Washington Life Magazine - February 2009 by Washington Life Magazine

CAPITAL JEWEL REPORT CARTIER TIFFANY ADELER AND RARE SMITHSONIAN GEMS

THE INSIDER’S GUIDE T POWER SOCIETY AND PHILANTHROPY

EXCLUSIVE!

PAGES OF INAUGURATION PARTIES

PLUS

ART & POLITICS

POLLYWOOD CELEBRATES HISTORY BEN AFFLECK JESSICA ALBA FOREST WHITAKER MOBY STING DEMI AND ASHTON SAMUEL L JACKSON HEATHER GRAHAM NELLY WARREN HAYNES LUDACRIS AND MANY MANY MORE!

SHEPARD FAIREY SPEAKS AND ARTISTS MANIFEST HOPE IN GEORGETOWN

INSIDE PALM BEACH

WHERE WASHINGTON WINTERS RARE KENNEDY VACATION PHOTOS AND THE SCOOP ON BERNIE MADOFF

CELEBRATING THE FIRST COUPLE A TRIUMPH OF SUBSTANCE AND STYLE

FEBRUARY 2009 • $7.95

WASHINGTON LIFE

SHARE WL’S ALL ACCESS PASS TO THE NEW POWER ENTOURAGE

THE CHANGING FASHION OF OUR FIRST LADIES

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C ON T E N T S FEBRUARY 2009

SPECIAL FEATURE

From famed “Washington” jewels in the Smithsonian’s National Gem Hall to top auction experts’ takes on the market, this special section is all about exquisite gems. Plus: John Loring on famed Tiffany & Co. designer Paloma Picasso, and Jorge Adeler’s fascination with pearls.

THE FIRST COUPLE

THE TRIUMPH OF SUBSTANCE AND STYLE

Twenty exclusive pages of private inaugural party coverage and celebrity commentary. Share WL’s all access pass to the new power entourage and social order as Washington celebrates Barack Obama’s historical inauguration.

PALM BEACH DIARIES

Glimpse inside sophisticated Washingtonians’ spectacular winter homes, get the inside story on the Madoff scandal from Larry Leamer, and enjoy a sentimental journey back to the days when John and Jacqueline Kennedy made the scene on the nation’s richest and most exclusive island.

ON THE COVER President Barack Obama, in a Hart Schaffner Marx tuxedo, and Michelle Obama, in a one-shoulder gown by Jason Wu, share their elegant first dance with the world. (Photo by Kevin Mazur, WireImage) ABOVE LEFT After being sworn in, President Barak Obama and the First Lady walk the last mile to the White House on Pennsylvania Ave. (Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool). TOP RIGHT Pia-Maria Norris wears a 28.3-carat marquis cut diamond ring by Cartier, donated to the National Museum of Natural History by Marjorie Merriweather Post’s daughter, Adelaide Riggs, in 1979. (Pamella Roland red one-shoulder evening gown, $1980; Saks Jandel, 5514 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., 301-652-2250). (Photo by Len DePas)BOTTOM RIGHT Inside Bill and Norma Tieffel’s Palm Beach home. (Photo by Joaquin Rivas).

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A RESORT FOR ALL SEASONS

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41 26

28 WASHINGTON SOCIAL DIARY HOLLYWOOD ON THE POTOMAC ...........

53 POLLYWOOD

KENNEDY CENTER HONORS ....................... WL SPONSORED EVENTS Washington Ballet’s Nutcracker Tea ..............................

SPECIAL INAUGURATION FEATURE

EDITOR’S LETTER ...............................................

First Lady Fashion .......................................................

CONTRIBUTORS .................................................

Washington National Opera Opening Night/ Lucretia Borgia Cast Party ...........................................

FYIDC

Septime Webre’s First Decade at the Washington Ballet

ARTIST OF THE PEOPLE Shepard Fairey .........

Washington National Opera Opening Night ...............

WL HOSTED EVENTS

THE INSIDER’S GUIDE.........................................

Helen Hayes Awards Benefit ........................................

Inauguration Transition Party: A musical celebration with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, John Podesta,Warren Haynes ...

SOCIAL CALENDAR ............................................

Pollywood Dinner ........................................................

LIFESTYLES

PARTIES PARTIES PARTIES Harman Center Gala, United Arab Emirates Ambassador’s Welcome Party, John Kluge Awards, Max Kennedy “Danger’s Hour” Book Party, Carlos Gutierrez Reception for Innocents at Risk, Urban Chic Party,Washington Antiques Show ........................

Private Inauguration Parties.......................................... Over 150 pop-artists celebrate Barak Obama ...............

WL SPONSORED / EXCLUSIVE EVENTS

SPECIAL JEWELRY FEATURE CAPITAL JEWELS Smithsonian Gem Hall..........

The Al-Sabah’s Inauguration Party ..............................

TIFFANY STYLE John Loring ...............................

Artists Making an Impact Party ...................................

ON THE ROCKS Auction houses ..........................

Buffy Cafritz and Ann Jordan’s Party ..........................

JPEARLS OF THE ORIENT Jorge Adeler...........

The Black Door Party ..................................................

WHAT’S HOT Jewelry.............................................

National Portrait Gallery Hope Unveiling ...................

CARTIER NATIONAL CHILDREN’S MUSEUM DINNER .............................................

Laurence Leamer’s Palm Beach exposé..........................

ManifestHope DC: Closing Night .......................

FASHION

Preview of D.C.’s Biggest Spring Antique Show!..........

Media Matters Party ....................................................

WINTER FASHION Man of the hour ...................

RE NEWS The market is moving ..............................

Cafritz/Nitze Fête ......................................................

FASHION EVENT Saks Jandel/Etro/J.Mendel ....

OPEN HOUSE What’s hot on the market...............

TREND REPORT Bare Essentials ..........................

ART & AUCTION Icons of glamour and style.........

ManifestHope DC: Private Preview .............................

INAUGURATION PARTY ROUNDUP Huffington Post Inaugural Ball .................................... BET Honors ................................................................ Silk Road Yo Yo Ma Concert ........................................

The Peebles’ Party, Cafe Milano, Lyrics and Libations, Africa Aspire, Equity International Inauguration Reception and Conference ............................................

HOME LIFE SPECIAL PALM BEACH FEATURE Washingtonians at Home in Palm Beach with Ann and Donald Brown, Gina and Herman Porten, Norma and Bill Tiefel, and the Franklin Haney Family ..........

Camelot in Palm Beach................................................

FROM TOP LEFT Diamond pavé necklace centered by an emerald-cut morganite, designed by Paloma Picasso in 1990 for her tenth anniversary at Tiffany & Co. Original Paloma Picasso design. / John Podesta and Nancy Pelosi at WL’s Inauguration Transition Party (Photo by Tony Powell) / Loro Piana brown tweed jacket ($1,995) and navy cashmere zip up sweater ($1,495); Neiman Marcus, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-966-9700. Dolce & Gabbana alpaca brown tweed paperboy hat ($290); Saks Fifth Avenue, The Men’s Store, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-363-2059. Incotex brown corduroy pants ($695); Neiman Marcus, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-966-9700. Ermenegildo Zegna brown suede ankle boots ($725) and brown cashmere gloves ($285); Ermenegildo Zegna Boutique, Tysons Galleria, 1776M International Dr., McLean, Va., 571-730-1905. / Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore at the Huffington Post’s inauguration celebration. (Photo by Paul Morigi).

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plants have achieved zero landﬁll targets – which means no waste goes into landﬁlls. To accomplish this, we’ve reduced raw material usage and we’re recycling virtually every material, including paper, plastics, metals, even waste water. And we’re constantly looking for innovative ways to further reduce waste. Because sometimes, giving back to the earth means not giving it much at all. To learn more, visit toyota.com/whynot

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EDITOR IN CHIEF

Nancy Reynolds Bagley EXECUTIVE EDITOR

FESTIVE

for the important events in your life...

Michael M. Clements MANAGING EDITOR

Christina Wilkie SENIOR EDITOR

DEPUTY EDITOR

Kevin Chaffee

Karin Tanabe EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Kelly Fisher COPY EDITOR

Claudia Krieger COLUMNISTS

Janet Donovan, Donna Evers, Renée Drake, and Mary Mewborn CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jorge Adeler, Kathleen Doyle, Reid Dunavant, Carol Elkins, Martin Irvine, Rahul Kadakia, Stephanie Kenyon, Laurence Leamer, Jeffrey Post, and Aniko Gaal Schott CREATIVE DIRECTOR

J.C. Suarès ART DIRECTOR

Bridget Manifold CONTRIBUTING GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Lauren Pack and Anas Ruhman

PEACEFUL

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Joseph Allen, Stephan Baranovics, Edgar Becerra, Clay Blackmore, James R. Brantley, Steve Canning, David DePas, Len DePas, Stirling Elmendorf, Abby Greenawalt, John Harrington, Carol M. Highsmith, Lynn Hornor Keith, Kevin Mazur, Paul Morigi, Nancy Ostertag, Anton Papich,Tony Powell, Joaquin Rivas, Ron SachsPool, Kyle Samperton, Cecil Soughton, Pepper Watkins, Ira Wexler, and JB Yong CONTRIBUTING STYLISTS

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Georgia Bobley, Megan Buerger, Blair Culbreth,Tara Kumar, Krissy Laubach, Sabrina Little, Sara Siegel, Claire Tucker,Whitney Wegner, and Sabrina Ziaee FOUNDER

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Soroush Richard Shehabi 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.

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Washington’s Week

he inauguration of Barack Obama was one of the most celebrated events to ever to take place in our nation’s capital, and the festivities were superlative. For a full week, from Thursday to the following Wednesday, the regular business of the city stood nearly still and the world watched as Washingtonians put on the party of the century.We hosted millions of people, invited them to countless fabulous fêtes, and graciously grappled with unprecedented security restrictions and crowd control measures; all, without ever abandoning our famous Southern charm. None of us was left untouched by the events surrounding this historic inauguration, and while some of you decided to escape to tropical islands or ski chalets, there wasn’t anywhere else in the world I would have rather been than here in Washington with my husband and our CEO Soroush Shehabi, who celebrated his 44th birthday on the day we inaugurated our 44th President. Barack Obama originally graced our cover in October 2005 with Jimmy Smitts and Iva Longoria, and shortly thereafter was selected and honored at our annual Men and Women of Substance and Style Awards in 2006. This month also marks an editorial record for WL – inside you’ll find coverage of more than four dozen unique events, more than we’ve ever run in one issue during our nearly two-decades in print. We’ve also put together more inauguration party coverage than you’ll find anywhere, plus celebrity contributors, magic inaugural moments, and of course, the inside scoop from WL’s editorial team, who crisscrossed the city for six wild days to bring you first rate reporting. After all this party-hopping, we thought you might enjoy a minivacation to Palm Beach, so we visited some of our favorite Washingtonians in their winter retreats. Senior Editor Kevin Chaffee also sat down with noted author Laurence Leamer, who’s recent book about Palm Beach society, Madness Under the Royal Palms, is sure to make waves both here and there. The interview is a great read, my favorite parts of which are when Leamer discusses Palm Beach in the “post-Madoff,” era, and reflects on the dark undercurrents of the financiers alleged 20 year Ponzi scheme. While they may be selling off the family jewels in Palm Beach, back in Washington they’re giving them away. To the Smithsonian, that is. And the Smithsonian is sharing them with us.The Smithsonian Gem Hall is the nation’s

foremost museum of jewelry, housing everything from the Hope diamond to the Logan sapphire, and this month, for the first time in decades, we were granted access to shoot some of the collection – not behind glass, but adorning an elegant Washingtonian, Pia Maria Norris, who, along with her husband, Carlyle Group co-founder Steve Norris, recently moved to the District from, where else? Palm Beach. In addition to our features, this month we also bring you the Kennedy Center Honors, as well as an interview to mark Septime Webre’s ten years as artistic director of TheWashington Ballet. In keeping with the performing arts theme, we sponsored the Washington Ballet’s Nutcracker Tea, the Washington National Opera’s Lucrezia Borgia opening, the Helen Hayes Awards Auction Party, and two film screenings and of course lots of exclusive Parties! John Podesta, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Nancy Parties! Parties! In February and Bagley (above) and WL March, we’re looking forward CEO Soroush Shehabi to sponsoring the Washington with Katherine and David Bradley (left) at Ballet’s Jeté Society Dance Party, the Washington Life the Washington National Opera and Atlantic Media Company Inauguration Midwinter Gala, the St. Judes Transition Party. Gourmet Gala, the Capitol (Photos by Tony Powell) Movement Project Benefit, the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s Pink Tie Party, and the March of Dimes Gourmet Gala. And don’t forget the most anticipated party of the year, theYoung and the Guest List 2009, coming in early March. There’s a lot to read in this issue, and there are now more stories, photos, and videos at washingtonlife.com where we recently launched phase one of Washington Life 2.0. Led by Executive Editor Michael Clements, we’ve all been working overtime to document, videotape, blog, and upload a much wider slice of the city’s vibrant social life than we ever have before. It’s a great time to be in Washington, and we hope to see you out on the town.

Nancy R. Bagley Editor in Chief Readers wishing to contact Nancy can email columns@washingtonlife.com

CONTRIBUTORS

1 JORGE ADELER is the owner and master designer of Adeler Jewelers, based in Great Falls,Va. He recounts his trip to Asia in “Pearls of the Orient.”

2 Scottish-born photographer HARRY BENSON has numerous Lifetime Achievement Awards and 40 one-man exhibitions to his credit, Benson was honored with a C.B.E. by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2009 New Year’s Honors List. 3 JAMES CORNWELL is a resident hairstylist and makeup artist for public relations at Partners Salon and Tim Coburn Photography. Cornwell coifs Pia-Maria Norris for the Smithsonian jewelry shoot. 4 LEN DEPAS is a food, art, and portrait artist based in Washington. He captures PiaMaria Norris in the Smithsonian’s Gem Hall.

5 As chairman and CEO of Doyle New York, KATHLEEN DOYLE leads the growth strategy for one of the world’s foremost auctioneers and appraisers of fine art, jewelry, furniture, and specialty categories. 6 REID DUNAVANT joined Doyle New York as a general appraiser of furniture and decorative arts in 2000. From 2002-2004, he was in charge of their 19th- and 20th-century decorative arts department. He also shared his expertise as an appraiser on Antiques Roadshow from 2004-2007. 7 CAROL ELKINS, a gemologist, has served as Sotheby’s senior vice president for jewelry for 23 years, specializing in antique and period jewels. She also serves as the current president of the American Society of Jewelry Historians.

8 RAHUL KADAKIA was appointed head of the jewelry department for Christie’s Americas in 2004. He is an internationally recognized jewelry auctioneer and holds the hammer for major sales in Geneva, Hong Kong, London, and New York. 9 STEPHANIE KENYON is president of Sloans & Kenyon Auctioneers and Appraisers. A native Washingtonian, she has over 30 years of experience as an auctioneer and appraiser of fine art, antiques, and jewelry. 10 LAURENCE LEAMER is the author of 13 books, including The Kennedy Women and Fantastic: The Life of Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was on the staff of Newsweek and has written for the New York Times, Playboy, and other publications. He reflects in this issue about the subject of his most recent book, Madness Under

the Royal Palms: Money and Death Behind the Gates of Palm Beach. 11 ANTON PAPICH, part of the awardwinning duo Anton+Prehn, has a passion for creating sensuous images that envelop viewers’ senses. He captured the latest winter fashions for our “Man of the Hour” photo shoot. NP JEFFREY POST has been curator of the National Gem and Mineral Collection since 1991. He has a Ph.D. degree in Geochemistry. A published author of numerous scientific articles, he also wrote the book The National Gem Collection, published by the Smithsonian. 12 LANA ORLOFF heads a style consulting company, “Lana Orloff Style.”With many years of experience and a love for shopping and fashion, she offers style and image management, closet and wardrobe organization, and special event styling and makeovers. She styles this month’s fashion shoot. NP Born in Holguin, Cuba, the foundation for JOAQUIN RIVAS’ education lies in architecture, photography, and art. With a passion for world travel and creativity, he is quickly becoming a force in the photography and art world, having an already established career as a commercial photographer. 13 ANIKO GAAL SCHOTT is an artist and interior decorator focusing on embassy properties. She has designed interiors for the Washington ambassadorial residences of Monaco, Turkey, Morocco, Italy, Greece and the Netherlands as well as U.S. embassy residences in Copenhagen and Budapest. She is a former vice president of fashion and public relations for Garfinckel’s. 14 KIM STEELE is a Washington-area makeup artist and stylist and is currently represented by T.H.E. Artist Agency. Steele’s signature style is to make her clients recognizable, but red carpet worthy at the same time. She contributes to this month’s fashion shoot. NP MARTIN IRVINE is the owner and Director of Irvine Contemporary, a professor at Georgetown University, and Founding Director of Georgetown’s graduate program in Communication, Culture & Technology.

Corrections for the Holiday 2008 issue: Page 20: the Madeira Islands are located off the North African coast. Page 38: the photographer for the Sibley Hospital Hope and Progress Gala was Tony Powell.

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FYIDC The Insiderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide to Washington | Insiderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide, and Social Calendar

WL: You helped create the art campaign â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be the Revolution,â&#x20AC;? a series of anti-war posters. Was politically-charged art always a part of the plan? SF: In 1989, I was working at a skate shop making four dollars an hour when I made the Andre the Giant sticker. Now, people see the Obama pieces and think it was an overnight success. The Obama poster was the logical progression of how Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing things over the past 20 years. WL: Your current work has shown the importance of art as a vehicle for political advocacy. Was that your objective? SF: During Denver, we did a show to demonstrate how itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just the power players that make a difference, every personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts help. Art has the ability to capture the imagination, to get people out of the monotony of their routine and think not only of how things are, but of how they could be. WL: President Obama wrote that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whether seen in an art gallery or on a stop sign, your art has the ability to encourage Americans to think they can change the status-quo.â&#x20AC;? Was this the type of reaction you were expecting? SF: I had modest ambitions when approaching this piece and it certainly went further than I expected. But when anything tips to the mainstream, there is always backlash. People said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;You were a rebel, but now you want to get in with the big wigs.â&#x20AC;? Luckily, there are a lot of people who see Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s run for presidency as an opportunity to put an idealist in the White House. PHOTO BY JILL G REEN BER G

ARTIST OF THE PEOPLE WL CATCHES UP WITH SHEPARD FAIREY THE GROUNDBREAKER BEHIND THE ICONIC IMAGE OF BARACK OBAMA

WL: You were recently picked as one of GQâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s men of the year along with Barack Obama. How does it feel to share the podium with our new president? SF: This has been an amazing year. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to do what I can to produce art that is meaningful to me. I have nothing to prove, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been arrested 20 times. I feel sincere and positive about my work. What next? Educate my audience about my history. There should be activism in art; the idea of getting off your ass and doing something that can make a difference.

FYIDC | THE INSIDER’S GUIDE

February Finds IN

OUT

Hugh Jackman hosting the Oscars (Feb. 22)

Russell Brandt hosting the VMAs

Candy hearts

Candy canes

Mardi Gras festivities (Feb. 24)

Inauguration festivities

International Pancake Day (Feb. 24)

Waffle House

Secret admirers

Secret Service

Hello Cupcake

Donuts for the office

Alexis Bittar’s assorted stacked bangled in mixed colors and sizes from his Spring 2009 collection.

Hot Tickets

(1351 Connecticut Ave. NW)

Rising Star Famed jewelry designer ALEXIS BITTAR will swing down to Washington for an evening fit for jewelry and art lovers alike. Bittar, winner of the Accessories Council’s “Rising Star” award, started his career running a jewelry stand in SoHo, rose through the design ranks, and now features his work in luxury stores throughout the world as well as on fashionable TV shows like Sex and the City. He’ll speak at the Corcoran on his successful career, as well as his design philosophies. February 11, members: $20, public $30, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th St. NW, 202-639-1700, www.corcoran.org.

Morandi Masterpieces For anyone who enjoys art, this is a must-see exhibit opening this month. For the first time in 50 years, acclaimed artist Giorgio Morandi’s work will be displayed in Washington. The PHILLIPS COLLECTION’s exhibit, “Morandi: Master of Modern Still Life,” features over 50 examples of his work, dating from 1913-1960, and brings a fresh, intimate look to his compositions, which include landscapes and a rare selfportrait. February 21-May 24, The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW, 202-387-2151, www.phillipscollection.org.

DC-OLOGY By the Numbers 3,106.75 Carat weight of the world’s largest diamond, the Cullinan, before it was cut.

1,000 Estimated tons of gold used by the jewelry industry each year.

$24.3 Million dollars spent on the world’s most expensive diamond, the Blue Wittelsbach, in December 2008.

The Presidential Box at Ford’s Theatre. (Photo by Carol M. Highsmith)

Lincoln’s Legacy For those looking for a glimpse into the life and legacy of President Abraham Lincoln, head to the historic FORD’S THEATRE, which opens it doors this month after an 18-month renovation. The weeklong celebration includes a Grand Reopening Celebration (Feb. 11) where George Lucas will receive the Lincoln Medal, Lincoln Bicentennial Commemoration (Feb. 12), the series launch of “Living Lincoln” (Feb. 16), and timed tours of the theater (beginning Feb. 17). Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW, 202-347-4833, www.fordstheatre.org.

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FYIDC | THE INSIDER’S GUIDE

Editor’s Pick

One of the Divine Performing Arts’ dancers in full costume. (Photo courtesty of Divine Performing Arts)

GET CULTURED A fusion of Chinese music, dance, and culture will arrive at the Kennedy Center this month with the limited-run of DIVINE PERFORMING ARTS’ elaborate stage show. The dazzling costumes, detailed sets, and complicated choreography are sure to bring the sights and sounds of China alive with 60 performers and 50 musicians on hand for the festivities. February 11-15, $35-$108, The Kennedy Center Opera House, 202-467-4600, www.kennedy-center.org.

Quotable “Guard well your spare moments.They are like uncut diamonds. Discard them and their value will never be known. Improve them and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Try a sweet sampling from Design Cuisine for your someone special.

Fashionable Finds FEBRUARY 6 & 7 SAKS JANDEL Head to an exclusive Peggy Jennings trunk show. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., 5510 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., 301-652-2250. FEBRUARY 10 SYLENE Shop for a Valentine’s outfit with 10 percent of sales going to Wizards Care. 6–8 p.m., 4407 South Park Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., 301-654-4200. Get out of the dreary cold and enjoy the scenic landscape of Bermuda this Valentine’s Day weekend.

Quick Trip International Love Festival Want to sweep your someone special off his or her feet for Valentine’s Day weekend? Forget the flowers and chocolate and jump on a short flight to Bermuda for the International Love Festival (Feb. 13-16).The annual amore weekend, hosted by the FAIRMONT SOUTHAMPTON RESORT, features a golf tournament, fashion show, and a private performance by the Grammy award-winning group Earth, Wind, and Fire. For more information, go to www. bermudalovefestival.com.

FEBRUARY 12 URBAN CHIC Enjoy in-store champagne and treats at this trendy spot’s Valentine’s Day party. 5–7 p.m., 1626 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-338-5398. FEBRUARY 13-15 WINK Check out the Linea Pella trunk show. Feb. 13 & 14: 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Feb. 15: 12–6 p.m., 3109 M St. NW, 202-338-9465. FEBRUARY 21 SAKS FIFTH AVENUE Join in the fun as the Tysons store launches its new men’s accessory department. 2–5 p.m., 2051 International Drive, McLean, Va., 703-761-0700.

Foodies Only Will You Be My Valentine? • Before heading off on an amorous jaunt, stop by the 10th annual WASHINGTON D C INTERNATIONAL FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL. February 14-15, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, www. dcwinefestival.com • Hosting your ownValentine’s Day soirée? Try DESIGN CUISINE’s new menu of sweet treats.The winter fruit tasting includes sickle pears, lady apples, orange crème brûlée, and more. Design Cuisine, 2659 S. Shirlington Rd., Arlington, Va., 703-979-9400, www. designcuisine.com. Sound Bites • Brasserie Becks’ chef Robert Wiedmaier opens his latest restaurant, BRABO, this month in the new Lorein Hotel & Spa, featuring a fusion of Belgian and American cuisine. Coming soon: the BRABO Tasting Room and The Butcher’s Block. BRABO, 1600 King St., Alexandria, Va., 703-8943434, www.lorienhotelandspa.com.

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

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The Palm Beach Show Group — producer of the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show and the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show — is pleased to announce the inaugural…

D.C. Spring Antiques Show Fine Art, Jewelry & Antiques

March 6 – 9, 2009 A P R E S T I G I O U S E V E N T W I T H O V E R 3 0 0 I N T E R N AT I O N A L E X H I B I T O R S

All in one place — all at one time!

Elise Abrams Ophir Gallery

Stephen M. Foster Fine Arts Primavera Gallery

Walter E. Washington Convention Center 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW, Washington, D.C.

www.dcspringshow.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.

February TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER

Help celebrate the company’s milestone with an outstanding performance in the Opera House, followed by dinner and dancing on the Roof Terrace. Proceeds support Ailey’s Washington, D.C., outreach programs and

scholarships for students in the local area. The Kennedy Center; 7 p.m.; $350; tables $15,000; black-tie; contact Ariel Metzger, 202-636-8745, ariel@campbellpeachey.com.

SAVE THE DATE UPCOMING WL-SPONSORED EVENTS MARCH CAPITOL MOVEMENT PROJECT BENEFIT AND AFTER-PARTY

WASHINGTON PRESS CLUB FOUNDATION DINNER

Join media power players at the 65th annual dinner for the foundation, where funds raised help support journalism scholarships, internships, and educational projects. Ritz-Carlton Washington; 6:30 p.m., reception; 8 p.m., dinner; $175; tables $2,100; black-tie optional; contact Suzanne Pierron, 202393-0613, wpcf@wpcf.org.

THE WASHINGTON BALLET’S JETÉ SOCIETY DANCE PARTY

This outrageous dance party is sure to bring out the inner dancer in every guest. The annual fundraising event draws the young supporters of the SPONSORED Washington Ballet where guests get to throw on their own dancing shoes. Embassy of the Russian Federation; 9 p.m.; tickets starting at $85; contact twbevents@washingtonballet.org.

MARCH PINK TIE PARTY MARCH MARCH OF DIMES GOURMET GALA APRIL CHILDREN’S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER BALL

SO OTHERS MIGHT EAT JR GALA

Listed as one of Washington Life magazine’s “Best Parties of 2007,” the gala allows young professionals to support SOME’s efforts to help the homeless within the inspiring setting of the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Cocktails, desserts, and dancing to live entertainment will keep everyone on their feet for a great cause. Corcoran Gallery of Art; 8 p.m. to midnight; $85; cocktail attire; contact Susan O’Neill & Associates, 301-229-1314. ST JUDE GOURMET GALA MARDI GRAS FOR THE KIDS!

WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA MIDWINTER GALA

Known for its lavish parties, WNO’s Women’s Committee presents an evening in Greece with “Thessaloniki: Jewel of the SPONSORED Ages,” with dinner and dancing to benefit the company’s Center for Education and Training. The Mellon Auditorium; 6:30 p.m.; $500; black-tie or national dress; contact 202-295-2449.

St. Jude’s Hospital brings beads and Bourbon Street to Washington at this year’s annual gala with over 40 of the area’s top restaurants offering tastings SPONSORED of their specialty dishes. Silent and live auctions and raffle will be featured at this festive event benefiting St. Jude’s various programs. National Building Museum; 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.; $350 or $3,500 per table; business attire; contact Jeanie Torchio, 703-351-5171, jeanie. torchio@stjude.org.

TRACY’S KIDS BENEFIT

Guests walk the red carpet, mingle with movie buffs, and view one of six films that were nominated during Hollywood’s award season. The event benefits Tracy’s Kids’ pediatric art therapy program at Georgetown University Hospital’s Lombardi Cancer Center. Lucky Strike Restaurant, Regal Theatre Gallery Place; 6 p.m. reception, 6:30 p.m., buffet dinner, 7:30 p.m. screening; $250; sponsorships range from $5,000 to $25,000; Susan O’Neill & Associates, 301-320-0124 .

march THE YOUNG AND THE GUEST LIST

Join the cream of the under-40 crop for an exclusive night in celebration SPONSORED of WL’s 2009 Young and the Guest List. Are you on it? By invitation only.

Caroline Boutté and Kim Nettles at the 2008 Midwinter Opera Ball. (Photo by Kyle Samperton)

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TheChangeMakerSeries Change is constant, and the clock is ticking.

Upcoming ChangeMaker Conferences

America and the World face some of the most important challenges in history. If we don't rise to meet them with wisdom, decisiveness and clarity, we may be lost.

February 2009: Inauguration and Next Steps

So we've assembled some of America's Best and Brightest to discuss with you what we can, and should do, to meet some of the most important issues facing Humankind. Equity International is thrilled to launch a series of conferences designed to inspire thought and action about the important topic of change; how to plan for it, implement it, and what you can do. Join us. Your future is at stake. To register and participate, please visit us at

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Concept, Copy and Design by Tim Kenney Marketing

March 2009: The New Wave and PoliticalChange April 2009: Clean Energy and a Clean Economy May 2009: Revitalizing America and World Security June 2009: Philanthropy and Change

POLLYWOOD The Nexus of Politicsďš? Celebrityďš? Society and Media | First Lady Fashion and Inauguration Spectacular

Michelle Obama, wearing an Isabel Toledo lemongrass day coat and dress, waves to the enthusiastic crowd gathered on the Inaugural Parade route. (Photo by: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images)

POLLYWOOD | SPECIAL INAUGURATION FEATURE

THE TRIUMPH OF SUBSTANCE AND STYLE

THE CHANGING FASHION OF OUR FIRST LADIES Karin Tanabe explores Michelle Obama’s modern style and the fashionable women who came before her

ichelle Obama brings a refreshingly more sophisticated as her White House leading political ladies to be elegant without being modern style to Washington. Loyal, as years passed by. She starting out by wearing over-indulgent. During the recent presidential Pat Nixon was, to American designers, Dallas-based designers like Michael Faircloth; campaign, Cindy McCain was denounced for Mrs. Obama has helped lesser known names by her husband’s second inauguration, she wearing $280,000 diamond earrings on the campaign trail. Hillary Clinton endured like Jason Wu, who designed her similar disapproval as first lady when her inauguration gown, and Chicago-based Ann Hand faux diamond earrings were Maria Pinto, make headlines.When her mistaken for the real thing. daughters wore J. Crew coats, and she Before the era of relentless media J.Crew gloves, during her husband’s scrutiny, first ladies frequently indulged swearing in ceremony, the company’s in fashion finery. Ida Saxton McKinley shares went up 10 percent the amassed a sizable jewelry collection following day. At the inaugural balls, and kept uncut gems around the Mrs. Obama dressed with appropriate White House for children to play glamour, wearing 61-carat white gold with. Florence Harding — influenced and triple rose cut diamond earrings by her close friend Evalyn McLean, by Los Angeles-based jewelry designer the last private owner of the Hope Loree Rodkin. The jewelry was Diamond — often wore a large on loan to the first lady and will be diamond sunburst for formal occasions. donated to the Smithsonian’s National Jacqueline Kennedy often preferred Museum of American History. her Van Cleef & Arpels diamond and While conjuring images of first emerald engagement ring from John. lady elegance in the White House, F Kennedy over the 40-carat marquise fond memories recall the timeless Lesotho III diamond ring she received grace of Jacqueline Kennedy and from Aristotle Onassis. the Hollywood glamour of Nancy As we look to our first lady to be Reagan. Mrs. Kennedy exuded chic increasingly representative of the face by wearing the fashions of domestic of America, there has been a departure designers, like Oleg Cassini, and from the diamond days of Jacqueline classic French couturiers like Chanel Kennedy and a harkening back to the and Dior. Mrs. Reagan was loyal to sensibility of Mamie Eisenhower and American designer James Galanos, Barbara Bush. The former was famous but also looked across the pond to for her costume jewelry bought at Yves Saint Laurent and Valentino. Woolworth’s and J.C. Penny’s, while Arriving on the heels of one of the Barbara Bush’s signature three strands most frugal first ladies ever, Rosalynn America’s 44th President-Elect and Michelle Obama at the Lincoln of pearls were faux. Carter (who even brought a sewing Memorial Pre-Inauguration Concert. (Photo by Kevin Mazur) During Jacqueline Kennedy’s era, the machine with her to Pennsylvania Avenue), Nancy Reagan dressed with had embraced more sophisticated pieces by burgeoning American fashion industry was still unapologetic glamour. Her wardrobe Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta, overshadowed by European couturiers and the for her husband’s second inauguration was the designer she turned to most often in the first lady dressed accordingly. Today, Michelle Obama is embracing, and advancing, a much administration’s final years . estimated at $46,000. We couldn’t imagine shaking the unadorned different domestic industry, one that is elegant, Much like her predecessor Hillary Rodham Clinton, Laura Bush’s style grew hand of a queen, but in America, we expect our contemporary, and glamorously American.

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POLLYWOOD | SPECIAL INAUGURATION FEATURE

Forest Whitaker at The Black Door Party at Josephine

Yaniv Raz and Heather Graham at Manifest Hope Closing Night Party

Jessica Alba and Rosario Dawson at the Huﬃngton Post Inaugural Ball Nelly performs at the Artists Making an Impact Party at FUR nightclub

Vernon Jordan with Hillary and Bill Clinton at the Cafritz/Jordan Dinner

THE PARTIES FOR

CHANGE T

he Capital topped all records for visiting celebs, politicos, journalists, and tourists during five-days of festivities surrounding President Barack Obama’s inauguration.There were hundreds of VIP events – from committee balls and intimate dinners to concerts, cocktail receptions and art shows.To kick-off the festivities, Washington Life hosted a musical féte at The Fairfax at Embassy Row that was widely attended by the Presidential Transition Team and Inauguration Committee, Members of Congress, Ambassadors, media, sports and entertainment heavy weights, amongst others. That same night, ManifestHope:DC opened in Georgetown, further establishing Washington as a force in the art world. And so it began. For the next week there was something for everyone. Just when you thought there couldn’t be anything left to watch, attend or do, the main event was upon us. While the rest of America watched nearly two million visitors shivering on the National Mall or crowding the official balls, most of the exclusive inauguration events took place behind closed doors. Luckily, we were there to catalogue all the fun, as Washington, and the nation, stepped boldly into the future.

Rachel Stuart-Baker and Paxton Baker at the BET Honors

Yo-Yo Ma and John Kerry at The New Republic/ Silk Road Ensemble Party

Maria Shriver and Jo Cooper at the Artists Making an Impact Party Gabrielle Union

Aaron Axelrod (Los Angeles, CA). Obama, 2009.

Shepard Fairey (Los Angeles, CA). Obama, (Victory between Capital and Washington Monument /ManifestHope stage backdrop), 2009.

WL SPONSORED

MANIFESTHOPE DC CELEBRATES BARACK OBAMA Michael Murphy (Milledgeville, GA). Tension (Obama Portrait in wire), 2009.

Herb Williams (Nashville, TN). Obama portrait (in crayons), 2008. Kate Crosgrove (Washington, DC). Of the People, 2009.

anifestHope:DC was a truly unprecedented opportunity for Washington to join with the entire nation in celebrating the role that art and artists played in the grassroots movement that helped bring Barack Obama to the White House. Irvine Contemporary was thrilled to be invited by Shepard Fairey and the event’s producer, EMG in L.A. to be the art show manager. America has never witnessed a time when the promise of a new president generated such a wave of visual expression, and ManifestHope:DC captured this exciting moment. The exhibition presented over 150 artists from around the country, including 15 from the Washington area, and many of the artists traveled to the capital to be present at the show and help with the installation. Students from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts also exhibited their work, and a portion of the show’s proceeds will go to the Duke Ellington School. The great response showcased Washington as a cultural center as well as a political center. Over 20,000 people visited the show over four days, making ManifestHope:DC one of the city’s most sought-after venues throughout Inauguration week. – Martin Irvine

Eddie (Oakland, CA). Our Moment Our Time, 2009.

Jayson Atienza (New York, NY). We As One, 2009. Tristan Eaton (Brooklyn, NY). Portrait of an Icon, 2009.

POLLYWOOD | SPECIAL INAUGURATION FEATURE

Wolf and Lynne Blitzer with Luca and Maria Chiara Ferrari

Hunter Biden and Pat Lynch

John Podesta and Speaker Nancy Pelosi WL HOSTED

INAUGURATION TRANSITION PARTY A MUSICAL CELEBRATION WITH SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI, JOHN PODESTA AND WARREN HAYNES

The Fairfax at Embassy Row and Jockey Club Lounge PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL KYLE SAMPERTON AND JOSEPH ALLEN

Kerry Kennedy

TRANSITION TOASTS The week of inauguration festivities kicked off with a Washington Life hosted high-octane gathering of power players who were at the heart of the presidential transition and inauguration planning teams. THE SCENE Festivities were co-sponsored by The Atlantic, National Journal, Celebrity Service International, and the Washington Capitals. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Presidential Transition Team Co-Chair John Podesta made remarks before guitar virtuoso Warren Haynes wowed the crowd with two sets, including U2’s “One” in honor of Pelosi and Podesta. ROLL CALL Larry Summers, Don and Megan Beyer, Michael Strautmanis, Christine Varney, Michelle Jolin, Michael Warren, Chris Matthews, Marne Levine, Vince Panvini, Todd Thompson, and Sen. Mark Warner, amongst other Members of Congress and Ambassadors.

Katherine and Rep. Chris Van Hollen with Gary Genzler

More photos and video at www.washingtonlife.com

Katherine and David Bradley

Debbie Fine, Justin Smith, and Elizabeth Baker Keﬀer Ari Schoenholtz, Cat Fish, and Elliot Gillerman

Amy Nathan and Howard Fineman

Raul and Jean Marie Fernandez, Chris Tavlarides, and Ted and Lynn Leonsis

Bruce Kieloch and Jonathan Adelstein

Peter Cowhey, Howard Gutman, Michelle Loewinger, and Tim Broas

Larry Summers

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Stephanie Hsiao and Arman Shehabi

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Rep. Paul Hodes, Cypriot Amb. Andreas and Kareen Kakouris with Peggo Hodes Scott and Susan Wilfong

Maureen Orth

Dina Mackney and Stefani Scamardo

“Americans are overwhelmed by the problems we face, but Obama’s Inauguration reminded us that we are capable of things that never before seemed possible.” – Susan Eisenhower

Warren Haynes plays two fabulous sets Paul Pelosi Jr.

Susan Eisenhower and Bucky Carlson

Japan Amb. Ichiro Fujisaki

Sheila Simkin and Eric Fanning John O’Donell and Michelle McIntyre

Jonathan Capehart and Karen Finney

Kuwaiti Amb. Salem and Rima Al-Sabah Michael Rankin and Bahraini Amb. Houda Nonoo

Arianna Huﬃngton

Amy Weiss, Heather Podesta, and Penny Lee

Suzanne Clark and Dan Glickman Mary McMahon, Kelly McMahon, and Cammie Coleman

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POLLYWOOD | SPECIAL INAUGURATION FEATURE

Herbie Hancock

Jesse Jackson and David Arquette

Ashton Kutcher and

“I think Washington will be the place to be now. From the minute I got off the plane, I felt a buoyancy and a joyfulness; I swear, I wasn’t imagining it. It feels like a new country, and it needs to.” – Sting

Kenneth Cole

Sting

HUFFINGTON POST INAUGURAL BALL The Newseum PHOTOS BY PAUL MORIGI

NEWSWORTHY IN THE NEWSEUM A pre-Inauguration starstudded bash so packed that the 3,000-plus crowd had no choice but to boogie elbow-to-elbow with A-listers like Robert De Niro and The Jonas Brothers while Sheryl Crow, Sting, and will.i.am performed. THE END OF AN ERA Partygoers counted down to midnight, as January 21st was ushered in on stage and screen with Champagne and shouts of joy. More photos and video at www.washingtonlife.com

Diane von Fürstenberg

Josh Groban

will.i.am and Arianna Huﬃngton

Sharon Stone and Judith Light Lisa and Dustin Hoﬀman

The Newseum The Jonas Brothers

Shakira

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Donald Graham

Beth Wilkinson, Mayor Adrian Fenty, David Gregory, and Rima Al-Sabah WL EXCLUSIVE

Adm. Michael Mullen and Amb. Salem Al-Sabah

Gen. James and Diane Jones with Marvin Odum

DIPLOMATIC ELEGANCE Kuwait Embassy Residence PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL AND VICKY POMBO

Kenneth “Babyface” Edmunds and Jermaine Dupri

SUNDAY SCENE Bold-faced names from the political, social,

Ali Wentworth and Irene Danilovich

media and diplomatic elite predominated at the evening reception hosted by Kuwaiti Ambassador Salem Al-Sabah and his wife Rima, including Mayor Adrian Fenty and his wife Michelle, Donald Graham, Ken and Jackie Duberstein and Leo and Grega Daly. Those hoping to see new faces weren’t disappointed when Obama insiders Peter Orszag and Gen. James Jones were sighted. MAGIC MOMENT Society bandleader Peter Duchin accompanying soprano Renée Fleming on the piano in an entirely spontaneous rendition of Someone To Watch Over Me.

Richard Haass, Diana Negroponte, and Ken Duberstein

More photos and video at www.washingtonlife.com

David and Sherrie Westin Peter Orszag and former Treasury Sec. Henry Paulson

George Will

Jackie Duberstein

Denyce Graves and Renée Fleming

Lynda Carter and Harry Sloan Emelia and Pepe Fanjul

Aerin Lauder and Tory Burch

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POLLYWOOD | SPECIAL INAUGURATION FEATURE

Jeﬀrey Ross and Sarah Silverman

Bob Turton and Kate Damon

Jake Szymanski and Mike Farah

Ludacris

Andrea and Rick Schroder with Jo Cooper WL SPONSORED

ARTISTS MAKING AN IMPACT PARTY FUR Nightclub PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL JOSEPH ALLEN NANCY OSTERTAG AND STERLING ELMENDORF

IT’S TRICKY This celeb-ﬁlled tribute to comedy and politics was one of the ho"est parties of the inauguration. Hosted by Nelly, the concert included performances by Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels and Ludacris that rocked the 2,000 a"endees. MAKING AN IMPACT The event was organized by the Impact Film Fund (IFF) co-founders Kimball Stroud, Jody Arlington, and Jamie Shor, who partnered with Funny or Die and “The Great Schlep,” (starring Sarah Silverman). VIP’s included actress Jessica Alba, Cash Warren, Rep. Linda Sanchez, Lisa Edelstein, Tanya Lombard, and Robert Glennon. The night was cosponsored by UPS, Toyota, Group Inc. Kaze Design, Vox, and Beck’s – who provided liquid courage in the VIP area.

Rachel Goslins

Maria Shriver and Anthony Shriver

More photos and video online at www.washingtonlife.com

Nelly Luke Russert

“I’ve been asking everybody if [Washington] is normally like this, and the answer is ‘no.’ It’s like the hope message has reached a point where there’s almost a death of cynicism.” – Ron Howard

Ron Howard

Kristen Olson and David Vennette

Adam Greenberg

Jeﬀrey Wright and Patrice Motsepe Joey Lipton, Sarah Peck, Marc Adelman

Darryl “D.M.C” McDaniels

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William Webster, Buﬀy Cafritz, and Hillary Rodham Clinton

Bernadette Keller, Bill Daley, and Ann Jordan

John Rogers, Victoria Rogers and a friend, and Desiréée Rogers WL EXCLUSIVE

CAFRITZ/JORDAN PARTY The Fairfax at Embassy Row

Richard Holbrooke and Kati Marton

PHOTOS BY JAMES R BRANTLEY

Capricia Marshall and Melanne Verveer

There was more schmoozing than ever at the capital’s longestrunning private Inaugural fête, with hosts Buﬀy and Bill Cafritz and Vernon and Ann Jordan (assisted by Kelly and Robert Day and Phyllis George) upping the glitz ante with Obama insiders Tim Geithner, Valerie Jarre , Larry Summers and Desirée Rogers, among others of note. Even the senators and governors were duly impressed – especially when the entourages of Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bill Clinton de#ly coalesced near the receiving line. MAGIC MOMENT The former prez pontiﬁcating about “the new Democratic paradigm” (or some such) past midnight with Chris Buckley, Vernon Jordan and Bob Woodward. More photos and video at www.washingtonlife.com

Brian Williams, Allison Willams, and Jane Williams

Frank and Denise Saul Natalie Portman

Nicholas Ma, Yo-Yo Ma, Emily Ma, and Jennifer Beals

Chelsea Clinton Joel and Robin Kassimir, Phyllis George, Bill Cafritz, and Bonnie McElveen-Hunter

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Cindy Adams and Vernon Jordan

Valerie Jarrett and Bill Clinton

POLLYWOOD | SPECIAL INAUGURATION FEATURE

Debra Lee and Ken Marks

Steve McKeever, Jacquie Lee, and Hill Harper

Reginald Hudlin, Ben Silverman, and Lee Brenner WL SPONSORED

“This is a fantastic opportunity to be with great people, who, along with the entire nation, are so hopeful and optimistic.” – Vanessa Williams

THE BLACK DOOR PARTY Josephine Lounge PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL

HOB KNOB Hosted by New York financier and long-time Obama friend and supporter Brian Mathis and his wife Tracey Kemble, as well as Nicole Avant, Kevin Liles, Steve and Candace McKeever, and Hill Harper, this event was one of the hardest-to-score inaugural invites. IN THE GOLD ROOM Kerry Washington ge"ing cozy with Gerard Butler as the late-night crowd filed in for Diageo’s premium liquor brands’ nightcaps and a VIP gi# bag that included goodies from Alberto Parada Jewelry, Votivo aromatic candles, Cucina soaps and lotions, Cibu, Bliss, Shiseido, Baby Phat, and Graf Von Faber-Castell. The night benefited Impact Film Fund and was co-produced by Straus/Baker. More photos and video at www.washingtonlife.com

Gelila Assefa and Wolfgang Puck

Angela Bassett Candace McKeever and Les Bond

Hayden Panettiere Rob McKay and Erica Payne

Erika Jones and Kevin Liles

Brian Mathis

Bill Batts, Josh Berger, and Susan Fales-Hill

Actor Forest Whitaker David Sutphen and Mona Sutphen

Vanessa Williams

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Joaquin Phoenix and Unik Keya Khayatian

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Jody Arlington, Jamie Shor, and Kimball Stroud Jessica Alba and Michael Saylor Ben Aﬄeck and Sarah Silverman

William Newman, Sheila Johnson, and Lamell McMorris (photo by Davide De Pas)

“Its amazing how many people are owning being American, and loving our country. Barack has united so many different groups that to see us all come together with such passion is just incredible.” – Jessica Alba

WL HOSTED

POLLYWOOD PRE-BALL DINNER Kafé Leopold and L2, Cady’s Alley - Georgetown PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL AND IRA WEXLER

A-LIST INAUGURATION DINNER Perennial Sports & Entertainment and the Impact Film Fund teamedup with WL for its annual Pollywood dinner bringing celebrities and politicos together a#er the inauguraton of Barack Obama. CO-HOSTS Jessica Alba, Jeﬀrey Wright, Sarah Silverman, & Hill Harper. Others dining on artisanal cuisine and melding Hollywood and Washington power included Bethany Yarrow, John Pemberton, Jo Cooper, Arnie Wellman, Royal Roth, and Eli Pariser. More photos and video at www.washingtonlife.com

Seba Johnson Divya Shroﬀ and Amit Dhawan

Alicia Witt and Jorja Fox

Jill Trimble and Scott Dreyer

Marcy Laviage, Allison Baskes, Marci Rosenberg Nick Lewis and Vince Panvini

Rae Ringel and Amos Hochstein

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Archie Kao

Courtney Ford and Brandon Routh 33

POLLYWOOD | SPECIAL INAUGURATION FEATURE

Heather and Tony Podesta

Rep. Kendrick Meek, James Bell, Shepard Fairey and Rep. Barbara Lee

Mae Podesta

Nancy Brinker and Eric Motley

WL EXCLUSIVE

OBAMA HOPE PORTRAIT UNVEILING National Portrait Gallery PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL

PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAIT Excitement was in the air at the National Portrait Gallery as Shepard Fairey’s iconic HOPE portrait of Obama was oﬃcially made part of the museum’s collection. The work, generously donated by Heather and Tony Podesta in memory of his mother, Mary K. Podesta, was unveiled by the artist himself, National Portrait Gallery Director Martin Sullivan, members of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Podestas. More photos and video at www.washingtonlife.com

Kate Damon, Martin Irvine and Ilyse Hogue

Missi Tessier with Sarah and Bob Nixon

WL SPONSORED

MANIFESTHOPE: DC PRIVATE PREVIEW 3333 M Street, Georgetown PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

DIFFERENT STROKES Opening night for the 122 artists creating

Carlotta and Chris Murray Michael Pollack

for hope brought out Washington’s top artists, collectors, curators, and gallery owners. The temporary exhibition was hosted by el fuego American pop artist Shepard Fairey and his label, Obey, along with moveon.org and SEIU. Tireless work by the curatorial team at Irvine Contemporary Gallery made this one of the most important independent art exhibitions in Washington history. More photos and video at www.washingtonlife.com

Philippa Hughes and Kathryn Cornelius

Yosi Sergant

“This is the ﬁrst election in my lifetime, or maybe ever, where art has been acknowledged as such an important force.” – Shepard Fairey

Malik Adunni and Rakim

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Michael Stipe and Heather Graham

Moby

Amy Harder and Danielle Rappaport WL SPONSORED

MANIFESTHOPE: DC CLOSING NIGHT 3333 M Street, Georgetown

TJ Mohler

PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL

Inside ManifestHope: DC

PAINT THE TOWN A star-studded line-up of musical

Santogold

David Washington

performers from Santogold and De La Soul to Grammy awardwinning DJ Moby proved the perfect complement to the art covered walls of ManifestHope: DC. Stars Heather Graham, Tim Robbins, Adrian Grenier, Michael Stipe, and Rosario Dawson mixed with artist Shepard Fairey and Obama administration oﬃcials David Strautmanis and David Washington as the 1,500 guests soaked in the energy of the moment. The night was sponsored by Obey Giant, moveon.org, SEIU, Irvine Contemporary Gallery, and included an all-important liquid contribution from the National Beer Wholesalers of America.

“We all wanted the people to win in this election and they made a resounding decision. I feel like the people won.” – Rosario Dawson

More photos and video online at www.washingtonlife.com

Anthony and Isabel Lanier with Marisol and Jack Pearlstein

Jorja Fox and Katherine Kendall in front of Katherine’s art work. Michael Cuﬀe and Lyrica Glory

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

Toussaint St. Negritude Martha Diaz and artist One9

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Featured artist Pinky Weitzman

Munch and Sean Babb

Rosario Dawson Ellen Chube and Jimmy Lynn

POLLYWOOD | SPECIAL INAUGURATION FEATURE

Gellyn Attis and Jermell Jenkins

Samuel L. Jackson

Jessye Norman

BET Honoree B. Smith

BET HONORS Warner Theatre PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL

THE SCENE President Obama was the acclaimed hero

Teri Johnson and Nicole McDade

as stars ﬁlled the historic Warner Theater to support the network’s 2009 honorees, who included Mary J. Blige, Magic Johnson, and Tyler Perry, and to enjoy celebratory performances by Ne-Yo, Joss Stone, Stevie Wonder, and Queen Latifah. THE GUESTS BET Chairman and CEO Deborah Lee, Whitney Houston, Gabrielle Union, Angela Basse , P. Diddy, Monica, and Star Jones.

Mayor Adrian Fenty with his wife Michelle

Queen Latifah

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Michel Heitstuman, Brad Dockser, Izette Folger, and Debbie Dockser

MEDIA MATTERS PARTY Hirshhorn Museum PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL

THE SCENE The Hirshhorn Museum opened its doors in celebration of Barack Obama’s inauguration and the role that Media Ma"ers played in monitoring the election coverage. Guests had access to the museum’s permanent collection as they rubbed elbows with the nation’s media elite. THE GUESTS Al Franken, Arianna Huﬃngton, MOMA curator Rajendra Roy, David Bennahum, Sarah Tanguy, Robert Lehrman, Barney Frank, James Alefantis and David Brock. More photos and video at www.washingtonlife.com

Kristen Bolin and Marco Ceglie Lorie Peters and Aimee Lehrman

Patricia Bauman and James Alefantis

David Brock and Representative Barney Frank

Al Franken 36

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Ann Ashemore-Hudson, Jane Cafritz, and Buﬀy Cafritz

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CAFRITZ/NITZE FÊTE Bill Nitze with Rene and Lester Crown

Calvin and Jane Cafritz Residence PHOTOS BY LYNN HORNER KEITH

THE SCENE Bill and Ann Nitze and Calvin and Jane Cafritz’s fête at the

Paula Crown and Ann Nitze John Florescu

Rep. Doris Matsui

la"er couple’s art-filled Georgetown residence proved the refuge of choice for those seeking relief from traffic jams, parking nightmares, and other inaugural horrors. Even be"er, the Champagne flowed, the conversation was impressive, and the French food (especially the piping hot New Orleans beignets) so delicious that no one wanted to leave for their next event, especially if it was an official ball. THE GUESTS Tom and Margot Pritzker, cousin Senators Tom and Mark Udall, Justice Stephen Breyer, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, John and Diana Negroponte, Jim Wolfensohn, and the Ambassadors of Japan, Great Britain, Italy and Singapore. More photos and video at www.washingtonlife.com

Canadian Ambassador Michael Wilson, Margaret Wilson, and Hugh Newell Jacobsen

A CELEBRATION WITH YO-YO MA AND THE SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE

Laura Fried, Yo-Yo Ma, and Sen. John Kerry

Sidney Harman Hall PHOTOS BY MARJORY HARDY SHELDON

SWEET MUSIC An extraordinary night of political thinkers, administration insiders, and one

Rep. Jane and Sydney Harman

world-class virtuoso. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, Rep. Barney Frank and White House Chief of Staﬀ Rahm Emanuel gave the opening remarks with Emanuel tipping his hat to the host at The New Republic, saying the magazine would once again be “required reading in the White House.” Yo-Yo Ma and the eclectic Silk Road ensemble kept the audience’s rapt a"ention prior to a champagne and dessert reception.

Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble

“As the ensemble played the national anthem with Kathy and instruments from so many diverse cultures I got tears in Walter Isaacson my how blessed we are in America.” WA S H I N G T O N L I F E | F E B R U A R Yeyes over | washingtonlife.com – Walter Isaacson

Elizabeth and Almus Thorp with Silk Road musican Cristina Pato

Marty Peretz

POLLYWOOD | SPECIAL INAUGURATION FEATURE

INAUGURATION ROUNDUP WL EXCLUSIVE

DON & KATRINA PEEBLES’ PARTY

AFRICA ASPIRE BALL

KATRINA PEEBLES chatted with MC HAMMER, MARIAH CAREY, and NICK CANNON at her inauguration celebration. / STAR JONES with host DON PEEBLES / Singer ASHANTI. (Photos by JB Yong)

OZWALD BOATENG and singer AKON were among the guests at this African-themed event, which included traditional African dancers and cuisine. (Photos by David DePas)

THE GREEN BALL NEIL BARRETT, JULIAN COHEN, BOB COHEN, BOB COHEN, KIM COHEN, DIANA COHEN, and JACKSON BROWNE getting their green on before heading to ManifestHope DC Gallery for a late-night impromptu performance. (Photos by Kate Damon)

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EQUITY INTERNATIONAL CHANGE MAKER SERIES The Change Maker Series was a four-day leadership event held at the Willard InterContinental Washington that included a televised inauguration parade viewing, gala and full-day conference. WILLIAM LOIRY with MICHELLE SEWELL and her guests. / MICHAEL LIND of the New America Foundation / AUDREY JAMES. (Photos by Clay Blackmore and Kyle Samperton)

FRANCO’S FÊTE & LYRICS AND LIBATIONS AT MILANO Café Milano launched the inauguration with 600-plus-guests and affable host Franco Nuschese sparing no expense for seven fabulous hours on the Friday before the swearing-in. Clockwise from top left: Mayor ADRIAN FENTY and FRANCO NUSCHESE / IVONNE A-BAKI, BO DEREK, and LUIS MORENO; DONALD BURKE and ADAM FRANKEL (right) joined inauguration festivities at Café Milano’s “Lyrics and Libations” event. STEPHANIE BAUCUS and date. (Photos by Joseph Allen)

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The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Pin For his second inauguration, President Abraham Lincoln wore a wool overcoat that was specially designed for him. The coat had a one-of-a-kind hand stitched design of an eagle on the inner lining with the inscription: “One Country, One Destiny.” It was the very same coat that Lincoln was wearing on the evening of April 14th, 1865 when he was assassinated during a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theatre. Commissioned in honor of the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth on February 12th, 2009, The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Pin is inspired by the design from Lincoln’s coat. A bald eagle clutches a ribbon inscribed with the phrase that Lincoln carried with him as a reminder of his patriotic vision. The original coat is part of the Ford’s Theatre Museum collection. The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Pin is available exclusively through Ann Hand and Ford’s Theatre. A portion of the proceeds from the sale benefits the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign for historic Ford’s Theatre.

Ann Hand The Palisades: 202.333.2979

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Georgetown: 202.333.1529

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W H ER E DIST I NGUISH ED M EETS DEL ICIOUS.

Now more than ever The Willard Room at the Willard InterContinental ÂŽ is the place to dine in Washington. Enjoy tableside service of exquisite French-inspired cuisine in an intimate setting with an extensive selection of wines from our wine cellar. For breakfast, Sunday brunch, lunch and dinner, The Willard Room will provide an exceptional meal and unforgettable memories.

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CAPITAL

jewels

Thanks to major gifts from generous local residents, the Smithsonian Institutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collection of historically important jewelry is one of the finest in the world BY JEFFERY E. POST â&#x20AC;˘ PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEN DEPAS

ifty years ago famed jeweler Harry Winston presented the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution and the nation with the intention that it would be the cornerstone of a great National Gem Collection. The addition triggered a series of major gifts from generous individuals that have built the collection into the largest and finest of its kind in the world. It was appropriate that the diamond should return to the city that was such a part of its more recent history. After all, Evalyn Walsh McLean, queen of the Washington social scene in the â&#x20AC;&#x2122;20s and â&#x20AC;&#x2122;30s, and owner of the Hope Diamond from 1912 to 1947, added greatly to its fame and legend. But there are many other Washingtonians who played critical roles in helping to build the National Gem Collection, perhaps most prominently Marjorie Merriweather Post and her daughters, who donated several iconic pieces such as the Napoleon Diadem and Necklace, Blue Heart Diamond, and Marie Antoinette earrings. Others include the unflappable Polly Logan, Mr. and Mrs. O. Roy Chalk, Libbie Moody Thompson, Mrs. Milton Turner, C. Thomas Clagett, Mrs. H.V. Rubin and Frances Miller Seay.

Local philanthropist Pia-Maria Norris wears historic jewelry bestowed by Washington area donors to the National Gem and Mineral Collection at the Smithsonianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Museum of Natural History. The storied 45.52-carat Hope Diamond rotates behind her, exhibited in its own display room in the National Gem Collection. (Pamella Roland dark green evening gown, $2,795; Saks Jandel, 5514 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., 301-652-2250)

SPECIAL JEWELRY FEATURE | SMITHSONIAN GEMS

THE LOGAN SAPPHIRE This magnificent 423-carat gem, mined in Sri Lanka and one of the world’s largest faceted blue sapphires (it is approximately the size of an egg), is the heaviest mounted stone in the Smithsonian’s collection. It was donated in 1960 by Polly Logan, a noted Washington hostess who had received it from her first spouse, Col. M. Robert Guggenheim, a mining and smelting fortune heir, ambassador to Portugal and notorious philanderer. Once asked by a friend how she could ever part with such a fabulous jewel, Mrs. Logan replied, “Every time I looked at it, all I could think of was my no good, cheating husband.” Pia Maria Norris poses near the Marie-Louise Diadem and Napoleon Diamond Necklace wearing an early 19th-century French diamond and silver tiara purchased in 1970 by Mrs. Post and donated by her that year along with a pair of matching brooches. It features a flowersand-leaf design pavé set with larger rose- and brilliantcut diamonds. The motifs are set en tremblant (spring mounted) so they capture reflected light.

THE CHALK EMERALD The superb clarity and deep green color of this 37.8-carat stone ranks it among the very finest Colombian emeralds. According to legend, it was once the centerpiece of a necklace belonging to a maharani of Baroda in India. It was re-cut by Harry Winston and set in a ring surrounded by 60 pear-shaped diamonds (totaling 15 carats) then purchased by O. Roy Calk, an entrepreneur whose holdings included the Washington bus and trolley systems. His wife Claire was fond of telling how she once endeavored to conceal the ring in the receiving line for a White House state dinner honoring Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. It was bigger than anything Her Majesty was wearing that night, Mrs. Chalk told friends, and she didn’t wish to embarrass her. The Chalks gave the ring to the Smithsonian in 1972. MARJORIE MERRIWEATHER POST’S WONDERFUL GIFTS The fabulously rich Post Toasties heiress lived like a queen and had jewelry to match. In fact, much of her collection was of royal provenance. In 1964, after deciding to donate several of the most historical pieces to the Smithsonian, Mrs. Post showed up in the office of then-Secretary S. Dillon Ripley to personally deliver them. He later told of his profound astonishment when she pulled them out of a brown paper grocery bag. THE MARIE-ANTOINETTE EARRINGS Although we don’t really know what connection these diamonds had to France’s ill-fated queen, tradition has it that the pear-shaped Indian (or Brazilian) stones, weighing 20.34 and 14.25 carats respectively, were among her favorite jewels. Whether or not they disappeared when the royal family tried to flee Paris in 1791, or after the mob sacked the Tuileries in 1792, they ended up in the possession of the Youssoupoff family of Russia, who sold them to jeweler Pierre Cartier in 1928. Mrs. Post purchased them the same year to wear on the occasion of her presentation at the Court of St. James and later presented them to her daughter, Eleanor Close Barzin, who gave them to the Smithsonian in 1964. THE MARIE-LOUISE DIADEM Commissioned in 1810 by Napoleon

Clockwise from top left: The Chalk Emerald, the Logan Sapphire and the Marie-Antoinette Earrings. Photos courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution.)

Bonaparte as a wedding gift to his second wife, Marie Louise, the diadem was originally set with emeralds, which were replaced in the 1950s with Persian turquoise. It was originally part of a parure that included a necklace, comb, earrings and belt buckle. Marie Louise bequeathed the diadem to her Hapsburg aunt, Archduchess Elise, whose descendant, Archduke Karl Stefan, sold it to Van Cleef & Arpels in 1953. Mrs. Post purchased the diadem for the Smithsonian in 1971 but reserved the right to wear it on a number of occasions, including at the Red Cross Ball in Palm Beach.

THE NAPOLEON DIAMOND NECKLACE Napoleon presented this spectacular 263-carat piece containing 28 large old mine diamonds to Empress Marie-Louise after the birth of their son in 1811. At her death it passed to Archduchess Marie-Louise of Austria, who sent it to New York to be sold in 1929. An unscrupulous merchant priced it far below market value and returned only $16,000 to the owner before absconding with the rest of the money. A major scandal ensued after which it was returned to the archduchess. In 1948, another family member, Prince Franz Josef of Liechtenstein, sold it to a French collector who in turn sold it to Harry Winston in 1960. Mrs. Post acquired it from Winston and presented it to the Smithsonian in 1962.

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Above: The spectacular 28.3-carat marquis cut diamond ring by Cartier was donated by Mrs. Post’s daughter, Adelaide Riggs, in 1979. (Pamela Roland red one-shoulder evening gown, $1,980; Saks Jandel, 5514 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., 301-652-2250) Right: This 1920s Cartier Art Deco necklace with 393 natural Persian Gulf pearls was given to the Smithsonian by local donor Mrs. Arthur Wallace Dunn. The gold ear clips with Brazilian heliodores (golden beryl) were given by Helene Rubin, also of Washington, D.C.

THE BLUE HEART DIAMOND If the Smithsonian didn’t have the Hope, a diamond called the Blue Heart would be the star of the collection. The world’s third largest and finest dark-blue diamond weighs 30.62 carats, about two-thirds the size of the Hope Diamond. The stone is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the “Eugenie Blue” after Empress Eugenie of France, the empress consort of Napoleon III, but she could never have owned this diamond because it was discovered only in

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

1908. About a year later, the 102-carat stone was cut and eventually sold to an Argentinean family by the name of Unzue. It stayed in their possession until the 1950s when it was acquired by Van Cleef & Arpels and sold to a German baron. In 1959, the Blue Heart was set into a ring by Harry Winston, who sold it to Mrs. Post. She gave it to the Smithsonian in 1964.

ring worn by Mexico’s ill-fated Emperor Maximilian, the Austrian archduke whose misguided attempt to rule Mexico ended in his assassination in 1864. The emerald’s present setting by Cartier is enhanced by six baguette diamonds. Donated by Mrs. Post in 1964.

THE MAXIMILIAN EMERALD This 21-carat emerald was once set in a

Jeffrey E. Post is curator of the National Gem Collection housed at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History.

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SPECIAL JEWELRY FEATURE | TIFFANY

TIFFANYstyle PALOMA PICASSO’S SIGNATURE PIECES TAKE PRIDE OF PLACE AMONG YEARS OF THE FAMED JEWELER’S REMARKABLE CREATIONS BY JOHN LORING

iffany & Co.’s foundations – from its humble, mid-19th-century debut in the world of jewels to its pre-eminent position in that world today – have always been quality of design, materials, and craftsmanship. The greatest of these is of, course, design, and Tiffany & Co. remains forever grateful to the dazzling talents of its leading designers, who shaped its history as they validated the firm’s governing principle, of which it is justly proud: “Good Design Is Good Business.” In October 1980, to answer fashion’s rekindled passion for color and opulence, Tiffany’s introduced the generously scaled and brightly colored jewels of Paloma Picasso. Paloma Picasso was neither a newcomer to jewelry design nor to the international fashion world nor to the concept of glamour. As a teenager in the late 1960s, she collected ethnic jewelry (principally of Hindu and Islamic origin) or glass jewelry from her much-loved Below: A Paloma Picasso Brooch with a pink tourmaline, aquamarine, spessartite, yellow beryl, and tanzanite, centered by a large cultured South Seas pearl. Right: Paloma Picasso wears her bold fifth anniversary necklace (aquamarine, tanzanite, tourmaline, peridot, amethyst and topaz). The matching green tourmaline earrings also feature her signature diamond X’s.

and much-frequented Venice. A friend who co-owned the Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche store in Venice added Saint Laurent clothes from the stockroom to her wardrobe. By the age of 19 she had met Yves Saint Laurent and his business partner Pierre Bergé, and the following year, 1970, she began designing her first fashion jewelry for them. Ten years later, after formal schooling in jewelry design, she was invited to join Tiffany & Co. by the company’s new design director, John Loring, the same friend who 14 years earlier had run the Saint Laurent boutique in Venice. Rigorously avoiding anything in design that hinted of fine-art references, which would inevitably risk unfair comparisons with her father, Paloma Picasso nonetheless encouraged the boldness associated with his Spanish background in her designs, which were aggressively chic and strikingly elegant. Uncompromisingly stylized and highfashion oriented, Picasso jewelry, while maintaining the Tiffany aesthetic of simple pared down, tailored forms and unornamented surfaces, went in a different direction from the sensual, organic, and subtly perfected simplicity of Elsa Perreti’s volumetric forms. Paloma Picasso’s signature was seen in basic human markings rather than symbols – in X’s, scribbles, zigzags, and graffiti, all boldly sculpted in gold with flat, mirror-polished surface planes. This played off her lifelong taste for bright assertive colors, ample forms, and highly polished reflective surfaces that was

Paloma Picasso designed this twelve-strand boxchain gold necklace with a 284-carat peridot pendant in 1981.

manifest in massive gold jewels punctuated by lavishly scaled colored gemstones: bright pink tourmalines, still brighter orange fire opals, chrome-green tourmalines, acid-blue zircons, or clear, sky-blue aquamarines.The success of such colorful brashness would have delighted Louis Comfort Tiffany. Washington Post reporter Nina Hyde, wrote about Paloma Picasso under the heading “Defining a Fashion Boom” in 1988, eight years after her Tiffany debut, when she had become a world-famous jewelry designer: “Picasso believes that one’s Hispanic background often comes through in fashion design. With the great Balenciaga, for example, ‘there was a certain grandeur. A certain elegance.With Spain it is always a mix of something very extreme and also very retenue … Strict and opulent at the same time.’ For Picasso herself, ‘there is always an element of classicism in everything that I do, mixed with an element of fun.’ It shows in the whoppingly popular squiggles and crosses in the jewelry she has designed for Tiffany’s.” With Paloma, the marriage of fashion and jewelry design was always exuberant, dramatic, and incontestably glamorous, and the Paloma Picasso look provided its own fashion leadership throughout the 1980s and 1990s. And even if, as Paloma once commented, “I resist fashion; I don’t like its relentless pace,” her jewels are as much in pace with high fashion as the haute couture she herself wears with them. Excerpted from Tiffany Style, by John Loring, Tiffany & Co.’s design director since 1979.

People who join with a friend are more likely to stick with it.

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SPECIAL JEWELRY FEATURE | AUCTION HOUSE GUIDE

on the

ROCKS Auction experts advise on buying, collecting and investing in high quality jewelry

Signed Buccellati pearl and rose-cut diamond leaf design choker and matching drop earrings from the estate of Gladys Bendetsen auctioned by Sloans & Kenyon for $47,200 on Sept. 17, 2006.

SOTHEBY’S: WORLDWIDE APPEAL

SLOANS: CAPITAL JEWELS

ecent auction results prove that there is a strong and vibrant market worldwide for jewels, but not just any jewels. Asian buyers continue to pursue white diamonds, especially in sizes over 10 carats, as well as those of color. The two top diamonds in Sotheby’s New York December sale both went to Asians: an oval fancy vivid yellow diamond for $2,658,500, and a pear-shaped diamond for $1,224,500. Russians showed less interest in white diamonds in the latter half of 2008 than had been the case in the six months prior, and appear to be more focused on important colored stones as well as the great signed pieces, both period and contemporary. Buyers in the Mid- and Near East continue to seek out natural pearls and fine colored gem stones, but signed and period jewels do not appear as significant. Savvy U.S. collectors are looking at mid-20th century jewels “on trend” with current tastes for fashions from the 1950’s through the 1970’s. David Webb’s signature enameled animal bangles and textured gold jewelry have re-emerged as the “look” for a new generation of collectors, for example, a coral and diamond elephant bangle bracelet by Webb brought $95,500. Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chanel, Oval fancy vivid yellow internally flawless diamond ring, 36.99 carats. Verdura, and Schlumberger pieces are Sold at Sotheby’s in December as popular as ever; and their prices have 2008 for $2.65 million. as much to do with the beauty of the designs as does the “provenance” or the stories connected with them. In any instance, “rarity” is the driving force, whether it pertains to diamonds, colored stones or jewels by famous makers, and buyers around the world are willing to pay a premium for it.

Carol Elkins, senior vice president for jewelry, Sotheby’s

Stephanie A. Kenyon, President, Sloans & Kenyon, Auctioneers and Appraisers

ong before the nation’s capital became the world’s richest metropolitan area (yes, New York, Dallas and L.A., it’s true), wellheeled Washingtonians were known for their magnificent jewelry. Recall that legendary gold-mine heiress Evalyn Walsh McLean draped her neck, and occasionally that of her Great Dane, with the Hope Diamond! All through the Edwardian era and fabulous flapper fêtes of the 1920’s, and then the “Days of Camelot” and lavish entertaining of the Reagan era, stunning jewelry was – and remains – de rigueur at embassy soirées, inaugural balls and black-tie charity galas. A stunning array of jewelry is available right here in Washington, some of which comes with bragging rights and even a touch of scandal. Jewelry from the estates of local luminaries has been auctioned over the years, including pieces once worn by Gladys Bendetsen (named one of Washington’s most attractive women in 1951), Baroness Constantine (“Garnett”) Stackelberg, Countess Adelaide d’Eudeville, and even Barbara Bullock (who embezzled teachers’ union funds to outfit herself in style). Local residents have always favored beautiful baubles, especially at beautifully affordable prices. Bling from the finest makers, including Buccellati, Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and Van Cleef & Arpels, stars on the primary as well as secondary markets, supported by choice necklaces, bracelets, ear clips and rings by designers of only slightly less renown. Estate jewelry from the Victorian and Art Deco eras through the 1970’s is bountiful and obtainable at Washington auctions. A $5,000 bidding budget can secure a necklace resplendent with 88 diamonds, a pair of 19th-century gemstone encrusted platinum clips, or even a gentleman’s gold Cartier “panther head” ring. For $10,000 to $20,000, auction buyers might capture a carved 104-carat cabochon emerald brooch or a diamond floral “tremblant” pin sporting 123 brilliants. It’s possible to build a collection of splendid pieces, each with its own story, right here in Washington – now more than ever a city of fashion and great taste, enhanced by the sparkle of beautiful and sophisticated jewelry.

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CHRISTIE’S: HALLMARKS OF A GREAT COLLECTION

The late Doris Duke wears pieces auctioned at the $12 million Christie’s sale of jewels from her estate in June, 2004.

DOYLE: INVESTING IN GEMS

e have found the auction market for jewelry in New York to be surprisingly resilient, even in times of economic uncertainty. Currently, global buyers are looking to jewelry, especially fine diamonds and signed pieces, as a tangible asset whose value has been proven to stay intact five, ten or 20 years hence. In this respect, jewelry is an antidote to the smoke-and-mirrors game many financial institutions are playing with their clients’ assets. Intelligent buyers are also drawn to jewelry because they can truly understand the source of its value. They have done their research. They want the highest quality pieces by makers that will always reflect luxury: Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co., and so on. When buying important jewelry directly at auction, as many individuals are starting to do, it is important to keep these factors in mind. If you do your homework, jewelry can be a integral part of diversifying your portfolio.

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reat collections run throughout the ages and while they always contain a great gem or two – an important diamond, a beautiful sapphire or ruby or emerald – one usually sees a range of jewels and accessories from the Deco years. Among them might be signed bracelets, necklaces, and ear clips by the likes of Boucheron, Bulgari, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels plus simple, stylish pieces including gold chains, minaudières, lipstick holders, evening bags, and in some cases beautifully gem-set swizzle sticks for champagne flutes. While the 1920s were a great period for jewelry manufacturing, the ’60s and ’70s were also notable for bold creations, especially by jewelers such as Harry Winston, an avid buyer and seller with a clientele that included royal and noble families and other prominent collectors throughout the world. A great jewel, however, does not always need to be associated with a famous maker (although it does add extra pizzazz). Its crafting will always tell you that it was created in a great workshop.

Doyle New York’s successful sale of Important Estate Jewelry on December 10 showed an unusually high percentage of top lots selling to private collectors, where formerly the majority of buyers had been dealers. Even as the art market softens, certain pieces of jewelry are positively influenced by cross-market appeal to the art world. In this sale, we had two pieces of hammered silver jewelry by Alexander Calder. Both far exceeded the high range of their estimates, reflecting the overall strength of the jewelry market and the resurgence of interest in this area of the artist’s work.

History and provenance are also important, a fact proven by the high prices achieved at auction for famous collections over the years. If you peruse past catalogues displaying photos of jewels once owned by Florence Gould,Vera Hue-Williams, Princess Salimah Aga Khan, Doris Duke, Princess Margaret, Ellen Barkin, and only recently Christina Onassis, one can’t help feeling transported by their taste and style and the interesting lives they led. Such personal connections impact prices tremendously. For example, consider a single strand natural pearl necklace that sold at Christie’s Geneva in 1999. On its own, it might have achieved $200,000-$300,000, but since it had been previously owned by both Queen Marie-Antoinette and Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton, the price skyrocketed to $1.5 million. Just last year in New York the Royal Baroda Pearls achieved a sensational $7.1 million. Naturally the pearls were very rare in their size and quality, but the provenance most definitely made all the difference in the price. Rahul Kadakia, senior vice president and head of jewelry, Christie’s

Alexander Calder hammered silver fringe necklace, 1940. Sold at Doyle on Dec. 12, 2008 for $170,500 from the estate of William B.F. Drew.

Reid Dunavant, vice president/director of Doyle New York’s Washington, D.C. Office

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SPECIAL JEWELRY FEATURE | JORGE ADELER

pearls of the ORIENT Jeweler JORGE ADELER recounts his life-changing experiences in the Far East during a tour to the pearl industry’s epicenter

s a jeweler, it’s important to understand a gem’s origin, culture, and emotion. Only then do I feel I can communicate its secrets and mysteries and create jewelry with purpose. On my 15day trip to Asia, I was able to see first-hand the history and development of the golden pearls of the South Pacific, the Akoya pearls of Japan, and the freshwater and Tahitian black pearls of China.

THE PHILIPPINES When I arrived at Flower Island in Palawan, I could see the endless span of islands, beaches, and sea where some of the world’s most perfect pearls are found. While there, I was given the opportunity to study the golden pearls of the Philippines and South Sea at the Jewelmer International Corporation Pearl Farms. I took over 400 photos of the complex operations required for the cultivation of the ideal golden pearl, which include more than 316 interactions between the oyster and handlers over a five-year period. The process of cultivating a single pearl is exhaustive, and puts in perspective the task required to make a necklace. As many as 22,000 pearls are needed to assemble a perfect strand. JAPAN In the late 1800s, Kokichi Mikimoto discovered the insertion technique of cultivating pearls with farmed oysters that gave rise to the cultured pearl industry. The city of Toba, home to the famous island of Mikimoto, is a tribute to this man, who through enduring dedication, created an important industry. While on Mikimoto Pearl Island, I stood by as women, known locally as Ama, dove for oysters, and I marvelled at the challenge of

producing pearls. While the type of oysters needed for Akoya pearls differs from those for golden pearls, the process of raising oysters and the surgery required to implant the nuclei into the mollusk remains the same throughout the world.

HONG KONG My journey ended at the Hong Kong Jewelry and Watch Fair, where I met Robert Wang, the “godfather” of the Tahitian black pearl. No one in the world of French Polynesian pearls has more influence or power and only a small group of elite wholesale jewelers are invited to his world-famous auctions. With the help of the Gemological Institute of America, I was granted the privilege of attending one.

I experienced a maelstrom of emotion as I presented my sealed bids. To my absolute delight, I won 60 percent of my offers. As a sign of gratitude for the opportunity, I told Wang I would design a necklace in his name for charity. Along with his thanks, he gave me the honor of selecting the U.S.-based charity of my choice to receive the donation. The museum of the Gemological Institute of America, the organization that helped me get in touch with Wang, accepted the gift. All pearl connoisseurs will agree with me that of the many gifts that God gives us, the pearl falls very close to perfection. Jorge Adeler is the owner and master jewelry designer of Adeler Jewelers in Great Falls, Va.

Adeler examining pearls while in the Philippines.

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SPECIAL JEWELRY FEATURE | WHAT’S HOT

CHAS. SCHWARTZ “Heart on Fire” engagement ring ($2,500-$100,000); Chas.Schwartz & Son, Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-363-5432, www.chasschwartzjewelers.com.

MARCO BICEGO earrings in 18k gold with a wire finish featuring tourmaline, citrine, garnet, and topaz ($2,795); Liljenquist & Beckstead Jewelry Boutique, 1780M Tysons Galleria, McLean,Va., 703-7491200, www.LandBjewelry.com.

FIRE ice AND

BAILEY BANKS & BIDDLE “Ice Flowers” diamond collection fancy drop pendant ($1,900); Bailey Banks & Biddle, 7977 Tysons Corner Center, McLean, Va., 703-883-1400, www. baileybanksandbiddle.com.

These exquisite jewels are sure to warm the heart this winter

TIFFANY & CO. round petals key with diamonds in platinum ($6,5000) and platinum pendant chain ($650); Tiffany & Co., 5481 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., 301-657-8777 and 8045 Leesburg Pike,Vienna,Va., 703-893-7700, www.tiffany.com.

CARTIER Inde Mysterieuse lotus ring in 18k white gold and diamonds ($1,550); Cartier, 5471 B Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., 301-654-5858, www.cartier.com.

DEBEERS sweetheart stud earrings ($1,650); DeBeers,Tysons Corner, 1763M International Drive #2202, McLean,Va., 703821-1422, www.debeers.com.

ADELER custom designed 14k yellow gold and natural amethyst earrings ($4,900); Adeler Jewelers, 772-E Walker Rd., Great Falls,Va., 703-7594076, www.adelerjewelers.com.

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Wilton House earrings in white and pink gold set with round and pink diamonds (price upon request); Van Cleef & Arpels, 5454 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., 301654-5449, www.vancleef-arpels.com.

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

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SPECIAL JEWELRY FEATURE | CARTIER NATIONAL CHILDREN’S MUSEUM DINNER

The Guests Glen Ackerman Alan and Anastasia Bagliore Lindsay Burkhardt Bruce and Sharon Bradley Conrad and Ludmilla Cafritz Calvin and Jane Cafritz Karim and Jennifer Camel-Toueg Margaret Curran Ron and Beth Dozoretz Steven and Deborah Epstein Ricardo and Isabel Ernst Demir and Amra Fazlic Hossein and Dalia Fateh Nat Fogg Yoshie Frankenberger Burton and Yardley Gray Tim and Jocelyn Greenan Andy and Mae Grennan Mary Haft Bob and Paula Hisaoka Fariba Jahanbani Darcy Jones Evan Jones Robert and Aimee Lehrman Mirella and Dani Levinas Marne Levine Ray and Shaista Mahmoud Rachel Pearson Dave and Kirsten Pollin Stephen Richard Jennifer Risdon Ernesto Santalla Dick and Katie Snowdon Sarvin Tarifi Kathy Southern David and Sarah Steinberg

DINNER WITH

Diamonds

Washington Life joins the Abdos and Cartier for an intimate dinner party

ew and old friends gathered at the Washington home of Jim and Mai Abdo to dine in great style while admiring some of the world’s most exquisite jewelry. Co-hosted by Nancy Bagley and Soroush Shehabi of Washington Life and Fariba Jahanbani, regional manager of Cartier, the evening featured exclusive and intimate access to jewels from Cartier’s most recent lines in addition to a number of classic collections. Occasions Caterers pulled out all the stops, creating a sumptuous French menu for the event, while Jack Lucky provided autumnal floral arrangements that were placed on display throughout the house. The evening supported the new National Children’s Museum, where Mai Abdo serves on the board of trustees. Slated to open in 2012, the museum will feature 150,000 square feet of cultural and educational space and provide a forum for issues affecting children throughout the world. Through the end of Februry, 10 percent of every purchase at the Cartier locations in Chevy Chase and Tysons Corner will benefit the National Children’s Museum.

Top left: Jim and Mai Abdo. Top right: Jewelry by Cartier on display in the dining room. Above: Kathy Southern and Beth Dozoretz. Right: Deborah and Steven Epstein. (All photos by James R. Brantley)

The Menu PASSED HORS D’OEUVRES

Clockwise from top left: Roast duck with fig sauce by Occasions Caterers; Stephen Richard, Lindsey Burkhardt, and Isabel Ernst; centerpieces by Jack Lucky; guests are seated in the Abdo’s dining room; Anastasia Bagliore with Aimee and Robert Lehrman; Mirella Levinas and Mary Haft; Cartier black onyx ring

Steak tartare Finely minced prime beef served on sweet potato pancakes topped with mustard cream and capers.

Escargots en croute Small brioche baskets toasted and filled with freshlysauteed snails and minced parsley. Served warm.

Millefeuille with Roquefort, quince paste, and walnuts Paper-thin layers on puff pastry filled with Roquefort cheese, quince paste, and crushed walnuts. Baked until golden crisp.

Tiny potato soufflés with caviar Very small new potatoes, hollowed, filled with potatoparmesan cheese soufflé and topped with a dollop of caviar. Served warm.

AMUSE-BOUCHE Foie gras “Jewel Box” Tiny cube of seared foie gras presented on a toasted crouton. Topped with a red currant and a warm current gastrique.

MAIN COURSE Seared duck breast with fig sauce Boned and marinated with red wine vinegar, honey, and garlic, are pan-seared until golden. Sliced and served on pureed parsnips with a reduced Zinfandel and Mission fig sauce. Garnished with grilled fresh figs.

Batons of autumn vegetables Carrot, golden beets, fennel bulb, and hearts of celery lightly braised in an herb and vegetable broth.

DESSERT Trio of fall sorbets on oak leaf tuiles Tiny scoops of apple-calvados, Anjou pear and ginger, and pomegranate sorbets served with oak leaf-shaped almond tuiles.

COFFEE Rich brewed French roast served in delicate demitasse cups with sugar crystals and cream. (Occasions’ coffee is Fair Trade certified.)

BOOK ONLINE

WINTERIZED Photography by ANTON+PREHN Style: LANA ORLOFF Hair and makeup: KIM STEELE Post Production: KENNY GEORGE

ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA brown tweed coat ($2,475), navy pinstriped oxford shirt ($335), rust orange pants ($345), and brown suede ankle boots ($725); Ermenegildo Zegna Boutique, Tysons Galleria, 1776M International Dr., McLean, Va., 571-730-1905.

Model: Matt Dufford with Commence Quest, NYC Assistants: Kathleen Kenney, Claire Tucker, and Whitney Wegner Shot at Pitchfork Studio, Washington, D.C.

LEFT: DOLCE & GABBANA brown wool long sleeve tee ($375), charcoal boot cut jeans ($850), and GUCCI charcoal tweed jacket ($1,750); Saks Fifth Avenue, Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Store, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-363-2059. LORO PIANA printed cashmere scarf ($575); Neiman Marcus, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-966-9700. RIGHT: ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA brown knit sweater with mink interior ($4,850), tan corduroy pants ($695), white and brown pinstripe oxford shirt ($295), tan v-neck cardigan ($525), and brown suede ankle boots ($725); Ermenegildo Zegna, Tysons Galleria, 1776M International Dr., McLean, Va., 571-730-1905.

DOLCE & GABBANA charcoal jacket with satin detail ($2,850) and white and blue pinstriped tuxedo front oxford shirt ($560); ARMANI COLLEZIONI black velvet pants ($445); Saks Fifth Avenue, Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Store, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-3632059. ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA suede ankle boots ($725); Ermenegildo Zegna Boutique, Tysons Galleria, 1776M International Dr., McLean, Va., 571-730-1905.

LIFESTYLES | FASHION EVENT

J. Mendel Redefines a Classic Karin Tanabe interviews designer and furrier Gilles Mendel

WASHINGTON LIFE: You’re known for the revolutionary ways you work with fur.What are some of the most modern ways to wear it? GILLES MENDEL: I work with fur just like I work with fabric. In the ’40s and ’60s it was really heavy, now people want lighter weight dresses and lighter fur. Mine are subtle, understated, identifiable, and have moved with technology. WL: How do you think Washington style will change now that there is a new political guard? GM: I came to the U.S. in the early ’80s and had a flow of elegant political clients. Yet, I always perceived Washington as a very conservative town. With the new government there is great energy and it’s attracting designers like me. There is a need in Washington for fashion with the highest value - classic with a twist. We live in a time of disposable fashion, but people will spend money if they feel like what they buy has durability and preciousness, like a Hermès Kelly bag.

Mary Amons and Cheryl Masri Linda Cropp and Andrea Roane Susan Sokol, Gilles Mendel and Jan Fenty

SAKS JANDEL FASHION SHOW FOR KNOCK OUT ABUSE Saks Jandel, Chevy Chase

Model in J. Mendel

PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

FASHION FORWARD Washington’s stylish set gathered at Saks Jandel to take in resort wear from J. Mendel and Etro and meet the men behind the celebrated design houses. The event, featuring a runway show of diaphanous evening and warm weather garments, beneﬁted Knock out Abuse. THE FASHIONISTAS J. Mendel’s Gilles Mendel, ETRO’s Marco Pievani and Robert Amaro, Andrea Roane, and Ludmila Cafritz.

WL: Like Oscar de la Renta, you started selling at Elizabeth Arden, which at the time also sold luxury goods. How has your clientele changed? GM: Besides fur, I also did ready-towear on a per-client basis before starting a full ready-to-wear collection in 2003.A lot of the women I dressed were socially involved – the Aerin Lauders of the world. I am launching daywear in mid-May, but I still work with the kind of woman who attends several parties a week and needs very sophisticated gowns, cocktail dresses and furs.

Amy Baier, Shannon Bradley, and Jany Dor Model in Etro

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

| F E B R U A R Y | washingtonlife.com

LIFESTYLES | TREND REPORT

CHLOÉ cut-out leather pumps ($595); 1-212-9571100, www.chloe.com.

FENDI oversized sunglasses with woven temples ($325); Nordstrom, 8075 Tysons Corner Center, McLean, Va., 703-761-1121, www.nordstrom.com.

BAREESSENTIALS S

how off your natural beauty this spring with a nude palette. Designers like Derek Lam and J. Mendel are creating nearly naked looks, proving that you don’t have to go natural to make a scene. – Tara Kumar and Whitney Wegner ANTHROPOLOGIE 10th Arrondissement trench ($188); Anthropologie, 3222 M St. NW, 202-337-1363, www.anthropologie.com.

JACK RABBIT Atlantic framed bag ($450); Neiman Marcus, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-9669700, www.neimanmarcus.com.

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WASHINGTON S O C I A L D I A R Y Hollywood on the Potomac and Exclusive Partiesďš? Partiesďš? Parties!

BeyoncĂŠ Knowles walks the red carpet at the 31st annual Kennedy Center Honors (Kyle Samperton)

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

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HOLLYWOOD ON THE POTOMAC

Stars Come Forth A Look Back at this Year’s Kennedy Center Honors Gala B Y J A N E T D O N O VA N

RIBBONS, PRICELESS Guests attending the glamorous 31st annual Kennedy Center Honors on December 7th may have arrived camera-ready in emeralds and diamonds, but the best decorations were worn by honorees Morgan Freeman, George Jones, Barbra Streisand, Twyla Tharp, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey. Bestowed upon them the previous evening at a lavish State Department dinner hosted by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the medals displayed by the six pack on the red carpet gratified the crowd of onlookers to say nothing of the celeb-starved photographers. Four of the six honorees were sighted at George and Liz Stevens’ lavish brunch earlier that day (Streisand and Freeman passed) when a jubilant VIP crowd packed Café MoZU at the Mandarin Oriental. Ethel Kennedy, in a jovial mood, said she had every reason to be happy before pointing out that her niece, Caroline, Rachel Fuller and Pete Townsend

who now emcees the Honors, would have been a good choice for the New York Senate seat once occupied by her late husband, Robert F. Kennedy, from 1965 to 1968. After mingling with Buffy Cafritz, Andrea Mitchell, Sally Quinn and Ben Bradlee, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright paused to note that Hillary Rodham Clinton was a fabulous choice for her former post. “She’s highly respected throughout the world. I do think that women are very good at diplomacy and she is especially good.” The spirited crowd of Obama supporters included Vernon Jordan who declared of the historic inauguration: “It’s a great time. I thought I’d never live to see this day.”

BY THE NUMBERS The collective genius and artistic talent of the honorees combined with personal details, added up to at least 408 years, 12 marriages, 19 offspring, 3 Academy awards and too many Grammys, Tonys, and Emmys to count. race … Kelli O’Hara singing for Barbra Streisand acknowledging it was “one of the biggest honors I’ve ever had. I’m a bit nervous.” (No kidding) ... Noted while passing: Lynn Redgrave, Baby Face Edmonds, Maxine Waters, Elaine Chao, and Queen Latifah. Best choreography: Barbra Streisand and hubby James Brolin clustered with Clint Eastwood and wife Dina, trying to give the impression they were actually engaging with the press. Country singer George Jones, who survived more personal turbulence than his fellow honorees, was also the most gracious.Truly grateful for that which came later in his life, the affable crooner took to the media like ketchup on fries. “I’m so lucky, I’m speechless,” he said. “This is the biggest thing that has ever happened to me except for being in the Hall of Fame for country music.” Reminded that Frank Sinatra once called him the second best singer in America, Jones replied: “Bless his heart. I had a chance to record a song with him, but had to turn it down.” How does one turn down Frank Sinatra? “Well, I thought he was too smooth and too good a singer to record with an old country boy like me.” Later, Jones was fittingly introduced by First Lady Laura Bush as a man who got his start in the honkytonk bars of Texas. Most memorable moment of the evening: Streisand air kissing nemesis President Bush. This too shall pass.

RED CARPET CHATTER “Please don’t call the Kennedy Center.We’re begging you not to call us,” said a rep. This was, of course, a reference to the announcement that Oprah Winfrey would be broadcasting her Inauguration special live on Martin Luther King Day from the Opera House, temporarily renamed “The Oprah House.” Newt Gingrich was still high on Sarah Palin. “She has a big following nationally,” the former Speaker of the House said. “And she’s going to be an important part of the Republican Party.” Also spotted: Aretha Franklin smartly turned out in a short white suit, leaving last year’s weighty floor length gown behind … Glenn Close (reflecting on the death the previous day of tragic heiress Sunny von Bülow, whom she played in the film Reversal of Fortune) … Morgan Freeman bucking the press and keeping mum about recent personal troubles … David Gregory upgraded to the red carpet after the announcement that he would be hosting Meet the Press … Terry McAuliffe not on the red carpet yet, maybe because he hadn’t yet Readers wishing to get in touch with Janet officially sprung for the Virginia gubernatorial Donovan can email: columns@washingtonlife.com.

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James Brolin and Barbra Streisand

Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs Clint Eastwood

KENNEDY CENTER HONORS John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

More photos and video at www.washingtonlife.com

Tennille and Ne-oY Jocelyn and Dave Grohl

Babyface and friend

Morgan Freeman and family

Joss Stone

Queen Latifah 63

HOLLYWOOD ON THE POTOMAC Twyla Tharp

Glenn Close

Liz and George Stevens Paul Pelosi and Speaker Nancy Pelosi

GEORGE AND LIZ STEVENSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; HONORS BRUNCH Mandarin Oriental Hotel PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL

More photos and video at www.washingtonlife.com

Heather and Roger Daltrey Samia Farouki, Rhoda Glickman, and Peter Orszag

Chris Cornell

Judy and Peter Kovler and Toni Bush

Linda Douglass

Eric Holder and Quincy Jones

Jillian Sage and Jack Black 64

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

| F E B R U A R Y | washingtonlife.com

Pink T e Par Join celebrity host, acclaimed Chef Art Smith of Art and Soul, and Celebrate the Season of the Blossoms! March 11, 2009 ~ 6:30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9:30 PM Sneak preview tastes of the National Cherry Blossom FestivalÂŽ featuring Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top chefs and their â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cherry Picksâ&#x20AC;? dishes and cocktails & Silent Auction Spectacular The Liaison Capitol Hill, An AfďŹ nia Hotel 415 New Jersey Avenue, NW ~ Washington, DC TO GET â&#x20AC;&#x153;IN THE PINKâ&#x20AC;? AND PURCHASE TICKETS: (202) 661-7567 or nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/pinktie Proceeds beneďŹ t the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc.

PRESENTED BY

PERFORMING ARTS WL SPONSORED

Robert and Jake Lehrman

WASHINGTON BALLET NUTCRACKER TEA

Paul and Antoine Hillenmeyer, Antonio Monteiro, Natalia Luis, and Gabriel Monteiro

The Willard Intercontinental Hotel PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL

THE EVENT: A#er a dazzling spectacle onstage at the Warner Theatre, some of Washington’s young theatre-goers (with parents in tow) delighted in seeing costumed characters from The Nutcracker up close at a cheery tea party held in The Willard Intercontinental Hotel. THE GUESTS: Septime Webre, Michael Herald, Jack and Sarah Nixon, and Johanne Wilhelmsen. More photos and video at www.washingtonlife.com

Ariella Cymerman, Charlotte Rose Lamotte, Talia Startsman, and Lila and Jacoba Harris

Sarah Baldino, Erin O’Reilly, and Alex Allegra

Kristina Wyatt, Stacey Lubar, Shigeko Bork, Meredith Cymerman, Staci Capuano, and Beth Kohlhoss

Ali Wentworth and Elizabeth Thorp

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Renée Fleming

Ruggiero and Isabella Raimondi, Marta and Placido Domingo, Lucky Roosevelt and James Wolfenson

Roshanak Kamdar, Prince Reza Pahlavi, Princess Yasmine Pahlavi, and Vittorio Grigolo

WL SPONSORED

LUCRETIA BORGIA CAST PARTY Organization of American States PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

DINING WITH A DIVA Soprano Renée Fleming wowed the crowd at the Kennedy Center as the conﬂicted maternal poisoner in Donize"i’s rarely-performed 1833 work, then did it again at the glam post-performance dinner (along with hunky Italian tenor Vi orio Grigolo, a former Sistine Chapel Choir soloist). Guests marveled at Placido Domingo conducting, the Star Wars-ish costumes and lavish sets (both by director John Pascoe) during cocktails, a late supper and Maestro Domingo’s inevitably lengthy thanks-yous and tributes to the cast and crew.

Nina Auchincloss Straight with Michael and Susan Pillsbury

More photos and video at www.washingtonlife.com

Luis Alberto Moreno and JoAnn Mason

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

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PERFORMING ARTS

ROCKETMAN KEVIN CHAFFEE TALKS TO SEPTIME WEBRE ABOUT HIS FIRST DECADE AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE WASHINGTON BALLET

hen Septime Webre took over as artistic director in 1999, the Washington Ballet urgently needed a transformative presence. While its nonagenarian founder, Mary Day, had ceded certain freedoms to promising successors to select, direct, and choreograph works – including Choo San Goh, who brought early fame to the company but died young, and world-class dancer Kevin McKenzie, who departed to take over American Ballet Theatre – she remained reluctant to relinquish full control of the company she had founded in 1976.The board, however, clearly felt a new hand was needed. Enter Septime Webre, a dynamic and urbane 37-year-old director of the American Repertory Company, who soon proved to be an inspired choice to lead D.C.’s premier dance troupe into the 21st century.

Photo by Stephen Baranovics

contemporary dance, but you’ve become a lot less traditional than before. SW: We present works by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins as well as classics like Giselle, but we also work with groups like Sweet Honey in the Rock and the Howard University Jazz Ensemble. We are now working on a largescale gospel music project to be scheduled soon.

WASHINGTON LIFE: What did you hope to

WL: You focus on edgier stuff than in the past. SW: Creativity and invention are our central

accomplish when you arrived ten years ago? SEPTIME WEBRE: I came with two goals.The first was to develop the Washington Ballet into a truly national company. The second was to connect it to Washington itself – to reach out to the city as a whole, not just be in a dance world ivory tower.

underlying ethos. We approach our repertoire in an adventuresome manner. While the dancers can tackle La Sylphide with great credibility, it’s the new works by the great living choreographers like Christopher Wheeldon, Twyla Tharp and Mark Morris where dancers can develop an important difference.

WL: The Washington Ballet was not previously

WL: You’re choreographing Rocket Man, set

considered to be a particularly diverse company. SW: Ensuring that we reflect the face of our city is important to me. Recruiting AfricanAmerican and Latino dancers and developing a repertoire that reflects diverse cultures has been a priority. It’s one of the reasons we formed Dance D.C., a partnership with the city’s public school system, which brings an integrated dance/literacy program to first- and second-graders. That led to our participation at THEARC, a $27 million facility that houses state-of-the-art studios and a 350-seat theater where we have a thriving dance scene. WL: The company still does classical as well as

to Elton John’s music to help celebrate your anniversary. How did that come about? SW: His music provided the soundtrack to my childhood, so it’s very personal to me. In an abstract way it’s my own story – the story of a boy becoming a man. It’s not meant merely to pay homage to Elton John, but rather a work that young people can relate to in terms of their challenges, hardships and growing self-awareness.

WL: How is the Washington Ballet perceived

in the greater dance world? SW: Not to overuse the term, but I think we are seen as a “maverick” among the top ten

companies in the country. Our artistically youthful and athletic approach is unique and our commitment to doing new works is strong. We do eight or nine world premieres a year. You can’t do that without getting better, especially while simultaneously performing great works like Giselle. WL: What were the decade’s high points? SW: Going on tour to Cuba, the new Nutcracker,

signing a new collective bargaining agreement with the dancers. WL: And the low points? SW: During our labor dispute of 2005-2006, I

made the mistake of not letting the dancers know that I cherished their work and also didn’t listen to them closely enough.Afterwards, I worked hard to build a new relationship. As a result, the company has become artistically stronger than ever. I think the dancers would agree that the company has become a really great place to work. WL: Your numbers have improved as well. SW: When I arrived we had a $2.8 million

endowment; now it is $8.5 million. Our 725 subscribers have grown to 3,000. WL: You’ve moved the ballet to a whole new

dimension. SW: I like to think our art has really connected to this city, and that we reach out – especially to young people. Having a really terrific board of directors also helps, particularly our past chairwoman, Kay Kendall, and current chairwoman Sylvia de Leon. And we throw darn good parties!

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

| F E B R U A R Y | washingtonlife.com

PRESENTED BY

AROUND TOWN Kim Watson, Linda Levy Grossman, and Jacqueline Watson

Josh Rales and Deborah Ourisman

Brad Frey, Carol Schwartz, and Joe Watkins

Judy Esfandiary and Jaylee Mead

WL SPONSORED

HELEN HAYES AWARDS BENEFIT AUCTION Four Seasons Hotel PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL

PLAYING A PART: It was a night for actors and seriously high-end auction items to raise funds for education and audience-building programs on behalf of the 60-plus professional theater companies operating in the capital region. ACTING UP: Susan and Mike Harreld, Tom Foster, Jane and Calvin Cafritz, Bill Largess, Bob Levey, Jaylee Mead, Trish and George Vradenburg, and actors James Kronzer and Naomi Jacobson.

Tony Parker and Deborah Kraft

Actor Greg Marzullo and Septime Webre

More photos and video at www.washingtonlife.com

Bonnie Nelson Schwartz and Jerilyn Ross Cohen

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AROUND TOWN

Parties, Parties, Parties Celebrating the Smithsonian, Shakespeare, the humanities, and international collaboration

HARMAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS GALA Event co-chairwoman BETH DOZORETZ with Rep. JANE HARMAN and SIDNEY HARMAN at the Shakespeare Theater’s second annual gala./ SUSAN BLUMENTHAL, KATHLEEN MATTHEWS and CATHERINE REYNOLDS enjoy the party while the evening’s energetic cast members take over the entertainment. (Photos by Kyle Samperton)

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AMBASSADOR’S WELCOME PARTY TIM SHRIVER, LINDA POTTER, WALTER ISAACSON, UAE Ambassador H E YOUSEF AL OTAIBA and JOE ROBERTS / JOSH BOLTON and DEDE MCCLURE gathered at the Halcyon House to welcome the UAE’s new ambassador to Washington. (Photos by Kyle Samperton)

O J HN W.KLUGE AWARDS Honoree ROMILA THAPAR, JOHN KLUGE, Librarian of Congress JAMES BILLINGTON and honoree PETER BROWN celebrate the $1 million Kluge Prize for the lifetime achievement in the study of humanity bestowed by the Library of Congress. (Photos by John Harrington)

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

| F E B R U A R Y | washingtonlife.com

WL EXCLUSIVE

MAX KENNEDY “DANGER’S HOUR” BOOK PARTY KARA, ETHEL, and MAX KENNEDY with MAX GREATHOUSE ALLEN celebrate the release of Max Kennedy’s new book Danger’s Hour, the story of the USS Bunker Hill. /MARIELLA TRAGER, SUSAN BLUMENTHAL, and ANNE CAFRITZ (Photos by Tony Powell)

WL EXCLUSIVE

CARLOS GUTIERREZ RECEPTION FOR INNOCENTS AT RISK Belgian Ambassador DOMINIQUE STRUYE DE SWIELANDE, Innocents at Risk founder DEBBIE SIGMUND and former Secretary of Commerce CARLOS GUTIERREZ / AHMED ESFANDIARY and MICHAELE SALAHI at the Belgium Ambassador’s Residence. (Photos by James Brantley)

WL SPONSORED

URBAN CHIC PARTY FOR TATIANA BONCOMPAGNIE TATIANA BONCOMPAGNI (center) celebrated her new novel, “Gilding Lily,” at Bethesda’s Urban Chic with PAMELA SORENSEN and ANDREA RODGERS. / Miss D.C. KATE MARIE GRINOLD. (Photos by Abby Greenawalt)

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WASHINGTON ANTIQUES SHOW The evening’s honorary chairmen and cochairmen RIMA AL-SABAH, MARGARET GARDNER, LISA MOUNTCASTLE and Ambassador of Kuwait SALEM AL-SABAH. / PAGE KJELLSTROM and JAY ADAMS celebrate one of the country’s longest running antique shows, which moved this year to American University’s Katzen Arts Center. (Photos by: Lynn Hornor Keith)

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HOME LIFE historical landscapesďš? real estate newsďš? and art and auction | Palm Beach Diaries, The Kennedyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Winter Retreat, and Antiques

Ann and Donald Brown by the swimming pool of their residence in Palm Beach Gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fashionable Frenchmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creek.

PALM BEACH

WINTER REFUGE FOR WASHINGTONIANS OF SUBSTANCE AND STYLE B Y A N I KO G A A L S C H OT T P H O T O G R A P H E D B Y J OAQ U I N R I VA S

HOME LIFE | SPECIAL PALM BEACH FEATURE

alm Beach, named after its majestic royal palms and beautiful beaches, was first developed by Standard Oil partner and railroad magnate Henry Morrison Flagler in the 1890s. By the 1920s it had become America’s premier winter resort, attracting the social elite who entertained in grand style during the Christmas-to-Easter high season. Immense Mediterranean Revival-style villas built by architects Addison Mizner, Marion Sims Wyeth, and Maurice Fatio for the Stotesburys, Phippses, Munns and other prominent families soon dominated the island’s Atlantic and Lake Worth shores. Many of these houses still exist today alongside newer – and much larger – residences built for modern Midases with names like Kimmell, Kluge and Koch, and even a Russian billionaire or two. (Note Donald Trump’s record-breaking sale last year of a $95 million home-away-from home to fertilizer king Dmitry Rybolovlev.) The 14-mile-long, half-mile-wide island has long been the winter refuge of many Washingtonians with great flair and style of their own. The four residences we visited are prime examples of their owners’ highly personalized styles and ability to define private living spaces to suit personal needs. LEFT: The incorporation of floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room was part of the Browns’ recent renovations. BELOW: The neutral interior color scheme serves as a perfect backdrop for the couple’s art collection.

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DONALD AND ANN BROWN For Ann Brown, a former U.S. Consumer Product Safety commissioner in the Clinton Administration, and her husband real estate developer and lawyer Donald Brown, the priorities of selecting a residence in Palm Beach Garden’s elegant Frenchman’s Creek were very specific. “Lots of walls for the art, lots of space for entertaining, plus glass and light,” Ann Brown says, adding a requirement for separate offices for each and separate guest quarters on the grounds. While the house had good bones, it was in need of renovation to suit their requirements. “Lots to work with and lots of work,” she adds. It only took eight months to achieve the required specifications: a beautiful expanse of space, bleached floors, dramatic floor-toceiling windows, comfortable furniture, and a white-and-cream color scheme providing a perfect backdrop for the couple’s extensive art collection. In the living room, works by Robert Longo, Sam Gilliam and Richard Artschwager display well alongside a red wall sculpture by Jack Youngerman and a Gina Porten sculpture, “Perfect Pairs,” atop a glass cocktail table. The dining room’s large contemporary glass table surrounded by antique Chippendale chairs inherited from Ann’s mother form an interesting juxtaposition with two works by African-American painter Jacob Lawrence. The Browns have strong communityoriented sensibilities and have long been involved in Democratic Party politics. As a result, they entertain frequently and with great ease both indoors and out – 30 at dinner and several hundred for receptions. In the garden, Roy De Forrest’s whimsical “Dog Bench” sculpture and Washington artist Di Gina and Herman Porten photographed in the Stovall’s oversized Florida-themed mural are drawing room of their 1920’s Palm Beach home. centered around an amorphous pool. Masses of bougainvilleas and other flowers indigenous supervising a meticulous renovation. to Florida complete a “sculptural effect” that, Gina, an artist and interior-designer-turnedlike the house, are a beauty to behold. sculptor, had a good eye, plenty of imagination and all the sensibilities necessary to move and panel walls, vault ceilings and add columns and HERMAN AND GINA PORTEN Nestled on a quiet palm-lined street half a arches to create a jewel of a residence, replete block from the ocean, is the 1920’s pre-Mizner with European antiques, fine paintings, and of home of real estate developer Herman Porten course her own bronze sculptures. Antique stone flooring throughout sets and his Dutch-born wife, Gina. After purchasing it in 1998, the couple spent the next two years the stage for the arched entrance hall leading

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to the drawing room on the left and a cozy Fortuny-upholstered-and-paneled dining room on the right. The former features an oversized tufted ottoman easily seating ten in the center of the room – wonderful and as useful when hosting a cocktail buffet. Neutral color walls are anchored by Old Dutch Masters nicely complemented by a Gobelin tapestry above a plush settee. Soft glows from antique Murano chandeliers in both of the main rooms unify

HOME LIFE | SPECIAL PALM BEACH FEATURE

the atmosphere from the center hall. In the library, 19th-century English pine cases house the couple’s antique books and two early bronze works by Gina Porten, “Muna” and “The Globe.” “I started sculpting shortly after we arrived in Palm Beach by joining the Armory Art Center five years ago,” the artist says. “Since then it has become my life.” (Herman Porten just happens to be the center’s president.) She has had several art exhibits to her credit and recently had a one-person, sold-out show at the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden in West Palm Beach. Gina Porten’s nudes and busts have evolved from neoclassical to minimalist forms, and more recently to a newly found language of “bones.” She humanizes these anatomical structures and creates beautiful Giacometti-like inspirations including the two 24-inch works called “Femme Femur” in the dining room’s bay window depicting tibia, fibula and patella talking to one another, as if in conversation. She also recently designed a new Turtle Mascot with the Obama “Thumbs-Up” signature for the University of Maryland. “She is the most talented girl I know,” says Alma Gildenhorn, wife of the university’s board chairman, Joseph Gildenhorn.

Bill and Norma Tiefel on the landing of their home’s elegant drawing room.

BILL AND NORMA TIEFEL The grounds of “Casa Bendita,” the former Phipps estate and one of the most storied properties of old Palm Beach, now house a small number of beautiful French-, Spanishand Mediterranean-Revival style residences. One of them, surrounded by 200-year-old banyan trees and giant palms, is the home of former Ritz-Carlton president Bill Tiefel and his wife, Norma Gewirz Kline Tiefel. Norma Tiefel transformed a dark and gloomy interior into a bright and elegant space, full of whimsy and charm. She retained the Mizner-style high-beamed ceiling and red Spanish tile flooring, but conceived warm, sunny yellow walls for the drawing and dining rooms. The former is a perfect setting for sumptuous furniture (including two seating arrangements that easily function as one) and whimsical sculptures by Claude and FrancoisXavier Lalanne, whose works have been

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The Portens’ outdoor space reflects the classical aesthetic of their home.

A bronze Lalanne leopard separates the Tiefels’ living and dining rooms.

“Muna,” a bronze sculpture of a Masai woman by Gina Porten, guards a library filled with rare and beautiful books.

The Tiefels’ pool terrace is surrounded by 200-year-old banyan trees and giant palms.

HOME LIFE | SPECIAL PALM BEACH FEATURE

Franklin and Emmy Haney (above, center left) pose with their family at “Eastover” their winter residence in Manalapan, Fla. Renovation of the 52-room mansion is expected to take at least a year.

Photo by Harry Benson

collected by some of the world’s chicest people (Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent among them). The poetic flourish of the alligator chair in the living room provides contrast to the Louis XV French chinoiserie commode behind it.The large bronze Lalanne leopard sitting on a ledge between the living and dining rooms adds commanding presence as does the rare painting above the tall Italianate fireplace by Joseph Urban, who built Mar-a-Lago for Marjorie Merriweather Post. The library’s triumph is the simplicity of its four original Art Deco chairs surrounding a leopard print ottoman doubling as a coffee table. An antique Majolica garden stool accents the scene. Three large French doors lead to a rear terrace used as an outdoor living room, a common practice in Palm Beach. The

wonderful 1930’s bamboo seating arrangement, featuring dark brown seat cushions accented by smart batik pillows, surrounds the lovely pools and fountain around which the Tiefels entertain in elegant Palm Beach style.

THE FRANKLIN HANEY FAMILY In April of last year, Washington and Chattanooga, Tenn., real estate developer Franklin Haney purchased “Villa Venetia,” a magnificent Romanesque-style palazzo located on 3.5 oceanfront acres in Manalapan, just south of Palm Beach, for $22 million. Designed in 1929 by famed architect Maurice Fatio for Harold Stirling Vanderbilt, winner of the America’s Cup and a great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the house, which has been re-dubbed “Eastover” (its original Vanderbiltera name) features sweeping waterfront vistas,

garden courtyards, an enormous loggia with classic Palladian arches, and a private dock. “We always vacationed together in Manalapan,” says Mr. Haney’s wife, Emmy, referring to her five children, their spouses, and nine grandchildren. “As our family grew, we just kept needing more space.” The 52-room, 28,000-square-foot mansion should prove large enough for another generation, maybe even two, to enjoy as a winter retreat much as the Vanderbilts did in their heyday. The Haneys plan to restore the National Register of Historic Places listed property “to its original beauty” after years of controversial modifications (and the $6 million sale, in 2004, of a 1.6-acre parcel by previous owner Veronica Hearst, who defaulted on mortgages used in the $30 million purchase of the home in 2000).

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HOME LIFE | PALM BEACH DIARIES

A WORLD TURNED

UPSIDE DOWN

Senior Editor Kevin Chaffee hears Laurence Leamer’s tales of money, murder, and madness in Palm Beach alm Beach has weathered major scandals over the years, but the current one is worse than all the others put together. In December, so-called “financier” Bernard Madoff ’s Ponzi scheme hit America’s foremost money mecca with the force of a Category Five hurricane, obliterating billions from the portfolios of many of the town’s most prominent citizens. Victims remain in shock, facing financial ruin as their former lives of comfort and wealth unravel around them. Suddenly, the world is clamoring for an exposé about the insulated South Florida enclave. Investigative journalist Laurence Leamer delivers the inside story in Madness Under the Royal Palms: Love and Death Behind the Gates Legendary hostess Mildred “Brownie“ McLean (seated at left) surveys the scene at an Arabian-Nights-themed event in Palm Beach, circa 1960. (McLean photo collection)

of Palm Beach. His latest book takes readers to the luxurious homes, private clubs and highdollar society soirées of the many unforgettable characters he cultivated during his 15 years as a Palm Beach winter resident. Leamer’s eye for detail and unfailing ability to spot a phony guarantee trenchant observations of the historic clashes between the old guard and nouveaux riches, Gentiles and Jews, and the love, lust, greed and rivalries that characterize lives largely hidden behind a façade of exclusivity and privilege.

WL: Is Madoff the ultimate pariah there? LL: He’s beyond being a pariah. The magnitude of his evil is tremendous because it affects so much charitable giving and we won’t know the results for years to come. The wealthy Jewish people, who have suffered the most, are extraordinarily generous and you had to give big to get into their clubs. If a similar situation had involved members of the Bath and Tennis or Everglades clubs, the charities wouldn’t have been that affected because WASPs don’t give as much money that way.

WASHINGTON LIFE: Palm Beach has turned upside down because of Bernie Madoff. Word has it that members of the exclusive clubs are screaming at former friends who got them to invest with him, saying, “How dare you show your face here after what you did?” LAURENCE LEAMER: I was at a charity event in December which one guest said was “like the Titanic. The ship was sinking and people were crying that they had lost this and that. Everybody was drunk.”

WL: Palm Beach was once restricted to gentiles. Now, so many people living there are Jewish – a clear majority – that the WASPS seem to be the ones who are in a ghetto. LL: That’s what makes this whole situation particularly poignant – because this whole tragedy took place just at the point where the Jews were in clear ascendancy on the island.

WL: How does the scandal compare to the Pulitzer divorce case or the William Kennedy Smith rape trial? LL: Previous crises or psychodramas in Palm Beach are nothing compared to this. It is devastating on so many different levels: personal, psychological and charitable. Palm Beach is all about money and people’s lifestyles are affected even if they didn’t lose any. They’re all worried about what they’re going to do with their investments now. Everyone is nervous.

WL: Is there anyone left who still represents “Old Palm Beach”? LL: Lots of them, including several people in my book. Mildred “Brownie” McLean, one of the McLean family of Hope Diamond fame, goes back the farthest. She represents Palm Beach at its best, and has an almost heroically positive attitude about life. Stanley Rumbough Jr., who was married to Marjorie Merriweather Post’s daughter, actress Dina Merrill; and Jimmy Barker, from an old Kentucky family. Others include Jean (Mrs. T. Suffern) Tailer those related to old guard clans like the Munns, Boardmans, Phippses and Boltons.

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WL: What about Donald Trump? LL: My publisher thought he was overexposed, but I maintained you couldn’t do a book about Palm Beach without him since his arrival there was one of the major social developments in decades. So, I went up to him at a dinner at Mar-a-Lago and told him that I had read his books. I thought he was a man who was best approached with a cartload of candor. Big mistake. And so, I’m one of the few people he has turned down for an interview. WL: All the big new money has made it doubly hard on the old elite. People whose dwindling inheritances only permit them to live in apartments or smaller houses at least used to be able to point with pride to their grandparents’ impressive former homes. But now, even those have been demolished by arrivistes who want 60,000-square-foot monster mansions with his-and-her helicopter pads. LL: That’s why many of them take great pleasure in the Madoff scandal. They feel the nouveau riche have been flaunting it for too long and it was time they got what was coming to them. Of course, I don’t see how you take pleasure in a widow losing everything because her husband on his deathbed told her to “give all our money to Bernie.” WL: You’d think some of the anti-Semitism would lessen as the older people in the restricted clubs die off. LL: The younger ones pretend they’re different, but they’re still members. WL: You maintain that many charities have scant connection to critical issues of the day. LL: I went to a luncheon for a group that spends about $300,000 a year to save Palm Beach’s feral cats. This woman got up and said she had 18,000 acres in the Adirondacks and would be delighted to fly some of them up on her plane. I thought, maybe you might have room for a homeless person as well. WL: That might be changing now people can no longer afford their clubs. LL: I know a guy who is walking away from his $200,000 membership at the Mar-a-Lago Club because he can’t afford the monthly

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dues. Others are complaining about $30,000 assessments payable over five years.That used to be considered chump change. Now restaurants have $29.95 three-course specials that you normally see only in August. WL: A lot of D.C. folks flew down for an overthe-top wedding on NewYear’s Eve. Doesn’t such extravagance fly in the face of current realities? LL: I plead guilty. I was there with 350 other people at the Breakers. The groom flew in the best society band from New York, dancers

from Brazil and a gospel choir, and had indoor fireworks, juggling bartenders and masses of caviar. Let’s hope the marriage lasts, but if it doesn’t there may be an awesome divorce party. WL: The wedding itself seems more like a sideshow, a last gasp of wretched excess that is no longer viable even for most rich people. LL: If it’s the Titanic, they’re dancing in the ballroom on the way down. Palm Beach is a fantasy world. Now the illusions are gone and it’s going to be pretty hard to get them back.

AUTHOR’S VIEW OF A NOT-SO-PERFECT WORLD

flew down to Palm Beach from my home in Washington for the first time in December 1991 to cover the William Kennedy Smith rape trial for my book, The Kennedy Women. I have lived all over the world, from the mountains of Nepal to the provinces of France, a city in southern Peru to a town in Japan, but Palm Beach was as exotic and hidden a place as I had ever visited. I have the soul of a journalist and I decided that I should buy a place on the South Florida island, integrate myself into the community and write an intimate, revealing book about the lives of wealth. In 1994, my wife and I purchased our ocean-front condominium in an exquisite building designed by Edward Durrell Stone, architect of the Kennedy Center. Since then I have spent the winters in Palm Beach. All those years I kept trying to understand the complex social world of the most celebrated and exclusive enclave of wealth in America. It was so much harder than I imagined it would be. Of course, I knew that when an anthropologist arrives at a remote village, it is always the town drunk or bum who immediately greets him and it takes many months to get to know the people who really matter. In Palm Beach, it was

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a slow, laborious process to win the trust and cooperation of people. There is an extraordinary buzz about Madness Under the Royal Palms: Love and Death in Palm Beach, propelled into high motion by the Bernard Madoff scandal. But well before that and indeed before anyone, Washington Life was planning to feature it. There are any numbers of Washington connections. I always see people I know on the nonstop US Airways flights from Reagan National.There are three other Washington couples in my building alone. Marjorie Merriweather Post was an institution both in Washington and Palm Beach where she built the incomparable Mar-a-Lago that Donald Trump has turned into a club. One of the major characters, Eric Purcell, went to Georgetown University where he became obsessed with Deborah Gore Dean, whose grandfather owned the elegant Fairfax Hotel and Jockey Club. Another one, Barbara Wainscott, lived here when she worked in the Nixon Administration. If you see me in the Georgetown Barnes & Noble, having dinner at Taj of India, or on the tennis courts with my buddies at Aspen Hill, come over and say hello. I’m the guy with the tan.

HOME LIFE | PALM BEACH DIARIES Clockwise from top left: Senatorelect John Tunney, son of heavyweight boxing champion Gene Tunney, and Senator Ted Kennedy weather the winter in relaxed Palm Beach style, January 1, 1965; Just back from Paris, Rose Kennedy in one of her seasonal ensembles. The Kennedy matriarch insisted that her dresses be double lined, with the inside of her garments matching the outside in case a breeze fluttered her skirt; Ethel and Robert Kennedy at Palm Beach International Airport, on their way back to Washington, February 5, 1968; President Kennedy, Caroline and John Jr. in a special armored Lincoln, April, 1963; Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis wearing her trademark head scarf and oversize sunglasses.

CAMELOT IN PALM BEACH W

ith its palatial homes, gilded families and fabled social life, Palm Beach has served as a luxurious escape from cold northern winters for more than a century. Beginning in 1933, when Joseph and Rose Kennedy purchased a house on “Millionaire’s Row” from Rodman Wanamaker, four generations of the family travelled south – President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline took at least six trips a year there – to keep company with the island’s upper-crust. (As the Palm Beach Post once reported, “Jack Kennedy grew up with Florida sand in his shoes.”) AP Photographer Bob Davidoff chronicled the clan for almost 50 years at what the press soon called the “Winter White House.” We celebrate that era here with a selection of photographs from The Kennedy Family Album, Personal Photos of America’s First Family. The family sold the house in 1993 after a major scandal and only rarely return, but the Kennedy presence remains part of Palm Beach history forever.

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Clockwise from top left: President-elect John F. Kennedy greets supporters in West Palm Beach. Palm Beachers considered Kennedy — who had been vacationing there since his childhood — a local boy; The Kennedy era in Palm Beach changed in 1993 when the family sold their iconic estate. Here, the extended Shriver clan visits the home a final time; John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife, Carolyn Bessette, at the Mar-a-Lago Club.; The Kennedy clan outside their Palm Beach home on Easter Sunday, 1963; An aerial view of the former “Winter White House” in 1985; Rose and Caroline Kennedy at a private party, March 1975. Rose declared: “If Caroline’s mother knew she was wearing those cut-offs, she wouldn’t be very happy!”

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HOME LIFE | D C ’S SPRING ANTIQUE SHOW e VENETIAN SCENE A museum-quality genre scene of the “City of Canals” by Austrian academic painter Eugen de Blaas (1843-1931l) titled “The Serenade,” circa 1910. ($1,450,000) Guarisco Gallery, Washington, D.C.

e DANISH SILVER A classic grape compote designed by famed Danish silversmith Georg Jensen, circa 1918. ($2,800) Drucker Antiques, Mt. Kisco, N. Y.

HIGH END

TREASURE The inaugural D.C. Spring Antiques Show will be the largest ever in the nation’s capital

O c ROYAL REGALIA This extremely rare pair of Liao Dynasty (916-1125) diadems with standing dragon and phoenix designs features imagery clearly denoting male and female. It is one of only two sets of Liao Dynasty gold crowns known to exist. ($2 million) T.K. Asian Antiquities, Williamsburg, Va.

ver 300 of the world’s top antiques dealers will be present when the D.C. Spring Antiques Show opens its doors at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on March 6. The threeday show will feature impressive displays of every genre, including fine art, furniture, jewelry, porcelain, glass, silver, textiles, and political memorabilia dating from antiquity to the 20th century. In addition, an educational lecture series will feature expert speakers covering a wide range of topics of interest to collectors and enthusiasts. These dealer offerings are among the highlights.

c BELLE EPOQUE STYLE A French ormolu and marble jardinière in the manner of Robert Feres. The baluster urn is flanked by a pair of satyr mask handles and two winged putti suspending floral garlands, on a spreading socle and beaded shaped base with hooved feet, late 19th century. ($85,000) A.B. Levy, Palm Beach, Fla.

e TIFFANY MASTERPIECE An important and superbly colored Tiffany Studios cherry blossom table lamp, circa 1900. ($350,000) Ophir Gallery, Englewood, N.J.

c ELEGANT DINING An important and superbly colored George III sideboard made from wellfigured Cuban mahogany and banded throughout in kingwood, circa 1815. ($34,000). William Cook, Marlborough, Wiltshire, United Kingdom.

HOME LIFE | REAL ESTATE NEWS

The four-level Georgian residence at 2435 Tracy Place NW in Kalorama recently sold to two local attorneys for $3,995,000. It boasts seven bedrooms and is listed in the Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Enfant Historic Register.

Homes With A Past A Federal treasure, Georgian glories, and an estate-in-the-making BY MARY K. MEWBORN

THE DISTRICT Washington Fine Propertiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sister realtors Heidi Hatfield and Anne Hatfield Weir have helped sell one of Georgetownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best preserved architectural treasures for $4.6 million.The 7,000 square-foot Federal at N STREET NW was erected along historic Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Row in 1805. Designed for opulent entertaining, this elegantly appointed building has for two centuries been the site of formal dinners and grand receptions

attended by foreign and domestic dignitaries alike. Once the home of Missouri Senator Stuart Symington, the house later belonged to Marvin and Dolly Kay and then to Daniel J. Terra, a chemical industry magnate and President Reaganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ambassador for cultural affairs, and his wife Judith. Most recently the row house was the residence of John R. Phillips and Linda Douglass. In Northwestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s posh Berkley neighborhood, a four-story Colonial-style mansion situated

on a double lot at FOXHALL ROAD NW and once owned by the late David Greenewalt, a geophysicist and Dupont chemical heir, has been bought in trust for $4.7 million. Built in 1939, the stately residence has a grand foyer, embassy-size public rooms, two fireplaces, six bedrooms, five and a half baths and a swimming pool. Sarah Howard and Susie Maguire with Georgetown Long and Foster were the listing agents.

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A NLDODNA Y S P A S A L O NS A

768 Madison Avenue (between 65th & 66th) 2nd Floor New York, NY 10065 212.517.5133

Georgetown Court 3251 Prospect Street, NW Washington, DC 202.333.5133

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HOME LIFE | REAL ESTATE NEWS

Viet Dinh, one of the lead architects of the Patriot Act, and attorney Jennifer Ashworth Dinh have purchased TRACY PLACE NW for $3,995,000. Built in 1927, the four-level Georgian is listed in the Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Enfant Historic Register and has seven bedrooms including an au pair suite and a luxurious master suite with a fireplace and two separate bathrooms; one with a soaking tub, the other with a jacuzzi. External features include Ionic columns, dormer windows, a spiral staircase and an open air shower set in a limestone courtyard.Viet Dinh came to America as a Vietnamese refugee and went on to earn a scholarship to Harvard Law School. He clerked for Justice Sandra Day Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Conner and later served on Sen. Alphonse Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Amatoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Whitewater committee and on Sen. Pete Domeniciâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Clinton impeachment trial task force. In 1999, he became a tenured professor of Law at Georgetown University and from 2001 to 2003 was an assistant attorney general. He is also the founder of Bancroft Associates, a District law and consulting firm where his wife works. The Dinhs were represented by Paul Pike and Alex Venditti with Tutt, Taylor & Rankin Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International. Previously the couple lived in a fourbedroom Beaux-Arts home built in 1914 along the Potomac in Alexandria,Va., which they bought in 2006 for $4.08 million. Prior to that they owned a five-bedroom Beaux-Arts townhouse in Kalorama. Washington Fine Propertiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Jim Bell represented the sellers David and Kirsten Pollin. Pollin is the nephew of Washington Wizardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s owner Abe Pollin and WL readers may recall that he and his wife now own â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beechwoods,â&#x20AC;? the former home of Franklin D. Raines, the former chairman and CEO of Fannie Mae. Washington Fine Propertiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Bobbie Brewster assisted Stephen and Alison Adkins in their purchase of BANCROFT PLACE NW The property was listed for $3,999,000. Located in Kalorama, just across the street from Mitchell Park, the 1923 Georgian was previously owned by Joe and Olga Hirshhorn and more recently was home to George Washington University President Stephen Trachtenberg and his wife, Francine. Coldwell Banker agents Martin Toews and Jeff Brier represented George Washington University in the sale of this impressive property, which the Adkins plan to restore to its original architectural glory.

The five-bedroom, nine-bath residence at 6661 Sorrell Street in McLean boasts an expansive lawn for outdoor entertaining. It recently sold for $3,995,000.

After spending a year renovating a plantation home in Georgia, Doug Johnson and Brett Copeland have returned to Washington and spent $1,675,000 for WYOMING AVENUE NW in Kalorama.The four-story house was built in 1914 and has approximately 3,000 squarefeet of interior living space with four bedrooms, plus a two-bedroom in-law suite. Noteworthy features include Palladian windows in the sitting room, an enclosed porch off the master bath, slate terrace with a fountain in the rear courtyard, and a sun deck atop the two-car garage.The property was listed by Washington Fine Propertiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cecelia Leake for the seller Dr. Monique Yuan, who practices Endodontics in Gaithersburg with her husband, Dr. Jason Fields.

Washington Fine Propertiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Victoria Kilcullen has helped sell and CHAIN BRIDGE ROAD to Katherine Kim and Francisco Asin Fernandez who plan to build a large house overlooking the Potomac River.The buyers paid $4,125,000 for their three-acre parcel of prime real estate in prestigious McLean.The seller was Scott Stupay of International Capital Advisors. Washington Fine Propertiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Bill Moody and Robert Hryniewicki were the listing agents. Chuck Vance, the former Secret Service agent for President Gerald R. Ford who went on to marry the bossâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter, Susan, and found his own international security company has sold CREST LANE, the home he shared for more than a decade with his current wife, Cynthia, along McLeanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gold Coast.â&#x20AC;? Among its selling points are striking entertainment areas, MARYLAND In Bethesda, Bradington Corp has sold six bedrooms, seven full baths, an exercise room, HUNTINGTON PARKWAY to economist Ilyse theater, billiards room, and separate guest suite A. Zable for $1.48 million. The six-bedroom above the three-car garage.The grounds feature residence was designed and constructed by a free-form pool with a waterfall that feeds into GTM Architects and Block Builders and boasts a whirlpool spa. The Vances wanted $4,275,000 luxurious finishes and quality craftsmanship. for their Fairfax County home but settled for Highlights of the four-level, nearly 6,000- $3,550,000 after the house sat on the market square-foot house include nine-foot ceilings with for more than a year. Kimberly Casey with Tutt, decorative moldings and numerous upgrades Taylor & Rankin Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Realty such as a built-in sound system and top-of-the- helped facilitate the sale. Eldo Mathew has sold SORRELL line kitchen appliances and bath fixtures. STREET in McLean. The house has seven full and two half baths, five fireplaces, three porches, VIRGINIA In McLeanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Woodside Estates, a family room, game and exercise rooms, and DIXIE PLACE has sold for $3,205,000 in a a large rear lawn that is perfect for outdoor pre-construction bid by Usha Hakkal and Dr. entertaining. The property was listed for Halappa G. Hakkal, a diagnostic radiologist and $3,995,000 by Weichert realtor Karen Briscoe of former professor at Georgetown University the Huckaby/Briscoe Group. Long and Fosterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital. The seller is Nader Raeisinia, owner Diane Lewis represented the purchasers. of Solitaire Homes.The deal calls for a custom- Please send real estate news items to built home situated on a two-acre cul-de-sac. columns@washingtonlife.com

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

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All Properties Offered Internationally

Bethesda, Maryland

$2,500,000

This beautiful, 7-bedroom, 5.5-bath brick colonial combines traditional elegance with modern conveniences. Four levels of gracious living offer a gourmet chef’s kitchen and a luxury master bedroom suite retreat. Hans Wydler 301.986.6405/ 301.215.6444 (O). hans@wydlerbrothers.com.

Georgetown, D.C. $2,795,000 Representing an outstanding renovation, this classic Victorianstyle home exudes attention to detail throughout. The residence includes custom millwork, oversized carved doors, exquisite lighting ﬁxtures, and a wall-to-wall glass and wood pantry in the custom, gourmet kitchen. Nancy Itteilag 202.905.7762/ 202.363.1800 (O). itteilag@aol.com.

Chevy Chase, D.C.

$1,599,000

Sited in a serene setting, this classic, New England-style home offers great character and lovely architectural details. The home includes an elegant dining room, a ﬁreplace, a den, a garage, and a wonderful cook’s kitchen with garden views. Pam Ryan-Brye 202.276.6902/ 301.907.7600 (O).

Washington, D.C.

$2,500,000

Located in the shadow of the National Cathedral, this stunning, 7-bedroom, 5.5-bath home offers spacious and airy rooms. The home’s original, well-designed ﬂoor plan is ﬁnished with distinctive period details. Hans Wydler 301.986.6405/ 301.215.6444 (O). hans@wydlerbrothers.com.

Chevy Chase, Maryland

$1,885,000

Enjoy stunning treetop views from this spectacular, designer-remodeled, 3-bedroom corner condominium in the Somerset House. Close to Metro and the best shops and restaurants, the unit has 2 parking spaces and storage. www.wesellmontgomerycounty.com. Gaithersburg/N. Potomac Ofﬁce 301.975.9500.

Potomac, Maryland

$5,500,000

This amazing, 4-level limestone manor is sited on 2.18 acres in Falconhurst. The exquisite, 27,000square-foot home features stone ﬂoors, detailed ceilings, 8 ﬁreplaces, a poolhouse, staff quarters, and 10 bedrooms and baths, including 2 master bedroom suites. Dianne Bailey 301.980.5354/ 202.363.9700 (O).

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with Christie’s Great Estates and Long & Foster®, the Best-Known and Most Effective Marketers of Upper-Brackets Properties. To list and sell your luxury property, please contact one of Long & Foster’s Extraordinary Properties® Specialists. And remember, Long & Foster sells far more $1 million and above homes in the Washington, D.C. Metro area than the next four brokers combined!* * Source: Richard Miller Statistics. 2007 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.

Chevy Chase, D.C.

$1,599,999

Located close to Metro, this 7-bedroom, 5.5-bath Tudor has a back and front staircase, a 4-car garage, a deck, Carrara marble, and built-ins. The kitchen features a Viking range and a Sub-Zero refrigerator, and the au pair suite has a separate entry. Gloria Crowley 301.351.7773/ 301.907.7600 (O).

Potomac, Maryland

$3,950,000

This sophisticated, award-winning, custom home by Glenn Fong and Ted Visnic is one of Marwood’s ﬁnest. The home is set on a cul-de-sac lot with Potomac River winter views. www.litwinwharton.com. Krystyna Litwin 301.299.6098/ 301.983.0060 (O).

Washington, D.C.

$2,198,000

This classic colonial has undergone a complete renovation. Sited on a quiet cul-de-sac lot in Kent, this perfect, in-town home features a spacious top-of-theline kitchen with ﬁreplace, a living room, a sunroom that opens to a deck and a pool, and a walk-out lowerlevel. Nancy Itteilag 202.905.7762/ 202.363.1800 (O).

Georgetown, D.C.

$1,695,000

This 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath classic beauty occupies a double lot in the East Village. Features include a double parlor living room, 4 ﬁreplaces, and a custom kitchen with a separate dining room opening to a back garden with an unﬁnished guest house. Kerry Fortune 202.257.7447/ 202.944.8400 (O).

Georgetown, D.C. $2,850,000

Potomac, Maryland

$3,950,000

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.

Arlington, Virginia

$1,390,000

Originally the builder’s personal home, this 4bedroom, 3.5-bath home exudes luxurious living. The home is appointed with a gourmet kitchen, hardwood floors, smart-house wiring, a fully finished basement, custom landscaping, Trex decks, and a 2-car garage. Woodley Park Office 202.483.6300.

McLean, Virginia

$1,550,000

This Old World, New England-style home with lure fashion features 21st-century modernity. Located just one trafﬁc light from Washington, D.C., one will enjoy ample entertaining spaces with 2 ﬁreplaces and an indoor pool. Scott Goldberg 301.237.4950/ 240.497.1700 (O). scottgoldberg@longandfoster.com.

In Select Areas

www.extraordinaryproperties.com

This restored, 1876 classic has been featured on the Georgetown House Tour. The 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath home offers a spacious living room, a large drawing room, 5 fireplaces, an au pair suite with a second kitchen, enchanting gardens with a fountain and a fireplace, and a detached garage. Terri Robinson, Associate Broker 202.607.7737/ 202.944.8400 (O). trrestate@aol.com.

HOME LIFE | OPEN HOUSE

Bold Statements These stellar residences create major buzz in the local real estate market this month

MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE HEIGHTS WOODLAND DRIVE NW WASHINGTON DC

LISTING AGENTS? Patrick Chauvin 202-243-1621

Matthew McCormick 202-243-1651

Washington Fine Properties, LLC

This 1928 residence allows for large-scale entertaining and comfortable family living.The main level features an entry foyer, a grand living room with two-story ceilings and a gas ďŹ replace, a dining room leading to the rear grounds, a countrystyle kitchen with separate front entry, and an ofďŹ ce leading to a patio. The two upper levels are reached by a wrought-iron spiral staircase and feature a master suite with cathedral ceilings and a balcony. A renovated master bath, full hall bath, and two guest bedrooms complete the second level while a third guest bedroom and bathroom comprises the third level. Other features include private grounds with a heated greenhouse, an English garden, and a cobblestone driveway. LISTING PRICE

KALORAMA CLASSIC CONTEMPORARY TRACY PLACE NW WASHINGTON DC

This completely restored 1920s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Italianateâ&#x20AC;? residence features six bedrooms, six and one half baths, gracious public rooms with 10-foot ceilings, and six pairs of French doors adjoining a tiered ďŹ&#x201A;agstone terrace with gardens and a pool. Additionally, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;classic contemporaryâ&#x20AC;? renovation features a banquet-sized dining room, grand living room, chef â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen with professional appliances and center-island, formal library with custom wood paneling, den/sun room, au pair suite, three ďŹ replaces, and a garage. Located in Kalorama within close proximity to downtown, Georgetown, the White House, restaurants, shopping, and art galleries, this offering is truly one-of-a-kind.

LISTING AGENTS? Alex Venditti 202-550-8872

Paul Pike 202-550-8871

TTR Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Realty

LISTING PRICE

FOXHALL FIND RESERVOIR ROAD NW WASHINGTON DC

LISTING AGENTS? Sarah Howard 202-965-7774

Terri Robinson 202-607-7737

Long and Foster, Christies Great Estates

Situated within walking distance of Georgetown, this ďŹ ve-bedroom home offers pristine landscaping and panache. Built in 2000, this center hall colonial has a gourmet eat-in kitchen with adjoining family room, ďŹ replace, and access to a deck.The formal living and dining rooms have hardwood ďŹ&#x201A;oors throughout and high ceilings with crown molding.The spacious master suite includes cove ceilings, two walk-in closets and a master bathroom. Three additional bedrooms and two bathrooms complete the upstairs.The lower level has an au pair suite, study, and recreation room with a ďŹ replace, plus a built-in garage.The exterior has been beautifully landscaped and includes two ďŹ&#x201A;agstone patios, a manicured lawn, and playground area. LISTING PRICE

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

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uxurious Waterfront Estate with breathtaking views on Potomac Creek at historic Pratt Point. Exquisitely decorated and set on 10 private acres, this spectacular custom build colonial personifies resort-like estate living. This elegant residence epitomizes everything one seeks in a luxury home - peace and quiet, stunning natural beauty, and extraordinary amenities with meticulous attention to details. Hand-carved marble for exterior of the house. Hardwood and marble flooring throughout. Not another site like this in the entire area. Words do not adequately portray the elegance and flow of this rare opportunity - call for a private showing appointment. $8,500,000

Anna Zillow Broker-Owner/Regional Director Direct: 202.731.0103 OfďŹ ce: 703.533.2200 WPI International Fax: 866.280.6232 Washington D.C. Metro Region www.GoToWPI.com 140 Little Falls Street Suite 101 www.JoinWPI.com/dc Falls Church, VA 22046-4321 Email: anna@wpidc.com

Anna Z illow

MIDDLEBURG WASHINGTON AMRFP.com

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O F F E R I N G

540.687.6395 540.675.1488

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O F F E R I N G

GRASSLANDS, MIDDLEBURG, VA

BIRCHWOOD, LEESBURG, VA

LONGVIEW, THE PLAINS, VA

Superb country estate of 510 acres. Grasslands represents the epitome of fox hunting, with its land, location, and natural beauty of the rolling pastures with grand panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mtns. Handsome brick manor house, 5 additional dwellings, 3 horse barns (total of 35 stalls), numerous farm dependencies, large pond, and frontage on Cromwell’s Run. The quality of the land is unsurpassed and the location is unmatched. $17,500,000. Ruth Ripley 540-687-2222 Carole Miller 540-687-2233 Gloria Armfield 540-687-2223

One of the most beautiful properties in Loudoun County. Elegant stone manor house has superb, custom details throughout. Geo thermal heating/cooling systems. Residence is surrounded by an established world class arboretum with thousands of rare trees. 50' x 20' pool with spa. Panoramic, breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Catoctin Creek flows along one boundary. 8' deer fence guards 38 acres. $4,250,000. Ruth Ripley 540-687-2222

Dramatic mountain views compliment this turn key horse facility on 54 acres located next to Great Meadow Equestrian Center. Recently renovated 8 stall barn with up-to-date amenities. New 140’ x 280’ sand ring with irrigation and grass Grand Prix field. 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath house featuring high ceilings, spacious rooms plus indoor lap pool. Large swimming pool, bath house, and 2 bedroom tenant house. Entire property is maintained in excellent readyto-use condition. $2,800,000. Jim Thompson 540-687-3216

I N T E R N AT I O N A L O F F E R I N G

OATLANDS HAMLET, LEESBURG, VA

WINDAMERE FARM, MIDDLEBURG, VA

MONTE FINO, HILLSBORO, VA

54 acre estate owned by the same family for over 100 years. 6 bedroom, 5.5 bath main house; charming 3 bedroom, 3 bath stone guest house and 3 bedroom ranch house. Contiguous to the Oatlands Plantation estate and protected by the National Trust's ownership of that property as well as an easement in favor of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation on Oatlands Hamlet. $3,700,000. Gloria Armfield 540-687-2223

Windamere Farm, located in the Orange County Hunt, comprises 26+ acres improved by a well built, lovely brick house, seven stall brick stable, large metal building, 3 bay run-in and shed, garden house, 2 ponds and excellent fencing. A superb location with wonderful ride out. This is a first time offering of this special property. $2,850,000. Gloria Armfield 540-687-2223

Incredible sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains! Stone and glass house on 10 private acres north of Hillsboro, nestled into the side of a hill. Four bedrooms, state of the art systems, 10 foot ceilings, hardwood floors, game room, media room and exercise room. Well designed landscaping enhances the setting for this superb mountainside retreat. $1,675,000. Ruth Ripley 540-687-2222

I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E T W O R K S

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L O C A L A F F I L I AT E

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Jewelry by Cartier Fashion by Saks Jandel Photography by Clay Blackmore Branding and Design by Tim Kenney Makeup by Carola Myers Hair by Samantha Homed of George Bacchus Salon

INTERNATIONAL OFFERING

GEORGETOWN, WASHINGTON, DC

Totally renovated Federal features every conceivable amenity. 4 BR, 6 full & 2 half BAs; 7 fireplaces; double Living Room, carriage house with BR, BA & kitchen. Garage. $9,950,000 Heidi Hatfield 202-243-1634

Anne Hatfield Weir

202-243-1635

FOREST HILLS, WASHINGTON, DC

NEW LISTING! Spectacular West Coast sophistication. This 10,000 sf custom commission is unsurpassed in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Significant residence & pool house invite both intimate & large scale affairs. Breathtaking!

Liz Lavette Shorb

301-785-6300

INTERNATIONAL OFFERING

MASS AVE HEIGHTS, WASHINGTON, DC

1924 Estate with English-Influenced Architecture on 16,553 sf lot of mature landscaping. Guesthouse & Pool. Gracious principal rooms, 6 BR, 5 full & 3 half BA. $6,500,000

William F. X. Moody Robert Hryniewicki

202-243-1620

We are Proud to Announce

The Jennifer Harper Thornett Group has joined our firm INTERNATIONAL OFFERING Jennifer.Thornett@wfp.com 703-506-1500 Conrad “Bud” Harper 703-506-1900 Micah.Corder@wfp.com 703-506-1100 Heather.Holmes@wfp.com 703-506-1800

CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND

Spectacular French country home beautifully sited on .5 acre lot in sought-after Kenwood, grand formal rooms, impressive finishes, magnificent gardens, 6 bedrooms, 6.5 baths, 4 fireplaces, 3-car garage. $4,750,000

Lauren Davis

202-549-8784

INTERNATIONAL OFFERING

KENT, WASHINGTON, DC

Extraordinary 6yr old residence with gated drive & sunset views to VA. Best location in Kent, 5+ BR with en-suite BAs, Chef ’s Kitchen, 2-car Garage, sauna, gym, wine cellar, master with sitting room & 2 BAs. $4,295,000

Eileen McGrath

INTERNATIONAL OFFERING

RITZ RESIDENCES, WASHINGTON, DC

SPRING VALLEY, WASHINGTON, DC

KENT, WASHINGTON, DC

Ellen Morrell Patrick Chauvin Matthew B. McCormick

John Eric Christine Vanderhyde

Ellen Morrell Patrick Chauvin Matthew B. McCormick

NEW LISTING! 3BR+Den, 3.5BA residence with 2,700+ sf, LR & DR with floor to ceiling windows & garage pkg.

202-243-1616 202-243-1621 202-243-1651

GEORGETOWN, WASHINGTON, DC

HILLANDALE - Meticulously updated 4 BR + Den, 4.5 BA sunlit townhome with gourmet Kitchen, elegant entertaining areas, hardwood floors, fireplace, garage, pool & tennis, 24-hr gate. Pristine condition. $1,590,000

Carol Somerville

202-262-1671

Colonial with formal LR/DR, large Great Room opens into Kitchen, Large Master Suite, home has tons of natural light. 5 BR, 3 BA up, & large flat backyard. $2,499,000

202-567-0682 202-550-3398

MCLEAN, VIRGINIA

Elegant Tudor offers 6 BR, 6 full & 2 half BA. Sun-filled living & dining rooms overlook pool & patios. Soaring ceilings, family room & spacious BRs en suite. Wine cellar, exercise room, rec room & nanny/in-law suite! $1,495,000

Victoria Kilcullen

703-915-8845

202-253-2226

Fabulous renovation on 1/3+ acre lot with 3 en-suite BAs, 4+ BRs, expansive Living Room & Garage. $2,499,000

202-243-1616 202-243-1621 202-243-1651

BETHESDA, MARYLAND

This 5 yr young home in a desirable neighborhood features a wonderful floor plan, warm interior, 4 beautifully finished levels & quality detail throughout. An easy ride to VA & DC. Whitman. A great place to call home. $1,399,000

Traudel Lange

INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS • LOCAL AFFILIATE

240-463-6918

WASHINGTON, DC GEORGETOWN BETHESDA/CHEVY CHASE POTOMAC NORTHERN VIRGINIA WFP.COM

INTERNATIONAL OFFERING

K ALORAMA, WASHINGTON, DC

Grand Georgian residence built 1923. Complete and Meticulous renovation. Symmetry with equal sized LR & DR separated by grand foyer. High ceilings, spectacular architectural detail, 2-car attached garage. $5,500,000

Jim Bell

202-607-4000

Grand residence ideal for entertaining with secluded outdoor terrace & bar room. Master suite with 2 full baths & dressing room. Au pair suite with separate entrance & wine cellar on LL. 5 BR, 6.5 BA, 2 Car Garage. $4,995,000

Jim Bell

202-607-4000

202.944.5000 202.333.3320 301.222.0050 301.983.6400 703.317.7000

INTERNATIONAL OFFERING

DUPONT, WASHINGTON, DC

Classic Victorian of admired proportions. Lush master suite on entire 3rd level with cathedral ceilings, 2 walk-ins & dressing room. Professional grade kitchen. LL in-law suite. 2-Car garage. 7 fpls, 4 BR/3.5 BA. $2,395,000

Jim Bell

202-607-4000

We are Proud to Announce

The John Eric Group has joined our firm INTERNATIONAL OFFERING

WEST END/RITZ RESIDENCES

South Tower - Gracious 3,215 sf ‘Floor Thru’ Unit at the RitzCarlton. Large Living Room, Gourmet Kitchen, 2 balconies, Master Suite + 2 BR Suites. 2-car parking. $2,750,000

William F. X. Moody Robert Hryniewicki

202-243-1620

GEORGETOWN, WASHINGTON, DC

Elegant home with lovely, deep garden, spacious public rooms + family room, sun-filled Dining Room, 2 car garage & add’l parking. 2BRs & study up + LL BR & BA. $1,950,000

Heidi Hatfield Anne Hatfield Weir

202-243-1634 202-243-1635

CHEVY CHASE, WASHINGTON, DC

Classic home with charming front porch, Living Room with fireplace; Dining Room with beamed ceiling; sunny kitchen, 6BR, 4.5BA including in-law suite. $1,289,000

Heidi Hatfield Anne Hatfield Weir

John.Eric@wfp.com 202-274-4668 Christine.Vanderhyde@wfp.com 202-274-4663 Tomi.Smith@wfp.com 202-274-4693 Vinh.Ha@wfp.com 202-274-4695

202-243-1634 202-243-1635

INTERNATIONAL OFFERING

WESLEY HEIGHTS, WASHINGTON, DC

Expanded & renovated, 5 BR Colonial on 9,000 sf lot. Gourmet kitchen, heated pool, entertaining rooms open to logia.

Sally Marshall Ellen Morrell Matthew B. McCormick

CLARENDON, N ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

WEST END, WASHINGTON, DC

John Eric

Ellen Morrell Matthew B. McCormick

NEW PRICE! Renovated Farm House with a contemporary addition in sought-after Clarendon with 4BR, 4BA. Master suite with balcony, enclosed courtyard, large porch that spans the entire front of the proeprty. $1,900,000

703-798-0097

Brand New 2BR + Den, 2BA residence in sought after Columbia Residences with over 1,500 sf, 10’+ ceilings, floor to ceiling windows & garage parking. $1,095,000

CHEVY CHASE VILLAGE, MARYLAND

CAPITOL HILL, WASHINGTON, DC

Ellen Morrell Matthew B. McCormick Liz Lavette Shorb

Marilyn Charity

Handsome home on corner lot. 4BRs includes Master, 1st floor Family Room, LR & DR with bays, Sunroom & Garage.

202-243-1616 202-243-1651 301-785-6300

301-254-3020 202-243-1616 202-243-1651

202-243-1616 202-243-1651

BUTTERFIELD HOUSE - Historic new construction on Pennsylvania Ave. 5 units left with cascading light, stunning views, cherry floors & cabinets, granite kitchens & baths. $334,000 - $1,199,000

INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS • LOCAL AFFILIATE

202-427-7553

HOME LIFE | ART AND AUCTION

Icons of Glamour and Style The Constantiner Collection of Photographs sets a record at Christie’s New York BY RENÉE HARRISON DRAKE

he 2008 auction season at Christie’s photographer when a private buyer purchased ended on a high note with a it for $662,500. Newton’s signature combination spectacular sale of photographs of shrewd and witty social observations with perverse eroticism ensures that f ro m the his works command Constantiner Collection. top prices from serious The treasure trove of 318 collectors, and the photographs focusing Constantiners were on the interconnecting known to possess relationships between the largest and best media, fashion, and examples of his oeuvre. celebrity was the result of The photograph that years of astute collecting achieved the second by Leon and Michaela highest price was also by Constantiner. As noted Newton, “Big Nude III: by Phillippe Garner, Henrietta,” 1980, which international head of achieved $482,500. photog raphs, “The The Helmut Newton superb results achieved Bert Stern (b. 1929). Marilyn Monroe, “The Last Sitting,” 1962. Hand colored photographs in the for this collection demonstrate print, signed, dated and numbered. Sold collection achieved a the potential of works bought for $146,000 at Christie’s December 2008 sale of the Constantiner Collection. staggering $3,946,625 with passion and considerable of the total proceeds. connoisseurship to perform magnificently, even in the present uncertain Of the top ten highest prices achieved in the sale, half were works by Newton. Iconic photographs economic climate.” Photographs by Helmut Newton, a giant by Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Herb Ritts, in the annals of 20th century photography, led Peter Lindbergh and Andy Warhol were avidly the Dec. 16-17 single- collected by the Constantiners as well, and owner sale, which they also fared well in the sale. Richard Avedon (1923-2004). Gelatin silver print, signed and One of the most noticeable themes of the by the fall of the last numbered. Sold for $170,500 at gavel had achieved collection was Marilyn Monroe, an icon of Christies December 2008 sale of the Constantiner Collection. $7,721,875, a record glamour and tragedy who was seen through for a single-owner the lens of Warhol, André de Dienes, Tom sale of photography at Kelley, Elliott Erwitt, Eve Arnold, Garry Christie’s. Newton’s Winogrand, Milton Greene and Bert Stern.The “Sie Kommen (Naked Constantiners amassed the largest collection and Dressed),” 1981, of Monroe photographs ever to be sold at was estimated to auction, collectively achieving $802,250. The fetch between $400- highest price for a photograph of the actress $600,000 but ended in the sale was Bert Stern’s “The Last Sitting” up shattering the which achieved $146,500 – a world auction world auction record for a single lot of Monroe photographs. record for the The images were shot for American Vogue in

1962 shortly before Monroe’s untimely death. Other notable images that sold well included Avedon’s 1957 portrait of the actress, which achieved $56,250, de Dienes 1945-1949 portraits of the young Norma Jeane Baker on Tobay Beach, Long Island, which achieved $28,750 and Kelley’s famous 1949 color nude of Monroe on a red background featured in Playboy’s first “Sweetheart of the Month” issue, which sold for $18,750. Readers wishing to get in touch with Renée Drake can email: columns@washingtonlife.com.

ONASSIS JEWEL SALE

n what may have been the “sleeper” sale of the year, Christie’s London auctioned off jewelry belonging to the late Christina Onassis (1950-1988), daughter of Greek shipping mogul Aristotle Onassis, for $13.3 million in June. Christina’s daughter Athina Onassis, who consigned the pieces, was once hailed as “the richest Christina Onassis little girl in the world” wearing her 38 carat when she inherited the diamond necklace. collection along with a $2 billion fortune in 1988. But the heiress, now 23, reportedly told friends that such glittering paraphernalia of another era was irrelevant to her own lifestyle. Her low-key approach may be one reason why Christie’s did not widely publicize the auction or even publish a single-owner catalogue. Of the 44 items, the top lot was a necklace featuring a 38-carat, potentially flawless pear-shaped diamond, which went under the hammer for $7.1 million to a Middle Eastern buyer.

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

| F E B R U A R Y | washingtonlife.com

Embassy Row, DC

Georgetown, DC

Forest Hills, DC

Total renovation of 1890 town home is perfect for an embassy, cultural institution, foundation or private residence. Large scale formal rooms include double parlors with ﬁreplaces and baronial dining room. Separate family living quarters feature gourmet kitchen, family living room. Professional catering kitchen and custom wine cellar with 25002800 bottle capacity. Parking for 6-10 cars. 10 ﬁreplaces. $14,900,000

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. $30,000,000

Surrounded by over one acre of private professionally landscaped gardens, koi pond, expansive swimming pool, ﬂagstone patios, pool cabana, and rarely seen today, a crisp boxwood parterre. This exquisite and classic ﬁeldstone Tudor built in 1925 blends formal and casual spaces perfectly suited for today’s modern living and entertaining. $6,500,000

Maggie Shannon 202.486.4752 Michael Rankin 202.271.3344

Judy Lewis Hugh Oates

202.256.0522 202.257.5640

Michael Rankin Tessa Morris

202.271.3344 202.236.9543

Alexandria, VA

Mount Vernon, VA

Great Falls, VA

Hilltop mansion with breathtaking views of the Potomac River and Wilson Bridge. New construction masterpiece with the ﬁnest materials and craftsmanship. Exquisite gourmet kitchen w/adjoining family room, magniﬁcent master bedroom suite w/private deck, four additional bedrooms. Perched on a commanding summit in sought after Belle Haven. $3,150,000

Choose from two spectacular waterfront estates. Spacious homes with all the amenities including private docks. One seven bedroom, one six; all with en-suite baths. Both of these homes feature stunning landscaped outdoor spaces perfect for parties and al fresco dining overlooking the Potomac. Minutes from Old Town Alexandria.

Gracious custom French Colonial beautifully sited on 4.18 acres with separate barn, this Keswick-built home features 6200 sf of breathtaking design with exquisite construction of stone and hardiplank, conveniently located minutes to Great Falls Village. $2,595,000

Greg Gaddy David DeSantis

Stephanie White 703.489.5045

Judy Lewis 202.256.0522 Jonathan Taylor 202.276.3344

202.421.4734 202.438.1542

Chevy Chase, MD

Kenwood, MD

Chevy Chase, MD

Stunning Chevy Chase Village home has been tastefully renovated by the designer/owner. Features center hall foyer, gracious living room, formal dining room, family room with ﬁreplace and gourmet kitchen. Master bedroom suite offers ﬁreplace, two dressing rooms and his & hers baths. Custom-designed wine cellar, stone terrace and walkways, lush professional landscaping, pool, and two-car garage complete the property. $2,650,000

Magnificent 7BR, 5BA, 2HBA Colonial sited on a manicured lot backing to the Greenway and Capital Crescent Trail. Features include formal living and dining rooms, chef’s kitchen with professional series appliances opens to a light-filled great room with French doors to expansive stone terrace, pool and outdoor kitchen. Meticulously renovated throughout using the finest materials and craftsmanship. $4,750,000

Exceptional 1927 Colonial Revival estate in the heart of Chevy Chase Village designed by noted Washington DC architect Waddy B. Wood. This signiﬁcant ﬁeldstone residence has beautifully proportioned public rooms, ample bedrooms and luxurious baths. The heated pool and nearby pool house are surrounded by lush plantings and mature gardens. $3,799,000

Barbara Zuckerman 202.997.5977 Carrie Carter 202.421.3938

J.P. Montalvan Rick Leverrier

Michael Rankin

202.271.3344

www.ttrsir.com

McLean, VA 703.319.3344

301.922.3700 202.957.7777

Georgetown, Washington, DC 202.333.1212

Chevy Chase, MD 301.967.3344

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