Misty Copeland
on the American Ballet Theatre’s return to Wolf Trap
Your Guide to the
Political Conventions
The best hotels, restaurants, attractions
and parties in Cleveland and Philadelphia
Luxury Travel:
South Carolina’s Palmetto Bluff
Society Weddings:
Ali Weinberg and Josh Rogin + SUSAN HEMME AND JAY NUSSBAUM
Inside Homes:
A Summer Getaway on the Eastern Shore
Fine Dining:
&
pa rt i pa es! rt Pa ie rt s! ie s!
French fusion at Convivial
SPECIAL FEATURE
YOUR GUIDE TO THE
GUIDE TO THE CONVENTIONS
430-8-'%0 '32:)28-327 WHAT TO EXPECT | WHERE TO STAY EAT & HOB NOB | WHO TO FOLLOW ON TWITTER
@HillaryClinton
@realDonaldTrump
4097 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION VICE PRESIDENT SARA ARMSTRONG AND DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION CEO REV LEAH DAUGHTRY TAMMY HADDAD AND BETSY FISCHER MARTIN ON THEIR PODCAST “MASTERS IN POLITICS” POLITICO REPORTER ELI STOKOLS’ TAKE ON COVERING THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN PHOTO BY TONY POWELL 18
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
WHEN July 18 - July 21, 2016 WHERE Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio WEB convention.gop @GOPConvention #RNCinCLE
WHEN July 25 - July 28, 2016 WHERE Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa. WEB demconvention.com @DemConvention #DemsinPhilly
WHO WON’T BE THERE Former Presidents Bush 41 and Bush 43, former nominees Mitt Romney and Sen. John McCain, Senators Lindsay Graham and Kelly Ayotte. WHO WILL BE THERE Members of the grassroots “Dump Trump” movement. They’ve reportedly opened a command center in Cleveland and are planning for a floor fight to dump the presumptive nominee.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE WONDERING Will Bernie Sanders endorse Hillary Clinton? And will his supporters coalesce around her? POTENTIAL STAR APPEARANCES (to help draw in younger voters): Katy Perry, Amy Schumer, Demi Lovato, Beyonce and Lin Emanuel-Miranda, of Broadway’s “Hamilton” fame.
INSIDER’S GUIDE Pamela Stevens @pamrstevens >> Director of Media Affairs, GOP Convention
INSIDER’S GUIDE Matthew Butler @matthewsbutler >> Chief of Staff, Democratic National Convention
WHERE TO STAY Since April, I’ve been renting an apartment at Reserve Square. It has a workout room, a pool and maid service!
WHERE TO STAY If you can still get a room, the Logan, Sonesta and Warwick are great hotels. Or try the Ritz Carlton. The recently redone lobby is an old bank and it’s gorgeous.
WHERE TO EAT Johnny’s Downtown on West 6th is my favorite restaurant. It’s charming and has a piano bar. I always bring the visiting media there—CNN, CBS, ABC, etc.
WHERE TO PLAY TOURIST The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and John Carroll University, where Tim Russert went. Cleveland has a fantastic theater district, where I’ve seen the Fantasticks, Matilda and Steel Magnolias. The suburbs are lovely. I’d never been to a Dillard’s before. They have a great one here and I am now a devotee. BIGGEST PARTIES Rock the Night in CLE welcome party on Sunday night, the tribute to John Boehner, the Journey concert and the CQ Roll Call party at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Monday. Also look for good ones from Twitter, Creative Coalition and Google.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
WHERE TO EAT There’s a lot of debate on the best cheesesteak in the city. My advice: ask a local for their favorite place in the neighborhood you are staying in and go there. Also: If you’re homesick for D.C. and Le Diplomate, Parc at Rittenhouse Square is almost an exact match. WHERE TO PLAY TOURIST The Barnes Foundation, Franklin Institute, National Constitution Center, Rocky Statue, Rocky Steps and Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest street in the United States. If you’re looking for something different, go see Eastern Penitentiary. BIGGEST PARTIES Definitely the media welcome party on Saturday and the delegate welcome party on Sunday before the convention. Look for good events from Google, Facebook, Twitter, Funny or Die, the One Campaign, Men for Choice and HeadCount. Concert-wise, Dawes and Grace Potter will be at Electric Factory on Monday, July 25 and the Unity Concert postgavel following Hillary Clinton’s acceptance speech should be a starstudded event.
19
SPECIAL FEATURE
GUIDE TO THE CONVENTIONS
-2 ()48,
SARA ARMSTRONG Vice President of the Republican National Convention WASHINGTON LIFE How long have you been on site in Cleveland and what is the best thing about being there to prepare for the convention? SARA ARMSTRONG I’ve been fortunate to have been a part of two conventions, but I must say Cleveland will always have a special place in my heart. Having moved here last July, the warmth and the excitement I’ve experienced from this community over the past year has been touching. I’ve really enjoyed the amount of collaboration we’ve had – from local vendors like florists and caterers to the people behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, whose Arena we’ll be transforming for the convention. We’ve also had great partnerships with the Cleveland Host Committee and Mayor Frank Jackson.
WL What do you believe will be the highlights of the convention? SA There are many special moments that occur during the 96 hours of the Convention – but I have to say my favorite is just before the balloons drop on the last night. The camaraderie and anticipation is palpable. After an exhilarating — and exhausting! — four days, we will all be together in this great big arena celebrating what we believe in. WL Is anything special planned? SA Absolutely. The new Freedom Plaza
20
@SaraWArmstrong
marks the first time we’ll have an outdoor space right next door to the arena to invite guests to mingle, eat, shop and enjoy live music in a beautiful space between the Quicken Loans Arena and Progressive Field. From regional food to local performers, I know it will be a great time! WL Many prominent Republicans have announced they’ll skip the convention this year and businesses that have traditionally sponsored the gathering have pulled back. How will these actions affect the event? SA We are excited to have House and Senate leadership, hundreds of state and local leaders, as well as dignitaries and supporters from across the country at the Convention. In contrast to years past, this
convention has had more interest and excitement around it than I can remember. Our host committee has done an excellent job raising funds and is well ahead of where we were in 2012. WL How concerned are you about possible protests and chaos both on the convention floor and on the streets of Cleveland? Is the city prepared for potential unrest? SA We are a First Amendment party and of course believe in the freedom of speech. We are prepared and have worked closely with the city of Cleveland and additional local, state and federal partners who are coordinating and will be continuously refining security plans leading up to July.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
P H OTO CO U RT E SY O F R E P U BL I CAN N AT I O NA L CO N VE NT I O N
WL Will the party coalesce around Donald Trump at the convention? SA: Our party is gathering in Cleveland to officially nominate Donald Trump, which is an important moment for Republicans and one that the entire country will be watching. We are here to celebrate the principles we stand for and to unite as Republicans as we focus on taking back the White House.
-2 ()48,
REV LEAH DAUGHTRY CEO of the Democratic National Convention WASHINGTON LIFE Hillary Clinton is your party’s presumptive nominee. What is it like, as a woman, to be leading the convention where the first female will accept the nomination for President of the United States? REV LEAH DAUGHTRY It’s hard to believe that just eight years ago in Denver, Colorado, our party nominated the first African-American president of the United States. It was a true privilege to serve as CEO for the historic 2008 convention, and I am humbled to have the opportunity to, once again, have a front row seat as history is made. On Election Night in 2008, after Barack Obama had been declared the next president of the United States, my oldest nephew texted me, saying, “now, Auntie Leah, I believe I can do anything.” It took the election of an African American as president for my brilliant, talented nephew to believe that all doors were open to him. This cycle, I think about all the little girls – and boys – who will have a larger idea of what’s possible for their lives as a result of the election of Hillary Clinton. P H OTO CO U RT E SY O F D E MO C RAT I C N AT I O N AL CO N V E N T I O N
WL What do you believe other highlights of the convention will be? Will there be any special guests? LD I have been involved in our party’s conventions for over two decades now, and each time has been unforgettable in its own unique way. From hearing actor Christopher Reeve speak at the 1996 Chicago convention, to witnessing a young State Sen. Obama find his political launching pad in Boston in 2004, you can always count on those magical moments to capture who we are as a people and inspire the whole party ahead of the general election. The choices for speaking roles at this year’s convention have not been finalized, but we anticipate a who’s who in the Dem-
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
@LeahDaughtry
ocratic Party leadership to take center stage and address the nation.
Both Clinton and Sanders supporters are already playing an integral role in that process.
WL What role will Bernie Sanders and his supporters have at the convention? LD The Democratic National Convention Committee has a strong partnership with both the Clinton and Sanders campaigns.And while we are in the midst of ongoing conversations to determine the roles that each organization will play at the convention, our shared goals are very clear: work hand-in-hand with the candidates to make sure our party, the big-tent party, has a seamless nominating process for president and vice president. We also are actively working together to draft and ultimately adopt a party platform representative of Democrats from all walks of life, all religions, all races and all economic strata.
WL How concerned are you about possible protests and chaos in Philadelphia, especially in light of violence at the Nevada Democratic convention in May? LD Conventions play a special role in our electoral process – they are designed to be an uninterrupted opportunity for Democrats and Republicans to articulate their values and vision for the future of our nation. As someone who has been involved in our party’s conventions since 1992 and who considers herself an activist for justice and equality, I plan on making sure that safe spaces for fellow Democrats who wish to express their views and opinions are not in short supply in Philadelphia.
| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
21
SPECIAL FEATURE
DINE AND DISH
MASTERS IN POLITICS @MastersPodcast
The players: Veteran political journalists Tammy Haddad and Betsy Fischer Martin talk to Executive Editor Virginia Coyne about their Bloomberg podcast, “Masters in Politics” and the 2016 presidential campaign The setting: Off the Record at the Hay-Adams On the menu: Grilled Atlantic salmon with Swiss chard and ice waters all around, set on coasters featuring caricatures of the presidential candidates WL Are you hoping to get Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on the podcast? TH Oh, I think we’ll get them at some point. We’re talking to them. The other part of the election coverage is the candidates are looking around for other opportunities. You saw the President go on “Between Two Ferns” (comedian Zach Galifianakis’ online interview show). Politicians go wherever they can be effective and wherever they can get their message across, and I don’t think television shows are letting Donald Trump call in anymore.
WASHINGTON LIFE Why did you start podcasting? TAMMY HADDAD Three years ago, I was out in L.A. and everybody was talking about podcasts, so I came back an evangelist. Betsy and I said, ‘let’s do one’ and last summer, as the presidential campaign was heating up, we started “Trail Talk.”We’ve written questions for every single person we’re interviewing. For the first time we get to actually ask the questions. WL How did the partnership with Bloomberg come about? BETSY FISCHER MARTIN We had done probably about six episodes with candidates like Carly Fiorina, Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush when they reached out to us because they’d heard the Ted Cruz interview and thought it was really good. We decided to come up with a new name so that we could do this beyond 2016. Bloomberg had a successful podcast on their business side called “Masters in Business,” so we thought we’ll call ours
22
“Masters in Politics” to both keep the brand and not limit ourselves to the campaign trail. WL Do your guests call in or do you interview them in person? TH Sometimes they’re in person, like Gov. Hickenlooper of Colorado was recently, but usually they’re on the phone. Here’s the thing: I came to Washington to produce Larry King’s radio show, and what I love about radio is that people get so comfortable. They’re talking, they’re in the office or they’re at home and when you’re having a conversation and not an interview, things slip out that they don’t plan, like when we interviewed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and he was reminiscing about growing up and being bullied as a kid. It’s much more intimate. I don’t want to say dangerous, but it can get dangerous because people are just so comfortable and could say anything … and we’re ready with all our questions, ready to just get it out of them! [laughter]
WL Do you have any convention predictions? BFM The Republican Convention is not going to look like past conventions. It will be much more of a production. We are going to see Trump every single night. As for the Democratic Convention, it will be interesting to see what kind of role Bernie Sanders plays in the platform, what kind of speaking spot he gets and how that goes over. One thing Hillary Clinton has in her corner is that Sanders has been very clear he does not want to see Trump elected, so I think by that nature, he’s going to come together with her.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
.
@BFischerMartin and @HaddadMedia (Photo by Tony Powell)
WL Is there room for another news outlet or podcast like yours out there? TH Podcasts have become part of the conversation in politics this season. Not just ours, but David Axelrod’s and Politico’s Glenn Trush’s are also making news. So, while some people say, ‘oh there’s so much media out there,’ the truth is there isn’t because consumers are looking for more.There’s also lots of media criticism in this election, as you well know. I would actually argue the opposite— that media has never done a better job. Podcasts are one piece of it, but the reporting on candidates has been heavy and extensive.
| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
SPECIAL FEATURE | WHO’S NEXT
COVERING TRUMP Politico’s national politics reporter Eli Stokols on the challenges of the Trump beat BY ERICA MOODY
IT MUST BE AN INCREDIBLY EXCITING CAMPAIGN TO COVER. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES? There is never a dull moment. And it’s different because when the guy is on TV all the time, tweeting all the time, it’s a different campaign to cover. When I got here 14 months ago, everyone thought Jeb Bush would be the nominee. He had this huge network of donors and all these people you could talk to who the campaign was always reaching out to because they needed their financial support. With the Trump campaign, there are about four people who interact with Trump regularly. The campaign happens based on Donald Trump dictating a tweet and hitting send. It’s harder to mine the details from inside and to find things that break through when everybody is writing ‘Oh my God! Donald Trump did this today.’ There’s so much coverage that sometimes you have to do deeper reporting for anything to stick.
W
hen Eli Stokols, 36, relocated to Washington from Denver last year to cover the 2016 Republican presidential campaign for Politico, he thought he’d be following Jeb Bush. But to his shock (and that of other political pundits), he soon found himself immersed in one of the most unexpected campaigns in recent history, that of brazen businessman Donald Trump. The Southern-California-born, Berkeley-educated former broadcast journalist reflects on his whirlwind beat. DID YOU EVER THINK THAT YOU’D BE COVERING A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN INVOLVING DONALD TRUMP? Um, no. I mean who would think that? [Laughs]. In Colorado, I covered the [2012] presidential race from a swing state perspective and had that vantage point. But, this is totally different. We’ve had to constantly be open to things that we never really thought were possible. When Trump announced and everyone in the newsroom would see him on TV, they would walk by and say, ‘Is that guy still talking?’ No one really took it seriously.This whole year has been a recalibration of all the things we thought we knew. It takes a little while to get your head around the fact that this is a real phenomenon. It’s not just a short-lived media fascination. SO, WHY DO YOU THINK HE CONNECTS TO THE ELECTORATE? People are just disgusted with politics in general. His skill set and his understanding of media have enabled him to really maximize the exposure and to drown out a lot of other people. But it’s the message that has connected with a core base of supporters, and it’s not just the Republican base.There are Democrats who aren’t enamored with either candidate and who look at Trump and say, ‘You know, I don’t really have a problem with him because he’s not a typical Washington establishment conservative.’ It’s counterintuitive that a billionaire from Manhattan would be the blue-collared champion of people in Iowa and Pennsylvania. But he has
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
@EliStokols (Photo by Tony Powell)
been convincing, at least, in presenting himself as somebody who’s willing to take a sledgehammer to the old order in Washington. A lot of people may not like him insulting everybody, may find his comments offensive, but some find it not just entertaining but refreshing that he doesn’t care about political correctness. WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE FOR HIM TO WIN? It’s hard to say. Hillary Clinton is so unpopular also. Both of them are trying to make their campaign a referendum on the other person. And if he’s able to do that better than she is, by making a case against her judgment, by citing some more recent controversies, by making a credible case that she’s a threat to our national security, clearly some people would be receptive to it. It may be a heavy lift, but she’s been around for a long time and does not enjoy skyhigh approval numbers as it is.
| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING AT THE CONVENTIONS? I think it will be totally different from the other conventions that I’ve covered, more of a show. There’s no doubt that it will be far more important to pay attention to the little details. In Tampa you didn’t really worry too much about some of the rules and the platform fights because at the end of the day you knew who was going to be the nominee. And you knew that people around the country weren’t really paying attention to any of that stuff. After this process, and especially if Trump continues to struggle to satisfy conservative Republicans that he can unite the party and carry a consistent message against Clinton, there are going to be efforts to undermine him. So, it will be incumbent upon everybody there who’s covering it to not just watch the spectacle on stage, but to follow all the things happening behind the scenes.
23
LIFESTYLES | PERFORMING ARTS
BURNING BRIGHT
Misty Copeland takes on the role of Juliet as the American Ballet Theatre returns to Wolf Trap for the first time in three decades. BY VIRGINIA COYNE
Misty Copeland as Juliet. (Photo by Rosalie O’Connor)
I
n Shakespeare’s most well-known play, Romeo is smitten by Juliet while watching her dance, so taken by her poise and beauty that he declares, ”Oh, she doth teach the torches to burn bright.” One might argue the same about Misty Copeland, who in 2015 was appointed the American Ballet Theatre’s (ABT’s) first female African-American principal dancer. This month, she plays the lead the company’s “Romeo and Juliet” at Wolf Trap on July 15, one of three nights the company will perform at the outdoor venue. Copeland granted only one interview to an area publication ahead of her performance and it was to Washington Life. She shared her thoughts on taking on the role of Juliet, the intense media attention she’s received in recent years, her new dancewear line and her involvement with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Copeland gently evaded questions about her upcoming wedding to Olu Evans, a cousin of actor Taye Diggs, making it clear she prefers keeping her personal life out of the
24
spotlight. >> WASHINGTON LIFE: Did you know it has been 31 years since the American Ballet Theatre last performed at Wolf Trap? MISTY COPELAND Wow. I knew it had been a while but didn’t know the exact timing. When I was first introduced to ballet and hadn’t seen many live performances, one of the videos that was shown to me over and over again was of Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland at Wolf Trap. I remember obsessing over the video and knowing what Wolf Trap was since I was 13. So I feel performing there is a part of ABT history, and for us to be able to come back after all this time and for me to do Juliet there is a dream come true. To do Juliet in an outdoor theater is so romantic. WL: What it is like to take on Juliet? MC It’s a role I never imagined myself dancing. Once I performed it [for the first time] last year, I understood that acting is
a strength of mine which I had never truly developed before, so it’s exciting to be able to grow even more. WL: Why did you never imagine yourself in this role? MC Once I became a professional dancer and was a soloist for as long as I was, those dreams of being a principal dancer went out the window.You don’t realistically imagine yourself ever getting the opportunity to do these roles. WL: Today you are a principal dancer with the ABT and there has been so much media frenzy surrounding you. You’ve appeared on magazine covers and on morning television, have your own Barbie doll and have been interviewed about race alongside President Obama. What has that been like? MC I feel like it’s become a part of my job and part of what I’ve wanted in terms of getting ballet out there to a broader audience. The fact is that I feel the sacrifices I have to make in my
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com