Washington Life Magazine - June 2006

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EMBASSY ROW

ron silver & bo derek

castellanetas

al-sabahs’

Media CapitAl

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Heats Up JUne 2006

Wa s h i n g to n ’s P r e m i e r

Maureen Orth Don’t call her a celebrity journalist

roland flamini weighs in on slim

xury Lifest yle Maga zine Since 19 91

white house correspondentS’ weekend

The Dinner, The Parties, The Glamour With Blitzer matthews, mccaslin, Carlson, henry

sopranos Princess margaret’s

Diamonds Dickerson, Gutierrez, Meek and Tuohey

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COVER sto ry Exclu s ive

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9th Annual Mosaic Foundation gala

Kathleen matthews interviews h.m.

queen rania al-abdullah of jordan

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Features

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63rd White House Correspondents’ association Dinner Weekend: Blitzer, Matthews, Carlson, Henry and McCaslin

EVENT SPOTLIGHT: Silverdocs AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival with Scorsese, Jarmusch and Gore . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Pollywood

One-On-One with Author George Stevens, Jr. . . . . . . . 50

Performing arts with Roland Flamini . . . . . . 54 VITAL VOICES Clinton, Hutchison, Amanpour, von

Furstenberg, Koppell, Ling and Ormond:Women Empowering Women with contributions from Malek and Dobriansky . . . 66

FATHER’S DAY Dickerson, Gutierrez, Meeks and Tuohey discuss their famous fathers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 FASHION A Garden of Choices . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Embassy Row At Villa Firenze with Italy’s Giovanni and Lila Castellaneta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Columns ART aT auction Princess Margaret’s Jewels and more . 52 Dine & Dish with Maureen Orth . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Around Town by Donna Shor . . . . . . . . . 94 OVER THE MOON by Vicky Moon . . . . . . . . . 131 This town by Michael Strange . . . . . . . . . . 138

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Departments Editor’s letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 FYIDC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Ten To Do with Michael Wharton . . . . . . . . . . . 28 TREND REPORT Garden Greens with Michelle du Pont 92 Hotel Watch Las Alamandas with K. Chaffee . . . . 110

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§ snaps From top: Mosaic Foundation Gala Chair Luma Kawar, H.M. Queen Rania, First Lady Laura Bush and Mosaic Foundation Chairman Nermin Fahmy (photo: Gary Landsman); Ashley Taylor, wearing BCBG Max Azria dress ($260), BLOOMINGDALE’S; Indian antique silver pendant ($660), Tibet silver bangles ($295 and $175), all BOBBIE MEDLIN (photo: Roy Cox) ; the Bloom Bag by Gucci ($1,595); Tony Snow and Bush impersonator, Steve Bridges (photo: Neshan H. Naltchayan).

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Real estate & Home Design Historical Landscapes It’s a Wardman . . . 100 Resort roundtable Mark Gregg, John Letham and Donn Davis discuss luxury and vacation homes . . . . . . . 112 Re News A record setting month . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Open House Dream properties . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Design Joseph Ireland twists traditional into today . . . . 126

WL Sponsored Events Corcoran Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Smithsonian young benefactors spring soirÉe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

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Hermes Opening at Mazza Gallerie . . . 44

life of the Party Kuwaitis salute new Saudi Ambassador . . . . . . . . . . 36 Kennedy Center Spring Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Austrian Ambassador’s Dinner for Henry von Eichel and Monica Apponyi . . . . . . . . . 40 On the Shore: Brillembourg’s Birthday Bash . . . . . . . . 42 Chevy Chase Collection Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 The Week Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Aspen Institute Bi-partisan Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Cecchi and Bolton’s Friendraiser for Elsie Whitlow Stokes . . 97 Elizabeth “Sissy”Yates Jewelry Show . . . . . . . . . . . 98

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Reception for Peruvian Tenor Juan Diego Florez . . . . . . 99 Hunt Country:Virginia Gold Cup Races . . . . . . . . 134

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§ snaps From top: A vacation property available through Exclusive Resorts (See Resort Roundtable); Father’s Day: Kendrick Meeks, Jr. and Sr. (Photo: Jonah Koch); Italian Amb. Giovanni Castellaneta and his wife Lila at Villa Firenze (Photo: Gary Landsman); an intense yellow, VS1 diamond pendant necklace by Harry Winston sold at Christie’s; Las Alamandas resort in Mexico.

Live Beautifully.

T O G O : a c l a ss i c. D e s i g n : M i ch el D u ca r oy, 1 9 7 3 Li g n e Ro s et D C (2 0 2 ) 3 3 3 -6 3 9 0 33 0 6 m s t r e et n w wa s h i n g to n d c 2 0 0 0 7 www. l i g n er o s etd c. co m sa l es @ l i g n er os etd c. co m

速

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Page 1

Wa s h i n gto n ’s P r e m i e r e Luxu ry L i f e st y l e M aga z i n e S i n c e 1 9 9 1

Editor in Chief

Nancy Reynolds Bagley Managing Editor

Michael M. Clements editorial Director

Katie Tarbox

Copy Editor

Claudia Krieger Fashion Editor

Barbara McConaghy style editor

Alison Lukes Editorial Assistant

Clay Gaynor columnists

Deborah Gore Dean, Janet Donovan, Renee Drake, Donna Evers, Carol Joynt,Vicky Moon Mary Mewborn, Donna Shor and Michael Wharton Contributing Writers & Editors

Jody Arlington, Mark Bisnow,Wolf Blitzer, Margaret Carlson, Kevin Chaffee, John Dickerson, Deborah K. Dietsch, Paula Dobriansky, Michelle Dupont, Roland Flamini, Ed Henry, Carlos Gutierrez, Jr., Gary Landsman, Marlene Malek, Chris Matthews, Kathleen Matthews, John McCaslin, Sean Touhey and Christina Wilkie

creative consultant

J.C. Suarés

production Artist

Susan M. Dickey Graphic Artists

Addia Cooper-Henry, Elizabeth Demers and Barton Kelecava Contributing Photographers

Roy Cox, Zaid Hamid, Immanuel Jayachandran, Jonah Koch, Gary Landsman Neshan Naltchayan,Vickey Pombo, Kyle Samperton, Paul Simkin Rachel Smith, Douglas Sonders and Jamie Windon Account Executives

Kelly Ginter, Alexandra Misci, Audrey Weppler Advertising Trafficking Manager

Elizabeth Kelley

Assistant to the CEO

Addia Cooper-Henry

office manager and Account ASSISTANT

Wesley Crisostomo

Marketing & Circulation Associate

Charlotte Grassi Controller

Stephanie Matthews web technologies development

Ernesto Gluecksmann, Infamia, Inc. interns

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Chief Executive Officer

Soroush Richard Shehabi

Chairman, Executive Board

Gerry Byrne

Washington Life magazine: Celebrating Washington’s Social Scene and Power Elite, publishes ten times a year. Issues are distributed in February, March, April, May, June, July/August, September, October, November and December and are hand-delivered on a rotating basis to over 150,000 homes througheach ofout 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 $35.99 (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 ©2006 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

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Editor’s Letter

Mosaics of Choice

T

his issue we cover a special mosaic – one crafted by the Mosaic Foundation’s Ninth Annual Benefit Gala for Sesame Mosaic, “Education: A Two Way Street,” of which WL was privileged to be the exclusive media sponsor. When we sat down with the foundation’s Chairman Nermin A. Fahmy and Gala Chair Luma Kawar, we decided to highlight the work that they and the other Arab Ambassadors’ wives are doing to support cultural understanding between east and west with a photographic mosaic containing each of them and their hopes for the future.

All hail the Queen Queen Rania of Jordan was the guest of honor at the Mosaic Foundation Gala. In an exclusive interview for WL, ABC-7 News Anchor Kathleen Matthews captures the young Queen candidly discussing the push and pull of modernity and tradition in the Arab world, the evolving role of women in the region, and her love of films and vegging out at home watching 24 and Desperate Housewives.

your insider’s tour of “Villa Firenze” on page 102. For more beauty, turn to Art at Auction and see a number of diamonds, which Sotheby’s and Christie’s are auctioning, including ones from Princess Margaret.

His and Hers For Father’s Day, contributors John Dickerson, Sean Tuohey, Carlos M. Gutierrez and Kendrick Meek, Jr. (at eight years old, our youngest contributor ever!) share what’s special about their dads. But we didn’t leave the women out – turn to page 66 to read about Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Kay Bailey Hutchison, Christina Amanpour, Diane von Furstenberg, Andrea Koppel, Lisa Ling and Julia Ormond at the 2006 Vital Voices Gala Leadership Awards.

Garden Parties, Beaches and Luxury Living Our fashion feature and trend report will put you in a garden state of mind this month, but if beaches are more your speed, check out Kevin Chaffee’s hotel watch on Mexico’s ultra-luxe Las Alamandas resort.

Luxury is the key word for the Resort Roundtable where Mark Greg, John Letham and Donn Davis give you details on how to invest in a home where personal wellness is key (the new Canyon Ranch Living Bethesda), a home aboard a floating paradise (the ship Orphalese) or access to some of the most luxurious vacation homes in the world through Exclusive Resorts, part of the Revolution family of companies founded by Steve Case.

White Wedding Starting with the Fox News reception at Cafe Milano on Thursday, to the WL / Creative Coalition lunch on Friday at Teatro Goldoni, to Tammy Haddad’s annual pre-dinner Saturday brunch, through the pre-dinner receptions, to With Morgan Fairchild at Tammy House the Bloomberg after-party, to John and Cristina Haddad’s brunch during the Whitekend Correspondents’ Association wee McLaughlin’s annual post dinner Sunday Brunch, The 63rd annual White House Correspondents’ Events, Balls and Galas Association Dinner weekend felt like an extended The social season really heated up this spring…. wedding weekend … which is fitting since this is the one weekend a year Besides the WL-sponsored Corcoran Art Ball and Smithsonian Young (publicly at least) that the White House and media, ehm, spend the night Benefactors Spring Soirée, you can see the area’s hottest exclusive events together. Read what media players Chris Matthews, Ed Henry, Margaret inside. And don’t forget to mark your calendar for the following WLCarlson, John McCaslin and Wolf Blitzer have to say about it in our special sponsored fetes:The Washington National Opera’s annual ball on June 9th, Media Spotlight feature.

The SILVERDOCS documentary film festival from June 13th-18th, (with special guests Martin Scorsese and former Vice President Al Gore), the Bella Casa Tiny Jewel Box’s Antique and Pearl Show on June 16th and 17th and the Embassy Row focuses on Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta and his Washington Humane Society’s Bark Ball on June 17th. beautiful and talented wife Lila (who knew she was such a great painter?).

A warm thank you to both for opening up their beautiful home to us. Start

18

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2006

| washingtonlife.com

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contributors

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Jody ArlingtoN managed

public relations for the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and has returned in the same post for SILVERDOCS. Arlington has written for Spin Magazine, The Washington Post, Essence, Guidepost, Lookout and the Georgetown Journal.

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Wolf Blitzer is the anchor of CNN’s “The Situation Room.” He is also the host of “Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer.”

Before he became the anchor of “Wolf Blitzer Reports,” Mr. Blizter co-anchored “The World Today.”

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3

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Margaret Carlson is a

columnist at Bloomberg News and editor-atlarge for The Week magazine. She is also the author of Anyone Can Grow Up: How George Bush and I Made it to the White House. She has one daughter and lives in Washington, D.C.

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Kevin Chaffee is the assistant

features editor and society editor of The Washington Times.

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Roy Cox a native of Baltimore,

Roy Cox began his career as a fashion and advertising photographer. Having no formal training in the medium, Cox turned a weekend hobby of photographing friends and local scenes into a full time passion.

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John Dickerson is Slate

magazine’s Chief Political Correspondent.

Before joining Slate, he covered politics for twelve years for Time where he was the magazine’s White House correspondent.

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Deborah K. Dietsch

writes about architecture, art and design.

Trained as an architect, she also serves on the Urban Design and Architecture Review Panel for the city of Baltimore.

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Paula Dobriansky is the Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs. She is responsible for a broad range of foreign policy issues, including democracy, human rights, labor,

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refugee and humanitarian relief matters, and environmental/science issues.

9

Renee Drake has had a

diverse career in the arts. While living in Washington, D.C., she was a curator for the U.S. Department of State’s Art in Embassies Program. She moved to become the managing editor of Sotheby’s Preview magazine and Art at Auction. After eight years, she left Sotheby’s to make the documentary film “The Way Back.”

10

Michelle DuPont a jewelry designer whose exquisite designs can be found at Saks Fifth Avenue and other luxury purveyor of fine merchandise. To see more of Michelle’s “vibrant, rich, chunky and happy jewelry” visit www.michelledupont.com 11

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 for Washington Life.

12

Donna Evers has more than 30 years experience in residential real estate in the Washington Metro marketplace. She is a broker and the president of Evers & Co. Real Estate, the area’s largest independent woman-owned and managed residential brokerage firm.

Corrections May 06, pg. 30: Jukka Valtasaari was incorrectly identified as the Ambassador of Finland, his duty ended in December 05. May 06, pg. 46: Lauren Griswold was incorrectly identified as Eileen Goulding, Brenden Sullivan was incorrectly identified as Brenden Sullivan, and Jennifer Cheadle was incorrectly identified as Jennifer Cheade.

May 06, pg 48: Laurell Colless was incorrectly identified as Laurel Coless.

Washington Life regrets these errors.

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www.pampillonia.com

Melania Trump wearing the Diamond Opera Necklace

contributors

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Roland Flamini writer and

journalist Roland Flamini spent almost three decades at Time magazine, mostly as a foreign correspondent. He has been an opera enthusiast since his teens, and bears the scars for it: Soprano Renata Scotto once chased him across the San Francisco Opera stage brandishing an umbrella.

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Ed Henry is CNN’s White House correspondent, and previously covered Capitol Hill for that network. Henry joined CNN in April 2004 after having been a columnist and senior editor of Roll Call for eight years

an award-winning producer, reporter and news anchor who has covered news in Washington, D.C., for 25 years.

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broadcast news anchor, award-winning correspondent for United Press International, and member of the White House press corps during the Reagan administration, is the author of the popular “Inside the Beltway” column for The Washington Times and Chicago Tribune Syndicate.

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Carlos Gutierrez, Jr is a

graduate student at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business and holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. He has served as a Legislative Aide to the U.S. House of Representatives Policy Committee and to Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart.

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Carol Joynt, a former producer for Larry King, Charlie Rose and Chris Matthews, is the owner of the popular Georgetown restaurant, Nathans. After 9/11, she began hosting monthly neighborhood power lunches called Q & A Cafe.

When she’s not at Nathans, Joynt focuses her time on her number one priority; her son, Spencer.

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Gary Landsman has been a

photographer for over 20 years. His extensive experience includes shooting still life subjects from food to full-scale interior architecture.

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Marlene Malek is president of Friends of Cancer Research in Washington, DC, a non-profit organization that raises awareness and provides public education about cancer. In 2002, President Bush appointed Malek to the board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

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Kathleen Matthews is coanchor of ABC-7’s News at 5 p.m. and co-host of Capital Sunday, a weekly half-hour show about current events in the Nation’s capital. A native of the San Francisco Bay area, Ms. Matthews is

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John McCaslin, a former

Barbara McConaghy,

fashion editor for Washington Life, is a nationally recognized stylist, show producer and editor. Her work has appeared in Elle and Detour magazines, and locally in the Washingtonian, Baltimore Magazine, DC Style, and for special sections of the Washington Post. She has produced tours for YM and Seventeen magazines, and has dressed Lauren Hutton, Brandy and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

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Sean Tuohey is the founder and

director of Playing for Peace, a Washington, D.C., based international organization that uses the game of basketball to unite and educate children and their communities in Northern Ireland, South Africa, and the Middle East.

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Michael Wharton left the

Center for Scientific Review at the National Institutes of Health to become an editor at America Online CityGuide where he covers Washington and Baltimore nightlife.The former editor-in-chief of UC Berkeley’s Daily Californian, he has successfully climbed Monday Morning Leap in Yosemite National Park. He can be heard Friday mornings at 9:10 a.m. on WTOP radio.

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Christina WilkiE moved to Washington in July of 2001 after graduating from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, with a degree in philosophy. Currently working for the Aspen Institute, she is based out of the Institute’s Washington D.C., headquarters, and spends much of the summer in Aspen. Wilkie was raised in Europe and the Northeast, and is an avid musician and songwriter.

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c a l e n d a r

Visit Washingtonlife.com’s online calendar to view hundreds of galas and events, or post your own event, which will then be considered for our print edition and our annual Balls and Galas Directory.

June

01

The Washington Ballet’s Beatles Ball

A dance-filled evening celebrating the company’s new Bach/Beatles Project. Proceeds benefit The Washington Ballet, sponsored The Washington School of Ballet and the new satellite campus at THEARC in Southeast; 7:30 p.m., cocktails; 8 p.m., dinner;The Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium; tickets start at $500;

WL

black-tie; contact hschroeder@ washingtonballet.org or (202) 362-3606 x 125.

03

Corcoran Gallery of Art’s 1869 Society Gala The black-tie

party for young professionals, age sponsored 25 to 42, supports the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the

WL

Corcoran College of Art and Design cultural programs; 8 p.m., dinner; Corcoran Gallery of Art; tickets start $90; black-tie; contact 1869@ corcoran.org or (202)639-1753.

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The Washington National Opera

Ball “A Venetian Opera Ball at

Villa Firenze,” includes intimate pre-ball dinners hosted by 30 ambassadors at sponsored their residences followed by dancing and dessert at Villa Firenze in a tent evoking Venice at twilight; 7:30 p.m., dinner; 10

WL

p.m., dancing at residence of the Italian ambassador; tickets start $500; black-tie; contact Scott Guzeiklek (202)295-2437.

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The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Man & Woman of the Year

Reception, silent and live auctions, dinner, candidate recognition and awards and dancing. Honorary Chairwoman: Laura Evans of Fox5; 6:30-11:30 p.m.; The Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium 1301 Constitution Avenue, N.W.; $250 per person, $2,500 per table, Sponsorship starting at $5,000; black-tie optional; contact www.lls.org/ncamanandwoman or (703) 960-1100 ext. 215.

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Silverdocs

AFI/Discovery Channel’s Documentary Festival with Martin Scorsese and Al Gore.

Six nights of world-class documentary screenings, sponsored symposiums and parties honoring leading filmmakers; Passes

WL

start at $125; Silver Spring, Md.,; www. silverdocs.com or (301)495-6759.

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Tiny Jewel Box’s Antique and Pearl Show Rare and one-of-a-kind

antiques collected from Europe and the United States featued at the Tiny Jewewl Box for two days.The show includes pearl pieces in a rainbow of colors and sizes; 1147 Connecticut Ave., N.W.; (202) 393-2747.

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The Washington Humane Society’s Bark Ball The 19th annual

Bark Ball black-tie event features 300 decked-out dogs and their owners. Proceeds benefit the Washington sponsored Humane Society, the oldest animal protection agency in Washington; 7 p.m.; The

WL

Renaissance Hotel; $225; black tie; contact www.washhumane.org or (202)332-3556.

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underserved communities; 6 p.m. cocktail reception, 7:30 p.m. fashion show; $125; (703) 286-0758.

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The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s RAMMY Awards gala, “Restaurants Rock,” features entertainment, media and restaurant industry personalities. Partial proceeds will help restaurant workers displaced by Hurricane Katrina through The Restaurant Employee Relief Fund; 6 p.m.; Mariott Wardman Park Hotel; $200 RAMW members and $250 nonRAMW members; black-tie/rock star glam; contact (202) 331-5990 or visit www.ramw.org for more information.

Save the Date:

Nordstrom’s Designer Preivew

Nordstrom showcases the best from American and European designer collections at a cocktail reception and runway show.

Proceeds benefit Charity Works, an organization helping non-profits transform lives in

RAMMY Restaurant Awards Gala

Washington Nationals Diamond Gala – July 24

Left to right– Grace Bender kicking up her heels at the 2005 Opera Ball; Graham Wisner and Willee Lewis dancing at the 2005 Opera Ball

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santo pecado opening winter 2007 at clarendon

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georgetown

f .y. i . d.c .

Checking in style The Washington Plaza Hotel is getting

Coming soon … Hill TV Are legislative aides sexy enough for primetime? We’ll find out in August when the Sundance Channel airs “The Hill,” an original documentary series detailing the innerworkings and professional lives of Rep. Robert Wexler (D.-Fla.) and his staff. Hmm... we wonder who will be the next Rob Lowe. Premieres Wednesday, August 23 at 9 p.m.

an upgrade thanks to the designers at ForrestPerkins, whose touch can also been seen at the remodeled Watergate. According to the firm, the corridors and 300 plus guestrooms will be inspired by the original Moris Lapidus design and are slated for completion in 2009. www.forestperkins.com

Dream On Nancy Novick explores how the nature of shapes and lines define space in her latest exhibition, “As you Dream It,” at the Touchstone Gallery from June 7 – July 9. Opening reception Friday, June 9 6:00-8:30 p.m., located at 406 7th Street, N.W. Visit www.Touchstonegallery.com for more information.

Gas Pump Blues?

Savvy summer travelers should check out TravelPost.com. The website offers hotel ratings and travel advisory services in addition to tips on finding the lowest gas prices in your area; hotels that offer deals to those arriving by car; and driving tips to increase mileage ... or you could just take the train.

Indian Will

Fashionable Summer

The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s 2005-2006 season finale, “Love’s Labor’s Lost” has all the twists one would expect from the bard … and then some. The play is inspired by the characters parodied by Shakespeare as well as celebrities of the 1960s. The creative piece de resistance is director Michael Kahn’s 1960’s India setting. Tickets from $14.25 to $71.25; (202) 547-1122 or www.shakespearetheatre.org

If your kids want to learn the ins-and-outs of hair and makeup; fitness and yoga; nutrition; and modeling for photography and runway you may want to send them to “Fashion Camp U.S.A.” Run by director Barbara McConaghy, the camp has space left for a 2-week long day program for girls ages 12-16 at Worldgate Sport & Health (July 10-14) and Rio Sport & Heath (August 14-18). Contact McConaghy at mcproductions@cs.com or Shelly Nasworthy at snasworthy@shorp.com or call (703) 556-6556, ext. 291.

Left, top to bottom– Courtesy of Sundance Channel / Amir Arison in the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production of “Love’s Labor’s Lost,” directed by Michael Kahn. Photo by Carol Rosegg.

Right, top to bottom– A renovated bedroom at the Washington Plaza Hotel / A renovated corridor at the Washington Plaza Hotel

26

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Snap Judgment Local sports snappers Mitchell Layton (team photog for the Wizards, Capitals, Nationals, Mystics and Georgetownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basketball) and Jeffrey Snyder have teamed up to offer Washington Photo Workshops â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a course offering classroom instruction with the opportunity to photograph a Wizards, Nats and Caps games, as well as other sports events. www.washingtonphotoworkshops.com; (301) 765-1145.

Reptilian Colors Lacosteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new store at the Chevy Chase Collection on Wisconsin Avenue, is the brain

child of Paris-based architect Partick Rubin, interior designer Christophe Pillet, and Lacoste creative director Christophe Lemaire â&#x20AC;Ś oh, and did we mention itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great place to stock-up on colorful spring/summer fashion as well?

Top to bottomâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; Students shooting courtside at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Georgetown-Duke game / Lacoste Store

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t e n

t o

d o

By MIchael wharton

“Be Elvis-ized” Respect Delight in crafts,

food and acceptance at the Capital Pride Festival. www.capitalpride.org (202) 797-3510. June 2 - 11

Enjoy the one-two punch of Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint. www.wolf-trap.org (202) 255-1880. June 15

Lip Service Loosen “the kisser”

Tee Off Cheer on Earth’s best

Barre None Rediscover the Royal Ballet’s

with a relaxing jaw massage from the Be You Bi Yu Spa. www.beyouspa.com (301) 493-4911

golfers at the Booz/Allen Classic. www.kennedy-center.org/calendar (301) 469-3737. June 19-25

classical style in their version of Sleeping Beauty. www.warnertheatre.com (202) 467-4600. June 20-25

Quaff Quietly Imbibe

ambrosial wine and savory dishes at the Washington Wine and Food Fest. www.wine-expos.com/dc (800) 343-1174. June 24-25

Sauce Generously Grab ribs at the

National Capital Barbecue Battle. See who’s ‘cue comes correct. www.bbq-usa.com (202) 828-3099. June 24-25

Thai One On

Get Dolled-up Become enchanted

by the spectacle of Barbie Live! In Fairytopia. www.warnertheatre.com (202) 783-4000. June 21-25

20

Enlighten your taste buds at Simply Home, a minimalist Thai retaurant on U Street. www.simplyhomedc.com (202) 232-8424.

Celebrate Folk Sample great food and

musical tradition at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. www.folklife.si.edu/festival (202) 6331000. June 30-July 4

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o f t h e pa r t y

WL sponsored

The Corcoran Ball April 21st • The Corcoran Gallery of Art Photos by vicki pombo and kyle samperton

The Event: The Corcoran Gallery of Art’s annual black-tie ball organized by the Women’s Committee helmed by Laurie Coughlin and ball chair Cleo Gerwirz. The Scene: Classical violin music with Piper Heidsieck for the cocktail hour, followed by a sit-down dinner for almost 1,000 and then dancing until 2 a.m. No surprise to see Septime Webre lifting and twirling ladies around the famed Atrium. Over $750,000 was raised to provide scholarships to the Corcoran School of Design and support for the Corcoran’s many educational programs and exhibitions. The Guests: Jim Kimsey, French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte, Jaime and Pamela Aparicio, Cleo and Michael Gewirz, Susan and Michael Harreld and Madzy and Albert Beveridge.

Marsha Ralls in Carolina Herrera

Marco Aquilar and Rynthia Rost

Dr. William Haseltine, Nini Ferguson in Hermes and Bill Nitze 30

Kristen Pollin in Nitelien Sandy Lee and Michael Maccoby

Susan (in St. John’s) and Michael Harreld

Mayor Anthony Williams and Lolo Sarnoff

Margaret and Marvin Bush

Michelle Haney Maddux, Sassy Jacobs and Katelin Dial

Giselle Theberge and John Jeppson

Nina Boggs, Maira Addison and Pamela Aparicio

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Max Angerholzer and Michael Fam

Joseph Stettinius, Jonathan Gewirz and Regina Stettinius

Laurie Coughlin and Paul Greenhalgh

Christina DePaul and Septime Webre

Colorful gowns were de rigueur for the evening

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Pamela and Malcolm Peabody

Corinne Bensahel in Dominque Sirop with Eric and Pascaline Steiner

Cleo Gewirz in Carolina Herrera Mae Haney Grennan in Mendel 31

o f t h e pa r t y

John Weiler

Sarah Steinberg and Diana Reynolds

Janet Lindgren in Oscar de la Renta

Emily Taylor and Dominique Burzacchi

Sally Chapoton in Scaasi

Brady Arundel in Hermes

Sarah and Michael Gewirz

Nina and Philip W. Pillsbury, Jr.

Mai Abdo in vintage Richard Tyler

French Amb. Jean-David Levitte, Marie-Cecille Levitte and Mary Grace Crosby

Maria Helena and Larry Fisher

Gioia Brophy and Izette Folger

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Jeanne Reusche

Sharon Bradley in Vera Wang

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Clarendon Boulevard between Courthouse and Rosslyn

THE WOOSTER AND MERCER LOFTS • Two REAL LOFT buildings featuring dramatic living spaces.

• Open flats with 10’ ceilings and Mezzanine lofts with 18’ ceilings.

• Penthouses with 21’ tall living spaces and private roof terraces.

• Hard Hat Tours start June 2006.

• Like nothing else in Arlington... and minutes to Georgetown.

abdo.com

o f t h e pa r t y

WL sponsored

Smithsonian Young Benefactors Spring Soirée April 29th • The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Photos by jonah koch

The Event: A spring celebration with the Young Benefactors of the Smithsonian featured a private viewing of Hokusai, the blockbuster exhibition of works by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849). The Scene: Guests were greeted by a variety of sake cocktails, a spread of delectable sushi, Japanese-inspired gourmet delicacies and the beautiful sounds of Japanese singer Chisato.

Then came the private after-party on the second floor of Club MCCXXXIII, where revelry continued until 3 a.m. The Guests: Barbara Tuceling, Jim Ulak, Carolina Furukrona, Amy Cada-Anda, Brooke Horiuchi and Diane Mego, Ann Yonemura and Mark Brzezinski.

Susanna D’Arcy and Matt Brooks Freer and Sackler Gallery

Rachel Spurrier

Deborah Reid and Cuong Vu

Laura Decklman and Liz Dooghan

Carolina Furukrona and Mark Brzezinski

Chisato Morohashi

34

Audra Rooney

Steve Gerber

Terrence Bradford Tarver and Johnica Garrett

Dana Chasin and Dana-joi Morgan

Michael Dolan and Monika Schneider

Ana Yonemura, Jim Ulak and Barbara Tuceling

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o f t h e pa r t y

Kuwait SAlutes New Saudi ambassador May 10th • Embassy of Kuwait Photos by Lynn Keith and Vicky Pombo

The Event: Once again, Kuwaiti Ambassador Salem Al-Sabah and his wife Rima put together the type of A-List event that makes for a memorable evening.

The occasion for the over-the-top dinner was to welcome to Washington the new Saudi Ambassador Prince Turki Al-Faisal and his wife, Princess Nouf bint Fahad. The Scene: The embassy was filled with the finest flowers (including gardenias floating in the fountain) and major out-of-town guests, including Barbara Walters, Leonard and Evelyn Lauder, Ron Silver and Georgette Mosbacher.

The Prince talked about rubbing elbows with former president Bill Clinton while both were students at Georgetown University, class of 1968. All this before a traditional sword dance kept the guests…um, on the edge of their seats. The Guests: Cabinet Secretaries Carlos Gutierrez, Michael Chertoff, Alphonso Jackson, Mike Johanns, Norman Mineta and Jim Nicholson; World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, Former Sec. Colin Powell, Justice Stephen Breyer and Rep. John Dingell.

Kathy and Al Hubbard Colombian Amb. Andres Pastrana, Bo Derek and Kuwaiti Amb. Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah

Jim Hoagland

Saudi Amb. Prince Turki Al-Faisal and Secretary Norman Mineta

Dorothy and Terry McAuliffe, and Kathleen Matthews

Sec. Michael Chertoff, Meryl Chertoff, Justice Stephen Breyer and Gen. Colin Powell

Ron Silver, Norah O’Donnell and Geoff Tracy

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John Danilovich and Rodrigo de Rato

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Leo Daly and Evelyn Lauder

Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and Leonard Lauder

Rima Al-Sabah and Barbara Walters

George and Ali Stephanopoulos and Secretary Alphonso Jackson

Barbara Harrison

Admiral Edmund Giambastiani and Sheila Casey

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Mary Ourisman, Nada Kirdar and Georgette Mosbacher

Secretary Jim Nicholson, Suzanne Nicholson and Mandy Ourisman 37

o f t h e pa r t y

Kennedy Center Spring Gala May 7th John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Photos by Kyle Samperton

The Event: A spring evening with National Symphony Orchestra Principal Pops Conductor Marvin Hamlisch and the NSO Pops celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the Kennedy Center. Over $2.8 million was raised in support of the Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance, education, and outreach initiatives.

The Scene: The gala kicked off with cocktails on the terrace followed by dinner in the Atrium and an all-star performance in the Concert Hall. There was still time for guests to kick up their heels with the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Til Midnight dance party featuring the swinging rhythms of Big Ray and the Kool Kats.

The Guests: Gala Co-Chairs David and Alice Rubenstein, Wayne and Catherine Reynolds.

Scott Seydel and Pat Mitchell

Alma and Colin Powell and Diana Negroponte Eric Motley

Dick and Betsy DeVoss with James Free

Steven and Christine Schwarzman and David Rubenstein

Nicole Swift, Lynn McGrew, Bea Welters, Leslie Robin and Cindy Clark

Rep. Ed Markey and Susan Blumenthal

Eduard Ibarrola and Daniella Zesati

Andy Card, Rev. Kathleene Card with Marcia and HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson

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Tom and Melinda Wheeler

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Barbara Harrison

Meryl Chertoff, with Joan Specter and Sen. Arlen Specter

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o f t h e pa r t y

Dinner for Henry von Eichel and Monika Apponyi May 10th Residence of the Ambassador of Austria Photos by Jamie Windon

The Event: Austrian Ambassador Eva Nowotny and her husband, Professor Thomas Nowotny, hosted a “surprise” dinner to celebrate the wedding of Henry von Eichel, CEO of hops producer John I. Haas, Inc., and Monika Apponyi, an interior designer. The Scene: While guests enjoyed flounder and veal prepared by the embassy’s chef, Ambassador Nowotny gave a congratulatory speech about the happy couple, who responded in kind. The Guests: Gertrude d’Amecourt, Ina Ginsberg, Anthony and Isabel Lanier, Ann Crittenden, Martin Morad, Jaime and Pamela Aparicio, Veronique Bardach and Andrew and Leslie Cockburn.

Alex Barth and Petra Barth

Isabel Lanier and Mary Barth

Joel McCleary, Rosa Puech and Peter Schechter

Austrian Ambassador Eva Nowotny

Monika Apponyi and Henry von Eichel

Ann Crittenden, Veronique Bardach and Christoph Meran

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Jaime Aparicio and Martin Morad

Anthony Lanier and Morag Van Praag

Gertrude d’Amecourt

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Bessemer Trust is honored to be the recipient of Private Banker International’s 2005 Award for

outstanding multi-family office for the wealthy “Bessemer Trust remains a defining multi-family office — a structure that undoubtedly will make an increasingly significant impact on wealth markets around the world as dynastic families seek solutions for their highly complex needs.”

— Private Banker International*

Please call to learn more about our perspective on wealth management for families with $10 million or more to invest.

Lawrence P. Fisher, II Atlanta

•

Cayman Islands Palm Beach

• •

•

202-659-3300

•

fisher@bessemer.com

Chicago • Dallas • London • Los Angeles • Miami • Naples San Francisco • Washington, DC • Wilmington • Woodbridge

•

New York

*Reporting Private Banker International’s Wealth Management Awards 2005. Private Banker International’s independent Advisory Board selected Bessemer Trust as the best multi-family office from among reader-nominated financial services providers.

o f t h e pa r t y

Marc Leland & Arturo Brillembourg’s Birthday April 22nd • Halcyon, Brillembourg Residence, Easton, MD Photos by kyle samperton

The Event: A birthday celebration for Arturo Brillembourg and Marc Leland at the former’s Eastern Shore residence, Halcyon, brought forth many from the diplomatic community (Moroccan, Jordanian and Colombian ambassadors). The Scene: Though thunderstorms restricted guests to the Brillembourg’s beautiful home and grand porches, the weather was quickly overlooked by the excitment generated by a Cuban salsa band from New York. Those who tarried were treated to Aturro dancing on the lawn in the rain with his daughter, Calra, followed by his jumping fully clothed into the Bay. The Guests: Bill and Ann Nitze, Isabel and Ricardo Ernst, Samia and Huda Farouki, Jaime and Pamela Aparicio, Chip Ackridge and Justice Stephen Breyer.

Traditional Clambake

Christina Burelli, Katja Janovsky and Mary Ourisman

Leslie Westbrook, Paolo Frigerio, Antoine and Emily van Agtmael

Marc and Jacqueline Leland

Michael Breyer, Arturo Brillembourg, Justice Stephen Breyer and Hilda Brillembourg

Colombian Amb. Andrés Pastrana Joseph Gildenhorn, Chip Akridge and Nina Weir

Dr. William Haseltine

42

Former Pres of Bolivia, Gonzalo de Lozada and Jaime Aparicio

Elizabeth and Jan Lodal

Chilean Amb. Andres Bianchi and wife Liliam Urdinola

Albert and Shirley Small

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Exquisite Diamonds, Exceptional Prices Flawless Service Lucky Roosevelt, George Chopivsky and Albert Small

Morocaan Amb. Aziz Mekouar and wife Maria Felice

George Chopivsky and Clara Brillembourg

A Family Tradition Dani Levinas and Ina Ginsburg

Luis Pons and David Schwartz

Trusted by Washingtonians for over 50 years

Nohra Pastrana and Isabel Ernst

Dale and Billy Lipnik

Chevy Chase, MD

Washington, DC

McLean, VA

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1025 Connecticut Ave., NW

Tysons Galleria

301-657-2144

202-785-4653

703-734-3997

www.booneandsons.com WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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o f t h e pa r t y

WL sponsored

Hermes Opening at Mazza Gallerie April 20th â&#x20AC;˘ Neiman Marcus Photos by Rachel Smith

The Event: Neiman Marcus celebrated the opening of Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first full-line Hermes shop at Mazza Gallerie, designed to reflect the distinct atmosphere of Hermes stores around the world. The Scene: The evening was marked by a reintroduction of the signature Hermes Farandoe scarf. Created by Cathy Lathem, the limited-edition design features a myriad of colorful butterflies, the delicate emblem of Neiman Marcus. The Guests: Colin and Annie Bayly, Marilyn Gleysten, Whajin Hanso, Rhonda Wilkins, Katherin Barbis-Rossi, John and Maria Barbis, Louis Naing, Cindy Kim, Lauren Zucker, Abby Burke, Lynda Webster, Kim Keister, and Dr. Lilly Papaioannou.

Hermes Rep. and Annie Lou and Colin Bayly

Marilyn Gleysten

Katherine Barbis-Rossi with John and Maria Barbis

Kim Keister and Dr. Lilly Papaioannou

Louie Naing and Cindy Kim

Whajin Hanso and Rhonda Wilkins

44

Patricia Cumming and Hermes models

Lynda Webster and Martha Slagle

Brook and Robin Ritz

Hermes Signature Scarves

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o f t h e pa r t y

The Grand Opening of the Collection at Chevy Chase May 4th â&#x20AC;˘ The Collection at Chevy Chase Photos by Paul Simkin

The Event: The Collection at Chevy Chase opened with style and good company. Boasting over 100,000 square feet of high-end luxury retail shopping, The Collection includes CO-OP Barneys, Bulgari, Christian Dior, Cartier, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Max Mara, Ralph Lauren, Advanced-K and Tiffany & Co. The Scene: Petra Nemcova addressed the audience regarding her charity while guests sipped champagne and ogled at live mannequin-models posturing in glass showcases. The Guests: Petra Nemcova, Chevy Chase Land Company President and CEO Edward Hall Asher, Chris and Kathleen Matthews, Paul Wharton, Fariba Jahanbani and Chris Reiter.

Fariba Jahanbani and Carol Margaret Randolf at Cartier

Aba and Erwin Kwawu with Adra Williams

Kim Hellbuyck and H.R.H. Prince Idris Abdallah Al-Senussi

Mary Jo Klein. Diane Ray Brown and Erin Harden

Michael Darby and Iona Garrison

46

Petra Nemcova and Chris Matthews

Yasmine Abdo, Stephanie Tam and Lisa Sun

Rick Rickertsen and Billy Campbell

Stacy Stutts, Paul Wharton and Lynda Erkiletian

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COSMOPOLITAN ABOVE ALL ELSE

Dennis Donato and Rob Kram

Experience loft living at Park Crest, with soaring 11-foot ceilings, walls of glass and spectacular views of the Tyson’s

Nesrin Abaza, Vincent Orange, Paola Domenge and Lauren Taylor

skyline – and beyond.

WORLD-CLASS URBAN LOFT CONDOMINIUM HOMES IN TYSONS-MCLEAN FROM THE $500s.

Mirella Levinas and OlivierMoingeon

Marketing Center Open Daily 11am to 5pm For more information or to arrange a private appointment, please phone 703-388-2810 or visit TheLoftsAtParkCrest.com

Maria Trabochi and Tina Nader

Edward Hall Asher

From VA I-495 headed North OR South, take exit 46A (Rt. 123 South, Tysons Corner). At the first traffic light, turn right onto Tysons Boulevard. At the next traffic light, turn right onto Galleria Drive. Galleria Drive becomes Westpark Drive. Turn right onto Westbranch Drive.

Address: The Lofts at Park Crest Marketing Center 1521 Westbranch Drive.

Marketing by The Mayhood Company

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event spotlight

What’s Up, Doc? SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival Platinum Passholder Exclusives

SILVERDOCS Kick-off Party Monday, June 5, 7 p.m.

Narrated by Ludacris, THE HEART OF THE GAME captures the drama sponsored and exhilaration of a high school girls’ basketball team from Seattle, focusing on their unorthodox coach, Bill Reisler, and one extraordinarily talented player, Darnelia Russell.

WL

opening night Tuesday, June 13, 7 p.m.

Bill Couturié’s Boffo! examines the risky business of filmmaking with candid interviews of industry luminaries such as George Clooney, Charlize Theron, Jodie Foster and Paramount’s Sherry Lansing.

party at ceviche Thursday, June 15, 5-7 p.m.

Join Washington Life and Current TV at Ceviche in Silver Spring for a sponsored reception with special guest Al Gore.

WL

T

he fourth annual SILVERDOCS: American Film Institute/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival, will feature 100 films from 22 countries, special events every night, in-depth discussions with filmmakers, free outdoor screenings and concerts and the International Documentary Conference with keynote speaker Al Gore. JoinWashington Life, the official media magazine sponsor, at the Festival, which runs June 13 – 18 and is set to attract hundreds of filmmakers and film and TV professionals. For Washington area audiences it is the premier place to see the best new documentaries from around the globe in a state-of-the-art exhibition environment – the American Film Institute’s Silver Theatre in downtown Silver Spring.

SILVERDOCS has quickly established a track record for presenting the best new films from around the world. The year 2006 promises even more great viewing with 13 World, 12 North American, six U.S. and four East Coast premieres, and new films from such documentary luminaries as Michael Apted (49 Up), Stanley Nelson (Jonestown: Life and Death of People’s Temple) and Nick Broomfield (My Big White Self). The Festival also includes new work from emerging directors like Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing, who screened Boys of Baraka in 2005 and will return to the Festival this year with Jesus Camp. For more information visit www.silverdocs.com.

Above– An outdoor screening at SILVERDOCS, Stanley Nelson, director of Jonestown: Life and Death of People’s Temple

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2006 Guggenheim symposium Honoring martin scorsee Thursday, June 15, 7:30 p.m.

The Charles Guggenheim Symposium commemorates the legacy of foursponsored time Academy Award-winner and Washingtonarea filmmaker Charles Guggenheim. This year, the Symposium celebrates the legendary MARTIN SCORSESE, o n e of Martin Scorsese America’s most distinguished filmmakers. Platinum pass holders won’t want to miss the after party with Scorsese and Jim Jarmusch at Discovery World headquarters. To buy tickets email Jody Arlington at jarlington@afi.com

WL

49

p o l ly w o o d

enter the Golden Age One-on-one with Hollywood author George Stevens, Jr.

By Jody Arlington

G

eorge Stevens, Jr., is an award-winning writer, director, producer, and founder of the American Film Institute. He has received eleven Emmys, two Peabody Awards and seven Writers Guild of America Awards for his television productions, including the annual Kennedy Center Honors, The Murder of Mary Phagan and Separate but Equal. His production The Thin Red Line was nominated for seven Academy Awards©, including Best Picture. He worked with his father, acclaimed director George Stevens, on his productions of Shane, Giant and The Diary of Anne Frank and in 1962 was named head of the United States Information Agency’s motion picture division

by Edward R. Murrow. Stevens was director of the AFI from 1967 until 1980, before returning to film and television production. He lives in Georgetown. The author sat down to discuss his new book Conversations with the Great Moviemakers of Hollywood’s Golden Age: At the Amrican Film Institute.

WL: What was the genesis of this project?

George Stevens: I had been thinking about this book for many years as a way to tie a ribbon around my years founding the

50

American Film Institute and the Center for Advanced Film Studies.

WL: How did you go about sifting through the material and selecting which lectures to include?

GS: There have, to date, been over a thousand seminars at the AFI Conservatory. I looked through the transcripts of the ones that took place during the years I was running AFI and selected 28 filmmakers who had great careers and who were articulate about the filmmaking process. I knew many of the great directors and had been able to invite them to come and do seminars for the fellows who were studying at AFI. We looked upon it as a tutorial tradition that was new to film. I wanted the ideas of the great directors to be in this book.

WL: You include cinematographers and foreign filmmakers: two categories that often don’t get the attention they deserve.

GS: Many of the finest cinematographers did seminars at AFI and it seemed to me that including them would give the book a rare dimension. And since four of the greatest international filmmakers had come to AFI, it was a rich opportunity to include Federico Fellini, Ingmar Bergman, Jean Renoir and Satyajit Ray. WL: Was it really a Golden Age? GS: It was. When you think that most art forms have evolved over hundreds of years, motion pictures started at the beginning of

the 20th Century and by the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s it was a vibrant art form with a world audience — and the great films of those years are still savored today. The men who made them — and in that era most of the filmmakers were men — will be remembered as the directors of Hollywood’s Golden Age. WL: What followed the Golden Age and where are we now?

GS: During the Golden Age most people went to movies a couple of times a week. The only way to see a film was in a darkened theater with hundreds of other people. Then came television, then VHS, then DVDs. The audience became fragmented and the audiences that the major studios seek to attract today are young people sixteen to twenty-four years of age.

That defines the market for major films and makes it more difficult to get funding for the kinds of films that became classics during the Golden Age. Creative filmmakers still make wonderful films, but it is harder today to build the rich careers that were achieved by the filmmakers who were there during the years when motion pictures were the dominant form of entertainment.

Above, left to right– Alfred Hitchock and his wife, Alma Reville, the Co-writer of Notorious (1946) (AMPAS); Frank Capra with George Stevens at AFI outdoor Seminar (1971) (AFI); George Stevens, Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor on set of A Place In The Sun (1951) (AMPAS)

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WL: When you started this seminar series nearly 40 years ago, did you ever think they would become part of film history?

GS: When we started the AFI conservatory in 1969, I was very caught up in the day-to-day challenges of the work at hand. I was delighted that we could attract these filmmakers to talk with the students, but I never anticipated doing a book thirty years later. With the passage of time, the fact that we recorded these conversations takes on greater meaning, because the filmmakers are gone, but their ideas are still alive and are the heart and soul of this book.

WL: The AFI has continued to have these conversations with subsequent filmmakers, Altman, Scorsese, etc.Will there be a sequel?

GS: Knopf has asked me to do a second book. I’m discussing it with AFI. They control the seminars and if they are willing to proceed, I will do a sequel covering the next generation.

WL: How would you compare the atmospheres of Washington and Hollywood?

GS: I left Hollywood in 1962 to work with Edward R. Murrow who had come to Washington to run the United States Information Agency for President Kennedy.

I loved that opportunity for public service and this led to my founding the American Film Institute. I never got completely back to Hollywood — I started living one of the first bi-coastal lives. I soon discovered striking similarities between the two cities and between the pursuits of politics and movies — largerthan-life ambition, public personalities, and the opportunity for very visible success and failure. Those common characteristics have become accentuated over the years.

WL: Your intro captures an era when the government had enlightened views for adequately funding the arts.

Any chance of a return to that golden age?

GS: In ancient times there was the Age of Pericles, which President Kennedy invoked when he sought support for the arts, which was realized in the National Endowment for the Arts. I think we had our relatively brief Age of Pericles with the Endowment, but I don’t see the support in Congress or the administration for that right now.

These initiatives are, I believe, cyclical.

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WL: You talk in the book about working with your father on Giant, Diary of Anne Frank, others. What is it like working with your son Michael, who is following in the family business?

GS: Two of the rich pleasures in my life have been, first, working creatively with my father, and, second, working with my son. Michael has made his own way but we still find projects to work together on. A creative life is both rewarding and difficult. There’s no safety net, you must live by your own initiative and creativity. But when your efforts succeed it is immensely satisfying, and you can continue to do creative work for as long as you have your wits about you.

WL: You are currently in rehearsals for a play about Justice Thurgood Marshall starring James Earl Jones.

Could you tell me about it?

GS: We had a three-week run at the Westport Country Playhouse in Connecticut to break it in. James Earl had commitments that made him unable to block out 16 consecutive weeks for Broadway this spring so Bill Haber, the producer, arranged this run at Westport — an ideal way to launch the play.Thurgood Marshall was a master of the storyteller’s art. His stories made his fellow Justices confront walks of life we had never known. He was a man of heroic imagination. He spent his life in public service

and made a dramatic difference in the life of his country. It seemed to me that his story might fascinate others as it has fascinated me.

WL: Other projects on the horizon?

GS: I am planning a film based on James Carroll’s memoir of his family, An American Requiem, which won the National Book Award. It’s an extraordinary story of the 1960’s. Jim’s father, General Joseph Carroll was the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency during the Vietnam War, and Jim became a Catholic priest, pleasing his father greatly. The subtitle of Jim’s book is, “God, my father and the war that came between us.” It’s a moving story of a family in conflict over a war and it has resonance today.

WL: Almost all the reviews of this book have singled out your introduction, and the intros to each of the conversations, many with delightful personal anecdotes.

Is there an autobiography that we might anticipate?

GS: I think I will do one, but I’m busy with new projects and continuing projects like the Kennedy Center Honors. It’s hard to look back when you’re moving forward.

Above– George Stevens, Jr. signs a copy of his book Conversations with the Great Moviemakers of the Golden Age at the American Film Institute for Andrea Mitchell and Alan Greenspan; Stevens Jacket

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art at auction

A Date with Diamonds Major jewels sparkle at Sotheby’s and Christie’s

By Renee Harrison Drake

T

hroughout the course of history, collectors, merchants, kings, queens, sultans and maharajas have been dazzled and intrigued by precious gems. The late master jeweler, Harry Winston, known in the trade as the “king of diamonds,” was renowned for his uncanny instinct with rare jewels and gemstones. Legend has it that he often kept a large diamond in his suit pocket, rolling it between his fingers like a good luck charm while doing business with his clients.

Every spring, collectors of fine jewelry look forward to the Magnificent Jewelry sales in New York at both Sotheby’s and Christie‘s auction houses. For the discerning collector, these sales usually include the best of the best, with pieces by such top houses Harry Winston, Graff, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Cartier. Once in a while there might even be a piece by JAR, the master Parisianbased jeweler whose whimsical butterflies, flowers and other organic creations encrusted with precious and semi-precious stones are highly sought after by serious collectors. This past April and May, both auction houses offered an array of enticing jewels, with several important highlights taking the lead on the block.

At Christie’s, the star lot of the April 11th sale was a magnificent pear shaped diamond ring weighing 50.3 carats, flanked by pear shaped diamonds and mounted in platinum.

This rare D color stone, possessing internally flawless clarity, sold for $4,216,000. The second highest-selling lot of the sale was another pear-shaped diamond, unmounted, weighing 50.67 carats that sold for $2,592,000. Although the two lots were close in carat weight, the second diamond was VVS2 clarity that accounted for the difference in price when compared to

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the rare pear-shaped diamond of internally flawless clarity. Many of the top lots in the sale came from the estate of Joan B. Kroc, the widow of Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s. Mrs. Kroc was a true connoisseur of jewelry and her collection included pieces by all of the iconic

jewelry masters. Expected to achieve between $3.9 and $5.7 million, the sale total exceeded expectations when it achieved $6,978,200.

Two of the signature pieces in her collection, a fancy, intense yellow diamond pendant necklace that sold for $2,032,000 and a diamond “Holly

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At Christie’s, the star lot of the April 11th sale was a magnificent pear shaped diamond ring weighing 50.3 carats, flanked by pear shaped diamonds and mounted in platinum. This rare D color diamond, possessing internally flawless clarity, sold for $4,216,000.

Wreath” necklace that sold for $856,000, were both designed by Harry Winston. According to Rahul Kadakia, head of jewelry for Christie’s Americas, “A strong economy, coupled with buyers from emerging markets, drove the prices of this auction to a whole new level.”

At Sotheby’s, the top two lots in its April 25th sale of Magnificent Jewelry were historic diamonds. The spectacular 107.46-carat Rojtman Diamond, cushion-shaped and fancy yellow in color, achieved $1,920,000. Purchased

by Harry Winston in 1957, it was acquired by Marc B. Rojtman and his wife Lillian in the early 1960s. As well as having an interest in collecting jewels,The Rojtmans were also known for their distinguished collection of Old Master paintings, as well as for a family foundation that advances education in the arts. The second highest selling lot at Sotheby’s was the mysterious Golden Maharaja, a rich cinnamon-colored diamond, graded fancy dark orange-brown, weighing

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65.57 carats that sold for $1,382,400 after an intense bidding war between eight collectors.

According to Gary Schuler, director and senior vice president of Sotheby’s Jewelry Department, this coveted stone was exhibited at the 1937 World’s Fair in Paris, and then again at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. Reputedly, the jewel was from the collection of a maharajah, hence the legendary name. In the early 1970’s, the Golden Maharajah found its way to the Museum of Natural History in New York City, where it was exhibited for fifteen years after which it was sold to an undisclosed private collector.The Rojtman Diamond and the Golden Maharajah were both acquired by Graff Diamonds Ltd. For collectors having an interest in jewels with royal provenance, Christie’s London will be holding a sale on June 13th of Jewelry, Fabergé, Silver, Furniture and works of art from the private collection of Her Royal Highness the Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowden.

The collection of jewelry spans the entire life of the late Princess, who was Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister, and includes such highlights as the Poltimore Tiara that the Princess wore at her wedding, as well as the Lady Mount Stephen antique diamond rivière necklace, circa 1900, that was given to her by her grandmother, Queen Mary. Washingtonians need not travel all the way to London to get a glimpse of highlights from the collection. Select highlights will be on view at Christies 20 Rockefeller Plaza rooms in New York City June 3rd through the 7th.

Left page– Princess Margaret on her wedding day wearing the Poltimore Tiara originally created by Garrads in the 1870s for Lady Poltimore, the wife of the second Baron Poltimore.

Right page, left to right– A pear-shaped D, IF diamond of 50.53cts Sold for: $4,216,000 ($83,450 per ct) CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2005 / An intense yellow, VS1 diamond pendant necklace of 42.13cts, by Harry Winston Sold for: $2,032,000 ($48,200 per ct) CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2005

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p e rf o r m i n g a r t s

in opera, Size matters

By Rol and Fl amini

T

here’s good news for gorgeous looking women with great figures and operatic ambitions: they can have a successful career without first acquiring enormous girth and the superstructure of a battleship. As it turns out, slim waists and a fetching, but moderate bust line are not, after all, incompatible with mastering such coveted roles as Mimi in “La Boheme,” and “Carmen.“

Who knew? For centuries, the equation voice equals pounds, spectacular voice equals — well, you get the point — seemed as immovably fixed in opera as dying in the last act or hiding behind trees. Okay, there were always an outstanding handful of exceptions to the stereotype of the outsize prima donna, but that’s just the point: they were exceptions.

“It was the dawn of the age of the thin soprano. Not since the “tenore castrato” trilled his last note had opera experienced such a major change.”

P H O T O s b y K a r i n C oop e r

Then, almost overnight (or so it seemed) the curtain went up on an extraordinary phenomenon — onstage were consumptive Violettas who actually looked as if they could really be wasting away; Toscas whose beauty was really to die for; bewitching Turandots worthy of the sleepless nights of “Nessun’ dorma.” New names, new faces, and — best of all — new bodies. It was the dawn of the age of the thin soprano. Not since Clockwise from top– Soprano Tatiana Pavlovskaya sitting pretty; Marina Domashenko’s knife-edged performance in La Clemenza di Tito; Pavolvskaya practices her stroke — she swims every day; Tenor Paul Groves getting to grips with svelte Elizabeth Futral in L’Elisir d’Amore.

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P H O T O b y K a r i n C oop e r

the “tenore castrato” trilled his last note had opera experienced such a major change.

Soprano Angela Gheorghiu’s dazzling stage presence probably set this trend in motion when she made her international debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in 1992. But the current diva du jour is unquestionably Russia’s Anna Netrebko, heard here at the Washington National Opera gala in March. On that starstudded occasion, her shapely figure, encased in white, created almost as much of a sensation as her exquisitely chiseled coloratura. At the dinner following the performance she said that when not singing she likes to model, and she has appeared in fashion layouts in glossy magazines.

An addicted shopper with a penchant for Christian Dior, Marc Jacobs and Escada, she has both music writers and fashion editors rhapsodizing over her every performance.

After hearing her in “Traviata,” the Spanish writer Mario Vargas Llosa solemnly declared in the Madrid paper El Pais: “For me, the tense, fluttering heroine (Violetta) will from now on have the shape, face and above all the voice of Anna Netrebko. And no one else.”

Let’s be clear: no one is, in any way, dismissing the glorious voices of the past. The Tebaldis and Sutherlands will forever shine brightly in the operatic firmament. But the myth that big voices needed big bodies has been blown out of the water. “Weight has no impact on the voice,” says Elizabeth Futral. “What’s important is how you manage your musculature and your breathing.”

The coloratura soprano whose repertoire includes Cleopatra in Handel’s “Giulio Cesare” and Stella in Andre Previn’s “Streetcar Named Desire,” recently charmed D.C. audiences as Anina in Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore.”

Christina Scheppelmann, the Washington National Opera’s artistic administrator adds, “If a singer is bigger it weighs on the diaphragm and provides a certain support so it’s more comfortable, but really weight has nothing to do with singing. The resonance is in the contours of the head.” The real change is aesthetic, not technical. “Consciousness of the physique has been increasing over the past years.”

We live in a visual age. What Joshua Kosman, music critic of the San Francisco Chronicle calls, “The tyranny of image, glamour, glitz, and good looks” has invaded every aspect of our culture.

It’s hardly surprising, therefore, that many opera

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“The English lexicographer Samuel Johnson once called opera “an exotic and irrational entertainment.” In a medium in which it takes a pair of lovers 20 minutes to bid a hasty farewell, is it rational to expect physical realism?”

lovers would envision Fiordiligi and Dolabella from “Cosi Fan’ Tutte” as the operatic version of “Desperate Housewives.” “We’re all much more weight conscious, and health conscious, and we can’t help noticing what happens in pop culture,” Futral observes.

Singers also has to factor in the demands of a more competitive market Futral points out.

“If there are ten of you auditioning for Mimi, and you all sing equally well — Mimi dies of consumption, they’re going to choose the one that looks most convincing. Impresarios these days look at that: if you want a fighting chance, then you’d better get into shape.”

The famous chef Auguste Escoffier created Peach Melba for the Australian soprano Nellie Melba, who is said to have had a weakness for elaborate desserts. Today’s weight conscious diva would opt for a low calorie, natural yogurt laced with blueberries. Scheppelmann says that visiting sopranos are now booked into hotels with a gym as a matter of course: they don’t even have to ask for it.The result is that French soprano Natalie Dessay can confidently appear onstage in a bikini. Pretty soon the only fat soprano left will be Tony.

But is this good? The English lexicographer Samuel Johnson once called opera “an exotic and irrational entertainment.” In a medium in which it takes a pair of lovers 20 minutes to bid a hasty farewell, is it rational to expect physical realism? Can Salome really be nubile and sixteen, as demanded in the text? In the past opera lovers have accepted the convention that good looks and good voices don’t necessarily coincide in the same package, and therefore most operas exist at least partly in the mind.

The emphasis on physical appearance also has its dark side. Two years ago Covent Garden dropped the outstanding soprano Deborah Voigt from her signature role of Ariadne because of her weight.The singer duly underwent a surgical solution to the problem and in April tackled “Tosca” at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Anthony Tommasini in the NewYork Times praised her performance but added that Voigt “still seems to be adjusting her technique to her new body.

Her voice may have lost some warmth and gained some cool shimmer.” It’s not always good to fool Mother Nature.

Above– Soprano Anna Netrebko proves the fat lady has indeed sung ... for the fat soprano

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dine and dish

Maureen Orth dishes for Q&A Café at Nathans Celebrity journalism, trading monitors for typewriters ... and Michael Jackson

I

n an almost two decade-long career with Vanity Fair, Maureen Orth has written dozens of articles on the powerful, the famous and the notorious. She is the author of Vulgar Favors and The Importance of Being Famous. A graduate of Berkeley, Orth lives in Washingon with her husband, Tim Russert, the Washington bureau chief of NBC News and moderator of Meet the Press, and their son, Luke. She was interviewed by Carol Joynt in Georgetown.

Carol Joynt: When you hear the term “Power Couple” what does it do to your nerve endings?

Maureen Orth: Nothing, because he [Tim Russert] never wants to go out anywhere, so it doesn’t matter.

CJ: Last week we were the center of the tabloid nation with Maury [Povich] and Connie [Chung] here. Have you followed that story?

MO: I get the New York Post every day.

everything you wear, everything you do.

CJ: Do you think it’s a story?

MO: Yes. Connie and Maury have their own show together, where they make a big thing about their marriage. It usually takes two to tango and sometimes three and sometimes four.

CJ: Do you consider yourself a journalist, a profiler or a magazine writer?

MO: I honestly consider myself more of an investigative reporter. Right now, I’m just finishing a very long piece on Conrad Black, who’s under indictment in Chicago. He was at one time the third largest newspaper owner in the world and there’s $400 million dollars missing and he and several others are under indictment for about $83 million.

I’ve done stories about priests, I’ve done stories about soldiers who came back from Afghanistan and murdered their wives.These are stories that are very difficult to do, because you have to go through layers and layers of people..You’re supposed to dig stuff out, you’re supposed to present it in such a way that people remember it, but give them what they haven’t seen before and get back alive.

CJ: You were in the Peace Corps; it doesn’t feel like it

CJ: I wonder if the celebrity journalism genre is as intense as it was five years ago?

MO: I don’t think it was nearly so intense five years ago as it is today. What used to be confined to the National Enquirer and the Star and the Globe has become a really insatiable media beast that needs to be fed. It’s much easier to cover a missing girl in Aruba than to try to cover what’s going on in Iraq. The only thing I see that’s a little bit different is that people are no longer famous for achieving anything significant. One of the things in lieu of talent that gets covered [is] lifestyle;

CJ: Everybody’s a billboard.

MO: Exactly.

has that same draw today.

MO: The idealism is there. In recent years the Peace Corps has become a political appointee thing. Carol Bellamy is the only former Peace Corps volunteer who’s ever headed the agency, and there’ve been over 130,000 people who’ve served. It’s about time we get a former volunteer to run it, instead of these knownothing political appointees.

CJ: Why don’t you do it?

MO: I don’t know. It’s a little late for me. I helped build a school in Colombia, and it’s been one of the thrills of my life. The school is still up and running… in Medellin.

CJ: So you got out of the Peace Corps and stepped into journalism?

MO: No, what happened was I went to graduate school in Latin American studies and it was so unbelievably boring after the reality of the Peace Corps that [in the course catalogue] right next to “L” for Latin America was “J”

“What used to be confined to the National Enquirer and the Star and the Globe has become a really insatiable media beast that needs to be fed. It’s much easier to cover a missing girl in Aruba than to try to cover what’s going on in Iraq.”

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CJ: Do you think his career is over?

MO: Yes, but that’s because he’s a drug addict.

for journalism. And then when I got my Master’s, the girls who were really considered the top ones in the class could become researchers for $100 a week and the boys who were the top ones in the class could become associate producers for $200 a week.

CJ: Of course.

MO: I went to Sacramento and got hired to cover the capital for the local CBS station. The man called me the next day and said, “I’m very sorry to tell you this but my station manager said we could only have one woman per news show and the other woman was a former Miss Texas…”

CJ: …and she had to be a blonde.

MO: Oh, there was no brunette in television [then], except if you were black or Asian.

They asked me if I would try out for weekend weather girl in San Francisco and I thought that would be so insulting after being a Berkeley graduate in political science and a Peace Corps volunteer. So that’s how I decided print might be a better deal for me.

CJ: Along the way you were at were at Newsweek, and you left Newsweek to be Lina Wertmuller’s assistant on “Seven Beauties.”

MO: Right.

CJ: How did that happen?

MO: At Newsweek I had done Francis Coppola for Godfather II, and one day, Francis was in town and he said “Oh I’m going to meet Lina Wertmuller tonight. She’s in town from Italy.” I said, “Can I meet her?” So when I met her — I’m half Italian — we just started talking and getting along very well and she asked me if I would be her assistant, and live in Rome. I got a leave of absence and did that. It turned out to be a very difficult shoot and she turned out to be an absolutely impossible human being, but it was a very interesting experience.

CJ: Genius is allowed to be, right?

MO: That’s right.The monster genius, yes.

CJ: Did you keep in touch with her?

MO: Yes.

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CJ: So this talk right now of him getting a new CD and all that, that’s just posturing?

MO: He’s just incapable of dealing with any kind of a schedule or project.

“I’ve done stories about priests, I’ve done stories about soldiers who came back from Afghanistan and murdered their wives.

These are stories that are very difficult to do, because you have to go through layers and layers of people.”

CJ: Can we talk about Michael Jackson for a moment; your interest in that story, was it ever informed by the fact that you’re the mother of a son?

MO: Oh, absolutely. I remember I was in Nantucket and Graydon Carter said that Michael Jackson was involved in a scandal and they wanted me to come back and do the story. At the time my son was about eight years-old. Thomas Mesereau, Jackson’s attorney, put the mother be on trial instead of Michael Jackson.

CJ: Who raises the children?

MO: This very strong woman, who’s a Muslim and a nanny.

CJ: What does it mean that you discovered Kinky Friedman?

MO: The “Texas Jewboy”? That’s how he bills himself. Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys.

He’s now running for governor of Texas. He was a Peace Corps volunteer in Borneo and he always says that he introduced the Frisbee to Boreno. But he has hit songs such as “Put Your Biscuits in the Oven andYour Buns in the Bed,” and “They Don’t Make Jews like Jesus Anymore.” Anyway, Kinky was brought to me when I was first at Newsweek as sort of an unknown, but of course we had the Peace Corps thing in common, so I gave him a nice little write up. It helped launch him.

CJ: Do you have a Kinky Friedman doll?

MO: No. I have a Tim Russert bobble head.

CJ: Will you tell us where you keep it?

MO: In the box.

CJ: How do you choose your stories?

MO: A lot of times, they’re assigned to me, other times, I’ll choose them. Actually, I’m going to change my contract right now, because I am getting tired of low people in high places.

CJ: But any defense would’ve done that.

MO: I’m just saying it’s much easier to damn the parent than to damn the celebrity.

CJ: But Jackson knows that.

MO: Absolutely, and he’s paid off so many people.

For more information on the Q&A Café at Nathans or to view previous interviews, visit www.nathansgeorgetown.com.

CJ: He’s picked his victims wisely?

MO: Pedophiles go where the family bonds are weak. Pedophiles go where they know they can insert themselves. It’s the classic behavior pattern.

Left page– Maureen Orth, special correspondent for Vanity Fair and author of Vulgar Flavors and The Importance of Being Famous gets candid with Carol Joynt. Above– Dorothy McGhee and Van Schley take in lunch and words of wisdom at Nathans in Georgetown.

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Media Capital The executive branch and the press haven’t been this close since …

Tammy Haddad, Kathleen Matthews and Chris Matthews at Tammy Haddad’s brunch ‡

Georgette Mosbacher and Patricia Duff at John and Cristina McLaughlin Brunch‡ George Clooney At the newsweek reception °

Alex Trebek and Wolf Blitzer At whcad †

T

he 63rd annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner (WHCAD) is undoubtedly Washington’s Oscars, and thus, “the weekend” to see-and-be-seen.

The Saturday night dinner is just the centerpiece of an extended fourday love-in between the media and politicians. This year’s A-list floated from the FOX 10th Anniversary party

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Hill Harper at WL / TCC Lunch ¢

at Cafe Milano on Thursday to the Washington Life/Creative Coalition Friday luncheon at Teatro Goldoni; to Saturday’s pre-dinner brunch hosted

by Tammy Haddad; receptions at the Hilton; the Bloomberg after-party (the biggest playpen and the toughest ticket in town); and finally wrapping with a well-deserved Bloody Mary on the rooftop of the Hay Adams at Cristina and John McLaughlin’s Sunday brunch overlooking The White House.

Jason Reitman, Chris Buckley and Julie Hunt at John and Cristina McLaughlin’s Brunch ‡

Make that a double The Double Mint twins showed up at The Hilton in the form of G. Dubya Bush and G. Dubya Bush where the flavor of the night was Comedian-in-Chief President George W. Bush. “Ladies and gentleman, I’m feeling chipper tonight. I survived The White House shake-up.” He survived this night as well, whereas last year the First Lady took home the Blue Ribbon.

“She’s hot, muy caliente,” said Bush’s body double Steve Bridges, whose act

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Heats Up

By janet donovan

... err, Tony Snow started

peter grauer at the bloomberg after-party ° Bonnie and Sen. Frank Lautenberg With Suzanne Showers at John and Cristina McLaughlin Brunch ‡

Tony snow and Bush impersonator Steve Bridges At whcad *

was complete with all the annoying snickers, sneers and body shakes of a Bevis and Butt-Head sideshow. The Presidential duo was a hard act to follow for comedian Stephen Colbert, who sardonically poked fun at the White House press corps almost as much as President Bush himself. Assuming his dead pan personality he declared, “I am appalled to be surrounded by the liberal media that is destroying America, with the exception of Fox News. Fox News

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Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson At whcad °

gives you both sides of every story: the President’s side, and the Vice President’s side. But the rest of you, what are you thinking, reporting on NSA wiretapping or secret prisons in eastern Europe?

Over the last five years you people were so good over tax cuts, WMD intelligence, the effect of global warming.

We Americans didn’t want to know, and you had the courtesy not to try to find out. Those were good times, as far as we knew. But, let’s review the rules.

CHRIS “Ludacris” Bridges and Ed Henry At The FOX 10th anniversary party †

Here’s how it works: the President makes decisions. He’s ‘the Decider.’ The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type.

Just put ‘em through a spell check and go home.” (Perhaps that’s why Colbert received such an icy reception.) The twin President’s self-depreciation show stole the scene: “How come I can’t have dinner with the 36 percent of the people who like me?” “Cheney – what a goofball. He

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Photo credit: †Jake Herrle ©2006 CNN *Neshan H. Naltchayan łKyle Samperton °Paul Simkin ¢Jonah Koch ‡Immanuel Jayachandran

Howard Fineman, David jackson and Morgan Fairchild at Tammy Haddad’s brunch ‡

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FOX 10th Anniversary party April 27th • Café Milano Photos by Rebecca d’Angelo

Rupert Murdoch and Hillary Clinton

Rupert endorses Hillary...

shall we dance...?

By C h r i s M at t h e ws , H o s t, M S NB C ’ s H a r d b a l l w i t h C h r i s M at t h e w s

The mutual allure of Washington and Hollywood reminds me of the enormous popularity of all those Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies from the 1930s. Paired with Rogers, the dancing Astaire appeared sexier. Paired with Fred, partner Ginger seemed smarter. So to get the picture at the annual WHCAD just think of Washington as Fred Astaire, Hollywood as Ginger Rogers.

This explains the “prom night” atmosphere of the annual event. It shows Washington snapping up the advice of Horace Greeley to “Go West!” And it has Hollywood ignoring Rudyard Kipling’s warning that “ne’re the twain shall meet.”

What gives special dazzle to the night, of course, are the oddly wondrous pairings, like this year’s coupling of Newsweek’s hawkish Lally Weymouth with Syriana’s dovish George Clooney. I felt sorry for the sweating and puffing waiters trying to get through the army of table-hoppers massed at that table.

You could say, quite safely, that the WHCAD is just journalistic rivalry by other means.

The greatest joy on Washington’s “prom night” comes not just in what star you got but who you scooped. George Clooney wasn’t sitting with Time. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen. The guy sitting with Newsweek this year wasn’t sitting with Time. Nor was Time alone in its envy. From every table in the Hilton ballroom except Newsweek’s you could hear the moan of that old AstaireRogers lyric, “Won’t you change partners and dance with me?”

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Dan Senor and Andrea Mitchell Mike Wallace Jack and Mary Margaret Valenti

Ed Ahn

Lorraine and Chris Wallace Brit hume and Vice President Dick Cheney

shot the only trial lawyer in the country that’s for me.” “Some of my critics call me arrogant.

I won’t even honor that with a response.

Screw em. No, don’t screw em. Let’s hit them with some rhetorical eloquence: My friends, our purple mountains with ramparts red flare, white with foam and justice for all and fruity plains gallantly streaming from sea to shiny sea with a shiny city, on a shiny hill, above a shiny prarie and maybe some shiny shrubs, I see a shiny America.” And that’s not even the Spanish version.

Gearing up It was a stealthy move for host Chris Wallace to invite Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to FOX’s 10th Anniversary party at Cafe Milano’s pre-pre-party where she shared the spotlight with new press secretary Tony Snow, FOX’s Roger Ailes, Bill O’Reilly, Brit Hume and such administration types as Karen Hughes, Josh Bolton, and Carl Rove. Vernon Jordan and former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe played backup. Owner Rupert

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On celebrity chasing …

The Washington life & Creative coalition Luncheon

By E d H e n ry, C NN White House Co r r e s p o n d e n t

April 28th • Teatro Goldoni Photos by Jonah Koch

Actor/author Hill Harper touts his new book …

Cristina McLaughlin, Debbie Dingell, and Joey “Pants” Pantoliano

Amy Argetsinger and Hill Harper

Jamie Whitehead and Nora Maccoby

Nellie Boone and Jaci Reid

Katie Rost

Yael OEstreich, Margaret Carlson And Saundra Seaman Robin Bronk and Matt Cooper

John mccaslin, janet donovan and marc dubic

Murdock, who recently held an eyebrowraising Clinton fund-raiser, rationalized that decision, saying: “She’s been an effective and good senator. It’s no big deal. It’s got nothing to do with anything other than her Senate re-election.”...Sure.

Uno bello momento It was a Pantoliano moment when the Soprano’s star showed up early at the WL pre-WHCAD lunch with the Creative Coalition for fifty at Teatro Goldoni, so the

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hotshot hammed it up with the staff in Jersey Italian. CSI’s Hill Harper, who was recently named one of the sexiest men in Hollywood, surprised guests with a complimentary copy of his book: “Letters to a Younger Brother.” Dining on lobster risotto prepared

by Chef Fabrizio Aielli were Newsweek’s Eleanor Clift, The Post’s Amy Argetsinger, Debbie Dingell, The Hill’s Jackie Kucinich, Microsoft’s Matt Gilman, Mark McFadden, Marquis Jet’s Suzanne Showers and Lionsgate’s Marc Dubic, amongst others.

Rolling at the CNN pre-party with the unlikely triumvirate of rapper Ludacris, Jeopardy!’s Alex Trebek and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was quite interesting given the mob vying for a photo-op with them. But spying Karl Rove dining just a few tables away from Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson definitely added to the intrigue of the dinner. Here were nearly 3,000 newsmakers and journalists rubbing elbows at a time of unprecedented tension between politicians and the press. As a disciple of the late muckraker Jack Anderson, I’m a hard-liner when it comes to standing up for the First Amendment, but what’s wrong with socializing with the people we cover for one big night? There’s actually something reassuring about our ability to break bread, despite the blizzard of subpoenas and stakeouts, depositions and suppositions.

I sat at the same table with Gen. Michael Hayden.This guy doesn’t just collect secrets – he knows how to keep them: We sat together for nearly three hours and he gave not one solitary hint that within days there would be a coup at the CIA resulting in him replacing Porter Goss!

I squirmed in my seat when guest comedian Stephen Colbert cracked, “If anyone needs anything for your tables, just speak clearly into your numbers and someone from the NSA will be there shortly.” But I noticed Gen. Hayden chuckling – and I was pleasantly surprised to find him talking about sports teams from his hometown of Pittsburgh instead of wonkery battles in Aspen. I resisted the temptation to join the stampede to George Clooney’s table (didn’t want to confirm the impression that the journalists put style over substance) so, imagine my surprise when Gen. Hayden suddenly jumped up from his chair and raced across the room. Had the intelligence officer spotted a terrorist? Nope. Gen. Hayden, a quarterback in grade school, had been calculating just the right moment to approach Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger for a handshake – and he was pouncing like a linebacker. Maybe celeb-chasing isn’t so bad.You have to like a four-star general wearing his blue-collar roots on the sleeves of his Air Force dress blues.

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whcAd Weekend

Clooney and Power Come to Washington

By Wo lf B li tz e r , a n c h o r o f C NN ’ s Th e S i t uat i o n R o o m

WASHINGTON – Together with his father, he had just returned to the U.S. from the remote African refugee camps in Chad.

George Clooney had been motivated to take up the gut-wrenching issue of Darfur. “The single most important thing I want to achieve is to try and help make sure that it gets on the air, that people see it, that people are talking about genocide, which they’re not,” he told me when we sat down to discuss his trip at the National Press Club. “But if I show up at places, sometimes cameras follow.” That, of course, is an understatement. The cameras love George Clooney. And because he took up the Darfur issue, many people who wouldn’t normally pay attention, did. He was on my show on CNN and many others – sharing his eyewitness account.

He was also joined by Samantha Power, a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist who has also taken on the Darfur issue. She won that prize for her powerful book, “Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide.” Power and Clooney have both spent time in Darfur refugee camps. “There have been 80,000 people displaced just in the last two months alone,” she says. The Sudanese government, she adds, continues to make matters worse by expelling groups who want to help.

“We all know from the 20th century what happens when a government that is intent on committing genocide also knows that people aren’t watching.” I covered President Clinton’s visit to Rwanda in 1998 and I remember how he acknowledged that he had earlier learned of the massacres there but failed to act. It was something he deeply regretted. History, Power said, is going to remember that a million people died under the watch of an American president. Now, President Bush and other world leaders are being pushed by Power, Clooney and others to help. Clooney says he and Bush (on this issue) are on the same page.

“Most of the world is on the same page, if they are reading the book. Unfortunately, that book isn’t getting read often, or loud enough.

My 62 job is to try and bring attention to that.”

Tammy Haddad Brunch April 29th • Haddad residence Photos by Immanuel jayachandran

Rumors of Newt and elections ...

Rob Marshall, Tammy Haddad, Capricia Marshall and Karen Finney

Dana and Jeremy Bash

Maura Tierney and Jake Tapper David Gregory, wife Beth Wilkinson and children

Tucker Carlson, Bill Press and Amy Shuster

Joe Scarborough and Frank Luntz Mark and Lyn McFadden Hill Harper, Debra Lee and David Sutthen

Tammy’s place MSNBC’s Tammy Haddad’s pre-gala annual brunch on Saturday afternoon left no doubt it would induce a Monday morning call to the lawn docs. Co-hosted by Biz Bash’s David Adler, Barbara Comsock, Russ Hodges and Hilary Rosen, the mediaheavy guest list included colleagues Rita Cosby, Tucker Carlson, Chris Matthews and Rick Kaplan. The Washington Times’ Editorial Page Editor Tony Blankley wished Tony Snow well and hoped “the staff allows

him to do it right.” “Tony’s got enough pre-standing presence not to be pushed around,” he added. As for rumors that Newt Gingrich (Blankley’s former boss) is running for president: “I don’t speak for him anymore, but he looks pretty energetic out there.” Former Senator Fred Thompson was seen negotiating a deal with ABC Radio. Best deal of the day though was Tammy Haddad’s: She got to keep the tent up for her daughter’s birthday party the next day.

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White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner April 29th • The Washington Hilton Photos by paul simkin Nicholas Burns, Madeleine Albright and Fareed Zakaria

Henry Kissinger and Ron Silver

W. reaches out to the 36 percent …

Susan Hurley Bennett and Jim Power

Evelyn Farkas and Richard Parker

George Clooney

Justice Clarence Thomas, wife Virginia Lamp Thomas and Jan Greenberg Smith

Hope Bass, David Bass, Christine Taylor and Joseph Fichera

Kim Alexis and Melissa Charboneau Dana Milbank, John Starr and Judy Holland

Samantha Power

Thomas Keene and Kevin Carmichael Kelly Carlson

Color them Red Carpet Newsweek’s party featured George Clooney, George Clooney and George Clooney along with beauty siren Georgette Mosbacher, actor Ron Silver, Ambassador of Kuwait Salem AlSabah and wife Rima, CNN’s Cristiane Amanpour, NBC’s David Gregory, New York Governor George Pataki and Lally Weymouth; National Journal’s party hosted by David Bradley and John Fox Sullivan starred Time Magazine’s Matt

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Cooper; former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright; actors Laurence Fishburne, Maura Tierney, and Doris Roberts; CQ’s Keith White, Andrea Mitchell and musician John Legend. The Saturday night gala came midway through a hangover-inducing week of parties, preparties and after parties. Joe Wilson was everywhere. Valerie Plame was almost everywhere. George Clooney was somewhere .Vice-President Dick Cheney was nowhere.

The art of begging Begging’s not pretty, but someone’s gotta do it. If you didn’t get an invite to the Bloomberg After Party there were many reasons to grovel, mainly that it was the hottest party in town. If you managed to get past the high-tech security check-in where your whole life flashed before you, you got to trade Colbert barbs with Alex Trebeck, GQ cover-ready David Bass with W cover-ready wife Hope, cosmetics executive Jane Lauder, PR wiz Howard

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whcad Weekend

To Close for Comfort?

By m a r g a r e t carlson , time co lu m n i s t and the week m a n ag i n g e d i to r

Each spring, the tribal rite the press holds for itself gets more crowded with folks who’ve never been inside a newsroom or held political office and has become less satisfying as a result. Celebrities still come (James Denton of Desperate Housewives, Maura Tierney of ER) but not many more than once. One was embarrassed to say that until his limo pulled up to the Hilton, he thought he was going for dinner at the White House. Imagine what a comedown it is to be in a low-ceilinged ballroom with 2,500 of the president’s closest friends.You’d be closer to George Bush if you watched the thing on C-Span.

The parties surrounding the dinner are the tail that wags the dog. Who doesn’t covet an invitation to lunch at Tammy Haddad’s house and the after-party thrown by Bloomberg (despite ear-splitting, conversation-stopping music) more than the dinner? What made news this year is the debate over the entertainment. Inside the room, Stephen Colbert died. Outside, the failure to laugh at his routine, five minutes of which was devoted to an endless video of Colbert stalked by veteran correspondent Helen Thomas, was final proof that the MSM is hopelessly out of touch. On this, the bloggers have a point, but not because Colbert was remotely funny. The dinner reveals an inside-the-Beltway coziness the public suspects but rarely witnesses.The reporters asking multi-part questions at an East Room press conference are the same ones laughing too hard at Bush (and his evil, but very funny, twin) on Saturday night.

The press is more Rottweiler than lapdog, but you’d never know it from these annual spectacles shown (and reshown) repeatedly on C-Span. The other news is that Academy Award winner George Clooney, the biggest celeb in attendance, is definitely running for office someday. He pretended to remember me, which made my five hours in an airless banquet hall worthwhile and showed he’s mastered the shared wisdom of getting ahead in Hollywood and Washington: First, be sincere … after you fake that, everything else is easy.

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Bloomberg After-party

Michael Strahan

April 29th • The Embassy of The Republic of Macedonia Photos by paul simpkin

It was a jungle in there …

Lee Brenner, Michelle Cottle, Garance Franke-Ruta and Anna Soellner

Jim and Angelique Bell

Kimball Stroud, Rep. Steny Hoyer and Rachel Pearson Ana Marie Cox and chris Lehmann Mass. Gov. Mitt romney and wife Ann

John podesta and Tony Podesta

Judith Czelusniak

Rubenstein, Jonathan Tisch and the New York Giant’s Tiki Barber. It was a jungle in there and that didn’t include the body count. Thanks to Bloomberg, guests were left wondering if the tiger prancing across a background projection screen was actually a camouflaged NSA agent. If so, the agents got their money’s worth as I’m sure it beats trolling through phone records all day. As for potentially annoyed Kalorama neighbors, a WL confidant relays this little scoop: “Bloomberg treated all to a night at The Four

Joel Kaplan, Dan Bartlett and Alyson Barttle

Seasons Hotel and coughed up tickets to the after party as well.”

All aboard Not the Orient Express, but those who “skipped” or weren’t invited to the Bloomberg bash took the fast lane bus to the “K Street” nightclub downtown. The cushy Reuters America trail ride deposited throngs of relatively young reporters, who rubbed elbows with lobbyists, wire reporters and trade journalists drinking colorful martinis.

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Brunch with John and Cristina McLaughlin Cristina McLaughlin, Queen Noor and John McLaughlin

April 30th • Rooftop of the Hay Adams Photos by kyle samperton

Sharpton, Queen Noor, lasorda and Bloody Marys …

By J o h n M cC a s li n , co lu m n i s t o f “ I n s i d e t h e B e lt way ” f o r Th e Wa s h i n gt o n T i m e s

David Corn Rev. Al Sharpton Arthur Altschul

Karen Feld, Susan and Peter Levine, Tommy Lasorda and Connie Coopersmith

Former Gov. Douglas Wilder Erin and James Denton

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Patrick Buchanan

The morning after Whoever invented the Bloody Mary wasn’t paid enough. By the time you got to Cristina and John McLaughlin’s annual brunch on the roof of the Hay Adams Hotel on Sunday, you needed one. Rev. Al Sharpton was “feeling chipper” and still weighing in on the President’s comment on his approval ratings before going to the Stop Genocide in Darfur rally. “I think it’s a whole lot of noise and little substance, [although] I do think that last night was the wrong occasion [for that].” On

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In search of the perfect sound bite

Colbert, the Rev. said: “He was all right, but a little flat.” Baseball Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda held court at the Sunday affair with everyone who preferred to talk about sports (and Iraq). Others feeling chipper after the long weekend included John McCaslin, Bob and Sue Merry, Bob Hormats, former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder, Andrea Roane, Queen Noor, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, Desperate Housewives heartthrob James Denton and Sen. Richard Shelby.

What I look forward to most with each WHCAD (my first one came in 1984 while covering President Reagan) is the inevitable encounter with the unexpected somebody who unwittingly utters the timeliest quote.

This 2006 dinner, like previous ones, featured the year’s leading newsmakers: President Bush, Valer ie Plame, George Clooney, and Tony Snow. And there was the usual lineup of unusual guests, such as Jeff “Skunk” Baxter of the Doobie Brothers, a guest of The Washington Times, who came clad in a kilt. Sure enough, by the time the sun rose over Kalorama on Sunday morning, my notebook was filled with asides and assertions, comments and confessions, exclamations and exaggerations – and phone numbers, so I could corroborate all of the above.

While climbing the stairs to John and Cristina McLaughlin’s morning after brunch on the rooftop terrace of the Hay Adams Hotel, I realized I still lacked the newspaperman’s equivalent of the weekend’s best soundbite. But there, suddenly, he was: Lasorda, offering a friendly wave while, off to the side, in their Sunday finest, Desperate Housewives’ James Denton and Queen Noor held court.

Sure, Tommy Lasorda knows everything there is to know about baseball, but it wasn’t pitching that the Hall of Famer wanted to talk about while taking in the impressive view of the White House below. Rather, the bloody war in Iraq was on his mind: “Whenever I’m at a restaurant and spot somebody in a military uniform, I pick up their check,” he told me, “to show them my appreciation for what they’re doing for my country.” And so read my column lead.

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Special Feature

Vital Voices

Clinton, Hutchison, Amanpour, von Furstenberg, Koppel, Ling, Dobriansky and Ormond honor Gala Leadership Awardees April 27 th • The Kennedy Center

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Photos By Vicky Pombo

n all-star cast of women including Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Kay Bailey Hutchison, Diane von Furstenberg, Andrea Koppel, Lisa Ling and Julia Ormond, came together at the Washington Life sponsored 2006 Vital Voices Gala Leadership Awards honoring international women pioneers and their efforts to protect human rights. “Tonight, we celebrate all women speaking out for democracy, tolerance, justice and civic dialogue,” CNN’s Christiane Amanpour said.

This year’s awardees included Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first woman ever elected to lead an African nation; Mukhtaran Bibi, who fought the criminal justice system in Pakistan after being gang raped and used her monetary compensation to build two primary schools in her village (one for boys and one for girls); seven Kuwaiti women activists who led the fight to get women in Kuwait the right to vote and to run for public office; Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, who has taken bold steps to advance the economy of her country; and Rita Chaikin, who has dedicated her life to fighting human trafficking. Co-chairs Janet Langhart Cohen, Beth Dozoretz, Bitsey Folger, Marilyn Harris, Timothy Keating, Marlene Malek, Diane Nelson and Margaret Tutwiler helped raise over $500,000 for Vital Voices programs worldwide.

(1) Senator Hillary Clinton with Kuwaiti honorees from left to right Lulwa Al-Mulla, Rola Dashti and Fatma Hussein (2) Diane von Furstenberg and Alyse Nelson Bloom (3) Kuwaiti Amb. Salem Al-Sabah and Andrea Koppel (4) Vital Voices Chair Melanne Verveer

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Vital Voices Awardees Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, 2006 Global Trailblazer Awardee “Amidst the devastation that surrounds them, more than 75 percent of the country’s citizens turned out to vote in a free and fair election. They chose Ellen Johnson Sirleaf-the first woman ever elected to lead an African nation – to help Liberia overcome its enormous challenges,” Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala “Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala is the first woman ever to head the Ministry of Finance and Economy in Nigeria. She has taken significant steps to crack down on corrupt practices, improve transparency and to advance the economy of her country,” Diane von Furstenberg

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Rita Chaikin “As a result of her tireless efforts, she now coordinates a center in Haifa where she is helping to stem the tide of human trafficking in her country and beyond.” Julia Ormond

Dr. Lubna Al-Kazi and the women of Kuwait “Their tireless efforts and their belief that a better future for their country depended on women having a say in the political decisions of their country [made it possible] to achieve the right to full political participation.” Dina Powell

Mukhtaran Bibi

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“Instead of committing suicide, as shame and tribal tradition would compel the victim of such an honor crime, Mukhtaran fought back. She reported the rape and fought to have her attackers brought to justice… She received compensation through the criminal justice system, which she used to build two primary schools.” Andrea Koppel

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(5) Jean Marie and Raul Fernandez (6) Julia Ormond (7) William Cohen and Janet Langhart Cohen (8) Martin Indyk and Gahl Burt (9) Christiane Amanpour and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (10) Lisa Ling (11) Honoree Mukhtaran Bibi (12) Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

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Exclusive Regal Lunch

(1) Samia Farouki and Pat Mitchell (2) Claire Dwoskin, Linda Zecher and Molly Raiser (3) Katherine Bradley (4) Beth Dozoretz and H.M. Queen Rania

Vital Voices held a luncheon with Her Majesty Queen Rania at the home of Beth Dozoretz on Friday, May 5th for the supporters of the Vital Voices Jordanian Young Women’s Leadership Training Program to be held later this year in Jordan. With the investment and collaboration of a small group of women who attended the lunch, Vital Voices will be able to bring together a group of young Jordanian women with established leaders and trainers, enabling them to share knowledge and cultivate ongoing professional support. Guests included: Marlene Malek, Elizabeth Bagley, Bitsey Folger, Debbie Dingell, Vicki Sant, Susan Davis, Tia Cudahy and Judith McHale.

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Women’s Empowerment: A Key Ingredient for Democratic Transformation in the Broader Middle East and North Africa

By Pau la J . Dobriansk y, Under S ecretary of State for Democracy and G lobal Affairs

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ne year ago this month, the women of Kuwait reached a new milestone in their nation’s history when they gained the right to vote and to stand for political office.

After four decades of sustained political activism, they broke down a major barrier to women’s equality and empowerment.

Their success has given hope to women throughout the Broader Middle East who share the universal vision that women deserve an

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equal voice at the political table, in government, in the economic sphere, and in civil society.The United States stands shoulder to shoulder with the women of Kuwait.

Women’s empowerment is more than the right to cast a vote. Under the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), the United States is working with non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and other U.S. government agencies to give women the tools they need to realize their potential, and that of their countries.

This includes developing an Arab Women’s Legal Network to provide training, mentoring, and a resource directory as well as building the capacity of grassroots women’s NGOs through advocacy and outreach skills. Through

networks, training, mentoring, and leadership development, we are supporting indigenous calls for reform. We see women building on their political successes in places like Bahrain, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Jordan. We see the new reality of empowered women in Afghanistan, where women are now running their own businesses and serving in government.

We see the vital role women are playing in Iraq, where they are on the frontlines of building a democracy, leading with resilience throughout the challenges their nation faces.

We salute the women and the government of Kuwait as they mark this important one year anniversary, and we look forward with great anticipation to the women candidates and voters who will shape Kuwait’s 2007 elections.

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Vital Valentino

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at Saks Jandel

By Marlene Malek

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s members of the Vital Voices board of directors, Debbie Dingell and I were proud to host “Valentino” at Saks Jandel. Over 120 women gathered to view the designer’s 2006 Fall and Winter Collection.

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(1) Debbie Dingell, Marlene Malek and Diane Bodman (2) Lama Orloff and Sonya Pate (3) Caroline Boutte and Carlos Sauza (4) Melanne Verveer and Janrome Walker (5) Dotsy Steele and Marsha Muawwad (6) Antonia Gore, Janet Langhart Cohen, JoAnn Mason, Alexine Jackson and Judy Esfandiary (7) Models in Valentino

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Our Global Leadership Network of over 5,000 women in 85 countries represents the vital voices of our time.

Vital Voices works to expand women’s roles in generating economic opportunities, increasing political participation and protecting human r ights. Our Global Leadership Network of over 5,000 women in 85 countries represents the vital voices of our time. Through research studies and experience, we know that when countries do not invest in women and enable them to fulfill their potential, they cannot prosper. Through our cuttingedge leadership programs, women around the globe have enhanced their effectiveness as leaders in all sectors of their societies. We are also working to help women tackle one of the worst violations of human rights - human trafficking. This modern day slavery requires effective partnerships among government, business and civil society if we are going to end this global scourge.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Wangari Maathai, said: “We must find opportunities to make change happen. We must not tire, we must not give up, we must persist.” That is what we at Vital Voices are doing every day by investing in women leaders.

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COVER STORY

A CULTURAL MOSAIC

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Star-studded gala heralds the arrival of Sesame Mosaic across the Arab world irst Lady Laura Bush was there, so was Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan and all the Arab Ambassadors and their spouses. But with all the diplomatic and political notables inside the National Building Museum, it was a pair of Muppets who

Luma Kawar Jordan

As the Sesame Mosaic Gala Chair, it has been my honor and privilege to bring together the two First Ladies who embody the hopes and dreams of Arab and American women everywhere.

stole the show – beloved Elmo and Khokha from the Egyptian Sesame Street co-production, Alam Simsim.

The major beneficiary of Mosaic Foundation’s Ninth Annual Benefit Gala “Education: A Two Way Street” was Sesame Mosaic, a project designed to educate preschool children in the Arab world and the U.S. about mutual respect, and basic literacy and math.

Standing in front of a dramatic backdrop of colossal columns and flowing 60-foot curtains, gala honorary chair Laura Bush and guest of honor Queen Rania, both spoke of breaking down cultural barriers and Nevine Hassouna Arab League

The Mosaic Foundation, the Muslim Women’s Association, and the Islamic Heritage in New York have all allowed me to change the Arab League’s image in America and increase knowledge between cultures.

offering early education to children. With the amount of daily press focused on the war on terror, it was a welcomed respite to hear of a U.S. and Arab initiative that strikes at the core of cultural misunderstandings.

“President Bush and I thank you for your dedication and your service, and we especially appreciate your commitment to strengthen the ties between America and the peoples of the Arab world,” said the First Lady before passing the podium to Queen Rania, who dazzled in an emerald green Gucci gown paired with a traditional Jordanian belt.

Rim Abboud Lebanon

Sheikha Rima Al-Sabah Kuwait

Lebanon has a high literacy rate, great education, equal rights for women, and great tolerance and understanding between East and West. Through Sesame Mosaic, we can continue to build on those successes.

Through Mosaic and organizations such as the Kuwait-America Foundation, I hope to change the perception of Arab women, create a better understanding between the U.S. and the Arab world, and promote causes close to my heart.

The Mosaic Foundation (www.mosaicfound. org) is an American charitable and educational organization founded and run by the spouses of Arab Ambassadors to the United States. To date, the foundation has awarded more than $8 million to organizations improving the lives of women and children globally and increasing understanding and appreciation of Arab culture in the United States. Gala Chair Luma Kawar, the wife of the Jordanian ambassador, opened the evening by elaborating on the theme “Education: A Two Way Street,” saying: “The free-flow exchange of goods and ideas depends on trust.

The foundation of trust is understanding which can only be attained through communication.”

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street and Alam Simsim, has a long history in the Arab world. In 1979, the Workshop created its first production HRH Princess Nouf Bint Fahad Saudi Arabia My hope for Sesame Mosaic is that it succeeds in each of its endeavors, which I believe to be of enormous value and importance for future generations.

Sesame Mosaic Guest of Honor, HM Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan and Honorary Chair First Lady Laura Bush

in Arabic with Iftah Ya Simsim in Kuwait.

The organization has since established coproductions in Jordan and Palestine. Now, with the support of the Mosaic Foundation, more Arab children will be exposed to literacy skills and the diversity of cultures thanks to the creative puppetry of the Sesame Workshop. Episodes are to be shot in Arabic with messages focusing on education and common understanding.

One should only look as far as Egypt to see the positive impact Sesame Mosaic can have. In a country where over 50 percent of women are illiterate, Khokha stands as a role model for girls. One day, she wants to be a doctor. On another, she aspires to be a pilot. And on yet another day, she wants to become a librarian … inspiring a generation of Egyptian girls to do the same.

Nermin A. Fahmy EGYPT

Maria Felice Mekouar Morocco

Amina Farah Ahmed Olhaye Djibouti

As Chairman of the Mosaic Foundation, I’m proud that Sesame Mosaic builds bridges of understanding between children in the Arab World and children in the U.S. while showcasing the rich heritage of our region.

Working with Mosaic allowed me to work on the Telemedicine project in Morocco in conjunction with the National Children’s Medical Center in Washington. Sesame Mosaic is another such worthy initiative.

What makes me most proud about Mosaic is the fact that Arab ladies, spouses of Arab Ambassadors in Washington, have the vision, courage and commitment to launch such a project with far-reaching impact.

Queen Rania ... and khokha Khokha: You’re involved in many charities focusing on women and children; why is Sesame Mosaic important?

Queen Rania: Just as “America” is not a monolithic bloc, but a glorious mosaic of fifty different states and a multitude of communities, each with their own special character, so too the Arab region encompasses a wide variety of cultures, customs, and experience. Sesame Mosaic will encourage Arab children to explore the world they inhabit – to be proud of where they come from and how much they have to offer, and to participate actively in the intercultural exchange that inspires and enriches humanity.

Khokha: What impact do you think television shows about Arab children will have in the U.S.?

Queen Rania: It’s important to learn about people different from themselves.

But just as important as teaching children to appreciate each other’s differences, a show like Sesame Mosaic can help reveal the many ways in which we’re all the same.

We all love our families.We all cherish our friends. We all have passions, hopes, and dreams – and worries too. My hope is that Sesame Mosaic, and other similarly inspired initiatives, can help all our children grow up with a genuine sense of fellowship with others around the world.

Sadia Ahmad Iraq

Dalenda Hachana Tunisia

Ilse Kherbi Algeria

Christ’l Safieh Palestine

I am proud that the Mosaic Foundation serves as a positive representation for Arab women; while my hope for Sesame Mosaic is simple: I hope that it will achieve peace.

Mosaic Foundation has allowed me to convey a better understanding of the main traditions of the Arab world to the American public while providing needed support for developing Arab nations.

The best part of my assignment in the U.S. has been working with the Mosaic Foundation to build bridges of mutual understanding and tolerance between children of different cultures.

Civilizations do not clash, people do, interests do. It’s a lesson of history that we must relearn; a history written in the patterns and colors of the traditional embroideries that Palestinian women continue to pass on to their daughters.

Front row, left to right: Morocco Amb. Aziz Mekouar; Lebanon Amb. Dr. Farid Abboud; Tunisia Amb. Mohamad Nejib Hachana; Djibouti Amb. Roble Olhaye; Oman Amb. Hunaina Al-Mughairy; Saudi Arabia Amb. HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal; Kuwait Amb. Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Sabah; Libya Amb. Ali Aujali. (Back row, left to right) – Egypt Amb. M. Nabil Fahmy; Arab League Amb. Hussein Hassouna; Yemen Amb. Abdulwahab Al-Hajjri; Palestine Chief Rep. Afif Safieh; DCM Emb. of Yemen, Abdulhakim Abdulrahman Al-Eryani; First Sec. of Emb. of Qatar, Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al-Thani; Bahrain Amb. Dr. Naser M. Y. Al Balooshi; and First Sec. at Emb. of Oman Abdullah Suleimani.

Rafif Al-Sayed Moustapha Syria During the last three years, I’ve been living between D.C. and London where I was pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer Science.

Now, having settled in D.C., I’m excited to be a part of the Mosaic Foundation and its outreach towards children.

Howaida Abdel Kareem Mahmoud Sudan Working with Mosaic Foundation and sending medical supplies to children’s hospitals in Sudan have been the highlights of my five year tenure in the U.S.

Naima Besikri Libya

Iman Al-Thani Qatar

By working with Mosaic I hope to increase the understanding of Libyan society, culture and history. I also hope to raise awareness of AIDS in the Middle East and assist children that have contracted the virus.

The First Lady of Qatar has been leading the effort to institute reforms for more freedom, women’s empowerment and human capabilities. Mosaic Foundation is an important step towards achieving these.

o f t h e pa r t y

Mosaic Foundation Ninth Annual Benefit Gala May 9th • The National Building Museum Photos by Kyle SampertoN and Juan Carlos

The Event: A benefit for the Sesame Workshop to fund Sesame Mosaic, a project designed to educate pre-school children in the Arab world and U.S. about mutual respect and basic literacy and math skills. THE SCENE: First Lady Laura Bush and H.M. Queen Rania of Jordan spoke passionately on the importance of Sesame Mosaic; Mosaic Chairman Nermin Fahmy, wife of the Egyptian ambassador, talked about the Mosaic Foundation’s upcoming 10th anniversary in 2007 and its dream of building the Mosaic Cultural Center in the nation’s capital; Mosaic Vice-President Rim Abboud, the wife of the ambassador of Lebanon, introduced composer Zade Dirani and the 25-piece International Musicians Assembly; Gala Chair Luma Kawar thanked supporters including Chevron, ExxonMobil, Saudi Aramco, Shell, Conoco Phillips, Occidental Petroleum, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia and HSBC. THE GUESTS: Sens. Bill Frist, Ted Stevens and John Sununu; Cabinet members Carlos Gutierrez and Alphonso Jackson; Chris and Kathleen Matthews and John McLaughlin.

Alma Powell, Marlene Malek, Beth Dozoretz and Deni Mineta

Nini Ferguson and Sherrie Westin

Diane and Leonard Brown

Sen. Bill Frist

Antonio and Natalia Monteiro

Iraqi Interim Rep. Said Shiahab Ahmad and Syrian Amb. Imad Moustapha

Fariba and Reza Jahanbani

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Sedie Flugelman, Aniko Gaal Schott and Jellie Van Eenennaam

Bushra Al-Eryani and Elmo

Jordanian Amb. Karim Kawar and Luma Kawar

Seamus McMahon and Nikie Jordan

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The world would be a dull place if everyone agreed on everything. yourpointofview.com

Issued by HSBC Bank USA, N.A. Š2006 HSBC Bank USA, N.A.

Cover Story E XCLUSIVE

Queen Rania: an exclusive interview At 35, Her Majesty has a world of experience behind her ... and a world of expectations ahead

S

By Kathleen Matthews

he’s a queen who of her words and passion about admits to zoning educating women in the Middle out in front of East and around the world. “In the TV while my mind, poverty is a she,” she watching her told Oprah during her recent favorite shows, U.S. tour. And while she also Desperate confessed that she was “terrified” Housewives when she became Queen at age and 24. On the 29, Rania is using her throne weekends, she to improve the lives of women, and her husband children and families around c o o k o n t h e the world. In June, she will host barbeque grill in women leaders from around their palace garden and watch movies. “Being the globe at the Dead Sea for a Queen is not who I am, but what I do,” she conference to make sure that girls everywhere have recently told Oprah Winfrey. Her Majesty Queen access to education.

Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan is showing the world Back in Jordan, as my husband Chris and I drove a new face of Arab women and it’s perhaps the to meet the royal couple at their home, we passed most beautiful face in the world. several billboards of King Abdullah, Queen Rania and After meeting Jordan’s royal couple, King their four children ages 12 to one-year old. She has Abdullah bin Al-Hussein and come a long way.

Queen Rania, at a private lunch Born in Kuwait, “I believe that tradition and hosted at their palace in Amman this daughter of a modernity can move forward in honor of Catherine and Jordanian doctor of Wayne Reynolds, I began an ePalestinian descent together, and I think we’re mail exchange with the Queen fled with her seeing evidence of that in for Washington Life magazine. family to Jordan a number of places in the During our exchanges, she when Saddam was in the midst of a fourHussein invaded.

Middle East.” — H.M. Queen Rania day working trip to three U.S. She went on to cities to promote cross-cultural earn a degree in understanding between U.S. and Arab youth and business from the American University in Cairo and children. One of those stops was here in Washington, worked in banking before marrying (then) Prince where she was the honored guest alongside First Abdullah thirteen years ago.

Lady Laura Bush at the Mosaic Foundation 9th When we arrived for lunch at their new palace, Annual Benefit Dinner to raise money for a new which they waited 10 years to build, King Abdullah Arab-language Sesame Street program. grinned warmly as he and his wife greeted their In a town that has its fair share of kings, queens, American guests. Like the newly built mansions in presidents, premiers and princesses passing through, Potomac, squares of green turf are still piled up to Washingtonians were dazzled by the young Jordanian complete the landscaping and sprinklers keep the queen, not only for her beauty, but for the power new growth alive in a country that is more rock

than rich loam.The architecture is Islamic but inside it could be Santa Fe. I ask Queen Rania about the design: “The main idea was to have a ‘home’ not a ‘palace’ – that was really important for us as a family … you know, somewhere that is warm and cozy,” she writes. “Of course, it has to be friendly and relaxed for entertaining, and yet it also needs to cater for the more formal aspect of our lives. The architecture is Islamic which I have a great passion for, and the interior is quite contemporary … accentuated with Islamic artifacts which encapsulate what Jordan is all about … tradition and modernity comfortably side by side.”

The traditional Jordanian meal is at mid-day and begins with hot and cold Arabic mezza, a selection of finger-foods that are served prior to the main meal. The palace dining room is a blend of elegant modern furniture with Islamic accents. It could be any Washington dinner party with lively conversation that flows from politics to culture. As King Abdullah discusses the challenges facing his country and his region, Queen Rania listens intently but doesn’t hesitate to add her views.What emerges in their give and take is a true partnership between a modern king Above - ABC-7 Anchor Kathleen Matthews and H.M. Queen Rania Al-Abdullah at the 9th Annual Mosaic Foundation Gala Right Page - HM Queen Rania Al-Abdullah

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and his well-educated, deeply reflective wife, who is also thoughtful enough to serve her American guests pecan pie with vanilla ice cream for dessert – she doesn’t miss a detail.

Over lunch, she describes how her husband, King Abdullah, has taken great risks to be a beacon in the efforts to promote peace in the Middle East.“I am very proud of my husband’s leadership in Jordan, in our region, and beyond. He firmly believes that leaders have a responsibility to reach out beyond their own borders, engage the rest of the world, and build a community of partners to mobilize real change – and he’s ‘walked that talk,’ carrying Islam’s message of peace, tolerance, and moderation to people of all faiths, in all corners of the world, from political leaders in Asia to high school students in America to business men and women on the global stage.”

As a Palestinian woman, Queen Rania speaks passionately about her hopes for a Palestinian state.

“I believe that establishing a viable Palestinian state is crucial not just for stability in our region, but for security around the world. I would say the same, regardless of whether or not I was of Palestinian origin myself. For too long, people in our region have been weighed down with conflict and all its burdens. Their days are punctuated with images of despair and destruction, horror and heartbreak.

For Americans, the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians may be a distant problem, but for us in the region, we live it every day.

These are the harsh realities for thousands of our region’s youth, on whom our future depends, and I believe that all of us who care about peace and progress share a responsibility to restore security to their lives and ensure they have opportunity, hope, and a sustainable economic future.”

Like her husband, Queen Rania is Muslim and

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the complexities and nuances of our region, and cast a light on the magnitude of the challenges we face,” she says. “Crash was another film which left me thinking; the interconnected stories were both sobering and fascinating. I thought that this film was a brave, and necessary, attempt to explore and confront racial attitudes and deep-rooted stereotypes that exist in society.These two films have succeeded in really making people consider issues from a different perspective.That’s very valuable.”

The young Queen strikes me as woman who has given a great deal of thought, not only to the movies she sees, but also to the challenges of her region and the full potential of her position. “I prays five times a day, at sunrise, mid-day, in the never expected my life to turn out the way it did. I afternoon, evening and every night. She makes clear certainly never aspired to be a queen; but here I am, that faith plays an important part in her life, but and this extraordinary privilege has given me a rare values personal choice in the way women publicly opportunity and platform from which to speak for express their faith. those whose voices might not otherwise be heard.

“I believe that tradition and modernity can I take that responsibility very seriously. move forward together, and I think we’re seeing So many of the issues people care about in Jordan evidence of that in a – like peace, and jobs, and number of places in health care, and education – “I do not want people to see the Middle East. If are concerns shared by others you walk down the around the world, especially only negative images which streets in Amman, in developing countries.That’s too often fill the television you’ll see some why I support organizations women in traditional like UNICEF, the Global screens. Rather, I want them dress and others in Alliance for Vaccinations and to see in Jordan a land rich in more contemporary Immunization Fund, the culture, full of potential and fashions – and World Health Organization, you may well see and the Foundation for populated by peace-loving a woman wearing International Community citizens. That’s the Middle East a veil and tailored Assistance, which are all, in I know and love.

— H.M. Queen Rania business suit as well, their own ways, striving to speaking perfect close the “hope gap” that English into the separates people from birth mobile phone pressed to her ear. I don’t wear a veil into those who have a future and those who don’t.” myself; it’s a matter of personal choice. But I think But Queen Rania also shares in the mission that many in the West mistakenly view the veil as with her husband to communicate the message of a symbol of oppression, when in fact it’s a sign of Jordan and its people to the rest of the world. “We modesty, piety, and devotion to God. want people to be aware of what I like to call ‘the We need to be careful not to base our other Middle East,’” she says with a determination judgments of people on outward factors, such that belies her years. “I do not want people to as appearances. If we do that, we risk relying on see only negative images which too often fill the stereotypes that prevent us from looking deeper television screens. Rather, I want them to see in below the surface.”

Jordan a land rich in culture, full of potential and Fluent in both English and Arabic, Queen populated by peace-loving citizens. That’s the Rania displays an impressive command of Middle East I know and love.” current American cinema. “I thought Syriana Above - King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein and Queen Rania at was very thought-provoking in that it captured home in Jordan

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feature

My Father Sons share the inspiration of their Dads for this Father’s Day, June 18 P h oto s By Z ai d H a m i d a n d J o n a h Ko c h

Wyatt Dickerson

By John Dickerson

Dad has this whistle. It’s like something out of a children’s cartoon. It can be heard five blocks away and he blows it without the aid of his fingers or a blade of grass. He just produces it. Don’t ask him to do if for you unless you’re outside. It’s very loud. Glassware will break.

When we were children that whistle meant come here or stop and it meant do it now.

He has all the quirks you’d want in a fathervast overstatements about the best ice cream he’s ever had and puns and jokes bad enough to peel the wallpaper, a trait which has infected all of his progeny. (The family patter deriving from the paterfamilias. See?) It’s very hard for any man to have made it through the ’60s and ’70s in Washington and not have at least a few goofy pictures in the back of the drawer. But he has an impeccable sense of style. There are no shots of clockstopping ties or lapels wide enough for

repeated daily. It’s hard to find some corner where I won’t be set upon by someone who remarks on his easy charm. The story is familiar: they tell me that in a room full of luminaries he made them feel like the most important person.

These are the happy weightless words of praise you’d expect to read next to a glossy picture of two blond men with good teeth. Life hasn’t always been so lovely. When Dad was a little younger than I am now, his wife, his high school sweetheart died after a long bout with

“The story is familiar: They tell me that in a room full of luminaries he made them feel like the most important person.”

When I was growing up, Dad was full of lots of mysterious knowledge that young boys consider the only things worth knowing. He’d boxed and shot marbles in the dirt patch across from his home in Roanoke, Virginia, and he’d played football in college. He’d acted in Hollywood. He was an Eagle Scout and when I was 13 he gave me the .22 rifle his father had given him at the same age. In a third grade composition I summed him up the way you might expect: “My Dad was in the Navy. He has no trouble doing anything. He snores a lot. Hey Dad, you have arms like rocks.”

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snowboarding. This sense of taste didn’t quite translate to his son. As an adolescent, I stole his pocket squares and wore them in my blue blazer. I look at those pictures now and wonder why there weren’t lines of my contemporaries forming to beat me up repeatedly.

A man’s style of course goes well beyond clothing. It’s usually my wife who sets expectations so high. Anyone who meets her first is inevitably disappointed when they get to me. Living in Washington, where Dad has spent the last 50 years, this phenomenon is

breast cancer. He was left to raise three young girls. It was not the last roundhouse he would go through in life. He has never complained.

Ever. He gets up and starts walking again. This is what a son can see that others can’t: the steady resilience that makes his charm so much sturdier than simple good manners. It’s a lot more powerful than even his whistle.

Right page– Wyatt Dickerson with son John, chief political correspondent for Slate Magazine and author of On Her Trail, My Mother, Nancy Dickerson, TV News’ First Woman Star (October 2006, Simon & Schuster). Photo by Zaid Hamid.

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Mark Tuohey, III

By Sean Tuohey

My father, Mark Tuohey, III, chairman of the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commssion, is the most optimistic man you will ever meet.

Growing up, he taught my brothers and me how to dream, how to think outside the box and how to win. Come to think of it….he taught YOU these same traits. You might have lost hope somewhere along the way. Maybe prior to

at Gonzaga where we learned leadership and the importance of serving others. When my brothers and I founded Playing for Peace, (www.playingforpeace.org) my father assured us that this program would grow bigger than we ever could imagine. It has. Playing for Peace has succeeded thanks to the ongoing support of many of you who are reading this.

My father works too hard. He is selfless and too accessible. I see him growing older and I want him to chill, yet I know he cannot. His days last

“THANK YOU for believing in us and for your endless to devotion to the people of the District!” the Nationals arriving or possibly over this past winter when the ball club almost slipped away.

Each day you read the newspaper or listened to the radio you doubted or disbelieved what was transpiring. Every time my father was quoted, he repeatedly reassured you that baseball is here to stay.

My father raised us in a predominately African American neighborhood called Shepherd Park in Northwest D.C. He understood the importance of appreciating differences, making friendships with people of all races and religions. He sent us to the Jesuits

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for 36 hours at a time and he breaks only to play golf with my mother or to cheer the Nats. He loves Ireland, a good red wine, and White Hots from Rochester, N.Y., where he grew up. White Hots, by the way, will be soon available at RFK. Many who have met my father understand the optimistic tone of this essay. He does not seek pats on the back and will be the first to pass on credit to someone else. Dad, from me to you, and I will speak on behalf of Devin and Brendan and this entire city, thank you for believing in us and for your endless devotion to the people of the District! We love you very much.

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Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez

Representative Kendrick Meek

By Kendrick Meek , Jr . (age 8)

By Carlos M . Gutierrez , Jr .

Throughout my life my father has been one of my greatest influences. In observing and admiring his hard work, dedication and passion, he has shown me that there is no limit to both professional and personal achievement. In his and my mother’s commitment to our family, he has instilled in my sisters and me those values, morals and ideals that will help ensure our success in life.

My father is many things to me. He continues to serve as my greatest role model and hero. As a trusted advisor and close confidant it would be unthinkable for me to undertake any major decision without his advice. As a father, he has shown my sisters and me the importance of caring, compassion, and love.

One day I would like to start a family. It is my great hope that I will be as highly regarded by them as my father is by us. This Father’s Day, I would like to thank him for everything he has done for me. One day I would like to repay him — I know this won’t be easy.

I love you very much, Daddy.

My dad is very cool. We spend a lot of time together. He gets me ice cream at the mall. He takes me to important meetings.We go to the movies.The best part is we go on trips. He also teaches me how to be polite. He teaches me what to do like being a good boy and what not to do– like stealing. He loves me so much that if I got lost he would risk his life for me.Why? Because he loves me. I am his son and he treats me well. He also takes me to places that kids never get to go. I actually got to see the Black Eyed Peas! My father is great. When I was ten minutes old he was standing next to me, helping me. Deep in his heart he loves me very much and he will take care of me forever.

“My dad is very cool. we spend a lot of time

together.”

Left to right– Mark Tuohey, III with sons and co-founders of Playing for Peace Sean and Mark, IV. Photo by Jonah Koch; Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez with son Carlos, Jr. Photo by Zaid Hamid; Representative Kendrick Meek with Kendrick, Jr. Photo

by Jonah Koch.

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SUMMER FASHIONS

A Garden of Choices

By Barbara McConaghy Photographed by Roy Cox Hair styled by Tammey Laws Make-up by Anita Bahramy

Christopher Reiter, owner of Muléh

wearing 4 You khaki jacket ($319); Kapadia brown tuxedo collared shirt ($187), and Farhri white linen pants ($138); All available at MULÉH.

Shigeko Bork, owner of Georgetown Art Gallery, MU PROJECT, wearing a Blumarine French Riviera Stretch dress ($835) by order at www. blumarine.com Linda Awkard, wearing CYNTHIA STEFFE crochet bib dress with pixilated stripes ($350), by order at www.cynthiasteffe.com; Jose & Maria Barrera turquoise multi-colored earrings ($240), Saks Jandel.

Linda Awkard, attorney at law in Washington, D.C. in a Kevin Hall black and white organza and tulle dress ($2,090) and Jose & Maria Barrera crystal earrrings ($315), both available at Saks Jandel; Moschino open toe pumps ($400), Sassanova..

Jerry Pierce, president and CEO of Interamerica, an international government relations firm, wearing a Hugo Boss khaki suit ($795), white French cuffed shirt ($185), brown leather belt ($95), and red with yellow and blue polka dot print tie ($85). All available at HUGO BOSS. Kenya Pierce, director for Latin America at Interamerica, an international government relations firm, wearing a Kay Unger red print halter dress ($408), Bernado gold ‘O’ ring sandals ($95), Betsey Johnson gold moon chandelier earrings ($30), Kenneth J. Lane coral horn necklace ($60) and matching gold coin bracelet ($88).

All available at Bloomingdale’s.

Ashley Taylor, manager of Anne Hand in Georgetown, wearing a Max Studio yellow with brown chiffon dress ($298), BLOOMINGDALEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S; Castaner gold espadrilles ($150), SASSANOVA.

Jordan Zabriskie, graduate student at Palmer Chiropractic, wearing a Hugo Boss navy 3button pinstripe sport coat ($525), white long sleeve V-neck rib knit shirt ($89), white chinos ($155), black leather belt ($115), and white rubber flip flops ($55). All available at Hugo Boss; North African / Morocco silver metal block ring ($225), BOBBIE MEDLIN.

Ashley Taylor, wearing an Alice & Trixie silk flirt multi-print handkerchief dress ($297), by order at www.trixie.com; Jordan Zabriskie, wearing a HUGO BOSS blue and turquoise swim trunks ($59).

Produced and styled by Barbara McConaghy; Fashion Assistants and Editorial Credit by Elizabeth Moon and Michelle Barren. Photographed by Roy Cox, assisted by Studio Manager, Mandy Strong and Photo Assistant, Andy Robinson. Roy Cox Photography, www.4-optic.com, 410-633-4540. Location garden designed by Charles Owen, Fine Landscapes Ltd. PR at Partners for Designer and Color Specialist, Tammey Laws and make-up by Anita Bahramy, Armani Make-up Artist at Saks Fifth Avenue, Chevy Chase

trend report

GARDEN GREENS

BY MICHELLE DUPONT GUCCI- Current Creative Director Frida Giannini has only been in artistic control of the 85-year-old Italian haute couture house since January, yet in these few months she is already being applauded for bringing back the buzz associated with the company’s ready-to-wear line that began with Tom Ford’s edgy, jet-set 1995 season.

GUCCI Doublesilk Georgette Flute Sleeve Gown ($3,295)

Tiffany & Co Fish Wood Bracelet Internationally renowned architect Frank Gehry and Tiffany & Co., have teamed up to create Gehry’s Fish Wood Bracelet, made from pernambuco wood and black gold.

Available June 30th at Tiffany & Co. in Chevy Chase, (301) 657-8777 www.tiffany.com

GUCCI Forest SUEDE PLATFORMS

Strut through summer in style in these thick-soled ankle-strap platforms ($725).

Available at Gucci, Chevy Chase, (301) 986-8902 www.gucci.com

Jordan’s Queen Rania chose a long train GUCCI gown and jeweled belt for the Mosaic Foundation’s 9th Annual Benefit Gala.

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Go green with GUCCI. This “Boston” bag’s medium size is both handy at work and catchy at play ($11,990)

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BOLD BLOSSOMS Valentino: (right) Pair this ivory satin floral embroidered top ($3,150) and skirt ($6,950) with a matching clutch (left). Floral Peony Shirt dress, ($4,950). Available by order at www.valentino.com

Gucci: Peony printed “Bloom” satin evening bag ($1,595), Available at Gucci, Chevy Chase, (301) 986-8902 Luca Luca: A large bow adds a feminine twist on this silk-cotton voile kenya dress ($2,500) www.lucaluca.com

C ri c ke t: w ww. D o m e n g e . n e t

Oscar de la Renta: A flower is nothing but an educated weed.

Add intelligence and tie yourself inside this prim blossom.

Oscar de la renta: Oscar’s return to the feminine, wide-skirted, floral dress is a breath of fresh air. ($9,600). Left: Oscar De La Renta runway dress ($6,450) www.oscardelarenta.com

Above and right- Sparkling crystals and precious stones in unlikely forms add a feminine touch to hair, shoes, bags and bodies – think dragonflies, frogs, butterflies and beetles. Plique du jour Enamel Frog Ring, ($2,530); cricket and butterfly pins (between $250-$1,100). Available at the Tiny Jewel Box, 1147 Connecticut Ave., NW. www.tinyjewelbox.com WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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this m o nth : L I G H T Y E A R S A H E A D / F I N A L LY F R I DA /A T R I B U T E W E L L D E S E R V E D / D I V I N E M O M E N T

with donna shor

Around Town Janice Kim, Rachael Pearson, Izette Folger and Diana Curtis at the May 4th opening reception for Izette’s show of new landscape paintings (which are drawn from childhood memory), on display at the Shigeko Bork mu project from April 29th to June 3rd.

Honoree Tom Lewis and Event Chair James V. Kimsey at the April 18th benefit, celebrating 15 years of The Fishing School.

LIGHT YEARS AHEAD

All of us are affected in some way by the work of Charles Simonyi, the visionary technology pioneer recently honored at the Kennedy Center by the Hungarian-American Coalition. He was head developer of Microsoft’s Word and Excel applications, and has been light years ahead in his innovations, which have changed the ways we record and communicate information.

Space is next in Simonyi’s lifelong explorations: in 2007 he’ll become the fifth private individual to soar to the International Space Station, plunking down $20 million for the trip. He has founded his own company, Intentional Software Corporation, but has kept ties with

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Microsoft, (including his attachment to a huge block of Microsoft stock, which probably helps explain that $20M ticket). Budapest-born Simonyi, who earned his doctorate at Stanford, is known for his philanthropies, and has given millions both here and abroad for scientific, medical and cultural institutions.

The evening drew three astronauts, Hungarian Bertalan Farkas; Sen. John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth; and NASA Shuttle Astronaut Bonnie Dunbar, who orbited it five times and now heads Seattle’s Museum of Flight.

Maximilian Teleki, the Coalition’s president; John N. Lauer, chairman of Diebold, Inc. and his wife Edith, the Coalition’s chair emerita, were

joined by György von Habsburg, president of the Hungarian Red Cross; Hungarian Ambassador András Simonyi (no relation) and his wife Nada; Mary Mochary; Sen. Maria Cantwell; Rep. Tom Lantos and wife Annette; Ina Ginsburg; Admiral Edmund Giambastiani, the vice chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Aniko Gaal Schott and Nash Whitney Schott; and Susan Hutchison, the dynamic executive director of Simonyi’s foundation, the Charles Simonyi Fund for the Arts and Sciences. Sculptor-businessman John Safer, who was there with his wife Joy, said,“I have never seen the Roof Terrace look more beautiful!”

Indeed, thanks to designer Aniko and Jack Lucky Floral Design, it did,

with hundreds of white votive lights grouped around tall, tapering sterling silver flutes of white roses and white tulips. Gotta tell ya’: a personal note about the very personable Charles Simonyi—when he leaves his computers and computations, he has been known to date Martha Stewart.

FINALLY FRIDA

The annual Georgetown House Tour was again a big success, and as usual, thanks to the watchful eye and tireless efforts of Frida Burling, a.k.a. the “amazingly-proactive-foran-Honorary-Chair” Frida. She says that she named her pull-no-punches recent memoirs Finally Frida because after all the years of being daughter of-, wife of- and mother of-, she now

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Musician Peter Gabriel spoke in support of WITNESS, which empowers human rights defenders to use video to catalyze grassroots activism, political engagement and lasting change, in Washington, on April 4.

Animal Planet’s Jeff Corwin was the guest speaker at The Washington Animal Rescue League’s April 29th black-tie event at The RitzCarlton, held in celebration of the world’s first completely cageless animal shelter.

Event co-chairs Cyd Miller Everett and Julia Sevilla-Somoza de Hopping at “Helping People See,” the 39th annual gala for The International Eye Foundation, held April 5th at the residence of the Colombian Ambassador.

thinks of herself as finally, just Frida.

Rick Rickertsen, the managing director of the venture capital firm Pine Creek Partners, hosted the tour’s Patrons Party at the Laird-Dunlop Coach House. He said he drove by the historic N Street property for years before finally buying it. The tour’s Corporate Benefactor was Doyle New York, with proceeds going to Georgetown’s St. John’s Episcopal Church charities.

A TRIBUTE WELL DESERVED

John Feinstein gave a touching tribute to his late father, the impresario Martin Feinstein, who helped make the Kennedy Center what it has become, and who built the Washington Opera into an

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important company. Appropriately, it took place at the gala evening to benefit the Young Concert Artists of Washington, as Feinstein did so much to develop artistic talent here. (This writer was present at a small dinner at Martin and Marcia Feinstein’s home when the great Gian Carlo Menotti told Martin how much his sponsorship in Washington had burnished Menotti’s already-heralded work.)

YCA Director Susan Wadsworth introduced two remarkable young artists who performed before the dinner, double bassist Daxun Zhang, who has embarked on a notable career, and the shimmering-voiced soprano Jennifer Check, who has sung at the Metropolitan and with

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important symphonies. The event, chaired by Anthony DiResta and Terrance Mason, was held in the Cosmos Club ballroom.

DIVINE MOMENT

The National Museum of Women in the Arts 24th Annual Spring Gala, Divina Latina, celebrated in style their exhibition Divine and Human: Women in Ancient Mexico and Peru.

The black-tie gala was chaired

by Martha Buchanan and José Lucero, a powerhouse husbandwife team. Martha, who was Texas’ first primetime anchorwoman (and later established an oil and gas production company), has long served as an executive and supporter of the museum. Together with

José, the founder and president of Southwest Program Development Corporation, they established the Four Seasons resort hotel in San Antonio,Texas.The 300 objects the museum displayed made clear the reverence in which women were held in these early cultures, being regarded as divine — considered goddesses. Question to all the women out there: Isn’t it interesting that those ancient worshippers were so wise, and wouldn’t we just love it if we could bring back that ol’ time religion?

If there is an upcoming event Around Town should know about, email Donna Shore at donnashor@ washingtonlife.com.

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ASPEN INSTITUTE BiPartisan Awards April 5th • U.S. Chamber of Commerce Photos by Jonah koch

The Event: The Aspen Institute presented its 2006 Bipartisanship Awards to Reps. Steven Israel (D-NY) and Timothy Johnson (R-IL), co-founders of the Congressional Center Aisle Caucus. “[Our constituents] don’t wake up thinking about Left and Right, they wake up thinking about moving forward.

And that’s what we’re trying to achieve,” Israel remarked. The Scene: The dinner with Aspen trustees, young political leaders, and Washington regulars included a panel discussion on the Future of Political Civility featuring former Speaker of the House Thomas Foley, former House Minority Leader Robert Michel, former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, and former Governor of New Jersey and EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman. The Guests: Madeleine Albright, Ann and Bill Nitze, Leonard Lauder, Alma and Joseph Gildenhorn, Kuwaiti Ambassador Salem Al-Sabah and Rima Al-Sabah, Walter and Cathy Isaacson, and Fred and Marlene Malek.

Aspen Institute VP Susan Sherwin and trustee Madeleine Albright Dr. Dorothy Zinberg and Phil Sharp

Kathy Mayer and Institute Chairman Bill Mayer

Chase Untermeyer and Lee Verstandig

Kiran Pascha and Institute trustee Tarun Das

Tom Foley and Leon Panetta

David Devlin-Foltz, Deborah Boothe and trustee Alice Young

Aspen Institute CEO Walter Isaacson and Christine Todd Whitman 96

Panelist Bob Michel and John Brademas

Elizabeth Sherman and Rodel Mary Margaret and Jack Valenti Fellowship Director Mickey Edwards WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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Elsie Whitlow Stokes School friendraiser May 13th • The Cecchi Residence Photos by Kyle Samperton

SEVENTEEN Eighty-Niners

The Event: Hosted by Enrico and Andrea Cecchi and Josh Bolten and Dede McClure, the party helped raise the profile of the Elsie Whitlow Stokes School, a public charter institution in Mount Pleasant where students learn core subjects in either English and Spanish or English and French. The Scene: After cocktails on the patio, guests gathered in the library to view a video about the school, which has been called an exemplary model for urban elementary education. The Guests: Karl and Darby Rove, Virginia Williams (mother of Mayor Anthony Williams), Robin Breckinridge and John Stiner and EWS founder and director Linda Moore.

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“...modern American cooking has found a home...”

Washingtonian “...chef Nathan Beauchamp ‘pleases demanding palates...’” zagat.com

Margo Bailey and Emanuella St. Juste

Rick and Dina Powell

Andrea and Enrico Cecchi, Linda Moore, Josh Bolten and Dede McClure

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Elizabeth “Sissy” Yates Jewelry Show April 27th • Residence of Mariella and Michael Trager Photos by Kyle samperton

The Event: Mariella Trager and Ali Stephanopoulos – Sissy Yates’ sister – hosted a show for Yates to display and sell the jewelry she designs out of her home. Ten percent of the sales benefited the Children’s Law Center, which gives free legal advice to at-risk children. The Scene: A crowd of women floated in and out of the house throughout the beautiful spring afternoon, admiring Yates’ stone and coral adorned necklaces, bracelets and earrings as they enjoyed the buffet including Trager’s salmon salad.

The Guests: Yates’ mother Muffy Cabot, Hadassah Lieberman, Deb Johns, Carol Butler and Eileen Shields-West.

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Reception for Peruvian Tenor Juan Diego Florez May 13th • The Residence of the Peruvian Ambassador Photos by Kyle Samperton

The Event: Peruvian Ambassador Eduardo Ferrero and his wife, Veronica hosted a reception for Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Florez, who made his debut with the Washington National Opera in its performance of L’ italiana in Algieri.

The Food: Guests sipped on Pisco Sours, the national drink of Peru, and enjoyed a medley of traditional Peruvian dishes. The Guests: Justice Antonin Scalia and his wife Maureen, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and her husband Martin, Michael and Linda Sonnenreich, Lucky Roosevelt, Ina Ginsburg, Robert and Jaime Craft and Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez and his wife Edi.

Chef Jose Luis Herrera

Justice Antonin Scalia

Valeriano Lanchas, Alessandra Rossi de Simone, Argentinian Amb. José Octavio Bordón, Bruno de Simone and Marc Neuman

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Michael Sonnenreich, Veronica Ferrero, Julia Trappe, Juan Diego Florez and Peruvian Amb. Eduardo Ferrero

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H i sto r i ca l L a n dsca p e s

It’s a Wardman Developer Harry Wardman’s properties are still highly prized

By D o n n a E v e r s

W

hen real estate agents describe their listings in Northwest Washington, they are always happy to add “It’s a Wardman” if the house or apartment building was built by Harry Wardman, one of the most successful real estate developers in the city’s history.

Born in England in 1872,Wardman came to this country by accident. At the age of 17, he stowed away on a ship bound from London to Australia.

When discovered, he was put off the ship in the nearest port, which happened to be NewYork City.

From there he worked his way to Washington, D.C., where he found employment with construction companies. It was from these modest beginnings that he became the biggest and most influential builder in the city. His work spanned three decades and includes over 4,000 singlefamily houses, 12 office buildings, two embassies, one parking garage, eight hotels, two clubs, two hospital annexes and 400 apartment buildings.

So great is Wardman’s legacy that some houses, known as “Wardman Wannabes,” had owners who went so far as to pretend their homes were built by the developer. Since he was responsible for building some 80,000 housing units from the early 1900’s to 1938, the real thing can be found all over the city in neighborhoods such as Columbia Heights, Brightwood,Woodley and Kalorama.

Among Wardman’s achievements are the Northumberland and Dresden apartments, the Hay-Adams, Jefferson and St. Regis hotels and the British Embassy – and the man wasn’t shy about his success. When he built seven buildings on R Street N.W., between 14th and 15th, he had the first letter of each building spell out his name: W-A-R-D-M-A-N. Of all the properties he built, Wardman considered his crowning glory to be the Wardman Park Hotel and the Wardman Tower at the corner of Connecticut and Woodley. The hotel, now owned by Marriott, was called “Wardman’s

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Folly” when it was under construction in 1916.

Critics said it was too from the center of the city to be successful, but they were wrong – the hotel was soon filled to capacity. It was the largest and grandest hotel built in Washington up to that time, and one of the 10 largest in the country.

Designed by Frank R. White, the building was patterned after “The Homestead” resort hotel in Hot Springs,Virginia. Among its special features were 1,200 rooms, a 200-by-45-foot lobby, a dining room seating 500, a Turkish bath, billiards room, drugstore and grocery.

In his book Capital Losses, architectural historian James Goode described just how far Wardman would go to pursue a project. When he decided to add the luxury apartment tower to the hotel, he tore down his own home to clear the property while his wife was visiting Paris!

Finished in 1928, the Tower turned out to be everything its creator envisioned. No other place in Washington was home to as many famous people. A partial roster of residents over the years included Herbert Hoover, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Adlai Stevenson, John Foster Dulles, Perle Mesta, Clare Booth Luce, Dean Rusk, Barry Goldwater, Lyndon Johnson and Caspar Weinberger.

Unfortunately, Wardman paid more attention to the construction and design of his buildings than to his finances. The Depression found him short on cash and overextended. The developer lost his vast real estate empire, worth $30 million, and only managed to keep building houses because some of the land he owned had been deeded in his wife’s name. Wardman built more than 1,000 houses in the 1930’s, and was on his way to creating a second real estate empire when he died of cancer in 1938. At the time of his death, he estimated that 10 percent of Washington’s population lived in “a Wardman.”

The Wardman Park Hotel and Tower | Harry Wardman and his daughter Helen shortly before WWI.

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Bella Casa

Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta and his wife, Lila, at Villa Firenze

By Christina Wilkie Photography by Gary landsman

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Clockwise from left– Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta and his wife, Lila, stroll up their; the gates of Villa Firenze open up to Albemarle St. N.W.; the Italian flag is visible from nearly everywhere on the estate; the Ambassador’s 2006 Maserati Quattroporte, a car the New York Times recently described as “just this side of a racecar.”

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I

t’s a beautiful April afternoon, and Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta has just pulled into the driveway of Villa Firenze in a gleaming yellow 2006 Maserati. Noticing the small crowd gathered in his front entryway, he smiles and beckons with his hand, “Isn’t this a beautiful machine?” he asks, with the mischief and sophistication of an Italian James Bond, “Who wants to go for a ride?” Minutes later, the Ambassador and the Maserati deliver one delighted journalist back to the residence.

“What a special car,” he beams.

Ambassador Castellaneta and his wife, Lila, arrived in Washington last fall, but clearly the couple is already “a casa” in the iconic diplomatic residence, Villa Firenze. Purchased from Polly Guggenheim Logan in 1976, the Tudor manor has become an enduring symbol of Italy in Washington.

Equally as enchanting as the main house are Villa Firenze’s formal gardens, which encompass over 17 acres of lawns and woodlands in the heart of Cleveland Park. “It’s fantastic!” raves Lila, striking in a white Yves Saint Laurent suit as she seats herself on the terrace overlooking the rolling south lawn. “Where we live is a paradise … we’re in the center of a city, but we have the most beautiful garden, and so many trees that you can’t see anyone else, so it’s perfect.

Raised in Tehran, Lila moved to the U.S. at the age of sixteen to further her education.

Based in New York, she spent the next two years studying and traveling, living briefly in London and Paris before ultimately choosing to attend university in Rome. Reflecting upon her decision, she recalls, “My parents were always interested in Europe, and as a child, we always spent our summers in Italy. But more than that, I always felt very much at home in Italy, and I’ve always felt that Italy and Iran share many cultural similarities; we both share very old civilizations, and a strong emphasis on family.”

Lila’s diplomatic schedule keeps her busy around the clock, but rather than feel burdened by the constant demands of a high-profile

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Clockwise from left– Lila posing in an Yves Saint Laurent suit in the entryway of the villa; Villa Firenze lies on 15 acres of lawns and woodlands in the heart of Cleveland Park. The home’s half-timber exterior and numerous chimneys are exemplary of the Tudor revival that became popular in the U.S. in the late 19th century; the Castellaneta’s Bijon Frisee, Cocolino Picolino; Ambassador Castellaneta enjoys an espresso while attending to business in his den; an engraved doorplate and heavy door pull – both Tudor staples.

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diplomatic lifestyle, she relishes her role as one of Washington’s most popular hostesses.“I was raised in a family that lived a similar life to the way that Giovanni and I live now, and many of the things I’m doing now, I learned from my mother: how to receive people, how to open my house. This is all part of my background from Iran. Persians are so hospitable and generous. They receive guests in such a gracious spirit, and they are willing to give them anything they have.”These early lessons have proven invaluable to Mrs. Castellaneta in her current role, where, in an average year, she will welcome more than 50,000 friends, and friends of Italy, to Villa Firenze.

Despite her busy schedule, Lila has found time to explore the neighborhood. She particularly enjoys visiting Hillwood, the museum on Linnean Street N.W., that was once home to Marjorie Merriweather Post, who entertained there in grand style throughout the 1950’s and ’60s. “It’s a beautiful house,” she says, “and Marjorie Post had an incredible collection of Russian art and artifacts that she acquired while her husband [Joseph E. Davies] was the ambassador to the [Soviet Union].” As she gazes across the lawn in the direction of Hillwood, one cannot help but see a bit of Mrs. Post in this newcomer to Washington.

She is abruptly ushered back to the present

by Cocolino Picolino, a spirited Bijon Frisee who responds only to Italian, only to Lila, and then, only occasionally. She laughs and picks him up. When I’m retired, I have already told my husband that I want to come back here and live in Washington, because I love this country and I believe strongly that the friends one has made along the way will always remain friends.”

Later, sitting in his wood-paneled study, the Ambassador shares his wife’s enthusiasm.

“Americans are so charming,” he observes, “and very open to discussion and to sharing different views, so it has been a great pleasure for us to be here. This is especially true in Washington, where so many doors have opened to us, even more than I could have expected.”

This was exemplified when Castellaneta presented his credentials to the President, a ritual that marks every new ambassador’s official acknowledgement by the government of his host nation, but one which is often fraught with delays.“We arrived in Washington from Italy on a

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Clockwise from left– Ambassador Castellaneta’s den; a dessert plate from the residence’s chef; a trio of photos display some of Villa Firenze’s most delicate moldings, antiques, flowing drapes, and the large dining room set with crystal and china where the Ambassador and his wife graciously entertain 50,000 guests a year.

Saturday, and we were staying in a hotel, because our things had yet to arrive from Italy and my predecessor had only left on Friday, but to my surprise, first thing on Monday morning I was invited to present my credentials to the State Department, and then, late Monday morning, to present them to the President, whom I like very much. That was the warmest welcome I could think of!”

Giovanni Castellaneta possesses a humility that is at once refined and completely unscripted. For centuries, the Castellaneta family owned wheat farms in the southern Italian region of Apulia. “I grew up in the country, and spent a lot of time outside when I was young. I never expected to join the diplomatic service, but after returning from a year of practicing law in Brussels, I decided to take the [foreign service] exams,” (which, in Italy, as in much of Europe are extremely competitive), “and I was accepted, which was an honor.”

Twenty years and three continents later, he holds his country’s most coveted diplomatic post, and Lila makes no effort to suppress her admiration for him. “In

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“When I’m retired, I have already told my husband that I want to come back here and live in Washington, because I love this country and I believe strongly that the friends one has made along the way will always remain friends.”

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Clockwise from top left– Lila began painting at age eight and rediscovered her passion when she and her husband were living in Australia in the early ’90s – many of Villa Firenze’s private rooms are decorated with her artwork; Ambassador and Mrs. Castellaneta enjoy a twilight stroll around the grounds of Villa Firenze; Lila and Cocolino Picolino wind down in her dressing room

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Italy,” she explains, “every young man who enters the diplomatic service wishes to become the Italian ambassador to Washington … This post is a dream for any diplomat.”

As he describes his life’s work, the Ambassador reveals a subtle understanding of the difference between international relations and international relationships. “When two countries have a relationship that is as deep as our two countries, there can be a tendency to take for granted our knowledge of each other, which can get in the way of our curiosity and our drive to learn more about the other. But we must keep improving our knowledge, and not be content to rely on what

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we have learned up to that point, and I hope to continue to read, and to learn, until the last day of my life. In many ways a relationship is like a garden, and you have to tend to it so that it will grow.”

He points to the wall opposite the desk in his study. There, prominently displayed like a piece of art, is a high-tech mountaineering pick-axe.

“It was given to me by a Sherpa in Nepal,” he explains. “I keep it above my desk everywhere I go. In many ways it reminds me of my current role, which is to walk ahead, and sometimes to climb mountains, in order to create the right conditions for a great friendship between two countries. It is also an emblem of my career in a

broader sense, and of service; of showing the way and clearing a path so that others can travel safely and we can all arrive at the summit.”

Keenly aware of the power of a strong relationship, the philosophical ambassador has a perfect partner in Lila. She is “more enthusiastic, and creative than I am, and perhaps I’m more diplomatic and more organized,” he says, “but she brings her energy, and her great taste to us, and we complement each other in so many ways.”

This exceptional couple is at home both in their partnership and at Villa Firenze.Washington welcomes them, and looks forward to celebrating with them, Italian style.

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h ot e l watc h

Paradise on the Mexican Pacific Vacation like royalty (or an A-list celebrity) at Las Alamandas, where a premium is placed on perfection Las Alamandas Costalegre, Jalisco, Mexico Telephone: (52) 322-285-5500 Fax: (52) 322-285-5027 Toll-free reservations 1-888-882-9616 Website: www.alamandas.com Get there: www.mexicana.com

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By Kevin Chaffee

The Location About two hours south of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on (mostly) good roads or a half-hour private charter flight from that city’s airport to the resort’s private 3,300-foot asphalt airstrip. Air Mexicana offers some of the most direct flights from the Washington area.

The Guests With luxury, privacy and exclusivity assured, it is hardly surprising that the guest roster resembles a list of Academy Award and Grammy winners, including Robert DeNiro, Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep, Sting, Richard Gere, Francis Ford Coppolla and Brad Pitt (who booked the entire resort to see in the Millennium with then-wife Jennifer Anniston and pals). Titled European friends of the owner also stay here, along with well-heeled Americans looking for quiet getaways. Family groups are fewer but welcome.

The Draw Isabel Goldsmith had perfection in mind when carving her beachfront paradise out of a 1,500acre Pacific coastal property she inherited from her grandfather, the late Bolivian tin king Antenor Patino. You sense she has succeeded from the first glimpse of the unspoiled coastline, white beaches, secluded lagoons and lush forests that surround the Shangri-La-like hamlet of 13 ultra-private villas and outbuildings. Miss Goldsmith, the daughter of British financier Sir James Goldsmith, spared no expense to realize her vision and the effect is truly magnificent — from the climbing vines and majestic palm trees to the theatrical fountain and magical stage lighting effects that leave one gaping in wonderment. Just like the level of pampering from mostly invisible staff who materialize instantly to fulfill any request.

The Drawbacks None to think of except that management might consider reserving the pool for adults-only use during certain hours when more than one or two children are in residence.

Accommodations Each villa boasts full-sized living, dining and sleeping areas that are simple in design (vaulted brick ceilings, doors and louvered windows open to sea air) with maximum comfort (plush shaded daybeds, oversized hand-loomed hammocks and equipal chairs, all in

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the Mexican vernacular style). Hot pink, canary yellow and burning orange walls complement Oaxaca pots, decorative plates and other arts and crafts from different regions. Beautiful azulejos (glazed tiles) are a feature of the commodious bathrooms featuring large, open shower/baths and flowering plants. Air conditioning is available when needed in the hottest weather, but most guests will be content to stretch out under the ceiling fans as they drift into dreamy reveries.

Dining Delicious, fresh and organic fare — herbs, vegetables and fruit are all grown on the property.The chicken is free-range; only beef is brought in from outside.The fabulous local seafood (shrimp, lobster, dorado, bass, tilapia, rockfish) is a mouth-watering delight each day in the Oasis restaurant or in the exotic palm thatched La Palapa Beach Club adjacent to the pool and ocean (my fave).You can have any meal in your villa at any time, or, if you desire, on one of the three beaches or atop a cliff overlooking the ocean.

What to do Swimming is best confined to the pool since strong ocean currents allow only for near-shore wading and wave jumping. Mountain biking, hiking, fishing and snorkeling opportunities are available as are boat trips to a small island where numerous wild birds may be sighted. There is a tennis court and small gym (designed by Mr. DeNiro) as well as horseback riding accompanied by a resident caballero. If cantering down a vast expanse of white beach is your idea of heaven, this is the place. Extensive massage treatments are available too — nothing like being kneaded right on the beach in a special pavilion as sea breezes waft through.

The Bottom Line Rates: $360-1,490 in low season (June 1 - October 15) to $460-1,990 in high season (Oct. 15-May 31).

Plan to add about $250 per day if meals are included (based on double occupancy). The buyout rate for the entire resort (up to 30 guests, based on sleeping arrangements) includes full board and runs from $8,000 to $17,000 depending on the season.

Left page, left to right– Chaise lounges on the lawn of an oceanfront villa; view from the swimming pool; aerial view of a two-story accommodation.

Right page, – Private dining area in one of the villas; the massage pavilion; the Oasis restaurant.

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resort roundtable

new Developments in luxury living Donn Davis Davis has served as a senior executive at Time Warner, America Online and the Tribune company for the last decade. After cofounding Revolution LLC with Steve Case, he now serves as CEO for Exclusive Resorts.

John Letham As senior vice president of business development with Orphalese Global Strategies (OGS), Letham’s principal duties include the selection and oversight of partnership companies and their progress towards completion of shipboard services, public relations and sales program.

Mark Gregg Gregg serves as managing partner and president of Penrose Financial Services, which provides mortgage banking, strategic corporate real estate and property management services.

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uxury living reaches new heights through three unique ventures: Developer Mark Gregg brings Canyon Ranch Living to Bethesda with private residences adjacent to an exclusive wellness center, hotel and high-end retail; Steve Case and Donn Davis lead the luxury destination club pack with 300 residences worldwide available through Exclusive Resorts; and luxury cruise line developers Don Allen and John Letham allow you to purchase a second home on the good ship Orphalese, which travels the world from exclusive event to event while providing all

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the comforts of home and a five star hotel. WL moderator and Real Estate Weekly publisher Mark Bisnow leads the discussion.

Mark Bisnow: Let’s start by finding out what each of you offer for luxury living.

Donn Davis: Exclusive Resorts is the leader in

the new category of luxury destination clubs.

Members have access to hundreds of homes in dozens of destinations around the world (from Maui to Miami, Telluride to Tuscany) with full services and amenities, but without any of the hassles of home ownership, and with the flexibility

of owning many homes. Exclusive Resorts works much like a country club. Members pay a onetime deposit, 80 percent of which you get back if you ever leave, and annual dues. That entitles you to two, three or four weeks in any of the homes around the world each year at the times you choose. Our members have 35 destinations and 300 residences for less than a down payment on just one home.

Bisnow: You call it a home? But these seem to be more than that.What is the typical value of one?

Davis: These are $3 million residences – they might

be penthouses in the core of a ski destination or five-bedroom homes on 50 acres in Tuscany.

Bisnow: And is it a fractional ownership or destination club?

Davis: Those are two very separate things: luxury

destination clubs, of which Exclusive Resorts is a leader, and fractional real estate.With Exclusive Resorts, you don’t own anything – you don’t have a real estate deed. Essentially you belong to a country club. In fractional real estate, you own an eighth or a tenth share in a specific destination so you can go there three or four weeks a year.

Bisnow: What makes you the industry leader?

Davis: Within the luxury destination club industry,

Exclusive Resorts is the leader. We had about 20,000 weeks of vacation taken by our members with 96 percent satisfaction. This is the highest satisfaction level ever in luxury hospitality.

Bisnow: Who measures it?

Davis: The members.

Bisnow: What’s the Steve Case connection?

Davis: Steve Case bought control of the company

three years ago when it was a pure start-up company and currently serves as its chairman and majority stockholder.

Bisnow: Mark Gregg from Penrose Group, tell us about your Canyon Ranch Living project in Bethesda.

Mark Gregg: We are developing the Rock Spring

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Centre, which is a mixed use development in Bethesda that will have 350,000 square feet of retail, a 157-room Canyon Ranch Hotel, with 400 residential condominiums and a 10,000 square foot health and wellness center operated

by Canyon Ranch Living. This will be the first such facility in the mid-Atlantic.

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(1) Members staying in Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica will experience dazzling views of the Pacific and the surrounding forest treetops. (2) The Kohala Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii is the perfect setting for this unique threebedroom home built in the Balinese style. (3) Exclusive Resorts features nine residences in North Lake Tahoe. (4) The club is known for its expansive living areas where family and friends can gather to reconnect with one another on their vacation. To find out more contact Exclusive Resorts at www.exclusiveresorts.com (800) 447-8988.

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The Orphalese is the first event-driven cruise ship.

We are strictly going from one event to another over an eighteen month period. Other cruise ships are great, but they go from place to place – or palm tree to palm tree – rather than event to event.

Jane Fairweather at Coldwell Banker is handling pre-construction sales for Canyon Ranch Living in Bethesda. Call (301) 530-4663 for more information.

Bisnow: Even though most WL readers know what Canyon Ranch is, tell us a bit more.

Gregg: Canyon Ranch started about 25 years

ago in Arizona when Mel Zuckerman decided to start a company that would focus on health and wellness. They started in Tucson, expanded to the Berkshires, and the first Canyon Ranch Living Facility was built in Miami Beach. The Bethesda development will be the second live-in wellness facility. It furthers the concept of taking that healthy lifestyle and letting you do it every day rather than just going for a week.

Bisnow: When do you break ground and when would you deliver?

Gregg: We break ground in June, 2006, and we

will deliver in 2008.

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Bisnow: Do you have plans even beyond the number of units you described?

Gregg: This is an exclusive opportunity. There

Bisnow: John, tell us about the luxury residences you are building aboard the Orphalese.

John Letham: The Orphalese is truly the first

will only be 434 condominiums available for purchase with a membership to the health and wellness center. The health and wellness center will have everything from the typical health spa amenities to physicians. The average person in the U.S. spends less than 10 minutes a year with their doctor — here’s an opportunity to have that access year round not only to deal with disease, but prevention as well.

luxury liner designed to have 200 permanent residences as well as 265 hotel rooms. It is also the first event-driven cruise ship in the country. The ship will visit the top 40 most exclusive events every year, such as the Cannes Film Festival, the Grand Prix in Monte Carlo, America’s Cup in Spain and Wimbledon. The Orphalese is about 1,000 feet long and 114 feet wide and can go through the Panama Canal. It’s larger than an aircraft carrier, but about as agile as a yacht. The residences will come fully furnished ranging from $1.8 million to $10 million (for a two bedroom, two bath to a five bedroom, five bath). Modest monthly assessments include food, major

Bisnow: Where in Bethesda is this exaclty and is there anything else like it in this region?

Gregg: At Rock Spring Center right off of

Democracy and Old Georgetown Road. I think it’s a unique opportunity because when you purchase your condominium you get a health assessment, which opens the door to prevention, pleasure and learning, which is what this is all about.

(5) The Canyon Ranch Living Center in Bethesda will be the first in the Mid-Atlantic region and will feature 400 condominiums with memberships to their wellness center.

For more information visit www.canyonranch.com.

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ne er Ja eath s w ent r i Fa pres

Bethesda, MD

$3,295,000

Bethesda, MD

$2,375,000

Jane Fairweather The Leader in Bethesda Home Sales

Bethesda, MD

$2,095,000

301-530-HOME janefairweather.com

301-718-0010

Bethesda, MD

$1,425,000

medical, light, gas, water, and all [shipboard] facilities. Other cruise ships are great, but they go from place to place — palm tree to palm tree — rather than event to event. For example, when we go to Cannes, we invite exhibitors on board to screen their films in our 750-seat theater - truly incorporating the Orphalese and its residents into the event.

Bisnow: And the name Orphalese?

Letham: The Orphalese was inspired by Kahlil

Gibran’s book “The Prophet.”The prophet spent twelve years waiting for his ship to arrive in the city of Orphalese to return him to his home.

Bisnow: What do you three think is driving the luxury resort and healthy lifestyle trend?

Gregg: American Lives did a study for Canyon

Ranch, and it reported that one third of Americans seek healthier, more balanced lives and 75 percent of adults seek to reduce stress and reprioritize their lives.These models offer that.

Davis: People want quality experiences. Maybe our parents were ok with just going to a beach or playing golf, but what today’s consumers really want is to relax, rejuvenate, recharge and discover. It’s about the combination of a great place that happens to be a canvas that allows you to have great experiences with your family and friends, learn a lot about yourself and enjoy

6

Bisnow: Anybody’s welcome to apply, but it looks pretty much like the Baby Boomers are in the bull’s eye. Can you say a little more about your demographic targets?

Gregg: We are a lifestyle community and

looking to attract people in the range from 50-75 years.

Letham: We tend to start a little younger when it comes to females: 42 at the starting age, and for males right around 52.The Orphalese is a second home, not a retirement facility.We are looking for people who are still working and who have hit a particular level in their career that will allow them to have a second home.

7 G R A N D M A S T E R E S TAT E

There are three million people in the United States whose net worth is three million or more, excluding their primary home. So when you start to talk about the depth of wealth in America today, at Exclusive Resorts for example, we have more members in Iowa than London. America has an extreme amount of affluence.

that time away in a manner that is very active and experiential, not just relaxing. They are also very open to a different and better way of doing things. Whether it is a 99 cent download from iTunes, or a $1 million fractional jet from Marquis or NetJets – these are both business models that didn’t exist ten years ago.

Letham: Couldn’t agree more. Today’s 50 year old is yesterday’s 40 year old. The boomers are living longer, are more active and take better care of themselves and their health.

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Davis: Exclusive Resorts is a bit different. We

don’t have a demographic. We have more of a psychographic. In other words, our people don’t fit into the brackets of age, income or kids. Our members are from ages 35-75. Their net worth is from $3 million to $300 million; their families range from seven kids at home to empty nesters.

But, all want great vacation experiences with no hassles. There are three million people in the United States whose net worth is $3 million or more, excluding their primary homes. So when

you start to talk about the depth of wealth in America today, it is astounding. At Exclusive Resorts, for example, we have more members in Iowa than London. America has an extreme amount of affluence.

(6) The Orphalese is the world’s first event-driven cruise ship, with stops from the Cannes Film Festival to the Cherry Festival in Japan. (7) The grand master suite aboard the Orphalese, which has four bedrooms and comes fully furnished. Prices range from $1.8 million to $10 million. For more information on the Orphalese visit www. orphalese.com or call (888) 287-7447.

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Beautiful colonial with great curb appeal. Gorgeous decorating highlights open floorplan. Peaceful rear patio overlooks wooded backyard.

Great Falls. $1,275,000

Elegant brick colonial located in close-in McLean for an easy commute. Interior features library, 2-story living room, family room with brick fireplace opens to slate terrace with pond and waterfall. McLean. $1,350,000.

New home recently finished by Versailles Custom Homes. Known for exquisite detailing and top-of-the-line finishes. Additional home sites available in McLean and Great Falls.

Great Falls. $2,375,000.

Wow! Incredible custom finishes in this home make it one-of-a-kind. Impeccably maintained with fantastic lower level featuring theater, billiards area, bar and more!

Great Falls. $2,575,000.

Breathtaking home with extensive landscaping, beautiful pool and hot tub. Elegant interior features walnut floors, gorgeous moulding, sumptuous master retreat and more!

McLean. $3,795,000.

One of the most spectacular custom homes in The Reserve sited on one of the best lots–backing to acres of trees. Built with the highest quality detailing and finishes.

Finished Summer ’06. McLean. $5,995,000.

Steeped in Tradition –

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THE DISTRICT • MARYLAND • VIRGINIA The District The former home of the late legendary hostess Evangeline Bell Bruce and the late David K. E. Bruce, the millionaire diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to Britain, France, Germany and China, is under contract with an asking price of $6.2 million. The Bruces’ home played a central role in Georgetown society and world affairs as a meeting place for Frank and Polly Wisner, George Kennan, Dean Acheson, Joseph and Susan Mary Alsop, Katharine and Philip Graham, Clark Clifford, Pamela and Averill Harriman and Allen W. Dulles. Located at 1405 34th Street, N.W., in Georgetown’s West Village, the home is one of the great Federal brick mansions built circa 1800. The property was meticulously renovated in 1998 and has eight bedrooms, six full and two half baths, a thirty-four-foot ballroom, lap pool, guest cottage, greenhouse, smoke house, large tiered garden designed by Rose Greely, a nineroom storage bunker with two wine cellars, and multi-car parking.

The current owners of the historic residence

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“There’s no place like home …

There’s no place like home,” – Judy Garland

B y M ary K . M ewb o rn are writers Clara Bingham and David Michaelis who now live in New York City and Nantucket.

The couple listed their Georgetown property with Washington Fine Properties’ agents Jamie Peva and Michael Sullivan and sold it to Deborah and Curtin Winsor, III, the founder of the Bank of Georgetown.

Investment guru and NetAssets CEO Steve Lockshin and his wife Allison Lockshin are moving from their much-admired five-bedroom

corner property at 1315 31st Street, N.W. The elegant house is often referred to as one of The District’s “Grand Old Dames” and features beautiful vistas, a gourmet kitchen, fabulous formal living and dining rooms and an interior garage. It is currently under contract with a price tag of $5,495,000. The Lockshins are members and supporters of the Mythic Imagination Institute, the purpose of which is, “to connect people to the accumulated wisdom of humankind that lives in stories and mythology.”

Number 3725 Winfield Lane, in the treelined Cloisters community of Georgetown has sold for $1.3 million thanks to listing agent Nancy Itteilag of Long and Foster’s Foxhall office. The

Clockwise– 1405 34th Street, N.W., in Georgetown’s West Village is under contract with an asking price of $6.2 million. / Inside view of Dennis Lee’s Adams Morgan rowhouse located at 2424 18th Street, N.W. / Dennis Lee received $2,445,000 for the 3,000 square-foot loft he constructed in this 1917 Adams Morgan rowhouse — it was listed for $2,245,000.

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Among William Seale’s restoration projects are national landmarks Stratford Hall in Virginia, the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York, and Rosedown Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana. seller is John C. Donnelly, senior VP of J. Lee Donnelly & Sons, one of the Washington area’s oldest and best-known commercial and residential real estate appraisal companies. Highlights of the three-bedroom townhouse include an open floor plan, a marble fireplace flanked by double windows in the living room, a large kitchen with stainless steel appliances, and a lower level office with a brick fireplace and French doors leading to a flagstone terrace. The New York buyer, who wishes to remain anonymous, has placed the deed in the name of John Loeb Trust. Philanthropist banker John Loeb was widely regarded as a leader in the investment community and for decades the Loeb family was active in many charitable enterprises in New York City and served on the boards of schools, museums, and hospitals. Loeb and his wife were also avid collectors of French Impressionist paintings. The Loeb heirs include John L. Loeb Jr., Arthur L. Loeb, Judith Loeb Chiara, Ann Loeb Bronfman, Deborah Loeb Brice and Alexandra Loeb Driscoll.

Dennis Lee, president of Capital Design Group has received $2,445,000 for the 3,000 square-foot loft he constructed in the 1917 Adams Morgan rowhouse located at 2424 18th Street, N.W. Unit number #R3 was listed for $2,245,000 by Jonathan Taylor and Michael Rankin partners in Tutt,Taylor and Rankin Sotheby’s International Realty. It sold to P.J. Braden, president and owner of Gryphon Technologies. Features of the unique condominium, with its top-of-the-line finishes, include twenty-two foot ceilings, a fireplace, private elevator, private rooftop deck and garage parking.

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The luxurious mansion that Myrna Haft inherited from her late husband retail magnate Herbert H. Haft, who died at age 84 in 2004 has sold for $15 million. The seven-bedroom home with eleven and a half bathrooms sits on less than an acre at 2501 30th Streeet, N.W., and is the highest priced listing in our area to date for a house on comparabale acreage. The home was assessed at $8 million in 2005 and boasts Italian marble floors and fireplaces and a chandelier from the Paris Opera House. Long & Foster realtor, Maggie Shannon, facilitated the sale.

Maryland The home belonging to philanthropist Lee Mills Petty at 37 West Lenox Street in Chevy Chase is under contract with a price tag of $2,995,000. Petty has been a supporter of the Democratic Party and of EngenderHealth which provides worldwide reproductive health assistance. The Chevy Chase address made real estate news in June of 1938 when John F. Maury, a prominent Washington realtor and president of the firm of Maury & Mohler, was found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning in the garage.

Washington Fine Properties’ agent Joan Bond is helping facilitate the sale.

Virginia Historian and architectural restorationist William Seale is selling the Reardon House, which sits on a double lot at 805 and 807 Prince Street in Old Town Alexandria. The semi-detached brick Victorian townhouse

has large rooms with high ceilings and wood floors, five bedrooms, three and a half baths, four fireplaces, a new kitchen, two off-street parking spaces and a large private garden with an historical easement. In 1900, the property was home to William M. Reardon who was president of the Mutual Ice Company until his death in 1919 when his wife Nora took over the business.

Nora lived in the family home until her death in 1955. Among Seale’s restoration projects are national landmarks Stratford Hall in Virginia, the George Eastman House in Rochester, N.Y., and Rosedown Plantation in St. Francisville, L.a.The prospective buyer is expected to pay $1,795,000 for his piece of Americana.

Washington Fine Properties agent Ted Gossett has helped sell 1545 22nd Street, North a townhouse in Palisades Park in Arlington. The sellers were Allan and Deborah Creel who purchased it in 2004 for $949,000 for their daughter Heidi. The Creels asked $1,350,000 for the property which has a view of the Potomac River. Gossett was instrumental in the previous sale as well.

Rob Friedman's reputation has been built on his commitment to excellence, but it's his love for his work that makes it look easy. It is this passion for where he lives, works and plays that defines him. His business expertise and savvy have been the cornerstone to his success, but it's his determination and enthusiasm for helping his clients that have made him a respected and sought after realtor in the D.C. Metro area.

Working to bring you only the best homes or the right buyers, Rob has

A Passion for Excellence and will settle for nothing less.

Call Rob today. You’ll be happy you did.

Please Send Real Estate News Items to: Mary_Mewborn@Yahoo.com Left to Right– William Seale is selling the Reardon House in Old Town Alexandria for an estimated $1,795,000. / The home of philanthropist Lee Mills Petty at 37 West Lenox Street in Chevy Chase is under contract for $2,995,000. / Allan and Deborah Creel purchased 1545 22nd Street, N.W., in 2004 for $949,000 and received $1,350,000 for the property.

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Cell: 202-669-3003 Direct: 202-243-6610 Email: Rob@RobbyFriedman.com Website: www.RobbyFriedman.com Licensed in DC, Maryland & Virginia REALTOR ®

7ASHINGTON $# -ARYLAND AND 6IRGINIA 'EORGETOWN (EIGHTS

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DRAMATIC CONTEMPORARY IN FALCONHURST 9701 SORREL AVE. POTOMAC, MD

Soaring ceilings, skylights and the extensive use of glass, marble and granite are only a few of the features that make this home unique.

Michael Ochsman, one of the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outstanding architects, successfully designed this functional and distinctive living space. six bedrooms, six full bathrooms, six fireplaces, four car-garage, indoor pool, and a private two acre-plus lot make this a great find.

Asking: $7,500,000 Listing: Marsha Schuman (301) 299-9598, Long and Foster Realtors

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Normanstone 2601 30th street N.W. Washington, D.C.

This elegant residence adjoining Normanstone Park is located in the prestigious and highly sought-after forested enclave of Massachusetts Avenue Heights on an over one acre lot. Internationally known sculptor Alfredo Halegua combined both traditional and contemporary elements to create this architecturally celebrated home. Special features include a three-car garage, a gated circular driveway, and enough land to accommodate the addition of a regulation size tennis court, swimming pool or additional buildings.

Asking: $6,000,750 Listing: Washington Fine Properties, LLC (202) 243-1619, www.WashingtonFineProperties.com

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S V Wesley Heights. Dramatic design and luxurious detailing defines this magnificent shingle-style colonial: two story entrance hall with coffered ceiling, front and back halls with elegant circular staircase and French doors to back patio and garden, grand living room with fireplace, baronial dining room, fabulous world-class kitchen, butler’s pantry, paneled library, gorgeous step-down family room with stone fireplace, wine celler, 7 bedrooms and 6 1/2 baths, including multi-room master suite. $5,650,000 Susan Berger- 202-255-5006; Ellen Sandler- 202-255-5007, 202-364-1700

A T  D

Somerset. Brilliant new shingle style colonial on 1/2 acre offers large open rooms, magnificent kitchen/family room, 6 bedrooms and 6 1/2 plus 1/2 baths. $2,845,000 Bonnie Lewin- 301-332-0171; 202-364-1700

S  C

Spring Valley. Dramatic colonial with a two-story entry hall, formal front rooms, big kitchen and family room, 5 bedrooms and 4 1/2 baths. $1,990,000 Susan Berger- 202-255-5006; Ellen Sandler- 202-255-5007; 202-364-1700

V A

Chevy Chase. Impressive 4-year old shingle style colonial with open main floor rooms, state-of-the-art kitchen and family room,5 bedrooms and 5 1/2 baths. $1,739,000 Susan Berger- 202-255-5006; Ellen Sandler- 202-255-5007; 202-364-1700

L V

Drummond. Spectacular Victorian has period detailing and coffered ceilings, 5 bedrooms, 3 baths and a big backyard. $2,300,000 Martha Williams- 202-271-8138; Ted Beverley- 301-986-1214; 202-364-1700

I D

Potomac. Fabulous Arts & Crafts renovation has period detailing, beautiful kitchen/ family room, picturesque 2 acres with pool and stone patio, 5 bedrooms and 5 1/2 baths.

Guy-didier Godat- 202-361-4663; 202-364-1700

D D Town of Chevy Chase. Dazzling, multi-level contemporary offers dramatic entertaining spaces, 4 bedrooms and 3 baths and a kitchen overlooking private deck and garden. $1,175,000 Guy-didier Godat- 202-361-4663; 202-364-1700

T C

Kenwood. Majestic stone colonial with elegant formal spaces, country kitchen and family room, 7 bedrooms and 1 1/2 + 1/2 baths, 10,000 s.f. of living space. $3,565,000 Bonnie Lewin- 301-332-0171; 202-364-1700

G E

Chevy Chase Village. Grand vintage home c. 1918 features majestic entrance hall, large public rooms, 5 bedrooms and 4 baths, large garden. $1,875,000 Ellen Rodin and Beverly Nadel301-986-9670; 202-364-1700

D  R

Cleveland Park. Stately Tudor offers beautifully appointed rooms, renovated kitchen, family room and deck overlooking dramatic backyard, 5 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths. $1, 695,000 Lynn Bulmer- 202-257-2410; 202-364-1700

SELLING THE AREA’S FINEST PROPERTIES

4400 Jenifer Street, NW Washington, DC 20015 202-364-1700 · www.eversco.com

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Joseph Ireland Designer creatively twists traditional into “today”

By Deborah Dietsch

“Most decorators come in and say, ‘here is the look.’ Joe really understands the flavor of the family and what works for us.”

S

everal years ago, he was dressing the windows of a Dupont Circle hair salon.

Today, fresh-faced Joseph Ireland is running a successful interior design firm, cutting his teeth on homes in Georgetown, Kalorama and Potomac.

The 30-year-old decorator’s growing reputation led him to be selected for the Spring show house currently on view at the Washington Design Center, where he has created a soothing “weekend space” for finding your inner Zen. Ireland works from a third-floor office in a building on artsy 14th and Q streets Northwest, next door to the Asian restaurant Rice. He shares his three-year-old practice, called JD Ireland, with the “J” and “D”: Julie Weber, 28, a friend since high school days in Gaithersburg, who manages his projects; and business partner Dan Wehrung, 34.

As the creative force in the firm, Ireland maintains a laid-back attitude toward decorating that often wins him repeat jobs among Washington’s finicky and demanding homeowners. “I’m not a dictator,” he says.

“I adapt easily to a client’s taste. I like having someone bring something to the table.”

Designing rooms that are both elegant and comfortable, he often blends in a homeowner’s favorite furnishings. “Instead of coming in and [making] a fortune selling you the fabrics and the furniture, he appreciates what you’ve already acquired,” says Marianne Foulger. She and her husband, real estate developer Bryant Foulger, hired Ireland after trying four other decorators to redo their Potomac home.

“He has a good sense of color and proportion,” Foulger says. “It’s hard to find that. Most decorators come in and say, ‘here is the look.’

Joe really understands the flavor of the family and what works for us.” After starting with the family room, she says, Ireland designed a homework space for the couple’s school-age

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– real estate developer Bryant Foulger

kids and moved on to transform other parts of the house. In addition to installing new curtains and furniture, he reupholstered the dining room chairs, repainted end tables and made sure family photos were kept in place.

Ireland, who attended Montgomery College but never graduated, admits he is still developing his style, which draws on both the traditional and the modern. “I like mixing history with pieces that are contemporary,” he says, “but not so contemporary that they feel out of place.”

Inspiration, he adds, comes from the work of New York designer John Saladino and Washington über-decorator Thomas Pheasant.The “tone-ontone” look of their interiors, created through a subtle layering of textures and colors, is certainly evident in Ireland’s beige-on-taupe room at the Washington Design Center (on view through June 24), where cushy armchairs and a sofa from Gore-Dean are paired with a metal coffee table filled with pebbles.

Another influence is noted Washington designer Jose Solis Betancourt, who hired Ireland

as an apprentice after admiring his creative arrangements in the windows of the Axis hair salon off Dupont Circle.

“He taught me a lot about creating a story, how each room needs to relate to the next room,” says Ireland, who worked for Betancourt from 1999 to 2001.

Ireland’s offbeat displays – including a red refrigerator filled with bottles of “Milk” bath and body products – not only caught the attention of Betancourt, a regular salon customer, but young urbanites who hired Ireland to help them furnish their apartments. That work, in turn, led Ireland to open a design practice with Wehrung in 2002 and then hire Weber, who became the third partner in 2004.

His knack for combining found objects with antiques and new pieces – a skill developed during his window dressing days – has served Ireland well. From sprucing up Logan Circle digs for yuppies, his work has grown more sophisticated in style and scope.

Youth has its advantages, Ireland says, in not only attracting like-minded, up-and-coming urban professionals, but smoothing over taste disputes between homeowners of the opposite sex. He claims he is “able to achieve a happy medium between what the wives and the husbands want.”

Referrals often come from the Georgetown

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furniture store Hollis and Knight, where Ireland has helped with buying and displaying furniture.

That’s how Vickie Burns, vice president of news at the local NBC affiliate, ended up hiring the young designer to remodel her two-bedroom townhouse off Massachusetts Avenue NW in Wesley Heights. “Before we bought a single pillow, he helped me redesign the kitchen and lay out the floors,” Burns says. Simple but effective changes, like relocating the refrigerator and extending crown molding to unify the kitchen, she explains, won her admiration for the designer’s practical approach.

At the same time, Burns notes that Ireland helped her to achieve a “clean and serene feeling” in her renovated 1980s home through a mix of new and recycled furnishings.“He pushed me out of my safe zone,” she says, citing the designer’s recommendation of a turquoise-and-brown patterned fabric for a living room chair.

Ireland’s newcomer status within Washington’s staid design scene is a plus, Burns says. “It makes him freer. He has a keen eye for detail, but he doesn’t impose the design world on you.”

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Clockwise– Designer Joseph Ireland is known for making over Washington’s tony homes. / A blend of contemporary with traditional. / His “tone-on-tone” subtly layers colors.

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All the Right Mooooves

By V i c k y M o o n Nacho Macho Man

Hang on to your hats and mark your calendars ladies…the polo season is upon us. And one of the hottest players to ever swing a mallet, 29-year-old seven-goaler Nacho Figueras of Argentina will be playing in a charity match at Great Meadow on June 17. Nacho is not just another handsome man in the saddle; he’s currently the face of Ralph Lauren, both the clothing line and the new fragrance, Polo Black.

He’ll be playing with Salvatore Ferragamo, Mathais Hermes and Tim Gannon (a founder and director emeritus of Outback Steakhouse — the other last names need no explanation.)

As the fox-hunting season drew to a close, Malcolm Matheson III, a joint-master of the Orange County Hunt, made an announcement.

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After many triumphant years riding to hounds, Washington hostess Lucy Morehead and her adorable brown and white horse, Bingo, will be hanging up the tack.

Over The Mountain

Traveling west from Middleburg 20 miles to Clarke County, one must pass over the Paris Mountain to visit the rural communities of Millwood, Boyce or Berryville. The town of Boyce dates to 1880, and much of its history revolves around its large, privately subsidized railroad station. Many well-to-do early settlers brought horses to Virginia by rail in order to pursue the sport of fox hunting; the horses were off loaded directly from the train.

Through the years, the Gilpin family endowed the train station, which is now home to the Railway Mail Service Library.

Kenneth Newcomer Gilpin and his wife, Knoxville socialite Isabella Tyson, settled here after they married in 1918. The family owned two of many magnificent estates in the area: Kentmere and Scaleby. Their heirs continue to live in the area.

Ellen Carroll, an attractive petite red-head now owns Kentmere. She’s a decorator and in her spare time also paints.

Not far from the train station, jewelry designer Elizabeth Locke has her “flagship” boutique in an elegantly restored 100-yearold general store on Main Street. The lavish Italianate interiors have been embellished with Above- The Belted Galloways raised at Mansfield Farm near Berryville are dietetically correct..lower in fat. They are gentle, easy keepers for the small farmer looking for the latest bovine accessory.

131

faux marble, Corinthian columns and other trompe l’oeil touches.

“It’s part of the weekend tour,” says retail manager Susan Mathews, who tells the fable of a phantom twin sister to about 40 weekend visitors. She’ll also show and sell any of the brilliant Byzantine-style 19-carat gold earrings, brooches and necklaces in stunning settings of pearls, aquamarine, citrine, diamonds and more.

When Elizabeth is not in her Madison Avenue shop or doing a show at one of the 34 Neiman Marcus stores, she joins her husband John Staelin at home in Millwood, where they’ve also renovated a farm house. He’s a former master of the Blue Ridge Hunt, and now chairman of the Clarke County Board of Supervisors. “Since I travel so much each day I spend in Clarke County is a treat. It’s truly a community and a richly varied one. I wouldn’t live anywhere else, well maybe Paris...” Elizabeth says via Blackberry.

In The Hunt

Linda Armbrust and Doris Stimpson are now joint-masters of the circa 1888 Blue Ridge Hunt.

Linda lived in England for several years and rode to hounds. With the pending ban on the sport, she wanted to return to Virginia. She and husband Wayne Armbrust now live at The Pines.

Other interesting people in the area include Joe and Lucia Henderson, who bought Chapel

Hill Farm and moved out here full-time from Washington after Bill and Hillary Clinton bought their house.They raise a rare breed of endangered American Randall cattle.

Sandy Johnston raises those endearing Belted Galloway cattle at Mansfield Farm in Berryville.

His wife, Laurie Volk, an attorney, keeps busy in her home office specializing in immigration law.

“When you ask me how long I’ve been here, I say ‘My ancestors first came from North Carolina in 1861 and four years later after Appomattox they went home’ and then we moved here in 1983,” Sandy says.

Ted and Anjela Guariello live at Fox Spring Woods in Millwood and both foxhunt. Tim Harvey and Rick Wallace recently opened their Twin Gates for a gala to benefit Winchester Musica Viva.

John P. Howe III, president and CEO of Project Hope, located at the historic 1792 Carter Hall estate, lives in the area with his wife Tyrell.

Nathaniel Burwell, a great-grandson of Robert “King” Carter originally built the stately stone manor house and it remained in the family for many years. In the 1930’s Gerard Lambert of pharmaceutical fame (whose daughter Bunny Mellon was featured in this space last month) renovated the entire estate.

One of the best-kept secrets in this area is that there are numerous dependencies, cabins and cottages available for overnight stays at Carter Hall as part of a package for retreats, meetings and seminars.The majestic entrance hall complete with marble fireplace and “flying” stairway provides a drop dead gorgeous setting.

Other glam Washingtonians here on weekends: Michael and Cleo Gewirz. She grew up in the area and chaired the Corcoran Ball in April.

Locke’s Store is a must see on any tour of the area. It is right across the way from the 1785 Burwell Morgan Mill, the oldest operable mill in the Shenandoah Valley. Juliet Mackay-Smith, whose father, equine vet Matthew MackaySmith from time to time makes “house calls” to all the lovely farms in the area, owns the delightful deli/shop. One might even run into Kitty Kelley and her husband, Jonathan Zucker, who spend weekends here.

Left- Jewelry designer Elizabeth Locke and her shop in Boyce. Above Right- Penny Denegre and Jeff Blue at the annual Hunt Ball.

132

Word on the street

Part of the charm of the Hunt Country is the ease in which members of the community go from riding horses and shoveling out the barn to a cocktail party and then a ball. Here are joint masters of the Middleburg Hunt, Penny Denegre and Jeff Blue at the annual Hunt Ball. And below, a proud Mathew Mullins, shows off his prize hogs Dairy Queen and Squeaky at the Fauquier County 4-H Livestock Show and Sale

HUNT COUNTRY DATES June 1-21-The Spirit of Spring, the paintings and jewelry of Louise Mellon, Minna Marston and Wendy Cortesi at The Byrne Gallery in Middleburg (540) 6876986, www.brynegallery.com.

June 10-International Polo ClassicArgentina vs. USA to benefit the National Rehabilitation Hospital at Chetwood Park, The Plains. (202) 877-1781, Leslie.Concha@medstar.net.

June 17-Ambassadors’ Cup and Courage Cup Polo Matches followed by “Dancing Under The Stars” to benefit inner city children and breast cancer at Great Meadow Polo Club, The Plains (540) 2539844, www.greatmeadowpoloclub.com, www.couragecup.org, eahedlery@aol.com.

June 19-28-Blue Ridge Hunt Pony Club at Historic Long Branch in Millwood. historic@historiclongbranch.com , (540) 837-2443, www.historiclongbranch.com.

Herndon $1,600,000 Stately brick col. 1AC plus. 3 car gar. 5BR, 6.5BA. Surround sound. Smart house.

Amazing LL wet bar. Gormít kit. 3 fin lvls. Laundry suite.

Great Falls $850,000 Langley HS. Private lot surrounded by trees & parkland.

Neighborhood jog paths.

Courtyard. Updated kit. 4BR, 2.5BA. HWFs. 3 fin lvls.

Alexandria $1,297,777 REDUCED!! Large lot w/ ingrnd pool, deck & fenced bckyrd. HWFs. Kit w/granite & ceramic. 6BR, 4.5BA. Frpl FR, mst BR & rec rm.

Vienna $1,267,777 Best value in the Oakton Schl District! New paint & landscaping. HWFs. 3 fin lvls. 6BR, 4.5BA. 3 car garage. Frpl.

6BR, 4.5BA.

Alexandria $927,777 Beautifully renovated home w/ slate patio. HWFs. Kit w/SS appl. 5BR, 3.5BA. 2 frpl. 3 car gar. Mst BA w/tumbled marble & ceiling w/Douglas fir inlay.

Clifton $5,280,000 One of the areaís ìBest Estatesî is offered at its 2003 completion price & is a value that cannot be matched. 7BR, 6BA, 2 pwder rms. 3 car gar.

Manassas $847,777 Brick frnt colonial in great neighborhd. Wooded 2.4AC. 4BR, 4.5BA. 3 fin lvls.

5300sqft. Granite. Frpl. HWFs. Walkout LL.

Fairfax $677,777 Updated home. 2 car garage.

New gormít kit w/granite, new appl & ceramic. Deck. 3 sided frpl. Crown molding. 3BR, 2BA, 2 powder rms. 3 fin lvls.

Aldie From $847,777 Three new homes on large estate lots in charming Aldie.

Front porches. HWFs. Frpl.

Gourmet kitchen. w/corian/ granite. 4BR, 3.5BA. .

Alexandria $769,999 Large brick col. Deck. Spacious open kit & brkfast room.

5BR, 3.5BA. FR off kit with frpl. Neutral dÈcor. Lrg mst suite w/WIC. 3 fin lvls.

Oak Hill $1,399,900 Lushly landscaped 1AC lot w/ flower gardens plus deck & gazebo. 3 car gar. 3 fin lvls.

5BR, 4.5BA. FR w/coffered 11ft ceiling & frpl. Gormít kit.

Great Falls From low $2m Stn & brick masterpiece down a long private drive. Situated on 6AC & offers a 3 car gar, elegant receiving hall w/open floor plan.

McLean $1,795,000 REDUCED!! Amazing home w/arched doorways, custom moldings, HWFs, 4 fin lvls, stone frpl, 3 car gar. Mature trees, frnt porch & deck

Clifton $2,199,900 Stunning home situated on 5AC between 2 ponds. Deck, ingrnd pool. 5BR, 3BA, 3 pwder rms. 3 car gar w/ apartment. 3 fin lvls. HWFs.

McLean $1,577,777 Towering home on private, lushly landscaped acre. 5BR, 3.5BA. 3 fin lvls. 4 frpl. Updated kit w/ceramic, granite, SS appl. 2stry DR w/skylights.

Oak Hill $995,900 Cul-de-sac lot part of quiet neighborhood. Every detail: HWFs, granite, cherry cab, SS appl. 4BR, 4.5BA. Frpl in FR & Mst BR. 3 fin lvls.

N. Arlington $759,900 Corner lot. Walk to Metro, parks, shops & dining. 5BR, 2.5BA. 2 car gar. Screened-in porch. Frnt porch. 3 frpl. 3 fin lvls. HWFs mn & upper lvls.

Oakton $1,149,000 Two yr old home minutes to Tysons. Beautifully upgraded!

HWFs.Flr to ceiling windows.

Butlerís pantry. Gormít kit.

5BR, 4.5BA. 3 fin lvls. 3 frpls.

Vienna $999,900 Former mdl home in Tysons. 2 car gar. Frpl. 3 fin lvls. Deck.

HWFs. FR w/gas frpl. 4BR, 3.5BA. Gormít kit w/cooktop, dbl ovens.

Great Falls $1,175,000 Unique contemporary home updated by famous architect, Richard Ridley. 2AC w/mature trees. 4BR, 4BA. 4 car gar.

LR w/frpl & soaring 3 stry ceil.

o f t h e pa r t y

Virginia Gold Cup Races May 6th Great Meadow at The Plains, Virginia Photos by Kyle Samperton

The Event: The 81st Virginia Gold Cup Steeplechase races were run under perfect weather conditions on a beautiful Saturday. The Scene: Guests began arriving at 10 a.m. to set up their tailgate spreads (a contest was held for the most decadent), women donned over-the-top hats (Derby style) for the hat contest, and the Blackwater Parachute Team floated in to open the day. Not to get lost in the shuffle were the horse races, complete with spills, thrills and excitement. The Guests: Governor Tim Kaine, Robert Duvall, Brit Hume, former Redskin Kicker Mark Mosley, Michael and Jen Fenton, Warrenton Mayor George Fitch and William Allison.

Juleanna and Jeffrey Weiss Family

Jocelyn, Teddy and Michael Rapelya

Ravin and Shala Ohri with their daughter Simpatv

Peter and Brady Arundel

Alexandra Slowinska and Georgia Gerstein

James Old, D. William Blake and Alexander Talbot-Rice

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Marcus Swann and Tracy Scholl

Michael Saylor, Karin Tanabe, Dennis Lee and Jennifer Hosman WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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Cathy Kerkam and John Head

Trevor Potter and Jacqueline Ohrstrom

Olga Azhalha and Jeff Cohen

Miriam Pollin and Maria Trabochi

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William Allison

| washingtonlife.com

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Let the hunting begin

By Michael Strange

T

hese days when I walk my babies, my King Charles Spaniels â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dianaâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Camilla,â&#x20AC;? thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always a fresh â&#x20AC;&#x153;for saleâ&#x20AC;? sign on the street. Home sales may be down elsewhere, but in this townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leafiest zip codes, especially Georgetown, the trend is damn the interest rate, buy and buy well.

And while buying may be a rich manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game, selling is minting more than a few very rich brokers. Having your picture on a supermarket cart has become, well, fashionable. No longer is real estate the bastion of old queens and witchy crones with big hair and an empty bed. The agents are younger, blonder, hotter. Sex sells.

When the generous Mr. Strange gave me carte blanche to select our current love nest, I chose the broker who offered the most attractive package. He bagged me the best house on the block; on several blocks, actually.

But canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a girl want more? I e-Bayed some vintage YSL safari threads and am actively hunting big game. There are secrets, though, to getting an early advantage in the house hunt. This is what I, and all the best brokers, listen for: whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s getting divorced, whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got the IRS on their backs, whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to be indicted, whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got two or three children in college at the same time, who has a newly empty

â&#x20AC;&#x153;No longer is real estate the bastion of old queens and witchy crones with big hair and an empty bed. The agents are younger, blonder, hotter. Sex sells.â&#x20AC;?

nest, and, evil though it may be, whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in failing health and either about to enter the nursing home or the grave. (This is precisely how I found my legendary cook and houseman.) Also, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pounce until summer, when sellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s panic sets in.

At this particular time, hunting is lively. Herbie Haftâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house got picked off at a ripe $15 million, also the Evangeline Bruce house (sold by Clara Bingham and David Michaelis for about $6 million), but there is still Mark Einâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s place on R Street, which the dwindling cave dweller class still calls the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Katharine Graham House.â&#x20AC;? Mark bought it for $8 million, didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do much to it, and wants $14 million.The appeal here is location, size and history, but it needs renovating. Also on R is the Oatsie Charles house. Talk about venerable grandes dames. If those walls could dish!

W

e tried for the Al Friendly manse on 31st, but got beat by a developer who not only plans to fold it into a mini sub-division, but who also â&#x20AC;&#x153;made an offer they couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t refuseâ&#x20AC;? to the adorable Stettiniuses for their nearby Avon Place house. Neighbors gnaw on their knuckles as they gossip about this man, worrying what he plans to do next. Secretly I think some of them hope heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll knock on their doors with an offer they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t refuse.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Sen. John Edwards house on P Street (formerly owned by the late Polly Fritchey at $7 million) but it has the problem Georgetown realtors dare not speak: itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;otherâ&#x20AC;? side of Wisconsin, the less favorable west side. Not a problem for the Charleston-style Ambassador Richard Fisher house on O, offered at a dewy $9 million. One house I craved, but lost, is sort of odd looking, some say ugly, but it has a pedigree like no other. On Dumbarton, it once was home to Georgetown royalty, Joe and Susan Mary Alsop, and is where â&#x20AC;&#x153;le toutâ&#x20AC;?

Camelot drank gin martinis and danced the twist during the Kennedy White House years. JFK famously partied there to the wee hours after his inauguration and hooked up with groupies when opportunity allowed. I love that. I want to sleep everywhere Jack Kennedy shacked up.

I have no choice then but to set my sights on the mother of all Georgetown mansions, the Q Street Bowie-Sevier house, beautifully renovated by Herb and Patrice Miller. It is the house on the hill, and at $28 million, the lucky woman who becomes its mistress wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need a title to pull rank.

In bed yesterday morning, in my best poutypretty way, I teased my already rich husband, suggesting he give up lobbying, politics and managing his portfolio, to instead take a whack at real estate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With your charm and smarts youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be the king of all brokers,â&#x20AC;? I cooed in his ear. He didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t disagree, but put me off. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sweetie, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got the mid-terms coming up. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be a damned fool to miss that gravy train.â&#x20AC;?

Readers wishing to get in touch with Michael can email her at:MichaelStrangeDC@aol.com

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OYSTER PERPETUAL AND DATEJUST ARE TRADEMARKS.