroom residence boasts marble and oak f looring, ceilings and walls finished in custom Venetian plaster, twin two-car garage bays, a secured entry gate, an eight-person movie theater, six-person sauna, and an eight-person steam room. A custom temperature-controlled, 1,800bottle wine cellar has an illuminated glass f loor. The house has backyard landscaping and three water features designed by renowned landscaper Charles Owens and maintained by Rossen Landscapes.

CHEVY CHASE COLONIAL LELAND STREET CHEVY CHASE MD

This Colonial-style residence, built in 2006 by Patrick Keating, features fine craftsmanship and landscaped gardens. The front foyer opens to a connecting hall with a grand staircase and a formal living and dining rooms. The kitchen, breakfast room, family room with fireplace, library, mudroom with childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entrance, play room, and two-car garage are just a few f loorplan highlights of this 7,500-square-foot house, which also includes six bedrooms and six and a half baths, including a master suite with fireplace, en-suite bathroom, and two walk-in closets.

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Asking Price: $2,950,000 Listing Agents: Ellen Rodin | 202-255-9411 Beverly Nadel | 202-236-7313 Evers & Co. Real Estate, Chevy Chase Office

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Palm Springs, California “Where

the

Desert

meets

the

Mountains”

Come; leave your demanding life to the peace of a desert nestled below

pool or enjoy world class tennis, golf, biking, Polo or hiking an eco-tour of the

snowy mountain tops. Heal and drink in the desert’s mystic calm. Breathe the

Mt. San Jacinto National Monument Mountains. An International airport

rare perfume of citrus and sage. Hear the palm trees gently sway.

provides easy access with beaches, skiing, boating or Los Angeles nearby.

Feel the sun kiss your face. Watch the stars and moonbeams light a clear

“Las Palomas”, a rare 19th Century Spanish, Andalusian farmhouse,

desert night. Live a graceful life in the last grand Spanish, historic estate, in

built in 1927, is faithfully restored to historic status. A rambling, two-story

the Old Movie Colony, hidden behind private walls, in the busy heart

home with six bedrooms, five fireplaces, in three attached wings, set around a

of Palm Springs.

courtyard pool, arcades and cool vined loggias. Over 1-½ acres of ancient

Cary Grant, the film legend and “icon of style” called his beloved hideaway, “Las Palomas”, the epitome of simple Spanish elegance.

Choose seclusion, entertain grandly or live a celebrity lifestyle. Lie by the

trees, palms, citrus and lush lawns hide the walled and gated estate. Rare deep-gabled, red-tiled roofs, meet white stucco walls is “Living Art” and a faithful example of restoration preservation.

CONTACT :

JEFFREY HYLAND

“Las Palomas” featured April 11-19

jeff@hiltonhyland.com

California Preservation Foundation Conference

HILTON & HYLAND REAL ESTATE

“The Culture of Leisure, The California Dream”

250 NORTH CANYON DRIVE

Palm Springs, California

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA 90210

Tickets: J.Chin 415-495-0349

+1 310 278 3311 — www.hiltonhyland.com

jchin@californiapreservation.org

HOME LIFE | REAL ESTATE NEWS

1952 Kirby Road in McLean, Va., recently sold for just under $1 million.

Primo Properties High-end homes change hands in Georgetown, Chevy Chase, and McLean

BY MARY K. MEWBORN

THE DISTRICT In 1940, diplomat Robert Woods Bliss and his wife Mildred left “Dumbarton Oaks,” their Federal-style Georgetown mansion and spectacular Beatrix Farrand-designed gardens to Harvard University. Four years later the estate become internationally renowned as the site of the conference where the United Nations was created. Now Harvard’s trustees have purchased R STREET NW, across the street from the famed conference center and its adjacent museum, with plans to use it to house scholars and researchers “on a temporary, very short-term basis.” The four-bedroom, three-bath, 2,928-square-foot house built in 1900, was priced at $2.2 million by the seller

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Piritta Sorsa, a Ph.D. in economics who has

Michael S. Johnson for $1,105,000. Johnson

worked for international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Former IMF executive Jeroen Kremers and his wife Michele R. Ammouche-Kremers have also sold their Northwest D.C. residence.

The Colonial at KENMORE DRIVE in Spring Valley was built in 1940 and had been updated and expanded to include a chef ’s kitchen, a lower-level family room with a wine cellar, and an exercise room with a steam bath and shower. The 6,032-square-foot lot features a flagstone terrace and a garage. The property was purchased by Theofani T. Assuras and

is chairman of the Congressional Institute and a former lobbyist for the OB-C Group.

The listing agents were William F. X. Moody and Robert Hryniewicki of Washington Fine Properties. The selling agent was Vince Hurteau of Continental Properties, Ltd.

MARYLAND At a thousand dollars a square foot, Harold and Nancy Zirkin now own a $4.2 million residence in the Parc Somerset located at WISCONSIN AVENUE in Chevy Chase. They purchased Unit 1703 from Reza Shahabadi and Gita Hesmati. Harold Zirkin is an investment adviser and executive with Zirkin-Cutler

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Georgetown, DC

Historically significant Halcyon House, circa 1787, overlooks the Potomac River. Built by Benjamin Stoddert, completely restored, pristine condition.

Excellent indoor/outdoor entertaining space, heated pool, parkng for 12-15 cars. Offering includes five rental apts, adjoining townhouse. $19,500,000

Judy Lewis | 202-256-0522 Hugh Oates | 202-257-5640

Kalorama, DC

McLean, VA

Paul Pike | 202.550.8871 Alex Venditti | 202.550.8872 Shawn Breck | 202-641-1200

Michael Hines | 202.379.5868

Magnificent, completely restored 1920’s “Italianate” residence. 6 BR, 6.5 baths, gracious public rms w/10’ ceilings & 6 pair of French doors adjoining dramatic, tiered flagstone terrace w/gardens & pool. Banquetsized DR, grand LR, chef’s kit w/center-island, formal library, sun rm, au-pair suite, 3 fplcs & gar. $6,995,000

Built in 2006 & located in The Reserve on over an acre of land, 1043 Founders Ridge Lane is a 10,000 square foot + Tuscan Villa smart home built by Associated Custom Builders. The six bedroom, nine bathroom marvel features marble and oak flooring throughout, ceilings and walls done in custom venetian plaster, twin two-car garage bays, 9 person movie theater, and 1800 bottle wine cellar. $5,500,000

Georgetown, DC

Rare circa 1816 detached residence has undergone a meticulous historic restoration. Original architectural details seamlessly incorporate modern amenities.

Light-filled double parlors w/fplcs & 8’ windows.

Elegant DR w/fplc, table space kit, marvelous master suite plus 3 addt’l BRs. Prof designed gardens & terrace. 2-car parking. $3,995,000

Michael Rankin | 202.271.3344

We are pleased to welcome the following new agents:

Ann Hay Hardy Russell Firestone Bowie, MD

Leesburg, VA

Magnificent Georgian manor house on a rolling twoacre site. Manor house, pool house & carriage house form an impressive compound of quiet luxury. Redstone walls capped with brick integrate the structures while providing architectural beauty & privacy. % BR, 9.5 baths, 5 fplcs & 3.5 kitchens, separate, climate controlled carriage house with sleeping quarters, wet bar, separate six car parking. $3,199,000

Exceptional custom estate in the prestigious Beacon Hill community. Designed for indoor and outdoor entertaining and featuring the finest materials and appliances throughout, with state-of-the-art home entertainment & security systems. $2,900,000

Susanna Quinn

Robert Carney | 703-927-4290 Michael Hines | 202-379-5868

Michael Hines | 202.379.5868

Palisades, DC

Custom contemporary with spectacular views of Potomac River and parkland. Modern floorplan with large sun-filled rooms. Custom built-ins throughout.

Renovated kitchen. 3 fireplaces total. Master suite features private deck and semi-circular bay of windows. LL offers large family rm/office, powder room, bedroom & bath. Expansive roof deck offers 360 degree views. 2-car garage. $2,319,000

Ann Hay Hardy | 202.297.0228

Adams Morgan , DC

Kent, DC

Dupont Circle, DC

Jonathan Taylor | 202-276-3344

Michael Rankin | 202.271.3344 Michael Moore | 202.262.7762

Paul Pike | 202-550-8871 Alex Venditti | 202-550-8872 Shawn Breck | 202-641-1200

Unit R1 at 2424 Lofts is a unique and dramatic true loft boasting over 2600 square feet of finished interior space, a semi-private elevator, wide plank maple flooring, an enormous main living room with 15-foot ceilings, three huge 10-foot high arched windows, a high-end stainless steel kitchen, and a large outdoor private terrace with incredible sweeping city views.

Garage parking included. $1,795,000

www.ttrsir.com

Beautiful Georgian revival home sits prominently above the street and features a gracious center foyer, large formal living room with fireplace, formal dining room, table kitchen, 1st floor library and solarium.

The private rear yard offers a sparkling pool and professional landscaping. 5-6 bedrooms, 4.5 baths total including a lovely sun-filled master suite. $1,750,000

Georgetown, Washington, D.C. 202.333.1212

Meticulously renovated 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath townhouse with lower level 1 BR/1 bath in-law suite. Home retains original elements while incorporating new chef’s kit, new baths, hrdwd flrs & all new systems.

There is a trellaced rear deck & 2 car parking. Ideal Dupont Circle location. A rare offering. $1,495,000

McLean, VA 703.319.3344

Chevy Chase, MD 301.967.3344

© MMIX Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. All Rights Reserved. Les Bords de l’Epte a Giverny, used with permission. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity . Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

Investments in Bethesda, Md. Nancy Zirkin has long been active in promoting human rights and civil liberties through her work in both the public and private sectors. As a volunteer she has served on the executive boards of the Women’s Leadership Forum, the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, and on the Women’s Campaign Fund, a bipartisan organization dedicated to putting pro-choice women in public office.

Donna Kozuch’s Unit 1405 in the Parc Somerset went for more than a $1,000 per square foot.The 3,396-square-foot luxury condominium was purchased for $3,635,000 by Judy Zickler and her husband Leo, who is with Oxford Realty Financial Group Inc. The Zicklers also bought the Parc Somerset’s Unit 204, a 1,657-quare-foot, one-bedroom, two-bath residence for $1.1 million from Claire and Robert Rich, but plan to live in the larger apartment. Long & Foster realtors Nancy Itteilag and Zelda Heller were the listing and selling agents in both transactions.

Nancy Itteilag and Zelda Heller also helped sell the Parc Somerset’s Unit 305 to Ellen and Bernard Young.The owners were Christina and Nicholas Scanniello, with EuroMotorcars. The price tag was $2.395 million. Mary Asmar with W.C. & A.N. Miller, a Long & Foster Company, listed the unit for the Scanniellos.

Having sold their Parc Somerset unit, the Scanniellos then bought Unit 307 at the Somerset One condominiums at WISCONSIN AVENUE in Chevy Chase for $1.3 million from The Sellinger Estate. The condo has a marble foyer, an eat-in kitchen, two bedrooms with treetop views, a library, and public rooms that open onto the balcony. Nancy Itteilag and Zelda Heller listed this property and Mary Asmar was the selling agent.

Above: Three multi-million-dollar units recently sold in the luxurious Parc Somerset in Chevy Chase. (Photo

by Christopher Itteilag) Left: Theofani T. Assuras and Michael S. Johnson paid $1,105,000 for the recently updated and expanded 1940 Colonial-style residence at 4631 Kenmore Drive in Spring Valley.

award-winning pool house doubles as a onebedroom, one-bath guest cottage and features a hot tub and outdoor shower. Susan Koehler with Washington Fine Properties listed this exceptional residence for $12.5 million.

George Saab of Saab Realtors was the selling agent.

In Great Falls, INNSBRUCK AVENUE has changed hands. Miriam and Paul Dell’Isola sold the home they shared with their six children to Torge and Heidi J. Dennen for $3.4 million. The house has seven bedrooms and eleven bathrooms, a billiards room, movie VIRGINIA A major waterfront property at theater, wine cellar and an exercise room. Paul CREST LANE along McLean’s “Gold Coast” Dell’Isola, who is a senior executive at FBR, recently sold for $11 million. Beautifully had been asking $4,250,000 for the two-acre sited on more than three and a half acres property with a swimming pool, pool house, with sweeping views of the Potomac, the hot tub, playground, and tennis court.

Number BECKMAN WAY in Great seven-bedroom main house was built in 1999 using the finest materials including French Falls was sold at a Real Estate Resolution Corp. limestone, granite, maple, and cherry. An auction for $3,025,000. Bidding on the 11,000-

78

square-foot, brick and stone Colonial on five acres started at $1.8 million. The property has six bedrooms including a master suite with three fireplaces and a balcony, a library with a fireplace and French doors leading to a private balcony, a gourmet center island kitchen, a caterer’s kitchen, recreation room, full bar, an exercise room and home theater. The new owner is Choi and Associates LLC. Real estate agents Sue Huckaby and Karen Briscoe of the Huckaby-Briscoe Group, Keller Williams Realty, helped Karen Lee and Daniel Gonzalez sell their house at KIRBY ROAD in McLean, Va., for $995,000. The property was extensively renovated five years ago with about $300,000 worth of upgrades including a gourmet kitchen with high-end stainless steel appliances, maple cabinets and granite countertops. There is also an adjacent family room with a breakfast bar that is perfect for both entertaining and family living. Extras include a deck and a stone patio. The buyers asked not to be named.

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HOME LIFE | ART AND AUCTION

Homage to a Master Andrew Wyeth’s hold on the American imagination made him the country’s most popular living artist

BY RENÉE DRAKE

I

was lucky to have a mother who a character straight out of a classic film? His appreciated art and who introduced trim figure was wrapped in black leggings and me to three generations of paintings by a handsome fitted jacket; a scarf twirled about the Wyeth family. Although I grew up his neck framed his wonderfully lined face and in Virginia, my mother was from Greenville, twinkling blue eyes.What immediately struck me Del., which is not far from the artists’ home in was his generosity of spirit, apparent by his desire Chadds Ford, Pa. On our regular trips there, she to put me at ease. In that hour he revealed a side would always take us to the Brandywine River of himself that I had not anticipated. Instead of the Museum to see the paintings of N.C. Wyeth, guarded, serious artist many critics had labeled as Andrew Wyeth, and Jamie Wyeth. I never tired an outsider, I found a gregarious, unpretentious, of looking at those wonderful canvases.

They welcomed me like old friends whenever I visited the museum tucked beside the river.

While N.C.’s paintings inspired me to read the classic works of literature he illustrated and Jamie’s menagerie of animals were both intriguing and delightful, Andrew’s paintings made me appreciate the landscape of the Brandywine Valley.

When we visited the area we would stay with my grandparents, whose living room had a large Andrew Wyeth tempera hanging over the Above: Renée Drake and her husband, fireplace.The composition, called “The Max Drake, stand beside “The Woodshed,” Woodshed,” was of two dead crows painted by Andrew Wyeth in 1944, at the memorial exhibition for the artist at the nailed by their feet to a shed. Their inky Brandywine River Museum in Chadds black feathers fanned out against the Ford, Pa. Right: Portrait of Andrew Wyeth (Photos by James Graham) wood siding and their stiff, curled claws were depicted with such realism that it made you imagine what it would feel like if one animated individual with a magnetic personality.

I never understood critics’ harsh judgments were to come alive and scratch your skin. As a child I was terrified of the painting, but when of Andrew Wyeth. He painted the world he I got older I came to appreciate its stark reality knew and his work resonated with truth. Years and the abstract quality of those jet-black wings later we crossed paths again when I was making The Way Back: A Portrait of George A. Weymouth, pulled open by gravity.

I did not get to know Andrew Wyeth a documentary film devoted to his great personally until many years later when I somewhat friend George “Frolic” Weymouth who had nervously interviewed him while researching founded the Brandywine River Conservancy a book on his brother-in-law, the painter John and Museum. Once again, he was graciously McCoy. Who was I to be interviewing this welcoming and he agreed to be interviewed for international art icon, who arrived dressed like the film. Though he was some years older, the

82

twinkle in those incredible blue eyes had not diminished. He was still painting every day, still finding subjects that excited him.

When we heard that Andy had died, my husband and I travelled from Chicago to Chadds Ford for the memorial exhibition of his works at the Brandywine River Museum. We got up early to beat the crowds, but when we arrived, there was already a long line of visitors patiently standing in the freezing weather waiting to get in. By the end of the day, 4,000 people would pass through the galleries. The Museum of Modern Art had agreed to loan “Christina’s World,” his most famous work, for two days, and I was eager to see it.When we finally entered the gallery with the painting before us, it was even more powerful than my memory of it. Upon turning a corner, there were my two old friends, the crows, wings spread out, still as inky black as a Japanese brush painting, daring us to take a closer look. (My grandfather, C. Porter Schutt, bequeathed the painting to the museum in 1995.)

No one can refute Andrew Wyeth’s technical virtuosity. Even those who try to label him can never diminish his brilliant works, executed with an eye for detail that is unmatched in the 20th century. When I look at his paintings, I see a lively man of great emotion who had tremendous curiosity about his subject matter. Employing the discipline of an old master, Andrew Wyeth successfully shared his unique vision with the world. That vision, often labeled as realism, reflected who he was: a complex painter who was both the salt of the earth and an other-worldly creature.

Readers wishing to get in touch with Renée Drake can email: columns@washingtonlife.com

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®

Georgetown, D.C.

$2,150,000

With tree-top vistas, this brick 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath home has been meticulously restored with quality workmanship and fine amenities. The 4 sun-filled levels include a media/dining room, a gourmet kitchen, a unique office design, and 2 patios. Terri Robinson 202.607.7737/ 202.944.8400 (O). trrestate@aol.com.

Washington, D.C.

McLean, Virginia

$1,395,000

$4,500,000

Offering 15,000 square feet, this grand residence is suited for both black-tie events and daily living.

Resplendent on its 2.5-acre grounds, this newly constructed home was appraised at $6,400,000.

The Eglé Group 703.903.8651 or K. Diane Bellaschi 703.517.7000/ 703.905.7242 (O).

This towering Cleveland Park colonial is just 2 blocks from Metro and shops, and is across the street from the park. Hardwood floors, 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 fireplaces, a table-space kitchen, an elevator, and a garage complete the home. Bethesda Avenue Office 240.497.1700.

Long & Foster Sells Far More $1 Million and Above Homes in the Washington, D.C. Metro Area Than the Next 4 Brokers Combined.*

Chevy Chase, Maryland

$1,900,000

Wrapped in brick and graced with a columned portico, this classic colonial is sited on a half-acre lot in Kenwood, just blocks to Bethesda, Metro, and shops.

The home offers elegant rooms, 3 fireplaces, a private office, and a large attic that is ideal for expansion.

Cheryl Kurss 301.346.6615/ 202.363.9700 (O).

®

Georgetown, D.C.

$2,095,000

This renovated, Federal-style home is sited on a sunny corner lot and includes garage parking. The light-filled residence boasts a new gourmet kitchen, all new baths, a side patio with a heated pergola, and a lower-level in-law suite. Foxhall Office 202.363.1800.

* Source: Data Concepts. 2008 selected market share data. This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by MRIS® or other regional or local Multiple Listing Services’ common databases. Neither these organizations nor THE LONG & FOSTER® COMPANIES guarantee or are responsible in any way for the accuracy of the data. The data may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

Bethesda, Maryland

$1,699,000

This 6,000-plus-square-foot home provides elegant living with a maintenance free exterior. Built in 2006, the residence includes 4 fabulous levels with an elevator and a fitness room, and is located only blocks to Metro.

Tour at Andy4Homes.com. Andy Alderdice 301.466.5898/ 301.229.4000 (O). andy4homes@gmail.com.

Dupont, D.C. $1,395,000

Arlington, Virginia

$1,249,000

With its mid-century American design and soothing Asian aesthetics, this thoroughly modern, 3,600-squarefoot residence with 5 bedrooms and 3.5 baths is located in the highly sought-after area of north Arlington.

John Mentis 202.549.0081/ 703.522.0500 (O). john.mentis@longandfoster.com.

Sited in the heart of Dupont, this semidetached, Victorianstyle home offers outdoor space and parking for 2 cars. The grand home includes an open living room, a separate dining room, original woodwork, and a separate rental unit.

Chevy Chase Uptown Office 202.364.1300.

Potomac, Maryland

$2,195,000

Bethesda, Maryland

$1,399,000

Sited on a 2.69-acre, cul-de-sac lot, this residence features breathtaking views. The 6-bedroom, 5.5-bath home is well appointed with an enclosed, all-season pool, a hot tub, a tennis court, a sauna, gym equipment, a media room, and a gourmet kitchen that opens to the family room. Spring Valley Office 202.362.1300.

Located less than one mile to the Friendship Heights Metro, this 4-year-young colonial melds classic features with modern, high-end amenities. The open floor plan includes 4 finished levels, a stunning gourmet kitchen, and a home office. Genie Asmuth 301.996.3937/ 301.907.7600 (O). Genie@longandfoster.com.

Washington, D.C.

Georgetown, D.C.

Logan Circle, D.C. $1,850,000

Potomac, Maryland

$3,695,000

This stunning estate is sited on 3.8 private acres in close-in Bradley Farms. The recently renovated main house includes fabulous architectural detail and stateof-the-art technology. A carriage house and a custom, heated pool complete the estate.

Chevy Chase North Office 202.966.1400.

Featuring astonishing renovations, this elegant, 4-level residence is located just blocks to Metro and Whole Foods.

The property includes a spectacular owner’s suite, 2 additional rental units, a rooftop terrace, and 2-car parking. www.mattzanolli.com.

Matt Zanolli 202.744.5799/ 202.483.6300 (O).

$989,500

This brilliantly designed luxury loft includes 2 parking spaces. The home is appointed with a 30’ x 30’ great room, 12 large, 10-foot windows, MechoShades, 13foot ceilings, spa baths, Brazilian cherry hardwood floors, and a fireplace. Lance Horsley 202.460.4000/ 202.364.5200 (O). Lance@LanceHorsley.com.

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$1,575,000

This Federal Italianate residence is located in the East Village. The home features 4 fireplaces, a double parlor living room, a custom kitchen, and a dining room that opens to a large back garden and guest house. www.fmres.com. Kerry Fortune 202.257.7447 or Nelson Marban 202.870.6899/ 202.944.8400 (O).

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