Washington Life Magazine - Holiday 2005

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Sheila Johnson, Peter Bergen, Matt Cooper, Wonkette, Reliable Source Exclusives >>

WA S H I N G TO N ’ S P R E M I E R L U X U R Y L I F E S T Y L E M AG A Z I N E S I N C E 1 9 9 1

WL’S 2006 SOCIAL LIST

WITH COMMENTARY BY SUSAN WATTERS ANN GERACIMOS, & KEVIN CHAFFEE

MICHAEL DARBY, ANTHONY LANIER, AND MONTY HOFFMAN: REINVENTING WASHINGTON ONE CONDO AT A TIME

DECEMBER 2005 • $3.50

WASHINGTON LIFE

PLUS VERNON JORDON JOANN MASON TANNER CAMPBELL ON THE COVER: PAIGE AND SHEILA JOHNSON

HOLIDAY GETAWAYS IN TAHITI AND PARIS

& PARTIES, PARTIES, PARTIES!

WASHINGTON LIFE

CONTENTS D E C E M B E R /J A N U A R Y COVER STORY

INTERVIEW WITH SHEILA JOHNSON

STYLE & STATUS

POOCHES & THEIR PAPAS

SOCIETY

THE SOCIAL LIST

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT

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GOSSIPING WITH THE RELIABLE SOURCES

HISTORY Donna Evers on George Washington . . . . .

TEN TO DO in the Holiday Season . . . . . . . . . .

WL SPONSORED AND SUPPORTED EVENTS The National Building Museum Celebrates 25 Years

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Girls Night Out at Muleh . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Freer and Sackler Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

National Italian American Foundation Gala . . . . . . .

The Washington International Horse Show Shopping Fun at Hysteria

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PARTIES A Thanksgiving Celebration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DC Cares Honors Jim Kimsey . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Meridian Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Gold Cup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FEATURES MEDIA SPOTLIGHTS

A conversation with N.C. Aizenman and Peter Bergen . . . .

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Ana Marie Cox,The Wonkette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Pat Mitchell on Public TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ARTS AND CULTURE

Mark Seliger’s Celebrity Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Gen. Peter Pace‘s Birthday Celebration. . . . . . . . . .

Best Buddies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Lombardi Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

20 Years of Perestroika . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Opening of Artefacto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Washington Chorus Salutes Diane Rehm . . . . . .

Louis Freeh Book Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

CALENDAR OF EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FYIDC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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AROUND TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cocktails and Conversation at Sarah Lenti’s . . . . . . .

Winston Lord’s Birthday Bash . . . . . . . . . . . . .

National Museum of Women in the Arts Gala . . . . . .

Birthday Gathering for Paul Wharton . . . . . . . . . .

The Tobin’s Party for Michael Vollbracht . . . . . . . . .

Strand on Volta’s Video Exhibition Event. . . . . . . . .

COLUMNS WHAT’S HOT Holiday Gift Guide . . . . . . . . . .

INSIDE HOMES Bungalow 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

GIFT GUIDE Luxury Toys for Very Good Boys . . . . .

DESIGN

POLLYWOOD Comedy Central . . . . . . . . . . .

Q& A CAFÉ with Carol Joynt and Matt Cooper . . . .

CHARITY Our Voices Together . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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REAL ESTATE AND DESIGN

Contemporary and Classic, Monika Apponyi von Eichel . . .

OPEN HOUSE

Extraordinary Condos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE

THE DISH Holiday Favorites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Anthony Lanier, Monty Hoffman, Michael Darby . . . . .

HOTEL WATCH Kevin Chaffee at Hotel de Crillon . .

REAL ESTATE NEWS

TRAVEL Tahiti and Her Beautiful Isles . . . . . . . . .

Who’s Buying and Who’s Selling . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SNAPS FROM TOP Rep. Ed Markey, Dr. Susan Blumenthal and James Billington at the Meridian Ball § General Peter Pace at his birthday. § Models at the Freer and Sackler Gala CORRECTION In the November issue,WL incorrectly identified Nichelle, Frank and Barbara Ann Robinson as Mary Alice Haney and Mae Haney Grennan and General Manager Jim Bowden was incorrectly identified as a coach at the Nationals’ Diamond Gala. In addition,WL Fashion Editor Barbara McConaghy was inadvertently left off as stylist for the “Horse Country Fashion Shoot.�

WL regrets the errors.

COV E R PH OTO BY LU CIE N CAP EH A RT

TREND REPORT Trendy Jewels in Gold and Black . .

EXPERIENCE THE FINEST

DESIGNER FURS

Féraud • Michael Kors Zac Posen • Guy LaRoche Mary McFadden • Zuki Oscar de la Renta Carolina Herrera Zandra Rhodes Vera Wang Bisang

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Nancy Reynolds Bagley MANAGING EDITOR

Melissa Nolan COPY EDITOR

Claudia Krieger STYLE EDITOR

Alison Lukes FASHION EDITOR

Barbara McConaghy COLUMNISTS

Mary Mewborn, Donna Shor CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & EDITORS

N.C. Aizenman, Mary Bird, Janet Donovan, Donna Evers, Carol Joynt, Nora Macoby, Pat Mitchell, Chris Murray, Gene Stuerle, Monika Apponyi von Eichel ART DIRECTOR

Anas Ruhman CREATIVE CONSULTANT

Wayne M. DeSelle CONTRIBUTING GRAPHIC ARTISTS

Elizabeth Demers, Dawn Kamper, Kathy Prisco, Amy Simpson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Lucien Capehart, Zaid Hamid, Immanuel Jayachandran, Jonah Koch,Vicky Pombo, Kyle Samperton, Douglas Sonders EDITORIAL INTERN

Kathryn Hinden DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING

Audrey Weppler ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Tara deNicolas, Alexandra Misci ACCOUNT ASSOCIATE

Robyn Weinstein PUBLIC RELATIONS & ASSISTANT EDITOR

Katie Tarbox MARKETING & CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Charlotte Grassi EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Heather Guay CONTROLLER

Catherine Sumner WEB TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPMENT

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6900 Wisconsin Ave Chevy Chase, MD 301.656.3877 Tysons Galleria McLean, VA 703.734.3877

Ernesto Gluecksmann, Infamia, Inc. PUBLIC RELATIONS INTERN

Adenike Olanrewaju

PUBLISHER

Vicki Bagley

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Soroush Richard Shehabi

CHAIRMAN, EXECUTIVE BOARD

Gerry Byrne

King of Prussia, PA and New York www.millersfurs.com

Washington Life magazine: Celebrating Washington’s Social Scene and Power Elite, publishes nine times a year. Issues are distributed in February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, and December and are hand-delivered on a rotating basis to over 120,000 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 $24 (one year) to: Washington Life Magazine, 2301 Tracy Place, NW, Washington D.C., 20008 To post or view events on our interactive online social calendar, visit www.washingtonlife.com and click on “social calendar.” To contribute ideas or provide feedback Email us at info@washingtonlife.com with press releases, tips and editorial comments. Copyright ©2005 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. Magazine format by Wayne DeSelle Design / www.deselle.com

Editor’s Letter

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his holiday season Santa is checking his list twice for those who have been naughty, and for others who have been nice. At WL, we’ve been checking a little list of our own—our Social List that is, and are pleased to announce that this year’s roster includes many veterans, and a few first-timers.

WL’s Social List isn’t just a roster of wealthy people who like to go to parties. In fact, most of them don’t hail from old families or have ancestors who served in the cabinets of 19th century presidents. There are “cave-dwellers,” to be sure and “bluebloods” from Boston, Philadelphia and New York; the majority, however, represent a meritocracy of achievement in many areas, people who do not hesitate to support the many philanthropic institutions that make this city one of the most fascinating places to live in the world. The list is certainly not complete, nor will it ever be, but it is our best effort to recognize and thank those listed for their many social contributions.

Since our last issue, Washington Life has sponsored numerous events featuring the best and brightest in Washington society and the many deserving causes they support. The sold-out WLWL Fashion Editor Barbara McConaghy, WL Executive Board Chairm an sponsored Freer and Sackler Gala attracted many prominent Gerry Byne with Nancy Bagley at the Freer and Sackler Gala Washingtonians and New Yorkers for an elegant dinner and exhibition of Ottoman-era fashions. Over 800 guests celebrated the WL-sponsored National Building Museum’s 25th Anniversary as a leading center of architecture and design. The WL-sponsored prominent men about town and their best friends…er, pooches. Speaking about Starlight Starbright Ball at the Four Seasons raised record amounts to cheer up accessories, Alison Lukes picks out some of the best holiday season jewelry in hospitalized children. In addition, we were happy to support Girls Night Out her Trend Report while Monika Apponyi von Eichel discloses her design secrets and Muléh’s fundraiser benefiting the Washington Women’s Collective. for contemporary and classic furniture, and architects Theo Adamstein and Olvia Demetriou of A+D Designs invite WL into their home for a tour The WL-sponsored Washington International Horse Show brought worldof their beautiful renovation. class equestrian excitement to the MCI Center. We cheered on Paige Johnson, And don’t forget to leave room on your holiday calendar for the Washington daughter of Bob Johnson and our December cover girl, Shelia Johnson, who Ballet’s Nutty or Nice Ball on December 9, and the Choral Arts Society of discusses her children, recent re-marriage, and current entrepreneurial projects Washington’s annual Christmas bash on December 11. with Washington Life.

This month we also feature The Washington Post’s “Reliable Sources:” Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts, who have a frank discussion with us about the gossip industry and “confidential” sources. Our feature, Q&A Café also includes confidential sources as Carol Joynt grills Time magazine reporter Matt Cooper about his role in the identity leak of the CIA agent Valerie Plame.

N.C. Aizenman and Peter Bergen then share the latest on Bergen’s forthcoming book about 9/11 architect, Osama bin Laden.

As we look forward to the New Year, we are pleased that you will find WL on the stands of many local newsstands and grocery stores, including Whole Foods, Faber Newsstands, and at airports and train stations on the Eastern seaboard.

From all of us at WL, we wish you a happy holiday and new year!

Cheers!

For our holiday style spectacular, Sen. Bill Frist, Jack Valenti and other Washingtonians kick off our “Home for the Holidays” fashion spread featuring

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CONTRIBUTORS

NURITH AIZENMANN

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N.C.Aizenman was The Washington 1 Post’s Afghanistan Correspondent for most of 2005.A five-year veteran of the paper, she will take on coverage of Central America and Central American immigrant communities in 2006. Before joining The Washington Post,Aizenman was Executive Editor of The New Republic magazine, an editor at The Washington Monthly, and an associate producer at CNN.

MONIKA APPONYIVON EICHEL Monika Apponyi-von Eichel has worked as an interior designer for over 25 years and successfully executed projects throughout Europe and the U.S. Her work includes banks, hotels, golf clubs and private homes. Her work has been featured in House and Garden in Spain, Great Britain, Germany, as well as Architectural Digest and various interior design books such as the Andrew Martin’s book Interior Design Review. She has received various prizes in interior design competitions in London.

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MARY BIRD After heading up the translating 3 division at the U.S. Department of State, Mary Bird has pursued her interest in journalism and fashion, writing for publications including The Georgetowner, which features her regular social column Bird’s Eye View.

JANET DONOVAN 4

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Janet Donovan is the founder and president of Creative Enterprises International, a Washington, D.C. publicity firm whose clients include celebrities, authors, politicians and publications. She created and hosted The Beltway Broads radio show and writes the column Hollywood on the Potomac.

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DONNA EVERS 5

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Donna Evers has more than 28 years experience in residential real estate in the Washington Metro marketplace. She was one of the most successful sales agents in the area before starting her own company, and, now as the principal of Evers & Co., manages a team of award-winning agents.

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CAROL JOYNT 6

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Carol Joynt, a former producer for Larry King, Charlie Rose

PAT MITCHELL

and Chris Matthews, is the owner of the popular Georgetown restaurant Nathans.

After 9/11, Joynt began hosting monthly neighborhood power lunches called Q & A Cafe.With such guests as Tom Brokaw, Dan Snyder, and Tim Russert, the lunches feature the city’s best known figures speaking candidly in an intimate atmosphere.When not at Nathans, Joynt focuses her time on her priorities: raising her son, Spencer, their dog, Leo, and their bird, Ozzy, as well as writing her memoir, “Innocent Spouse.”

Pat Mitchell was named the first woman president and chief executive officer of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in March 2000 after a long and respected career in commercial broadcasting and cable. In her three-decade career in media, Mitchell has worked for NBC, CBS, and ABC as, respectively, a network correspondent, a news anchor, and a producer/ host of an Emmy award-winning talk program. After working as an independent executive producer, Mitchell joined Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., where she was president of the original programming division of CNN. Her work has been recognized with 37 Emmys and five Peabody Awards and two Academy Award nominations.

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ALISON LUKES After landing her dream job at Michael Kors and spending four and a half years in New York and Paris, Alison Lukes, WL’s style editor, returned to Washington ready to dress the city’s power players. As a personal stylist, she helps many of the city’s best dressed women find the appropriate and chic wardrobe. She heads up her own company, Alison Lukes et Cie. www. alisonlukes.com

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CHRIS MURRAY After earning his B.A. degree in philosophy at Georgetown University, Chris Murray founded Govinda Gallery in 1975, also in Georgetown. Exhibition highlights have included Andy Warhol, with whom the gallery was closely associated: the first exhibition of Annie Leibowitz’s photographs; and a 20th Anniversary exhibition featuring photographs of Mohammed Ali by Howard Bingham. Govinda Gallery publishes catalogues for many of its exhibitions, which Murray edit.

Govinda Gallery celebrated its 30th anniversary this fall.

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NORA MACCOBY Born in Mexico City, Nora Maccoby is nevertheless, a true DC native. A violin student of Sheila Johnson from ages five to eighteen, she went on to form the art pop band ‘Swimteam’ in Los Angeles, and ‘the Visionary Orchestra’, a fusion of Indian Raga music, Scottish fugues, and punk rock, while living in Grenada, the West Indies. She is a gnostic scholar, an award winning filmmaker and screenwriter (Buffalo Soldiers, Bongwater) and co-founder of the non-partisan, non-profit energy literacy initiative, Nature’s Partners.

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GENE STEUERLE

BARBARA MCCONAGHY Barbara McConaghy, Washington Life fashion editor is a nationally recognized stylist, fashion show producer and editor. In upcoming issues she’ll share her views on Washington men’s and women’s fashion, and the city’s celebrity style. Her work has appeared in Elle and Detour magazines, and locally in the Washingtonian, Baltimore Magazine, DC Style and special sections of The Washington Post. She has produced national tours for YM and Seventeen magazines and dressed such stars as Lauren Hutton, Brandy, and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

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

Co-founder of Our Voices Together, a senior fellow at The Urban Institute, codirector of the UrbanBrookings Tax Policy Center, columnist for Tax Notes, and author or editor of 11 books, more than 150 reports and articles, 50 Congressional testimonies or reports, and 600 columns. He serves on the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics and on advisory panels or boards for the Congressional Budget Office, the General Accounting Office, the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Actuarial Foundation, and the Independent Sector.

Dr. Steuerle has also undertaken various missions for the International Monetary Fund to China, Singapore, and Slovakia, and the government of Barbados undertook a tax reform effort modeled after a report he coauthored.

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C A L E N D A R

Visit Washingtonlife.com’s extensive online social calendar to view hundreds of other galas and events by category, or to post your own event and to have it considered for the print social calendar and the annual balls and galas directory.

DECEMBER

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SPIRIT OF LIBERTY CELEBRATION will honor

actress Sharon Stone, NEA president Reg Weaver, and Progressive Insurance CEO/ Chairman Peter Lewis. Guests will enjoy a reception, dessert and entertainment by Linda Eder with proceeds benefiting People For the American Way. 7:30 p.m., Kennedy Center; $250/ticket; contact (202) 467-2351

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JINGLE IN THE JUNGLE

Young Professional event benefiting giant panda conservation research. hors d’oeuvres provided by La Tasca and festive drinks. 6 to 9 pm., Smithsonian National Zoo; $25 for members, $35 for nonmembers; visit www.fonz.com/afterhours.htm

panel of activists speaking about their personal experiences with human rights challenges in their respective countries moderated by CNN International’s Zain Verjee.

Dinner and dancing, 5:30 p.m.9:00 p.m., The Capital Hilton Hotel; $250/ticket; contact (202) 822-4600

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NUTTY OR NICE BALL The Washington Ballet’s Nutty or Nice Ball includes a festive evening of SPONSORED dancing following the opening night performance of Septime Webre’s “The Nutcracker.” Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and dancing after the performance. 6 p.m. reception, 7

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p.m.-9 p.m. dancing, The Willard Intercontinental Hotel; visit www. washingtonballet.org or contact (202) 362-3606

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WOMEN’S AUXILIARY STARLIGHT BALL

benefits the Hebrew Home’s annual Guardian Campaign. The event includes cocktails, dinner, dancing to the music of Spectrum and door prize awards. 7 p.m., Ritz Carlton, 1150 22nd Street, N.W.; black-tie; $400/couple; visit www. hebrew-home.org or contact (301) 770-8351

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CHORAL ARTS SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON

Christmas concert, silent auction, dinner and dancing to benefit the annual SPONSORED activities of the Choral Arts Society. 6 p.m.-1 a.m.,

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Mandarin Oriental Washington; black-tie; $475/person; contact (202) 244-3669

AN EVENING IN VIENNA An

elegant evening of Viennese waltzing, polkas, champagne, and authentic Austrian desserts to benefit The Hospitality and Information Service of Washington (THIS) is a nonprofit organization encouraging improved international understanding by providing educational, informational, and recreational opportunities to official representatives of foreign governments residing in Washington. 6 p.m. champagne reception, 7 p.m. ceremonies, Meridian House International, 1630 Crescent Place, N.W.; black-tie or national dress; $85/ticket; contact Mrs. Robert Bocek at (703) 528-0487

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SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM BENEFIT

celebrates American art and artists to benefit the museum’s educational programs.

Gourmet hors SPONSORED d’oeuvres, cocktails, silent auction and live music in the Grand Salon. Patrons

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Reception, 6p.m.-7p.m., Benefit, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Grand Salon of the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum; $200 for Art Patrons, $100 for Art Friends; contact (202) 275-1584

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GLOBAL RIGHTS INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY DINNER features a

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Rachael Pearson, Sen. Gordon Smith and Nini Ferguson at the Choral Arts Christmas Gala, 2004

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JANUARY

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WASHINGTON ANTIQUES ROADSHOW brings PBS’s

“Antiques Road Show” to the District. Learn about your favorite antiques from dealers exhibiting at the show. Proceeds will benefit The Thrift Shop.

Antique Roadshow

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WOMEN TO WATCH AWARDS Join 10

remarkable Jewish women from across the nation and 2005 Community Leadership Honoree Rosalyn Levy Jonas to recognize women of leadership and courage in their Jewish and professional communities. Lunch and awards ceremony with proceeds benefiting women’s economic security worldwide.

9:45-11:00a.m “Up Close and Personal” with the honorees, 10:45-11:30 a.m registration and networking, 11:30 a.m. -2 p.m luncheon, Mandarin Oriental Hotel; $100/person, $1,000/ table of 10; contact (202) 857-1300

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HEALTHY HOLIDAY WINE TASTING Taste and

learn all the healthy benefits of drinking wine at this delightful event. The wine tasting and free full day of fitness (8a.m.-6p.m.) is open to the general public and will include complementary wines from Best Cellars Dupont Circle and a wine discussion on healthy wine benefits from Jim Barker, president of the Washington Wine Academy.

8am to 6pm, Fitness Hours, 3pm to 6pm, Wine Tasting; 2121 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.; free; contact (202) 965-2121

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Thursday 11 a.m.-7p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m., The Omni Shoreham Hotel Regency Ballroom, 2500 Calvert Street, N.W.; $15 one-day pass, $25 four-day pass; visit www. washingtonantiques.org

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THE EMBASSY SERIES MOZART’S TH BIRTHDAY FESTIVAL includes

three nights of prominent vocalists and musicians celebrating the achievements of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Mezzo-soprano Elizabeth von Magnus and The Minetti Quartet will demonstrate Austria’s devotion to the beloved composer. Receptions follow each program. 8 p.m., Embassy of Austria, 3524 International Drive, N.W.; $45; contact Jerome Barry at (301) 587-7976

Jeffrey and Juleanna Weiss at the Opera’s Midwinter Gala, 2004

FEBRUARY

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INTER-AMERICAN ECONOMIC COUNCIL WINTER GALA will honor R.

Allen Stanford, Chairman and CEO of the Stanford Financial Group, with the Council’s 2006 Excellence in Leadership Award.

Culinary feast, impressive wines and dancing. Proceeds benefit the Inter-American Economic Council’s programs to alleviate poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean. 6:30 p.m., Organization of American States; black-tie; $500; contact (202) 548-0400

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CATHOLIC CHARITIES FOUNDATION GALA will

Mozart Music

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be sponsored by the Catholic Charities Foundation, a private

network of social service organizations in the United States working to support families, reduce poverty, and build communities. Reception, dinner and dancing. Time TBA, The Washington Hilton; Price TBA; contact (202) 772-4392

WASHINGTON OPERA MIDWINTER GALA will feature

“Midwinter Gala in the City of Edo”, presented by the Woman’s Committee. Cocktails, live and silent auctions, SPONSORED dinner, and dancing.

Cocktails and silent auction,

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7:00 p.m., dinner and live auction, 8:30 p.m., dancing until midnight, Mellon Auditorium; $175 for patrons under age 40, $500 and above for others; contact (202) 295-2486

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Lisa Erlanger, Jeff Coopersmith with Emma Coopersmith and Esther Coopersmith

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peruvian Amb. Eduardo Ferrero Costa, Veronica Ferrero Costa, Luisa de Icaza and Mexican amb. carlos de icaza

THANKSGIVING P H OTO S BY I M M A N U E L J AYA C H A D R A N

TURKEY TIME Washington Life visited with many local families who wanted to share their Thanksgiving with us, including the Cudlips and Damgards, and Esther Coopersmith, whose annual Thanksgiving feast has become a tradition for the diplomatic corps. welcoming new ambassadors to the United States. Coopersmith opened her doors to Ambassadors Frank Mckenna of Canada, Carlos de Icaza of Mexico, Mohamed Nejib Hachana of Tunisia, Luis

Fabiola Gallegos and ecuadorian Amb. Luis Gallegos

tunisian amb. mohamed Nejib hachana and delenda hachana

Julie McKenna and canadian Amb. Frank McKenna

Derek Farwagi, Marcelle Wahba and cyprus Amb. Euripides Evriviades

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Gallegos of Ecuador, and Eduardo Ferrero Costa of Peru for her traditional turkey dinner.

carolyn frist, Teddy damgard, john damgard, lindsey page, britty cudlip, mary brittain cudlip, blakely page, julie frist, tommy frist, annabel frist, bo Page

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Meredith Ware and Lincoln Brown

Ann and Vernon Jordan

Luis Moreno and Laura Ingraham

S PA R K A C H A N G E , K I M S E Y H O N O R E D PHOTOS BY ZAID HAMID

Jim Kimsey

CHAIN CHAIN CHANGE On October 21, Greater DC Cares honored James V. Kimsey, founding CEO and chairman of America Online at the Kennedy Center for his many philanthropic efforts, revitalizing the D.C.

public school system and local neighborhoods. ยง PROMINENT COMPANY Event chairmen Joseph E. Robert, Jr. and Donald E. Graham joined CEO of Greater DC Cares Siobhan Canty in welcoming Steve Case, Linda Cropp, Sam

Donaldson, Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., Susie Kay from Hoop Dreams, Tom Lewis of the Fishing School, Fred Malek, Her Majesty Queen Noor, Brig Owens, Alma Powell, Jack Valenti, and George Vradenburg.

- Pamela Sorenson

Bill Dunlap, David Trigiani, Dan Marshall, Brig Owens and David Connelly

Tom Mcmillen

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Mary Margaret and Jack Valenti

Jan smith and Sam Donaldson

Alma Powell

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William howard Taft III, janet taft, Cathy Merrill and Ellie Merrill

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Marjorie Billington, Susan Smith, Sen. Gordon Smith and James Billington

Caren Braun and Jack Helm

MERIDIAN BALL PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

Rep. Ed Markey and Susan Blumenthal

EMBASSY HOPPING “It gets be er every year,” Meridian Ball hosts Walter and Didi Cutler jointly exclaimed as they welcomed over 600 guests to the 37th Annual Meridian ball on October 2. Thirty embassies hosted seated dinners before guests made their way to the Meridian International Center. § MOON-

LIGHT JAZZ The Washington Jazz Arts Institute’s ensemble and a swing band energized the scene as Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and her husband John danced along side fellow Justices Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Also spo ed: U.S. A orney General Alberto Gonzales, Sens. Chuck Ha-

Lebanese Amb. Farid Abboud andCidunt Rim Abboud Vullutat dole

French Amb. Jean David Levitte, MarieCecile Levitte and Isabel Ernst

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gel and Gordon Smith, Rep. Edward Markey and Susan Blumenthal. The event raised more than $500,000 to help promote global outreach in exchange and arts programs. § SPECIALTY FARE Icleand’s Ambassador Helgi Agutsson said that he actually caught the salmon that he served at his residence.

Pat Oxley and Rep. Mike Oxley

Sassy Stieffel and Michelle Maddox

Amy and Brett Baire and Alison Hodge

Nancy Coffey and Dennis Lockhardt

Nada Simonyi and Hungarian Amb. Andras Simonyi

Helgi Walker and Maldwin Drummond

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Colleen Hahn, Evelyn Keyer, Anissa Lubin and Joanna Banks

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David holiday, Hope Bass and stuart holiday

Michael and Holly Muldoon

A N D T H E Y ’ R E O F F AT T H E G O L D C U P !

PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

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VIRGINIA IS FOR HORSE LOVERS A er a week of constant rain the skies filled with abundant sunshine for over 24,000 spectators who descended upon Great Meadow near The Plains, Virginia, to celebrate the fall International Gold Cup Steeplechase Racing Classic. § CHAMPAGNE TOASTS Country tweeds, the

changing color of autumn leaves and an elegant Hunt Country backdrop set an outdoor stage that was admired by all. Jockeys hailing from five different countries competed for purses in excess of $100,000 during the seven nationally sanctioned races, which boasted a record number of horses in the field. § WINNERS CIRCLE Randolph

Jennifer Cheadle, Chuck Ghoorah, Shannon Brewer, John Cecchi and Nancy Margaret Rey

Robin Keys

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Annabell and Talbot Rice

D. Rouse’s Fields of Omagh ridden by Tom Foley took home the famed Gold Cup trophy and its $35,000 purse. Kate Sandhoff won the time-honored tailgate competition for her hunt country cocktails and cuisine and over-the-top decorations. She received two first-class roundtrip tickets aboard American Airlines to a destination of her choice.

race for the finish

Osmar Nunez and Sara Mohamedian

Cathy Kerkem and Mike Ferrell

Sterling Young

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Natalia Simonora and Chip Dent

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Saudi Amb. Prince Turki Al-Faisal

T O P B R A S S B I R T H D AY B A S H PHOTOS BY VICKY POMBO

BIRTHDAY BASH On November 9, over 100 friends and family gathered at the residence of Kuwaiti Ambassador Salem Al-Sabah and his wife Rima to celebrate Marine Corps General Peter Pace’s 60th birthday and his swearing-in as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Armed Forces six weeks previously.

What Pace assumed would be a small affair turned out to be a grand tribute to his 38 years in the Corps.

Supreme Court justices, CEO’s, cabinet secretaries, media celebrities, and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle joined in the fun. § MOVING AND SHAKING Presidential guru Karl

Rove, intelligence czar John Negroponte, Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy, Diane Williams, Leo and Grega Daly, Gen. Joe Ralston, Rep. John Dingell, and Pace’s predecessor, Gen. Richard Myers, enjoyed the meal as well as the floorshow, when a Middle Eastern dancer wove in between tables hypnotizing them with her savvy moves. § OVERHEARD While waiting in the valet line, guests were overheard chuckling at the irony of an exotic dancer covering Rove and Negraponte with her veil.

rima al-sabah

Lloyd Hand, Justice Anthony Kennedy and Gen. Richard Myers

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Kuwaiti Amb. Salem Al-Sabah, Gen. Peter Pace and Michael Chertoff

Jane Stanton Hitchcock and Cecile Zilkha

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Diane Williams, Franco Nuschese and Debbie Dingell

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Bobby Shriver, Nancy Keil, Mark Shriver and Sydney McKelvey

B E S T B U D D I E S A S I A N E X T R AVA G A N Z A

BY J A N E T D O N O VA N PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

WHO’S YOUR BUDDY? The fact that Allie LaForce (Miss Teen USA), Chelsea Cooley (Miss USA} and Natalie Glebova (Miss Universe) share an apartment in New York City doesn’t necessarily mean they’re “best buddies,” but they did show up together at the Potomac home of Sargent and Eunice Shriver to celebrate the 17th Annual Best Buddies Ball on October 15th looking like a scene out of Sex and the City.

If it weren’t for the adjacent private rooms where Kennedy family memorabilia enthralled many of the guests, you would have thought you were in Chinatown. And if it weren’t for the lack of a costume it would have been hard to distinguish the fun loving Sarge from the

Chinese Lion and New Year’s dragon dancers with whom he frolicked in between photo shoots. § ASIAN AFFAIR The “Asian Affair” theme made for a colorful scene which made it possible to pair a buddy with an intellectual disability and one without for one-to-one friendships. Still stunning “Dallas” star Linda Gray didn’t at all resemble her semipathetic character on the long running TV series which pi ed her against Hollywood big shot Larry Hagman in the role of her S.O.B. “husband” J.R. The evening got even more raucous when so -rock Grammy winner Cyndi Lauper kept the neighbors awake, including those on sleeping pills. Most popular decision of the night: Having a driver.

local talent

bob and rose cohen

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Rep. Joanna Emerson, Dorothy Blunt, Lisa Lambert, abby pearlman, nancy taylor bubes and allison bernstein

C. Edward Taylor and Diane Brown Vullutat Cidunt dole

Vullutat Cidunt dole

Leslie Greer and Winston Bao Lord

Jack Davies

Bennett Zeir, Marsha Ralls and Chris Kelly

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Tom and Katie Cunningham

Dan Jansen, Peggy Fleming, and Karen Jansen

LOMBARDI GALA WORKS MIRACLES PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

Frank and Susan Keating

Laurie Lapeyre and Margaret Hodges

Fred Parker and Tiffany Cole

WINTER WONDERLAND With sparkle-covered white branches, frosty blue fabric and icicles dangling everywhere, the Washington Hilton has rarely looked as beautiful as it did for the 20th Lombardi Gala on October 29. The festive décor was also inspired by honorees Peggy Fleming, an Olympic gold medalist and breast cancer survivor, and Dan Jansen,

an Olympic speed skater who lost a sister, Jane, to leukemia.

Both have been major supporters of cancer research and have, through their foundations, helped create awareness of the disease.

Fleming, who owns a vineyard, has a special label called Victories Rose, and donates 45 percent of sales to cancer research. § IN THE SPIRIT Frank and Kathy

Keating co-chaired the event that a racted over 1,200 guests and raised over $1.2 million to benefit Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Career Center. Spo ed: Fred and Marlene Malek, Margaret Hodges, Don Nickles, Tom Ridge, Carolyn and Michael Deaver, Vincent Lombardi, III and Australian Ambassador Dennis Richardson.

John Phillips, George and Trish Vrandenburg

Zoe Barbey and Frank Phillips

THE BUILDING MUSEUM’S 25TH PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

THE “BUILDING BUILDING” The National Building Museum’s Great Hall was draped in lush silver fabric for the museum’s 25th anniversary celebration featuring dancing and fireworks on October 29. Theo Adamstein and Olvia Demetriou, Gary Haney, Douglas Burton and Sharon and Jim Todd

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Christopher Ralston were among the 700 architects, builders and community leaders who came to honor the museum as a center for innovative design and architecture. The evening raised $200,000, which will be used for special exhibitions and educational programs. § Jose Bordon, Chris Dorral, Carolyn Brody, and Monica Bordon

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rep. james moran, bob bennett and fred levine

Susan Blumenthal

P E R E S T R O I K A : T W E N T Y Y E A R S L AT E R PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

MEETING OLD FRIENDS Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev described the 20th Anniversary of Perestroika celebration on October 21 as “a meeting of old friends.”

Friends who included former President Bill Clinton, former Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Madeleine Albright, media titan Ted Turner, actress Shirley MacLaine and Nobel laureate Be y Williams.

The Gorbachev and Frank Foundations hosted the dinner for 200 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which was also the scene of a symposium on the success of Perestroika in ending Soviet rule in Russia. “I would not be making a mistake to say that Perestroika won.

It succeeded,” Gorbachev said. § GRAMMY AWARD WINNERS Clinton joked that

his friendship with Gorbachev is due to a Grammy Award they won last year for a recording of “Peter and the Wolf” which they had produced together with actress Sophia Loren for charity. Clinton said, “It was obvious from the beginning with Perestroika blooming in Russia, there was a new openness, a new sense of freedom, a new leader.” § A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC The evening concluded with a piano recital by Andrei Garvilov, who successfully urged Gorbachev to allow him to stay in the West without having to request political asylum. This allowed him to make his debut at Carnegie Hall in 1985. He is now considered to be one of the finest pianists of the 20th Century.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Russian Amb. Yuri Ushakov and Svetlana Ushakova

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former President Bill Clinton and Madeleine Albright

Diane Gallagher and Irina Gorbachev

Ted Turner and Susan Levine

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ARTEFACTO LOGO AND SIGNAGE

Caitlin Shaw and Charles Bailey

L AT I N F L AV O R H E AT S UP M STREET PHOTOS BY DOUGLAS SONDERS

CARNIVALE IN GEORGETOWN Over 100 friends of Artefacto owner Paul Bacchi flew directly from Brazil to celebrate the recent opening of the newest branch of the sleek furniture emporium that began in South America and now has a location on M Street, N.W. Anthony Lanier, Steve and Becky O’Brien, and Iraklis and Yasmine Karabassis joined over 500 interior designers, architects and tastemakers for exotic lime cocktails, champagne and hot salsa beats, while admiring Artefacto’s

internationally acclaimed and award-winning modern, minimalist furniture imported directly from the company’s flagship store in Sao Paulo. § MARKING A MILESTONE “This is the capital of the world!

There is nowhere better to celebrate our 30th anniversary than right here,” explained Bacchi, whose father started the chain in 1976. Since Artefacto’s first store opened, the chain has expanded to 18 other locations in South America, Mexico, Portugal, the Dominican Republic and Florida. www.artefacto.com

RED CARPET OUTSIDE OF ARTEFACTO?

Paulo Bacchi

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ARTEFACTO DISPLAY?

Donata Syriani and Quinn Murph

Lona Alia, Mariya Isayeva and Lisa Spengler

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Lou and Daniela deandrade

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F .Y. I . D.C .

DINING

FOGO DE CHÃO OPENS

FASHION

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ne of the newest restaurants on Washington’s dining scene is Fogo de Chão, a traditional Brazilian steakhouse opening this month at 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Fogo de Chão pays homage to the Southern Brazilian cowboy tradition of roasting large chunks of meat over open-flamed pits.

The chef then carves tableside at diners’ requests. Traditional Brazilian side dishes such as sweet fried bananas and hot polenta are also guaranteed to tantalize taste buds. Guests can select a prix-fixe lunch menu for $24.50 or dinner menu for $44.50. In addition to four successful restaurants in Brazil, Fogo de Chão has locations in Dallas, Chicago, Beverly Hills, Atlanta and Houston. www.fogodechao.com

URBAN CHIC’S NEW STORE

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A

Fogo De Chão’s delicious Brazilian fare can be presented tableside by a gaúcho chef

fter just two short years on Wisconsin Ave. in Georgetown, Urban chic has burst onto the scene once again, this time with a new store in The Maple Lawn shopping center in Fulton, Md. The new location will carry the same coveted fashion lines as in Georgetown, including 7 for All Mankind, Rock & Republic, True Religion, Rebecca Taylor, Catherine Malandrino, Mint, Tracy Reese, Nanette Lepore, Theory, Diane von Furstenberg, James Perse, Susana Monaco, Rebecca Beeson, Juicy Couture, Kooba, Botkier and Bulga, among others. It will also offer expanded denim and sportswear lines. Owner Lindsay Buscher originally hails from New York, and hand-picks the clothing sold in both stores with the assistance of her sister, Courtney Cannata. Loyal customers include Jenna and Barbara Bush.

ARTS

SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY

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lways a draw for antique lovers, The 51st Annual Washington Antiques Show will feature 18th and 19th century furniture, paintings, oriental rugs and decorative arts from 45 antique dealers from the United States, England and Canada at the Omni Shoreham Hotel from January 4-8. The theme of this year’s show is “Sweet Land of Liberty: Images of America in the Arts of the New Republic,” inspired by the Smithsonian’s traveling exhibition, “For Which It Stands: The America Flag in American Life.” The exhibit does not open until 2007, but those attending the show will have the opportunity to see a sneak preview . A gala will be held for patrons on January 4.

All proceeds are donated to Thrift Shop, a non-profit organization that distributes funds to charitable organizations benefiting The Children’s National Medical Center of Children’s Hospital, the Rosemont Center and St. John’s Community Services, Inc.

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Sales of Gucci’s acccessories will benefit Unicef

Lisis euisim vulput nit wisXercillan veniamet, quamconse magnim vel enis nis

GOOD DEEDS

GUCCI’S GRACIOUS GIFTS

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enowned retailer Gucci has launched a special holiday collection to benefit UNICEF programs for children affected by HIV/AIDS. The eye-catching assortment includes handbags, shoes and wallets in rich leather and ostrich leather, luxurious silk scarves and signature ornaments.

Almost 200 of the company’s stores around the world are offering these

products for a limited time. Through the end of December, 20 percent of the sales from the items will benefit UNICEF programs that provide protection, care and support to children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. Gucci has a boutique in Fairfax Square in Tysons Corner and is scheduled to open a new store this month at the Chevy Chase Collection.

JEWELS & GEMS

DIAMONDS GALORE

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ith the signature form of the Greek historic figure Atlas looming above the entry and diamonds galore inside, every customer will feel like a character out of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s� at Tiffany & Co.’s new store in Chevy Chase. Opening in February 2006 and located at the southern end of The Collection at Chevy Chase, the two-story, 7,400 square-foot building will emulate the jeweler’s original New York City headquarters, with a dazzling curved facade and lustrous marble.

Lofty, multi-level ceilings will house

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premium lighting, and two illuminated pylons at the rear entrance are being constructed to mirror the classic Art Deco style. With its blend of 1940s dĂŠcor and top-notch merchandise, Tiffany fans will surely love this convenient new location.

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TREND REPORT

Gold Leaf

Fall in love again with GOLD… bangles, charms and chains— we love them all.

1

ANN HAND AMBER AND GOLD CIRCLE NECKLACE $175 from Ann Hand Jewelry, www.annhand.com

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YELLOW GOLD SATIN FINISH NECKLACE WITH PAVE DIAMOND LINK $9,850 from Pampillonia, www.pampillonia.com

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JANE ELIZABETH HANDMADE WRAP BANGLES $290 from Sitting Pretty, www.shopsittingpretty.com

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ANN HAND LARGE GOLD BALL AND BEAD NECKLACE $225 from Ann Hand, www.annhand.com

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MARIE CHAVEZ ANTIQUED CHARM NECKLACE $154 from All About Jane, (202) 797-9710

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TREND REPORT

Jet Set

BLACK IS BACK…work this season’s hottest accessory into any wardrobe for a sleek and modern look.

1

WHITE GOLD ART DECO STYLE DIAMOND AND ONYX BRACELET $7,750 from Boone & Sons Jewelers, www.booneandsons.com

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JET AND QUARTZ BEADED NECKLACE $48 from Banana Republic, www.bananarepublic.com

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LEE ANGEL ROUND BEAD NECKLACE WITH RIBBONS $195 from Neiman Marcus, www.neimanmarcus.com

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LEE ANGEL LINK NECKLACE $170 from Neiman Marcus, www.neimanmarcus.com

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QUEEN BEE DESIGNS GENUINE BLACK ONYX FREE FORM NECKLACE $200 available at www. queenbeedesigns.com

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SOHO HANDCRAFTED ITALIAN ENAMEL NECKLACE $3500 from Boone & Sons Jewelers, www.booneandsons.com

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furniture

kenneth cobonpue reynaldo maldanado luisa robinson warisan

fashion

3.1 phillip lim nicholas k rozae nichols save the queen a common thread development lundgren & windinge olga kapustina marika charles + more...

1831 14th Street, NW Washington,DC 202.667.3440 www.muleh.com

W H A T ’ S

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Fantasy Gifts Luxury gifts sure to “wow” you this holiday season.

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DANCE SWEET MUSIC The world famous 22-foot long piano featured in the movie “Big” at FAO Schwarz in New York can now be placed in your own living room. $250,000, FAO Schwarz, www.faoschwarz.com PLATINUM FLYING Fly any jet, anytime, anywhere with the Platinum Blue Star Jet card. $500,000, www.bluestarjets.com CROCODILE ROCK WITH SIR ELTON Sir Elton John will sing your favorites on an Elton John Signature Series Red Piano, at a private party with up to 500 of your friends. $1.5 million, which is donated to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Neiman Marcus, www.neimanmarcus.com REGAL JEWELS Elephant-themed hand-crafted necklace and earrings in 18K gold and nine carats of diamonds. $45,000, www.allurejewels.com SIGNATURE FRAGRANCE Oliver Henry Creed will welcome you to their Paris salon to create your own fragrance. $20,000-$50,0000, Saks Fifth Avenue, www.saks.com

PRESIDENTIAL PAMPERING Weekend stay at the five-star Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown in the three-bedroom Presidential Suite while treating yourself to a day at the spa and dine at Seasons restaurant. Prices start $15,000, www.fourseasons.com IT’S A CAR IT’S A PLANE IT’S A SKYCAR! Take home a piece of transportation history with the M400 Skycar plane, designed to be as safe, affordable and easy to use as an automobile. $3,500,000, Neiman Marcus, www.neimanmarcus.com

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GIFT GUIDE

Luxury Toys for Very Good Boys

For those GOOD BOYS, here are some things he will be sure to appreciate this holiday season.

GUCCI’S MOCCASINS with horsebit and leather sole, $495, available at Gucci, www.gucci.com 1

GUCCI’S MONK STRAP SHOES with double horsebit buckles, $495, available at Gucci, www.gucci.com.

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TIFFANY’S COIN EDGE CUFFLINKS $150, available at Tiffany & Co., www.tiffany.com.

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GUCCI’S GUCCISSIMA MESSENGER BAG large $1195, medium $895, available at Gucci, www.gucci.com.

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CALLAWAY’ FUSION IRONS graphite $1199, steel $999, available at Washington Golf Center, www.washingtongolf.com.

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PAMPER HIM WITH A MEN’S FACIAL FROM SOMAFIT $90, available at SomaFit, www.somafit.com.

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THE LEXUS HYBRID SUV from $45,355, available at Lindsay Lexus of Alexandria, www.lexusofalexandria.com 14

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TIFFANY’S ATLAS CUFFLINKS round yellow gold, $1350, cube white gold $1750, square with enamel $1850, XII yellow gold $900, available at Tiffany & Co., www.tiffany.com.

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RANGE ROVER SPORT starting at $56,750, available at Rosenthal Jaguar Land Rover, www.rangerover.com.

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SALVATORE FERRAGAMO’S SADDLE TIES $130, available at Salvatore Ferragamo, www.ferragamo.com.

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CADILLAC’S NEW CONVERTIBLE XLR starting at $77,295, available Lindsay Cadillac, www.cadillac.com.

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ASHTON’S VAVONA BLACK HUMIDOR $1,700, available at Georgetown Tobacco, www.gttobacco.com.

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LOUIS VUITTON’S MONOGRAM CANVAS PRESIDENT CLASSEUR $2920, available at Louis Vuitton, www.louisvuitton.com.

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LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO starting at $165,900, available at Ferrari Maserati of Washington, www.fwash.com.

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Alison Crosby and Ingrid Zimmer

G N O P L AY S AT M U L É H

Aimee Christensen

WL SPONSORED

PHOTOS BY JONAH KOCH

WOMEN HELPING WOMEN Girls Night Out (GNO) hosts Kimberly Spainer, Sarah Ingersoll and Kate Damon brought together over 100 women on October 18 for a night of fun at Muléh on 14th Street.

Emily Lenzner, Alex boutique owner Liberty Jones, Marni Levine, Lisa McCurdy, Christine Phillips, Ceci Villa and Daily Candy’s Annie Lou Bayly, among other guests, enjoyed massages from The Sports Club LA, cocktails, fashion, and tarot card readings benefiting The Women’s Collective, which helps HIV positive women reduce barriers to living a healthy life. § ODD MAN OUT Muléh’s owner, Christopher Reiter, was

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one of few men spo ed and was excited to show off displays of his Asian-designed furniture, which has sparked international interest and now has world-famous hotel entrepreneur Randy Gerber, The Ritz Carlton, and Nobu restaurant lined up for his pieces. § LOGAN CIRLCE HOTSPOTS Café Saint-Ex, Logan Tavern, Merkado, Cake Love and Whole Foods P Street provided savory bites.

Almost $25,000 worth of food and products were donated to ensure the success of the event.

Shopping, a silent auction and cash donations raised just over $12,000 for The Women’s Collective.

Devon Stewart

Nicole Backus

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Muleh on 14th Street

Alyse Nelson Bloom and Laura Schiller

Malik Lomax

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Patricia McCabe and Katrina Schymik Harrison

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Dana Toukan and Christine Phillips

Lekhessa Doctor, Julius Ware II and Patricia Nalls

arash shirazinia

Sarah Ingersoll

flower designer

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Natasha Laws

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Tyler Johnson

Kate Damon and Kimberly Spanier

Tamara Lyons

Liberty Jones and Christopher Reiter

Mojee Shokri

Christina Corrigan

Jacqul Davis and Tal Shalom

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Turkish Amb. O. Faruk Logoglu and Mrs. Erdegun

IMPERIAL SPLENDOR PHOTOS BY ZAID HAMID

FETE AT THE FREER Over 300 of Washington, New York and Turkey’s most prominent benefactors turned out for the Washington Life sponsored Freer and Sackler Gala on October 26. Many of the a endees wore ka ans inspired by the premiere exhibition which featured imperial O oman silks and Turkish costumes from the 16th and 17th centuries.

The exhibit draws from top collections around the world, including the Topakpi Palace Museum in Istanbul, the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and our very own Washington’s Textile Museum. Modern Turkish designers Gonul Paksoy, Atil Kutoglu and Yildrim Mayruk were on hand for a fashion

Elizabeth Ettinghausen, Haleh Esfandiary, Mossumeh farhad and Ann Gunter

WL SPONSORED

featuring their latest designs juxtaposed against the classical O oman designs.

The dramatic lighting lit the textile rich halls as beautiful models elegantly fashioned the latest Turkish designs.

The sell-out event raised $260,000, which will help the galleries promote the arts and cultures of Asia. § ELEGANTLY ATTIRED Queen Noor, Dame Jillian Sackler, Ahmet and Mica Ertegun; Robert Rosenkrantz and Alexandra Munroe; Roderick and April Gow; Patricia Kluge and Robert Moses; Esther Coopersmith; Richard and Shannon Fairbanks; Cynthia Helms, Archille and Judith Guest; Arnaud and Alexandra de Borchgrave; William and Ann Nitze.

Models wearing Turkish fashions

Katie Ford, William Haseltine and Ann Nitze

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Models showing off Turkish Fashions

Ann Gunter, Julian Raby and Nurhan Atasoy

Mary and Mandy Ourisman

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Mevhibe “Mimi” Logoglu and friend

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Cameron and Mary Leclair

Patricia Kluge and Robert Moses

Atil Kutoglu and JoAnn Mason

Italian Amb. Giovanni Castellaneta and Mrs. Castellaneta

Alek Wek

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Barbara McConaghy and Gerry Byrne

The Sackler Gallery

dalia herzikowitz and gary hartman

Rebecca Fahy

Aniko Gaal Schott and Katie Ziglar

mustafa kou

Jan Stuart and Jeffrey Cunard

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L A D O L C E V I TA

BY J A N E T D O N O VA N P H OTO S BY I M M A N U E L J AYA C H A N D R A N A N D K Y L E S A M P E R TO N

Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta and lila. Castellaneta

TAKE ONE “If you come to a fork in the road, take it!” which is exactly what several hundred of Franco Nuschese’s did when they found themselves on Wisconsin and Prospect in Georgetown on October 14: All roads led to Cafe Milano after an elegant star-studded reception at the Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta and his wife Lila’s residence. § MANGIA As part of The National Italian Foundation’s 30th Anniversary Weekend, the exclusive kick-off cocktail party and dinner turned into pure theater for some of Hollywood’s most illustrious Italians, including forever young actress/cosmetics queen

Connie Stevens and actor-turned-director Franco Nero whose latest film “Forever Blues” premiered several days before. The poignant story of an autistic boy and an old bluesman, the film “was driven by my lifelong passion for Blues as well as my passion and values for helping our disadvantaged youth,” said Nero, adding that the theme was particularly relevant in today’s world of tragedy and uncertainty.

(Mr. Nero was the guest of Washington Italia Film Festival.) Less visible than his film, the former spaghetti western star was tucked away in Milano’s back room wearing shades and holding court with

Tommy Lasorda

SUPPORTED

friends. § NELLO STILE If everyone in the room had dressed as well as designer Renato Balestra there could have been a fashion shoot. The eclectic international jetsetter has designed for some of the world’s most fascinating women including Elizabeth Taylor, the two Laurens - Bacall and Hutton, Queen Sirikit of Thailand and the first ladies of the Philippines and Egypt. § LA VOSTRA NONNA “Franco is like everybody’s grandmother but in pin stripes,” said NIAF Chairman Dr. Kenneth Ciongoli when thanking Nuschese for a gracious evening. § TAKE TWO If you want to make sure your audience

Cindy Smith, Sandy Otellini and Carolyn Presutti

Liz Salamone and Anthony Venafro

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Dino and Farah Pampillonia

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Pasquale Follieri

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Mr. and Mrs. John Salamone, Gaia Amaral, Rafella and Querci Daniore

is paying attention at a fund-raiser, here’s a little trick: play an Italian musical retrospective and include Frank Sinatra, Jerry Vale, Bobbie Daren, Sonny Bono, Mario Lanza, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Rudy Vali, Dion and The Belmonts, and Liza Minnelli. And if you want to throw in a few laughs, feature Tony Danza doing rap. That’ll do it and that’s exactly what they did at the NIAF Gala that Saturday night. “Give an Italian a tuxedo, a microphone and an audience and you have every Italian’s dream,” continued Danza who fulfilled his responsibilities to keep everyone awake.

“Yogi’s won an award five times and we’re tired of giving this guy a

plaque, let’s give him a grandfathers’ clock.” § LA COMMEDIA “Why are Italians like Jehovah Witnesses?” “Because we don’t like no witnesses,” Lasorda said. Actors Danny Aiello of Moonstruck fame, lovable tough guy character actor Dennis Farina and talented vocalist Natalie Merchant joined the more than 3,000 guests. § TAKE THREE The afterparty was packed with guests crammed into the piano bar area to play and sing Sinatra songs with Lasorda. Chicago’s Aaron Caruso did it best.

NIAF guests Ingrid Aielli and Nancy Paul stopped by to chat with Connie Stevens who was holding court behind the bar.

Connie Stevens and Yogi Berra

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debbie gasper and bo young

Maria Chiara Ferrerra and Angela and Rhett Turner

Elissa Ruffino, Joe Moglia, Kristine Denholm

Eleonora Beigliaddri

Kathy Lash and Joe Trippi

gaia burman

Natalie Merchant

Franco Nero

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P O L L Y W O O D

Comedy Central The Laugh Track BY JA N ET DO N OVA N

Ann and John Dickerson, Wyatt Dickerson and Elizabeth Dickerson

Rep. Brian Baird

B

eing side-splitting funny in sober Washington is no easy task; just ask the ten gutsy participants in the 12th Annual Funniest Celebrities in Washington Contest held at The Mayflower Hotel on October 19th.

The yearly ritual consists of brave hearted politicians, journalists, athletes and other high profile players who roll up their sleeves, unbutton their shirts, let down their hair, write their own scripts and expose themselves to ridicule from their peers with the hopes of walking away unscathed.

Ordinarily, that’s enough to scare anyone, but since their entertaining skills raise money for D.C. based charities, there have always been many willing participants that have included Senator Joe Lieberman, Chris Matthews, Tim Russert, former Congresswoman Susan Molinari and former Senator Tom Daschle.This year’s charity recipient was Bread

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for the World Institute, a bipartisan organization which advocates antihunger legislation.

On with the show: WJLA’s Kathleen Matthews emceed, here’s the take: Clarence Page: “Bill Bennett is in the house tonight, the former Secretary of Education: Run black babies, run.”

“I asked Bill Clinton if his wife was going to run for President. He said, I don’t know, I’ll ask her when I see her again.”

“I hope this is not like the horror movies where the black guy dies first.”

“Thank you. I appreciate the mercy laugh.”

Rep. Brian Baird: “I just got in from my 47th visit to New Orleans.”

“You know, Harriett Miers once said I was the most brave man she ever met. (no audience response).

She’s The Supreme Court nominee.

People ask me if Harriett is qualified to serve on The Supreme Court and I tell them [she is qualified] as much as I am [qualified] to be President of The United States.”

Event founder, Richard Siegel is the man who brings humor to Washington intentionally: “We’ve got some great celebrities that have

come here tonight to share their time.We did invite Brown from FEMA; he’s supposed to show up here [in a month].”

The Mayor of Washington D.C. Tony Williams: “First of all, you can put your wine glasses down because I’ve got police positioned all over the street.”

“People ask me what I am going be doing on my next job and suggest that I should think about getting a job with American University. But there aren’t enough perks. Or a job with FEMA so someone can finally tell me I’m doing a heck of a job.”

Andrew Sullivan: Funny but not printable.

Runner-up Rep. Linda Sanchez: “It’s hard to be a single woman in Washington.The only Republicans that hit on me are married and the only men I hit on are gay.”

She went on to tell the tale of a recent boyfriend who had gone out with her six times and still no good night kiss. When she confronted him on the matter he said he was intimidated by the fact that she was a member of Congress. “So I had him audited.”

On Internet dating: “Now I can’t just give a guy a wrong number. I have to give him a wrong number, a wrong cell number, a wrong email address and hope to God that he doesn’t see me on my website.You know, I look very different on the internet.”

“I hear that Eva Longoria wants to play me in a series, but call it ‘The Desperate Congresswoman’.”

“And the number one reason why I will not date a Republican?

They make love like they make war: they lie to get in and have no plan on what to do once they get there.”

“So most guys I meet these days are cab drivers. Let’s just say I’ve been spending a lot of time in the back seat.”

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

John Dickerson: “Many people think Harriet Miers was chosen in the way we picked who had to turn out the light last in the dorm; whoever held their finger to their nose last.”

Arch conservative Grover Norquist on marriage: “It’s like being a Ken Doll.You don’t get to dress yourself.”

Rep. Adam Schiff: He did a take off of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” and announced that recently indicted Scooter Libby is the next Supreme Court Nominee. “He apparently told President Bush that he is not only the smartest man he knew but the sexiest man alive.”

Mark Russell: The show’s star spoke of the Harriet Myers cocktail, he doesn’t know what’s in it and neither does anyone else. “It’s an empty glass,” And the winner: Congressman Brian Baird, according to judges Roxanne Roberts, Jim Kimsey, Juan Williams, Rep. Brad Sherman, Rep.Dennis Kucinich and WTOP’ s Bob Madigan. Of course, this is not including political humorist Mark Russell who stole the show, but didn’t count.

“Winning this event is a real honor; it feels sort of like being the tallest basketball player on the midget basketball team,” joked Baird. “It’s nice when folks from both sides of the aisle can come together and share a few laughs for such a wonderful cause.”

ELSEWHERE Craig Crawford’s Attack the Messenger book launching at The Press Club: “Politicians and the media are natural enemies, but now it’s all-out war.”

Art Buchwald’s Beating Around the Bush: “It’s wonderful that everyone is getting indicted because that makes me a rich man.” “It’s now time to let FEMA save the White House.”

| DECEMBER

| washingtonlife.com

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT

Osama bin Where?

Conversation with correspondents N.C. AIZENMAN and PETER BERGEN N.C. Aizenman: So Peter, why did you decide to write this book now?

PHOTO BY SCOTT WALLACE

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our years before 9/11, CNN terrorism analyst Peter Bergen gained firsthand insight into the threat Osama Bin Laden posed to the United States when he produced the first television interview with the elusive al-Qaeda leader. Bergen’s first book, “Holy War, Inc.: Inside the Secret World of Bin Laden,” published just after the 2001 attacks, was reviewed by The Washington Post as “the only book you need to read about Osama bin Laden.” In January, Bergen will release “The Osama bin Laden I Know: An Oral History of al-Qaeda’s Leader.” Bergen often crossed paths with The Washington Post reporter N.C. Aizenman, who has just concluded a year-long tour as the paper’s Afghanistan Correspondent.

With Aizenman back in Washington, the two longtime friends recently met to discuss what Bergen uncovered about a man who remains as mysterious as he is dangerous.

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Peter Bergen: Lately the attention has drifted away from Osama bin Laden and it is important to bring it back.

Justice for the victims of 9/11 demands it.

But bin Laden also continues to influence events. His statements—including specific instructions to his followers—continue to be shared around the world. An example of his enduring importance is Abu Musab Zarqawi, the main insurgent leader in Iraq, who is now saying he is part of al-Qaeda.

The attacks in Madrid in 2004 and London last summer are also direct results of things bin Laden has said about attacking members of the coalition that were in Iraq. The notion that he has been sidelined is ludicrous. Every time he comes out with a tape it is broadcast on every network around the world. Hundreds of millions of people hear these messages. So, I thought it was important to bring the focus back on this guy who founded al-Qaeda and to get a better handle on who he is. There was not a lot of information out there about him.

NCA: Instead of writing a biography of bin Laden, you have woven together first person accounts from a wide array of people who knew bin Laden personally to create an oral history.Why did you choose to present the material this way?

PB: A tsunami of nonsense has been written about bin Laden. Rather than relying on secondhand accounts, I thought people should be given the chance to form their own conclusions based on firsthand accounts from bin Laden’s brothers, his high school buddies, his university classmates and his companions in arms. There were two guiding principles to the book:The first was

that we only hear from people who know bin Laden personally. The second was that we hear from them directly—with a little bit of setting up from me, of course—but basically in their own words. I was influenced by a book about Edie Sedgwick, a 1960’s supermodel who became a sort of Andy Warhol superstar. The book was by George Plimpton and edited by Jean Stein, and it always struck me as a very good account of what was going on in New York in the ’60s. Obviously bin Laden and al-Qaeda are a rather more serious and more complicated subject. However, I thought that using direct testimony from people who know bin Laden is perhaps a way of similarly recapturing some worlds that most people don’t have much experience in.

NCA: What are some of those worlds?

PB: Well, there’s the rarefied atmosphere of Saudi Arabia in the 1970s, where bin Laden grew up as a member of an educated elite. There’s Peshawar, Pakistan, in the 1980s, a sort of South Asian Casablanca [where] bin Laden and other Arab supporters were funneling money and weapons across the border into Afghanistan to the Afghans fighting the Soviet Union. Then there’s the world inside al-Qaeda itself. Hearing directly from the people involved gives you a real sense of what people were saying to one another and what people were thinking. What was it like, for instance, for bin Laden, who ultimately took up arms himself, to personally fight the Soviet Union? I think you get a sense of that. You also get a sense of the places where bin Laden spent time. I’m speaking, of course, of bin Laden’s house in Kabul— which Peter Jouvenal, the British cameraman and journalist who interviewed bin Laden with me in March of 1997, took over after the fall of the Taliban and turned into a guesthouse.

NCA: That’s where I lived for nine months. It’s a rather pretty, sprawling house with a large garden near the base of one of the low mountains looming over Kabul.

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PB: Did you sleep in the bin Laden memorial bedroom?

that was the precursor to al-Qaeda. How did you obtain those back issues and what do they add to the picture of bin Laden and al-Qaeda?

NCA: (Laughs) I don’t think we ever established which one was his.

PB: Jihad was sort of the in-flight magazine of the Services Office, which bin Laden set up in the mid-1980s. I found the copies in Kabul, ironically enough through the man who was profiled in the well known book, “The Bookseller of Kabul.” As readers of that account will know, the bookseller acted heroically under the Taliban—hiding scores of books to prevent them from being destroyed.

But he also treated his family very poorly, espe-

PB: It would have been one of the rooms with a bigger bed since he is 6’ 5”.

NCA:You have stayed there as well, I know. But you also traveled to a lot of other places to gather material for the book. What were some of the discoveries you made?

PB: I tried to go everywhere that bin Laden went.The only place I couldn’t get into was Sudan. In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, I found that despite his family’s wealth, the neighborhood where bin Laden grew up was actually more of a middleclass place. He did not live in one of the mansions that many of the nouveau riche have built. It gives you a flavor of the guy. I also walked around the Tora Bora mountains on the Afghan-Pakistani border where bin Laden had a camp for many years and through which he fled Afghanistan after the U.S.-led invasion.

The camp was a sort of back-to-nature set up—growing your own crops in the mountain at 10,000 feet. Like a hippie commune, except of course, different.

Certainly, one of the things I think the book establishes is the fact, pretty much without a doubt, that bin Laden escaped through Tora Bora, despite what members of the Bush Administration said in the run-up to the election. I have bin Laden telling us what happened in the battle at Tora Bora from his own perspective.

NCA: You also quote from various original documents—including the minutes of the meeting at which al-Qaeda was founded.What do those documents reveal?

PB: Well, we can now date al-Qaeda’s founding to a certain weekend in August of 1988 when these guys got together. They started work on September 10, 1988, and only thirteen years later they managed the 9/11 attacks.

NCA: One of the most intriguing sources you found is “Jihad” magazine, a monthly published for several years by the Services Office, the group

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PB: By and large they have all abandoned him and believe that what he is doing now is so counter-productive--killing all of these civilians and tarring the name of his family. One of the things I found out is that one of his older sons left him after 9/11. Many people who know bin Laden also said that while 9/11 was a tactical success for al-Qaeda, strategically it was a disaster. It blew up the organization and it destroyed the Taliban. Basically without the Iraq war he would be out of business.

NCA: As you’ve written, bin Laden comes from an enormous family, and his siblings were presumably exposed to many of the same influences. Why do you think he ended up choosing this path in contrast to so many others in his family?

cially his first wife. Anyway, it was this bookseller who turned me on to Jihad magazine. He had kept almost all the issues, which dated from 1984 through 1994, for years in a storeroom in Kabul.

It was a huge amount of material to translate from Arabic, but it was a great source of contemporaneous information about bin Laden. People’s memories are always faulty. But a contemporaneous account of bin Laden fighting in a battle in Eastern Afghanistan in 1987, at a time when he was basically unknown, I believe we can take as being the real deal and not some post facto attempt to make him look like a hero. It shows that whatever bin Laden is, he is not a coward. He did fight personally against the Soviets. I have lots of eye witnesses talking about this in the book and I also have these contemporaneous accounts from Jihad magazine.

NCA: How do the various acquaintances of bin Laden whom you interviewed feel about him now?

PB: That’s a good question. I think he went down this path because he is motivated by his very strong religious beliefs.

He believes that he is doing God’s work.

He was sort of a religious zealot from the age of 11 or 12. He was forcing his brothers to get up for morning prayers which, as you know, are before dawn.

And then I think his path was guided by several mentors and a series of key decisions at various points. One of these was to go fight in Afghanistan against the Soviets.

The experience of fighting with the Soviets directly, I think, changed him dramatically, as war can really change people. He went from being a really mild-mannered guy to a guy who founded al-Qaeda only a few years later.

NCA: Did you find evidence of any further evolution in his character since 9/11?

PB: Recently, he has presented himself as the elder statesman of jihad, for instance talking directly to the American people in a sort of Oval Office-style address before the U.S. presidential election, and offering truces to nations with troops in Iraq—telling them,“We won’t attack you if you withdraw.”

NCA: What impact do you think it would have if he were caught? And would the circumstances of his capture make a difference?

PB: If he were caught it would be a psychological victory for our side and it would be a psychological blow to theirs—particularly if he were captured

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

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and given some of the Saddam Hussein treatment.

But, I don’t think he will be caught. He said he is willing to die and I take him at face value.

NCA: If he is killed rather than caught what would be the impact?

PB: In death I think he would be perhaps an even more important figure than in life. He would certainly be an important martyr for this movement.

By the way, when you were there, were there any indications that bin Laden was in Afghanistan?

NCA: Well, rumors of this sort are rampant in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Probably the most widely-held view was that bin Laden is hiding in the tribal area of Pakistan along the border with Afghanistan. There was also an interesting moment in June at the last press conference that then-U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad gave the Kabul press corps before leaving to take up the job of ambassador to Iraq. Khalilzad told us quite firmly that he did not believe bin Laden was in Afghanistan. But he did not say where he thought bin Laden was, or what he was basing this view on. So where do you think bin Laden is?

PB: In Pakistan.

NCA: Where?

PB: He could be in a small town rather than a remote mountain hideaway in the tribal areas.

If you look at the last videotape that came out from bin Laden it was like a Halloween version of an Oval Office address. He was sitting behind a desk. The room was well-lit. His outfit looked like it had been dry-cleaned and he was very well informed about current events. He didn’t look like he was sitting in a cave somewhere. So I think that he is in some smaller, urbanized setting. Not necessarily a big city, but somewhere that has internet access. He looks better now than he did several years ago, in terms of his demeanor, his health.

NCA: You already knew a lot about bin Laden before putting this book together. As you conducted interviews and gathered material, was there anything that surprised you?

PB: Mostly lots of little things. The guy is a sort of a closet Larry King fan, apparently. He watches a fair amount of CNN and BBC, and is a news junkie. He is a big horse rider. He has a thing about growing sunflowers and was very

excited that his sunflowers are bigger than the sunflowers that grow in the United States. He has been telling people that even in sunflowers, he was beating the United States. For a billionaire’s son, he’s always been very ascetic. He has rejected all American products for a long time.

He doesn’t drink Pepsi, Coke, or Sprite. Even when he had lots of money, he didn’t have a fancy car or air conditioning and he slept on the floor. He also forced his kids and his wives to live the same way. When he was a free man he taught his wives to shoot. He won’t let his children drink cold water because he wants them hardened for jihad. His oldest son Abdullah, who is now back in Saudi Arabia, essentially left him in the mid-1990s when the family was living in Sudan, saying, “Look, now there are millions in the bank. Why are we living like peasants?”

NCA: How have his wives handled this life?

PB: Apparently, he is a pretty democratic guy with his wives, and he told them, “Look it’s going to be harsh with me,” and gave them the option to go.

One of them took him up on it and left him when they were living in Sudan in the mid 1990s, saying, “I didn’t sign up for this program.” One of the interesting things you learn in the book is that bin Laden used to complain that his Dad had twenty wives— you can have up to four wives under Islam as long as you keep divorcing the last one. He said he was not going to do that. He was going to marry four wives and treat them equally. And they have all stuck with him except for the one I just mentioned. He replaced her with a young Yemeni just before 2001.

They had a daughter together, Safia, soon afterwards.

When his Pakistani biographer—who is quoted in the book—asked bin Laden why he named the girl Safia, he replied that it was because during the Prophet Mohammad’s time Safia killed a lot of Jews.

NCA: After all your research, do you feel any closer to truly understanding this man?

PB: The more you know about a person, the more puzzling they can sometimes seem. And I am sure that one of the things people will say in criticizing the book is that I am humanizing the guy. But, the last time I checked, the people who attacked us on 9/11 were not robots, they were human. Their boss is a human and I thought it was important to try to understand him more.

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| DECEMBER

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T H E

D I S H

Holiday Dishing

Delicious recipes from some of D.C.’s finest chefs LE PARADOU There are few restaurants in Washington that can impress a true gourmet. Yannick Cam’s Le Paradou is one of them. His delicate dishes— scallops, lobster, foie gras, matched with bold flavors such as garlic, ginger and rosemary— offer an exquisite dinning experience for the most discerning critics. Cam suggests foie gras as the holiday season’s spectacular appetizer. He suggests buying Grade A foie gras from Dean and Deluca or Balducci’s and pairing it with a sauce to enhance its flavor. www.leparadou.net

SMITH POINT

1 1 1 1

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ucked underground near the the corner of Wisconsin and Q Streets, N.W., Smith Point shouldn’t be discounted as just a loud bar catering to the Bush twins. Owner Bo Blair has recharged his restaurant by hiring one of Le Paradou’s chefs, Nathan Bearfield, dishes up cuisine inspired by Eastern seaboard favorites: crab cakes, chowders and lobster. His prized New England cheddar cheese and beer soup is ideal for one of Washington’s snowy days.

New England Cheddar Cheese and Beer Soup 1 12 6 6 2 12 2 12 6 16 4

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cup lamb marinade oz. diced onions oz. diced mushrooms oz. diced celery oz. minced garlic oz. clarified butter green onions oz. flour qt. chicken stock oz. lager beer, Samuel Adams lb. tillamook grated cheddar cheese

Foie Gras de Canard aux Coings Confit

oz. dry mustard pt. hot heavy cream tsp. tabasco sauce tsp. worcestershire sauce Salt White ground pepper Rye croutons

4 1 1 2 1 2 6 1 ½

1.

Sweat the onions, mushrooms, celery and garlic in the butter until limp.

2.

Add the flour to make a blond roux and cook out for 12 minutes.

3.

Add the stock gradually, whisking constantly to work out any lumps. Simmer for 45 minutes, or until the soup has a good flavor and velvety texture.

Strain through a fine mesh sieve.

4.

Return the soup to a simmer. One half hour before service add the beer, cheese, and continue to heat the soup gently until the cheese melts. Do not boil.

5.

Blend the dry mustard with enough water to make a paste. Add the mustard mixture and the cream to the soup and bring the soup back to a simmer. Adjust the consistency with stock, if necessary.

6.

Season with Tabasco,Worcestershire, salt, and pepper to taste. Serve with rye croutons on the side.

slices of foie gras quince cup granulated sugar cups pomegranate cup duck stock slices parma ham juniper berries vanilla bean bottle “Vin de Paille” wine reduced Foie gras

1.

Heat a medium sauté pan with oil over high heat until very hot. Season the foie gras with salt and pepper quite liberally.

2.

Place slices of foie gras in the pan.

Sauté the foie gras until browned on one side, then flip over and cook on the other side browned.

Sauce 1.

2.

Cut a quince in 3 mm slices.

Prepare the syrup with sugar, pomegranate juice.

3.

Poach the quinces and cut julienne.

4.

Pour over foie gras.

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

| DECEMBER

| washingtonlife.com

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MEDIA SPOTLIGHT

Pulp Politics

ANNA MARIE COX opens up about her new novel and alter ego, the WONKETTE

BY KATIE TARBOX

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here is no in-between. Readers of the “Wonkette” blog either love Ana Marie Cox’s commentary about (shock, horror) politicians mis-behaving and her cutesy musings about Butterstick, the new panda at the National Zoo, or they balk because she proclaims to write hung-over, perhaps wishing they had her stamina, wit and cunning ability to both work and play.

Her site, www.wonkette.com, is bookmarked by thousands of staffers on the Hill and is a much needed guilty pleasure read. Since its launch in early 2004, Wonkette has become one America’s most visited blogs, which she believes is due to “untapped interest in ass ******* [potty-mouthed snarkyness].” After a brief rumor she was going to be The Washington Post’s new “Reliable Source” columnist, which was sparked by a comment

by Don Imus on his show, Cox’s prominence skyrocketed again on the gossip scene.

Though Wonkette has developed a controversial persona, the woman behind it, Ana Marie Cox is not what you might expect.

She’s a neat freak. She loves movies with talking animals, “Babe,” “Stuart Little,” and “Charlotte’s Web.” She grew up in Nebraska, her parents were academics, she went to the University of Chicago, and had a brief stint in grad school studying American history. She is a self-proclaimed liberal who voted for Nader and is not afraid to attack Democrats and Republicans alike. She favors national healthcare and loves taxes “Someone needs to build the roads and libraries and I believe in chipping in on that. I believe in the social contract,” Cox says. Her aphrodisiac is her husband cleaning naked. She also likes indie rock bands like Silkworm, Spoon, and Galaxy 500. While she shares that “Wonkette is my personality after a few too many margaritas,” it’s hard to imagine they are one and the same. Maybe that’s because she hasn’t allowed her personality to fully emerge until now.

This January, Cox will release her first novel, Dog Days (Riverhead) which traces Melanie

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Thorton’s political aspirations through the horrendously hot days of August as she works on Senator Hillman’s presidential campaign. Melanie, green and somewhat naïve, tries to prove herself in the “war room” as the campaign deals with numerous scandals, and later ends up having a wild affair with journalist, Rick Stossel.

Many local hotspots are mentioned including the Four Seasons and Local 16 in Adams Morgan, which she reveals has bathroom stalls with doors tall enough to have sex behind without others knowing.

Her characters appear to be more fact than fiction. Senator Hillman might as well be named Senator Kerry, and Cox acknowledges that the campaign she described was modeled after Kerry’s presidential effort. There are other special appearances, the Bromptons could pass as Washington lobbyists Jeffrey Weiss and Juleanna Glover Weiss, and the CNN terrorism reporter, an American with an English accent, is undoubtedly her version of Peter Bergen. Even the Bush twins make a cameo in the book at Smith Point, a local Georgetown watering hole they frequent.

Cox doesn’t want this to become a guessing game about who’s who in the book,“Who has reread Primary Colors? You read it once because you are trying to figure out who everybody is and you want to know the dirt. I would like Dog Days to stay on the shelf for more than fifteen minutes.”

Guessing games will no doubt be played, but Cox’s mix of fact/fiction helps to recreate the feverish passion of an election. Her characters communicate through Blackberry messages, known as “the berry,” from bathroom to bedroom, reminding readers how the campaign consumes every minute of the day as workers get swept up in a cause that overruns their lives.

Yes, there is sex. Cox admits it is easy to talk about sex, but much harder to write about it. She relies on her wit. “During an election year D.C.’s standards of attractiveness—already graded on a generous curve—tracked more on availability than physical beauty. ‘It’s like the Special Olympics of

Cox’s Rules to Live By 1. No candy until after the movie previews are over; popcorn is OK.

2. Don’t start a CD until on the highway; radio is OK.

3. No alcoholic drinks until you clean the coffee maker, so it’s ready for the morning after 4. No drinking cold beverages out of hot receptacles, but ice cream in a mug is OK. 5. No drinking martinis out of anything other than a martini glass. It wouldn’t be proper.

sex,’ Melanie thought, everyone’s a winner.”

Dog Days, will no doubt satiate Wonkette fans, as it is everything you might expect from its author, and then some. It might surprise other readers to discover that there is much more to Cox than the Wonkette, who is depicted on the site as a geeky librarian with a cat. “That’s not me,” she proudly declares, “[but] it’s my pussy,” meaning her cat. Really.

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

| DECEMBER

| washingtonlife.com

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Q & A

C A F É

Leak Throat

At Nathans’ community lunch, MATT COOPER discusses Plamegate B Y C A R O L J O Y N T CJ: If Karl Rove gets indicted, you will be the key prosecution witness, correct?

MC: I could be. I think it’s likely if that were to

happen, I could get called, but we don’t know what the prosecutor is dealing with. It could be some angle that has nothing to do with me.

CJ: On the outside chance that it does happen, how would you feel as a journalist being a key prosecution witness in an indictment of a high administration official?

MC: I’ve been very open about when I testified to the grand jury. I wrote about it in Time magazine a couple of days after I testified in July. I testified truthfully and completely about my conversation with Karl Rove, a conversation in which I took notes and wrote a now famous email to my bosses saying I just spoke with Karl Rove on double super secret background.

MATT COOPER

SOLD-OUT Q&A CAFÉ AT NATHANS

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he inside and outside of Nathans on October 26 could have been a scene from a movie. Inside, a sold-out room of loyal patrons who wanted to hear the latest on the PlameGate investigation from central player Matt Cooper. Outside, sidewalks crammed with movie fans waiting to catch a glimpse of Nicole Kidman as she filmed a few tiny scenes for “The Visiting.” All the excitement led to a gripping Q & A Café as the Time magazine White House correspondent answered questions about his role in a case that has all of Washington on the edge of their seats, especially after the indictment of Vice President Cheney’s chief of staff, Scooter Libby.

Matt Cooper: It is true that Nicole Kidman is

in town. I want to use this opportunity to dispel any rumors. We’re good friends and that’s it.

It’s been a strange experience to be on the other side of the notepad and to be in the middle of a story as well as writing about it, but it’s an informative experience for any journalist to have to

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deal with the press and see how it covers you.

It’s probably one every journalist should go through as well. As for this long, crazy, drawn out case, I’ve never seen Washington in the twenty years that I’ve been living here, so heavy with anticipation about things that are about to happen, and with so little knowledge of what really is going to happen. I think no one really knows and it’s a good time to remember that rumors are not the same as indictments, indictments are not the same as convictions, and we should all take a deep breath and see what the special prosecutor comes up with, if anything.

Carol Joynt: Did you know Vice President Cheney could be involved in the leak?

MC: No, I saw the New York Times story like

everyone else. If you haven’t followed the minutiae of this, there was a New York Times article that said Scooter Libby heard about the identity of Valerie Plame as a CIA agent from the Vice President himself. While that’s not necessarily wrong or even criminal, it still puts the Vice President more in the story.

CJ: When was the last time you had to testify?

MC: I only testified that one time before the

grand jury, a year before I gave a deposition about Scooter Libby.

CJ: Was this the first time that you’ve ever been involved in something like this?

MC: I’ve had traffic tickets and very extensive

library fines. I’m a nice boy, really.

CJ: Without giving anything away, walk us through the experience of going before a grand jury.

MC: Like many things in life, it’s a little anti-

climactic. You get in there and the grand jury looks like a shabby classroom. The grand jurors, about twenty of them, sit at small desks that are stacked up in rows at an angle. They were predominately African-American, mostly women, and they seem quite engaged. The prosecutor interviews you and has an overhead projector which he [uses] and points to some quotations.

It was very tedious as he went through every excruciating detail in my case about my very

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brief phone call with Karl Rove. If you’ve ever seen Law and Order, you know the old adage that a jury will indict a ham sandwich. We usually think they are passive, they’re asleep and will do whatever the prosecutor says. The thing that struck me was that this grand jury was quite engaged, I would say they asked about a third of the questions.

CJ: A lot of people ask this question: what about Robert Novak? It all started with him. Are we to assume that he went into that same room, said what he had to say and then went to ground?

MC: It’s been one of the great mysteries of this

case because of course he was the one [who] outed Valerie Plame, revealing her identity in that July 14, 2003 column. For a long time people wondered about Novak because unlike the other reporters who have testified in the case, Tim Russert, myself, Judith Miller, the two reporters from The Washington Post, Novak would never say if he’s testified or not. At this point, I don’t think there’s any other plausible explanation other than he did testify. The only question that remains is if he did so with the acquiescence of his confidential sources or if he testified without their consent.

CJ: Have you talked to him?

MC: I’ve run into him, but we really haven’t

chatted.

CJ: Go back to your experiences at Time magazine with Mr. Pearlstine, who is your editorin-chief. He said that your notes would be made available. Was that in consultation with you?

MC: Yes, it was. We had determined that my

notes were really the property of Time magazine because I had taken them on a company computer, which is clearly the property of the company and that Time magazine was a party [to] this case… After we fought this thing all the way to the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court decided not to take the case and then comes judgment day, July 29, 2005 and the judge said Time had to comply. Norman Pearlstine had to make a decision about whether or not to turn over my notes and the emails I had written. We had made the decision that we wouldn’t and would keep fighting. Finally, he made a difficult and different decision, one that I respect, which was to comply with the Supreme Court of the United States and turn over my notes. Many people in journalism screamed and yelled about it [but] I think it was a principled decision. It’s one that, at the time, I disagreed with, but he

“[MY RELATIONSHIP WITH KARL ROVE] IS A LITTLE CLOSER THAN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH NICOLE KIDMAN.” —MATT COPPER

did consult with me. I think he made a hard choice, on balance I think that he would have been better off fighting longer.

CJ: Was the decision you made in concert with his?

MC: I faced a very interesting position after my

notes were turned over by Time Inc. because it leaked out this now famous email that I wrote to my bosses about my conversation with Karl Rove on “double super secret background.”

One of the funniest things about this was to watch the journalistic elite, the political analysts, and all the cable show pundits analyze what I meant by double super secret background. They would say, “Cooper’s statements were on double super secret background,” as if this were a widely acknowledged journalistic term. Those of you who have seen Animal House know if [refers] to John Belushi’s fraternity hoiuse being put on probation. If anything is a lesson, your emails are not safe. So they turned over my email, and my source was known, and a lot of people said to me now that my source is known, what’s left to protect, why don’t you just go testify? Even though Time had complied, I didn’t think I could just go ahead without the source giving me his acquiescence.

On the very day that I was supposed to, Karl Rove through his attorney and my attorney, did give me that permission to go testify.

CJ: What is your relationship with Karl Rove?

MC: It’s a little closer than my relationship with

Nicole Kidman. At the time I just started covering the White House, so I didn’t have a relationship with him. In the intervening time I’ve spoken with him, but no special relationship.

BILL GRADY, STEPHEN SCHOFT AND MIKE MILLER

CJ: When was the last time you talked with him?

MC: It was before my testimony. I did speak

during the time after Scott Mclellan said it was

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ludicrous to think Karl Rove was involved.

CJ: There is a lot of shout and frown going on around the city right now about Judith Miller.

What has it been like for you when there were originally reports the two of you would go to jail, then it was only Judy going to jail, then there were reports she had a $1.2 million book contract, and then the next thing you know, Judy is getting eaten alive by everyone.

MC: It’s the strangest thing. I’ve never seen

anything like it. I wasn’t surprised when she went off to jail. I think she made a number of defiant statements. We talked a lot together because our court cases starting in October 2004 were joined. I talked to her from timeto-time. I visited her in jail. I am sorry she had the misfortune of being there. This is not a pretty place, and this is not a minimal security place. It’s very, very grim over there. I can’t explain what’s happened in the weeks since she’s gotten out.

CJ: Do you think her going to jail made any difference?

MC: This whole case has raised an interest-

ing question for the press about the use and misuse of anonymous sources. When do we go off the record with somebody and how do we handle it? If you do have a conversation with some degree of anonymity that’s really a form of binding contract not only between you and your sources but also your corporation and the source. I hope that if any good comes out of this, it will be the passage of a national shield law. In most states, in 49 states, there is some protection for journalists and their confidential sources giving journalists privileges similar to the relationship between doctor/patient, priest/ parishioner, and lawyer/client. Basically all the states have decided to give journalists this type of protection because that this is the type of confidential relationship we want to preserve.

What I so painfully discovered is that this does not exist at the Federal level. Now there is a bipartisan effort in Congress to create this law.

CJ: When did you find out that you were a part of this criminal investigation?

MC: It’s so much less interesting in real life, I

got a call from the FBI one day, they wanted

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to talk to me, I refused and I talked to Time Inc.’s counsel about it.

Later they eventually sent a subpoena, which went by fax to my lawyers. I’ve had a number of the best lawyers in the country, Floyd Abrams, the famous first amendment lawyer, as well as Ted Olson, who did my appeal to the Supreme Court along with Miguel Estrada who was appointed and ultimately not appointed to the court. So it has been an interesting group.

CJ: How many lawyers do you have working on this case right now?

MC: No, it’s not like Michael Jackson.

CAROL JOYNT

For a while there were a fair number between the Time lawyers, and I have been greatly helped by my friend and local attorney, Richard Sauber, a partner at Fried Frank, who was my personal attorney throughout this whole thing.

Now it’s just down to him.

CJ: What’s the mood like at the White House?

MC: I think it’s like the rest of Washington.

There is an enormous sort of buzz in the anticipation of what is going to happen. You do sense more tension. It’s very distracting and very consuming. It’s also the elephant in the room nobody wants to talk about since that could lead to more subpoenas, and even though it’s topic number one, people are not actually talking about it.

CJ: Have you had eye contact with the President since all this transpired?

MC: I don’t think I have since I testified. In

December 2004, while I was in the midst of testifying for this whole thing, I went with a couple of colleagues of mine to interview the President because he was Time’s person of the year. The first words he said to me were, “Cooper, I thought you would be in jail by now,” which I took in good natured spirit.

“IT’S ALSO THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT SINCE THAT COULD LEAD TO MORE SUBPOENAS, AND EVEN THOUGH IT’S TOPIC NUMBER ONE, PEOPLE ARE NOT ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT IT.” —MATT COPPER

about some of the things he said. The underlying thing is that the CIA said that a crime has been committed, which led to an FBI investigation.

CJ: Who would be your pick to play you in the movie?

MC: George Clooney, it’s obvious, I get it all the

CJ: Have you met Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame?

MC: After I was subpoenaed, I ran into them

time!

at a party. I run into them periodically. He’s a colorful guy. I know there’s some controversy

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MEDIA SPOTLIGHT

Mind Control

PBS’s PAT MITCHELL talks about the dangers of corporate control of the media

T

he great technological tsunami washing over our media landscape has given consumers more choices than ever.

A nation that once got its headlines at suppertime from Walter Cronkite and its laughs on Saturday night from Carol Burnett now has a seemingly infinite number of choices for news and entertainment.

The media have consolidated at cyberspeed since the 1996 Telecommunications Act lifted the prohibitions on their growth.

So, while the number of choices has increased, the number of corporations that control them has declined. Take News Corporation: It owns the Fox broadcasting network, several cable channels and newspapers, the Twentieth Century Fox film studio and the HarperCollins publishing house.

As Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota once asked a proponent of media deregulation during a Congressional hearing, “When you talk about the diversity of voices out there ... are you talking about more voices by one ventriloquist?”

PROMOTING DIVERSITY Consolidation of commercial media has robbed it of its ability to serve all people. I’m proud PBS keeps the “broad” in broadcasting.

You will find a diversity of voices in our public affairs programming. PBS is home to some of television’s brightest journalists and commentators, whether it’s the documentary filmmakers at “Frontline” or Paul Gigot and the other panelists on “The Journal Editorial Report.”

Promoting diversity also means tapping into our nation’s vast cultural heritage. Our “Tavis Smiley Show,” for example, is the only nightly talk show on television hosted by an African American. Mr. Smiley came to public broadcasting after a long career at cable’s Black Entertainment Television, which has essentially abandoned the news business.

Three years ago, PBS introduced “American Family” – the first weekly series with an allHispanic cast – to its lineup.We picked the show

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up after it was dropped by CBS, which developed “American Family” but declined to schedule it.

Our PBS Kids lineup includes such gems as “Maya & Miguel,” a daily chronicle of the adventures of two precocious Hispanic twins, and “Sagwa,” the story of a curious Siamese cat that gives viewers a glimpse into China’s rich heritage.

LOSING LOCALISM When I became a broadcast journalist in the 1970s, commercial TV stations produced their own talk shows, documentaries and newsmagazines, all designed to reflect the tastes and needs of the viewers they served. How times have changed. In many cities, the last locally-owned media outlets are the public broadcasting stations!

This is never more evident than during times of crisis. In too many communities, the commercial media has lost its ability to perform the critical task of informing citizens during emergencies.

Take Minot, North Dakota, a small city that faced a major threat three years ago when a train carrying 10,000 gallons of ammonia fertilizer derailed at 1 a.m. and sent a toxic cloud into the early morning sky. In the hours after the derailment, the local police were unable to reach anyone by phone at KCJB, a country music station and Minot’s designated emergency broadcaster. KCJB – one of about 1,200 stations owned by Clear Channel Communications Inc.– was running on auto pilot that night, piping a satellite feed in from another city.The authorities tried to contact the other radio stations in Minot to ask them to broadcast warnings about the spill, but no one could be reached at those stations, either. As it turned out, Clear Channel owned six commercial stations in town.

Not surprisingly, one of the first stations to get the information on the air was KMPR, Minot’s public radio station. More recently, the heroic staff at Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) came to the rescue of citizens – and fellow journalists – in the weeks after Hurricane Katrina blew across the Gulf Coast. LPB, based in Baton Rouge, opened its doors to the staffers at the CBS affiliate in New Orleans, which was destroyed in the storm. LPB was also the only broadcaster that had the ability to reach viewers across the state.

OWNERSHIP IS KEY How is public broadcasting able to foster diversity across its lineup? Why do we maintain such a strong commitment to localism?

It comes down to ownership.

Public broadcasting is not a business, although we have owners to answer to: the American people, who are more concerned with quality than profits and ratings.The public demands nothing less than a public broadcaster that serves all people.

History teaches us that you cannot have a democracy without having a healthy, democratic media system. This nation takes the power of the press seriously, even dubbing it the “fourth estate” of our government. I am proud of the crucial role public broadcasting performs in our society, but we cannot be the only remedy to the ills of corporate consolidation. Government regulators must do their part to ensure media conglomerates do not grow so large that they are unable– or unwilling– to be held accountable to the public they serve. Soon, those regulators will take another stab at rewriting the rules that govern growth in the media. No matter what happens, the committed journalists of public broadcasting will be watching closely.

I hope you do, too.

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Gifts That Truly Count

9/11 FAMILIES AND FRIENDS building a safer world BY GENE STEUERLE Gift Givers Gene Steuerle, on left, is co-founder of Our Voices Together. Pictured with Akbar S. Ahmed, Lee Burman and Lynne Schofield.

GIFTS THAT COUNT

“WHAT A DIFF’RENCE A DAY MAKES” Remember that old song? What a difference a day makes. For many families, September 11, 2001 was that day – a day when the voices of hate conspired to shorten the lives of so many wonderful people including my wife, Norma Steuerle, who died on the flight that crashed in Washington. But it was also a day when other voices were heard. Friends, neighbors, colleagues and strangers responded with an extraordinarily generous outpouring of assistance and kindness.

My daughters and I felt then, and still do, that the heartfelt response of so many not only expressed concern and compassion, but also the desire of each individual to respond personally and take a stand against terror.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE AN INDIVIDUAL MAKES Grateful for this outpouring of goodwill, we joined with other September 11th families

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and friends who were similarly inspired by the encouragement they themselves had received to generate more good in the world out of our disaster. We formed the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization Our Voices Together.

My colleague Len Burman at the Urban Institute lost his friend Leslie Whittington on September 11th and subsequently raised more than $100,000 to support health care in Haiti by cycling across the U.S. with his son. Sally Goodrich lost her son Peter on September 11th.

An administrator for schools in Massachusetts, Sally is building and equipping a girls’ school in Afghanistan. Susan Retik and Patti Quiqley were both pregnant and widowed on September 11th. They formed Beyond the 11th, an organization that provides support for widows affected by war and terrorism in other countries.

Our response to terrorism is to make the change we wish to see in the world and encourage others to join us in this endeavor.

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In September 2005 we formally launched www.

OurVoicesTogether.org and our online “Gifts That Count” gift shop. This holiday season, you can make a difference through a gift to a friend or loved one. You make a tax-deductible donation, a worthy cause gets the contribution, and your loved one gets a beautiful certificate as a symbol of your thoughtful gift.

The Our Voices Together Virtual Gift Shop supports specific international development projects, many chosen to honor the lives of loved ones killed by terrorist acts. Consider buying your family or friends a very special gift.

Give something in their name to those who need it most. Gifts range from job training for women in Afghanistan to emergency schools for displaced children in West Darfur, Sudan. Gift costs range from $20 to $50,000.

How does that old song end?

“What a diff ’rence a day made and the difference is you”

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equestrian excellence

Shelia and Paige Johnson with their golden retreiver in their riding barn at Salmandor Farm in Middleburg, Va.

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COV E R STO RY

ARTIST OF LIFE Sheila Johnson: Middleburg developer, Mystics owner, media mogul and mom I NTERVI EW BY NOR A MACCOBY

S

P H OTO BY KIT KITTL E CA RE OF SH OW CIRCU IT M AGA ZINE

heila Johnson is easily regarded as one of the most prominent and successful women in the world, known as a visionary, bridge builder and a transformative teacher. She is the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), author of the “Roland Method” of violin teaching and the first African-American woman to own stakes in three professional sports teams, including the Mystics, the female basketball wonder women of Washington. Her latest venture, The Salamander Inn & Spa, is poised to become Middleburg’s first upscale resort.

Johnson is also a great mom and wife. In person, she is warm, honest and relaxed with a great sense of humor. She is always the teacher, riffing back and forth with her students, always an artist of life.

A creator of music schools, television networks, philanthropy, Johnson’s works derive from her core belief that creative expression is essential to the development of leadership in a peaceful society. The Sheila Johnson School of Music in Amman, Jordan, teaches the language of music as a tool for healing transformation. “Young Strings in Action,” the all-string orchestra she found has toured in both the United Kingdom and Jordan and performs regularly at Children’s Hospital in Washington.

All the while, she was building BET, the network providing 24-hour news and entertainment for an African-American audience. Recently, while building she somehow found the time to get married again, to Judge William T. Newman.

Nor Maccoby, a former violin student of Johnson’s is now a gnostic scholar, an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter (“Buffalo Soldiers”,

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“Bongwater”) and co-founder of the non-profit energy literacy initiative, Nature’s Partners. Last month, she sat down with her mentor to discuss her incredible life.

Nora Maccoby: Tell us about your vision for the resort you want to build in Middleburg.

Shelia Johnson: I am building a five-star resort

and spa. It will have a 27, 000 square foot spa, we’ll have mud treatments, pilates, yoga, a couple of tree-house spa rooms, an equestrian facility, tennis courts, walking, hiking and riding trails, cooking classes, and a state-of-the-art conference center. We’re five minutes away from Jack Nicklaus’ golf course. I think the resort will be large enough to meet the needs of corporate executives, or small enough for romantic couples to get away [for the weekend.] Yo Yo Ma has told me that he would love to come perform.We’re going to have themed weekends with speakers on various subjects. I want it to be a preventative health and healing place but I don’t want it to be really whacked-out and floating in the air. I’m hoping that the resort will be the gateway in helping the wine industry here, by doing the wine tastings. I want to give guests a quality setting, something that is first-class, yet not overwhelming. You’re not going to feel like you’re at the St. Regis or anything like that. It will just be a place where you can really let your hair down.

NM: You’ve got this incredible vision and it’s going to provide so much enjoyment for so many people.

SJ: I’ve saved it from a developer... Basically, it’s a

weird situation because everyone thinks the resistance is coming from the town but it’s not. The town wants this. The retailers wanted it. They need the traffic. It’s the people who have just moved here [that have resisted.] I have to say that

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when I first moved here they put their claws into me. I threw this big gala and they just loved me and said I should buy this track of land just outside of town. So I did, and I said, let’s build a resort and call it an inn. It was a trap, they wanted me to buy the land and they didn’t think I was going to do anything with it. It’s not that I’m wrecking the land, I saved it from a developer who was going to put 200-plus homes on it. I’m putting 75 percent of it into a conservation easement. So now I’m doing a boundary adjustment to put the resort into the town, which means the town will get the tax dollars from the room revenue, giving it a flush of cash—over half a million dollars a year which they can use for all the improvements they need.

NM: They should be thanking you.

SJ: They are starting to realize it, but now they’re

blaming all these cars that come through Middleburg on moi. But it’s the commuters, the blue collar workers who have to live in Winchester or West Virginia and work in town because there’s no other way for them to [commute.]

NM: You took the role of the president of the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS).Why did you do this and what does it mean to you?

SJ: Because my daughter’s a rider. I’ve never

known a sport that can drain more money out of your bank account. I did it because of her interest and her passion and I have to say, I’ve enjoyed it, the ride has been great. It’s been making money because I’ve started to run it as a business, and I think the people in the horse industry have to understand that you’ve got to run shows as a business. Unfortunately even people within the industry do not support the horse shows—clients and parents who are wealthy and

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who really should be helping with the sponsorship. At some point the horse industry is going to hit a crossroads, and I’m not sure how long the WIHS will be able to stay at the MCI Center. The rent is horrendous.

WILL IT BE THE UNWAVERING

NM: My earliest memories of you are in violin class.

Bobby [Bob Johnson] would come in and out and you’d talk about your plans in radio, TV and cable.

You were always working out your philosophy. You were going to change the world, and then you did.You are a visionary and you instilled that in us that desire to make the world better or create things that may not be here now.What makes someone a visionary?

SJ: I think you’re born with it, I really do. It has

SENSE OF WELCOME THAT BEGINS FAR

BEFORE YOU STEP THROUGH OUR DOORS?

THE INSPIRING WORKS OF ART

REVEALED AROUND EVERY CORNER?

something to do with seeing beyond the present, seeing the whole picture as it is happening in the present, and seeing how it can blossom.

THE ROOM THAT ENVELOPS

YOU WITH NEW SPACIOUSNESS

NM: All of your students have done very well.

SJ: Yes, it’s not so much that they continue to

for these kids but we couldn’t go across the bridge into Israel, that was disappointing.

AND STYLE?

play an instrument, but that they’ve been very successful in their own careers. And I really believe that music is the foundation, because it touches them in a place where no one or nothing else can touch them. Our program taught organization, discipline and focus.We were like one big family. It was a learning process— from bowing and learning good stage manners to learning how to sit still. Because we had students from age five to eighteen, the bigger children taught the littler ones. We took it seriously, we were a professional top-notch group, and we played everything.

tival, the oldest cultural festival in the Middle East.

I think it was Queen Noor who started this festival and she would invite top groups from all over the world to perform. Remember, we practiced twenty-four hours, seven days a week? We had to get it all in order, but not only did they arrange everything, the king sent his plane, and the kids got paid.

NM: Our group was called Young Strings in Action.

You have a music school in Jordan how is that doing?

SJ: It is still doing very well. Two weeks ago was

NM: You also wrote a book about your teaching method.

SJ: The book is called “Strings in Action.” It

its twenty-fifth anniversary. Many of the same teachers I trained are still there.We traveled to Jordan and the State Department told us we couldn’t go because some of the students were Jewish. I thought that was the dumbest thing, I mean, the arts are the bridge of the universal language.

was actually a string-teaching method that my teacher, Paul Rolland, had devised. He is the one who brought the Suzuki method into the country. He was given a grant from the Department of Education to come up with his own method, a half a million dollars, which created the Illinois String Research Project. It was all based on movement and natural ability to play the violin. It’s sort of complex but it works on every skill from playing the violin to balance to rhythmic skills. We were on tour in Europe and we would train teachers on how to teach this method. When he passed away from a heart attack. His publisher approached me to rewrite

NM: When we got there we’d meet people and say, “Half the kids were Jewish, but the Jordanians embraced everyone of us as our brothers and sisters.”

SJ: The lines of communication completely

opened up. A lot of the students stayed in Palestinian houses and had real dialogue and communication. It was really a phenomenal experience

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NM: But we played at the Dead Sea at that ancient temple…

SJ: Yes, the Temple of Artemis, for the Jerash fes-

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WA S H I N G T O N I N T E R N AT I O N A L HORSE SHOW

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WL SPONSORED

PHOTOS BY DOUGLAS SONDERS

THAT’S A WRAP On October 29, the Washington Life sponsored Washington International Horse Show (WHIS) wrapped up with a “Red, White and Blue” casual hoedown hosted

by WIHS President Sheila Johnson. in the lofty upper tiers of the MCI Center. Johnson has developed quite a fondness for the equestrian arts and owns two horse farms, one in The Plains, Va. and the other in Wellington, Va. Guests enjoyed a live country music band, dined on roast beef and cowboy potatoes and watched Sheila’s daughter, Paige

Johnson, and others competed for the President’s Cup, the show’s biggest prize.

Paige, who was apparently inspired to start riding after she watched “My Little Pony” when she was seven has become a top equestrian. § WORLD CLASS RIDERS Olympian Laura Kraut enjoyed the festivities before competing herself. Also in attendance were Georgiana Bloomberg, daughter of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who finished her events earlier in the week, and WIHS Executive Director Susie Webb.

Paige and Sheila Johnson

Tracey Byrd

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Paige Johnson

Joe Fargis and Ramiro Quintana

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NW: How do you work out parenting with Bobby?

SJ: I’m with the kids most of the time. He had

the method so teachers in the school system could use it.

them over Thanksgiving.

NM: I think the process and the way that you teach really enhances the whole person. Have you ever thought about politics and diplomacy?

SJ: It’s really funny you should ask that ques-

NM: Let’s talk about the Mystics.

SJ: They’re a great team of women and I’m

tion. I just went on the board of the Sorensen Institute, a non-partisan organization that gives young people leadership skills. I’m not saying that I’m going into politics but I am very happy that Tim Kaine was elected governor of Virginia. I helped get him elected and I’m coaching his operation. This is probably the closest I’ve been to politics on this level. Since I’m building this resort and spa here in Middleburg I’m of course involved in politics because any building projects you do will get you into politics with the county boards. It can be a very tricky game.

NM: What advice would you give the Democrats over the next couple of years?

SJ: We’ve lost a lot of ground and the perception

at the global level of the United States is not good.

We have a lot of cleaning up to do. But the Democrats really need to focus on what their issues are going to be and how they’re going to reprioritize issues globally as well as in this country. It has become the “in” thing to solve other country’s problems rather than looking within, and we’ve got problems on every level. I think this is something that’s key for whoever runs for president. I think Mark Warner is going to run and I think he will be really good.

NM: You’re a newlywed. How does it feel?

SJ: It feels great. It takes a little getting used to

(laughs). I’ve always been an independent person and for a period of time I wasn’t married. It’s a matter of striking a balance that has allowed me to keep doing what I’m doing, and be home too.

NM: Where did you and your husband meet?

SJ: Well, we actually met over thirty-some years

ago. I wasn’t making enough money, so I was acting on the side. Bill was in a play with me and I was married at the time. Fast-forward and I go into the chambers to get my divorce and I think, I know this judge. My lawyer asks, “How well do you know him?” And I say I haven’t seen him in

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at least thirty years. So after it’s over, I say, “Your Honor, may I approach the bench?” He says, that I may. And I say, “do you remember me?”

He said he did. Then I sent him an invitation to the Washington Horse Show to see if he’d show up with a guest and he came alone, so from that moment on…

NM: What qualities do you like best in him?

SJ: I can trust him. He’s brilliant. He’s very com-

fortable with himself and his career. I think he is probably one of the most honest people I’ve ever met in my life. He’s warm, he’s loving, adores me and I feel really safe with him. It’s a great feeling.

NM: Your daughter Paige is competing in the upper levels of jumping. Did she get you into horses or did you get her into horses?

SJ: She is the daughter I’ve always wanted. She is

quick, headstrong and passionate in whatever she does. She has known from the very young age of six that she wanted to ride. So, for her seventh birthday, I bought her this little pony named Foxhollow Sailingstar and she’s still riding to this day.

We have 25 horses on the farm.

NM: What is your son Brett doing these days?

SJ: He’s really a great actor. I think he’s very tal-

ented. He’s playing football now, first string varsity at Episcopal.

| washingtonlife.com

very excited about owning them. It’s the first time a woman has [owned] three sports teams, the Mystics, the Wizards and the Capitals. All the WNBA teams are under the NBA and have been inherited by men who own the NBA teams.Their focus is on men, not on the women, and they treat [the womens’ teams] like a step-child. The only way they can really thrive is by having separate ownership. My job is to separate my staff from the Wizards and build a new staff. I’m getting an entire sales and marketing team, I’m looking for an assistant coach and I’m still product testing a new mascot. We’ve got PR to help inform people about the Mystics Foundation because we have to reach out into the community. [The men’s NBA] are paid to go out in the community and are able to bring the TV cameras in. It’s like “Oh look, they’re feeding the homeless.” [But] they get paid to do it, it’s in their contract. Our women, have to make 11 charity appearances but they don’t get paid. They only make $45,000 a season. I am really having a fight now. They are going to start valuing the women as athletes. This is the one thing I have been furious about. I’m telling you this has got to change.

NM: What philanthropies are you most engaged in?

SJ: I’m most passionate about the welfare of

children. They’re being abused on every level, from sexual abuse, to trafficking, to not having a great learning environment, to improper heath care. I’m worried about the impact of the media on their minds. I have given brick and mortar for educational institutions. I’ve formed an institute that is helping disadvantaged students who have gotten into college [learn to] assimilate better. Also, the performing arts, because I still believe that that stage is a way of reaching so many young people and getting them to express themselves. I have my own foundation and have gotten my children involved because I think [we] have been extraordinarily blessed with good fortune and it’s really important for them to learn to give back.

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STAT U S & ST Y L E

HOM E F OR T H E HOLI DAYS

POOCHES & THEIR PAPAS W ashington may be a dog-eat-dog town, but not during the holidays.

How treasured the time spent at home in jeans and a sweater with loved ones and man’s best friend. No questions asked just lots of adoring looks. Unconditional love has paws.

PRODUCED & STYLED BY Barbara McConaghy PHOTOGRAPHED BY James Hicks STORY BY Mary Bird MEN’S GROOMING BY Anita Bahremy Special thanks to all of our models, their gracious spouses and fourlegged children; to Derek Hill at Neiman Marcus; Joe Turchiarolos at Liljenquist & Beckstead; Jessica Lewis at Ferragamo, and Brian Firehammer at Bloomingdale’s

“If you want a friend in 74

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

| DECEMBER

| washingtonlife.com

Senator Bill Frist, M.D.

with Tucket & Camo Senate Majority Leader

“J

ust last night, Senator Kennedy brought Splash and his well-chewed

tennis ball to the Majority Leader’s Office.”

Senator Frist and his wife Karyn live a fast-paced political life, which means they split the holidays between Washington and Nashville, Tennessee, where they are remodeling their family home. They spend the first part of December here and then return home around mid-month when their three sons are home from school. As a result, both houses are festively decorated.

When asked about Truman’s quip that in Washington a dog is a politician’s only true friend, Sen. Frist said that apart from his wife, the quote is absolutely true. He recalls that in his early career as a heart transplant surgeon, with his adrenalin still racing as he returned home in the early morning

office by Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina and

hours, his white lab Teysha would greet him at the

Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, whose Portu-

door without waking the household. Sadly, he notes

guese Water Dog, Splash, brought along his well-

that even with a surgeon’s schedule, he was able to

chewed tennis ball. The Frists’ current Virginia-bred

spend more time with his dog than his Washington

canine companions are Tucket, a black Labrador, who

schedule now permits.

became their eldest son Harrison’s dog, and a white

Reflecting on dogs in the workplace, Sen. Frist says he was recently joined in the Majority Leader’s

Labrador Camo (for camouflage) chosen by their middle son, Jonathan.

SEN FRIST is wearing a Burberry brown tweed sports coat, Joseph Aboud brown cable knit zip-collared sweater, Burberry cotton tattersal plaid shirt, all Bloomingdale’s; JLC Compressor Geographique watch, Liljenquist & Beckstead

Washington, get a dog.”

—HARRY S. TRUMAN WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

| DECEMBER

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75

Chip Reid is wearing a Joseph & Lyman shearling jacket, leather gloves and Ralph Lauren ivory cashmere cable knit pullover, all Bloomingdale’s; IWC Big Pilot watch, Liljenquist & Beckstead. (Chip’s own jeans)

Chip Reed and Buster MSNBC News Correspondent

the object of their affection.

about Buster entitled ‘My Mama Died the Day I Was

Reed waxes poetic about Buster’s heritage. A friend found Buster’s mother by the side of the road during a

76

Born and I Never Knew My Daddy’s Name.’”

Now a model of decorum, Buster’s early unruliness

s a reporter with MSNBC, Chip Reed

A

rain storm in rural Georgia. The mother died after giv-

brought two trainers to the rescue before he finally

spends plenty of amount of time on

ing birth and the friend raised nine puppies by giving

decided to “be a good boy.” Reed boasts that Buster,

the road. Down time is treasured and

them milk first from an eye dropper and then a bottle.

whose “love name” is “Buttabean,” has a vocabulary

never more so than during the holidays.

The smallest of the litter, who started life as “Runt

of at least 30 words (“Swim” rates instant recognition.)

Chip and his girlfriend Nina Black share their

Runt,” has just turned three. Reed confides, “I always

Buster’s sister Cassidy lives in Georgetown and they

historic Washington house with Buster, clearly

say that someday I am going to write a country song

have frequent play dates.

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

| DECEMBER

| washingtonlife.com

Jack Valenti and Lily Former President and CEO, Motion Picture Association of America

A

native of Texas and former White House assistant to President Lyndon B. Johnson, Jack Valenti served as

president and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America until recently. His life continues at a hectic pace, so no wonder he delights in retreating to an inviting home in Northwest Washington which he shares with his wife Mary Margaret and beloved chocolate Labrador Lily.

Valenti queried about the validity of President Truman’s advice he says, “It may be one of the greatest maxims in life ever uttered by anybody.” He goes on to quote Mark Twain: “If you have a dog, feed him well, take good care of him. He will never bite you. That is the difference between dogs and men.” Lily was a “six-week-old, spindly legged, awkward” pup bred in the Shenandoah Valley when she had the good fortune to be chosen by the Valentis.

She has matured into a 19-month-old lady trained by the Olde Town School for Dogs.

Jack calls Lily “the smartest and most affectionate of any dog I’ve had.” She immediately reacts to a tone of voice and understands to the extent of being almost clairvoyant. “I am terribly in love with this dog,” he concludes.

Jack Valenti is wearing Christia distressed shearling jacket and a Loro Piana cashmere turtleneck, all Neiman Marcus; A. Lange & Sohne rose gold Cabaret watch, Liljenquist & Beckstead.

(Jack’s own slacks)

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

| DECEMBER

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77

Dr. Robert Adrian and Sadie

Cosmetic Dermatologist and Laser Surgeon

O

n dog as man’s best friend: “I guess that’s true, as long as they don’t provide any leaks.”

Dr. Adrian lives with his wife and four

sons in a sun-dappled house in Kenwood filled with family photographs and great love.

The Adrians’ dog Sadie was rescued from Golden Retriever Education and Training in Virginia. She was discovered at a GREAT sponsored pet store adoption event. The family was “just looking” when they spotted a Golden Retriever/Border Collie mix about one year old. They waited out other onlookers and, after a family poll, Sadie had a home.

Dr. Adrian says Sadie’s behavior requires no discipline. Her reward is their daily run.

Sadie is now 12 but for many years she ran six miles a day. During a recent visit she knew something special was happening because she had been groomed, then coyly waited upstairs before being called down to make a grand entrance. The only downside to her sweet personality is her adverse opinion about the mailman, whom Sadie has deemed her “natural enemy.”

Dr. Robert Adrian is wearing a Brioni silk and wool sports coat, Ermenegildo Zegna striped shirt, both Neiman Marcus; Salvatore Ferragamo silk print tie, Ferragamo Boutique, Tysons Galleria; A. Lange & Sohne rose gold Cabaret watch, Liljenquist & Beckstead

78

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

| DECEMBER

| washingtonlife.com

David Keller

with Willie & Blanca Washington’s Celebrity Fitness Trainer

D

avid Keller is a personal trainer whose client

| DECEMBER

ribbon purebred” American Eskimo Dog, also found a new home after a charity auction. The white fur ball currently rules the roost, deferring only to majestic 25-pound Sam, a Maine coon cat.

list reads like an international Who’s Who. A

Keller totally concurs with President Truman’s

favored client, Katherine Graham once said,

advice to trust a dog for friendship and rather shyly

“If you want to be around to enjoy your friends, you’d

David Keller is wearing a Loro Piana red cashmere zip-neck sweater, Etro black velveteen slacks, Neiman Marcus; Panerai Luminor Marina watch, Liljenquist & Beckstead

German Spitz. In a weak moment, Blanca, a “purple

better be working out with David Keller.”

Keller treasures the holidays in a Georgetown

granted Willie “best friend” status.

Treating his pets “as the intelligent, rational, thinking human beings that they are,” Keller credits

house that he has exquisitely remodeled for the enjoy-

“über dog trainer” Diana Legg for their good

ment of family, friends and children, both two- and

manners, acknowledging that “you don’t’ get a

four-legged ones. Never having had a dog before, his

trainer for the dogs, you get a trainer to learn how

heart was immediately captured by Willie, a rescued

to be a good parent.”

| washingtonlife.com

79

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C U L T U R E

IN MARK SELIGER’S

STAIRWELL INTERVIEW BY Chris Murray PHOTOS BY Mark Seliger egendary Rolling Stone photographer Mark Seliger’s stairwell may not look like much, but in his new book

In My Stairwell released in October, Seliger highlights the personalities of many acclaimed artists who give life to this intimate spot. This month, Govinda Gallery in Georgetown will exhibit many of the 75 photographs taken for the book, which includes portraits of Paul McCartney, Susan Sarandon, Tom Wolfe and Lou Reed, among others. Gallery owner, Chris Murray, sat down with Seliger to discuss photographing these legends and the unique process he issues to capture his subjects. The In My Stairwell exhibit will run until early January.

82

OPPOSITE PAGE MUHAMMAD ALI AND MICHAEL J FOX “It was important to show what Muhammad Ali and Michael J. Fox have in common. The concept for the photo was to have Ali, the greatest fighter in the world, training Michael, who is not exactly the biggest fighter in the world. But Michael is a real fighter in another sense and his strength is an example for so many people. Ali is also an inspiration in various ways, from his involvement in civil rights and humanitarian issues to his legacy as an athlete.”

| DECEMBER

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT LIAM NEESON “Liam came to my main studio originally for a shoot for British Vogue, after which we went to the stairwell and shot this picture in only five minutes. For Liam the process is all very focused, almost cautious. Once he finds where he’s going, he holds it. His movements are very subtle…quiet moments that just sort of shift.

There’s a confidence. Liam knows who he is and how to find that in himself. It was a good shoot in that respect. He was also pretty excited since he just gotten a big role that he really wanted in a [Steven] Spielberg film.”

PAUL MCCARTNEY “Paul was a saint…he could not have been more generous and lovely. He was engaging, laughing, fun, and youthful in every way. It was an honor to have him there and to work with him.”

MIKHAIL BARYSHNIKOV “At first he wanted to do a portrait, but I proposed that he utilize the stairwell as a stage and to engage physically in the photograph. Standing in front of the mirror like a dancer would, he pondered a bit about what he wanted to do.

As we started taking pictures, his body unfolded and his movements were beautiful.”

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

| DECEMBER

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RAVI SHANKAR “Ravi played his sitar for us for half an hour. Ravi is truly an innovator and has been a phenomenal contribution to world music. He has shown so many musicians what can be done. This portrait was an integral turning point in the evolution of this project.”

LUCIANO PAVAROTTI “During the shoot, I could tell when he found what he wanted to do which was to assume the portrait of performer. We intentionally slowed the shutter down so that there was a little bit of movement to it. His features are so theatrical that the entire composition seemed special to us. Pavarotti makes everybody in the room feel that there’s a fantastic moment at hand.”

CINDY SHERMAN “I have always been intrigued and inspired by her work. We tried to focus on Cindy’s concept of the self-portrait…as if we were voyeurs into that world. This photo also pays homage to her own body of work.”

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S CIAL LIST

S

2006

O

C

I

E

T

Y

sk any great hostess to name the essential ingredient of a successful party and the answer is always the same. It’s not the food or the décor, no matter how gourmet or sumptuous. It’s not the decorator or the florist, much as we love getting as many people involved in the production as possible. The sine qua non of High Society is the guest list.

For society to be High—and by that we mean fun, amusing, memorable and perhaps even the subject of morning-after gossip laced with just a dash of envy—the list has to be somewhat surprising. As in smart politics, there is no litmus test for inclusion. A person’s title, fame or fortune, while sometimes quite fetching, is not the rub. One Supreme Court justice or self-made billionaire is not as good company as the next. Nor is it a matter of clubs, breeding or brilliance, although all those accoutrements can impress. But then, so can an assist from a rigorous personal trainer and a soigné couturier, because, under candlelight or strobe, who can resist a great beauty?

As in all ambitious concoctions, success lies in the mix, fashioned to amuse, entertain, nurture and inform, always with an eye to the one dreaded enemy who, like Coleridge’s Wide Sargasso Sea, can maroon even the most dashing host’s grand affair. Unquestionably, the worst thing that can happen to any party is to be becalmed, stuck in the social doldrums with all that “same old, same old,” and nary

a beguiling puff of new life, or zephyr of the unexpected.

“The bores I won’t suffer,” said Elsa Maxwell, the original “Hostess with the Mostest” who reigned as America’s top party giver through the 1950s and knew everyone from George Bernard Shaw and Carl Sandburg to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. “I surround my table with only the most amusing and charming people. I never see a bore! I never see one.”

A good social list has to be diverse, surprising, and even a bit controversial. A suave felon can sometimes add a bit of spice.

Recall the late Richard Helms, the former head of the CIA. Even after he was found guilty of lying to Congress, he was still invited to all the “top houses.” Guests don’t always have to behave. Known for being terribly rude, the late syndicated columnist Joseph Alsop regularly picked fights with his table partners and, behind their backs, insulted aspiring hostesses who dared woo him.

Recognizing the importance of friends old and new, the joys of human discourse and the generous and gregarious heart of a city that thrives on politics, culture, commerce and diplomacy, no matter how divisive the times, Washington Life once again (with input from a secret committee) throws caution to the wind, and offers up its annual social list. Here’s to the players. Long may we all find occasions to make merry.

—Susan Watters

H.E. the Ambassador of Brazil Roberto P﹒ Abdenur and Mrs. Abdenur (Maria) Mr. and Mrs. William Abel-Smith (Mimi) The Honorable and Mrs. Tyler Abell (Bess) The Honorable David C﹒ Acheson Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Adams (Gina Ferguson) Mr. Theo Adamstein and Ms. Olvia Demetriou Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Addison (Sylvia Ripley) The Honorable Madeleine K﹒ Albright Mr. and Mrs. Braddock Alexander (Denise) The Honorable and Mrs. Clifford Alexander (Adele) Mr. and Mrs. Joe L﹒ Allbritton (Barbara Jean) Mr. and Mrs. Michael Allen (Kara Kennedy) The Honorable and Mrs. Lamar Alexander (Honey) The Honorable and Mrs. George Allen (Susan) H. E. the Ambassador of Kuwait Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Sabah and Sheikha Al-Sabah (Rima) Mrs. Stewart J﹒O﹒ Alsop (Elizabeth) Mr. and Mrs. Robert Altman (Lynda Carter) Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ansari (Karen) H.E. the Ambassador of Bolivia Jaime Aparicio and Mrs. Aparicio (Pamela) Mr. and Mrs. R﹒ W﹒ Apple﹐ Jr﹒ (Betsey) Mr. and Mrs. Arthur W﹒ Arundel (Margaret) Mr. and Mrs. John Arundel (Christine) Mr. Charles H﹒ Atherton Mrs. Martin Atlas (Liane) H﹒E﹒ the Ambassador of Israel Daniel Ayalon and Mrs. Ayalon (Anne)

B

Mr. Smith W﹒ Bagley and The Honorable Elizabeth Bagley The Honorable Howard H﹒ Baker and The Honorable Nancy Landon Kassebaum Mr. and Mrs. Robert Barnett (Rita Braver) Mr. Michael Barone Mr. and Mrs. Charles L﹒ Bartlett (Martha) Mr. and Mrs. Harry Belin (Susan) Mr. and Mrs. Morton Bender (Grace) Mrs. Karl R﹒ Bendetsen (Gladys) Mrs. W﹒ Tapley Bennett﹐ Jr﹒ (Margaret) The Honorable and Mrs. William J﹒ Bennett (Elayne) The Honorable and Mrs. Wayne Berman (Lea) The Honorable and Mrs. Stuart A﹒ Bernstein (Wilma)

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

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C

Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Cafritz (Jane) Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Cafritz (Ludmilla)

buffy and Bill cafritz

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SOCIAL LIST 2006

A

Mr. and Mrs. Max Berry (Heidi) Mr. and Mrs. Albert J﹒ Beveridge﹐ III (Madzy) H.E. the Ambassador of Chile Andres Bianchi and Mrs. Bianchi (Lily) Mr. and Mrs. James H﹒ Billington (Marjorie) Mrs. Worth Bingham (Joan) The Honorable and Mrs. Robert O﹒ Blake (Sylvia) Mr. and Mrs. Antony Blinken (Evan Ryan) Mr. and Mrs. Huntington T﹒ Block (Amie) ghislaine boreel The Honorable and Mrs. Roy Blunt (Abigail) Mrs. Francis Boardman (Ann) Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hale Boggs (Barbara) Mrs. Samuel Bogley (Rose Marie) Count and Countess Peder Bonde (Clarissa) Ms. Ghislaine Boreel The Honorable Barbara Boxer and Mr. Stewart Boxer Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin C﹒ Bradlee (Sally Quinn) Mr. and Mrs. David G﹒ Bradley (Katherine) Mrs. B﹒ Rionda Braga (Mary) Justice and Mrs. Stephen G﹒ Breyer (Joanna) Mr. and Mrs. Arturo E﹒ Brillembourg (Hilda Ochoa) The Honorable Nancy Brinker The Honorable and Mrs. William E﹒ Brock﹐ III (Sandra) Mr. and Mrs. Raymond C﹒ Brophy (Jeanette) Mr. and Mrs. Preston Brown (Eva) Mrs. Ronald H﹒ Brown (Alma) martha bartlett Mr. and Mrs. E﹒ Edward Bruce (Marnelle) Ms. Maggie Ohrstrom Bryant Mr. and Mrs. William L﹒ Bryant (Aliki) The Honorable and Mrs. Zbigniew Brzezinski (Emilie) Mrs. Ruth Hale Buc hanan Mr. and Mrs. Wiley T﹒ Buchanan﹐ III (Janice) Mr. and Mrs. Childs F﹒ Burden (Elaine) Mr. and Mrs. I﹒ Townsend Burden﹐ III (Valerie) Mrs. Edward B﹒ Burling﹐ Jr﹒ (Frida) Mrs. Gahl Hodges Burt The Honorable Richard R﹒ Burt Miss Elizabeth A﹒ Burton The President of theUnited States George W﹒ Bush and First Lady Laura Bush Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Bush (Margaret) The Honorable Harry Flood Byrd﹐ Jr﹒

Second Acts

“THERE ARE NO SECOND ACTS IN AMERICAN LIVES ” F. Scott Fitzgerald observed shortly before he died. That was 20 years before Richard Nixon lost the California governor’s race and held what he promis ed would be his last press conference. Since then, everyone’s learned never to count anyone out in politics.

This year’s social list stars a number of high flying second acts starting with the two-term President George W. Bush who, more than a decade ago, was helping thrice as good his family move out of (from left to right) Deborah Gore the White House, the Dean, Madeleine Albright and humiliated eldest son of President George W. and First Lady a defeated president.

Laura Bush Washington loves a winner, especially when a down ed political insider returns to claim success. Public relations whiz with plenty of Hollywood connections Michael Deaver is going strong advising clients like Wayne and Catherine Reynolds how to navigate in Washington. And former GOP darling Deborah Gore Dean, now a decorating sensation with her own line of elegant home furnishings, is presiding over two glorious floors at her own M Street store.

Changing roles also helps. Jimmy Carter’s former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinksi and wife Emilie are back in the limelight as parents of their media savvy daughter Mika, a CBS nightly news correspondent. Then there’s Madeleine Albright, the former Secretary of State, who this year popped back onto center stage with a cameo part in “Gilmore Girls.”

So next time you bump into Joe and Barbie Allbritton, Franklin Raines, Sandy Berger or “Scooter” Libby, maybe that’s the moment to remember the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator super hero. However bad the situation, they’re all probably whispering under their breath, “I’ll be Bach!”

—Susan Watters

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Mrs. Peggy Cooper Cafritz Mr. and Mrs. William N﹒ Cafritz (Buffy) Mrs. Charles A﹒ Camalier﹐ Jr﹒ (Anne) Mr. and Mrs. F﹒ Davis Camalier (Lynda) Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cantacuzene (Elizabeth) Mr. and Mrs. Rodion Cantacuzene (Melissa) The Honorable and Mrs. Andrew H﹒ Card﹐ Jr﹒ (Kathleene) Mr. and Mrs. Bernard J﹒ Carl (Joan) Ms. Margaret Carlson The Honorable and Mrs. Richard W﹒ Carlson (Patricia) The Honorable and Mrs. Frank C﹒ Carlucci (Marcia) Mr. and Mrs. James Carney (Claire Shipman) Mr. and Mrs. Jorge E﹒ Carnicero (Jacqueline) Mr. and Mrs. Jorge J﹒ Carnicero (Susan) Mrs. Neil Carothers﹐ III (Katryna) Mrs. McGhee Carter (Marsha) Mr. and Mrs. Tom Carver (Katy Kay) Mrs. Eugene B﹒ Casey (Betty) Mr. and Mrs. Henry C﹒ Cashen﹐ II (Diana) H.E. the Ambassador of Italy Giovanni Castellaneta and Mrs. Castellaneta (Lila) H.E. the Ambassador of Portugal Pedro Catarino and Mrs. Catarino (Cheryl) Mr. and Mrs. Giuseppe Cecchi (Mercedes) Mr. Kevin St﹒ C﹒ Chaffee Mr. and Mrs. David Challinor (Joan) H﹒E﹒ the Ambassador of Singapore Heng Chee Chan Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chane﹐ Episcopal Bishop of Washington, and Mrs. Chane (Karen) Mr. and Mrs. Aldus H﹒ Chapin (Dolly) The Honorable and Mrs. John E﹒ Chapoton (Sally) The Honorable and Mrs. O﹒ Donaldson Chapoton (Mary Jo) Ms. Ellen MacNeille Charles Mrs. Robert H﹒ Charles (Oatsie) Prince and Princess David Chavchavadze (Eugenie) The Vice President of the United States Richard B﹒ Cheney and Mrs. Cheney (Lynne) The Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and Mrs. Chertoff (Meryl) Mr. and Mrs. Brice McAdoo Clagett (Diana) Mr. and Mrs. Henry C﹒ B﹒ Clagett﹐ Jr﹒ (Jeanne Begg) Mr. Page B﹒ Clagett The Honorable and Mrs. Raymond C﹒ Clevenger﹐ III (Leslie) The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton and The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton Mr. and Mrs. Calvin H﹒ Cobb﹐ Jr﹒ (Olive) Mr. and Mrs. John Cochran (Barbara) Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Cockburn (Leslie) The Honorable and Mrs. William S﹒ Cohen (Janet Langhart)

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

| DECEMBER

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The Honorable and Mrs. William T﹒ Coleman (Lovida) Mrs. H﹒ Dunscombe Colt (Armita) Mrs. Catherine Conover Mr. and Mrs. Richard T﹒ Conroy (Sarah Boothe) The Honorable Esther Coopersmith The Honorable Holland H﹒ Coors Dr. and Mrs. Milton Corn (Gilan Tocco) Mr. and Mrs. Warren J﹒ Cox (Claire) Mr. and Mrs. Robert H﹒ Craft﹐ Jr﹒ (Margaret) Mrs. Dillon-Smyth Crocker (Roma) Dr. and Mrs. William H﹒ Crocker (Jean) Mrs. Kenneth McC﹒ Crosby (Peggy) Mrs. Brittain B﹒ Cudlip Mr. Charles T﹒ Cudlip Ms. Karon Cullen Ms. Andrea Bruce Currier Ms. Lavinia Currier The Honorable and Mrs. Walter L﹒ Cutler (Didi) Mr. and Mrs. James M﹒ Cutts (June)

Mr. and Mrs. John Donovan (Linda) Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dubin (Elizabeth) Mr. and Mrs. Spottiswood P﹒ Dudley (Blair) The Honorable and Mrs. Robert W﹒ Duemling (Louisa) The Honorable and Mrs. Joseph D﹒ Duffey (Ann Wexler) The Honorable Clive L﹒ Duval﹐ III Mr. and Mrs. Robert Duvall (Luciana)

D

F

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

| DECEMBER

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E

Mr. Mark Ein Mr. James P﹒ Elder﹐ Jr﹒ Mr. and Mrs. Richard England (Lois) The Honorable and Mrs. Donald B﹒ Ensenat (Taylor) Dr. and Mrs. Ahmad R﹒ Esfandiary (Judy) Mr. and Mrs. Melvyn J﹒ Estrin (Suellen) Mrs. Benjamin C﹒ Evans﹐ Jr﹒ (Jan) The Honorable Jack Evans Mrs. Rowland Evans﹐ Jr﹒ (Catherine)

sam donaldson

H.E. the Ambassador of Egypt and Mrs. M﹒ Nabil M﹒ Fahmy (Nermin) The Honorable and Mrs. Richard M﹒ Fairbanks﹐ III (Shannon) Mr. and Mrs. A﹒ Houda Farouki (Samia) Mrs. Norman Farquhar (Elinor) Mr. and Mrs. David Felton (Elizabeth Drew) Mrs. Sydney McNiff Ferguson Mr. and Mrs. Raul Fernandez (Jean Marie) Mr. and Mrs. George M﹒ Ferris﹐ Jr﹒ (Nancy) The Honorable Julie Finley Mr. John D﹒ Firestone Mrs. Hamilton Fish (Mary Ann) The Honorable and Mrs. William H﹒ G﹒ FitzGerald (Annelise) Mr. and Mrs. Roland Flamini (Diane) Mr. and Mrs. Maximo Flugelman (Sedi) Mr. and Mrs. Robert T﹒ Foley (Carol) Mr. and Mrs. Lee M﹒ Folger (Juliet) Mrs. Nancy McElroy Folger (Bitsey) Mr. and Mrs. Neil C﹒ Folger (Izette) The Honorable Harold E﹒ Ford﹐ Jr﹒ Mrs. Paul Fout (Eve) Mrs. Yolande Fox The Honorable and Mrs. Rodney Frelinghuysen (Virginia) The Honorable and Mrs. William E﹒ Frenzel (Ruth)

SOCIAL LIST 2006

Mr. and Mrs. Leo A﹒ Daly (Grega) Mrs. Albert de Ponton d’Amecourt (Gertrude) Mr. John M﹒ Damgard﹐ II Mrs. Stuart C﹒ Davidson (Sally) Mr. Jack Davies Mr. and Mrs. Wade Davis (Gail Percy) Mr. and Mrs. Arnaud de Borchgrave (Alexandra) Mr. and Mrs. Michael K﹒ Deaver (Carolyn) Mrs. Howard de Franceaux (Barbara) Dr. and Mrs. John “Jack” DeGoia (Theresa) Mr. and Mrs. Philip Deutch (Marne Levine) Mrs. Francis Colt de Wolf﹐ Jr﹒ (Doda) Mr. and Mrs. Francis Colt de Wolf﹐ III (Natalie) Mr. and Mrs. Charles J﹒ Di Bona (Evelyn) Mr. and Mrs. C﹒ Mathews Dick﹐ Jr﹒ (Maizie) Mr. and Mrs. John Dickerson (Ann) Mr. and Mrs. C﹒ Wyatt Dickerson (Tandy) The Honorable and Mrs. John Dingell (Debbie) Mrs. Lowell Russell Ditzen (Eleanor) The Honorable and Mrs. Christopher Dodd (Jacki) The Honorable Robert Dole and The Honorable Elizabeth Dole Mr. and Mrs. Placido Domingo (Marta) Mr. and Mrs. Sam Donaldson (Jan Smith)

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89

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Friedman (Ann) Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Friendly﹐ Jr﹒ (Pie) The Honorable and Mrs. William Frist (Karyn) The Honorable and Mrs. Craig L﹒ Fuller (Karen)

G

pie Friendly

The Honorable L﹒ Ebersole Gaines Mr. Arthur W﹒ Gardner Mr. and Mrs. William B﹒ Garrison﹐ Jr﹒ (Mary) Mrs. Melvin Gelman (Estelle) Ms. Ann Geracimos The Honorable and Mrs. David Gergen (Anne) Mr. and Mrs. Bernard S﹒ Gewirz (Sarah) Mr. and Mrs. Michael Gewirz (Cleo) The Honorable and Mrs. Joseph Gildenhorn (Alma) Mrs. Christina Ginsburg (Ina) Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Mr. Martin Ginsburg Miss Susan Ginsburg The Honorable and Mrs. Daniel Glickman (Rhoda) Mr. and Mrs. Donald Glickman (Mia Martin) Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Goldberg (Diana) Mr. and Mrs. John C﹒ Gore (Antonia) Mr. and Mrs. George K﹒ Graeber (Betty Beale) Mr. and Mrs. Donald Graham (Mary) Mrs. Burton Gray (Deecy) The Honorable C﹒ Boyden Gray Mr. and Mrs. Hermen Greenberg (Monica) Mrs. David Greenewalt (Charlotte) The Honorable and Mrs. Alan Greenspan (Andrea Mitchell) Mr. and Mrs. G﹒ Lauder Greenway﹐ II (Abigail Adams) Ms. Nelse L﹒ Greenway Mrs. Richard B﹒ Griffin﹐ Jr﹒ (Sheila) Mrs. Ruth Noble Groom Mr. and Mrs. Edwin S﹒ Grosvenor (Deborah) Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert M﹒ Grosvenor (Mary Helen) Mrs. Melville Bell Grosvenor (Anne) Miss Sarah K﹒ Grosvenor The Honorable and Mrs. Brandon H﹒ Grove﹐ Jr﹒ (Mariana) The Secretary of Commerce Carlos Guiterrez and Mrs. Gutierrez (Edi) Mr. and Mrs. Achille Guest (Judith)

H

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Haft (Mary)

90

Mrs. Randall H﹒ Hagner﹐ Jr﹒ (Adlumia) The Honorable and Mrs. Gilbert Hahn﹐ Jr﹒ (Margot) The Honorable and Mrs. Alexander M﹒ Haig﹐ Jr﹒ (Patricia) Mrs. Najeeb E﹒ Halaby (Libby) The Honorable and Mrs. Lloyd N﹒ Hand (Ann) Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hardhart (Virginia Shore) Mrs. B﹒ Lauriston Hardin﹐ Jr﹒ (Dorcas) Mr. Sidney Harman and Representative Jane Harman Dr. William Haseltine Miss Holidae Hayes Mr. and Mrs. Stephen A﹒ Hayes (Theo) Mrs. John W﹒ Hechinger﹐ Sr﹒ (June) Mrs. Richard M﹒ Helms (Cynthia) Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H﹒ Hennage (June) Mr. and Mrs. John Henry (Ann Crittenden) christopher Mr. and Mrs. Michael Herrald (Susan) hitchens Ms. Anita G﹒ Herrick Mr. and Mrs. Jason Herrick (Lindsay) The Honorable and Mrs. Christian

A﹒ Herter﹐ Jr﹒ (Catherine) Mr. Gary F﹒ Heurich Mr. Robert M﹒ Higdon﹐ Jr﹒ Mr. Robin Hill Dr. and Mrs. Clarence Hinton (ViCurtis) Mrs. Joseph Hirshhorn (Olga) Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Hitchens (Carol Blue) Mr. and Mrs. James Hoagland (Jane Stanton Hitchcock) Mrs. Walter J﹒ Hodges (Margaret) Mr. and Mrs. Christian C﹒ Hohenlohe (Nora) Mr. and Mrs. Wallace F﹒ Holladay (Wilhelmina) Mr. and Mrs. Wallace F﹒ Holladay﹐ Jr﹒ (Winton) Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hollensteiner (Letitia Baldrige) The Honorable and Mrs. Linwood Holton (Virginia) Mr. and Mrs. Outerbridge Horsey (Georgina) Mr. and Mrs. Edmond N﹒ Howar (Margaret) Mrs. Patricia E﹒ Howar Miss Janet Howard Mr. and Mrs. Hadlai A﹒ Hull (Ann) Mr. and Mrs. Al Hunt (Judy Woodruff)

I

Mr. and Mrs. David Ignatius (Eve) The Honorable and Mrs. Paul R﹒ Ignatius (Nancy) Mrs. Frank N﹒ Ikard (Jayne) Mrs. Walter D﹒ Innis (Pauline)

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

| DECEMBER

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J

Dr. and Mrs. Aaron G﹒ Jackson (Alexine) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson and Mrs. Jackson (Marcia) Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Newell Jacobsen (Robin) Mr. Simon T﹒ Jacobsen The Honorable and Mrs. Andrew Jacovides (Pamela) Mr. and Mrs. John Jeppson (Giselle Theberge) Mr. and Mrs. Freeborn G﹒ Jewett﹐ Jr﹒ (Joan) The Honorable and Mrs. Clay Johnson﹐ III (Ann) Mr. and Mrs. James A﹒ Johnson (Maxine Isaacs) Mr. Robert Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Vernon E﹒ Jordan (Ann) Mrs. Carol Ross Joynt

K

Mr. Michael Kahn Mr. Michael Kaiser H.E. the Ambassador of Japan Ryozo Kato and Mrs. Kato (Hanayo) H.E. the Ambassador of Jordan Karim Kawar and Mrs. Kawar (Luma) Mr. and Mrs. Alan Kay (Dianne) Mr. and Mrs. Marvin L﹒ Kay (Dolly) General and Mrs. P﹒ X﹒ Kelly (Barbara) The Honorable and Mrs. Jack Kemp (Joanne) Ms. Kay Kendall Justice and Mrs. Anthony M﹒ Kennedy (Mary) The Honorable and Mrs. Edward M﹒ Kennedy (Vicki) Mrs. Robert F﹒ Kennedy (Ethel) The Honorable and Mrs. John F﹒ Kerry (Teresa Heinz) Mr. James V﹒ Kimsey Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Kinney (Ann) Mr. and Mrs. Austin H﹒ Kiplinger (Gogo) Mr. and Mrs. Knight A﹒ Kiplinger (Ann) Mr. and Mrs. Todd L﹒ Kiplinger (Dana) The Honorable Jeane Kirkpatrick Mr. Peter J﹒ Knop Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Koch (Susan) Mr. and Mrs. Edward Koch (Doro Bush) Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kogod (Arlene)

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

| DECEMBER

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Mr. Thomas Korologos and The Honorable Ann Dore McLaughlin Mrs. Polly Kraft Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Krakora (Mary)

L

Mr. and Mrs Cameron J﹒ LaClair﹐ Jr﹒ (Mary) The Honorable and Mrs. James C﹒ Langdon﹐ Jr﹒ (Sandy) Mr. and Mrs. Chiswell Dabney Langhorne﹐ Jr﹒ (Barbara) Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Lanier (Isabelle) Mr. and Mrs. Climis G﹒ Lascaris (Carol) The Honorable and Mrs. Paul Laxalt (Carol) The Honorable and Mrs. Patrick Leahy (Marcelle) Mr. and Mrs. Robert E﹒ Lee﹐ IV (Carew) Dr. and Mrs. LaSalle D﹒ Leffall﹐ Jr﹒ (Ruth) Mr. LaSalle D﹒ Leffall﹐ III Mr. and Mrs. James Lehrer (Kate) Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lehrman (Aimee) Mrs. Egbert G﹒ Leigh (Lucinda) Mr. and Mrs. Marc E﹒ Leland (Jacqueline) Mr. James H﹒ Lemon﹐ Jr﹒ Mr. and Mrs. Ted Leonsis (Lynn) H.E. the Ambassador of France Jean-David Levitte and Mrs. Levitte (Marie- Cecile) Mr. and Mrs. David Levy (Carol Feld) Mr. and Mrs. H﹒ Finlay Lewis (Willee) Mrs. Alexander C﹒ Liggett (Priscilla) Mr. and Mrs. R﹒ Robert Linowes (Ada) Mr. and Mrs. Scott Alan Logan (Lydia) Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pillsbury Lord (Gay) Mr. Winston Bao Lord

austin kiplinger

seY James V. Kim

M

SOCIAL LIST 2006

Mr. John Peters Irelan H.E. the Ambassador of Germany Wolfgang Ischinger and Mrs. Ischinger (Jutta) Mr. and Mrs. Walter Isaacson (Cathy)

Ms. Nora Maccoby The Honorable and Mrs. John D﹒ Macomber (Caroline) Mr. and Mrs. Christopher J﹒ Makins (Wendy) Mrs. Martin F﹒ Malarkey (Elizabeth) The Honorable and Mrs. Frederic V﹒ Malek (Marlene) The Honorable and Mrs. Charles T﹒ Manatt (Kathleen) H.E. the Ambassador of the United Kingdom Sir David Manning and Lady Manning (Catherine) Mr. Kinsey Marable Ms. Ann W﹒ Marchant The Honorable and Mrs. Edward Markey (Dr. Susan Blumenthal) The Honorable Leonard H﹒ Marks Mr. and Mrs. David S﹒ Marriott (Carrie)

91

chris and kathleen matthe

Mr. and Mrs. Richard E﹒

ws

Marriott (Nancy) Mr. and Mrs. J﹒ Willard Marriott﹐ Jr﹒ (Donna Rae) Mr. and Mrs. Forrest E﹒ Mars﹐ Jr﹒ (Deborah) Ms. Jacqueline Badger Mars Mr. and Mrs. John F﹒ Mars (Adrienne) Mrs. Virginia Cretella Mars Mr. and Mrs. Jurek Martin (Kathleen Newland) Mr. and Mrs. John J﹒ Mason (JoAnn) Mr. and Mrs. John Murdoch Matheson (Susan) Mrs. Buchanan Matheson (Bonnie) Mr. Charles T﹒ Matheson Mr. Robert R﹒ Matheson The Honorable Doris Matsui Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Matthews (Kathleen) The Honorable and Mrs. Charles McC﹒ Mathias (Ann) Mr. and Mrs. Ernest N﹒ May﹐ Jr﹒ (Betty) Mr. and Mrs. Terence (Terry) McAuliffe (Dorothy) The Honorable and Mrs. John McCain (Cindy) Mrs. John S﹒ McCain﹐ Jr﹒ (Roberta) His Eminence Cardinal Theodore McCarrick The Honorable Mitch McConnell and Secretary of Labor Elaine Lan Chao The Honorable and Mrs. Thomas F﹒ McLarty﹐ III (Donna) Mr. and Mrs. John McLaughlin (Cristina Vidal) Mr. and Mrs. Richard McLellan (Diana) The Honorable Juliette Clagett McLennan The Honorable and Mrs. Robert S﹒ McNamara (Diana) Mr. and Mrs. William F﹒ McSweeny (Dorothy) H.E. the Ambassador of Morocco Aziz Mekouar and Mrs. Mekouar (Maria Felice) Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mele (Victoria) Mrs. Paul Mellon (Bunny) Count and Countess Johannes Christoph Meran (Marie-Charlotte) The Honorable and Mrs. Philip Merrill (Eleanor) Mr. and Mrs. Theodore A﹒ Miles (Buffy) Dr. Wendell G﹒ Miles The Honorable and Mrs. G﹒ William Miller (Adriana) Mr. and Mrs. James P﹒ Mills﹐ Jr﹒ (Deborah) The Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta and Mrs. Mineta (Danealia) The Honorable and Mrs. George Mitchell (Heather) The Honorable Mary V﹒ Mochary The Honorable and Mrs. Toby Moffett (Myra) Mr. and Mrs. C﹒ Braxton Moncure (Deborah) The President of the Inter-American Development Bank Luis-Alberto Moreno and Mrs. Moreno (Gabriela) Mrs. William S﹒ Moorhead (Lucy) Mr. and Mrs. William S﹒ Moorhead﹐ III (Erika)

92

Mrs. Wendy Burden Morgan Mr. and Mrs. Roger H﹒ Mudd (Emma) Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Murray (Carlotta) Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J﹒ Murray (Evelyn) General and Mrs. Richard Myers (Mary Jo)

N

Mrs. John U﹒ Nef (Evelyn) Mr. and Mrs. Robert C﹒ Nelson (Julia) Director of National Intelligence and Mrs. John D﹒ Negroponte (Diane) Mr. and Mrs. William V﹒ Newlin (Louisa) The Honorable and Mrs. William T﹒ Newman﹐ Jr﹒ (Sheila Johnson) Mr. and Mrs. Robert C﹒ Nicholas﹐ III (Lynn) Dr. and Mrs. Thomas P﹒ Nigra (Jane) Mr. and Mrs. William A﹒ Nitze (Ann) Her Majesty Queen Noor al Hussein of Jordan Mr. Gerson Nordlinger﹐ Jr﹒ Mr. Franco Nuschese

O

Prince and Princess Alexis Obolensky (Selene) Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and The Honorable John O’Connor Mr. Christopher Ogden Mrs. Diana Ogden (Deedy) Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Ohrstrom (Lilla) Mrs. George L﹒ Ohrstrom﹐ Jr﹒ (Jacqueline) Mrs. Ricard R﹒ Ohrstrom (Allen) Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Olson (Michelle) Mr. and Mrs. Christopher O’Neill (Chib) The Honorable and Mrs. John R﹒ Ottina (Mollie) Mr. and Mrs. Mandell J﹒ Ourisman (Mary)

P

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace and Mrs. Pace (Lynne) Her Imperial Majesty Farah Pahlavi Prince and Princess Reza Pahlavi (Yasmine) Mr. and Mrs. William Cushing Paley (Alison) Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pawlik (Deborah Gore Dean) Mr. George L﹒ Peabody Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm E﹒ Peabody (Pamela) Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Mr. Paul Pelosi Mr. and Mrs. Mark Penn (Nancy Jacobson) Nancy Pelosi Mr. Joseph G﹒ Perpich and Ms. Cathy Sulzberger WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

| DECEMBER

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twice as good Mary Ourisman (left) and Rima Al-Sabah (right)

AH THE LADIES in their gorgeous dresses.

How do they have the time? That small band of Washington women who are always up to bestdressed standards and unmoved by ordinary mortals’ closets traumas. The ones who always look put together without looking put out by the discipline required to be appropriately— often lavishly—clothed and coiffed. If perfection is their game, they know how to make it look all so effortless.

It’s confidence that comes from caring, since apart from their other talents they know the meaning of the words, “dressed for the occasion.” But you won’t find them talking in detail about the latest couture show, or bragging of designer access. Nary any chitchat about the best way to tie a bow or where to pin a flower so that the bow or flower does not wear them.

Most are occasionally partial to at least one

brand name—de la Renta, Dior, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, etc.— but no one could ever accuse them of promoting a particular house.

Where else but Washington do fashionable women fit so well on the political scene?

Looking as though they belong in their Gucci sandals and boots while hosting affairs of society and state? What other capital has a secretary of state in residence with a wardrobe worthy of public comment?

Hats off then to all those deserving of the (admittedly fictitious) Deeda Blair Award.

Before she recently made New York her permanent address, Mrs. Blair was Someone To Notice among high fashion-minded consumers locally and even internationally. Mary Ourisman, Ann Nitze, Grega Daly, Jo Ann Mason, Rima AlSabah, Jacqueline Leland, Aniko Gaal Schott, among others, do no less to inspire us on top of all the other worthy things they do.

Mr. and Mrs. Lucian Perkins (Sarah Tanguy) Mrs. Harold C﹒ Petrowitz (Carmen) Mr. Roy Pfautch Ms. Melissa Phipps The Honorable and Mrs. Thomas R﹒ Pickering (Alice) Mr. and Mrs. Philip W﹒ Pillsbury﹐ Jr﹒ (Nina) Mr. and Mrs. Walter H﹒ Pincus (Ann) Mrs. Sally Engelhard Pingree Mr. and Mrs. John Podesta (Mary) Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Podesta (Heather) Dr. and Mrs. Ken Pollack (Andrea Koppel) Mr. and Mrs. Abe Pollin (Irene) Mr. and Mrs. Herman Porten (Regina) Mr. and Mrs. Norman S﹒ Portenoy (Winifred) The Honorable and Mrs. Colin L﹒ Powell (Alma) Mr. and Mrs. Earl A﹒ Powell﹐ III (Nancy) Lady Previn (Heather) Dr. and Mrs. Jerold J﹒ Principato (Marjorie) Dr. and Mrs. Robert E﹒ Pumphrey﹐ Jr﹒ (Lisa) Miss Judy Lynn Prince Mr. and Mrs. Frederick H﹒ Prince (Diana) Mr. and Mrs. John Pyles (Barbara Harrison) Mr. and Mrs. Eben Pyne (Nancy)

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

| DECEMBER

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—Ann Geracimos

Q

Mr. and Mrs. Whayne S﹒ Quin (Ursula) Mr. and Mrs. J﹒ Eugene Quinn (Margy)

R

Ann Nitze

The Honorable and Mrs. Gerald Rafshoon (Eden) The Honorable Mary Raiser (Molly) General and Mrs. Joseph Ralston (Dede) The Honorable and Mrs. Donald Rappaport (Susan) Mrs. Elizabeth B﹒ Rea Mr. Percival L﹒ Reynolds﹐ Jr﹒ Mr. and Mrs. R﹒ Roland Reynolds (Diana) Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Reynolds (Catherine) The Secretary of State Condoleezza H﹒ Rice Mrs. Walter T﹒ Ridder (Marie) The Honorable and Mrs. Thomas J﹒ Ridge (Michele) Mrs. William L﹒ Ritchie (Eleanor) The Honorable and Mrs. Charles S﹒ Robb (Lynda) Mr. Joseph E﹒ Roberts Ms. Roxanne Roberts Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Roberts (Cokie) The Honorable and Mrs. John D﹒ Rockefeller﹐ IV (Sharon)

SOCIAL LIST 2006

Flair forFashion

93

The Honorable and Mrs. Frederick B﹒ Rooney (Evelyn) Mr. and Mrs. Kermit Roosevelt (Priscilla) The Honorable Selwa S﹒ Roosevelt Mr. and Mrs. Robert M﹒ Rosenthal (Marion) The Honorable Jonathan Rose and The Honorable Susan Porter Rose Mr. and Mrs. Karl Rove (Darby) Mr. and Mrs. David Rubenstein (Alice) Mrs. Otto J﹒ Ruesch (Jeanne) The Secretary of the Defense Donald H﹒ Rumsfeld and Mrs. Rumsfeld (Joyce) Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood Rush (Jacklyn) Mr. Tim Russert and Ms. Maureen Orth Mr. David E﹒ Rust Mrs. L﹒ Nicholas Ruwe (Nancy)

S

Mrs. Anwar Sadat (Jihan) Mr. and Mrs. Roald Sagdeev (Susan Eisenhower) Mr. and Mrs. John Safer (Joy) Mr. and Mrs. William Safire (Helene) Miss Patricia Bennett Sagon Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Samperton (Kim) Mr. and Mrs. Roger Sant (Victoria) Mr. and Mrs. John A﹒ Sargent (Susan) Mrs. Stanley J﹒ Sarnoff (Lolo) Mr. and Mrs. B﹒ Francis Saul﹐ II (Tricia)

In Memoriam Catharina Biddle Dorothy Clagett Lloyd N﹒ Cutler Patrick J﹒ Daly Jean Friendly Paul Fout The Honorable Louise Gore The Honorable Sol Linowitz Rep. Robert Matsui The Honorable George C﹒ McGhee

94

George L﹒ Ohrstrom﹐ Jr﹒ Chief Justice William H﹒ Rehnquist hugh sidey Baroness Constantine Stackelberg (Garnett)

Garnett Stachelberg

Mr. and Mrs. B﹒ Francis Saul﹐ III (Dawn) Justice and Mrs. Antonin Scalia (Maureen) george stevens Mr. Nicholas B﹒ Scheetz Mr. and Mrs. Nash Whitney Schott (Aniko) The Honorable Carol Schwartz The Honorable and Mrs. Brent Scowcroft (Marian) His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile Selassie The Honorable and Mrs. Ivan Selin (Nina) Mr. and Mrs. Scott Seydel (Pat Mitchell) The Honorable and Mrs. William S﹒ Sessions (Alice) Mr. and Mrs. Ishaq M﹒ Shahryar (Havizah) Mr. Victor Shargai Rear Admiral, U.S.N. (Ret.) and Mrs. Tazewell Taylor Shepard, Jr. (Jan) Mr. and Mrs. Mark Shriver (Jeanne) The Honorable and Mrs. R﹒ Sargent Shriver﹐ Jr﹒ (Eunice Kennedy) Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Shriver (Linda) Mrs. Hugh S﹒ Sidey (Anne) The Honorable and Mrs. Leonard L﹒ Silverstein (Elaine) H.E. the Amabassador of Hungary Andras Simonyi and Mrs. Simonyi (Nada) Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Slatkin (Linda Hohenfeld) Mrs. Jonathan W﹒ Sloat (Jane) Mr. and Mrs. Albert H﹒ Small (Shirley) The Honorable and Mrs. Lawrence Small (Sandra) Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bland Smith﹐ Jr﹒ (Niente) Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Smith (Sally) The Honorable and Mrs. Marion H﹒ Smoak (Mary Frances) Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Snyder (Tanya) Mr. and Mrs Michael R﹒ Sonnenreich (Linda) Mr. Gene Sperling (Alison Abner) Mr. and Mrs. David J﹒ Steel (Susan Watters) Mr. and Mrs. George Stephanopoulos (Alexandra Wentworth) Mr. and Mrs. James Morgan Sterling (Lisa) Mrs. Isaac Stern (Linda) Mr. and Mrs. Paul G﹒ Stern (Patricia) Mr. and Mrs. Edward R﹒ Stettinius (Sarah) Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Stettinius﹐ Jr﹒ (Regina) Mr. and Mrs. George C﹒ Stevens﹐ Jr﹒ (Elizabeth) The Honorable and Mrs. Ted Stevens (Catherine) Mrs. Potter Stewart (Andy) Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Stock (Ann) Mrs. Walter J﹒ Stoessel﹐ Jr﹒ (Mary Ann) Mrs. Auchincloss Straight (Nina) The Honorable and Mrs. Robert S﹒ Strauss (Helen)

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

| DECEMBER

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Mr. and Mrs. Henry Strong (Malan) Mr. A﹒ Michael Sullivan﹐ Jr﹒ Mrs. Mary H﹒ Davidson Swift The Honorable and Mrs. James Wadsworth

russell train

Symington (Sylvia)

Mrs. William Howard Taft﹐ III (Barbara) Mr. and Mrs. William Howard Taft﹐ IV (Julia) Mrs. W﹒ Waverly Taylor (Edmee) Mrs. Daniel J﹒ Terra (Judith) Mr. and Mrs. Evan Thomas (Oscie) Mr. and Mrs. Philip Thomas (Patty) Mrs. Benjamin W﹒ Thoron (Violet) Mr. and Mrs. William R﹒ Tiefel (Norma Kline) Mr. and Mrs. Maurice B﹒ Tobin (Joan) Mr. and Mrs. Vladimir S﹒ Tolstoy (Suzanne) Dr. and Mrs. Stephen J﹒ Trachtenberg (Francine) Mr. and Mrs. Geoff Tracy (Nora O’Donnell) Mr. and Mrs. Michael Traeger (Mariella) Mr. and Mrs. Bowdoin C﹒ Train (Georgia) Mrs. Marjorie Legaré Hardy Train The Honorable and Mrs. Russell E﹒ Train (Aileen) Mr. and Mrs. Alexander B﹒ Trowbridge﹐ Jr﹒ (Eleanor)

U

The Honorable and Mrs. Tom Udall (Jill Cooper) H.E. the Ambassador of Russia Yuri V﹒ Ushakov and Mrs. Ushakov (Svetlana)

V

Mr. and Mrs. Jack J﹒ Valenti (Mary Margaret) Mr. and Mrs. Jim Valentine (Kathy Kemper) H.E. the Ambassador of Finland Jukka Valtasaari and Mrs. Valtasaari (Etel) H.E. the Ambassador of Belgium Baron Franciskus van Daele and Baroness van Daele (Christiane) H.E. the Ambassador of the Netherlands Boudewijn J﹒ van Eenennaam and Mrs. van Eenennaam (Jellie) Mr. Christopher T﹒ van Roijen Mr. and Mrs. Peter P﹒ van Roijen (Beatrice) Mr. and Mrs. Phillip L﹒ Verveer (Melanne) Dr. and Mrs. Giorgio G﹒ Via (Anna Maria)

| DECEMBER

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Mr. and Mrs. Mallory Walker (Diana) Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Walker (Nicole Bagley) Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Wallace (Lorraine) Mrs. French Carter Wallop Mr. and Mrs. Redmond Walsh (Tia Cudahy) The Honorable and Mrs. John W﹒ Warner (Jeanne) Henry and Monika von Eich el The Governor of Virginia Mark van der Hyde Warner and Mrs. Warner (Lisa Collis) Miss Virginia Warner Mr. and Mrs. William W﹒ Warner (Kathleen) The Honorable and Mrs. C﹒ Langhorne Washburn (Judith) Mrs. Walter E﹒ Washington (Mary) Mr. Septime Webre The Honorable and Mrs. William H﹒ Webster (Lynda) Mr. and Mrs. Eric W﹒ Weinmann (Mary) Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Weiss (Juleanna) Dr. Sidney Werkman The Honorable and Mrs. Togo D﹒ West﹐ Jr﹒ (Gail) Ms. Katherine Weymouth Mr. and Mrs. Henry C﹒ Wheelwright (Celeste) Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wheeler (Carol) Mrs. Byron R﹒ White (Marion) Mrs. Charles Sheldon Whitehouse (Janet) Mr. and Mrs. George Will (Marie) The Mayor of Washington, D.C. and Mrs. Anthony Williams (Diane) Ms. lynn williams Mrs. Virginia Williams Mr. and Mrs. Wesley S﹒ Williams﹐ Jr﹒ (Karen) Mr. and Mrs. Curtin Winsor﹐ III (wife) Mr. Graham Wisner The Honorable and Mrs. James Wolfensohn (Elaine) The Honorable Paul Wolfowitz Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woodward (Elsa)

Z

Mrs. Warren Zimmerman (Corinne)

95

SOCIAL LIST 2006

W

T

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

The Honorable and Mrs. Richard N﹒ Viets (Dorette Fleischman) H.E. the Ambassador of Norway Knut Vollebaek and Mrs. Vollebaek (Ellen) Mr. and Mrs. Henry von Eichel (Monika) Mr. and Mrs. George Vradenburg (Trish)

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT

The Reliable Source

The Washington Post’s Roberts and Argetsinger talk about GOSSIP

I

Amy Argetsinger: I’ve been at the Washington Post for 10 years and Roxanne has been here for 17 years, but we’d never met until last summer.

Roxanne Roberts: It’s totally an arranged marriage.

96

NB: Is there any difference in the way you work?

AA: The truth is we write items separately. I’ve had people come up to me and say very quietly, “you wrote that really funny item didn’t you?” and invariably it was something Roxanne wrote.

They think one of us is doing all the writing because we somehow end up having very similar writing methods. There was an assumption that because we’re very different, we would make an issue of our differences. We know completely different people, we read different magazines, we watch different TV shows, and we have different focuses of interest. So originally, when the editors first came to us with this idea…

RR: We got lots of very serious questions about how it would work to have two people writing the Reliable Source, which I strongly believed would be necessary. I think we have similar senses

two reliable sources Roxanne Roberts and Amy Argetsinger dish the dirt. of humor.The best thing is that people have said is that they’re having fun reading the column.

They know that they will find something interesting and usually amusing to read.

NB: How do you all decide which stories or leads you’re each going to pursue?

AA: It’s a matter of who’s interested, who thought of it first, and who has time. Most days there is one dominant lead item in the neighborhood of 800 words which one of us works on while the other is in charge of doing the shorter and punchier items about marriages, divorces and interesting sightings.

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

| DECEMBER

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PH OTO F R OM WASH INGTO N POST

n Washington, everyone has three lives: a public life, a private life and a secret life.

While many boldfaced names exert enormous energy in promoting the first, they fail to grasp other people’s fascination with the other two. Enter the gossip columnist, sworn to uphold the tireless, thankless task of tearing the lid off public personas. Get the juice. Dish the dirt.

The low-down on the higher-ups.

We love to read it–as long as it’s about someone else. And if it’s in The Washington Post, it’s considered more than rumor. It must be true!

Careers derailed, marriages kaput, ex-lovers snitching, PR flacks pitching. It’s all about the buzz. No mere idle chatter, The Reliable Source has been dishing up snarky servings for years, satiating our appetite for miniscandals, minor social infractions and major screw- ups.

The joy!

Truth be told, working as a gossip columnist isn’t always a cake walk. Remember when Frank Sinatra stuffed two dollar bills into gossipist Maxine Cheshire’s cocktail glass at The Jockey Club telling her that was exactly what she was worth if she ever went into the world’s oldest profession?

Now comes Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts, two leggy dames with Rolodexes the size of Hummers.

They’re witty, they’re smart and they’ve got your number, but they’re not your usual gossip columnists.

Nancy Bagley: How long have you known each other?

RR: We come to work in the morning or more appropriately, we drag in, and miraculously it comes together.

AA: There hasn’t really been a day yet when we thought, “What the hell are going to do today?”

NB: What is your take on the content of your column and how is your approach different from your predecessors?

AA: The column has evolved to fit the times.

Lois Ramano started it at the beginning of the Clinton Administration, which was the same era that birthed George magazine. It was a time where you had this real mingling of politics and celebrity, and a lot of young administration figures who were very much on the scene. The “Two Annies,” as we call them, Anne Gerhart and Annie Groer- broadened it to talk about the rise of all of these tech barons and their role in society. Lloyd [Grove] was a little bit more into Hollywood. Rich [Richard Leiby] had an investigative background and in some ways his sensibilities were a lot like thesmokinggun.com website, which is probably some of the reason he hated doing the column because he is much more of a long form guy. He wanted to put the energy that you would put into a 2,000-word piece and you just can’t do that here.

RR: Washington has grown and is more diverse than it ever was before and trying to cover all of Washington in a gossip way is really tricky.

Our mandate is to write about politics, the arts, society, hip-hop, you name it – a little bit of everything.

AA: We’re writing in a time where any big newspaper like The Washington Post is going through a soul-searching period of “what can we do to keep our readers,” and “what can we do to get more readers,” and a time when we are very concerned about younger readers.

RR: And still be responsible journalists.

AA: There’s a sense that the Reliable Source is the most reader-friendly thing in the paper because it’s short, it’s funny, it’s punchy, it doesn’t take a lot of time to read.We’ve been consumed with making our column the microcosm of everything else you see in the Post.We want it to represent youth culture, the sports world, and the business community.

NB: Has anything surprised you about your

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sources and leads?

AA: There are certain worlds that still think of the Reliable Source as their own territory— political types, Georgetown types.We have been interested in trying to stir up interest among our own colleagues at the paper. We have some fantastic metro and sports reporters who are realizing that they can’t do a story on something but would like to see it in the paper.We have gotten a number of items that way and it has been really helpful.

RR: What stops a lot of people is the word “gossip.” I’ve often said, “it’s like sex—everybody does it but professionals are frowned upon.” Somehow there is this concept that there is something wrong about it but it’s such a human experience. Everybody likes to gossip; almost no one likes to be gossiped about or be called a gossip. Gossip is a way of maintaining a community’s standards and morals. People are interested in how others around them live, love, behave and misbehave, and gossip is this informal, unauthorized way in which information is disseminated. In the Post, gossip means that what we write has to be accurate and it has to be verifiable.

NB: Why are there no blind items in the Post?

AA: The trouble with blind items is that they are blind.The blindness may be protecting someone who you are not naming, but it you could also be leaving the impression that this is a dirty secret that applies to other people whom you haven’t named. If you talk about the starlet having sex with the waiter in the back stairwell, 15 different names come to mind. In a way, that’s 15 different people getting a little bit slandered.

RR: Too often they are just a snarky vendetta that may prove not to be true.

NB: So, it’s not just about getting sued, it’s about being fair and doing the right thing.

RR: Our job is not to “get” people. I don’t want to be snarky or cruel to people because it is possible to do so. I just want to report on their lives.

Sometimes, telling the truth might be perceived as cruel, but if we are honest, then I think there is a mutual respect between us and the people that we report on. They may not always love something we wrote about them, but they cannot say we were unfair to them. It is really important to

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me that we are professional and did our job with honor, and that’s not a word that gets applied to gossips a lot. If I’m fair then no one can accuse me of having an agenda or self-aggrandizement because that’s not why I’m interested in doing this job.

AA: The truth is there really isn’t a whole lot of difference between what we do and what other reporters at the Post do. The difference is in tone and relevance. We can have more fun.

We get to deal with things that news pages may not think are relevant enough, personal lives and social lives, but we have to source it and like the other reporters, we have to go back and face these people later.

NB: I have a friend who used to work for a New York gossip column and he used to pay people at restaurants who called him with a tip.

RR: We don’t do that. Let’s use an example. Let’s say Nicole Kidman was with Keith Urban at 1789 restaurant this week. So, a bunch of people at the restaurant that night saw them and immediately called us. We jumped on it because there have been rumors of a romance that both of them have denied. We talked to the restaurant, the restaurant gets some publicity and that’s the end of the exchange.

AA: Like all reporters at The Post, we are encouraged to take sources to lunch or dinner. It’s considered a part of source building. It’s also, frankly, a way to keep ourselves honest. If the Post picks up the bill instead of the other person, then we’re not beholden to anyone. That’s standard practice.

RR: Some writers in the tech or entertainment field have all kinds of crazy swag sent to them during the holidays. You need to know, The Washington Post does not allow us to keep gifts.

Well, the limit is $25 so if someone sends me a Hershey bar I might eat that, if it’s dark chocolate. I have been sent gifts from people who had no intention that was nefarious in any way, and to be ethical I will return the gift. Or more often I will donate it to charity.

AA: I was in L.A. for the past year and it’s crazy, there’s this whole gift culture; freebies wherever you go. It’s just such a standard part of the culture there.

NB: How often does someone call you with a vendetta in mind?

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RR: This is going to sound very boring. I have not had a single person call me and say, “I’ve got the best dirt and why don’t you go get that bad person.”

AA: The vast majority of calls we get are not people trying to blow the whistle on someone.

They’re trying to put the spotlight on themselves.

“Hey, here’s my book party” or “Want to hear about the interesting award I just got?” But a lot of people who don’t have a particular interest in promoting themselves call us because they like talking to reporters, and it gives them a thrill to be able to know they were the ones who knew something before The Washington Post. I hate to say it, but people’s feelings are a little hurt when you don’t use the tip that they gave you.

RR: Yes, it’s a little bit of a disappointment to see something they care about not get any attention or reaction. As thrilled as I am about getting the Reliable Source job, the thing that I’m sad about is that The Post has not yet resolved how they’re going to handle all the social coverage, the beat I have covered for the past seventeen years. It is sad to see events and the people who have a genuine commitment to those causes not acknowledged in print in The Washington Post.

It doesn’t mean that the event wasn’t good and that people didn’t have a good time and raise a lot of money. Having something in the newspaper is a kind of validation for their efforts. I will say this, the editors are honestly trying to resolve it and they just don’t know yet.There are volunteers working incredibly hard and they’re not getting recognition for their efforts, but the Reliable Source is not a party column.The focus for “Out and About” was parties and sometimes who went to them but essentially the reason we went is that there was an event of some note that deserved a bit of space in the newspaper. It is about people in Washington, and what they do and how they do it. Now sometimes what they do and how they do it happens at events so we can write about those events but its not responsible or fair to try to turn Reliable Source into a social column because that’s not what it is.

lead to greater recognition of these people and their charitable deeds.

NB: We can’t cover everything or everyone. So what has surprised you most since you started writing this column?

AA: How much fun it is. For all of its merits, I really had the impression that turning out a daily column was going to be a real slog. I also thought it was going to be, at a certain level, difficult to find enough material, and yet it’s magical how stuff appears and it’s gratifying how much fun it is.

RR: The only other thing that surprises me is how hectic it is. Both of us actually used to have time to read other gossip columns.

AA: I used to be up on every hour of what was on the AP wires. I was looking at Gawker, Defamer and the Wonkette and I’d notice when they had not refreshed a page since I last looked at it. And now an entire day can go by and we have to get our part-time assistant to tell us what is going on.

RR: When I used to work on a long piece I would dream the stories and I would sometimes pull all-nighters writing, rewriting and crafting the perfect lead. Now, no matter how hectic the day is, at the end of the day I’m done.

AA: It is a clean slate for the next day. There’s less anxiety. I was the exact same way. Long form journalism is probably what I am best at.

I really enjoyed doing it and I really do not miss it at all. It has been really, really gratifying.

NB: Which gossip columns do you read? Which is your favorite?

AA: I really love Gawker and Defamer—the Los Angeles version of Gawker, because they are clearing houses for all of the other gossip out there. They are not doing any of their own reporting but linking to everything else and doing it in a funny way.

RR: I have always been a fan of Page Six at the New York Post.

NB: What about your competition?

NB: Hopefully it will be resolved soon because people work hard to raise money for charity and they should get some recognition in The Post.

RR: The good news on that front, is that all the focus this fall on Washington Life has certainly

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AA: I thought there would be more of a competitive vibe, but I don’t think they have had things that we wish we had had first, and I don’t think we have had items that they wish they had first. Everyone has such a different mission

“THE VAST MAJORITY OF CALLS WE GET ARE NOT PEOPLE TRYING TO BLOW THE WHISTLE ON SOMEONE. THEY’RE TRYING TO PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON THEMSELVES.” —AMY ARGETSINGER

and audience and tone.

RR: My tires have been slashed a few times.

AA: It was Karen Feld.

NB: Now, now.

RR: The truthful answer is that I read a little bit of everything and I respect any really good gossip no matter who gets it for what reasons. There is a lot of good gossip that runs in other places that doesn’t get the attention it deserves because it’s not the Post.We are privileged in that sense.

NB: I am sure you have been asked many times why you wanted this job. Do you worry about making enemies?

AA: You can make enemies in any reporting job.

RR: One of things people warned me about is that some of the people who liked me wouldn’t like me anymore.

NB: Is that the case?

RR: If they don’t, they aren’t telling me.

AA: I would say that people like me more.

RR: You make enemies if you are unkind.

AA: It’s a matter of tone and attitude.

RR: The metaphor is this: I like my friends to have a little bit of sass in them. I do not choose as personal friends people who are unkind, bitchy and mean. I don’t want to be around mean-spirited people. The Reliable Source is like a friend with whom you have a five-minute phone call in the morning. You want the friend to be funny and lively and informed, but not a bad person. And that’s my goal for the column: to be that funny, sassy friend in Washington.

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T H IS M O N T H : A

AROUND TOWN

GAGGLE OF GOSSIPS • ENCORE! • HEADS UP! • FROM RUSSIA, WITH STYLE • THERE WAS NO MUSIC ON THE MENU • POTPOURRI

WITH DONNA SHOR

Hundreds of guests attended the Washington Life-sponsored fashion fights poverty to benefit the UN Foundation at the French Embassy on October 27. The event featured the holiday collections of Bethel Helena, Rakiyt Zakari and Thomas Pink. Revelers Paul Wharton, Howard Dean, Clinton Portis, and Redding Finney were sighted at Local 16 for the hot after-party.

AMAN AYOUBI AND JO EL E AKOKO ON, JACQUELIN EDWARD ROBINS AND SHELDON SCOTT

A GAGGLE OF GOSSIPS No subject was off limits when Café Milano’s Franco Nuschese hosted a party for gossip columnists and society scribes at his beautiful Washington home. In addition to the usual suspects, whose bylines we all know, add Lucky Roosevelt, who was a journalist for Womens Wear Daily before her stint as chief of protocol during the Reagan administration, and arts supporter Ina Ginsburg, who wrote for Interview Magazine during the Warhol era.

The Washington Post’s new Reliable Source columnists Roxanne Roberts and Amy Argentsinger were there, of course, and the urbane Kevin Chaffee from the Washington Times, who helped Franco organize the evening. Also from the Washington Times were James Brantley,

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STEGAR

Ann Geracimos and Stephanie Mansfield, along with her husband, Tsotne Bakuria, a Georgian prince, no less. Buzz babe Karen Feld of

the Examiner was there as were Annie Groer of the Washington Post, Garry Clifford of People Magazine fame; Nancy and Vicki Bagley,

from Washington Life; Capitol File’s Ann Schroeder; Chuck Conconi, formerly of the Washingtonian, and his successor, Garrett Graff; talk show host Gwendolyn Russell; the Washington Ballet’s Septime Webre (after all, he uses body language as his medium); baseball guru Winston Bao Lord; Jeff and Juleanna Glover Weiss; and Bolivian ambassador Jaime Aparicio and Pamela, among the forty or so guests.

ENCORE! Singers dominated

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JOSEPH BAST IDE

BACK, NATASHA MER PAIGE BEAL, D LAUREN HESLER AN BLISS HEERS

the gala scene last month, and in a direct change from Cindy’s rockin’ rhythm, mezzo-soprano Cecelia Bartoli captivated her audience, too, to the tune of four encores, and an audience that kept leaping to its feet. The setting was the Washington Performing Arts Society’s 40th Anniversary Gala at the Kennedy Center, and she was clearly having a good time, almost dancing to one aria, and majestically entering and exiting the stage between each song and each encore in a knockout shimmering green silk whose train swept all in its wake. Her captivating stage presence won everyone over.

Swiss Ambassador Christian Blickenstorfer and his wife Susanne served as honorary chairs, with WPAS chairman Daniel Korengold and president

Neale Perl greeting the audience

and recalling the founding of the group by the late, much-loved Washington impresario Patrick Hayes. The gala committee co-chairs were Mary Mochary, Patricia Stern and Susan Porter.

Guests included Gerson Nordlinger, Jr; Nini Ferguson and her houseguest, New York’s Carolyn Roehm; Evelyn Stefansson Nef; Shirley and Al Small; and Carol and Climis Lascaris.

HEADS UP! Here’s help for the

helpers: an unusual, important, but little publicized new tax break that can save you a bundle if you’re planning a donation to a favorite charity; but only if you hurry, it’s short-lived; here’s why: When the outpouring of support for hurricane victims shorted the expected

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A R O U N D TOW N A R O U N D TOW N A R O U N D TOW N A R O U N D TOW N A R O U N D TOW N To help raise awareness for all cancers, Saks Fifth Avenue Chevy Chase and the Entertainment Industry Foundation partnered with Suburban Hospital to kick off the key to the cure shopping weekend at a reception to benefit the hospital’s diagnostic and clinical services. Laura Evans, Doreen Gentzler, Kathleen Matthews and Andrea Roane served as honorary chairs with co-chairs Mary Marinelli and Karen Natelli.

ANDREA ROANE, LAURA EVA NS AND KATHLEEN MATTHEWS

BLECHER S, ANDREW BARTELS ER G G JA IE KAT ERINE AND CATH

LIZ UNDERH ILL, SHARON CASEY AND KATHY WEN GER

funds for other groups, the September 15 bi-partisan tax relief bills for Katrina victims included generous savings for donors to other institutions. House bill H.R.3768 and the Senate’s S1696 will suspend certain restrictions and caps on all individual and corporate charitable donations made before this year ends (when it all stops). To further encourage charitable giving before December 31, penalties will be waived on donation-related early withdrawals from retirement accounts. Wilhelmina Holladay, the founder and president of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, brought it to our attention. Philanthropist Mary Mochary promptly took the words to heart, making a $500,000 Challenge Grant to help the museum reach its $2.5 million funding goal before its

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twentieth anniversary in 2007.

FROM RUSSIA WITH STYLE One more musician, but this time a man: 23-year-old pianist Gleb Ivanov. After winning almost every piano competition there is to win in Russia, he is just now coming on the world stage. Presented by the Young Concert Artists under the aegis of Gilan Tocco Corn at the Kennedy Terrace Theater, he received several standing ovations for his powerful playing and subtle shadings. His musicality as well as his showmanship made the evening special, and his guileless charm and sense of humor made him a hit at the after-party as well when hostess Judy Esfandiary welcomed a crowd to her striking penthouse at Washington Harbor. Among the guests were Debbie and Braxton Moncure, Dr. Milton Corn, and

Linda (Mrs. Isaac) Stern.

THERE WAS NO MUSIC ON THE MENU at Arts for the Aging’s

17th Annual Benefit at the British ambassador’s residence, but social, political and diplomatic Washington turned out for a great evening.

Chaired by Julia Hopping and Anna Maria Via, the fund-raiser was enhanced by the warm welcome from the ambassador, Sir David Manning and his wife Catherine.

Elizabeth Ironside is the pen name Catherine uses for her thriller novels. Best sellers in Britain, they are now being published here in paperback. Her “Death in the Garden” will be joined by “The Accomplice,” an unexpectedly macabre tale from such a gentle and witty lady. Arts for the Aging was founded by the indomitable, Basel-born sculptor Lolo Sarnoff,

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and brings the enrichment of art to the lives of the area’s elderly.

POTPOURRI When Barbara Walters was the roastee at the recent benefit for the Spina Bifida Association, it was so gently done it seemed more like a bake-off than a roast. Barbara, who arrived after interviewing Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, said that when she learned he had four wives, he asked if she would like to be Number Five. Intrigued by thoughts of the heady power this would bring her, she said “I realized that if I accepted I could perhaps end the war in Iraq, bring peace to the Middle East, and see to it that no man in Saudi Arabia would ever be allowed to drive again.”

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A CHORUS FOR DIANE AND JOHN REHM PHOTOS BY ZAID HAMID

PROPER WELCOME Despite miserable weather, guests were warmed by the gracious hospitality of British Ambassador Sir David Manning and Lady Manning at their residence when the Washington Chorus honored Diane and John Rehm for their contributions to the Washington music scene.

David and Katherine Bradley, Jane Stanton Hitchcock, Vicki and Roger Sant and Sharon Rockefeller who nibbled on mini fish and chips as enjoying Knight Kiplinger reminised

about Diane’s rise from homemaker to renowned host of NPR’s “The Diane Rehm show,” where she has interviewed such world famous guests as Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Dick Cheney and Desmond Tutu. § HITTING A HIGH NOTE The evening ended with a performance by the Grammy Award winning chorus whose members sang excerpts from Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado” and George Gershwin’s “A Foggy Day in London Town.”

Bill Rooker

Diane and John Rehm

Greg Shields

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Christina Culver and John McCaslin

Elsa Walsh and Louis Freeh

Russian Amb. Yuri Ushakov

Ken Duberstein, Selwa “Lucky” Roosevelt and Martin Fletcher

Tony Blankley and Bob Franken

AGENT ’S B O O K PA R T Y PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

LAW ENFORCEMENT LEGEND Dick and Patricia Carlson hosted a party on October 20th to celebrate “law enforcement legend” Louis Freeh’s new bestselling book “My FBI: Bringing Down the Mafia, Investigating Bill Clinton and Fighting the War on Terrorism.” The former FBI director’s memoir includes candid descriptions of his rocky relationship with former President Bill Clinton, the Monica Lewinski affair, the Kohbar Tower bombings in Saudia Arabia, and 9/11. § BOOK CLUB Bill and Elayne Benne , Lucky Roosevelt, and journalists Tony Blankley and Elsa Walsh gathered in a tent decorated with rustic furniture and paintings as they toasted the former FBI director.

Marilyn Freeh and Evelyn DiBona

Sen. Ted Stevens and charles Dibona

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Sir Alistair Horn and Susan Hurley

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Reuben Jeffery, Sarah Lenti, Jack Oliver, British Amb. Sir David Manning and Robin Jeffery

COME ON DOWN Even though many areas of Capitol Hill have been gentrified, Sarah Lenti’s neighbors were still a li le surprised to see a Rolls-Royce parked outside as she “toasted” her new home with friends on October 28. The “Roller” wasn’t hers of course. It was British Ambassador Sir

Andrea Rodgers, Stephen Salyer, Amanda Walker, Cooper Minis and Curtis Gallagher

Alicia Johnson and andrea Johnson

David and Lady Manning’s posh conveyance. § “COME AS YOU ARE” Lenti hosted the “Come as you are, be of good cheer” fete for the many pals she’d made while working as a fundraiser for both of President Bush’s presidential campaigns.

Guests included Bridge Colby, Richard Wolff and

Richard Leiby, along with mentors Fran Townsend, Reuben Jeffrey, Jack Oliver and Steve Elemendorf. Lenti’s boss of four years, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Rsvp’d yes, but was probably a li le busy given that Scooter Libby’s indictment had been announced only a few hours before.

Nick Assad

Bonnie Miller and Susan Wiley

W I N S T O N L O R D ’ S B I R T H D AY PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

rebecca canan, Winston Bao Lord and caroline stouffer

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BIRTHDAY WISH Georgetown hotspot Smith Point was packed with friends such as Tom Snedeker to celebrate Winston Bao Lord’s 38th birthday on October 21. Named one of People magazine’s ho est bachelors in 2005.

Lord, a native Washingtonian, was instrumental in bringing

baseball to D.C., and has served as the executive director of The Washington Baseball Club since its formation. Lord who is part of the Malek Zients group of investors, wouldn’t tell us his secret birthday wish, but we suspect it might have something to do with the ownership of the Washington Nationals.

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B R O A D WAY B E N E F I T O N N E W Y O R K AV E N U E PHOTOS BY VICKY POMBO

Linda Slatkin and Susan Porter

“LA VIE EN ROSE” A night of fundraising and cabaret left guests at The National Museum of Women in the Arts Fall Benefit feeling like they had attended a Broadway show. Tony-nominated actress and singer, Christine Andreas,

enchanted guests in the Great Hall with her beautiful soprano voice and dramatic ability. § SUPPORTING CAST A host of Washingtonians gathered to raise funds for the museum’s Shenson Chamber Music Concert Series including

chairwoman Wendy Gowdy and guests including Brenda and Jacques de Suze, Lisa and Bob Pumphrey, Aniko Gaal Scho , Alexine and Dr. Aaron Jackson, Milton and Gilan Corn, Barbara Gordon, Lola Reinsch, J. Almont Pierce and Ann Hoopes.

Aaron and Alexine Jackson, Patricia Bush and Phillip Day

Tuti Kaveeshwar and Dr. Ashok G. Kaveeshwar

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Gail Scott and Mary Mochary

Dianne Bruce and Aniko Gaal Schott

Wilhelmina Holladay, Climis Lascaris and Jayne Plank

Anthony DiResta and Terrance Mason

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SHOPPING HYSTERIA P H OTO S BY I M M A N U E L J AYA C H A N D R A N

Courtney Reynolds

Alison Lukes and Kathryn Martin

LUKES IN STYLE Washington Life readers were treated to a special evening of discounted shopping at Hysteria in Old Town on November 2 along with fashion tips from WL style editor Alison Lukes, who suggested shoppers buy bright colored sweaters, fingerless cashmere gloves

and updated tweed jackets this season. § DESTINATION HYSTERIA Owners Courtney Reynolds and Kathryn Martin hosted shoppers in their lime green inspired boutique which sits in a quaint Alexandria townhouse. Over the past five years, Hysteria has expanded from an

Alex barth and Lisa Bolden

Kendrick Dunn, Patty Arriagada, Kenya Pierce and Santos and jerry santos pierce

accessories store to a destination shop for hard to find labels such as Trina Turk, Nane e Lepore and Lela Rose. § NEW BAUBLE Reynolds shared that she recently became engaged to former Capital Club President, Chris Cox, and is already making wedding plans.

Carlos munoz and Dane Austin

PA U L W H A R T O N B I R T H D AY PA R T Y P H OTO S BY I M M A N U E L J AYA C H A N D R A N

HOT TO TROT: Friends gathered on October 14 at local hot spot Maté to celebrate TV producer and fashion trendse er Paul Wharton’s 28th birthday. Alex and Mary Barth, Ezana Dessie, Veronica Tynes, Anthony Marks and James Woodyard turned out to quaff jeroboams of Veuve Clicquot and eat birthday cake. § Paul Wharton

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MODEL BEHAVIOR Wharton has been seen by millions of viewers as a modeling coach on MTV’s “Made” and “True Life” reality shows. He has expanded his expertise in the fashion industry by launching his own company, Evolution Look, to provide training and services for people interested in professional modeling.

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Tony and Heather Podesta

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Raplh Brabhan, Maria Miller Censi, Drew Porterfield and Karl James

Nancy Rosebush

MOTION PICTURES Artists, writers, politicos, lobbyists and educators gathered at Strand on Volta Gallery to celebrate the opening of cu ing-edge works by three international video artists, Osman Bozkurt, Allyson Clay and Milutin Gubash, curated by artist and writer Lucy

Hogg. § WRITING ON THE WALL Gallery owner and restaurateur James Alefantis said “Moving images are so stunningly contemporary. It has been incredible to see the response of Washington art collectors to this art form.” Media Ma ers for American President and CEO David Brock, lobbyists

Heather and Tony Podesta, The American Prospect senior editor Garance Franke-Ruta, The Washington Post editorial cartoonist Tom Toles and Sculptor Jeff Spaulding were also spo ed studying the video works displayed on TV screens and projected onto walls of the gallery.

Nancy and Bell Watts

Ina Ginsburg and Hilda Ochoa-Brillembourg

Zecca Dakio and Jacqueline Leland

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THE TALENTED MR VOLLBRACHT Maurice and Joan Tobin and their daughter Alexis hosted an intimate party at their Kalorama home on October 2, for designer Michael Vollbracht, CEO of Bill Blass. Vollbracht took over the helm of the iconic American fashion house in

2002 following the death of its founder. A fashion designer, painter, writer and illustrator, Vollbracht once worked for both Henri Bendel and Bloomingdales and his book “Nothing Sacred” is said to be one of the foremost illustrative and literary accounts of New York’s social set.

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Catherine Stevens, Michael Vollbracht and Ann Nitze

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H OT E L WATC H

HOTEL DE CRILLON 10, place de la Concorde 75008 Paris, France Telephone: 33 (0) 1-44-71-15-00 Fax: 33(0) 1-44-71-15-02 m E-mail: crillon@crillon.co m .co on website: www.crill Member: The Leading Hotels of the World

Vive la France!

BY KEVIN CHAFEE

Princes, presidents, and plutocrats love the luxurious HÔTEL DE CRILLON in Paris THE ADDRESS

Ideally located in the geographic heart of Paris on the place de la Concorde, the historic Hotel de Crillon is within easy walking distance of many major attractions: the Louvre, Madeleine, Opera, Grand Palais, Musee d’Orsay, Champs Elysees and Place Vendome (where many of the top couturiers and jewelers are to be found).The Left Bank is a short promenade across the River Seine and—for those without chauffeurs waiting—there are plenty of taxis and a main line Metro stop just to the left of the front entrance.

THE GUESTS

Royalty, presidents, plutocrats, and entertainment celebrities have long favored the Crillon. (Madonna recently drew enormous crowds out front every time she and her entourage were rumored to be leaving the hotel). Otherwise, major fashionistas, especially during the spring and fall shows; businessmen (many Asian); and lots of well-heeled older couples.

THE DRAW

THE DRAWBACKS

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Everything you would expect from one of the City of Light’s grandest and most luxurious nesting spots after a spectacular $25 million renovation: ornate decor, top notch Les Ambassadeurs restaurant (chef Jean-Francois Piege won back a second Michelin star this year), snazzy bar, cozy Winter Garden Tea Room with soothing harp music, superior service and faultless attention to every detail.

Despite “sound-proofing,” it is much too noisy in many rooms, especially those facing rue Boissy d’Anglas, where a garbage truck approximately the size of the old S.S. Ile de France hoists innumerable dumpsters most mornings between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. Also best avoided are accommodations off the central elevator corridor, where housemaids gather to chat near their service carts.

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THE ROOMS

THE BATHROOMS

AMENITIES

Ornate moldings, wood paneling, Baccarat chandeliers and sumptuous silks, velvets and brocades from worldrenowned weavers such as Lelievre and Frey lend the aura of a palatial cocoon to the 103 guest rooms and 44 “Grand Apartments” restored in the Louis XV style by interior designer Sybille de Margerie under the supervision of the French National Landmarks Commission. All fully airconditioned of course, with plasma screen TVs, high-speed Internet access, multi-line telephones, safes and mini-bars.

Most are a minimum 100 square feet and have been rebuilt with lavish use of Cararra marble; separate bathtubs and walk-in showers, double sinks; bidets (naturellement); sinfully soft robes and towels and Annick Goutal perfumed toiletries Private fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment and training coach;“Femmetastique” private tour and shopping services for women traveling alone; special sleeping baskets and walkers for pets; currency exchange, baby-sitting.

ROOM SERVICE

Extensive menu available 24 hours.Try the famous and incredibly delicious club sandwich with secret ingredients. Could it be a smidgen of champagne mustard with a tiny trace of anchovy paste? Mine was so good I saved part of it to savor the next day. Breakfast croissants are predictably flaky and fresh, and the water was boiling hot for tea. (It does help if you remember to order lait chaud.)

THE BOTTOM LINE

The minimum price for the simplest single occupancy room ranges from $600-$700 depending on the season. Superior double rooms: $730-$800; Deluxe doubles: $800-$1,000. Seven categories of suites range from $1,500 to $9,500 per night.

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SOUTH PACIFIC PARADISE Tahiti’s magical coasts beckon travelers and honeymooners from around the globe

The calm, crystalline waters, laid-back island mentality, world class restaurants and luxuriously appointed accommodations make Tahiti and its surrounding islands a honeymoon hotspot— so much so that you’ll be hard pressed to find travelers other than those gazing into one another’s eyes and celebrating a wonderful break following the hectic turn of events involved with a wedding. And why not? The year-round tropical temperatures, spectacular vistas and calm waters make Tahiti nothing short of paradise.

COOKS BAY Cooks Bay in Moorea is named after Captain Cook, who is credited with discovering many South Pacific islands.

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visit to Tahiti conjures up visions of thatched roof bungalows over striking shades of turquoise waters half a world away. Scenery similar to that viewed in “South Pacific” (filmed in Moorea) is truly as breathtaking as it appears in the 1962 movie, and the long distance from the mainland United States adds to the exoticism and intrigue. Even so, many worldly travelers inevitably ask “Where exactly is Tahiti?”

The islands officially known as French Poly-

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GETTING THERE

nesia are in the eastern South Pacific, halfway between California and Australia.The area covers over two million square miles and is made up of 118 islands spread over five archipelagos: the Society, Austral, Tuamotu, Gambier and Marquesas islands. The Society Islands include Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora Bora and Maupiti. Each have their own unique traits and distinct flavor, which is why many who have traveled there recommend visiting more than one.

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Several airlines service Papeete on Tahiti from Los Angeles, but Air Tahiti Nui now flies directly from JFK, making New York the first East Coast city to offer direct flights to the region. Since the inception of the route in July, travelers have praised the pleasant experience they’ve had on the long (12 ½ hour) journey.

The only international airport is located on Tahiti’s Faaa district, just five kilometers away from downtown Papeete. However, most visitors treat Tahiti as a transfer point, normally spending one or two nights there before heading to other motus (islands) via Air Tahiti. To make reservations and view schedules from New York, visit www.airtahitinui.com.

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MOOREA

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NOT TO MISS JUS DE FRUITS DE MOOREA (689) 56 11 33

WHERE TO STAY THE INTERCONTINENTAL RESORT & SPA MOOREA Rates from $325 for a lanai room and from $700 for a bungalow www.ichotelsgroup.com

WHERE TO EAT LE BATEAU located at the Hotel Linareva (689)15 35

The popular over-water bungalows rest on the calm South Pacific.

Located just 30 minutes by boat or 10 minutes by plane ride from Tahiti, Moorea seems to rise up from the sea. A teal lagoon surrounds its magnificent mountains with lush green foliage and hidden waterfalls. Roadside produce stands and small villages give it a primitive feeling, despite the upscale resorts lining the beaches. Moorea has just one 40-mile road that bounds its circumference, making it the perfect spot to explore by rented scooter, car or bicycle. Truly the finest spot to see the entire island is le Belvedere lookout (the best photo opportunities are before 10 a.m., when the sun is behind you.)

The InterContinental Resort & Spa Moorea, rates from $325 for a lanai room and from $700 for a bungalow; www.ichotelsgroup.com

WHERE TO EAT Most hotels offer delicious authentic Polynesian feasts with delectable cuisine, including meat baked in an underground oven, fresh fish, vegetables, plantains and fruit plus live Polynesian dancing and singing. For a different experience, try Le Bateau restaurant, a restored fishing boat that serves local seafood. Le Bateau, located at the Hotel Linareva, (689)15 35

NOT TO MISS Moorea is known for its pineapple plantations and pineapple factory, Jus de Fruits de Moorea, where visitors can sample juice and liqueurs made at the on-site distillery. Most island tours include a visit to the factory. Jus de Fruits de Moorea, (689) 56 11 33

WHERE TO STAY THE INTERCONTINENTAL RESORT & SPA MOOREA features luxurious beach and

over-water bungalows winding around its calm lagoon. Guests enjoy every water sport imaginable, including snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, canoeing or simply swimming right off of their bungalows. In the secluded spa, treatments begin in an outside rainwater bath surrounded by colorful chirping birds and fragrant flowers.

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BORA NUI a Starwood luxury property.Visitors

Bora Bora is one of the most beautiful of the Society Islands, possessing a lagoon of brilliant shades of blue, turquoise and teal. The white caps of the waves of the Pacific can be seen in the distance and on a quiet night, visitors can hear them crash. Bora Bora is made up of a collection of motus and can only really be explored by boat, so all resorts offer water transportation to the main village,Vaitape, where many restaurants are located and the annual Heiva festival occurs, featuring traditional dance competitions, delectable Polynesian cuisine and other festivities. Tip: arrange all off-site dining plans with your concierge. Many restaurants are not within walking distance of Vaitape’s dock, and restaurants offer free transportation at scheduled times.

are greeted by the hotel’s private yacht before being shuttled to the floating lobby. Checkin occurs on board, so all that is left when you arrive is a mini tour of the resort by golf cart before you reach your accommodations.

Bora Bora Nui offers only large bungalows, ranging between 1,000 and 1,500 square feet, which are rumored to be the largest on the island. The over-water bungalows all have large decks with partially glass floors to view the abundance of fish in the clear waters below. Feel like feeding them? Just lift the top of one of the see-through end tables in the living room.

Bora Bora Nui, rates from $620 to $2,750; www. boraboranui.com

WHERE TO EAT BLOODY MARY’S is possibly the most visited

NOT TO MISS Bora Bora is the perfect place to feed sharks and stingrays, a favored South Pacific pastime.

Most excursions include both; after a short boat ride, tour operators will direct passengers to grab onto a long rope and toss fish into a circle of gentle sharks mere feet away. The boat then heads to another spot to feed the stingrays as they glide past. More cautious travelers view the feeding process from the safety of the boat. Visit www.tahiti-tourisme.com for tour operators

restaurant on the island, as well as the most touristic. All for good reason: the floor is made of sand and the atmosphere is lively, living up to its motto, “Where on any given night, anything can happen.”The menu consists of grilled meats and fresh fish and reservations are recommended— two to three days in advance.

For a quieter atmosphere but equally excellent seafood, visit TOP DIVE RESTAURANT at Top Dive Resort and Hotel. Bathed in candlelight, you can’t go wrong with anything you select on the menu. Blood

NOT TO MISS www.tahiti-tourisme.com

WHERE TO STAY BORA BORA NUI Rates from $620 to $2,750 www.boraboranui.com

WHERE TO EAT BLOODY MARY’S (689) 67 72 8 TOP DIVE RESTAURANT (689) 60 50 50

The Bora Bora Nui’s luxuriously appointed bungalows are said to be the largest on the island.

BORA BORA QUICK GUIDE

BORA BORA

Mary’s Restaurant, (689) 67 72 86; Top Dive

WHERE TO STAY

Guests praise the fantastic service at the BORA Restaurant, (689) 60 50 50

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INSIDE HOMES

BUNGALOW Architects Olvia Demetriou and Theo Adamstein combine cozy and traditional with spacious and modern in their upper Northwest home.

B Y M A R Y K N E W B O R N - P H O T O S B Y Z A I D H A R N I D

W PH OTO BY M ARY N OBL E OU R S

hen Olvia Demetriou and Theo Adamstein told WL they were, “in the mood to reduce,” they were not explaining their rationale for developing the stylish new SomaFIT spa, but how they came to “simplify” and be “more modernist” in designing and decorating their exceptional home.

Originally when shopping for a new property, Adamstein and Demetriou, the A&D of Architecture & Design, hoped to find an empty lot with a view. Instead, they found a 1923 Sears & Roebuck bungalow situated on a hill off Foxhall Road N.W., overlooking treetops and the Potomac. Within minutes of seeing the beautiful vista, the couple decided to purchase the Arts and Crafts mail-order house and spent the next several months designing a new 3,500 square-foot addition to complement their existing structure. Today, the couple who “chose to retain the character and charm of the

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old bungalow,” have successfully combined “cozy and traditional” with “spacious and modern” in the form of almost 6,000 square-feet of interior living space plus outdoor areas that include a front porch, a wooden balcony, two rear decks and a long narrow back lawn where Theo says he will likely build an Infinity lap pool.

Because the couple loves the outdoors, part of their signature style has always been to infuse their designs with light and space and visual access. In order to make the most of their spectacular vista, the new addition has floor-to-ceiling windows and boasts a thirteen-foot glass door. To further avoid obstructing their view, the couple constructed open stairwells both inside and out.

There is also a substantial set of limestone stairs that appears to be floating between the sunken living room and the formal dining room, kitchen and informal dining areas.

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stein and Theo Adam ou ri et em D ia Olv

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modern charm Multi-functional spaces ideal for entertaining and family living.

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One of the nicest places to appreciate the extensive vista is the elegant, albeit sparsely appointed master bedroom, where a wall of windows provides an uninterrupted view all the way to Virginia. One gets the sense of cozying up in a tree house and the couple says they “love seeing the sky and weather changing.”

The master suite includes a dressing room illuminated by skylights, bath with a marble Jacuzzi and waterfall shower stall that, in keeping with the theme of openness and light, has only three sides.

If there are few obvious boundaries between the interior and exterior of the home, there are none between the old and the new portions either. Instead, the couple had a “great room” blueprint in mind and allowed the spaces to flow and blend so that much of the house is multi-functional; consequently, it works well for both entertaining and family living. The open floor plan is ideal for Olvia and Theo, who love hosting cocktail parties at least once every six weeks and have been known to invite as many as eighteen guests to seated dinners.

Perhaps nowhere is the convenience of the layout better evidenced than in their carefully conceived commercial quality kitchen.

But then Theo and Olvia are renowned for having designed some forty notable area restaurants, including Bistro Bis, Zola, Teatro Goldini, and Zaytinya.

They agree that their headquarters is the kitchen which contains what Olvia calls “microefficiencies:” dual ovens, double dishwashers, a cleverly placed coffee station, separate clean-up area and such practical accoutrements as concrete counters. Perhaps inevitably, the room is also a central gathering place for all who visit.

The new dining room with lowered ceiling simultaneously affords guests the feeling of being “nestled,” yet offers open and dramatic views, as does the living room’s clean, sleek lines emphasizing form and light versus color.

One enters the new rear addition through the old bungalow just as one moves through life from the past into the modern realm, though in neither case is the transition always subtle.

Olvia tends to explain the experience of going from the old part to the new as “a process of discovery.” Her goal in designing the modern expansion was to “create balance and adjustment” in their efforts to preserve the past, yet develop new space to expand as well.

The couple retained the period details of the bungalow and appropriately display their “eclectic collection of older, funkier pieces” in this area. The biggest “intervention” as Olvia terms it, was to have Lenore Winters blanch the woodwork to match the pre-existing woodwork with the old wood trim so that there would be “a dialog between old and new.”

They did modernize the lower level of the original house, which has since become their sons’ domain.What remains of the earlier structure is a section of the rear exterior stonewall which, again, does not serve as a barrier between the old and new, but rather is simply a visible reminder of the past.

Theo tells us he and Olvia plan to remain in this house for many years to come, although one day they would like to also own an island home in Olvia’s native Greece.

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Style isn’t just what you wear, it’s where you live.

What’s your style?

European inspired spaces in downtown Thomas Circle

Premier elegance in upscale Chevy Chase

Edgy loft designs in the rhythm and revival of U Street

Hip urban living in charming Old Town Alexandria

PN Hoffman Real Estate Services LLC Designed to simplify your move and sell your current home

www.pnhoffman.com 1-877-PNH-1100

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Comtemporary and Classic MONIKA APPONYI VON EICHEL talks about design trends

BY MON I K A APPONYI VON EICH EL

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onika Apponyi von Eichel got tired of trying to find just the right small pieces of furniture she likes, such as consoles, coffee tables, lamps, nigh-tables, commodes and sideboards. As a result, she launched her own collection, ARTABA, in collaboration with her Swiss partner, Susanne von Meiss, three years ago. In London and Zurich, now she is planning to bring the collection to Washington in 2006. The pieces are handmade in Italy and finished in spectacular gold and aluminum leaf with a very elegant “linen” texture in various colors: stone, chocolate, green, red, black and white.

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Since her recent marriage to Washingtonian Henry von Eichel, she has divided her time between London and the United States. She is looking forward to bringing her expertise and experience from “Old Europe” to this exciting city. To view these exquisite pieces, visit the website at www.artaba.com.

Above: The tables from the art ARTABA can be ordered in the different finishes such as linen, stone, chocolate, green, black, white, silver or gold. They are all specially produced and can be ordered in different sizes.

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Above: Monika Apponyi von Eichel’s garden flat in Kensington, London shows the bedroom connected to the drawing room with a pair of mirrored doors to catch the light from all angles. The blue grey panels above the bed are French 18th century and the antique wooden floor from Poland is laid in a “Hungarian point to point” pattern.

I love the great variety of architectural heritage that defines Washington, the elegant proportions, generosity of space and beautiful light. Georgetown is so very English, but yet more varied and whimsical than London. I love the grandeur of Capitol Hill, the logic of the street layout, the friendliness of the people. When I rebuilt our new house with my husband in Georgetown I was pleased to discover a wealth of talented craftsmen.

In Europe and Georgetown, luxury is back with a capital L! There is a definite return to color, luxurious finishes, and fabrics and layered textures—the mantra being: comfort, comfort, comfort. People are tired of minimalist houses in white, beige and stone with chunky masculine furniture.They want express their individuality and put their feet up without disturbing the one lily stiffly propped in

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the sleek vase on the coffee table.

Antiques are coming out of hibernation, that is, if the clients were smart enough to have kept them when 1980’s modern was the must-have. I look for the sleekness of the ‘30s, with supreme finishes in lacquer, brass and ebony. The simplicity of Biedermeier or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, the grandeur of 18th century French and Italian pieces that are all finding their way back into interiors. However now they are being mixed with well-designed contemporary furniture. Compared to the ‘80s, when interiors were also luxurious— but plush and over-decorated with lots of fringes and ruffled lampshades—everything is more pared down today. “Less is more,” but with total emphasis on quality, the highest standard of workmanship and attention to detail.

Houses must offer us a refuge from our hectic lives and envelop us like a soft, fur blanket. Anything is possible in Washington: contemporary or classic, or a combination of both, but the key is comfort and functionality.

When approaching a new project, I first focus on understanding my clients: what they like, what does their home mean to them, how do

they conduct their lives, what makes them tick, feel comfortable, what do they want to achieve?

Then I look at the bones of the house. Like a face, without good bone-structure, make-up will be difficult. I check the spaces, flow of rooms, position and proportions of doors, available storage space and natural light. If something does not work, I will suggest altering it.As an interior architect and designer, I get involved in all aspects of a renovation: detailed planning, drawings, supervision and of course, decoration and furnishing.

I like it when houses are logical, well organized, and have beautifully detailed closets, luxurious bathrooms (sometimes even with fabric on the walls) and lots of different sources of light.

Dimmers are a must. I use mirrors and lacquered surfaces to reflect light and tactile fabrics such as linens, silks and velvets with layered textures.

Colors and strong focal points, including interesting pieces of furniture and art, are vital. I love the smell of polished furniture and lavender in linen cupboards and the highest quality of workmanship. What I avoid is pretentious, uncomfortable and impractical interiors. I hate things that are fake, like bad, glitzy copies of antique furniture, synthetics, stark overhead lighting and shabby, messy, unloved houses.

Below: The drawing room shows a collection of 20th century interior photos. The coffee table is from the ARTABA collection in a stone linen finish. The specially made sofa is huge and filled with down, which feels like sitting on a duvet.

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On the Block

Luxury Condominiums ON THE MARKET

CHASE POINT CHEVY CHASE, MD. This distinguished new residence was designed exclusively for the Chevy Chase lifestyle. It will include 107 luxury apartment homes ranging from twobedroom with a den to three-bedrooms with a den.

Located at the intersection of Military Road and Western Avenue in Friendship Heights, the property counts Saks, Neiman Marcus and Cartier among its neighbors.

And the Metro Red Line is just outside your door beyond the strikingly landscaped outdoor park.

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With Viking appliances, fine hardwoods and stone, and custom cabinetry standard, every apartment home will enjoy features that many developers consider optional upgrades. Owners can also enjoy secured underground parking, 24-hour front desk, a fitness center and owners’ club suite.

Asking: $1 to $3 million including several stunning two-level penthouses with spacious private outdoor entertaining areas. Listing Contact: Avi Fisher, PN Hoffman Realty, (202) 966-2100 ext. 204, www.pnhoffman.com, afisher@pnhoffman.com

22 WEST WASHINGTON D.C The development moguls behind Cady’s Alley have begun construction on their next big project. This innovative zinc and glass condominium building will have 95 units ranging in size from one-bedrooms to three-bedrooms with a den.

Located in the heart of the West End at 1177 22nd Street, N.W., directly opposite the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and the Sports Club/ LA, the building will offer the convenience of in-town living with the services and finishes of a luxury condominium

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building. Most units will have either a balcony, French-door terrace or planter to enjoy.

One or two parking spaces and nearby storage will be included in all units. Units boast 9’ 7” finished ceilings in the entertainment areas, floor to ceiling glass windows, engineered wood floors, European closet systems and gourmet kitchens. Additionally there will be a roof-top pool, fitness center, meeting room, convenience store and restaurant for recreational and entertaining needs.

Asking: Larger units $1.5 million Listing Contact: Stacy G. Bear, Cady’s Alley, (202) 333-3313

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Is Everyone In America Buying a Condo?

Three top REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS discuss Washington’s dramatic growth 1

1. Mark Bisnow Moderator Mark Bisnow has been a lawyer, politico, and businessman in Washington for nearly three decades and publishes a growing series of electronic newsletters, including Real Estate Weekly, which features interviews with top Washington-area experts. He also writes “BizKnow,” a weekly personality column in the Washington Business Journal.

2. Anthony Lanier Anthony M. Lanier founded EastBanc, Inc. in the late 80s, a Washington D.C.-based real estate investment firm specializing in the acquisition, redevelopment and management of real estate assets. With a focus on urban mixed-use investment, EastBanc’s developments include upscale retail, luxury residential, Class A and Class B office and luxury hotel property types. Since 1987, EastBanc and its partners have acquired and/or developed over four million square feet, which represents an investment value in excess of $1 billion. Washington’s West End and Georgetown neighborhoods, as well as its Central Business District, are the core markets for the group’s most recent development projects.

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4. Michael Darby Michael Darby is a principal and cofounder of Monument Realty, one of Washington’s leading real estate development firms. Along with partner, Jeffrey Neal, he oversees the firm’s diverse work throughout the region, including a portfolio of more than five million square feet of office, and over 3000 residential units. Current projects include Belles Rives at The Watergate, Dumbarton Place, Potomac Place, The Connecticut, and Columbia Center in Washington, D.C.; and The Odyssey, The Hawthorn, and The Palatine in Arlington, Virginia.

Mark Bisnow: What are each of your marquee projects?

Michael Darby: We have approximately five thou-

Arlington to a $1,000 a square foot at the Watergate, depending on the market and location.

sand condo units in Maryland,Virginia, and D.C. The Watergate is one of the highest-profile. We have four projects in Arlington Courthouse and a bunch on Glebe Road. Eventually, we will build condos down by the ballpark in Southeast. We have seven hundred units in Southwest that we’ve nearly completed and some projects up on 22nd and P Street, N.W.

Bisnow: What percentage of Monument’s activity is in condos?

Darby: We have about $3 billion of development

Bisnow: What does a typical condo among your five thousand units cost?

Darby: They range in value from $500,000 in

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3. Monty Hoffman As founder and CEO of PN Hoffman, Monty Hoffman has developed extraordinary upscale condominium residences and mixed-use properties in Washington, D.C. Under his leadership, the company is deeply committed to serving the neighborhoods of the District and has built over 30 developments throughout the city.

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underway, about $1 billion of that is office space and the other two-thirds is condos.

Anthony Lanier: At the moment, our key project is 22 West, also known as the Zinc Building, but I always think our latest project as our best project.

Unlike Michael (laughs), who differentiates by which building will arrive when, I have a clear notion of my last building. Our condo activity is about 60 percent of our overall activities.

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COLUMN NAME

Monty Hoffman: We have a project on Mili-

tary and Western Avenue, N.W., called Chase Point with 108 luxury condominiums in the heart of Bethesda; Parcel 31 will have 220 condominiums and a large parking garage; and Union Row Flats at 14th and V Street N.W. with 280 condominiums; and a couple of warehouses that we’ll be refurbishing. We also have a project called the Alta on 14th Street between L and Thomas Circle, with 126 condominiums for your younger cosmopolitan buyer. In Alexandria on Carlisle Square, we will have 145 soft lofts, a cross between the more sophisticated condo product and the loft product. Finally, we have a project starting up over at the Southeast Federal Center of an existing munitions warehouse on the east side of the property near the Navy Yard.

Darby: That’s 16 million condominiums. (general laughter) Bisnow: I’m reminded of an Esquire Magazine cover around 1990 that had a picture of a monkey and the caption said, “Is everyone in America writing a screenplay?” Washington Life should have a cover: Is everyone in America buying a condo? Is this a fad or not?

Hoffman: Oh, I thought you were going

to ask, “Is everyone in America building a condo?” I don’t believe it’s a fad, but a change in lifestyle. People are rejecting the outer suburban lifestyle and opting for a condominium lifestyle where they take their discretionary time to travel and enjoy life instead of being strapped to the house.

Bisnow: Are people taking their places in the large houses in Potomac, or if this were the stock market, should we be shorting Potomac?

Hoffman: What’s happening is that you have the empty nesters who are moving back into the condominiums and their kids are moving into more of the loft-style condominiums.

Those with small children are moving to the single-family homes.

Darby: I still think the future is in mid-level housing in suburbs like McLean and Potomac because it’s only $250 a foot for a four to sixthousand-square foot house. What can you get downtown for $250 a foot?

Lanier: But you’re shorting Potomac with that

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“There’s been so much negative news over the last six months, but I also feel that we’re starting to hit an affordability ceiling.

While we might have 70,000 jobs coming into the area [a year], how many of those jobs can afford $800,000 condos?”

—MONT Y HOFFMAN

statement because it didn’t sell at $250 a square foot yesterday.

Darby: Short it or buy it, same thing. I want as much of it as I can get, because I think after a while people are going to say “I’ve done the condo thing, it’s been great, but the baby is getting older and I want more kids and more space.” But the whole market is growing in size.

The latest statistics show an increase of 80,000 jobs a year. If 80,000 people are coming to the area, then we’re not building fast enough.

Bisnow: How much of building condos is speculative. To the extent it’s speculative, how dangerous is that?

Lanier: All of it.

Darby: Until it’s built and you’ve had someone

close, it’s speculative. The risk for us is massive, because if they put down $15,000 to buy a $300,000 condo, and the market turns, they can walk away.

Bisnow: So, what are the chances that the market could turn? How confident are you that there will be an ample market for all the condos you are all building?

Darby: We’ve already seen it turn a little bit

recently. We’ve seen it transition from a frenzy of investors to buyers sitting back and taking another look. The owner/occupiers or the true buyers, the guys that we’re after, are looking and a bit nervous, and are coming back a couple of

times. We’re seeing an adjustment now which I welcome because we get the investors out and sell to our true market. The next stage is what happens with interest rates and affordability, pushing prices up. The investors created a market where they kept pushing numbers up and prices are getting to the point where people can’t afford it.

Bisnow: Do you agree that prices are too high?

Hoffman: The market shifted this summer, and

although October was pretty good, I believe that investors are sitting on the sidelines now.

There’s been so much negative news over the last six months, but I also feel that we’re starting to hit an affordability ceiling. While we might have 70,000 jobs coming into the area, how many of those jobs can afford $800,000 condos?

Lanier: I don’t think there’s a danger of overbuilding as a general statement in Washington, D.C. It depends on where your focus is; today worldwide the focus is and should be on the baby boomers because they have the highest disposable income statistically in the history of our world. That market is a very neat market and has a very, very narrow supply because nobody has any taste.

Bisnow: Sorry?

Lanier: In this city, some start off with a sense

of mediocrity. The people most disbelieving of the quality of the city are many of the citizens themselves. I mean, it’s a terrific city, but whenever you want to do something forward-thinking, it’s met with disbelief that it could work. I noticed it with the Ritz condominiums and we had the same experience when we developed Cady’s Alley. Everybody said that nobody wants to lease off the street. People do not believe that we can achieve something as a city because in [their] minds we are mediocre. In fact, we have a huge amount of disposable income looking for a sense of quality and quality of life.

Bisnow: How much money do you pay for upscale condos today?

Lanier: Let’s take this number Michael put into

the room of $1,000 a square foot which to most people in this city is an absurd number. While it has been achieved in certain instances, it’s not

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

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been achieved on a broad basis.

Darby: You have to be in a penthouse overlooking the Potomac River for $1,000 a square foot.

Bisnow: How many square feet and how much are your penthouses at the Watergate?

Darby: There are six 5,000 square foot pent-

houses. We’re asking $8 million. But we offer different products in the mid-range and the upper end, giving you a real choice, something that’s interesting. But to do that in Washington has always been hard because it is a challenging city in terms of its architecture. There are a lot of boxes that are controlled by the height and the amount of square footage you can put on the sites.We can’t just differentiate high-end projects by the marble, etc., but by the architecture and the quality of the product from the visual aspect, the innovative aspect.

“Washington today doesn’t reach the housing prices of Milan, London or Sydney. While all of us are affected by bad markets, our buyers are less affected by a recession and most likely won’t be affected by the inability to deduct taxes.”

—ANTHONY LANIER

Bisnow: So there’s news that this bi-partisan tax commission has recommended severe limitation of the mortgage deduction. Are people looking at your product immune to that? Secretary of the Treasury John Snow says they’re studying it very seriously, and it may take them quite a while to reach a conclusion, but the president’s supposed to put out a comprehensive tax proposal by 2006.

How would that affect you?

Lanier: I think that’s an interesting question for

126

all of us. There are very few countries in the world that allow you full deductibility of the interest for housing. Nevertheless, their average housing prices are far superior to ours. Washington today doesn’t reach the housing prices of Milan, London or Sydney. While all of us are affected by bad markets, our buyers are less affected by a recession and most likely won’t be affected by the inability to deduct taxes. But certainly, it pushes the rental market again.

Hoffman: You already have a million dollar cap on interest rate deductions. So to those extreme high-end buyers it’s probably immaterial. However, I do think it would have a slight effect on your $800,000 to $900,000 home buyer who is already stretching.

Bisnow: And how about if interest rates keep rising?

Hoffman: Fortunately, the long-range mortgage

picture hasn’t really adjusted at all. I think that it will put some pressure on mid-level buyers, but I think we’ve got to go up another pointand-a-half or so for that to really be material.

Darby: Pricing will adjust accordingly because we’re not going to sit with empty buildings. If we’ve already built the building and interest rates go up so less people can afford them, then we’re going to adjust the pricing.

We just won’t make as much over time as we did before. Then hopefully the whole thing adjusts and land prices go down because the land component is a greater component than it was before. But these are just minor adjustments in any financial or business model.

Bisnow: Are you guys like the oil companies and just frowning in parts?

Hoffman: No. Lanier: I think it’s interesting. The condomin-

ium business today is an escalating commodity on costs. The landowner today has sucked out, I would say, the predominant portion of the profit. Our pricing structure is nothing else but reflective of the increasing costs, but unlike the oil companies who have locked in their agreements many years in advance, we’re buying land, building on it ad hoc, and reselling.

Darby: And we’re buying construction . . .

We’re trying to factor in whatever the market is at that point in time into the resale, too.

Hoffman: Increased interest rates are putting

some pressure on the pricing side supported by continued inflation on the construction side.

Although pricing on the land can adjust, and it will, at some point, I don’t for a minute think we’re in any kind of a bubble but I think there may be a leveling of appreciation on the resident side.

Bisnow: Is there greater interest in new buildings?

Hoffman: There’s a certain romance in the

inherent design elements of the older buildings with older architecture, higher ceilings and fat moldings, but the newer buildings with all the high-tech aspects, large windows and greater light and air probably override that. Some buyers are attracted to these older buildings and some to the newer ones.

Darby: They want new appliances, cabinets and bathrooms. By the time you do all that they’re getting mostly new anyway. After we complete the inside of the Watergate, nothing will be old, and everything inside will come out, everything. What’s going to remain is the outside façade.

Bisnow: What’s the coolest new feature or kind of room that your customers are looking for?

Darby: I have my tranquility room in our Tel-

luride house, with a mountain view. The masseuse comes to my room instead of me going to the bloody massage place.

Bisnow: What are mere mortals looking for?

Lanier: It is not about a feature anymore.

We’ve gone through the bathroom and kitchen trend. It’s about quality and space.

Hoffman: The open design of a condo is crucial; being able to see through, with 11 foot ceilings and windows to the floor, giving you a grand feeling that provides drama is what I think was missing in the past.

Bisnow: What’s the next hot area going to be?

Darby: An exciting challenge is the area by the

ballpark. The proposals will allow us to start with almost a completely clean slate and design from the ground up. We can truly create something special, which is what Anthony has been talking about, where in Southeast D.C., there

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Hoffman: The waterfront and Southeast is going to be phenomenal because there are so many players involved and there’s so much money moving in.

Darby: But creating something good doesn’t happen overnight. Think how long it took for all the restaurants to come in and fill up around the MCI Center. With the ballpark, it’s focused, and everybody is there with the right retail mix, so that period of time could be condensed.

Hoffman: There are probably a lot of people who wish they had bought near the MCI Center and won’t make that mistake in Anacostia.

in Tysons are going great. There is a development there now that’s selling for $635 a square foot and they’re two-thirds sold out of three hundred units. The beauty of the city now is that we have these massive nodes all around where people live, it’s like having ten or twelve cities within a city, and Tysons is one of those.

Bisnow: And Georgetown?

Lanier: It has had a new incarnation. Today, Georgetown is arguably the epitome of where you would like to be, the most exciting village in the world. It’s a fabulous club. Once you’re in the club you have a huge franchise value in who you see and the people you interact with.

Where else can you go down to a little grotto to exercise next to the secretary of state?

Bisnow: Do you see the waterfront as being highend residential?

Darby: It’s going to be a mix. It’s what Anthony

Bisnow: Why doesn’t it spread across the bridge to Rosslyn?

Lanier: Rosslyn was built for a totally different

said: it doesn’t matter what the price point is internally, it matters what you make the thing look like externally for it to work. The reason why low-income housing often looks like lowincome housing is because it’s been built that way. But if this stuff is all built together with a total plan, things won’t look like low-income housing. It will be integrated into an area that becomes totally dynamic.

Lanier: See Hundertwasser in Vienna, Austria, is one of the most visited buildings in the city.

He became famous because he was one of the painters who appeared naked at his own venisage or gallery. But he took low-income housing and made it spectacular with round windows and odd passageways. It’s an icon in the city.

purpose. The challenge for Rosslyn and other areas is how can you take scale, like New York has scale, and give humanity to it?

Darby: And why is Washington different than London, Paris or Rome? Those cities have operated as urban centers where people lived and worked for centuries, yet Washington, until not that long ago, did not operate as successfully. People were amazed that we did a development at 11th and M street, an area five years ago where people wouldn’t have walked. We have to forget about the past and truly build a city, so it’s like London and those cities around the world where the moment you walk into it you think, wow, isn’t this a great city. Washington hasn’t quite got there, but it’s getting there.

Lanier: Washington has the ability to be an accumulation of neighborhoods. To me, the ideal city is London, which has an accumulation of neighborhoods. So I think Washington has the best of London, and the capability of the best of New York which is the speed of commute from one spot to the other. So you take the better of those two worlds: the village character and the neighborhoods one after the other, and the ability to travel from one to the other quickly and you’ve got Washington.

Bisnow: There are many Virginia readers of Washington Life who know the metro is coming to Tysons Corner and people are talking about reinventing Tysons as a quasi-metropolitan area with pedestrian traffic. What do you think about condos at Tysons?

Darby: The problem with Tysons is that it

was never developed well from the start. It’s amazing that, even with very few sidewalks, making it hard to move around as a street friendly community, the values of real estate

128

“[Washington is] the center of the world financially and politically. That’s something that we have that no one else will ever have.”

—MICHAEL DARBY

Bisnow: Where do each of you live and why?

Hoffman: I live in Potomac because it’s a

balance of fine urban living during the day and I’m home decompressing on the weekends and nights. But I’m only twenty minutes from the office.

Darby: I’m a wanderer but I live in McLean right now. I have an acre and a half and I have two kids. I love living there and we travel all the time, but I like it for the children. I’m from Australia and I’ve grown to love this city because of what it can become.

Lanier: With me all big decisions in life have been by default. Women…(Chatter about the reason being a woman) I live in Georgetown because I think it’s the cat’s meow. I live and build there because I believe that I know more about the area than anybody else and it’s easier to build high-end stuff in a high-end area. I’m very focused on one product type, one goal, which is lifestyle.

Bisnow: One word response please. What is one thing you would each change about this city?

Lanier: Vision.

Hoffman: Weather.

Darby: Cooperation. People should spend more

time cooperating, it would help the city.

Bisnow: What is the one thing that distinguishes Washington from any other city in the world?

Hoffman: Diversity.

Lanier: It has the most dynamic mixture

of power and opportunity.

Darby: It’s the center of the world financially and politically. That’s something that we have that no one else will ever have.

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4540 Dexter Street

THE DISTRICT Senior NBC White House correspondent David Gregory and his wife, attorney Beth Gregory, are reportedly now comfortably ensconced at Dexter Streetďš? Nďš’Wďš’ Although built in 1935, the wonderfully situated Wesley Heights brick Colonial has updated features throughout, including a large entry foyer, gourmet eat-in kitchen with a center island and granite counters, and an airy music room affording expansive views of the landscaped grounds. There is also a “great roomâ€? with cathedral ceilings, a two-sided fireplace, and access to the rear patio and hot tub.

There are five bedrooms, including a master suite with a sitting room and bath, three more full baths and two half baths. Mark McFadden with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage listed the property in January for the sellers Victoria Casey and Peter Teeley. Casey is a psychologist who specializes in eating disorders, depression, and adolescent and family therapy. Teeley was Vice President George Bush’s press secretary for six years and is a former U.S. ambassador to Canada. In 1991, he was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer and subsequently teamed up with writer Philip Bashe to co-author “The Complete Cancer Survival Guide:The Newest, Most Comprehensive, Cutting-Edge Source for All the Latest Information on Each of the 25 Most Common Forms of Cancer.� The Gregorys are believed to have paid $2.45 million for their 70 year-old home. In addition to his role as White House reporter on the nightly news, Gregory

130

N E W S

532 Springvale Avenue

4904 Essex Avenue

Luxurious properties that offer more than just a room with a view B Y M A R Y K M E W B O R N

is a regular analyst on NBC’s Hardball and the Chris Matthews Show. During the historic 2000 Presidential race, he was the lead reporter on the Bush campaign and was named White House correspondent for NBC News in February 2001. A Los Angeles native, Gregory graduated from American University in DC in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies.

This year, AU’s School of International Service honored Gregory as Alumnus of the Year.

seat held by GOP Senator Russ Potts. As the cofounder of Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, Inc., Mr.Vogel has spent the last ten years counseling members of Congress, political campaigns, corporations and trade associations. Prior to the formation of Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, he served as chief counsel to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Mr. Vogel has twice been named to Roll Call’s “Fabulous 50� most influential people on Capitol Hill.

Lynne Foster, who is with Deloitte & Touche

Jill Holtzman Vogel, the only woman ever

Consulting and a volunteer with the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area, has sold her home at Springvale in Nďš’Wďš’ She listed the four-bedroom house for $2.47 million. The buyer is John Rothenberger, founder and president of Strategic Enterprise Solutions, Inc. (SE Solutions). Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SE Solutions provides IT and business services to companies operating in the public sector.

to serve as chief counsel for the Republican National Committee and her husband, Alex N. Vogel, co-founder of the lobbying group Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, Inc., have purchased a million dollar condominium. Unit 1G, a twobedroom, two-bathroom penthouse at the Residences at the Ritz Carlton, located at rd and L Streets NW� will serve as the Vogels’ Washington residence. Their primary residence is in Virginia horse country where Mrs.Vogel, now in private practice in Warrenton, is running for the 2007 Republican nomination for the state senate

MARYLAND The four-bedroom Colonial at Mistwood Drive in Potomac is under contract. Built in 1986 on a cul-de-sac in the Fallsberry subdivision, the home has four full and two half baths, a gourmet kitchen, and a family room with cathedral ceilings and a fireplace. The professionally landscaped grounds boast a pool and a hot tub.

The sellers of this Berry-built expanded Juniper Model home are attorney Jennifer Cohn and her husband, Roger Seiken, the executive direc-

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

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9801 Lindsay Blake Lane

tor and assistant general counsel for Verizon.

The listing agent was Jane Fairweather, who sold $98 million worth of real estate in 2004 and earned a spot as one of Coldwell Bankers’ top three agents internationally. The prospective buyers will likely pay a cool million for their new Montgomery County home.

Fairweather was also the listing agent for Fleming Avenue in Bethesda. The charming home has a two-story foyer and a large eat-in kitchen with wood floors and a butler’s pantry leading to the formal dining room.There are five bedrooms and three full baths, plus a master suite with his and her baths. The finished lower level has a bedroom and an exercise room.

This house belongs to Mina Handa, and Dr. James T. Handa, an opthomologist wit University School of Medicine. The Handas’ Montgomery County home is under contract with the perspective buyers expected to pay

132

more than $1.1 million for the property, which is ideally located within walking distance to pools, parks, shops, and restaurants.

In Chevy Chase, Sharon Hayman with Weichert Realtors was instrumental in the sale of a bungalow-style home located at Essex Avenue in the town of Somerset. The custombuilt new home was sold for award winning PKK Builders for approximately $2.5 million.

The buyer has asked not to be identified.

VIRGINIA Weichert realtor Sharon Hayman helped Deloitte & Touche’s Lynne Foster purchase a new contemporary-style home at Lindsey Blake Lane in Great Falls. The Fairfax County property was listed by Weichert’s Sue Huckaby with an asking price of approximately $3.5 million.

The seller was Felix Jimenez, formerly a special agent in charge at the Drug Enforcement Agency. Now a field senior executive with the

Federal Air Marshals, Jimenez reportedly maintains residences in New York and Florida.

In Loudoun County, Cedar Ridge Boulevard now belongs to Melissa J. and Bruce M. DeBlois, director of Systems Integration at BAE Systems in Reston. Mr. DeBlois received his doctorate from the Numerical Analysis Group at Oxford and has taught Engineering Mathematics and Air and Space Technology for the U.S. government. He continues to work with the U.S. Intelligence Community and from 2001-2003, led the “U.S. Space Posture for the 21st Century� study group as a senior adjunct fellow on the Council on Foreign Relations.The couple bought their new home from Equity Homes Partnership for $1.53 million.

Please Send Real Estate News Items to realestate@washingtonlife.com

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Going Home to Mount Vernon CHRISTMAS, 1783

BY DONNA EVERS

O

ur history books don’t generally point out that there were two long years between the American victory at the Battle of Yorktown and the actual end of the war.

General George Washington was painfully aware of the delay because he had to keep his troops battle-ready in New Jersey until the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the war and gave the new country its independence, was finally signed.

So, from October 1781 until November 1783, Washington waited with his soldiers, when all he wanted was to be home with his wife and family at his beloved Mount Vernon.

Washington’s home was to him what Monticello became to his colleague,Thomas Jeffersonthe center of his spiritual universe. Like Jefferson, he was a consummate renovator who oversaw every detail of construction and improvements.

And now, Washington was especially anxious to get home to Mount Vernon; he had visited his family home only once during the entire period of war, and saw that the farms were falling into

134

neglect and the Georgian house, with its wood siding carved to look like stone, was badly in need of repair.

Before the war, George and Martha Washington entertained regularly at Mount Vernon, especially during the Christmas season when family and friends gathered around the dinner table to enjoy good food and drink. Martha’s holiday table was famous for meat pie and “great Cake”.The meat pie was said to include turkey, goose, chicken, partridge, pigeon, hare, woodcocks and moor game. The “great Cake” was a giant brandy-soaked fruitcake whose recipe started out with “Take 40 eggs and 4 pounds of butter...”

When Washington got word that the treaty was signed in late November 1783, he knew he had much to do before he could start the trip home for Christmas. He had to officially accept transfer of power from the British troops in New York, bid farewell to his own soldiers and officers, and resign his commission to the Continental Congress in Annapolis, Maryland.

In his book “General Washington’s Christmas Farewell,” historian Stanley Weintraub describes the emotional visit Washington made to his troops at Fraunces Tavern in New York City. Washington was so choked up he couldn’t speak, so the farewell address he had prepared as a speech was published in the newspapers instead. The soldiers, like the whole country, idolized their brave and handsome 6’4’’ commander, and the farewell visit left both Washington and his men in tears.

Washington then rowed across the Hudson River to New Jersey, and set out on horseback with a wagon and a few aids for the three hundred mile journey that would finally bring him home.

It took him four days to get to Philadelphia, where he turned in the list of expenses he had paid out of his own pocket for himself and his troops over

the long years of war. The sum came to $63,315.

He refused any other pay for being commanding General of the Army. From there, he went on to resign his commission to the Continental Congress in Annapolis, Maryland.

When he left Annapolis, this famously modest man believed that his service to his country was over, and that he would finally be able to return home and live the quiet life of a country gentleman. Of course, he was soon pressed back into service, first to lead the constitutional convention in 1786, and then to lead the new country.

Historians say that if George Washington had not been the man he was, America might have become a monarchy. Washington’s troops would have stayed with him and the adoring public would have been happy to make him their king. Washington’s refusal to take the power that certainly was his at this point in history and his later insistence in limiting his service as president to two terms caused King George III to say that Washington was “the greatest character of his time”.

Ironically, while years of war and public service didn’t kill George Washington, his obsession with taking care of his family home did. He managed his 8000 acre estate made up of many buildings and a total of five farms with personal attention to every detail of construction, maintenance and experimentation with new farming methods. In 1799, while inspecting his farms in the rain, and then staying up to finish his paperwork in wet clothes, Washington caught a cold and died a few days later of complications. He died in the family home where he had lived off and on since the age of three, with his wife of over forty years at his side.

When you think about it, Washington spent most of his life trying to get back to Mount Vernon. He wanted to live out his life, as he described it “under my own vine and fig tree.”

Surely, his best homecoming must have been that Christmas of 1783, when General Washington finally got home on Christmas Eve, after having been away at war for eight and a half years.

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TEN TO DO

1

2

JOY OF CHRISTMAS

Indulge in a special Christmas performance when the Cathedral Choral Society sings traditional contemporary Norwegian Christmas carols at Washington National Cathedral. www.cathedralchoralsociety.org, (202) 537-6200.

JINGLE IN THE JUNGLE

Visit with Butterstick, the new panda, as the National Zoo keeps its doors open late for a night of holiday fun. www.nationalzoo.si.edu, (202) 633-4800. December 8

BAKING AT DC COAST

December 9

4

3

Bring your children to learn how to bake gingerbread creations and hard candies from DC Coast’s executive pastry chef, David Guas. Sip homemade cocoa and eggnog while enjoying these treats. www.dccoast.com, (202) 216-5988

6

GALLERY TALK

National Gallery of Art docents will lead an intriguing discussion about the story of Christmas through art. www.nga.gov, (202) 737-4215.

KING OF BLUES Blues legend B. B. King will heat up Constitution Hall as he jams on his signature Gibson. www.dar.org, (202) 628-1776. December 20

8

Middleburg’s criticallyacclaimed Aster Restaurant will host an eight-course dinner to ring in the New Year. www.asterrestaurant. com, (540) 687-4080.

December 31

CAROLING AT THE RITZ Revel in holiday spirit as strolling carolers provide musical cheer at the Ritz Georgetown. Enjoy holiday desserts and cozy up by the fire. www.ritzcarlton.com, (202) 912-4100. December 24

7

December 22

10

INTIMATE NEW YEAR’S EVE

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For the first time, the banjo and the many images of it found in American art will be the focus of a major exhibition at the Corcoran. www.corcoran.org, (202) 639-1700.

December 10

December 12

5

PICTURING THE BANJO

HOYA MADNESS

Don’t miss this Tony Award winning Broadway show as it makes its Washington debut. www.kennedy-center.org, (202) 467-4600.

Watch the Georgetown men’s basketball team’s most anticipated game as they take on Duke at the MCI center. www.guhoyas.com, (202) 784-4979.

January 14

January 21

“WICKED” AT THE KENNEDY CENTER

9

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