OCTOBER
WA S H I N G TO N ’S P R E M I E R LUXU RY L I F E S T Y L E M AG A Z I N E S I N C E 1 9 9 1
EXCLUSIVE
THE 2007 AMBASSADORS’ DIRECTORY OUR INDISPENSABLE GUIDE TO THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS
French Amb. Jean-David Levitte and Marie-Cecile Levitte
SWEDEN ON THE POTOMAC
Singaporean Amb. Heng Chee Chan
AN EMBASSY ROW EXCLUSIVE
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL? BY RO ND F MINI
THE SURREAL WORLD OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
PLUS:
OCTOBER 2006 • $3.9 5
WASHINGTON LIFE
EXCLUSIVE PARTIES, PARTIES, PARTIES! Katie Rost wears Dolce & Gabbana leopard print corduroy jacket
FALL
TOWN AND COUNTRY FASHIONS MAXMARA OVER THE AGES WHAT’S HOT IN JEWELRY AND DESIGN!
Swedish Amb. Gunnar Lund and wife Karie Lotsberg
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C O N T E N T S O C T O B E R
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POP POLITICS
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT U N SECRETARY GENERAL? WRITER ROLAND FLAMINI UNRAVELS THE INNER-WORKINGS OF THE VOTE
THE AMBASSADORS’ DIRECTORY
THE INDISPENSABLE GUIDE TO WASHINGTON’S DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY
EMBASSY ROW
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THE HOUSE OF SWEDEN IS FINALLY OPEN ON GEORGETOWN’S WATERFRONT
WINE AND COUNTRY
FALL FASHION UNCORKED AT PIEDMONT VINEYARDS IN VIRGINIA
FEATURES EVENT SPOTLIGHT Walter Cutler and Stuart Holliday on the future of Meridian International Center . . . . . . .
WL SPOTLIGHT World leaders and innovators tackle big issues at Tallberg in Sweden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PHILANTHROPY NBC Chairman Bob Wright and his wife Suzanne tell NBC Correspondent Andrea Mitchell about their personal crusade for a cure for Autism . . . . . . . . . .
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PERFORMING ARTS
Inside the surreal world of Cirque du Soleil and “Corteo�. . .
SOCIETY The pampered show horses of the Washington International Horse Show . . . . . . . . . . . .
FASHION & BEAUTY WHAT’S HOT
Antique charm and a masculine touch . . . . . . . . . . . .
TREND REPORT
Going plaid, equestrian style and high-volume for fall . . .
WL BEAUTY
Sweet fragrances to sweeten up your October . . . . . . . . .
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MAXMARA
Open at Chevy Chase and celebrates 55 years of fashion . . .
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ON THE COVER Katie Rost in Diane Von Furstenberg brown wool dress, $345; Dolce & Gabbana leopard print corduroy jacket, $1995; Michael Kors brown leather boots, $595; Stephen Dweck gold & brown necklace, $535; Stephen Dweck gold ower ring, $350 (All available at Neiman Marcus, Chevy Chase, Md.) THIS PAGE FROM TOPďš• Embassy of Oman; Will Coleman in Hugo Boss black pin stripe at-front pants, $125; Theory v-neck eggplant colored jersey, $85; Enorgie grey zipped cardigan, $249.00; Mark Nason black leather shoes, $285 (All available at Bloomingdale’s, Tyson’s Corner, Va.) and Caroline von Finck in Theory wool brown sweater, $375 (Wink, Washington, D.C.); MaxMara black tights, $42; MaxMara Brown leather boots, $575 (MaxMara, Chevy Chase, Md.); Gold wire hoop earrings, $40 (Wink, Washington, D.C.); U.N. Secretary General KoďŹ Annan; The single-cut diamond-sculpted gardenia blossom, mounted in silver and gold by JAR is estimated at $100,000 – $150,000; Performers from Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo.
8]k\i e\Xicp knf Z\ekli`\j# n\Ëm\ c\Xie\[ k_Xk \m\ip _\Xik jg\Xbj k_\ cXe^lX^\ f] cfm\%
]fi YX`c\p YXebj Y`[[c\ jkfi\ cfZXk`fej gc\Xj\ ZXcc /'' -,( +))) fi m`j`k YX`c\pYXebjXe[Y`[[c\%Zfd
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COLUMNS MEDIA SPOTLIGHT by Janet Donovan . ART AND AUCTION by Renee Drake . . HOLLYWOOD ON THE POTOMAC by Janet Donovan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DIPLOMATIC DANCE by Gail Scott . . AROUND TOWN by Donna Shor . . . . OVER THE MOON by Vicky Moon . . . THIS TOWN by Michael Strange . . . . . .
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DEPARTMENTS EDITOR’S LETTER . . . . CONTRIBUTORS . . . . . CALENDAR OF EVENTS FYIDC. . . . . . . . . . . . POWER PROFILES
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The Kennedy Center’s Michael Kaiser . . . . . . . . . . . .
DISH
The Thermadore cookbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TEN TO DO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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WL SPONSORED EVENTS Young Benefactors of the Smithsonian . . . . . . . . . . . Children’s Law Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sightline Art Open House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
WL EXCLUSIVES Jane and Calvin Cafritz Kick off the Social Season . . . . Ludmila Cafritz’s Birthday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Generation O cocktails for the Washington National Opera Ashley Taylor and Hadley Gamble’s Birthday . . . . . . . The Italians host the National Retailers Federation . . . . Pamela Sorensen’s Birthday . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
LIFE OF THE PARTY Smithsonian Con Sabor Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . Creative Coalition Celebration of African American Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Matthews’ Anniversary Party . . . . . . . . . . . Arena Stage Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
REAL ESTATE & DESIGN INSIDE HOMES
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Indebleu owner Arjun Rishi’s Georgetown apartment . . . .
WHAT’S HOT IN DESIGN Antique Charm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OPEN HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HISTORICAL LANDSCAPES
Chevy Chase Country Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
REAL ESTATE NEWS with Mary Mewborn . . . . . .
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SNAPS FROM TOP House of Sweden; Chris and Kathleen Ma hews; Don Cherko and Cazlina Nesterova at the Young Benefactors of the Smithsonian Gala; Burberry Ladies Nova Check Strap watch ($325), available at Nordstroms, Tysons Corner Center, (703) 761-1121; Kate Spade Mackninac Maya bag ($950), available at Kate Spade, 3061 M Street N.W., (202) 333-8302.
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EDITOR IN CHIEF
Nancy Reynolds Bagley MANAGING EDITOR
Michael M. Clements EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Katie Tarbox ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Clay Gaynor COPY EDITOR
Claudia Krieger FASHION AND STYLE EDITORS
Lana Orloff and Sonya Pate ASSISTANT STYLE EDITOR
Roxy Angha COLUMNISTS
Deborah Gore Dean, Janet Donovan, Renee Drake, Donna Evers, Vicky Moon, Mary Mewborn, Gail Scott, Donna Shor and Michael Wharton CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & EDITORS
Christopher Barson,Walter Cutler, Deborah K. Dietsch, Roland Flamini, Emily Gold, Stuart Holliday, Nora Maccoby, Andrea Mitchell, Hungarian Ambassador András Simonyi, Nicaraguan Ambassador Salvador Stadthagen and Reg Stettinius CREATIVE DIRECTOR Féraud • Michael Kors • Zac Posen • Guy LaRoche Mary McFadden • Zuki • Oscar de la Renta • Carolina Herrera Zandra Rhodes • Vera Wang • Bisang
J.C. Suarès GRAPHIC ARTISTS
Addia Cooper-Henry, Elizabeth Demers and Barton Kelecava CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Clay Blackmore, Zaid Hamid, Jonah Koch, Gary Landsman, Kyle Samperton and Paul Simkin ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Kelly Ginter and Alexandra Misci ADVERTISING TRAFFICKING AND CIRCULATION MANAGER
Elizabeth Kelley EVENTS COORDINATOR
Shawn Parell EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CEO
Addia Cooper-Henry OFFICE MANAGER AND ACCOUNT ASSISTANT
Wesley Crisostomo WEB TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPMENT
Ernesto Gluecksmann, Infamia, Inc. INTERNS
Heather Brewster, Leah Fulner, Kendra Gilbert, Alexandra Kunzig and Shane Shehabi FOUNDER
Vicki Bagley CHAIRMAN, EXECUTIVE BOARD
Gerry Byrne CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Soroush Richard Shehabi
S I N C E
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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 throughout D.C., Northern Virginia, and Maryland. Additional copies are available at various upscale retailers, hotels, select newstands and Whole Foods stores in the area. For a complete listing, please-consult our website at www.washingtonlife.com. You can also subscribe online at www.washingtonlife.com or send a check for $35.99 (one year) to: Washington Life Magazine, 2301 Tracy Place, NW, Washington D.C., 20008. BPA audited. 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
Fall Dispatches
T
here is something about the fall that reminds me what a special place Washington is.The social season is in full swing, the skies are blue — I can almost feel the leaves starting to change — and there is a crisp chill in the air … and I’m not talking about the one between the Dems and Republicans just before the mid-terms.
There’s political wrangling in New York as well this month as Roland Flamini poignantly details in his piece about the closed-door process behind choosing the next U.N. Secretary General. And, you thought choosing a pope was complicated. The only place that seems calm these days is Embassy Row — but, surely, that’s only because Washington’s ambassadors and their staffs have mastered the fine art of silent diplomacy. Each October we pay homage to the diplomatic corps with our indispensable Ambassador’s Directory.This year, we’ve added a few new wrinkles, including a look at some unsung heroes — the social secretaries and chefs — in addition to thoughts and contributions from the British, Bulgarian, Colombian, Dominican, Egyptian, French, Greek, Hungarian, Indian, Kuwaiti, Moroccan, Nicaraguan, Norwegian, Russian and Singaporean ambassadors. Fall is also about fashion. Aside from our expanding “Trend Report” and “What’s Hot” sections, we take you out of town this issue to beautiful Piedmont Vineyards in Virginia, where our style editors spin a trendy twist on the theme of “wine and country.” For more twists, turn to managing editor Michael Clements’ look at the surreal world of Cirque du Soleil’s newest show Corteo, which will be here from Oct. 26 to November 26.
10,000 to an alarming one in 166 children.The Wrights, with the assistance of Deirdre Imus, are now pressing for passage of the Combating Autism Act, landmark legislation to rectify federal funding for a disorder that now affects more children than cancer, diabetes and muscular dystrophy combined. As a sponsor of the Washington International Horse Show (October 2429 at the Verizon Center) we offer an unbridled peek inside the pampered world of show horses.Thought your spa treatments were extreme? Wait to read how these four-legged luxe lovers get waited on hand and … hoof. Hopping back onto the ambassadorial trail, our Embassy Row photographer Gary Landsman headed down to the intersection of Rock Creek Park and the Potomac River this month to capture the city’s newest embassy, the House of Sweden. A very special thank you to Ambassador Gunnar Lund and his wife Kari Lotsberg for their gracious hospitality. In addition, Indebleu Restaurant and Lounge owner Arjun Rishi opens the doors to his tastefully modern condo in Georgetown. As always, we have all the latest real estate news for those in the market for a home … or just thinking about it. With the social season off and running, we take you to the best parties — from WL-sponsored events such as The Young Benefactors of the Smithsonian and The Creative Coalition’s Celebration of African Arts to WL Exclusives like Jane and Calvin Cafritz’s supper party and Camerata Cocktails for the Washington National Opera. And don’t forget to mark your calendar for upcoming WL-sponsored events, including the Meridian Ball (Oct 12th), the opening night of the C’est Chic French Film Festival (Oct. 13th) and the National Italian American Gala (Oct 21st).
In our WL Spotlight, NBC Chairman Bob Wright and his wife Suzanne tell NBC Correspondent Andrea Mitchell about their personal crusade to find out what has caused the dramatic increase in autism — up from one in
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WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
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Visit our Collectors and Couture departments for the newest looks from celebrated American and European designers. Selected stores. In Collectors: ARMANI COLLEZIONI BLUMARINE BURBERRY DOLCE & GABBANA DONNA KARAN JIL SANDER MARTIN GRANT MICHAEL KORS MISSONI PIAZZA SEMPIONE RALPH LAUREN PURPLE RALPH LAUREN BLACK SONIA RYKIEL TSE In Couture: BADGLEY MISCHKA CARMEN MARC VALVO COUTURE CHRISTIAN DIOR LANVIN MONIQUE LHUILLIER ROBERT DANES STEPHEN YEARICK VALENTINO
Tysons Corner Center 703.761.1121. Montgomery Mall 301.365.4111
CONTRIBUTORS
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CHRISTOPHER BARSON
in Embassies Program. She is a former
Interior Associates. His work has been
managing editor of Sotheby’s Preview
featured in Washington Spaces and
magazine and Art at Auction. After eight
The New York Times. He lives in the
years, she left Sotheby’s to make the
Logan Circle neighborhood.
documentary film “The Way Back.”
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CLAY BLACKMORE is
an established portrait and wedding
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for the U.S. Department of State’s Art
is proprietor of Christopher Barson
photographer. His client list includes such luminaries as Larry King, Forrest Whitaker and Jenna Elfman and events as diverse as the PGA and inaugural balls.
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AMBASSADOR WALTER CUTLER has an extensive
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DONNA EVERS has more
than 30 years experience in residential real estate in the Washington Metro marketplace. She is the broker and president of Evers & Co. Real Estate, the largest independent woman-owned and run residential brokerage in the area. Evers researches and reports on Metro area history on her radio show, “Real Estate Today.”
background in Middle Eastern politics and diplomacy. He has served as
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ambassador to Tunisia, ambassadordesignate to Khomeini’s Iran and twice served as ambassador to Saudi Arabia. He recently retired as president of Meridian International Center.
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DEBORAH K. DIETSCH
writes about architecture, art and
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ROLAND FLAMINI, a
writer and journalist, 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 Fransisco Opera stage brandishing an umbrella.
design for The Washington Times,
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The Washington Post and numerous magazines. Trained as an architect, she has authored several books and serves on Baltimore’s Urban Design and Architecture Review Panel.
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JANET DONOVAN is
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EMILY GOLD is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh, Pa. She graduated From Virginia Tech in 2004 with a B..S. in Animal Science. She has been riding and showing horses since childhood, and currently contributes to several equestrian publications.
the founder and president of Creative Enterprises International, a Washington,
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D.C., publicity firm whose clients
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include celebrities, authors, politicians
president and CEO of the Meridian International Center, one of the nations leading public diplomacy institutions carrying out global exchange, world affairs, and cultural programs worldwide. He obtained his B.S.F.S. (International Affairs) from Georgetown University and his M.A. (International Affairs) from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
and publications. She created and hosted The Beltway Broads radio show and writes the column Hollywood on the Potomac.
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RENÉE DRAKE has had a
diverse career in the arts. While living in Washington, D.C., she was a curator
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WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
STUART HOLLIDAY is
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MCLEAN VA Tysons Corner Galleria 703 556 6962, WASHINGTON DC The Collection at Chevy Chase 202 333 9010
CONTRIBUTORS
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GARY LANDSMAN has been shooting images for over 20 years. He is a photographer who warms to all of his subjects and clients while creating images that are captivating. Gary’s extensive experience includes shooting still life subjects ranging from food to full scale interior architecture and photography depicting corporate and advertising lifestyle. 11
NORA MACCOBY is a D.C. native and part-time inhabitant of this great city. She is an award winning filmmaker and screenwriter (Buffalo Soldiers, Bongwater) and co-founder of the non-partisan, non-profit energy literacy initiative, Nature’s Partners. 12
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ANDREA MITCHELL is the chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC News, a position she’s held since November 1994. She reports on evolving foreign policy issues in the United States and abroad for all NBC News broadcasts, including “Nightly News with Brian Williams” “Today” and for MSNBC. 14
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VICKI MOON has chronicled
the lives of the rich, the not-so-rich, the famous and the not-so-famous for more than twenty years. She has covered local murders and prominent lives in Middleburg,Virginia, for People Magazine and the Washington Post and has written about Middleburg’s hunt balls, steeplechase races and parties for Town and Country, Millionaire, Veranda and Southern Accents magazines.
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LANA ORLOFF AND SONYA PATE, with over 15 years of experience in the high fashion industry, have joined to form PSI (Personal Shoppers, Inc.), a nationwide personal shopping and style consulting company which offers style and image management, gift buying and global shopping tour experiences. www.psi-shoppers.com
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16 GAIL SCOTT, author of Diplomatic Dance:The New Embassy Life in America, was Washington’s first solo TV anchorwoman. Covering the world’s most powerful diplomats for The Washington Times and The Washington Diplomat, she also produces Smithsonian Associates’ “Top Embassy Chefs,” organizes monthly Jr. League diplomatic events and creates ambassadorial briefings for leading educational institutions. www. gailscott.com.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
17 ANDRAS SIMONYI is the Hungarian ambassador to the United States. When he arrived in Washington, he formed the band “Coalition of the Willing” and has performed at the Walter Reed Military Hospital honoring coalition troops and at the House of Blues in Cleveland, which raised $150,000 for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
SALVADOR STADTHAGEN is the Nicaraguan 18
ambassador to the United States. He attended law school in Nicaragua from 1975 to 1979 and earned degrees from American University and Harvard University. With a chosen career in diplomatic affairs, he has represented Nicaragua as ambassador since 2003.
19 REG STETTINIUS, is a garden designer, writer and child advocate. She has been designing gardens around Washington for more than a decade. She lives in Washington with her husband, Joe, their daughter, Isabel and son, Alex. 20
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 D.C. nightlife and Baltimore. 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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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.
OCTOBER
CHILDREN’S INN AT NIH The annual
gala supports family-centered care for children receiving treatment at NIH. The event, which includes a dinner and reception, is attended by a mix of leading journalists, members of Congress and private benefactors;
buffet reception 6:30-9:30 p.m., Speaking Program 7:30 p.m.; U.S. Chamber of Commerce Building; ticket cost starting at $1,000. Contact Susan O’Neill and Associates at (301) 229-0064 or email ChildrensInn@oneillevent. com for information.
WASHINGTON AREA WOMEN’S FOUNDATION LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON
The WAWF is an organization
dedicated to making empowerment, economic security and self-reliance a reality for low-income, womenheaded families. The foundation luncheon features keynote speakers Ann Fudge and Patty Stonesifer and will be moderated by Judy Woodruff; noon-2 p.m.; Independence Ballroom, Grand Hyatt Washington; individual tickets cost $150. Call (202) 3477737 or email rswanson@wawf.org for information.
of Washington’s premier balls benefits the Meridian International Center, a nonprofit institution that promotes international SPONSORED understanding through the exchange of people, ideas and the arts. The evening includes dinner at selected ambassadors’ residences followed by dessert and dancing at Meridian House; Meridian
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International Center; tickets range from $250 to $500. Contact Judy Singer at (202) 939-5522 for information.
NANCY GONZALEZ TRUNK SHOW Join
Colombian Ambassador Carolina Barco for a luncheon at Saks to meet handbag SPONSORED designer Nancy Gonzalez and see a trunk show of her creations; noon; Saks Fifth
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Sassy Stieffel and Michelle Haney Maddux at the Meridian Ball, 2o04
Avenue Chevy Chase; RSVP to (240) 497-5302 by October 9.
FLASH RED CIRCLE PARTY
Washington’s arts and business
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KEVIN PLANK, RAUL FERNANDEZ, JOE ROBERT AND JIM KIMSEY AT FIGHT NIGHT, 2004
MERIDIAN BALL One
celebrities will gather for a night of cocktails, food, dancing and entertainment. Guests can bid on artwork and performances by Flashpoint artists. Proceeds will support Cultural Development Corporation’s programs; 8 p.m., Flashpoint, 916 G Street N.W., Washington D.C.; individual tickets cost $175. Call (202) 3151322 or visit www.culturaldc.org or www.flashpointdc.org for more details.
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GREEN FESTIVAL
Tasty food, great music, and 300 green businesses as well as films, workshops, yoga and other types of movement class. We also have a packed program of speakers including Bennett Freeman, Manuel Hidalgo, Philippe Cousteau, and Warren Brown; 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Washington D.C. Convention Center; tickets start at $15 per day. Visit www. greenfestivals.org
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
“UNMASKING MENTAL ILLNESS”
GALA The 2nd Annual Gala
Dinner for the National Alliance on Mental Illness will be attended by VIPs from Congress, journalism, medicine and the business world. The event includes a cocktail reception, dinner and the presentation of the Mind of America Scientific Award; Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium; individual tickets cost $300. Call (202) 636-8745 for information.
GRAND OPENING OF THE MAXMARA BOUTIQUE AT CHEVY CHASE Come celebrate the
grand opening and see the venerable Italian clothier’s fall 2006 collection ; MaxMara
WL SPONSORED
| OCTOBER
Boutique, Chevy Chase, 5300 Wisconsin Ave; 6-8 p.m.
| washingtonlife.com
Peter, Paul and Mary will play with genre-bending cellist Rufus Cappadocia and daughter Bethany Yarrow, bridging generations of folk music. The
gala comprises a weekend of receptions SPONSORED and dinners honoring outstanding Italian Americans in science, sports, business, entertainment and philanthropy;
PETER YARROW WITH BETHANY AND RUFUS Peter Yarrow of
NATIONAL ITALIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION GALA NIAF
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Barns at Wolftrap; tickets are $25. Visit www.wolftrap.org for more information.
INTERNATIONAL GOLD CUP RACE
The 2006 International Gold Cup marks the 69th running of the prestigious race. The event is attended by numerous Washington Ambassadors and representatives from many nations;
Great Meadow in The Plains, Va.; general admission tickets cost $55 and are raised to $65 the week before. contact (540) 347-1215 for ticket information or order online at www.vagoldcup.com.
| OCTOBER
WL SPONSORED
Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.; individual tickets range from $15-$20 during the day, Tuesday through Sunday, while evening tickets range from $20-$60 depending on VIP preference with no weekend performances. Also, an anytime package is available for $85. Visit www. wihs.org or call 301-987-9400 for more information.
L’AUTOMNE A WASHINGTON The
57th Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show to benefit The Salvation Army will feature the latest fashions from Escada provided by Saks Jandel. Margaret “Maggie” Wimsatt will be honored at the luncheon with the Compassionate Citizen Award for her dedicated service to charities throughout the area; reception 11:30 a.m., lunch and fashion show 12 p.m.; The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C.; email middleburg@ aol.com for more information.
Sophia Loren at the 2002 National Italian American Foundation Gala
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
Washington Hilton and Towers; standard seating: $400, preferred seating: $600 and premier seating: $1,000. Contact Cara Elliot at (202) 939-3104 for information.
show includes entertaining races, a silent auction, barn competition and other activities;
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WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW The 48th annual horse
| washingtonlife.com
Queen Noor at the Freer and Sackler Galleries Gala, 2005
NOVEMBER
FIGHT NIGHT
This black-tie event supports Fight for Children’s commitment to increasing the number of SPONSORED urban youth who are prepared for post secondary education and career opportunities. A highlight of every Fight Night is the appearance of boxing legends like Sugar Ray Leonard and Evander Holyfield;
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Washington Hilton and Towers; contact Jackie Alafoginis at (202) 722-0429 for more information.
FREER AND SACKLER GALLERIES GALA This year’s
event is themed “Celebrating 100 Years of the Freer Gallery of Art.” Proceeds support SPONSORED upcoming exhibitions and other programs; reception 6:30
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p.m., dinner 8 p.m.; reception in the Sackler Gallery, dinner in the Freer Gallery; basic tickets cost $500 and $1500 for benefactors. Call Alison Cassels at (202) 633-0417. 633-0417 or casselsa@si.edu for more information.
SAVE THE DATE For these WL-sponsored events. ThanksUSA Gala November 14 Starlight-Starbright Taste of the Stars Ball November 17 Washington Ballet’s Nutcracker Tea Part, December 10 Choral Arts, December 18
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F .Y. I . D . C . Ç Bottom’s up
Attention gin lovers: Tanqueray has just made your next night on the town a little tastier. The venerable distillery has unveiled its newest product, Tanqueray Rangpur Gin﹐ flavored with rare Indian Rangpur limes to enhance the spirit’s classic juniper taste. Area residents are lucky — this new liquor has been available in the Mid-Atlantic region since August, but the rest of the country won’t get a taste until early 2007. For more information visitwww.tanqueray.com. call (202) 333-BLEU.
Renee duRocher’s Survivors Among Survivors
Å Time for Art
The Mandarin Oriental, in conjunction with the Zenith Gallery, present The Wheel of Time﹐ an exhibit featuring the collage art of Canadian artist Renée duRocher’s work. The mixed-media works — which reflect duRocher’s observations from her travels in Egypt and China — will be on display in the hotel’s mezzanine-level gallery daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The exhibit will run through January 3, 2007. For more information visit www.mandarinoriental.comwww.washington.interconti.com or call (202) 942-2700.
É Hail, Redskins!
Some people dream of weekend getaways in the mountains or by the beach Washington Redskin fans should be dreaming of the Omni Shoreham Hotel’s new Redskins VIP Football Package﹒ This offer includes overnight accommodations, a full American breakfast for two at Robert’s Restaurant, two tickets for access to a fully catered VIP suite at the stadium and limousine transportation to and from the game. The package is available for all of this season’s eight home games. Rates start at $2,250; for more information visit www.omnihotels.com or call (202) 234-0700.
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Tommy the Clown and the Hip Hop Clowns
Å
From Hip to Historical
The acts appearing during Strathmore’s 2006/2007 season can be summed up in one word: Eclectic. For the adventurous: Tommy the Clown & The Hip Hop Clowns will introduce Krumping (if you’re curious, it’s an energetic freestyle dance movement from South Central L.A.) on October 8 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; the godfather of go-go, Chuck Brown, plays with The Funky Meters on November 10 at 8 p.m.; and if your kids are Wiggles fans, don’t miss Dorothy the Dinosaur’s Dance Party on November 24 at 7 p.m. For more information visit www.strathmore.org or call (301) 581-5201.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| OCTOBER
| washingtonlife.com
PH OTOF E ST
The Bride of Frankenstein, 1935
ÅScare Tactics
It’s Alive! To mark the 75th anniversary of Universal Studios’ Frankenstein — and just in time for Halloween — AFI Silver Theatre will show a series of films that follow Mary Shelley’s mad doctor and monster through the years. From the original 1930’s series featuring Boris Karloff to the spoofs from the 1970’s (including the Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein), these classic films will give you a fright...or a laugh. October 13 through November 1. For more information visit www.afi.com/silver or call (301) 495-6700.
ÉPlay Bill
Forget “to be or not to be;” the question is what play to see during the Shakespeare Theatre
Company’s 2006/2007 offerings at the Landsburgh Theatre. Whether it’s a classic like Hamlet or Richard III or an English comedy such as George Farquhar’s The Beaux’ Stratagem, you’ll have plenty of dramatic choices. For more information visit www.shakespearetheatre.org or call (202) 547-1122.
The Lansburgh Theatre in Penn Quarter
Rock-a-bye Baby Ñ
Wren & Divine has lots of new pieces in their McLean store. One of the most unique is the Big Top Circus Toy Box, featuring customizable hand-painted details (it can be made to match any room or décor), and has space between the chest and lid to prevent your child’s fingers from being caught. The box can be used as a bench when closed. For more information visit www.wrenanddivine.com or call (703) 356-9736.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| OCTOBER
| washingtonlife.com
23
F .Y. I . D . C . É Political Prose
M A RT IN SC H OE L L E R
With author events every day (some days have multiple offerings), October looks like a busy month at Politics and Prose﹐ the independent bookstore on upper Connecticut Avenue N.W. The schedule is full of interesting personalities, from local media figure John Dickerson — speaking about his new book On Her Trail: My Mother, Nancy Dickerson, TV News’ First Woman Star on October 21, at 6 p.m. — to pop luminaries such as photographer Annie Leibovitz (whose work with Rolling Stone made her famous), who will sign copies of A Photographer’s Life: 1990 – 2005 on October 16 at 7 p.m. For more information visit www.politics-prose.com or call (202) 364-1919.
Annie Leibovitz
Sparkling History
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS, the French jewelry house, has just opened a new boutique at 5454 Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase, Md. Over the years the company’s designs have been worn by such superstars as Marlene Dietrich, the Duchess of Windsor, Grace Kelly, and Julia Roberts. For more information visit www.vancleefarpels.com or call (301) 654-5449.
What a Tea(se) Ñ
What happens when an acclaimed product designer decides to focus on his passion (in this case, tea)? A company like Tea Forté emerges. Peter Hewitt — who has consulted and designed for Ralph Lauren, Starbucks and MOMA, among others — is packaging whole leaf teas with silken infusers in one-of-a-kind designs. With an array of flavors (Chamomile Tisane, Formosa Oolong or China Gunpowder anyone?) there is something to pick you up in the morning or calm you down at night. Available in D.C. at Sam & Harry’s at 1200 19th Street N.W., Nusta Spa at 1129 20th Street N.W. and other area retailers. For more information visit www.teaforte.com.
GEARED UP!
Nike + iPod
Remember the times you went running and your energy level plummeted as you reached that last hill? All you needed was something to pump you up. Something like “Eye of the Tiger” pulsing through your headphones. With the new Nike﹢iPod Sport Kit﹐ you can designate any tune as your “power” song. To get started, you’ll need an Apple iPod Nano, a pair of Nike+ compatible shoes and the Sport Kit. Just place the Sport Kit’s sensor in your shoe and plug the receiver into your Nano and the screen becomes a display for calories burned, distance covered and workout time. If you press your iPod’s center button, the music will soften and a voice tells you all of your workout data in real time — now that’s motivation. Nike+ shoes, $80 to $110; iPod Nano, $149 and up depending on memory; Nike+iPod Sport Kit, $29 For more information visit www.nikeplus.com or www.apple.com
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WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| OCTOBER
| washingtonlife.com
© D. YURMAN 2006
Dulles Town Center 571.434.6540
P OWE R
P R O FI L E S
Michael Kaiser OCCUPATION President, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
WASHINGTON LIFE Have you ever performed on stage? MICHAEL KAISER I studied to be an opera singer and performed in many musicals and choral performances from nine to 25. WL What was your big “career break?” MK My career in arts management started when the Washington Opera asked me to join its board in 1983. I was not the best board member, frequently trying to override staff decisions and generally getting in the way. I realized I wanted to be a staff member rather than a board member. This prompted me to sell my management consulting business and move into arts management. I was hired to run the Kansas City Ballet. I had no experience either running an arts organization or with ballet, so I must credit both the Washington Opera and the Kansas City Ballet with giving me my big break. WL With so many choices, how does the Kennedy Center choose its performances? MK In the end, I must ensure that we are providing an interesting mix of productions that appeal to a wide variety of tastes, that we are educating our audience and that every art form has a chance to shine. It’s not that difficult a task in an organization that offers 2,000 performances a year.
“I must credit both the Washington Opera and the Kansas City Ballet with giving me my big break.”
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WL Did you have a mentor? MK My mentor in the arts was a man named Barney Simon. He founded the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, the most important theater company in the southern hemisphere. Barney taught me about the importance of the arts. He believed the arts could change the world and his work to export antiapartheid theater had a dramatic impact on the way people in the United States and Europe reacted to the horrors of apartheid. WL What is your favorite thing about Washington? MK I love the diversity of the people in Washington. We have people from many ethnic backgrounds, from many countries, and with many interests.This is both a challenge and a benefit to a presenting organization.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| OCTOBER
| washingtonlife.com
)T´S NOT JUST A CARD )T´S A CHOICE
! CHOICE TO VISIT THREE PLANTS IN ONE DAY ! CHOICE TO BE HOME IN TIME FOR CAKE ! CHOICE TO DO MORE !ND MISS LESS
!
!
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All program ights operated by NetJetsÂŽ companies under their respective FAR Part 135 Air Carrier CertiďŹ cates.
O F T H E PA R T Y
British Ambassador Sir David Manning and Didi Cutler
Calvin Cafritz WL EXCLUSIVE
Marcelle Leahy, Jane Cafritz and Senator Patrick Leahy
CAFRITZ SUPPER PARTY September 8 • The Residence of Calvin and Jane Cafritz PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON
THE EVENT Calvin and Jane Cafritz greeted social Washington at their “Welcome Back from Summer” bash. THE SCENE: Guests sipped “Cafritztinis” — mango martinis — and caught up with one another a er the summer break inside the house and under a backyard tent. Septime Webre, Nini Ferguson, Grace Bender and Roxanne Roberts were spo ed on the dance floor moving to Brown Eyed Girl and other hits. THE GUESTS French Amb. Jean-David Levi e and his wife Marie-Cecile, Italian Amb. Giovanni Castellaneta and his wife Leila, Justice Antonin Scalia, Vernon and Ann Jordan, Kuwaiti Amb. Salem Al-Sabah and his wife Rima, Mayor Anthony Williams and his wife Diane, Kay Kendall and Kevin Chaffee and many more.
Maximo and Sedi Flugelman
Albert and Madzy Beveridge
Diane Williams and Mayor Anthony Williams Maria Felice Mekouar and Aniko Gaal Schott
Nina and Philip Pillsbury with Lynda Webster
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Mary and Mandy Ourisman
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| OCTOBER
| washingtonlife.com
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29
O F T H E PA R T Y
Don Cherkoff and Cazlina Nesterova
Carolina Furukrona and Mark Pachter
WL SPONSORED
YOUNG BENEFACTORS OF THE SMITHSONIAN AUTUMN GALA September 8 • National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum PHOTOS BY PAUL SIMKIN
John Sadler and Kelley Mills
THE EVENT A swanky black-tie bash for the Young Benefactors of the Smithsonian that didn’t feature the long-winded speeches, overcooked food and stuffy atmosphere traditionally associated with fundraisers, but did include all the fun. THE SCENE D.J.’s Menan and Me e, combined with bongo players from Latin Concepts, played top 40 pop with heavy beats that kept guests dancing in the newly renovated Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum. Guests had the opportunity to participate in a silent auction and have caricatures drawn in the famed portrait halls. The gala raised significant funds for the Smithsonian Associates and the YB Culture4Kids Fund. THE GUESTS Joe Robert, Alexa Choi, Mauricio Fraga-Rosenfeld, Mark Pachter, Carolina Furukrona, Victoria Michael and Pamela Sorensen.
Pamela Sorensen, Kathryn Stuart Cohen, Melissa Winkler, Tracy Kennedy and Victoria Michael Baumgardner and Jeff Isaacs
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Arlette Pedraglio and Jeffrey Kroh
Young benefactors are all smiles
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| O C T O B E R | washingtonlife.com
Randy Brater, Erin Byrnes, Rafael Romeu and Rob Strayer
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Julián Zugazagoitia, Olga Viso, Tony Bechara and Alejandro Negrin
O F T H E PA R T Y
SMITHSONIAN CON SABOR
Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Mel Martinez
September 6 • Smithsonian Castle PHOTOS BY JONAH KOCH
Carolina Leon and Xavier Alarcon Henry Muñoz, III
Suzan Tugberk, Carolina Furukrona and Alisa Tugberk
THE EVENT Friends of the Smithsonian Latino Center gathered to support the center’s outreach programs. Reps. Xavier Becerra and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen were honored for their support of the Smithsonian Institution and more than $600,000 was raised. THE SCENE The night featured a speaking program hosted by talk show host Cristina Saralegui and actor Cheech Marin and a performance by folk dancers El Tayrona. A er an awards ceremony and dinner featuring traditional Colombian dishes, guests previewed Colombia at the Smithsonian: The Presence of Colombia in the Collections of the Smithsonian and danced to Latin beats in the Castle, decorated to highlight three areas of the South American country — the Caribbean, the Amazon and the Andean coffee-growing region. THE GUESTS Colombian Amb. Carolina Barco; Ivelisse Estrada, senior vice president of Univision and gala chairman; Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and his wife Columba Bush; Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence Small; film director Patricia Cardoso; couturier Esteban Cortazar; baseball Hall of Famer Juan Marichal; and Henry R. Muñoz III, chairman of the Smithsonian National Latino Board.
First Lady of Florida Columba Bush with Luisa de Icaza and Mexican Amb. Carlos de Icaza
Bruce Dauer and Doreen Dauer Columbian Amb. Carolina Barco
Esteban Cortazar, Pilar O’Leary and Andrea Villegas (clothes by Esteban Cortazar)
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Claudia Salazar, Mauricio Suárez and Weber Shandwick
Juan Valdez and Mo Rocca
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| O C T O B E R | washingtonlife.com
AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE CHEVY CHASE 301.657.9000
O F T H E PA R T Y
Anthony, Nadine and Isabel Lanier
Izette and Neil folger with Aimee Lehrman
Eliav Amsellem, Nadim Lotfi and Irene Koroteeva
Lisa Fuentes Claire Shipman
Johnny Rice, Amy Jeffress and Andrea Rice Virginia Shore, Redmond Walsh and Tia Cudahy
WL EXCLUSIVE
LUDMILA CAFRITZ’S BIRTHDAY September 9 • The Home of Conrad and Ludmila Cafritz PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON
Ludmila and Conrad Cafritz
Tom Cohen and Joe Perta
34
Tommy Bruce and Ludmila Cafritz
THE EVENT Conrad Cafritz’s dinner and dancing party for wife Ludmila’s 30th birthday. THE SCENE Guests were treated to a Design Cuisine feast on the terrace featuring Russian hors d’oeuvres (pirozhki and pelmeni) and a main course of skewered lamb and sturgeon. And what Russian meal would be complete without Vodka? In this case, Ludamila’s native land’s national drink was served in cranberry, plum and pepper flavors. A erwards, guests danced long into the night. THE GUESTS Ize e and Neil Folger, Anthony and Isabel Lanier, Jay Carney and Claire Shipman, Henry von Eichel, Tommy and Connie Bruce, Robert and Aimee Lerhman, Tia Cudahy, Johnny Rice, Virginia Shore, Paul Bradshaw, Tony and Heather Podesta, Pierre and Corinne Bensahel and Jim and Mai Abdo.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| OCTOBER
| washingtonlife.com
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
• •
•
202-659-3330
•
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
THE CREATIVE COALITION’S CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE ARTS September 6 • The Corcoran Museum of Art PHOTOS BY PAUL SIMKIN
THE EVENT An invitation-only, black-tie dinner paying homage to Representative Charles Rangel and Essence magazine founder Edward Lewis. THE SCENE A highenergy crowd of celebrities including Phylicia Rashad, Cicely Tyson, Chuck D, Hill Harper, and Giancarlo Esposito dancing while Chaka Khan performed. THE GUESTS Phillip Bloch, Ernie Hudson, Daphne Zuinga, Omari Hardwick, Marsha Thompson, Tarama Tunie, Rep. John and Debbie Dingell, and Robin Bronk.
Khephra Burns and Susan Taylor
Ed Lewis and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee
Ed Lewis and Cicely Tyson
Giancarlo Esposito, Debra Lee, Phillip Bloch and Ernie Hudson Rep. Ed Markey, Amy Nathan and Howard Fineman
Daphne Zuniga and Hill Harper
36
Actress Tamara Tunie and Mary Wilson of the Supremes
Phylicia Rashad
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
Flavia Colgan
| O C T O B E R | washingtonlife.com
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O F T H E PA R T Y
Kara Kennedy, guest and Arline Eltzroth
Mariella Trager
Gen. Larry Skantze and Pat Skantze Jill Sorenson and Rhonda Wilkins
Nancy Taylor Bubes and Jack Evans
Connie Carter and Kay Kendall
Princess Yasmine Pahlavi Rufus J. King and Sen. Mary Landrieu
WL SPONSORED
THE CHILDREN’S LAW CENTER BENEFIT September 13 • Kennedy Center Roof Terrace Restaurant PHOTOS BY PAUL SIMKIN
THE EVENT A benefit — which raised over $300,000 — and 10th year anniversary celebration recognizing CLC’s dedication to helping abused, neglected and low-income children in D.C. with pro bono legal services and advice. NBC-4’s Barbara Harrison served as the master of ceremonies. THE SCENE Guests sipped cocktails on the Kennedy Center roof terrace as the sun set over the Potomac before Sen. Mary L. Landrieu presented this year’s Distinguished Child Advocate Awards to Lee F. Stanfield and law firm DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary for their commitment to D.C.’s at-risk children. THE GUESTS Hadassah Lieberman; Shamim Jawad, wife of Afghan Ambassador Said Tayeb Jawad; Rufus J. King; Nicaraguan Amb. Salvador Stadthagen and his wife Analia; Mariella Trager, CLC board member and benefit chair; Kay Kendall, Jack Evans, and Linda Davis.
Irene Silva, Analia Stadthagen and Cristina Burelli
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Tyler Williams and Lea Henry
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| OCTOBER
| washingtonlife.com
O F T H E PA R T Y
Mai Abdo, Shari Kapelina, Kelly Stroh and Karina Homme
Barbara Fleischman Henry E. Harris and Rebecca Fishman
Robin Moore and Leland Bishop
ARENA STAGE CELEBRATION June 27 • The Home of Jim and Mai Abdo PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON
Eleanor Holmes Norton and Sharon Ambrose
THE EVENT Washington developer Jim Abdo and his wife Mai’s party to introduce Arena Stage to friends and colleagues. THE SCENE: In between cocktails and mingling guests listened as Mayor Anthony Williams, Jim Abdo and others thanked D.C. Coucilmember Sharon Ambrose for her support of Arena Stage. THE GUESTS: D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, Diane Williams, Dominican Amb. Flavio Dario Espinal, John and Linda Derrick, Stephen Richard, Molly Smith and Deborah Ratner Salzberg.
Mayor Anthony Williams, Stephen Richards and John Devrick
Dominican Amb. Flavio Dario Espinal and wife Minerva del Risco with Jim Abdo
40
Warren Bischoff and Burton Gray
Diane Williams
Twillea Evans-Carthen and Eric W. Price
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| O C T O B E R | washingtonlife.com
Water has never been such an enticing part of dinner. Come for the panoramic views of the Washington Marina and Tidal Basin. Linger for the innovative menu, impeccable service and open Sushi Kitchen. Join us at Café Mozu for Washington’s most unique Asian-influenced cuisine—the perfect choice for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Call +1 202 787 6868 for reservations. | www.cafemozu.com Café Mozu at Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. 1330 Maryland Avenue SW Washington, D.C. 20024
KEY TO THE CURE OCTOBER 12, 13, 14, 15
Join Saks Fifth Avenue for our annual shopping event to support Key To The Cure, a charitable initiative to fight women’s cancers. A percentage of sales up to $1 million will be donated to local and national women’s cancer charities through the Women’s Cancer Research Fund, a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. To order the limited edition Hanes T-shirt designed by Oscar de la Renta, or for more information about this event, call 888.771.2323 or visit saks.com. Mercedes-Benz USA will
Photos by Timothy White
also make a generous donation of $1 million to Saks Fifth Avenue’s Key To The Cure through the sale of 1000 Special Edition 2007 E 350 Sport Sedans. Special thanks to Glenn Close, the 2006 Ambassador for EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund and Saks Fifth Avenue’s Key To The Cure.
O F T H E PA R T Y
Christopher Hitchens, Sally Quinn and Sen. John McCain
Norah O’Donnell and Nancy Nathan
Jamie Gorelick, Tim Russert, Lance Morgan and Richard Waldhorn
Chris and Kathleen Matthews
5TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHRIS MATTHEWS’ NBC SUNDAY MORNING SHOW September 14 • Hay Adams Hotel Roof Deck By Janet Donovan PHOTOS BY PAUL SIMKIN
How many times can you say “macaca” and get away with it? Plenty if you’re Chris Ma hews; once if you’re a senator from Virginia and running for re-election. Sen. George Allen probably wished he’d been elsewhere when Ma hews celebrated the 5th Anniversary of his NBC Sunday show on the roof terrace of the Hay Adams on Sept. 14th. Referencing the gaffe (considered a racial slur in some cultures) in his own way, Ma hews shouted out when spo ing the vulnerable Allen in the crowd: “Senator Allen, there he is, you ... you ... Caucasian. Let’s give him a big hand.” “I’m a bit confused,” confessed Meet the Press Host Tim Russert. “I was told there was a big party on the roof top for this Irish-Catholic guy who used to work on Capitol Hill, who married a beautiful woman from San Francisco and who has a great show on Sunday morning. I thought it was for me.” The presidential poll taken that night indicated as expected: The nominees will be Sen. John McCain (R) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D). How did McCain, who was present, feel about that? “I think I declared myself ineligible for the poll.” Declared Sen. Allen, “McCain, I like the guy.” As to whether Ma hews prefers the “scream fest” on MSNBC or the “love fest” on Sunday mornings: “I’m a man of parts. I like the zest of one show and the charm of the other.” Parting Ma hews’ thought: “Look at this view. Don’t miss the view ....and be sure you’re unarmed.” No kidding! UNARMED Sen. John Warner; Rep. Ed Markey; MSNBC’s Ann Klenk, Craig Crawford, Norah O’Donnell and Tammy Haddad; John Fund; Andrew Sullivan; and Christopher Hitchens.
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Gloria Borger, Mike Duffy and Gerald Rafshoon
Pamela Brown, Tammy Haddad and Kathy O’Hearn
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| OCTOBER
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P R I C E D F R O M $1.8 M I L L I O N â&#x20AC;˘ S P R I N G 2 0 0 8
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MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
AND THAT’S A RAP ... Steele of Maryland, Donna Brazile, Puffy alias P. Diddy alias … Better late than never If you wanted a
Jay-Z and Radio One founder Cathy Hughes celebrate at the urban broadcasting giant’s 25th anniversary
BY JAN ET DONOVAN
W
hether it was Diddy and JayZ partying with Radio One or Tim Russert and Norah O’Donnell getting newsy at the Watergate, Washington has been awash with celebrities recently. View from the top There’s really no place
for Cathy Hughes to go these days, but she’ll think of something. Already at the pinnacle of radio broadcasting success, the feisty founder of Radio One — which celebrated its 25th anniversary with a party at the J.W. Marriot on August Indian Amb. Ronen Sen and his 17th — has had more lives wife Kalpana at the National Press Club event hosted by the than your typical cat. Indian Embassy What do people like best about her? “She’s always been concerned about the community and her people,” said Dorothy Height. Radio Host Tom Joyner remarked,“She’s such a genuine person and allows people to be who they are. She’s a little bit crazy, but so am I.” Go-Go creator Chuck Brown reminisced, saying, “We go back to the late ’60s. Ms. Hughes has always supported us.” Among the 1,000 guests: Music producer Russell Simmons, Aretha Franklin, Rev. Al Sharpton, Jay-Z, Natalie Cole, Dick Gregory, Janet Jackson, Maryland Lt. Governor Michael
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private tour of The National Zoo, you could have had one if you were “on the list” for the sassy soiree held at the Indian Embassy for members of The National Press Club on India’s National Day. Guests were bused from the zoo’s parking lot to the residence of Ambassador Ronen and Kalpana Sen, who were enamored hosts; unusual since journalists don’t get much respect these days. The late comedian Rodney Dangerfield would’ve loved it.“This evening is basically dedicated Peter Bergen speaks during a panel discussion after the screening of In the Footsteps of bin Laden to journalists of all countries and the role they are playing to promote democracy and freedom. On this occasion I salute you,” remarked Amb. Sen. Raminder Singh Jassal, deputy chief of mission, added, “One thing we have in common in both India and The United States is the fact that we have a very strong, very independent, some would even say very opinionated press, and we like it that way.” As to why India is a terrorist target: “Democracies are always the best targets and paradoxically the best defense.”
But where is Osama bin Laden? This, of course, was on the minds of everyone at CNN’s party at the Cosmos Club, where the intellectual Fahrenheit of combined guests puts global warming to shame. Attending were CNN brass Jon Klein and David Bohrman, CNN on-air talent Suzanne Malveaux and Barbara Star, Newsweek’s Eleanor Clift, The Ashcroft Group’s Juleanna Glover Weiss, U.S. News & World Report’s David Kaplan and Chitra Ragavan and The Nation’s Marvin Leibstone. Buzz of the night: “Wondering if we are going to find him before November.” Read into that what you will. The Art of the Deal There they go again:
broadcast, dotcom and print, all getting into the team spirit.This time it was NBC News, MSNBC. com and The National Journal getting hitched and bundled up for political news. Sounds like a prelude to group therapy.The union was marked by a party at the Watergate on September 7th. Although hosted by NJ’s John Fox Sullivan and Meet the Press’ Tim Russert, the never to be upstaged Chris Matthews of Hardball broadcast from the party site. If you knew how many media folks were there you’d worry about who was covering the news, but we’re telling you anyway: C-Span’s Steve Scully, former Dean advisor Joe Trippi, The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank, CQ’s Bob Merry, Inside the Beltway’s John McCaslin,
Follow me Why bother doing a book or film about
Osama bin Laden? “In my view, certain individuals have changed history,” says Peter Bergen, co-producer of CNN’s In the Footsteps of bin Laden, partially based on his book The Osama bin Laden I Know. “You can’t explain the Holocaust without Hitler. You can’t explain why the French were in Moscow in 1812 without Napoleon. And, it’s really impossible to explain al Qaeda without reference to bin Laden.”
Norah O’Donnell and John Fox Sullivan at the Watergate
NBC’s Betsy Fischer, Elizabeth Wilner, Chip Reid and David Gregory, MSNBC’s Ann Klenk, Tammy Haddad and Norah O’Donnell and The Washington Times’ Greg Pierce, give or take a zillion.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
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Clarendon Boulevard between Courthouse and Rosslyn
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ART AND AUCTION
STAR POWER Christie’s rolls out the red carpet for Ellen Barkin’s jewelry collection.
BY RENEE HARRISON DRAKE
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said that she wants to “take a break from the jeweled trophy-wife look.” Barkin’s collection is comprised of over 100 magnificent jewels by the most famous jewelry designers, but most notably those by Joel Arthur Rosenthal (JAR) who has long captivated collectors of superb jewels with his stunning, sculptural organic pieces made of both precious and semi-precious stones. In 2002 when The Jewels of JAR, Paris was exhibited by Somerset House in London, the genius of JAR was acknowledged and collectors from all over the world came to pay homage to his art. The Americanborn, Harvard-educated artist who once thought he was destined to
Set with an elongated oval-cut diamond and weighing approximately 22.76 carats, this pavé-set diamond two-tiered ring from JAR is mounted in platinum. Estimate: $800,000-1,200,000.
be a painter has become one of this century’s most sought after jewelers, and getting into his by-appointment only boutique on the PlaceVendôme is a coup in and of itself. Invitations to see his collections are highly sought after and only come after a discrete screening process by his staff. According to collectors who have managed to acquire his pieces, he must feel that the piece is right for the client and will not part with it unless he feels that it is a perfect fit. What sets JAR’s jewelry apart from other luxury jewelers is his incredible artistry that is expressed in highly sculptured three-dimensional forms, often of an organic nature and produced in a wide range of
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metals that he then subtly “paints” like a canvas by laying down a rainbow of semi-precious and precious stones. His passion and imagination in creating his art has no limits or boundaries and has never been rooted in tradition. As such, each piece, whether it is a poppy, a butterfly, a carnation or gardenia is PH OTOS CO URTE SY O F CH RISTIE ’S IMAGE S LTD. 20 0 6 ©
C
ollectors of unusual contemporary jewelry regularly comb Sotheby’s and Christie’s catalogues in hopes of finding pieces by JAR, the master jeweler based in Paris who has been called the Fabergé of our time. On October 10 at Christie’s in New York, collectors will be delighted to have their pick of 17 pieces by JAR that will be offered from the collection of Ellen Barkin, the famed Hollywood actress.The star of “The Big Easy,” and the upcoming “Oceans 13” divorced billionaire Revlon owner Ron Perelman earlier this year and has
The single-cut diamond-sculpted gardenia blossom, mounted in silver and gold by JAR is estimated at $100,000 – $150,000.
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A pair of topaz, ruby and diamond ear pendants, each set with an elongated oval-cut imperial topaz, within a circular-cut diamond surround, enhanced by circular-cut ruby florets, to the circular-cut diamond link and hoop, mounted in silver and 18k rose.
ACCORDING TO COLLECTORS WHO HAVE MANAGED TO ACQUIRE JAR PIECES HE MUST FEEL THAT THE PIECE IS RIGHT FOR THE CLIENT AND WILL NOT PART WITH IT UNLESS HE FEELS THAT IT IS A PERFECT FIT unique in its design and execution. Never before have so many pieces by JAR been available on the open market making Miss Barkin’s sale at Christie’s a landmark event. In addition to the pieces by JAR, the Barkin collection features excellent pieces by all of the major jewelry houses including several acquired from the collections of tobacco heiress Doris Duke and the Duchess of Windsor Another exciting and unusual jewelry sale to be held at Christie’s this
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October is the Centennial Van Cleef & Arpels sale that includes 100 jewels of exquisite design.The sale will be held in two parts: in New York October 11th and Geneva October 16th. Each exhibition includes 50 pieces of jewelry and will encompass a wide spectrum of styles.The most important highlight of the sales is without doubt the incomparable Millennium Brooch that is a one of a kind ruby and diamond double brooch featuring 817 Burmese rubies, 636 brilliant-cut diamond, 10 pear shaped diamonds as well as 20 baguette-cut diamonds. This extraordinary masterpiece, to be offered in Geneva, is the result of 2,800 hours of workmanship and it is a perfect example of Van Cleef & Arpels signature Mystery Setting.
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W H AT â&#x20AC;&#x2122;S H OT
ANTIQUE CHARM THE GOLD STANDARD
Straight from your grandmotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jewelery box, these vintage baubles are staging a revival. Whether they are chunky diamondand-gold nuggets or delicate drops, antique earings add charm to a modern outfit. Diamond-encrusted pins and necklaces are also a good way to update this classic look. 1
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1. Drop of Gold by Jorge E. Adeler Of Adeler Jewelers Golden South Sea Pearl pendant accented by handmade 18K white gold and diamond cap ($6,900). Availabe at Adlers Jewelers, Great Falls Village Centre, (703) 759-4076 2. Victorian earrings 18k yellow gold with enamel and diamond:; circa 1930. Available at Tiny Jewel Box, 1147 Connecticut Ave. Washington DC 20036, (202) 393-2747 3. Marakesh Breacelet by Roberto Cavalli Three tier bracelet of gold-tone brass tiles and beads, inspired by Morocco ($450). Available at Vivre The Art of Living. www.vivre.com
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4. John Hardy earrings 18 K diamond earrings, ($1,800). Available at Finks Jewelers, Dulles Town Center, Va., (571) 434-6540.
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5. Pendants by Ann Hand Mother of Pearl Dove pendatant and Starburst. (price available upon request) Available at Ann Hand, the Palisades, (202) 333-2979. 6. Onyx drop earring s by Stephen Dweck Faceted onyx drops in engraved polished bronze se ing ($295). Available at Neiman Marcus, Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, (202) 966-9700.
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7. Vintage Alhambra Bracelet Vintage Alhambra bracelet in yellow gold with white mother-of-pearl inlay ($1,850). Available at Van Cleef & Arpels, Chevy Chase. (301) 654-.5449
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A MASCULINE TOUCH Polo Ralph Lauren
Polo Green cologne for men by Ralph Lauren. The original cologne since it was create in 1978 ($95). Available at Ralph Lauren, Georgetown, 1065 Wisconsin Ave., (202) 298-5928.
Tourneau
Gotham Brownstsone Duograph with brown polished suray, sliver roman appliqué ($3,650). Available at Tourneau, Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, Arlington, Va., (703) 414-8463
Bottega Veneta
Pack it up this fall in this crocodile suitcase.
CaRTIER
BILLY REID FALL 2006 COLLECTION
“C“ Cufflinks in rhodium-plated sterling silver and fine stone ($495). Available at Cartier, Tysons Galleria, McLean, Va., (703) 749-4664.
THIS CHARMING MAN
Every man should be topping off his fall wardrobe with these masculine accessories. Avant-garde cufflinks add a little flash, while animal-skin time pieces are classic, yet rugged. And no outfit is complete without a strapping scent like Polo Ralph Lauren. Bill Amberg Studio collection for pink Bottega Veneta
CaRTIER
Left: New La Doña cufflinks Available at Cartier, in November. Tysons Galleria, McLean, Va., (703) 749-4664.
Not enough plaid in your life? Get the look with Bottega this fall.
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Luxurious soft black nappa leather wash bag, Available at Thomas Pink, 1127 Connecticut Ave. NW, (202) 223-5390.
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TREND REPORT
MADE IN PLAID
EMANUEL UNGARO
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
DIANE VON FURSTENBERG
Made in Plaid: From Alexander McQueen’s gothic tartan frocks to Emanuel Ungaro’s black and tan checkerboard suit, the ho est deisgners are proving plaid isn’t just child’s play this fall. If head to toe plaid is too much, sport Burberry’s signature motif on your wrist with a playful watch.
Burberry:
Ladies Nova Check Strap watch ($325). Available at Nordstroms, Tysons Corner Center, (703) 761-1121.
kate spade:
Mackninac Maya bag ($950). Available at Kate Spade, 3061 M Street N.W., (202) 333-8302.
Bottega Veneta:
All plaid out from the fall 2006 runway collection. Above: Jeweled Holiday Plaid Compact, exclusive to Neiman Marcus ($175), Tysons Corner Center, (703) 966-6114
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EQUESTRIAN RULE
DSQUARED2
GIVENCHY
BALENCIAGA
On the Trail: Polo meets the runway with these equestrian-inspired looks. But you don’t need a horse to rock this trend. Go for a hip spin with DSquared’s capri riding pants and fiery red jacket. Or keep it simple in Givenchy. Either way, you’ll be riding in style.
Bally Samir Boot: Black and luggage boot in calfskin, ($695) Available at Tysons Corner
HERMÈS FALL/WINTER
Fendi: Black Jacquard Selleria print bag ($3,480) Available at Fendi Boutiques nationwide. www.fendi.com WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
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TREND REPORT
VOLUME BOOST
MISSONI
NATHAN JENDEN
OSCAR DE RENTA
Ruffles and puffs and tiers. Oh, my! These feminine blouses with over-the-top sleeves pump up the volume — and the romance — this season. Add a li le pep to your step with Balenciaga’s super-high boot. Or a li le frill to your clutch with piles of ribbon. The harder it is to fit through a doorway, the be er.
Fendi
Not even a pair of shimmering pants can take the limelight off this seasons’ it-blouse.
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Christian Louboutin
Tonlay clutch ($450) and Mouche pump ($790). Available at Christian Louboutin, 941 Madison Ave., New York, (212) 396-1884
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MODERN ETIQUETTE THANK YOUR HOST WITH FLOWERS BE FASHIONABLY ON TIME SIT UP STRAIGHT LADIES FIRST
LOOKING GOOD AND ACTING GOOD. THAT’S CHIC.
1831 14TH ST NW WASHINGTON, DC 20009 PHONE 202.667.3440 WWW.MULEH.COM
WL BEAUTY
SWEET OCTOBER ALLURING FRAGRANCES FOR FALL
Vine-rippened and ready to pick, these deliciously-fruity scents are good enough to eat. Sugary hints of berries and plum swirl with soft notes of lavendar and ivy to create lovely feminine aromas. Even in the cool fall air, these sweet perfumes will make October evenings feel like summer nights.
1 LOLITA LEMPICKA
An invograting light balance of sweet ivy leaves, aniseed, delicate violet, iris root, and a smooth finish of vanillla and musk ($80). Available at Sephora, Georgetown 3065 M Street N.W. (202) 338-5644.
3 VIKTOR & ROLF
Flowerbomb is this season’s must-have with top notes of tea and bergamot and base note of patchouli. Available at Bloomingdales, Tysons Corner, McLean Va., (703) 556-4519
6 LA PRAIRIE
Midnight Rain is a delicious floral fragrance with notes of Guava, Mandarin, Pomegrante and Fresia ($135). Available at Neiman Marcus, 5300 Wisconsin Ave N.W. (202) 966-9700
2 GUERLAIN
Insolence Eau de Toilette: A vibrant punch of violets and berries with floral iris notes ($115). Available at Neiman Marcus, 5300 Wisconsin Ave N.W. (202) 966-9700
4 DELICE DE CARTIER
A greedy blend of crysalized iced cherry, jasmine and pink pepper ($105). Available at Cartier, Tysons Galleria, McLean, Va., (703) 749-4664
5 PRADA
Tendre: Reminiscent of Prada’s signature women’s scent, Tendre is classic, pure and hypnotic with notes of Plum Accord and Indonesian Patchouli leaves ($95). Available at Sephora, Georgetown, 3065 M Street N.W., (202) 338-5644
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F/W 1974
1951 FA S H I O N & ST Y L E
MAXMARA
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FIFTY-FIVEYEARS OF FASHION
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chille Maramotti, founder of MaxMara in 1951, may have died last year, but his sons continue to sustain the growth of what is now one of the largest (if not largest) manufacturers of women’s clothes in Italy. Maramotti launched the label with just one suit and one coat, but created a powerhouse with annual sales of $1 billion, making him one of the world’s richest men. This success can be attributed to Maramotti’s experience as a bank director and his impressive understanding of the fashion industry. In 1994 he told a reporter “Fashion is never in crisis because clothes are always necessary.” The MaxMara brand does not wish to project a “fashionable” image where a woman moves abruptly from one way of dressing to another just to keep up with trends. Marmotti’s fashions have always been, and will always be, in high demand
S/S 1999
because he and his successors comprehend that clothes require a life that lasts far longer than a fleeting season. A classically cut, luxuriously soft coat from MaxMara is the investment of a lifetime, but is also affordable enough to purchase a new one each season. Maramotti may have kept himself and, at times, his company under the radar, but MaxMara is now quietly taking the U.S. by storm. This season expect loose and easy layered grey pieces in modern men’s suit styles with wide-leg pants and full-length coats. Our favorite picks for fall 2006 are the sequined striped knit sweater in red. And leggings, leggings everywhere! SAVE THE DATE! The Washington Life sponsored grand opening event for the MaxMara Boutique, Chevy Chase 5300 Wisconsin Ave on Thursday, October 19, 2006 from 6-8 PM
F/W 1989
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BELOW “THREE GENERATIONS OF MAXMARA ” PENNY YERKS IN HER MCLEAN HOME WITH DAUGHTER PIPER GIOIA BOTH IN MAXMARA PHOTOGRAPHED BY ZAID HAMID MAKEUP AND HAIR BY STEPHANIE PERSON AND STYLED BY ROYA HAKIMI-KINGDOM
Left- Piper in Larice herringbone coat from Sport Max Collection with ribbon closure, and Giada brown jersey dress from MaxMara collection Right- Penny in Scafati double faced wool jacket with Gina knitted blouse and Pina Prince of Wales plaid pants. All available at the new MaxMara Boutique at the Collection at Chevy Chase, (301)656-0581
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P O L LY WO O D
BY JAN ET DONOVAN
HOLLYWOOD ON THE POTOMAC 9/11 in primetime, the taxman cometh and Bo Derek — still a 10 at 50.
we see the rest of the film there will be better accuracy and a greater political balance.” Governor, could you respond? Kean: “I would never argue with Richard.” FBI screw up? Film screw up? Lewinsky screw up? What we do know is that Clinton officials pushed the red light to stop the airing of The Path to 9/11 on Sept. 10 and 11. ABC defended it, calling criticism premature. Pass the popcorn.
He said, she said. It started out with good
intentions: Former New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean (Chairman 9/11 Commission), News Talk 630 WMAL, ABC 7/WJLA and The National Press Club hosted a beyond classy party at The Press Club on Aug. 23 for a special advance screening of ABC’s epic mini series ‘based’ on the 9/11 Commission. The film’s star Harvey Keitel, who plays FBI anti-terrorism expert John O’Neill, would have loved it: Sumptuous buffet, open bar, great guests, charged atmosphere. But that’s where the love fest ended. Something happened between the pasta and the film’s end which left many guests either dumbfounded or outraged, perhaps along party lines. “It turned out not all the facts were correct,” Keitel noted later when questioned on the validity of the project.That was an understatement according to 9/11 Commission member Richard Ben-Veniste, who challenged the project’s validity by pointing out inaccuracies and inconsistencies, forcefully. The most heated argument regarding the film’s content revolves around the supposed failures of then-President Bill Clinton and his aides to eliminate Osama bin Laden in the ’90s when given the opportunity. Then-National Security Advisor Sandy Berger’s role comes off as the most controversial. Ben-Veniste: “There was no incident like the one portrayed (applause). I’m hopeful that when 58
So others may live. The “suits” showed up
in force at The Uptown Theater on September 6th in the form of the U.S. Coast Guard at the World Premiere of The Guardian, Disney’s latest action/drama flick starring Kevin Costner, Ashton Kutcher and Sela Ward. All walked the red carpet. The movie, shot in Shreveport, La. after having been forced by Hurricane Katrina to bail out of New Orleans was no easy production. The plot revolves around legendary rescue swimmer Ben Randall, played by Costner, who after losing his crew in a fatal crash is sent to teach at an elite training program and takes on the task of molding Jake Fischer (played by Kutcher). He helps Jake to understand the true meaning of heroism and sacrifice… “So others may live.” “This is a young man’s game, but I didn’t give up,” said Costner. “At least I’m comfortable in the water.We were there for two months. All my mail is still going to Shreveport.” Ward, who plays Costner’s wife, said, “I wasn’t out there like the guys in the water. It’s an important movie. I had no good knowledge of what the Coast Guard did.They are extraordinary men.” Actor Brian Geraghty couldn’t do it in real life. “I’ve got to let someone more equipped do that.” Is there a line between reality and entertainment?
“You need both,” commented director Andrew Davis. “The movie is realistic and we hope it is entertaining.” Demi Moore, who preceded her husband on the red carpet, simmered in a short silver belted skirt. Followed by Ashton in a black striped velvet suit, it was impossible to hear what they were saying over the screams of adoring fans. Don’t believe it? We’ve got the tape, which could pass for Scream II. Ticket holders: Rep. Mary Bono, former Secretaries Norman Mineta of Transportation and Tom Ridge of Homeland Security. Countdown…. Don’t bother doing the math:
Bo Derek is still a 10. If you didn’t catch her at Café Milano for her launch party on August 30th, you can watch her weekdays on My Network TV. Brought to you by the folks at FOX, Fashion House also features Morgan Fairchild as Sophia Blakely, who seeks revenge against Maria Gianni, the ruthless fashion mogul played by Derek. Sounds like a Dallas/Devil Wears Prada combo on speed. You’ve got ‘swag’. If the IRS comes knocking,
pay up! From now on there’ll be more than jewelry, cruises, Blackberries, beauty products and other high octane booty in your goody bag and it’s called the tax form. “There’s no special redcarpet tax loophole,” said Tax Commissioner Mark Everson.Why? Because they are not given “solely out of affection, respect, or similar impulses for the recipients of the gift bags.” Bummer. Above, left to right– Former N.J. Gov. Thomas Kean (Chairman, 9/11 Commission) with John Hanson (Senior V.P. of USO) and Julie Clifford at the Path to 9/11 screening at the National Press Club, Photo by Neshan H. Naltchayan; Ashton Kutcher in The Guardian; Kevin Costner in The Guardian, Photos by Ben Glass; Harvey Keitel in The Path to 9/11.
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EVENT SPOTLIGHT
Passing the Baton at Meridian International Center Former President Walter Cutler and Newly Appointed President Stuart Holliday discuss the transition.
Meridian House
A Look Back
BY WA LT E R CU T LE R
C
areer decisions are never easy. In retrospect, my decision to join Meridian some seventeen years ago, following a first career in the diplomatic service, could not have been more rewarding personally and, I hope, for Meridian’s mission of strengthening international understanding. At the heart of Meridian’s diverse operations, we have continued to work with the Department of State in organizing professional study tours for thousands of future leaders coming to our country from around the world. It is gratifying that some 150 of these visitors who have passed through Meridian’s doors have in fact gone on to become presidents and prime ministers. I leave Meridian with many inspiring memories:
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WHILE MANY OTHER SOCIAL EVENTS WERE BEING CANCELED AFTER / WE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD WITH THE BALL BECAUSE IF ANYTHING THE TERRORIST ATTACKS HAD UNDERSCORED THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF MERIDIAN’S MISSION PROMOTING INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING Hosting Senators Sam Nunn and Richard Lugar as they explained their nuclear initiative; welcoming Iraqi journalists making their first visit to the United States; sitting in the back of a high school classroom as a Korean student from Georgetown University described his country; cutting the ribbon at the opening of a Meridian exhibition in Hanoi; hosting Katharine Graham as she spoke about her days growing up in one of our two historic mansions; and so many, many more. All these activities reflect my personal belief that in today’s world of electronic sound-bites and
headline news, true understanding is best achieved through sustained, face-to-face dialogue.This has been my inspiration and motivation. WASHINGTON LIFE What has been the
highlight of your career at Meridian International Center? WALTER CULTER While many other social events were being canceled after 9/11, we decided to go ahead with the Ball because, if anything, the terrorist attacks had underscored the critical importance of Meridian’s mission:
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Didi Culter and former Meridian International Center president Walter Culter
promoting international understanding. In fact, several additional ambassadors volunteered to give pre-ball dinners as a show of support. It was a poignant moment when midway through the evening we all gathered together in the garden to pay homage to the victims of 9/11.
Meridian is poised to move forward and rise to its challenge to play a key role in our nation’s public diplomacy at a critical time. Using its bipartisan stature and its unique position at the nexus of government, the diplomatic corps, and the corporate community, Meridian will bring together the best minds to fulfill its mission of increasing international understanding through the exchange of people, ideas and the arts. Simply put, Meridian’s mission, in partnership with the government and private sector, is vital to our national security.We live in a world where information is frequently shaped through the media and on the web.While Meridian will use these channels, it must continue to be a premier venue where people from around the world can meet face-to-face and shape the discussions about where we are heading together.
predecessor. What are the advantages and disadvantages? SH I have worked alongside many talented and dedicated career diplomats – my father was in the Foreign Service for three decades. I chose a different path, working for the President and his father. The political path can have risks and rewards. If you can live without job security and want to be more than a spectator in our democracy, a campaign is a great experience. I think you have to stand for something. I was honored to serve in senior positions at the White House, State Department and at the UN. WL What have you learned from Walter
Cutler? SH That Meridian is a special place and the president is really the steward of an institution
MERIDIAN IS A SPECIAL PLACE AND THE PRESIDENT IS REALLY THE STEWARD OF AN INSTITUTION THAT BELONGS TO MANY PEOPLE
WL Why did the Meridian Ball become
so popular? WC For several reasons, including the guests’
belief in our mission, the elegant setting and ambiance, and the special opportunity of dining beforehand at an ambassador’s residence. WL Was there anything you hoped to
accomplish but never had a chance to? WC The need for greater global engagement remains critical and we must continue to maintain our heavily-used, historic houses. WL What does the future have in store? WC I will remain active in international affairs
and of course, continue my support of Meridian. There are no rocking chairs in my future!
A Look Forward BY ST UA RT H O LLI DAY
M
eridian International Center is a venerable institution with an outstanding history in Washington. It has also touched thousands of people around the world including many international leaders whom we now call upon as friends and allies or key interlocutors.
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WASHINGTON LIFE Explain a little about Meridian International Center. STUART HOLLIDAY Meridian works with the State Department and overseas missions to bring approximately 1,800 leaders, journalists, and educators from around the world to promote better understanding of who we are. We carry out international affairs and education programs and seminars for members and government agencies and the private sector. We organize international art exhibits in the U.S. and abroad in addition to working closely with the diplomatic corps.
that belongs to many people. WL How will your wife be involved in the organization? SH Gwen is very excited to help and believes strongly in what Meridian does. With her PR background, I hope she can help increase Meridian’s profile. WL Any big surprises for the ball this year? SH Like any good October surprise in
Washington it will be leaked strategically. I can assure you that the ball chairs have done a great job and it will be a magical evening under the linden trees.
WL What attracted you to Meridian International Center? SH Meridian’s mission. I felt that there was nothing more important I could do than to try to improve and strengthen communication between the U.S. and the rest of the world right now. WL What is the biggest obstacle for the
organization? SH The seemingly rising tide of antiAmericanism and a misunderstanding of the true nature of the American spirit. WL You were not a career diplomat like your
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Gwen Holliday and Meridian International Center president Stuart Holliday
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POP POLITICS
Voice of the World Who Will Be The Next U.N. Secretary General? BY RO L AN D FL AM I N I WANTED! U.N. secretary general, preferably from Asia, who can gain the support of the U.S., China, Russia and Europe. Must be willing to relocate.
A
fter a papal conclave, possibly the most secretive election in the western world is the selection of a new secretary general of the United Nations. In the conclave, the cardinals start each voting day by invoking the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Veni creator spiritus! “Come, Holy Spirit,” they sing in that most famous of hymns. In the U.N. Security Council there are no prescribed prayers before the 15 members vote in secret for a new head of the world body, but the analogy is not as far fetched as it might seem. Shashi Tharoor, the U.N. undersecretary for public affairs, recently wrote that the secretary general “must serve as the voice of the world, even ‘a secular pope.’”
And the next global leader (might be) …
T
haroor, a 50-year-old Indian diplomat who is also a prolific writer, was himself “papabile” — the Italian term for a churchman who could become pope. Tharoor was campaigning to succeed Kofi Annan, whose second term ends on December 31. With 28 years service in the organization,Tharoor is very much the insider candidate; and some time in mid-October (no date was set at the time of writing) the Security Council could very well choose him from the list of contenders to fill the post. But to the very last minute the field was wide open. There were even a couple of dark horses pawing the ground in the wings. Before getting down to the decisive selection, the Security Council tests the water with a series of straw polls in which members can “encourage” or “discourage” individual candidates, or abstain. In a July poll Ban Ki-Moon, South Korea’s impressive foreign minister, ended up with 14 “encourages” and one “discourage.” Tharoor was second with ten positive votes,
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three negative and two abstentions. Third was Surakiart Sathirathai, Thailand’s deputy prime minister (until the September army coup), and fourth was Zeid Al-Hussein, the deft and elegant Jordanian ambassador to the United Nations, who is King Abdullah’s cousin, and at 40 the youngest candidate. Last on the list was Sri Lankan diplomat Jayantha Dhanapala, a former U.N. undersecretary general for disarmament. The picture changed hardly at all in the next straw poll on September 14, and the South Korean seemed well on the road to final victory. But Brian Urquhart, who has been connected with the world body in one influential capacity
The document gave no indication where it came from, having neither letterhead not signature. But it was widely believed to have originated on the Hill: and if there was strong opposition to Ban in Congress, it would be difficult for the Bush administration to support him. Ironically, China was not enthusiastic about Ban either, because of South Korea’s close ties with the United States; and no one who is not acceptable to both Washington and Beijing can step into Annan’s shoes. Since January, candidates have been quietly visiting Washington, New York, Paris, London, Beijing and Moscow, meeting with senior
“BRIAN URQUHART WHO HAS BEEN CONNECTED WITH THE WORLD BODY IN ONE INFLUENTIAL CAPACITY OR ANOTHER SINCE ITS FOUNDATION IN HAD IT RIGHT WHEN HE DESCRIBED THE ELECTION AS “A RATHER SQUALID COMPETITION WITH NO SET PROCEDURE SHROUDED IN BIG POWER SECRECY ”
or another since its foundation in 1945, had it right when he described the election as “a rather squalid competition with no set procedure, shrouded in Big Power secrecy.” In the making or unmaking of a secretary general, it’s what isn’t seen to be happening that makes the difference. For example, following the September 14 straw poll a document began circulating in Washington and New York questioning Ban’s human rights credentials, and hinting that he was too close to the North Korean regime. Ban’s anonymous detractors charged among other things that as foreign minister he had been instrumental in repeatedly stopping the Dalai Lama from visiting South Korea’s sizeable Buddhist community by refusing him a visa.The most recent occasion was in June, the document alleged, when 22 Nobel Laureates convened in Seoul, and the Dalai Lama, a Peace Prize Laureate, was again not admitted into South Korea. Translation: Ban kowtows to China. Another complaint is that as the official in charge of Seoul’s so called “Sunshine Policy” that favors rapprochement with North Korea, Ban would be too sympathetic towards that rogue state in the dispute over its nuclear weapons program.
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government officials in most instances with very little coverage, and slipping out of town again. The pilgrimage was essential because the United States, China, France, Britain, and Russia, are the five veto-wielding permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, and any one can use the veto to block the choice of secretary general. President Clinton used this prerogative to deny Boutros Boutros-Ghali a second term. The council’s ten non-permanent council members, who serve for one year, also needed to be canvassed.These were – and still are — Argentina, Japan, Congo, Denmark, Ghana, Greece, Peru, Qatar, Slovakia, and Tanzania. But ultimately, the final choice is the product of an agreement of the permanent five.
Musical chairs
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istorically, the job of secretary general rotates by region, and by tradition it is now Asia’s turn. Early on, John Bolton, the feisty neo-con U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, caused a stir by suggesting that the rotation was not set in stone. The job – he said — should be open to “the best qualified person from whatever region of the world that he or she comes from.” The region of the world that
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THE CANDIDATES Ban Ki-Moon of South Korea faces a political catch 22: opposition from the U.S. for perceived kowtowing to China; while the PRC is wary of South Korea’s strategic alliance with the U.S. Sri Lankan Jayantha Dhanapala is a former U.N. undersecretary general for disarmament, and cut his diplomatic teeth trying to end the civil war in his home country.
Jordan’s U.N. ambassador Zeid al-Hussein is King Abdullah’s cousin, and at 40, the youngest of the SG candidates.
Indian Shashi Tharoor, 50, is a critically acclaimed author and the head of public relations for the U.N. He was endorsed by The New York Times.
Offically, Heng Chee Chan, the Singaporean Amb. to the U.S., is not a candidate for the SG post, although her name has circulated as the Thai candidate’s bid has cooled.
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Who will preside next over the U.N. security council chamber?
the Bush administration favored was Eastern Europe, emerged from the ruins of the Soviet empire and demanding attention as a separate regional grouping. Donald Rumsfeld’s “New Europe” – the supportive one in Iraq – had produced two candidates and both were popular in Washington. One was former Polish president Aleksander Kwasnewski, a non-starter because of Moscow’s virtually certain opposition to a Pole.The other was PresidentVairaVike-Freiberga of Latvia, a former Canadian school teacher who had returned to her native country in the postCommunist era. Vike-Freiberga was in Washington in March, visiting the White House, and doing a round of the think tanks. Her performance here did not spark much enthusiasm for her candidacy, and the Russians are said to have delivered the coup de grâce by dropping hints to the Americans and others that no candidate from a former Soviet
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satellite was likely to be acceptable. At the same time, as Richard Holbrooke, the former ambassador to the U.N. during the Clinton administration pointed out in a now famous Washington Post op-ed article that went public on details about the succession, “I seriously doubt that the Asians, having allowed Africa to hold the position for 15 straight years [Boutros-Ghali and two terms for Kofi Annan] and not having had an Asian secretary general for almost 40 years [since U Thant of Burma in the sixties], will allow the brass ring to pass them again.” Vike-Freiberga tried anyway backed by the Baltic nations, but otherwise the lineup was based on the U.N. definition of Asia which includes part of the Middle East (e.g. Jordan), and Turkey. Meanwhile, however, the notion of a woman secretary general caught hold, and the search for a suitable female candidate was on.
Madame Secretary General?
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n mid-September, Esther Coopersmith, the quintessential politically connected Washington hostess, gave a dinner party for key ambassadors to advance the candidacy of Heng Chee Chan, the Singapore ambassador to the United States. Chan has been Singapore’s woman in Washington since 1996, and served as her country’s ambassador to the United Nations before that. “This is a capable, competent, brilliant woman,” says Coopersmith, who spent months canvassing for Chan. “Everybody lights up when they think of her [in the job]. All of the U.N. would change with her as secretary general, and you would see favorable stories about the U.N.”The French are said to have had reservations about her because she does not speak French, but Berlitz could surely take care of that. In an enthusiastic endorsement of Chan’s
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candidacy, Washington Times columnist Georgie Anne Geyer, said “She cuts a gracious figure in Washington, but behind that agreeable façade is a woman who is a specialist on free trade agreements, U.N. reform, U.S.-Singapore relations and military maneuvers in her own South Asia.” There is one problem with Chan’s candidacy: she is not a candidate – at least not yet. Anyone hoping to become U.N. secretary general has to be proposed by his (or her) government, and the Singapore government was one of several that – admittedly rather tepidly – originally backed the Thai, Surakiart Sathirathai. Following the recent military coup in Thailand, Sathirathai is no longer a government minister: that coupled with his poor straw poll showing has some diplomats in New York saying that he should withdraw thus clearing the way for Chan.
the Lebanese cessation of hostilities and — thanks to the European Union’s response — sending in a U.N. peacekeeping force has allowed him to go out on a respectable note.The problem is that Washington had a different view of what constitutes an effective secretary general. According to the widely quoted word of a U.S. official,Washington wanted a strong manager who could get things done rather than “a rock star of diplomacy” (Holbrooke’s description of Kofi Annan). In other words, more secretary and less general. A surprising number of U.N. delegates, particularly from Africa, talk wistfully of another possibility: President Clinton as secretary general. Ever since he was reported to have expressed interest in the job a year ago, his non-candidacy has lingered in the shadows, debunked by the west, but wished devotedly and widely by the underclass
PREVIOUS SECRETARY GENERALS Boutros BoutrosGali’s bid for a second term was unceremoniously cut short by the Clinton Administration.
Dag Hammarskjold, SG from 1953 to 1961, met an untimely death in a plane accident while on a peace mission in the Congo.
“ACCORDING TO THE WIDELY QUOTED WORD OF A U S OFFICIAL WASHINGTON WANTED A STRONG MANAGER WHO COULD GET THINGS DONE RATHER THAN ‘A ROCK STAR OF DIPLOMACY’ HOLBROOKE’S DESCRIPTION OF KOFI ANNAN IN OTHER WORDS MORE SECRETARY AND LESS GENERAL ”
More secretary … or more general?
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n conversations with several officials, a consensus emerged that the world organization ought to be looking for a strong secretary general at this vital stage in the U.N.’s history – someone who can push through the reforms everyone says are needed, and reorganize the U.N.’s vital peacekeeping operation to make its response faster and more effective. Such a choice would be a first in its 61-year existence.The tendency has been to opt for capable senior bureaucrats from within the United Nations or from smaller countries (or both) who offer no serious challenge to the power of the Security Council. Of the Peruvian Javier Perez de Cuellar, for example, it was once said that he “wouldn’t make a splash if he fell off a boat.” The departing Kofi Annan – according to Tharoor — “commands great diplomatic legitimacy and even greater media visibility, but less political power than the U.N. Charter suggests.”The $64 billion Iraq oil-for-food scandal had left a bad blemish on Annan’s decade in office, but his successful role in August in brokering
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of the international community who see him as a champion of the Third World. In January, a cover article in Harper’s magazine revived the talk. There is no question that Clinton would shake up the organization and give a significant boost to its role in world affairs. But an unwritten agreement among the five Security Council permanent members prevents a citizen from any one of them from becoming secretary general because, obviously, it would give that country an edge over the other four. Besides, with Hillary Clinton a possible Democratic presidential candidate the Clinton factor could have huge domestic political ramifications. As one European diplomat in New York put it almost with a shudder, “Can you imagine if Clinton became SG, and Hillary won the presidential election.The Clintons would rule the world!” The outcome, we now know, will be less seismic: no tsunami, but a mild ripple on the political surface as the five veto holders in the Security Council once again arrange things to their mutual satisfaction.
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When Peruvian Javier Perez de Cuellar became the U.N.’s fifth SG in 1982, pressing issues included The Falkland Islands crisis, the invasion of Lebanon by Israel, and the Iran Iraq war. According to candidate Shashi Tharoor, the departing Kofi Annan “commands great diplomatic legitimacy and even greater media visibility, but less political power than the U.N. Charter suggests.” First UN SG Trygve Lie (1946-1952) resigned over Soviet Union resentment of U.N. military intervention in the Korean War. He later quipped that the SG position was “the most impossible job in the world.”
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I ET TY Y S SO OC CI E
British Amb. Sir David and Lady Manning
Hungarian Amb. Andras Simonyi with wife Nada Simonyine Pejak
Oman Amb. Hunaina Al-Mughairy and Saudi Arabia Amb. HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal
Lebanese Amb. Farid Abdoud with wife Rim Hilal Abdoud Japanese Amb. Ryozo Kato
Dominican Republic Amb. Flavio Dario Espinal with wife Minerva del Risco
Indian Amb. Ronendra Sen with wife Kalpena Sen
Grenadian Amb. Denis G. Antoine
THE WASHINGTON LIFE
AMBASSADORS DIRECTORY for 2OO7
Our indispensable guide to the diplomatic community
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French Amb. Jean-David Levitte with wife Marie-Cecile Levitte
Italian Amb. Giovanni Castellaneta Barbados Amb. Michael Ian King W A S H I N G T O N L I F E | O C T O B E R | washingtonlife.com with wife Leila Castellaneta with wife Jacqueline Ann Natalie King
EMBASSY INSIDER
WL’S AMBASSADOR’S DIRECTORY AfGHANISTAN ambassador﹕ Said T. Jawad spouse﹕ Shamim children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ December 4, 2003 embassy﹕ 2341 Wyoming Ave., N.W, Washington, D.C. 20008 (202) 483-6410 residence﹕ 2001 24th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008 Albania ambassador﹕ Aleksander Sallabanda spouse﹕ Sasha Sallabanda children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ May 11, 2006 embassy﹕ 2100 S St N.W., 20008 (202) 223-4942 Algeria ambassador﹕ Amine Kherbi spouse﹕ Ilse Kherbi children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ May 11, 2006 embassy﹕ 2118 Kalorama Rd. N.W., 20008 (202) 265-2800 residence﹕ “The Elms,” 4040 52nd St N.W., 20016 Andorra ambassador﹕ Jelena V. Pia-Comella presented credentials﹕ April 26, 2001 embassy﹕ 2 United Nations Plaza 27th floor, NY, NY 10017 (212) 750-8064 Angola ambassador﹕ Josefina Pitra Diakite spouse﹕ Mamadou Diakite children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ June 20, 2001 embassy﹕ 2100-2108 16th St N.W. (202) 7851156 residence﹕ 9 Stapleford Hall Court, Potomac MD, 20854 (202) 785-1285 Antigua & Barbuda ambassador﹕ Deborah Mae Lovell presented credentials﹕ March, 8 2005 embassy﹕ 3216 New Mexico Ave N.W., 20016 (202) 362 -5122 residence﹕ “The Elms,” 4040 52nd St. N.W., 20016 Argentina ambassador﹕ Jose Octavio Bordon spouse﹕ Monica Gonzalez de Bordon children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ September 8, 2003 embassy﹕ 1600 New Hampshire Ave. N.W., 20009 (202) 3625112 residence﹕ 1815 Q Street N.W., 20009 Armenia ambassador﹕ Tatoul Markarian spouse﹕ Anna Aghumian children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ May 26, 2005 embassy﹕ 2225 R St. N.W., 20008 (202) 319-1976 AUstralia ambassador﹕ Dennis Richardson spouse﹕ Betty Richardson children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ July 11, 2005 embassy﹕ 1601 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., 20036 (202) 797-3000 residence﹕ 3120 Cleveland Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 797-3000 AUstria ambassador﹕ Eva Nowotny spouse﹕ Dr. Thomas Nowotny presented credentials﹕ December 4, 2003 embassy﹕ 3524 International Court N.W., 20008 (202) 895-6775 residence﹕ 2419 Wyoming Ave. N.W., 20008
Azerbaijan ambassador﹕ Hafiz Mir Jalal Pashayev spouse﹕ Rena Pashayeva children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ April 14, 1993 embassy﹕ 2741 34th St. N.W., 20008 (202) 337-3500 Bahamas ambassador﹕ Joshua Sears spouse﹕ Michelle Sears children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ June 14, 2005 embassy﹕ 2220 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 319-2667 residence﹕ 5100 Warren Place N.W., 20016 (202) 319-2660 Bahrain ambassador﹕ Naser M. Al Belooshi spouse﹕ Sharifa Benammour children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ September 7, 2005 embassy﹕ 23502 International Drive N.W., 20008 (202)342-1111 residence﹕ 4646 Hawthorne Lane N.W., 20016 Bangladesh ambassador﹕ Samsher M. Chowdhury spouse﹕ Shamim children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ May 26, 2005 embassy﹕ 3510 International Drive N.W., 20008 (202) 244-0183 residence﹕ 4 Highboro Court, Bethesda MD, 20817 (301) 320-5022 Barbados ambassador﹕ Michael Ian King spouse﹕ Jacqueline Ann Natalie King children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ December 7, 2000 embassy﹕ 2144 Wyoming Ave. N.W., 20008 (202) 939-9200 residence﹕ 4850 Linnean Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 362-9587 Belarus ambassador﹕ Mikhail Khvostov spouse﹕ Galina Khvostova children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ September 8, 2003 embassy﹕ 1619 New Hampshire Ave. N.W., 20009 (202) 986-1604 Belgium ambassador﹕ Baron Frans van Daele spouse﹕ Baroness Christiana Deroover van Daele children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ September 25, 2002 embassy﹕ 3330 Garfield St N.W., 20008 (202)333-6900 residence﹕ 2300 Foxhall Rd N.W., 20007 Belize ambassador﹕ Lisa M. Shoman presented credentials﹕ December 7, 2000 embassy﹕ 2535 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., 20008 (202) 332-9636 Benin ambassador﹕ Cyrille S. Oguin spouse﹕ Hortense Oguin children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ March 13, 2001 embassy﹕ 2124 Kalorama Rd N.W., 20008 (202) 232-6656 residence﹕ 9901 Sorrel Ave., Potomac MD, 20854 (301) 299-0428 Bolivia ambassador﹕ Gustavo Guzman presented credentials﹕ September 12, 2006 embassy﹕ 3014 Massachusetts
What Makes You Feel at Home in Washington? Compiled by Gail Scott
British Ambassador Sir David Manning “It may sound trite, but it’s the true warmth of the American people to foreigners. You always receive us with enormous kindness and courtesy … it’s not about a place; it’s about the people.”
Egyptian Ambassador Nabil Fahmy and his wife Nermin When asked, both Ambassador and his wife looked at each other, smiled and said, “Café Milano!” The ambassador explained, “There are a lot of people, a lot of noise, a lot of smoking; typical of the Middle East. And frankly, they make it personal. They always know you and they welcome my guests so warmly.” Mass Ave. is living gallery of unique embassy styles
New Colombian Ambassador Carolina Barco “I visited Washington when I was a 19-year-old student at Wellesley and my father was a director at the World Bank. Now when I see some of those same places I saw then, like Nathan’s in Georgetown, I feel at home.”
Norwegian Ambassador Knut Vollebaek “My half hour run every morning around the Cathedral. I do the same thing every morning at 6:30 a.m. I get to see the sun coming up. It’s wonderful.”
Hungarian Ambassador András Simonyi
“Playing my guitar, whether it’s with my band, Coalition of the Willing, or in my attic at the end of a very long, hard day.”
Greek Ambassador Alexandros Mallias “Watering and pampering my flowers. There is always something to do in the garden and that relaxes me.”
Embassy of Ireland
Moroccan Ambassador Aziz Mekouar
“Golfing together with my wife at the Chevy Chase Club.”
Nicaraguan Ambassador Salvador Stadthagen “Going to Dumbarton Oaks makes me feel most at home — my wife and I first walked there with one son, now we have four. And going back to Armand’s Chicago Pizzeria — they still have the best pizza in town.”
Icelandic Ambassador Helgi Agustsson “Going to a Wizards or Redskins game. We love music too, so going to the Kennedy Center for a concert or catching a movie in Georgetown.”
Embassy of Cote D’Ivoire
EMBASSY PHOTOS BY PAUL SIMKIN WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
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Ave N.W. (202) 483-4410 residence﹕ 3012 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 Bosnia & Herzegovina ambassador﹕ Bisera Turkovic presented credentials﹕ August 10, 2005 embassy﹕ 2109 E St N.W., 20037 (202) 337-1500 Botswana ambassador﹕ Lapologang Caesar Lekoa spouse﹕ Mpho Gloria Bojelo Lekoa children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ December 9, 2002 embassy﹕ 1531-33 New Hampshire Ave N.W., 20036 (202) 244-4990 residence﹕ 1001 Bent Cross Drive, Potomac MD, 20854 Brazil ambassador﹕ Roberto P. Abdenur spouse﹕ Maria Izabel Abdenur children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ July 15, 2004 embassy﹕ 3006 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 238-2700 residence﹕ 3000 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008
Cameroon ambassador﹕ Jerome Mendouga spouse﹕ Louisette Mendouga children﹕ Six presented credentials﹕ June 23, 1994 embassy﹕ 2349 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 265-8790 residence﹕ 2825 Normanstone Drive N.W., 20008 Canada ambassador﹕ Michael Wilson spouse﹕ Julia McKenna presented credentials﹕ March 13, 2006 embassy﹕ 501 Pennsylvania Ave N.W., 20001 (202) 682-1740 residence﹕ 2825 Rock Creek Dr. N.W., 20008 Cape Verde ambassador﹕ Jose Brito spouse﹕ Maria Lourdes Santos children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ November 8, 2001 embassy﹕ 3415 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20007 (202) 965-6820 residence﹕ 6509 Kenhill Road, Bethesda MD, 20817
Brunei ambassador﹕ Pengiran Anak Dato Puteh spouse﹕ Datin Kamilah Abdullah children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ May 14, 1997embassy﹕ 3520 International Court N.W., 20008 (202) 237-1838
Central African Republic ambassador﹕ Emmanuel Tuoaboy spouse﹕ Mireille Nathalie Tuoaboy children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ February 14, 2001 embassy﹕ 1618 22nd St N.W., 20008 (202)483-7800 residence﹕ 1840 Redwood Terrace N.W., 20012
Bulgaria ambassador﹕ Elena Borislavova Poptodorova spouse﹕ Georgi Petrov children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ February 14, 2002 embassy﹕ 1621 22nd St N.W., 20008 (202) 319-2667 residence﹕ 5100 Warren Place N.W., 20016 (202) 364-4053
Chad ambassador﹕ Mahamoud Adam Bechir spouse﹕ Nouracham Bechir Mian children﹕ Seven presented credentials﹕ December 9, 2004 embassy﹕ 2002 R St N.W., 20009 (202) 462-4009 residence﹕ 16833 Harbor Town Dr, Silver Spring MD, 20905
Burkina Faso ambassador﹕ Tertius Zongo spouse﹕ Priscille Zongo Yanogo children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ February 14, 2002 embassy﹕ 2340 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202)332-5577 residence﹕ 6338 16th St. N.W., 20011 (202) 722-5284
Chile ambassador﹕ Mariano Fernandez spouse﹕ Maria Angelica Morales children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ July 6, 2006 embassy﹕ 1732 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20036 (202) 785-1746 residence﹕ 2305 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 265-0511
Burma charge d’affaires﹕ Myint Lwin spouse﹕ Khin Thi Win presented credentials﹕ September 29, 2005 embassy﹕ 2300 S St N.W., 20008 (202)332-3344 residence﹕ 2223 R St. N.W., 20008 Burundi ambassador﹕ Antoine Ntamobwa spouse﹕ Rosette Ndereyimana children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ December 9, 2002 embassy﹕ 2233 Wisconsin Ave N.W., 20007 (202) 342-2574 residence﹕ 10309 Fleming Ave., Bethesda MD, 20814 Cambodia ambassador﹕ Sereywath Ek spouse﹕ Sang Khov children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ March 8, 2005 embassy﹕ 4530 16th St N.W., 20011 (202) 726-7742 residence﹕ 4500 16th St. N.W., 20011
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China ambassador﹕ Zhou Wenzhong spouse﹕ Shumin Xie children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ May 26, 2005 embassy﹕ 2300 Connecticut Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 328-2500 Colombia ambassador﹕ Carolina Barco children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ September 2006 embassy﹕ 2118 Leroy Place N.W., 20008 (202)387-8338 residence﹕ 1520 20th St. N.W., 20036 Comoros no current ambassador embassy﹕ 420 E. 50th St, NY, NY 10022 (212) 972-8010 Congo, Democratic Republic of ambassador﹕ Faida Mitifu spouse﹕ Dr. Maurice Shalishali children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ February 3, 2000 embassy﹕ 1726 M St N.W., 20036 (202) 234-7690 residence﹕ 1726 M St. N.W., 20036
Congo, Republic of ambassador﹕ Serge Mombouli spouse﹕ Stella Corine Mombouli children﹕ Six presented credentials﹕ July 31, 2001 embassy﹕ 4891 Colorado Ave N.W., 20011 (202) 726-0825 residence﹕ 10809 Riverwood Dr., Potomac MD, 20854 Costa Rica ambassador﹕ Tomas Dueñas spouse﹕ Diana Chavarria Kopper Dueñas presented credentials﹕ December 9, 2004 embassy﹕ 2114 S Street N.W., 20008 (202) 234-2945 residence﹕ 1830 24th St. N.W., 20008 Cote D’Ivoire ambassador﹕ Daouda Diabate spouse﹕ Cecile Diabate children﹕ Six presented credentials﹕ July 15, 2006 embassy﹕ 2424 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 797-0300 Croatia ambassador﹕ Neven Jurica spouse﹕ Dunja Jurica children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ September 15, 2004 embassy﹕ 2343 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 588-5899 Cyprus ambassador﹕ Euripides L. Evriviades spouse﹕ Anastasia Iacovidou-Evriviades presented credentials﹕ December 4, 2003 embassy﹕ 12211 R St N.W., 20008 (202)462-5772 residence﹕ 1825 24th St. N.W., 20008
20007 (202) 965-1515 residence﹕ 6304 Grand Central Park, Forest Hills, NY 11375 Ecuador ambassador﹕ Luis Gallegos spouse﹕ Fabiola Gallegos children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ September 26, 2005 embassy﹕ 2535 15th St N.W., 20009 (202) 234-7200 residence﹕ 2320 Bancroft Place, N.W., 20008 (202) 667-4372 Egypt ambassador﹕ Nabil Fahmy spouse﹕ Nermin Abdel Nabi Fahmy children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ November 29, 1999 embassy﹕ 3521 International Court N.W., 20008 (202) 895-5400 residence﹕ 2301 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., 20008 El Salvador ambassador﹕ Rene A. Leon children﹕ Two resented credentials﹕ September 8, 1997 embassy﹕ 1400 16th St N.W., Suite 100, 20036 (202) 265-9671 residence﹕ 5171 Macomb St. N.W., 20016 Equatorial Guinea ambassador﹕ Purificacion Angue Ondo presented credentials﹕ November 30, 2005 embassy﹕ 2020 16th St N.W., 20009 (202) 518-5700 Eritrea ambassador﹕ Girmai Ghebremarian presented credentials﹕ June 20, 2001 embassy﹕ 1706 New Hampshire Ave N.W., 20009 (202) 319-1991
Czech Republic ambassador﹕ Petr Kolar spouse﹕ Jaroslava Kolarova children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ November 30, 2005 embassy﹕ 3900 Spring of Freedom St N.W., 20008 (202) 274-9100 residence﹕ 2612 Tilden St. N.W., 20008
Estonia ambassador﹕ Jüri Luik spouse﹕ Ruth Lausma Luik children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ September 8, 2003 embassy﹕ 2131 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 588-0101
Denmark ambassador﹕ Friis Arne Petersen spouse﹕ Birgitte Yvonne Wilhelmsen Petersen presented credentials﹕ October 3, 2005 embassy﹕ 3200 Whitehaven St N.W., 20008 (202) 234-4300
Ethiopia ambassador﹕ Samuel Assefa presented credentials﹕ May 11, 2006 embassy﹕ 3506 International Drive N.W., 20008 (202) 364-1200 residence﹕ 2209 Wyoming Ave. N.W., 20008
Djibouti ambassador﹕ Roble Olhaye spouse﹕ Amina Farah Ahmed Olhaye children﹕ Five presented credentials﹕ March 22, 1998 embassy﹕ 1156 15th St N.W., 20005 (202) 331-0270 Dominica ambassador﹕ No current ambassador Dominican Republic ambassador﹕ Flavio Dario Espinal spouse﹕ Minerva del Risco Espinal children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ March 8, 2005 embassy﹕ 1715 22nd St N.W., 20008 (202) 332-6280 residence﹕ 2930 Edgevale Terrace N.W., 20008 East Timor ambassador﹕ Jose Luis Guterres spouse﹕ Ana Maria Valerio children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ May 8, 2005 embassy﹕ 3415 Massachusetts Ave N.W.,
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European Union ambassador﹕ John Bruton spouse﹕ Finola Bruton children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ December 9, 2004 embassy﹕ 2300 M St N.W., 20037 (202) 895-9500 residence﹕ 2534 Belmont Road N.W., 20008 Fiji ambassador﹕ Jesoni Vitusagavulu spouse﹕ Silina Vesinawa Vitusagavulu presented credentials﹕ August 16, 2005 embassy﹕ 2233 Wisconsin Ave N.W. Suite 240, 20007 (202) 337-8320 Finland ambassador﹕ Pekka Lintu spouse﹕ Laurel Colless presented credentials﹕ January 10, 2006 embassy﹕ 3301 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 298-5800 residence﹕ 3001 Woodland Drive N.W., 20008 (202) 265-4394
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Guinea ambassador﹕ Alpha Oumar Rafiou Barry spouse﹕ Raye Diallo Barry children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ September 25, 2002 embassy﹕ 2112 Leroy Place N.W., 20008 (202) 986-4300
Indonesia ambassador﹕ Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat presented credentials﹕ January 23, 2006 embassy﹕ 2020 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20036 (202) 775-5200 Iraq ambassador﹕ Samir Shakir Mahmood Sumaida’ie presented credentials﹕ April 11, 2006 embassy﹕ 1801 P St. N.W., 20036 (202) 483-7500 Ireland ambassador﹕ Noel Fahey spouse﹕ Christine Fahey children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ September 25, 2002 embassy﹕ 2234 Massachusetts Ave
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Japan ambassador﹕ Ryozo Kato spouse﹕ Hanayo Kato children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ November 8, 2001 embassy﹕ 2520 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 238-6700 residence﹕ 4000 Nebraska Ave N.W., 20016 Jordan ambassador﹕ Karim Kawar spouse﹕ Luma Kawar children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ September 25, 2002 embassy﹕ 3504 International Drive N.W., 20008 (202) 966-2664 residence﹕ 1232 Perry Williams Drive, McLean VA, 22101 (703) 448-0456 Kazakhstan ambassador﹕ Kanat Saudabayev spouse﹕ Kullikhan Saudabayev children﹕ Three resented credentials﹕February 14, 2001 embassy﹕ 1401 16th St N.W., 20036 (202) 232-5488 residence﹕ 4129 Parkglen N.W., 20008 Kenya ambassador﹕ Leonard Ngaithe spouse﹕ Susan Ngaithe children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ July 15, 2004 embassy﹕ 2249 R St N.W., 20008 (202) 387-6101 residence﹕ 10201 Sorrel Ave., Potomac MD, 20854 Korea ambassador﹕ Tae Sik Lee spouse﹕ Suknam Lee presented credentials﹕October 26, 2005 embassy﹕ 2320 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 939-5653 residence﹕ 4801 Glenbrough Avenue N.W., 20017 Kuwait ambassador﹕ Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber AlSabah spouse﹕ Rima Al-Sabah children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ October 10, 2001 embassy﹕ 2940 Tilden St. N.W., 20008 (202) 966-0702 Kyrgyz Republic ambassador﹕ Zamira Beksultanovna Sydykova spouse﹕ Giiaz Tokombaev children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ July 11, 2005 embassy﹕ 2360 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., 20008 (202) 338-5141 residence﹕ North Arlington, VA
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Guatemala ambassador﹕ Jose Guillermo Castillo spouse﹕ Flor de Palacious de Castillo children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ March 31, 2004 embassy﹕ 2220 RSt N.W., 20008 (202) 745-4952 residence﹕ 2839 Woodland Drive N.W., 20008
India ambassador﹕ Ronen Sen spouse﹕ Kalpana Sen children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ September 15, 2004 embassy﹕ 2107 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 939-7010 residence﹕ 2700 Macomb St. N.W., 20008 (202) 686-2328
Jamaica ambassador﹕ Gordon Valentine Shirley children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ July 15, 2004 embassy﹕ 1520 New Hampshire Ave N.W., 20036 (202) 452-0660 residence﹕ 3103 Rolling Road, Chevy Chase MD, 20815
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Grenada ambassador﹕ Denis G. Antoine spouse﹕ Marva Antoine presented credentials﹕ July 29, 1996 embassy﹕ 1701 New Hampshire Ave N.W., 20009 (202) 265-2561
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Honduras ambassador﹕ Roberto Flores Bermudez presented credentials﹕ April 27, 2006 embassy﹕ 3007 Tilden St N.W. Suite 4M, 20008 (202) 966-7702 residence﹕ 5312 Portsmouth Rd., Bethesda MD, 20816
Iceland ambassador designate﹕ Albert Jonsson spouse﹕ Asa Baldvinsdottir presented credentials﹕ Will be presented in November embassy﹕ 1156 15th St N.W. Suite 1200, 20005 (202) 265-6653 residence﹕ 2443 Kalorama Rd. N.W., 20008 (202) 332-3040
Greece ambassador﹕ Alexandros P. Mallia spouse﹕ Françoise-Anne Mallias children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ September 29, 2005 embassy﹕ 2221 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 939-1300 residence﹕ 2221 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008
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HolY SEE nuncio﹕ Archbishop Pietro Sambi presented credentials March 9, 2006 embassy and residence﹕ 3339 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 333-7121
HungarY ambassador﹕ Andras Simonyi spouse﹕ Nada Simonyine Pejak children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ September 25, 2002 embassy﹕ 3910 Shoemaker St N.W., 20008 (202) 362-6730 residence﹕ 2215 30th St. N.W., 20008
Ghana ambassador﹕ Fritz Kwabena Poku spouse﹕ Nana Efua Salvo Poku children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ September 15, 2004 embassy﹕ 3512 International Drive N.W., 20008 (202) 686-4520 residence﹕ 2929 Benton Place N.W., 20008
Guinea-Bissau ambassador﹕ Rep. Henrique Da Silva spouse﹕ Maria da Silva presented credentials﹕ November 13, 2000
Haiti ambassador﹕ Raymond Alcide Joseph spouse﹕ Lola Poisson presented credentials﹕ August 2, 2005 embassy﹕ 2311 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 332-4090 residence﹕ 6200 Highland Drive, Chevy Chase MD, 20815
Italy ambassador﹕ Giovanni Castellaneta spouse﹕ Leila Castallaneta presented credentials﹕October 3, 2005 embassy﹕ 3000 Whitehaven St N.W., 20008 (202) 612-4400 residence﹕ 2800 Albemarle St. N.W., 20008
Latvia ambassador﹕ Maris Riekstins spouse﹕ Irena Riekstina children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ December 9, 2004 embassy﹕ 2306 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 328-2840 residence﹕ 5307 Blackstone Rd., Bethesda MD 20816
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Germany ambassador﹕ Dr. Klaus Scharioth spouse﹕ Dr. Ulrike Scharioth children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ March 13, 2006 embassy﹕ 4645 Reservoir Rd N.W., 20007 (202) 298-4201 residence﹕ 18000 Foxhall Road N.W., 20007 (202) 943-9583
Israel ambassador﹕ Daniel Ayalon spouse﹕ Anne Ayalon children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕July 30, 2002 embassy﹕ 3514 International Drive N.W., 20008 (202) 364-5590
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Georgia ambassador﹕ Vasil Sikharulidze presented credentials﹕ March 9, 2006 embassy﹕ 1101 15th St N.W. Suite 602, 20005 (202) 387-2390 residence﹕ 4701 Willard Ave., Chevy Chase MD, 20815
Guyana ambassador﹕ Bayney Karran spouse﹕ Donna Karran children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ December 4, 2003 embassy﹕ 2490 Tracy Place N.W., 20008 (202) 265-6900 residence﹕ 6911 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda MD, 20718
Laos ambassador﹕ Phanthong Phommahaxay spouse﹕ Amphanh Phommahaxay children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ June 19, 2002 embassy﹕ 2222 S St N.W., 20008 (202) 332-6416 residence﹕ 2222 S Street N.W., 20008, (202) 332-6416
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Gambia ambassador﹕ Dodou BammyJagne spouse﹕ Begay Jagne children﹕ Five presented credentials﹕ March 31, 2004 embassy﹕ 1156 15th St N.W. Suite 905, 20005 (202) 785-1399
N.W., 20008 (202) 462-3939 residence﹕ 2244 S Street N.W., 20008
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Gabon ambassador﹕ Jules Marius Ogouebandja spouse﹕ Blandine Ogouebandja children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ October 10, 2001 embassy﹕ 2034 20th St N.W., 20009 (202) 797-1000
embassy﹕ 2112 Leroy Place N.W., 20008 (202) 986-4300
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France ambassador﹕ Jean-David Levitte spouse﹕ Marie-Cecile Levitte children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ December 9, 2002 embassy﹕ 4101 Reservoir Rd N.W., 20007 (202) 244-6117 residence﹕ 2221 Kalorama Road N.W., 20008
League of Arab States ambassador﹕ Hussein Hassouna embassy﹕ 1100 17th St., N.W., Suite 602 (202) 265-3210 Lebanon ambassador﹕ Farid Abboud spouse﹕ Rim Hilal Abboud children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ April 19, 1999 embassy﹕ 2560 28th St N.W., 20008 (202) 939-6300 residence﹕ 2841 McGill Terrace N.W., 20008, (202) 483-9255 Lesotho ambassador﹕ Molelekeng Ernestina Rapolaki children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ February 14, 2002 embassy﹕ 2511 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 797-5533 residence﹕ 7013 Loch Lomond Dr., Bethesda MD, 20817 Liberia ambassador﹕ Charles A. Minor spouse﹕ Comfort M. Minor children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ July 15, 2004 embassy﹕ 5201 16th St N.W., 20011 (202) 723-0437 residence﹕ 3507 Fulton St. N.W., 20007 Liechtenstein ambassador﹕ Claudia Fritsche presented credentials﹕ December 7, 2000 embassy﹕ 888 17th St N.W., 20006 (202) 331-0590 Lithuania charge d’affaires﹕ Dr. Kornelija Jurgaitiene embassy﹕ 2622 16th St., N.W., Washington, DC 20009 (202) 234-5860 Luxembourg ambassador﹕ Joseph Weyland spouse﹕ Benedicte Bocqeau children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ November 7, 2005 embassy﹕ 2200 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 265-4171 Macedonia ambassador﹕ H.E. Ljupco Jordanovski embassy﹕ 2129 Wyoming Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 667-0501 residence﹕ 5610 Wisconsin Ave., Sommerset 2, Apt. 18F, Chevy Chase MD, 20815 Madagascar ambassador﹕ Rajaonarivony Narisoa spouse﹕ Ravaomalala Rondrosoa Narisoa children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ February 26, 2003 embassy﹕ 2374
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EMBASSY INSIDER
What Makes You Feel at Home in Washington? Compiled by Gail Scott
Bulgarian Ambassador Elena Poptodorova “There’s no other city like Washington: such a unique mix of power with intimacy in such a green setting. It is that intimacy with the people, the way they treat you that makes you feel at home. It’s “Washington Style.’”
Dominican Republic Ambassador Flavio Espinal
Embassy of Croatia
“I love to exercise in the Dominican Republic, so I try to take time to do that here. Right now I’m training three days a week for a January marathon in Miami. Plus, we go to church every Sunday. It’s important to do just what we do at home.”
Kuwaiti Ambassador Salem Al-Sabah “The reason I feel at home here is the warmth, open mindedness and welcoming nature of Washingtonians.”
French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte
“If I had to pick only one occasion, it was the Thanksgiving dinner last year when my old friend and U.N. colleague John Negroponte and his wife invited us to their family dinner as their only guests. For me, to be there in that most important moment of American family holidays, it was a real privilege.”
Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen Embassy of Oman
“I feel quite at home here since this capital city is becoming increasingly cosmopolitan with so many scholars, researchers, physicians, lawyers, journalists and entrepreneurs from India, who are contributing to Washington’s social and economic well-being.”
Singaporean Ambassador Chan Heng Chee “Washington is a very warm and welcoming city. It was easy for me to find a circle of friends who share the same interests and with whom you can have a good conversation with. It helps that you can get anything and everything from Asia these days, so I feel very much at home.”
Russian Ambassador Yuri V. Ushakov
Embassy of Korea
“Tense work and numerous demanding duties in D.C. did not force me to give up all my habits. One especially dear to me is escaping to the cozy Russian Embassy dacha on the Eastern Shore. It means getting away for the weekend just like I do at home, like all Russians do!”
Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 265-5525 residence﹕ 2374 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 265-5525 Malawi ambassador﹕ Bernard Herbert Sande spouse﹕ Gladys Sande presented credentials﹕ July 15, 2004 embassy﹕ 1156 15th St N.W. Suite 320, 20005 (202) 721-0270 Malaysia ambassador﹕ Dato Sheikh Abdul Khalid Ghazzal spouse﹕ Datin Faridah Ghazzali embassy﹕ 2401 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20038 (202) 328-2700 residence﹕ 2701 Albemarle St. N.W., 20008 Maldives ambassador﹕ Mohamed Latheef spouse﹕ Shakeela Hameed children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ February 26, 2003 embassy﹕ 800 Second Ave Suite 400E, NY, NY 10017 (212) 599-6195 residence﹕ 212 E. 47th St. Apt 12F, New York NY, 10017 Mali ambassador﹕ Abdoulaye Diop spouse﹕ Linda Diop children﹕ Five presented credentials﹕ September 8, 2003 embassy﹕ 2130 R St N.W., 20008 (202) 3322249 residence﹕ 2131 R St. N.W., 20008 Malta ambassador﹕ John Lowell spouse﹕Marie-Therese Lowell children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ February 26, 2003 embassy﹕ 2017 Connecticut Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 462-3611 residence﹕ 4501 29th St. N.W., 20008, (202) 363-5855 Marshall Islands ambassador﹕ Banny de Brum spouse﹕ Honor Note de Brum children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ April 30, 1996 embassy﹕ 2433 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 234 5414 residence﹕ 3212 Brooklawn Terrace, Chevy Chase MD, 20815 Mauritania ambassador﹕ Tijani Ould Mohamed El Kerim spouse﹕ Marieme M’Bengue Ould Kerim children﹕ Five presented credentials﹕ July 15, 2004 embassy﹕ 2129 Leroy Place N.W., 20008 (202) 232-5700 residence﹕ 2339 S St. N.W., 20008
presented credentials﹕ March 31, 2004 embassy﹕ 1911 Pennsylvania Ave N.W., 20006 (202) 736-1000 residence﹕ 4925 Loughboro Rd. N.W., 20016 Micronesia ambassador﹕ Jesse Bibiano Marehalau spouse﹕ Martha Lorerang Marehalau children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ February 5, 1990 embassy﹕ 1725 N St N.W., 20036 (202) 223-4383 residence﹕ 531 Fort Williams Parkway, Alexandria VA, 22304 Moldova ambassador﹕ Mihail Manoli spouse﹕ Natalia Zlatina children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ June 19, 2002 embassy﹕ 2101 S St N.W., 20008 (202) 667-1130 Mongolia ambassador﹕ Bold Ravdan spouse﹕ Oyuun Mijiddorj children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ February 26, 2003 embassy﹕ 2833 M St N.W., 20007 (202) 333-7117 residence﹕ 1021 Iron Gate Rd., Potomac MD, 20854, (301) 983-1962 Morocco ambassador﹕ Aziz Mekouar spouse﹕ Maria Felice Cittadini Cesi children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ June 19, 2002 embassy﹕ 1601 21st St N.W., 20009 (202) 462-7980 residence﹕ 9109 Clewerwall Dr., Bethesda MD, 20817, (301) 365-7403 Mozambique ambassador﹕ Armando Alexandre Panguene spouse﹕ Maria Teresa Panguene children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ February 14, 2002 embassy﹕ 1990 M St N.W. Suite 570, 20036 (202) 293-7146 Namibia ambassador﹕ Patrick Nandago spouse﹕ Elena children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ September 12, 2006 embassy﹕ 1605 New Hampshire Ave N.W., 20009 (202) 9860540 residence﹕ 4509 W St. N.W., 20007 Nauru ambassador﹕ Marlene Moses presented credentials﹕ February 10, 2006 embassy﹕800 Second Ave Suite 400D, NY, NY 10017 (212)937-0074 Nepal ambassador: Kedar Bhakta Shrestha spouse﹕ Shanta Shrestha children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ September 15, 2004 embassy﹕ 2131 Leroy Place N.W., 20008 (202) 667-4550 residence﹕ 2730 34th Pl. N.W., 20007 (202) 333-3389
Mauritius charge d’affairs﹕ Shiu Ching Young Kim Fat presented credentials﹕ May 22, 2005 embassy﹕ 4301 Connecticut Ave N.W. Suite 441, 20008 (202)244-1491 residence﹕ 8620 Harvest Square Ct., Potomac MD, 20854
Netherlands ambassador﹕ Christiaan Kroer spouse﹕ Harriet Kroer presented credentials﹕ Sept. 2006 embassy﹕ 4200 Linnean Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 244-5300 residence﹕ 2347 S St. N.W., 20008 (202) 234-1136
Mexico ambassador﹕ Carlos Alberta de Icaza Gonzalez spouse﹕ Luisa Hortensia Solchaga Lopez de Icaza children﹕ One
New Zealand ambassador﹕ Roy Ferguson spouse﹕ Dawn Ferguson children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ February 27, 2006 embassy﹕
EMBASSY PHOTOS BY PAUL SIMKIN
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N.W., 20008 (202) 243-6500 residence﹕ 2343 S St. N.W., 20008
37 Observatory Circle N.W., 20008 (202) 328-4848 residence﹕ 27 Observatory Circle N.W., 20008 (202) 328-4800 Nicaragua ambassador﹕ Salvador Stadthagen Icaza spouse﹕ Analia Vargas de Stadthagen children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ December 4, 2003 embassy﹕ 1627 New Hampshire Ave N.W., 20009 (202) 939-6570 Niger ambassador﹕ Aminata Maiga Djibrilla Toure presented credentials﹕ March 9, 2006 embassy﹕2204 R St N.W., 20008 (202) 483-4224 Nigeria ambassador﹕ George Achulike Obiozor spouse﹕ Grace Clementine Obiozor children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ July 15, 2004 embassy﹕3519 International Court N.W., 20008(202) 986-8400 residence﹕ 6705 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase MD, 20815 (301) 656-0713 Norway ambassador﹕ Knut Vollebaek spouse﹕ Ellen Sofie Aadland Vollebaek children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ March 13, 2001 embassy﹕ 2720 34th St N.W., 20008 (202) 333-6000 residence﹕ 3401 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., 20007 (202) 333-1633 Oman ambassador﹕ Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad al-Mughairi spouse﹕ Fuad AlHinai presented credentials﹕ November 9, 2005 embassy﹕ 2535 Belmont Rd N.W., 20008 (202) 387-1980
EMBASSY INSIDER
Palau ambassador﹕ Hersey Kyota spouse﹕ Lydia Shmull Kyota children﹕ Six presented credentials﹕ November 12, 1997 embassy﹕ 1700 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Suite 400, 20006 (202) 452-6814 residence﹕7203 Douge Forest Court, Alexandria VA, 22315
WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? BY NICARAGUAN AMBASSADOR SALVADOR STADTHAGEN
I came to fully appreciate Democracy after living under dictatorships — from the right and
Palestinian National Authority official representative of the palestine liberation organization﹕ Afif Safieh embassy﹕ 1730 K St N.W., #1004 (202) 785-8394
from the left for 33 years, and then fighting for it as an ideal after that. You cannot fully appreciate the freedoms inherent to democracy until you experience oppression and of oppression, and we Nicaraguans have had our share.
Panama ambassador﹕ Frederico Humbert Arias spouse﹕ Daphne Rusodimos de Humbert children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ December 9, 2004 embassy﹕ 2862 McGill Terrace N.W., 20008 (202) 483-1407 residence﹕ 2601 29th St. N.W., 20008
When we achieved democracy for the first time in 1990, we were very naive. We thought democracy was a linear process, that the dark forces of oppression were gone forever. Businessmen started to do business again, doctors began to cure, farmers farmed, lawyers made
Papua New Guinea ambassador﹕ Evan Jeremy Paki presented credentials﹕ September 8, 2003 embassy﹕ 1779 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. Suite 805, 20036 (202) 745-3680
money and many of us began to work for the government. For the first time working for the government was an honorable profession. Our mistake was to leave politics to the worst elements. The Alemans and the Ortegas, the
Paraguay ambassador﹕ James Spalding spouse﹕ Cecilia Coello de Spalding presented credentials﹕ March 31, 2004 embassy﹕ 2400 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., 20008 (202) 483-6960
“caudillos”, did the politics. There are no strong men without the sheep. We watched our ideal of democracy fall into the mud, but we let them. I pray that for this next election on November 5th our people, who have shown collective wisdom every time, will see beyond the false promises of a paradise that Daniel Ortega is offering to construct with someone else’s money. I also pray that
Pakistan ambassador﹕ Mahmoud Ali Durrani children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕December 9, 2004 embassy﹕ 3517 International Court
Peru ambassador﹕ Felipe Ortiz de Zevallos children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ March 31, 2004 embassy﹕ 1700
the U.S., which one president once called a “beacon on the hill,” and those, who have supported our search for democracy, do not give up on us this time.
EMBASSY INSIDER
Spicing up Embassy Row
others are lucky enough to inherit great chefs. And, move over men — the top chefs for Australia, Colombia, Norway, the Dominican
W
ith over 170 foreign embassies in town,
Republic and Chile are women. But, perhaps
competition to stand out is fierce
the biggest surprise is who’s from where. Brazil’s
particularly in the kitchen. So … who
chef, the “dean” of embassy chefs, and Germany’s
has the best chef?
chef are both French (scandalous!). Egypt has two
The title of “Ambassadorial Iron Chef ” has been up for grabs
chefs one of whom is Pakistani, and the Saudi chef
ever since France’s Francis Layryle left last spring, after almost 30
is Moroccan.
years at the residence. Last year, when the Washington National
The Danish embassy has perhaps the most
Opera heard that Ambassador and Madame Levitte had canceled
handsome chef; he bakes cookies and cakes to
their pre-ball dinner for the 50th Anniversary of “D-Day,” the
keep the staff swooning. The Belgian is famous for
organizer asked: “But will Francis still be there?” The evening
handmade chocolates; the Canadian, for importing
went on. That’s what we call definite diplomatic cache.
f Danish Che en ls ie N rs e And
Japanes e and Mas Chefs Yoshiteru aki Mats Iwata uyama
wild musk ox and caribou; the Croatian, for black
salmon; the Japanese, for finding Kobe-like beef here;
Ambassadors can “spice up” their reputations through the
risotto and tender calamari; the Kuwaiti, for mouthwatering
the Polish, for carpaccio mosaics; the Thai, for perfect Pad Thai;
culinary magic of an aptly appointed chef. Some envoys even
lamb; the Swedish, for surprises like reindeer mousse; the
the Hungarian, for heavenly goulash and the British, for superb
arrive with personal chefs like the new Dutch ambassador;
German, for lobster strudel; the Finnish, for salting his own
English and continental specialties. ~ Gail Scott
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Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20036 (202) 833-9860 residence﹕3001 Garrison St. N.W., 20008 (202) 363-4808
presented credentials﹕ July 31, 2001 embassy﹕ 3216 New Mexico Ave N.W., 20016 (202) 364-6730 residence﹕ 7917 Cypress Grove Lane, Cabin John MD, 20818
Philippines ambassador﹕ Albert Ferreros del Rosario spouse﹕ Margaret Gretchen del Rosario children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ November 8, 2001 embassy﹕ 1600 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20036 (202) 4979300 residence﹕ 2253 R St. N.W., 20008
Samoa ambassador﹕ Ali’ioaiga Feturi Elisaia spouse﹕ Maria Lei Sam-Elisaia presented credentials﹕ December 4, 2003 embassy﹕ 800 Second Ave Suite 400D, NY, NY 10017 (212) 599-6196
Poland ambassador﹕ Janusz Reiter spouse﹕ Hanna Reiter presented credentials﹕ September 26, 2005 embassy﹕ 2640 16th St N.W., 20009 (202) 234-3800
Sao Tome and Principe ambassador﹕ Ovidio Manuel Barbosa Pequeno presented credentials﹕ March 10, 2006 embassy﹕ 400 Park Ave., NY, NY 10022 (212) 317-0580
Portugal ambassador﹕ Pedro Manuel Dos Reis Alves Catarino spouse﹕ Cheryl Catarino children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ December 9, 2002 embassy﹕ 2125 Kalorama Rd N.W., 20008 (202)328-8610 residence﹕ 2125 Kalorama Rd. N.W., 20008
Saudi Arabia ambassador﹕ Prince Turki Al-Faisal Al-Saud spouse﹕ Princess Nouf Bint Al-Faisal presented credentials﹕ September 12, 2005 embassy﹕ 601 New Hampshire Ave N.W., 20037 (202) 342-3800
Qatar ambassador﹕ Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa presented credentials﹕ August 24, 2005 embassy﹕ 2555 M St N.W., 20037(202) 274-1603 Romania ambassador﹕ Sorin Dumitru Ducaru spouse﹕ Carmen Ducaru children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ June 20, 2001 embassy﹕ 1607 23rd St N.W., 20008 (202) 332-4829 residence﹕ 2500 30th St. N.W., 20008 (202) 986-3257 Russia ambassador﹕ Yuri V. Ushakov spouse﹕ Svetlana M. Ushakova children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ January 21, 1999 embassy﹕ 2650 Wisconsin Ave N.W., 20007 (202) 298-5757 residence﹕ 1125 16th St. N.W., 20008 (202) 298-5707 Rwanda ambassador﹕ Dr. Zac Nsenga spouse﹕ Eron Asimwe Nsenga children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ May 8, 2003 embassy﹕ 1714 New Hampshire Ave N.W., 20009 (202) 232-2882 Saint Kitts & Nevis ambassador﹕ Izben Cordinal Williams spouse﹕ Shirmel Rosetta Williams children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ July 31, 2001 embassy﹕ 3216 New Mexico Ave N.W., 20016 (202) 686-2636 residence﹕ 7638 Royal Dominion Dr., Bethesda MD, 20817 Saint Lucia ambassador﹕ Sonia Merlyn Johnny spouse﹕ Lloyd Jackson children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ September 10, 1998 embassy﹕ 3216 New Mexico Ave N.W., 20016 (202) 364-6792 Saint Vincent & the Grenadines ambassador﹕ Ellsworth I. A. John spouse﹕ Charmane Vanessa Tappin John
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Senegal ambassador﹕ ambassador﹕ Amadou Lamine Ba spouse﹕ Oulimata Gueye Ba children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ December 9, 2002 embassy﹕ 2112 Wyoming Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 234-0540 residence﹕ 4500 Linnean Ave. N.W., 20008 (202) 537-0340 Serbia and Montenegro* ambassador﹕ Ivan Vujacic spouse﹕ Jelica Petrovic-Vujacic presented credentials﹕ December 9, 2002 embassy﹕ 2134 Kalorama Rd N.W., 20008 (202) 332-0333 residence﹕ 3846 Woodley Road N.W., 20016 (now separating) Seychelles ambassador﹕ Emile Patrick Jeremie Bonnelame spouse﹕ Fulgentia Gabrielle Hoareau presented credentials﹕ May 26, 2005 embassy﹕ 800 Second Ave Suite 400C, NY, NY 10017 (212) 972-1785 Sierra Leone ambassador﹕ Ibrahim M. Kamara spouse﹕ Memunatu A. Kamara children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ May 8, 2003 embassy﹕ 1701 19th St N.W., 20009 (202) 939-9261 residence﹕ 4821 Colorado Ave. N.W., 20011
presented credentials﹕ September 15, 2004 embassy﹕ 1525 New Hampshire Ave N.W., 20036 (202) 667-5363 residence﹕ 6936 Carmichael Road, Bethesda MD, 20817 (301) 229-4526 Solomon Islands ambassador﹕ Collin David Beck spouse﹕ Helen Beck children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ March 31, 2004 embassy﹕ 800 Second Ave Suite 400L, NY, NY 10017 (212) 599-6192 South Africa ambassador﹕ Barbara Joyce Mosima Masekela children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ September 8, 2003 embassy﹕ 3051 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 232-4400 residence﹕ 3101 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., 20008 Spain ambassador﹕ Carlos Westendorp spouse﹕ Amaya Westendorp children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ September 15, 2004 embassy﹕ 2375 Pennsylvania Ave N.W., 20037 (202) 728-2340 residence﹕ 2350 Foxhall Road N.W., 20007, (202) 965-0401 Sri Lanka ambassador﹕ Bernard Anton B. Goonetilleke spouse﹕ Maria G. J. Goonetilleke presented credentials﹕ May 26, 2005 embassy﹕ 2148 Wyoming Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 483-4025 residence﹕ 6264 Clearwood Rd., Bethesda MD, 20817 Sudan charge d’affaires﹕ Khidir Haroun Ahmed spouse﹕ Howaida Abdelkarim Mahmoud presented credentials﹕ April 17, 2001 embassy﹕ 2210 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 338-8565 Suriname ambassador﹕ Henry Lothar Illes spouse﹕ Margo L. Deekman-Illes children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ October 10, 2001 embassy﹕ 4301 Connecticut Ave N.W. Suite 460, 20008 (202) 244-7488 residence﹕ 6 Sotweed Court, Potomac MD, 20854
Singapore ambassador﹕ Chan Heng Chee presented credentials﹕ July 29, 1996 embassy﹕ 3501 International Place N.W., 20008 (202) 537-3100 residence﹕ 2620 Rock Creek Dr. N.W., 20008, (202) 986-3201
Swaziland ambassador﹕ Ephraim Mandlenkosi M. Hlophe spouse﹕ Martha Ngakanani Hlophe children﹕ Four presented credentials﹕ September 26, 2005 embassy﹕ 1712 New Hampshire Ave N.W., 20009 (202) 234-5002 residence﹕ 10804 Brickyard Court, Potomac MD, 20854, (301) 765-7049
Slovak Republic ambassador﹕ Rastislav Kacer spouse﹕ Otilia Kacerova children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ September 8, 2003 embassy﹕ 3523 International Court N.W., 20008 (202) 237-1054 residence﹕ 7718 Carlton Place, McLean VA, 22102
Sweden ambassador﹕ Gunnar Wiggo Lund spouse﹕ Kari Marie Lotsberg presented credentials﹕ September 9, 2005 embassy﹕ 1501 M St N.W. Suite 900, 20005 (202) 467-2600 residence﹕ 3900 Nebraska Ave. N.W., 20016 (202) 966-9297
Slovenia ambassador﹕ Samuel Zbogar spouse﹕ Maja Zbogar children﹕ Three
Switzerland ambassador﹕ Urs Johann Ziswiler presented credentials﹕ May 11, 2006
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embassy﹕ 2900 Cathedral Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 745-7900 residence﹕ 2833 McGill Terrace N.W., 20008 Syria ambassador﹕ Imad Moustapha spouse﹕Rafif Alsayed presented credentials﹕ March 31, 2004 embassy﹕ 2215 Wyoming Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 232-6313 residence﹕ 2447 Kalorama Rd. N.W., 20008 TAiwan spouse﹕ taipei economic and cultural representative office ﹙tecro﹚ representative﹕ David Tawei Lee spouse﹕ Lin Chih Lee children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ July 23, 2004 embassy﹕ 4201 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., 20016 Tajikistan ambassador﹕ Khamrokhon Zaripov spouse﹕ Kadirya Nabieva children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ February 26, 2003 embassy﹕ 1005 New Hampshire Ave N.W., 20037 (202) 223-6090 Tanzania ambassador﹕ Andrew Mhando Daraja spouse﹕ Anne M. Daraja presented credentials﹕ July 30, 2002 embassy﹕ 2139 R St N.W., 20008 (202) 939-6125 residence﹕ 1 Highboro Court, Bethesda MD, 20817 (301) 229-3370 Thailand ambassador﹕ Virasakdi Futrakul spouse﹕ Aumaporn Futrakul children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ February 22, 2006 embassy﹕ 1024 Wisconsin Ave N.W. Suite 401, 20007 (202) 944-3600 residence﹕ 2145 Decatur Place N.W., 20008 (202) 232-4634 Togo ambassador﹕ No current ambassador embassy﹕ 2208 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 234-4212 Tonga ambassador﹕ Fekitamoeloa Tupoupai Utoikamanu children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ May 26, 2005 embassy﹕ 250 East 51st St, NY, NY 10022 (917) 369-1025 Trinidad & Tobago ambassador﹕ Marina Annette Valere presented credentials﹕ February 26, 2003 embassy﹕ 1708 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20036 (202) 467 6490 residence﹕ 7530 17th St. N.W., 20012 Tunisia ambassador﹕ Mohamed Nejib Hachana spouse﹕ Dalendazarrad Hachana children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ March 8, 2005 embassy﹕ 1515 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20005 (202) 862 1850 residence﹕ 5131 Broad Branch Rd. N.W., 20008 Turkey ambassador﹕ Nabi Sensoy spouse﹕ Gulgun Sensoy presented credentials﹕ January 10, 2006 embassy﹕ 2525 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 612-6700 residence﹕ 2456 Tracy Place N.W., 20008
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Turkmenistan ambassador﹕ Meret Bairamovich Orazov spouse﹕ Irina Borisovna Orazova children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ February 14, 2001 embassy﹕ 2207 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 588-1500
Uzbekistan ambassador﹕ Abdulaziz Khafizovich Kamilov spouse﹕ Gulnara Rashidova children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ December 4, 2003 embassy﹕ 1746 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20036 (202) 887-5300
Uganda ambassador﹕ Perezi Karukubiro KamunaN. W.ire presented credentials﹕ April 24, 2006 embassy﹕ 5911 16th St N.W., 20011 (202) 726-7100 residence﹕ 5009 Loughboro Rd. N.W., 20016 Ukraine ambassador﹕ Oleh Shamshur children﹕ One presented credentials﹕ January 24, 2006 embassy﹕ 3350 M St N.W., 20007 (202) 333-0606 United Arab Emirates ambassador﹕ Saqr Ghobash presented credentials﹕ March 10, 2006 embassy﹕ 3522 International Court N.W. Suite 400, 20008 (202) 243-2400 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ambassador﹕ Sir David G. Manning, K.C.M.G. spouse﹕ Lady Manning (Catherine) presented credentials﹕ September 8, 2003 embassy﹕ 3100 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 588-7800 residence﹕ 3100 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., 20008 (202) 558-7800 Uruguay ambassador﹕ Carlos Alberto Gianelli spouse﹕ Maria Monica Nari Lloveras children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ July 11, 2005 embassy﹕ 1913 I St N.W., 20006 (202) 331-1313 residence﹕ 9001 Clewerwall Drive, Bethesda MD, 20817
Venezuela ambassador﹕ Bernardo Alvarez Herrera spouse﹕ Margarete de Alvarez children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ February 26, 2003embassy﹕ 1099 30th St N.W., 20007 (202) 342-2214 residence﹕ 2443 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., 20008 Vietnam ambassador﹕ Nguyen Tam Chien Nguyen Thi spouse﹕ Lien Huong children﹕ Three presented credentials﹕ October 10, 2001 embassy﹕ 1233 20th St N.W. Suite 400, 20036 (202) 861-0737 Yemen ambassador﹕ Abdulwahab Al-Hajjri spouse﹕ Saboura Al-Mahfadi presented credentials﹕ September 8, 1997 embassy﹕ 2319 Wyoming Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 965-4760 residence﹕ 4850 Glenbrook Rd. N.W., 20016 Zambia ambassador﹕ Inonge MbikusitaLewanika children﹕ Two presented credentials﹕ February 26, 2003 embassy﹕ 2419 Massachusetts Ave N.W., 20008 (202) 265-9717 residence﹕ 2300 Wyoming Ave. N.W., 20008 Zimbabwe ambassador﹕ Machivenyika Tobias Mapuranga presented credentials﹕ November 30, 2005 embassy﹕ 1608 New Hampshire Ave N.W., 20009 (202) 332-7100
EMBASSY INSIDER
STAIRWAY TO MASS AVE …
Why Hungarian Ambassador András Simonyi prefers to rock Rock’n’roll music has shaped my heart for the last years. At the age of eleven I saw a man play a guitar on a street corner and I was mesmerized. That same year I heard the Beatles for the first time and knew that the guitar was going to be my instrument, so my youth was dominated by rock culture. Growing up mostly behind the Iron Curtain, listening to rock music was at times not that easy. First it was banned all together as “anti-social cultural behavior.” Later, as the communist system loosened up a little, while not prohibited, it was still not freely available. So we listened to our favorite rock bands Traffic, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and Frank Zappa on foreign, sometimes forbidden radio stations. As we tuned into our favorite DJ, we became part of the West. As we pressed our ears to the good old bakelite radio, we were free. Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers, and Steely Dan spoke to us the same way they spoke to Americans and Europeans in the democratic West. Rock music was our lifeline to the free world. Jimi Hendrix’s Fender Stratocaster was the weapon of self expression for the free man. Rock music opened the hearts and minds of millions of people, cutting through barbed wire and the Berlin Wall. It had a major role in preparing for change that ultimately brought us our freedom. Throughout the years the inner drive to strum my guitar loudly and reach out to others has not changed. Now, I have my band in Washington called “The Coalition of the Willing” and I am blessed to be able to use it to communicate to Americans my message of the past and future: that you cannot take freedom for granted. Sometimes people are puzzled at an ambassador playing rock music. I don’t mind that. I just add my Hungarian soul and play. Rock lives forever! Coalition of the Willing next plays on December 1st at the Hungarian Embassy. Contact the Chancery for tickets, 202.362.6730.
EMBASSY INSIDER
Want an ambassador at your next function? You’ll have to go through the gatekeepers, i.e., Social Secretaries
B
ritain’s Amanda Downes has so perfectly protected five different ambassadors and insured that each event run ever so smoothly over 17 years that she was awarded the MBE (Member of the British Empire) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. “People know my face or name, so they call about everything from passports and visas to what to serve at tea and what’s on in London,” says Downes. Want a tip? Call this leading lady if you want to check engagement possibilities for Sir David and Lady Manning. Otherwise send a letter. “I dread e-mail,” Amanda notes. Spain’s Diane Flamini, an American who grew up in Madrid and is a member of the Order of Isabella La Catolica (the Queen who financed
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Christopher Columbus) says politics and Germany’s Katheryne Walker party-invites often go hand and hand: encourages promptness but not arriving “When Spain said, ‘Pull the troops from early to her embassy’s events. Her biggest Iraq,’ within ten minutes, my phones nightmare: seating power couples with stopped ringing,” she says. “Now relations different last names that out-rank each other. have improved and I’m as busy as ever.” She still handwrites every invitation and Her advice to event chairs? “Fundraising place card except for Germany’s giant Unity is very new to Spain so unless the event Day gathering on October 3. Finland’s Leila directly benefits Spain, they won’t do it.” Takala, about to retire after 37 years, says the French Social Secretary Denise pace is more hectic these days, especially Amanda Downes has been Koptcho adds how helpful it is when with e-mail, but “timing” is still everything. the British embassy’s official gatekeeper for 17 years. people RSVP promptly, even to If you want to plan anything at the House receptions: “In these days of faxes and of Sweden, wait to call Gunilla Stone until e-mails, it’s especially appreciated when guests send handafter October 23 when King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia written thank-you notes,” she advises. Colombia’s cozy officially open the waterfront chancery. According to Japan’s ballroom, a favorite with charity chairs, is most easily booked Kiyomi Buker, accepting invitations promptly, showing up exactly if, “there is a link to our country,” says Colombian Martha on time and remembering to write a hand written thank you Jensen. “Always explain how the event will showcase, benefit note will spearate you from the crowd. Others say, offering to help or bring together Colombians.” defray event costs, may increase your chances. ~ Gail Scott
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E M BA S SY R OW
SWEDEN ON THE POTOMAC
By Gail Scott
Photography By Gary Landsman
The New House of Sweden finally glows on Washington’s waterfront and Sweden’s King and Queen are coming to dedicate it – no wonder Swedish Ambassador Gunnar Lund and his wife Kari Lotsberg are smiling.
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T
he new House of
Sweden, the first foreign embassy to ever be built on the Washington waterfront, is finally open. And to add to the romance, Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia will soon be here to officially inaugurate this handsome, long glass building that glows in the dark. The tale of the House of Sweden is also a love story of two people from different countries who have created a family, impressive careers and a happy marriage despite the never ending demands of diplomacy, government and politics and constant complications of living on different continents. Perhaps you already have met them, Swedish Ambassador Gunnar Lund and Kari Lotsberg, his wife, who is Norwegian by birth, Swedish by passport, a dedicated mother and a well-known economist. They climb mountains together, cross country ski as far as they can go and then hike to Kari’s family “hut” in the Norwegian woods, above the timberline. There to greet them: no running water or electricity. Often, no one else either. Their three kids won’t come there anymore; they call it “punishment” to spend their vacations at the family’s 300 year-old “hytte” (or “stuga” in Swedish). But to these two, still obviously in love after 26 years, it’s a special time to renew themselves and grab some quiet time together. But quiet isn’t what they’ll have this month in Washington. “The King and Queen immediately agreed to come,” said Lund of the upcoming royal inaugural festivities October 21-23 for Sweden’s impressive glass house. “The House of Sweden does demonstrate what importance we place on this city and our long relationship with the United States. We were prepared to go out of our way by erecting such a piece of beauty.” After decades of dreaming but losing complicated issues with Washington’s zoning boards, neighborhood councils and its own National Property Board to build on Embassy Row and then, on a skinny piece of land between Thompson’s Boat House and Washington Harbour, Sweden has finally won. [See House of Sweden’s
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Front page– Entrance of House of Sweden glows at dusk. Clockwise from left– A stairwell shows how the architects and the designers played with angles and repeated circles on ceiling and lights; Ambassador Lund points out the unlimited views from his “transparent” new chancery; a hallway with the repeated circular dot motif; after walking “through” Interior Designer Ingegerd Råman’s “signature” waterfall at the front door, guests have a stunning view up and down the river including, Memorial Bridge, Kennedy Center, Watergate, Roosevelt Island and Washington Harbour.
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Saga.] This spectacular showcase on the Potomac was well worth the wait. Although Lund oversaw the financing for the House of Sweden as the Swedish cabinet minister with responsibility for international economic and financial affairs, he was delighted when he actually saw the finished product. “It feels familiar but it does impress me; I am still surprised and pleased that with so much glass and stone, it is not cold but inviting, with the wood so dominant that there’s a warm glow,” says Lund. The building, which houses the chancery and private offices (which are available for rent alongside Volvo and Saab), cost a half billion Swedish crowns, or approximately US$80 million, making it Sweden’s most expensive chancery and its biggest bilateral mission in the world. Swedish architects Gert Wingårdh and Tomas Hansen won the transatlantic competition to create “the crown jewel” of Sweden’s embassies. Along with the chancery, there is exhibition space, 19 corporate offices, a high-tech business event center and a roof garden. Swedish Interior Designer Ingegerd Råman made all the difference by weaving warmth, style and whimsy throughout. After a delay moving in (would you believe a flood), Lund and his staff of 50 are finding it easy to get used to “postcard” views from their office windows, riding up and down the sexy, seethrough elevator and walking through a waterfall to go to lunch in Georgetown. Lund, a self-proclaimed “exercise freak,” has already requested a sports shower, changing room and storage for the canoe, kayak and shell he plans to buy for the staff to exercise on the Potomac. Of course, he’ll be the first one out there. His wife, who kept busy commuting across the Atlantic all last year when their daughter Ingrid was still in school in Stockholm, finally moved into the Nebraksa Ave. N.W., residence just in time for the long Labor Day weekend. But 15-year old Ingrid and her cousin Ida arrived earlier to attend Washington International School this fall.The girls brought Ninni, the family black lab with them to Washington, and that changed everything. “We have two homes and I commute between them,” Lotsberg says, “But the moment Ingrid moved in with our family dog, America became more our home base.” Their 22-year old son, Gustav, is studying Mathematics and Physics at the University of
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Clockwise from left– Glass is used throughout the embassy as a design complement to wood; the front of the embassy affords an unobstructed view of the Potomac; Kari Lotsberg and Gunnar Lund share a complicated, every-changing daily life on two continents, in two homes with their three grown children, a visiting cousin and a black lab named Ninni.
Uppsala and 19-year old Harald was accepted this fall at the University of Lund to study Bio-medicine. But Lotsberg feels that living apart some of the time has turned out in a very positive way for their family. “The distances give us all an incentive to find occasions when we can spend time together. In some ways, we are a closer knit family than we might have been if we all stayed in different cities in Sweden. Then, when the kids came home to Stockholm for holidays, they’d be out with their old friends.” Now, their boys as well as their girlfriends already have tickets to come for two weeks this Christmas like they all did last year. “The kids, to my joy, very much want to see the family brought together.This is something we win despite our choice to be based in two continents with a big ocean in between.”
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THE LONG ROAD to HOUSE OF SWEDEN
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or more than three decades, Sweden has been searching for a proper Washington embassy. With rented space at the Watergate and then at 15th and M streets N.W., they had handsome Swedish-designed interiors but no outside visibility a must in this public diplomacy era. During the 1970’s and 80’s, Count Wilhelm Wachtmeister, dean of the diplomatic corps and Sweden’s envoy here for 15 years, and his prominent society wife Ulla were the quintessential Washington diplomatic couple.They tried but failed to build on Embassy Row after eight expensive years of battling neighbors about parking problems. Then Finland’s Jukka Valtasaari, having learned from his colleague’s mistakes, brought the prospective neighbors into the discussion early and won their crucial votes.Within steps of where Sweden failed, Finland would have its showcase, a green glass house that would become a standard internationally for public diplomacy. There sat Finland as the symbol of Scandinavian engineering ingenuity and legendary style on Embassy Row and Sweden’s chancery was practically invisible. The pressure was on. During the mid-1990’s, Swedish Ambassador Henrik Liljegren and his Turkish wife Nil dreamed of the eventual waterfront location with property owners Alan Novak and his Swedish wife Kate. The Foreign Ministry and the National Property Board were curious about the ambitious plan but finally said “Nay,” unconvinced that the Novaks’ skinny piece of riverfront land could be sufficiently protected from flooding. And even if it could, Sweden might be forced to part, for budgetary reasons, with the charming Nebraska Avenue hacienda which David Lawrence, founder of U.S. News & World Report, built in 1923. Novak sold the waterfront land; Georgetowners heard a hotel would be built there. But when that fell through, Novak bought back the land and Sweden took another look. By this time Jan Eliasson was the beloved ambassador and Gunnar Lund was in Stockholm serving as the Swedish minister who ended up overseeing the financing for the House of Sweden after the project was finally approved. – Gail Scott
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WL SPOTLIGHT
Chief Oren Lyons of the Iriquois Nation performed a tribal ceremony in native dress under the setting sun while 12 Viking longboats rowed out behind him against the backdrop of the eternal sunset that lasts through the night.
THINK BIG World leaders, businessmen and innovators tackle the big issues facing planet Earth at the Tallberg Forum BY N O R A M ACCO BY
T
he Tallberg Forum is an innovative global meeting, a mini-Davos, in the magnificent hills and pristine lakes of the town of Tallberg in north central Sweden. In such close proximity to the Arctic Circle, it stays light for 24 hours a day, and so inspires an idealism that is essential if one is to take seriously the theme of how we as a people can live together on this planet. Whether or not we agree with the causes behind climate change, we cannot run away from the results.The world’s temperature is rising. Glacial ice melts faster and the North Pole is no longer stable enough to walk on. Fifty percent of the United States now lies in permanent drought and eco-extinction rates reach new levels of calamity just on an agricultural level alone.
These are challenges many of us would rather not face, but we cannot continue to live in denial. Apathy is the true enemy of democracy. And time is running out. How do we, as citizens, as leaders, as business people, come together and make positive change? The Tallberg concept has evolved over its 25 year history. It rests firmly on humanistic principles and systems thinking. It brings together a highly diverse set of people, in terms of geography, age, gender and nationality to address the difficult questions and global themes, to start the dialogue, investigate the systems and try to find solutions. An opening address by Kofi Annan, live music from Africa’s famous story tellers and fiddlers of northern Sweden, and actors from Ingmar
TALLBERG SNAPSHOTS ° Zainab Salbis of Women for Women and other activists shared stories of the horrific challenges facing victims of war and famine and how they are improving their lives.
Activist Zainab Salbis of Women for Women shares stories of the horrific challenges facing victims of war and famine and how their lives can be improved. 80
° The new woman president of Latvia, a scientist, spoke about stewardship and progress as one and the same. The 30-something president of Georgia shared his struggles to end corruption and create democracy and abundance for his people. ° The leader of the student democracy and free speech movement at Tiannamenn Square told how, at that historical moment, he was
Bergman’s ensemble are interspersed with the forum’s heavy hitting delegates and the agenda of tackling the tough questions facing planet Earth. When I first went to Tallberg in 1995, it was a small group of 30 or 40 business leaders and important thinkers from around the world. This past year, it had grown to 500 participants plus accompanying family members. Led by ex-Volvo vice president and impresario Bo Ekman, Tallberg is a podium for people to speak freely about world transformation and engage in productive dialogue. The Tallberg Forum makes no declarations and issues no recommendations. The forum’s result lies in the many initiatives and ideas that the participants bring back home and integrate in their actions as leaders.
not afraid to die, and vowed to return someday to China.
° Amory Lovins, director of the Rocky Mountain Institute and author of Winning the Oil Endgame, chatted with Prince Turki Al Faisal, the Saudi ambassadpr to the U.S., about the newest alternative to steel — fiberforge. ° Lord Blackheath of Great Britain offered $10 million on the spot to finance a week of peace in the Middle East. ° Venture Capitalists and new technology inventors sat together in the same room discussing how to get the newest technology to market in time to save the world from environmental calamity and the end of oil.
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BO EKMAN AT THE TALLBERG FORUM
Former Volvo vice president and impresario Bo Ekman speaks at the Tallberg Forum — a podium for people to speak freely about world transformation and engage in productive dialogue.
products in a way that would clean up the mess with little backlash. Although we made good progress on that front, I eventually grew frustrated and decided to move on. The Forum started in 1981 when we convened people from various walks of life for a discussion on systemic problems in the world. My motivation was the belief that every problem is connected to a larger problem. The Tallberg Forums are a perpetually ad hoc process; it’s not a standing fixture. We are extremely careful not to use people for preplanned PR purposes. The whole idea is that it needs to have integrity and authenticity, and integrity is embedded in the structure and process. We rely on a group of leaders who search and propose global themes. It takes a significant organization to pull this off as we have people coming from four different continents. Over the years we have focused on the environment, education and a whole host of systemic issues. Chatham house rules always apply, so what is said is not for attribution and we try to create a safe place for honest discussion. Eventually, the conferences grew larger. In 2003 we focused on the question of how to reconcile differing visions of the future in China, India, Africa, Europe and America. After that conference, I took a walk in the woods and a question came to me — how on earth can we learn to live together? It was a blessed moment — in a nanosecond I knew that we had to have a conference on that subject.
WASHINGTON LIFE: Tell us a bit about the creation of the Tallberg Forum and how it has evolved over the years. BO EKMAN: In 1981, I was a senior executive at Volvo and a senior advisor to the Aspen institute. I participated in a lot of conferences and frankly felt a bit uncomfortable with so much talk and lack of action. I eventually resigned from the Aspen institute and decided to start the Tallberg Foundation and Forum, without the regalia of most international conferences. Back then I was working in corporate development and planning at Volvo and was responsible corporate-wide for the environment. At the time there was a big debate about paint shops in Sweden and most companies, including Volvo, had the perception that any concession to the environment was a zero-sum loss. But we did a poll convening a group of top managers of all our various paint shops and the community who live The famous fiddlers of northern Sweden provided near the paint shops about entertainment to the diverse crowd at the Tallberg Forum. their views with respect to environmental concerns. The media had never experienced a situation where a company had released a poll that was negative with respect to that company, but it triggered a movement to adopt new
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DIPLOMATIC DANCE I.M. Pei comes to Washington, The Swedes and Swiss open new doors ... and who’s coming and who’s going.
E
ach autumn, new ambassadors sail into town but this year there are new envoys and embassies as well. At Chile, Cyprus, Colombia, the Netherlands and Peru, there’s lots of unpacking. Greece and Côte d’Ivoire celebrate new chanceries while the Turkish and Danish residences are still in rehab. The House of Sweden takes center stage on the waterfront [See Embassy Row] and high on a hill next door to The Maret School sits the equally new and perhaps more provocative Swiss residence. Neighbors and guests alike are deciding what they think of the “innovative architectural elements and environmentallyfriendly design.” Swiss Ambassador Urs Ziswiler calls it “an elegant and highly versatile building” which will be very useful not just as an ambassador’s residence but as a showcase, a stage in which to entertain Switzerland’s guests and especially, “to continue our outreach programs on a much larger scale.” After touring the Ziswilers’ new home with New York architect Steven Holl and his Lucerne partner Justin Rüssli, it is much easier to understand this $10 million architectural puzzle. If you always remember “the diagonal” line the architects drew from the front entrance, you will enjoy this grand poetic frame from which to view the Washington Monument. And, think about what inspired Holl. “On my first trip to Switzerland, I was mesmerized by the ice melting in the Alps and that’s what we’ve tried to evoke here.”
Everybody, Move Over! Here Comes China…
And Boston thought they had the Big Dig. Have you seen what’s happening up at International Drive? Every day, the new Chinese Embassy goes up a few more feet with 400 construction workers to keep out the bugs and us. Opening by 2008, this giant symbol of a giant country will dwarf the nearby embassies of Singapore, Israel and Pakistan. Built on three lots meant to accommodate three separate embassies, this I.M. Pei-inspired design will be the biggest single foreign chancery (250,000 square feet) ever built in Washington and is expected to be one of the most important diplomatic buildings in the world, architecturally and politically. The current Chinese Embassy, the former Windsor Park Hotel, overlooks Rock Creek Park and is almost invisible except for the Chinese lions guarding the front door. But China isn’t the only player.The new American Embassy in Beijing will
Do You Know Embassy Row? Before air conditioning changed this capital city forever, many diplomats not only called Washington a “hardship post” but got extra pay for coming here. Some still call it “the hardest post” because working in the world’s No. 1 diplomatic post is not just an honor but hard work 24/7. The farther away an ambassador is from his or her country, especially in time zones, the longer the workday. Still others think being a diplomat here is tough because this is the only place in the world where ambassadors and their spouses are automatically expected to host and help so many different charities.
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also open in 2008 and will be the largest single construction project ever undertaken by the U.S. State Department abroad. It took a dozen years to even complete the exchange of land between the two superpowers. No one is talking about how much these mega-embassies will cost but not one penny was spent on the land. Let’s Dance!
Sadly, Icelandic Ambassador Helgi Ágústsson and his wife Heba are soon to pack their dancing shoes and head north. We’ll miss them and their irresistible urge to dance. (They even met at a college dance!) But don’t fret, a new King & Queen of the Diplomatic Dance Floor have already stepped into the spotlight: Switzerland’s Urs Ziswiler and his wife Ronit showed off their fancy footwork at the WL-sponsored Ambassadors Ball on September 21. Maybe that’s why Ambassador Ziswiler likes his new wideopen-spaces residence? You could tango down those corridors and waltz around the big, empty entrance hall without ever showing skid marks on those black terrazzo floors. Only one question remains: when does the music start and do I need to bring my own dancing partner? No, I’m not wearing my dirndl, even if I have one. Above, left to right– Swiss Ambassador Urs Ziswiler and his wife Ronit making their dancing debut at the Ambassadors Ball to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. / Icelandic Ambassador Helgi Ágústsson and wife Heba leading the “Ambassadors’ Waltz” for the last time. Below– China’s I.M. Pei-inspired foreign chancery will be the single largest (250,000 square feet) ever built in Washington. All photos by Gail Scott.
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Bethany Beach, Delaware
Photo by Stu Estler
OCEANFRONT • NORTH BETHANY Elegant New England style residence with six-bedrooms, and six-full-and-one-half-bath. This home is the perfect balance between grand tradition and today’s casual beach front lifestyle in a sought after community with pool and tennis. $5,390,000
OCEANFRONT • NORTH BETHANY A rare find! Enjoy the beach life from this fully furnished three-bedroom plus loft, two-and-one-half-bath south end unit with unobstructed views of the ocean and direct beach access right off the deck. $1,695,000
ALMOST OCEANFRONT BETHANY BEACH One of the few true original beach cottages in the town of Bethany with only a few steps to the ocean. For those who want to hear, smell and see the sea, this four bedroom restored gem has been meticulously cared for with love. $1,895,000
CANALFRONT SOUTH BETHANY Perfectly situated on a navigable waterway, this stunning new home with nautical flair will please any boating or beach enthusiast. This four bedroom plus loft has an open floor plan, is only two-and-one-half blocks to the beach and will offer any family a leisurely getaway. Seller offering $30,000 furniture credit. $1,099,000
Feel The Difference
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Direct 302.541.5207 • 302.542.3917 Cell 302.539.9040 x 207 Office email: leslie@bestofbethany.com
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OCEAN BLOCK • NORTH BETHANY Sited only three lots off the ocean, this delightful five-bedroom, four-full-and-one-half-bath home in a premier gated community exemplifies the best of beach living and is easily accessible into town. $1,895,000 OCEANBLOCK BETHANY BEACH The ultimate ocean block five-bedroom, four-full-and-one-half-bath new home in the town of Bethany with elegant finishes and an open floor plan. Seller offering $50,000 furniture credit. $2,499,000
IN TOWN BETHANY BEACH Quietly nestled on a quaint street in the town of Bethany sits this newly built four bedroom, three bath home with a grand great room and an additional cozy family room with fireplace. This home is perfect for a gathering of generations. Seller offering $30,000 furniture credit. $899,000
CAROLINE VON FINCK in Theory wool brown sweater, $375 (Wink, Washington, D.C.); MaxMara black tights, $42; MaxMara Brown leather boots, $575 (MaxMara, Chevy Chase, Md.); Gold wire hoop earrings, $ 40 (Wink, Washington, D.C.) 84
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COUNTRY LIVING at Piedmont Vineyards Photographed by Clay Blackmore Styled by Lana Orloff and Sonya Pate Make-up by Carola Myers Hair by Samantha Homed & Faik Halici Production assistance by Roxy Angha
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hunky wool sweaters, sexy knee high boots, slim black pants and tailored riding jackets are appearing anew on runways from Paris to New York. For years Ralph Lauren set the standard for equestrian style, however this fall designers MaxMara and Marc Jacobs are featuring their own looks. To showcase these looks, Washington Life visited Piedmont Vineyards - the home of Caroline and Gerhard von Finck. Joining us were Snowden Clark, a professional horseman and trainer from Upperville, Va; Mara DePuy, an equestrian Olympic three-day event rider from Roundhill, Va; Will Coleman, an international three-day event rider from Charlotsville, Va; Kelly Elliot, a professional polo player from The Plains, Va; and Katie Rost, an international model from Lincoln Va, and founder of the skincare line, Body by Katie Rost. WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
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MARA DEPUY in Rick Owens rayon and wool dark shadow shirt, $495 rayon and wool dark shadow skirt, $495; Paula Mendoza brass snow ďŹ&#x201A;akes earrings, $125 (All available at Tabandeh, Chevy Chase, Md.) 86
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KATIE ROST in Robert Rodriguez white cotton shirt, $232; J Brand gray skinny jeans, $158; Suzi Roher brown belt, $298; Eric Javits leopard print hat, $315; and Stephen Dweck double drop gold and brown earrings, $135 (All available at Neiman Marcus, Chevy Chase)
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KELLY ELLIOT in Elie Tahari Khaki Jacket, $568; 7 For All Mankind dark denim jeans, $143; Stuart Weitzman brown leather boots, $395 (All available at Bloomingdaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Tysonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner, VA); Silver with platinum earrings, $680 (Tabandeh, Chevy Chase) 88
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CAROLINE VON FINCK in MaxMara green plaid jacket $1,105, green plaid pants, $395, brown belt, $170, and brown leather boots, $575 (All available at MaxMara, Chevy Chase, Md.); Water Jewels faceted labradolite & silk rope necklace, $480 (Tabandeh, Chevy Chase, Md.)
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KATIE ROST in same outfit from previous page with Marc Jacobs red coat, $578; and Bettye Muller leopard print shoes (All available at Neiman Marcus, Chevy Chase)
WILL COLEMAN in Hugo Boss black pin stripe flat-front pants, $125; Theory v-neck eggplant colored jersey, $85; Mark Nason black leather shoes, $285 (All 90 available at Bloomingdale’s, Tyson’s Corner, Va.)
SNOWDEN C RK in Pal Zileri Blue velvet jacket, $850; Veneziani brown wool flannel pants, $295; Lorenzini blue with brown stripe dress shirt, $295; Tardini dark brown elephant belt, $350 (James, Tyson’s Corner, Va.); Cole Haan dark brown leather shoes, $198 (Bloomingdale’s, Tyson’s Corner, Va.) MARA DEPUY inYves Saint Laurent brown tweed jacket, $2,660; brown tweed pants, $995; paprika cotton shirt, $995; brown suede shoes, $650 (All available at Saks Jandel, Chevy Chase, Md.); The Mazza Company brown and gold necklace, $445.00 and Citra citrine earrings, $380.00 (Both available at Mystic, Alexandria, Va.)
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PHILANTROPHY
Autism Speaks NBC Chairman Bob Wright and his wife Suzanne talk about the urgency of discovering a cure for Autism with NBC Correspondent Andrea Mitchell
A NDRE A MITC HE L L P HOTO BY TI MOT HY GR EE NF IE L D-SA NDE RS
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he many people in New York and Hollywood, especially in the news and entertainment industries, who know Bob Wright as the consumate leader of NBC for the past 20 years also know that his wife Suzanne Wright is always by his side. They are known as a caring, generous couple, but it wasn’t until two years ago that they found the mission to which they are now passionately dedicated — solving the mystery of autism. It would be more accurate to say that autism found them, by “kidnapping” (Suzanne’s term) their grandson, Christian. Instead of becoming paralyzed by their family tragedy, Bob, Suzanne and their daughter Katie and son-in-law have become detectives following genetic, environmental and psychological clues, arousing a somnambulant pediatric profession, and fighting legal battles in all parts of the country. Autism Speaks, the foundation the Wrights launched last year to help find a cure, has raised millions of dollars and the consciousness of a nation to combat a disease that has grown to epidemic proportions. Unlike treatments for other diseases, the therapies being developed to help autistic children are not covered by insurance.The financial and psychological impact on families is devastating. The Wrights, with the assistance of Deirdre Imus, have been pressing for passage of the Combating Autism Act, landmark legislation that would help to rectify woefully inadequate federal funding for a disorder that now affects more children than cancer, diabetes and muscular dystrophy combined. More than anything else, what you will see in this interview is how one family has had the courage to open a window into their private pain so that one day others will be saved from a similar fate.
ANDREA MITCHELL It’s been six decades
since autism was first reported and diagnosed, yet its causes are still a mystery. Suzanne, why
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NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell
problems.The funding has just never been there for neurological conditions. For example, breakthroughs in schizophrenia have only happened in the past 20 years. People are relegated to treatments and therapies, and have NBC Chairman Bob Wright and his wife Suzanne have to work with only the made it their personal mission to help find a cause and a few doctors — generally, cure for autism. Their foundation, Autism Speaks, provides funding and helps generate exposure for autism. pediatric neurologists — who are even willing to treat children with autism because they don’t get reimbursed. do you think there is still so little known? SUZANNE WRIGHT That’s precisely the answer we’re trying to find. Autism has now risen to MITCHELL Why has there been such a leap epidemic proportions. In the past 13 years the in autism cases? Is it environmental? Is it incidence has gone from one in 10,000 to one in genetic? 166, and one in 104 boys born develops autism. S WRIGHT I think there’s a genetic predisposition And the stigma attached to it is significant. No with an environmental trigger.The environmental one has been paying attention. It’s amazing that trigger is what we need to find out. people in this country aren’t screaming about B WRIGHT It certainly has a genetic background. the epidemic of autism. So little is known But, as with many diseases today, they’re finding because there’s no money going into it; autism that the issue of just isolating the genes is not has received three-tenths of one percent of the sufficient. There’s probably a genetic mutation National Institutes of Health‘s total budget. brought on by certain environmental issues. And BOB WRIGHT I think it’s also a function of the those mutations are really what cause autism. fact that this is a neurologically-based condition, S WRIGHT The mystery here is that Christian, as opposed to more easily identified biological our grandson, was developing beautifully. We
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would sit on the Main Street in Fairfield (Connecticut), and talk about every truck, car transport, FedEx truck that went by. He knew all of them.
Suzanne and Katie Wright on Capitol Hill, where they have tirelessly advocated for passage of the Combating Autism Act. Katie’s son — and Suzanne’s grandson — Christian was diagnosed with autism in 2004.
MITCHELL He had a large
vocabulary. How else did he change? B WRIGHT He is no longer able to communicate in the normal ways that we expect from children. S WRIGHT He lost his vocabulary in a period of two months. He lost his potty training. He lost everything. Christian’s signs included loss of speech, crying for no reason, lack of sleep and appetite. He had a fixation on this meatball soup, and wouldn’t eat anything else.The saddest thing is that he also has a terrible gastric problem that developed early on, which should have been a red flag for doctors. MITCHELL How important is
early detection? S WRIGHT Oh, it’s so important.
That’s the theme of our multiyear public service campaign with the Ad Council. Autism is more prevalent than you think. And the earlier a child is diagnosed the better chance he or she has of responding well to therapy. MITCHELL What would you like
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MITCHELL Tell me what the bill
would accomplish. S WRIGHT The
Combating Autism Act would provide $900 million in funding for the N.I.H. for autism research and treatments.
MITCHELL What
kinds
of
therapies are available? S WRIGHT The applied behavior analysis is the most successful.When Christian starts to hit himself or throw himself on the floor, he
needs to know that the behavior is unacceptable. Behavior therapy must be applied right then and there, but it’s very expensive. At the school he attends, Christian has seven different therapies.That’s the only way that he has made significant improvement in his behavior. B WRIGHT Because they do not accept commands, just getting their attention requires somebody with an extraordinary amount of patience. MITCHELL How available are programs such as this? And how expensive are they? S WRIGHT We had to leave the wealthiest county in the country, Fairfield County in Connecticut, because they could not provide Christian with an education. So, we moved him into the city. And he’s
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MITCHELL How can the average American family afford this? B WRIGHT It’s a question of where you live. In some places, like New Jersey and Maryland, the schools are very good. The worst is a place where they just say, “Well, we don’t provide any special coverage other than, you know, special education class.” That coverage is like nothing — you’re stuck, and the child will not progress at all. Since insurance doesn’t cover it, the only way families can get that treatment is to petition their local board of education. They have to start at the school level. And it’s a combative process, so you have to retain a lawyer. You certainly have to have an advocate. School districts fight and fight. In almost every district in the country, litigation is not part of the school district’s budget. It does not have to be reported because it does not get voted on by the town or the local district. They can effectively exceed their budget infinitely when there’s the issue of litigation. And that is a crime. S WRIGHT For example, they spent $3 million in one town in Tennessee to fight a $62,000 bill for a child with autism. MITCHELL What about the
special problem that military families have? B WRIGHT A program called Echo is supplementary insurance for children with disabilities who are military dependents. It used to be an excellent program, but they dramatically tightened reimbursement for the therapies we just discussed. While they technically still
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PHOTO BY M A RI SSA RAU CH
the medical community to know and to do in terms of training, awareness and education of pediatricians and other doctors? B WRIGHT We can’t change medical school teaching. But the medical associations, especially the American Academy of Pediatrics, should be running programs for pediatricians to get them up to date and keep them there.They shouldn’t be ignoring it, but screaming at pediatricians to diagnose autism between 12 and 18 months. I think
that’s one area where we can apply some pressure. S WRIGHT I put pressure on the Academy of Pediatrics. I asked them why they were not supporting the Combating Autism Act. They had no good answer. And finally at the 11th hour they supported us.
at a school called the McCarton School. Like most schols for children with autism, the tuition is about $100,000 a year.
reimburse families, it is a very long, torturous process. So, you have soldiers’ families trying to raise money because everything is on a cash basis. They’re running floats of $20,000 and $30,000 on their credit cards. They have no homes because they have no credit.And in some cases they just can’t get reimbursed. Generally, though, the Department of Defense is pro-research. Congress included a $7.5 million line item for Department of Defense-funded autism research in the final 2007 Department of Defense Appropriations bill. The bill now goes to the President for his signature. It’s a very small amount for autism research, but at least it raises the issue. It’s attached to the Senate appropriations bill, but, unfortunately, the appropriations bill just came out of the Senate a few days ago and it was missing. So, right now it’s going to the conference committee within the House, and we have to fight hard to get that back in so it mirrors the House bill. MITCHELL And what is the
effect on families—on marriages and other siblings? S WRIGHT It’s devastating. There is an 80 percent divorce rate. I have to take Mattias, Christian’s brother, to a child psychologist to help him understand that his brother’s actions are not the actions that he needs to do in order to get what he wants. MITCHELL What is your ultimate goal for Autism Speaks and for children like Christian? S WRIGHT Our ultimate goal
is to find a cause and a cure. We want to raise $100 million a year and find out why this epidemic is happening. B WRIGHT We want autism to get the attention that AIDS, cancer, and other diseases get. But we can’t wait 20 years to find out why autism in children has had such a dramatic increase. Autism exceeds any other serious childhood developmental disorder in prevalence. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has even labeled it an epidemic. We’re trying to get more recognition both in the general public, in the medical community, and in the research community. S WRIGHT The CDC sent me a tape of awareness when we first got into this fight and announced the launch of Autism Speaks on The Today Show. The tape never mentioned the word autism. I asked them, “Why doesn’t the tape say autism?” They responded,“well, we don’t want to frighten people.” B WRIGHT There’s a condition out there that affects one in 104 boys and it’s devastating. It’s critical. And they didn’t even name it. MITCHELL I want to thank the
both of you for everything that you’re doing. It is an inspiration to everyone affected by autism. B WRIGHT We’re very fortunate that we have an ability to get this message out there. Washington is very important for autism because, if we can get awareness levels higher here, they will rise at the state level. Washington is very important.
PHOTO BY M A RI SSA RAU CH
“AUTISM HAS NOW RISEN TO EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS IN THE PAST YEARS THE INCIDENCE HAS GONE FROM ONE IN TO ONE IN AND ONE IN BOYS BORN DEVELOPS AUTISM ” — SUZANNE WRIGHT
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Shelly, Camille and Joe Galli
1 in 166: Washingtonian Shelly Galli on Autism BY R EG ST E T TI N I U S
S
helly Galli and her husband Joe are two Washingtonians with heaps of style and even more substance. Together, they’re at the forefront of our city’s efforts to beat autism. Joe is an executive vice president at the Bernstein Companies, while Shelly is busy raising three daughters: Bella, Camille and Frankie. At age 2, Camille was diagnosed with autism. The couple has sought innovative therapies for her, but like every parent of an autistic child, they are still searching for a cure. On October 21, Shelly will chair the second annual Walk Now event for Cure Autism Now on the National Mall. Joe is a Cure Autism Now board member, and the couple has worked nonstop on the Combating Autism legislation. In addition, they host and organize fundraisers for the disease, including an Oscar Night party last year at Tracy and Adam Bernstein’s house which raised over $60,000. “The hardest part is to know your child is in there and cannot get out - knowing they are in emotional pain and frustrated.That’s tough,” Shelly says. Rather than let the disorder win, the Gallis advise other families facing autism to be open and honest with themselves and with the outside world. “We have not hidden Camille. She is part of our family whether we go on vacation or have dinner with friends.” Being active and raising money and awareness have helped Shelly gain a sense of control with Camille’s diagnosis.“We hope for a cure in our lifetime, but we are not living for it.We are focused on raising awareness and getting the government to fund research for a cure and improved therapies.” The statistics speak for themselves. These alarming numbers are compounded by the fact that a new child is diagnosed every 21 minutes. Without more funding and greater awareness the future looks grim.“The unfortunate reality is that if you don’t know someone with autism now, you will,” Shelly Galli says.
WALK NOW for Cure Autism Now Now will be held on the National Mall at 9 a.m. on October 21. For more information, to register or to make a donation, visit www.walknow.org. 93
DISH
WARM UP YOUR OVEN To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the built-in range, Thermador released The Great American Cookbook with 50 recipes, one from each state. Here are two.
WASHINGTON’S SALMON WITH PONZU GLAZE 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 t. Worcestershire sauce 6 8- to 10-ounce salmon steaks Fresh parsley sprigs Lemon wedges 6T butter 6T ponzu (citrus soy sauce) 1/2 cup ketchup 2 t. grated peeled fresh ginger 2 t. dry mustard
OREGON’S BAKED PEARS WITH CRANBERRY RED WINE GLAZE 6 ¾ cup ¾ cup ½ cup 1 2 t. 1 q.
large firm but ripe Bosc pears (about 3. pounds total) cranberry juice cocktail dry red wine sugar cinnamon stick grated orange peel vanilla ice cream
Preheat oven to 350°F. Core pears from bottom with melon baller. Slice bottoms off pears so
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fruit will stand up in dish. Peel pears, leaving stems on. Set pears in 8x8x2-inch baking dish. Combine cranberry juice and next 4 ingredients in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat and stir to blend. Pour mixture over pears. Bake pears until tender when pierced with fork, about 1 hour, basting pears every 15 minutes. Transfer pears to plates. Pour liquid in baking pan into saucepan and simmer until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 3 minutes. Pour sauce over pears. Serve immediately with vanilla ice cream.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt butter in heavy medium saucepan. Stir in next six ingredients and bring to simmer. Set salmon steaks in glass or ceramic baking dish. Pour on the sauce and bake until salmon is just opaque, about 15 minutes. Place one salmon steak on each plate. Garnish with parsley and lemon. Serve immediately.
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PERFORMING ARTS
Corteo’s juggling jonglerie act
CLOWNING ACHIEVEMENT The surreal world of Cirque du Soleil comes to D.C. BY M I C H A E L C LE M E N T S P H OTO S BY M A R I E - R E I N E M AT T E R A
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he first Cirque du Soleil show I saw amazed me.The combination of acrobatic precision, dance and surreal characters — the music and lighting — it was a mélange of modern and traditional “circus” I’d never seen before. The show was La Nouba. What I remember most is a clown, a strongman to be exact — a pale, lanky character who lurched his anatomically abnormal frame through the crowd with such eerie precision that it commanded my rapt attention. I’ve been hooked ever since.
Abstract procession-ism
A less lanky but equally captivating clown is the central figure in the company’s newest show, Corteo,
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which runs from October 26 through November 26 at the City Center Parking Lot (formerly Washington Convention Center). Corteo derives from the Italian word “cortege,” which refers to a joyous procession, or festive parade. In this case, the procession is promulgated from the fertile imagination of an Italian clown, who envisions his own funeral, thus creating an eclectic world of angels, giants, little people and requisite flying acrobats. This is “Cirque,” so don’t expect the show to be too Italian — or too anything for that matter — for Cirque is about the implied, the indirect, the surreal. “When you work in a language no one understands, everyone understands,” says Line
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Tremblay, Corteo’s director of creation with a hint of abstract Québecquois flair that seems to permeate the culture at Cirque’s sprawling headquarters 30 minutes north of downtown Montreal. With her unruly sandy blonde hair Tremblay could easily pass for an East Village painter — not the creative force, who along with founder and chief executive officer Guy Laliberté, has helped transform Cirque from an obscure group of Montreal street performers to global circus phenomenon. She continues: “There is no formula here, no set creative process that we adhere to. There is only a balance of serendipity and organic creation mixed with practical strategy and
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Corteo’s Clowness, Giant and Little Clown. Cirque performers do an average of 385 shows a year. Dominique Lemieux designed all of the show’s costumes .
“WE HEARD VIA OUR GLOBAL SCOUT NETWORK ABOUT A TALENTED TROOP OF LITTLE PEOPLE TOURING ISRAEL SO LINE TREMBLAY AND I FLEW OUT TO OF ALL PLACES BETHLEHEM ON CHRISTMAS EVE TO SEE THEM ” — CIRQUE CLOWN TALENT SCOUT YVES SHERIFF
experience. Corteo creator and director Daniele Finzi Pasca likes to say ‘the stage is a white page – it will tell us what to do.’ ” Over her shoulder, a group of stout Eastern European “catchers,” whom I previously witnessed tossing a “flyer” into the stratosphere over and over, take a much deserved lunch break; next to them a khaki-clad marketing team talks strategy over café au laits. — it’s the perfect juxtaposition of “creative meets corporate” which has enabled Cirque’s success. The company now produces thirteen shows — six of which are permanent “resident shows,” including five in Las Vegas.The group plans to add seven more by 2010, including the permanent production Tremblay is currently working on for Tokyo. “Our goal is not to necessarily make every production better than the next,” she says. “Instead, we strive to reinvent ourselves; to push the boundaries; to never remain stagnant”
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Clowning Around
Creating a Cirque show takes roughly two years. In the end, a traveling show such as Corteo will include a well-oiled team of 150, including 54 performers, five of whom are clowns.Yves Sheriff is the man entrusted with sending in the right clowns … Yes, he is a clown talent scout. But don’t let the title fool you — the slick Montreal native approaches his mandate with the acumen of a Hollywood casting director: “We are constantly scouting the world for clowns,” he says. He says that Corteo came with its own unique set of “little” challenges. “The story called for a little person husband and wife team. By ‘little person,’ we mean anatomically proportionate actors, who are much less common then artists with dwarfism. Plus, we wanted a real couple … with all the tools it takes to be a Cirque artist. Not an easy assignment.” A scene from Corteo. Supporting Tremblay’s belief in serendipity, Sheriff
found his couple in the unlikeliest of places: Israel. He recalls:“We heard via our global scout network about a talented troop of little people touring Israel, so Line [Tremblay] and I flew out, to of all places, Bethlehem on Christmas Eve to see them. They were perfect. But it wasn’t an easy decision for them to join us — most performers tour with Cirque for one to three years, and their troop was family to them.” The couple is featured throughout Corteo paired with a giant, who Sheriff explains came with his own set of casting challenges: “Artists on Corteo perform an average of 385 shows a year: two shows a day, eight to ten shows a week. Giants tend to be fragile health-wise, so we had to take extra care our giant could handle this workload.” Street to global
Overcoming challenges is something Cirque is accustomed to. Looking out at the group’s postmodern campus, which Cirque chose to build on one of Canada’s largest landfills — which now stands as a global test case for how to transform an urban landfill into an eco-friendly and biofuel producing site — it’s hard to believe this
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The “bouncing beds” routine is one of 17 acts in Corteo.
Corteo’s story revolves around a clown’s dream of his own funeral.
global business grew from a small band of street performers. Indeed, it wasn’t until 1987 during a breakout run at the Los Angeles Festival that Cirque could afford to tour outside Quebec. “L.A. was a make or break trip for us,”Tremblay says matter of factily. “We literally packed-up a line of school buses and drove from Montreal to California. If we hadn’t actualized a tour out of L.A., we wouldn’t have been able to afford to bring our equipment home.” During the festival, a film producer approached founder Guy Laliberté and offered to buy out the group and take creative control. Although cash strapped, Laliberté turned the offer down. The group still maintains creative control today. Translation: the inmates are running the hospital. Trading podiums for ovations
One of the better known “inmates” is Senior Head Coach Boris Verkhovsky. The former Russian Olympic coach is renowned for both his animated professional style and ability to mold world-class competitive athletes into world-class performing acrobats.
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“My job is strip down the competitive performer emotionally, physically and mentally, and to get them to use their bodies and minds more openly,” he says before leaning in and mimicking a smile. “You don’t learn to smile,” he tells me, “you have to feel the truth of what makes you smile. That is the challenge for the world class athlete: to learn to not perform for a judge; to understand ‘character’; to break away from rigid straight lines; to understand that within a ‘fall’ there is potential to discover movement that expresses your character more truthfully.” Always on the lookout for world-class athletes who have peaked competitively and are ready for a career transition, Cirque talent scouts review hundreds of unsolicited tapes a week and continually hold open auditions and scout gymnastic competitions worldwide. Twenty-six year old former UCLA gymnast Yvonne Tousek is hoping for such a career transition. She has just completed a two-hour “bouncing beds” rehearsal session, but there’s not a drop of sweat on her and she has more energy than most people after a good night’s sleep and a triple espresso. The routine — one of seventeen acts in Corteo — calls for her to “bounce childlike” between trapeze beds with the grace and precision of a pig-tailed ninja. She was the only person chosen from a group of 2,500 hopefuls at an open
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audition in Las Vegas this past spring. “To be able to continue your passion with Cirque is a dream for anyone serious about this craft,” the brunette sparkplug says. More dreams — clown dreams to be specific — will be on display at the City Center Parking Lot from October 26 through November 26, when Cirque comes to town. In a city used to media circuses, political tight-rope acts and various dark follies, the clowns of Corteo should fit right in.
Save the Date WHAT
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’S CORTEO
WHEN OCT to NOV WHERE Under the Grand Chapiteau at City Center (Old Convention Center) TICKETS www.cirquedusoleil.com PRICES General admission: from $40. “Tapis Rouge” VIP tickets: $195 Adult, 136.50 Child. Includes access to private lounge during pre-show and intermission; food, drink and special entertainment provided.
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T H I S M O N T H S O C I A L S E AS O N O P E N E R S / H OW SW E E T I T I S / S H I P A H OY
WITH DONNA SHOR
AROUND TOWN Ñ Vida Fitness owners CHRIS CARNECCHIA and DAVID VON STORCH with Bang Salon owner NIKKI ESOLDO at the grand opening for Vida and Bang at the Verizon Center on September 9th.
Å Café Milano owner FRANCO NUSCHESE and LADY MARGARET THATCHER on September 11th, when Lady Thatcher was in town for the 9/11 ceremonies at the White House. She had lunch at Cafe Milano where the menu featured a “Lady Thatcher” special with her favorite dessert: raspberries with vanilla and chocolate ice cream.
SOCIAL SEASON OPENERS
Two savvy Washington hostesses pitched season openers: Lynda Webster’s stylish gathering for coffee brought 200 women to the Chevy Chase Club; Giselle Theberge Jeppson’s luncheon for 60 at her Spring Valley home had many of the same social scene regulars and ambassadors’ wives attending, and vacations were the topic. Lynda and Bill Webster went fishin’at Joe Robert’s Colorado place; Giselle and John Jeppson’s trip with the Bob Crafts was a true odyssey as they sailed the Ionian sea to Ithaca, following the route of Odysseus, Homer’s mythological hero. Didi and Walter Cutler returned to southern France’s Luberon; Ina Ginsburg loved showing her grandson
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É Shakespeare Theatre Company Board Member MICHAEL KLEIN and Shakespeare Theatre Company Artistic Director MICHAEL KAHN at the opening night of An Enemy of the People on September 5th.
her hometown, Vienna. Brenda and Jacques de Suze headed for Eastern Europe; Alma Gildenhorn kept cool in Aspen, where Alma Powell went while husband Colin gave a speech in China. Returning, he injured his leg, got a cast put on and left the same day for Chicago and Montreal speaking commitments. Willee and Finlay Lewis headed for Umbria; Gail and Togo West hit the Turkish coast/Greek islands, then Gail and her sister admired the mile-high Norwegian fjords from the same ship, the Seabourn Pride, that sailed the Baltic a week later with a load of Washingtonians aboard. More on that below. Seen: Karna Small Bodman, who used her TV and White House background writing the political
thriller, Checkmate; Tandy Dickerson; Esther Coopersmith; Nini Ferguson; Shirley Small; Renée Robinson; Marcia Jackson; Shaista Mahmood; Marlene Malek; Ann Hand; Donna Pflieger; Judy Esfandiary; Sheila Saleh; Diane Coleman; Pam Howar; Marcia Carlucci; Debbie Sigmund; Grace Bender and Georgetown gallery owner Shigeko Bork, who later chaired the Asia Society’s Spices and Rices Gala at the Australian embassy. Among ambassadors’ wives spotted were Rima Al-Sabah (Kuwait); Cheryl Catarino (Portugal); Carmen Ducaru (Romania) and Flor de Maria de Castillo (Guatemala). HOW SWEET IT IS That chick Giorgio Via is squiring
around town is actually his longtime
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wife Anna Maria, who says for her summer she had some nips and tucks done by cosmetic surgeon Steven Hopping. (Frankness is the mode today; surgery is now as straightforward as changing your hair color.) One happy bonus: at a recent Italian embassy evening she heard someone ask Giorgio, “How does it feel to have a trophy wife?” Steve Hopping and his wife Julia are chairing Arts for the Aging’s gala Jean-David and Marie-Cécile Levitte will host at their French embassy residence. Julia is the daughter of the late Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa, for over thirty-five years the Nicaraguan ambassador here, with direct access to the president when he presided as dean of the diplomatic corps. SHIP AHOY
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Ñ ANDREW KLINE CAROLYN REYNOLDS and BRIAN KOMAR at “Cocktails Just Because,” held July 27th at Blue Gin.
Ç JERRY PIERCE-SANTOS PATTY ARRIAGADA and KENYA PIERCE SANTOS at the surprise birthday bash Jerry threw for Kenya at Agua Ardiente on August 26th. Two hundred people attended, dancing the night away to world-famous salsa/merengue band Oro Solido.
ÅWashington Post columnist MICHAEL WILBON publisher DON GRAHAM —also chairman of the DC College Access Plan — and columnist TONY KORNHEISER on September 8th at the 4th Annual Tony Kornheiser/Michael Wilbon Celebrity Golf Classic at Lansdowne. Conference Center and Resort, which raised $300,000 for DC-CAP.
The luxurious National Museum of Women in the Arts Baltic cruise, from Copenhagen to Helsinki, Tallin, Stockholm and St. Petersburg, was planned by that matchless pair, Climis and Carol Lascaris, who design a cruise with as much style as the palaces and mansions they create here and abroad. There were interesting passengers: One surprise, sweetfaced Mary Jones Meyer, there with husband Bob, turned out to be poker shark Mary Jones, first place winner of a quarter of a million dollars at the 2006 Ladies World Poker Championship in Las Vegas. When word of her identity spread, Mary obligingly held an impromptu exhibition game, helpfully critiquing the play of
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those at the poker table. Others: Air Force Secretary Mike Wynn and Barbara (he runs the show and administers the $110 billion Air Force budget); Andres and Nohra Pastrana, he’s the former president of Colombia who had just resigned in protest as Colombian ambassador here, standing on principle over a policy split; prodigy pianist Sara Daneshpour , who gave four concerts with mentor Gilan Tocco Corn watching happily as her playing brought the audience to its feet each time; also Myrna Colley-Lee, costume designer wife of Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman, from their farm in his home town, Charleston, Miss. Wallace and Wilhelmina (Billie)
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Holladay, the museum’s founder
and chair, sailed along with 100 other of the museum’s loyal and far flung supporters. Among them: haute couture-clad Ondine Langford joined from Paris; Peter and Helga Keilbach from Berlin; LLoyd and Kathy Otterman from Greenwich, Conn.; there was a large contingent of Texans and New Yorkers; and from Napa, California, the just-married John (wine-buff) Koza and his bride Linda-Marie Loeb and James and Susan Mellor from Laguna Beach. To measure supporters’ loyalty, consider the Mellors: Billie had only to mention, during a welcoming speech, her upcoming drive to raise $50,000 for a museum project, and the Mellors
promptly underwrote the whole thing! Others aboard included generous philanthropist Mary Mochary and Dr. Phil Wine; businessman and internationally acclaimed sculptor John Safer and wife Joy; fertility specialist Dr. Pierre Asmar and wife Darlene; author (and art authority) Patti Sowalsky and her attorney husband Jerry. Among the locals, a few of the Watergaters were Judy Esfandiary, Jamie McCampbell and sailor Katrina Piano, who keeps a 40 foot craft in the marina.) If you have an upcoming event Around Town should know about, send advance word to Donnashor@washingtonlife.com.
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Nina Corby
O F T H E PA R T Y
Domingo Cafritz artist Elizabeth Andrews
Thomas Rimes and Obed Ureña Jane Cafritz with her daughters Irina Rubenstein and Olivia Rubenstein
WL EXCLUSIVE
CAMERATA COCKTAILS
Hillary and Stan Harris
September 9 • The Home of Jane and Calvin Cafritz PHOTOS BY RUSSELL HIRSCHON AND KYLE SAMPERTON
THE EVENT Camerata-level donors were recognized for their support of the Washington National Opera at a reception featuring singers from the DomingoCafritz Young Artist Program. THE SCENE Live jazz from the Glenn Pearson Combo set the mood for the evening, where guests sipped “Cafritztini” drinks and conversed about the upcoming opera season. THE GUESTS Washington National Opera President Ken Feinberg, Be y Sams, Amy Bondurant, David Dunn, Peter Forbes, Jeffrey Weiss and Juleanna Glover Weiss, James and Beth Glassman, Gregory Gingery and Theresa Burt.
Georgina Horsey
Domingo Cafritz artist Yingxi Zhang
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Kenneth Feinberg and Calvin Cafritz
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Outerbridge Horsey
Jeffrey Weiss and Juleanna Glover Weiss
O F T H E PA R T Y
John Cecchi
Alex Marquardt, Hadley Gamble and Ken Hatfield
Sarah Baker, Lauren Baker and Lauren Goldbeck Nina Donaghy
WL EXCLUSIVE
HADLEY GAMBLE AND ASHLEY TAYLOR’S BIRTHDAY September 8 • Play Lounge
PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON
THE EVENT A ’90s and neon celebration with girls clad in mini-skirts, stile o heels and high pony tails to celebrate the birthdays of Ashley Taylor (manager of Ann Hand’s Georgetown boutique) and Hadley Gamble (a Fox News producer). THE SCENE A er dinner at Café Milano, Jamie Foxx joined the birthday girls and many friends in the VIP section of Play Lounge and sent birthday wishes before singing over a track of his hit “Golddigger.” THE GUESTS Joe Robert, Louis Moreno, Dan Snyder, Sarah Elder, Tony Lewis, Lee Culp and Sarah Baker.
Katie Tarbox, Joe Robert and Ashley Taylor
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Kathryn Kennedy and Ray Regan
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O F T H E PA R T Y
Italian Amb. Giovanni Castellaneta speaks with members of the National Retail Federation
Denyce Graves WL EXCLUSIVE
NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION DINNER June 20 • The Italian Ambassador’s Residence PHOTOS BY CARL COX
THE EVENT Italian Amb. Giovanni Castellaneta and his wife Leila hosted a dinner for several dozen of the nation’s most prominent retail CEOs while they were in town for the National Retail Federation’s annual summer board of directors meeting. THE SCENE Amb. Castellaneta welcomed the executives as “people who know Italy and know Italian products” and NRF Board Chairman Farooq Kathwari, chairman, president and CEO of Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., acknowledged the importance of Italy to retailers. The evening was highlighted by a performance from mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves, who gave a recital of operatic arias. THE GUESTS Farida Kathwari; Burton Tansky, president and CEO of Neiman Marcus Group Inc.; Terry Lundgren, chairman, president and CEO of Federated Department Stores Inc.; Keith Lippert of Keith Lippert Gallery; Gordon Segal, CEO of Crate and Barrel; Claudio Del Vecchio, president and CEO of Retail Brand Alliance Inc.; and Elie Maalouf, president and CEO of HMSHost Corp.
Italian Amb. Giovanni Castellaneta and Leila Castellaneta
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Gordon Segal, Claudio del Vecchi and Elie Maalouf
Burton Tansky, Farooq and Farida Kathwari and Terry Lundgren
Keith Lippert
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Keri Meslar, Ashley Taylor and Lindsey Craig
Derrick Chandler, Tony Cord and Leroy Charles WL EXCLUSIVE
PAMELA SORENSEN’S 5TH ANNUAL SUMMER BIRTHDAY BASH August 3 • Blue Gin
PHOTOS BY PAUL SIMKIN
THE EVENT The fi h annual Summer Birthday Bash for young community activist Pamela Sorensen hosted by her friend Victoria Michael. THE SCENE Guests sipped Veuve Clicquot Rose’, feasted on Blue Gin’s tasty appetizers and surrounded themselves in red balloons, flowers and unique “photofe i.” The red theme carried over to the cake with red candles and red frosting. THE GUESTS Susie Kay, Jack Evans, Tom McMillen, Stan Kasten, Fernando Murias, Bob Sweeney, Bill Hall and Jaci Reid.
Jenny Assad, Kathleen Statz and Lisa Smith
Tom McMillen and Stan Kasten
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Pamela Sorensen and Jack Evans
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Daniel Running and Lillian Mattiaccio
love, actually
Amanda Weller WL SPONSORED
SIGHTLINE ART OPEN HOUSE August 23-24 • Chelsea Gardens Building PHOTOS BY PAUL SIMKIN
THE EVENT Sightline, a D.C.-based art consulting firm, hosted a two-night open house featuring works by 15 artists from around the country in various media, including painting, photography and sculpture. Founder Allison Cohen was on hand to share tips on demystifying the art world and developing a personal art collection. THE SCENE: D. C.’s young and upwardly stylish sipped on cocktails, mingled with artists and viewed the affordable artwork. THE GUESTS: Art collectors Richard Seaton, board member of the Washington Project for the Arts/Corcoran, Daily Candy editor Annie Lou Bayly, Allie Savarino, Henry Thaggert, Mark Ritacca, Phillip Barlow and Praveen Fernandes; and artists Renee Butler, Joe White, Mira Hecht, Steve Goldenberg, John Dumbacher, Trish Tillman, D.Billy, Anson Holzer, Lisa Marie Thalhammer and Chris Tousimis. 1218 31st Street, NW, Washington, DC 2OOO7 2O2.333.3OO2
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ULTRA Tara Bradshaw
Seelan Abraham
Joe White and Philip Barlow
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Steve Goldenberg
Neil Griffin and Allison Cohen
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INSIDE HOMES
TANGLED UP IN BLEU Indebleu owner Arjun Rishi’s Ritz-Carlton condo reflects his personal style BY DEBORAH K. DIETSCH P H OTO G R A P H E D BY PAU L S I M K I N
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he azure dining chairs and dark teal walls in Arjun Rishi’s Georgetown condominium aren’t exactly surprising. Rishi, after all, is a partner of a company called Bleu, French for “blue.” Nor it is unexpected to see an oval bar and low-
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slung sofas in the living room with a clear view to the kitchen. Among the businesses in the Bleu portfolio is IndeBleu, a trendy eatery and cocktail lounge near the MCI Center that was praised by Condé Nast Traveler last year as one of the hottest new restaurants in the world.
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oth Rishi’s home and restaurant down the hall away from the wall of windows in On a tour of his four-bedroom condo, Rishi are designed by architects Theo a living area. is quick to point out the terrace right off his “Arjun loves curvy, playful shapes,” says Deme- living room with a south-facing view of the Adamstein and Olvia Demetriou, the husband-and-wife team triou who did her best to accommodate him. In Potomac. Also visible are the vehicles speedknown for their hip commercial interiors. “Arjun the entrance vestibule, a rounded, paneled wall ing along the Whitehurst Freeway. “I thought it is a very elegant, well-traveled guy,” says Deme- partitions a guest suite and directs visitors into would bother me initially,” Rishi says, “but the triou, who tackles only a few residential designs the living space. A similar curved wall in the teal- windows have triple-paned glass so you don’t painted master bedroom conceals the glass-tiled hear the traffic. Even though the cars zoom by, these days. “He is very adventurous in his taste.” Reshaping Rishi’s apartment in the new Ritz- bathroom and walk-in closet. I don’t feel like I’m in the city because you can Rishi bought the condo in 2003 after renting see the trees and the river.” Carlton condominium overlooking the Whitehurst Freeway served as a warm-up act for creating in the Ritz-Carlton on M Street N.W., in Foggy During the rare times he isn’t busy at the IndeBleu, and both interiors reflect the owner’s Bottom. “I love the Georgetown location. It’s close office or restaurant, the 42-year-old entrepresplit personality when it comes to design. “He to my office and I like that the neighborhood is neur likes to entertain friends with a barbeque likes things to be cool, sleek, minimal,” Demetriou intimate.” A year earlier, he started Bleu with three on the terrace or small sit-down dinners in the explains. “Then he has his wild side: reds, primary partners after stepping down as CEO of Vastera, a dining area. Hundreds flock to his Fourth of colors, organic curves. IndeBleu speaks to these business and trade software company. “I had grown July parties. “The open floor plan is great for two sides in its Indian and French entertaining. Everyone loves cuisines, the upscale dining room hanging around the bar,” and the hot club scene. We tried he says, noting that it was to reflect that in playing off the custom-designed by Demeaustere with the sensual.” triou in an oval shape. A The same fusion of seemingly multi-disc CD player convecontradictory elements is evident niently hangs at the center of in the Indian-born entrepreneur’s one living room wall, customhome. Big, white sofas with bright ized with built-in wooden and red pillows in the living room are metal shelves, but no televiframed by softly lighted, seafoamsion. “TV kills conversation,” green walls and blond wooden Rishi says. An avid soccer fan, floors. Red and yellow vasehe watches the World Cup shaped stools by Philippe Starck and other matches on a flatare mixed with Isamu Noguchi’s screen TV in his bedroom. classic modern coffee table and a Next to the kitchen is stark black design from Apartment his pride and joy: a glassZero. A gracefully arcing lamp and fronted “cellar” for his colsculptural Le Corbusier leather lection of French wines. “It’s 1 chaise play against the flat planes the only thing I collect,” he of the walls and tall windows. says, noting a treasured 1947 “I LOVE THE GEORGETOWN LOCATION IT’S CLOSE TO MY “The basic vision of my busiCheval Blanc purchased at a ness and home is contemporary OFFICE AND I LIKE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS INTIMATE ” Christie’s auction. Down the design,” says Rishi, going on to hall is a pair of bedrooms for —ARJUN RISHI ON THE GEORGETOWN RITZ-CARLTON explain that it must “have warmth 13-year-old daughter Aarti to it, not too dark or all white.” and 11-year-old son Sandeep, Color is taken up a notch in the dining area where tired of what I was doing,” he admits.“I traveled a lot who live most of the time with mom Ramona a paprika wall pops against bright blue chairs. with the software business and I was always trying in Great Falls. A bachelor when he moved into Honey-colored pearwood cabinets warm up the to find a better hotel to stay at and nicer places to his condo, Rishi recently married one of his eat. Bleu is about enjoying life.” His first venture, business partners, Kimberly Walsh, in a cerekitchen’s stainless-steel surfaces. In reconfiguring the apartment, Adamstein and Salon Bleu, also designed by Adamstein and Deme- mony held in St. Barts on July 14, Bastille Day. Demetriou sought to create the laid-back feeling of triou, opened at the Tysons Corner Galleria in 2003. Will his new wife be changing the decor of a loft.Walls separating the living area, dining room It was followed by the Studio Bleu Dance Center his colorful, contemporary digs? “We haven’t and kitchen were removed and maple floors put in Ashburn,Va., and the restaurant IndeBleu, which talked about it,” Rishi replies. “Her furniture is down. Bedrooms and bathrooms are sequestered began serving customers in December 2004. still in storage.”
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Title Page: The living room, with its contrasting colors and open floorplan, also features panoramic views. Arjun Rishi sits in the living room of his condo, which was designed by architects Theo Adamstein and Olvia Demetriou. (1) The glass-fronted “cellar” for Rishi’s collection of French wines contains a treasured 1947 Cheval Blanc purchased at a Christie’s auction. (2) The curved wall in the teal-painted master bedroom conceals the glass-tiled bathroom and walk-in closet. (3) The kitchen’s stainless-steel surfaces are warmed up by the honey-colored pearwood cabinets. (4) The glass-tiled bathroom is hidden behind one of the condo’s unique curved walls. (5) Rishi’s oval-shaped bar — where he loves to entertain — was custom-designed by Olvia Demetriou. 6) The balconies at the Ritz-Carlton overlook the Potomac River and Whitehurst Freeway.
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W H AT ’ S H OT
This 1920’s Parisian Art Deco STEEL AND MARBLE CONSOLE would make the perfect accessory. This gem can be found at Galerie L’Enfant at 1442 Wisconsin Avenue N.W., in Georgetown (202) 625-2873
Want Drama? These ART DECO COMMODES will not only add it to your bedroom but to your savings account as well at a paltry $75,000.00. Gore Dean, (202) 625-9199 3338 M Street, NW.
I DREAM OF
ANTIQUES BY C H R I STO P H E R BA R S O N , I N T E R I O R D E S I G N E R
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oday’s sophisticated look is a mix of periods and styles. Antique furnishings or accent pieces add depth and richness to any modern or transitional design scheme. Eclectic is all the rage. Art Deco furnishings are making a hot return. Shopping for Antiques? Georgetown has the best . concentration of high quality antique shops in the D.C. area.
This circa SWEDISH PAINTED TABLE can be split in two. It’s actually a pair of demi-lune side tables. Flanking the table are two 18th century Swedish Gustavian side chairs. Available at Marston Luce on Wisconsin Avenue, in Georgetown. (202) 333-6800
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Darrell Dean’s boutique at 1524 Wisconsin Avenue offers a unique and texture rich collection of beautiful antiques from many periods. This pair of TH CENTURY ITALIAN “SANTOS” would charm any cocktail table or entry table. Darrell has the perfect piece of furniture or accessory for any décor. Darrell Dean (202) 333-6330
Looking for a unique and important piece of artwork? Galerie L’Enfant offers room after room of tasteful artwork from many periods. This ART DECO STYLED PAINTING would liven up any room. Galerie L’Enfant (202) 625-2873
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Deborah Gore Dean’s fine 18th century STATUE OF HIPPOMINE holds court amid a gallery of fabulous furnishings and accessories. Gore Dean, (202) 625-9199 3338 M Street, NW.
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ADAMS MORGAN
Incredible unit at the exclusive 2424 Lofts. Enormous living room, soaring ceilings, sweeping views of the city, private elevator, garage parking. $1,800,000 Jonathan Taylor 202.276.3344 Michael Rankin 202.271.3344
WEST END
Serenity in the City. Luxurious light filled 2,450 sqft penthouse at The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton featuring 3BR/3BA, 3 terraces. 24 hr. concierge. Hotel and valet service available. $1,850,000 Michael Rankin 202.271.3344
FOREST HILLS
Arts and Crafts style home nestled on over 1/2 acre next to Rock Creek Park. Details include oak paneling, leaded glass, parquet floors and more! Close to Metro, shops and restaurants, Downtown D.C., Kennedy Center and the White House. $1,995,000 Alyce Rideout 202.288.8787
GEORGETOWN
Rarely available 2BR/3BA flat in the Residences at the Ritz-Carlton. Views of the Potomac, Kennedy Center, Key Bridge. 24-hr concierge, 2-car garage parking, spa privileges. $2,850,000 Jonathan Taylor 202.276.3344 Michael Rankin 202.271.3344
DUPONT/ WEST END
Experience 21st century living behind a 19th century façade. This home beautifully blends original architectural details with modern amenities. Location is within walking distance to downtown business district, shops, theatres and restaurants. $1,745,000 Michael Rankin 202.271.3344
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DUPONT
Stunning new renovation of this classic Washington Victorian corner row house provides midcentury modern elegance integrated with the warmth of tradition. Within walking distance of museums, galleries, restaurants and cafes. $2,095,000 Michael Rankin 202.271.3344
PALISADES/ KENT
ating its classic style. $849,000 Jeff Lockard 202.246.4433
MCLEAN, VA
Picture perfect 3 bedroom Sears farm house renovated & refined while keeping true to its historic charm & accentuMichael Rankin 202.271.3344
CHEVY CHASE/ HAWTHORNE
English cottage curb appeal meets 1950â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cool & contemporary style in this exciting home with 3 bedrooms, 4 season sunroom, garage parking & Rock Creek Park location! Offered in the mid $700â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jeff Lockard 202.246.4433
GEORGETOWN
Exciting new brick homes being built in Georgetown, designed by Stavropoulos Associates. Features include elevator, hardwood floors throughout, exquisite kitchen and baths, fixtures and finishes. Barbara Zuckerman 202.364.4900
Build your dream home on nearly an acre of land located in McLean, Virginia very close to the Washington, DC line. $1,350,000
ROSSLYN
Breathtaking views from this gracious, elegant residence overlooking the River and City. Fabulous renovation with many custom features. 2,000 sq ft, 3 bedroom, 3 bath home with 31x9 solarium & 2-car parking. $1,385,000 Gary W. Frey 202.230.2383
DUPONT
2,000 sqft of luxury! Fine & custom finishes (including handmade items), 20 ft. living room ceiling with front wall of windows, 22 speaker a/v system, elevator direct to living room, Poggenpohl chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen. Parking for sale or lease. $1,399,000 Giorgio Furioso 202.518.7888
4UTT 4AYLOR 2ANKIN 3OTHEBYS )NTERNATIONAL 2EALTY $OWNTOWN 7ASHINGTON $ # 'EORGETOWN 7ASHINGTON $ # -ARYLAND 6IRGINIA
Š MMV Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Realty AfďŹ liates, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Les Bords de lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Epte a Giverny, used with permission. Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International RealtyÂŽ is a licensed trademark to Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Realty AfďŹ liates, Inc. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each OfďŹ ce Is Independently Owned And Operated, Except OfďŹ ces Owned And Operated By NRT Incorporated.
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H O U S E
WEDDING BELLS RING THOMPSON CIRCLE NW WASHINGTON DC
LUXURY AT THE BEACH In 1929 renowned Washington brewer Christian Heurich built this grand English Tudor as a wedding gift for his daughter. Over the past two years the residence has undergone a major transformation into one of Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest residential properties. Consisting of stone, brick and traditional wood beams this six-bedroom, seven-and-one-half bath home offers magnificent space for entertaining in grand style. The house sits graciously on a quiet semicircular street just off of the main corridor of Massachusetts Avenue Heights. The neighborhood is conveniently located between Massachusetts and Connecticut Avenues and Rock Creek Parkway. Asking: $9,125,000 Listing Agent: Greg Gaddy (202) 421-4734 Carroll Dey (202) 320-0441 Coldwell Banker - PREVIEWS International
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HOLLYWOOD STREET BETHANY BEACH DELAWARE
Luxury at the beach! This exquisite new five-bedroom, four-and-one-half bath home offers an outstanding configuration of spaces and architecturally exciting design. Luxuriously spacious, the open floor plan is ideal for entertaining, and includes an island kitchen and a great room. Cooling sea breezes make summer afternoons delightful on the balconies, patios and screened porch. The home enjoys a prime location on the ocean block in the heart of Bethany Beach and exemplifies coastal living at its finest. Seller is offering a $50,000 furniture credit. Asking: $2,499,000 Listing: Leslie Kopp, (800) 851-8997, (302)542-3917 Office: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. (302) 539-9040 x 207
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Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia Chevy Chase
ARTS and CRAFTS BUNGALOW with welcoming porch plus true English styling. Leaded windows, pebble-dash stucco exterior, timber-beamed ceilings grace this 3BR, 3.5BA 1912 home a short walk to Chevy Chase shops/Friendship Metro. Updated Kitchen, Recreation Room, easy-care garden in fabulous location. Virtual tour @ SpeakeroftheHouseTeam.com. $850,000. Peggy Speaker 301-657-1100; Chevy Chase Office 202-363-9700.
Chevy Chase
CHARMING, SPACIOUS, HUGE BACKYARD! Delightful 4BR, 2.5BA stone/brick Colonial boasts 4 finished levels plus great living spaces. New Stainless Steel/Granite Table Space Kitchen, 2 FBA up, big LL Recreation Room with fireplace, 2-zone CAC, beautiful hardwoods, att garage with drive and wonderful lush, private backyard. Great location: walk to Lafayette School/Park, mins to Bethesda, downtown DC. $845,000. Julie Roberts 202-276-5854; Chevy Chase Office 202-363-9700.
Kalorama/Dupont
Exquisitely rebuilt for the 21st Century w/top-of-theline finishes, this 4 BR 4.5 BA TH features granite & burled maple Kit, lux. Master suite w/sitting area, 2 FPLs, balconies & steps to roof deck. Sun-filled LL in-law suite. Wide plank white Ash floors throughout, High ceilings & wiring for today’s electronics. Fab location near Metro & Phillips. Parking nearby. $1,699,000. Ingrid Suisman 202-257-9492; Foxhall Office 202-363-1800
Chevy Chase 202-363-9700
Foxhall 202-363-1800
Georgetown 202-944-8400
Chevy Chase/Uptown 202-364-1300
Friendship Heights 202-364-5200
Woodley Park 202-483-6300
Chevy Chase Village
Lovely colonial on beautiful quiet street. Well-proportioned rooms, spacious combination kitchen/family room, 5 BRs and 2 BAs up, big recreation room and full bath on LL. Well-designed garden with very large flagstone terrace and pond with jet. $1,475,000 Patty Malloy 202-363-3991; Friendship Heights Office 202-364-5200.
Bethesda/Sumner Village
This gracious and bright two-bedroom with den and a large, separate dining room, entry foyer and 29 ft balcony has more than 1900 square feet of living space overlooking trees & parkland in luxurious Sumner village. This beautiful home is ideally located near shops & restaurants and is steps from the Crescent Trail. Two covered parking spaces convey with unit. $785,000 Mary Sepucha 703-407-8544; Foxhall Office 202-363-1800
Georgetown
Wonderful entertaining space. Chef style kitchen with top of the line appliances. Four Bedrooms, three and a half baths. Large finished attic offers the possibility of a 5th BR or study. Lower level in-law suite with bath and kitchenette. Two car garage, plus tandem parking for two extra cars. CAC, wood floors and very private garden. Julia DiazAsper 202-256-1887; Georgetown Office 202-944-8400
Arlington /Turnberry Tower
Presenting the most luxurious bipartisan condominium on the Washington skyline. Minutes by Metro from Washington’s government and business centers is a stately high-rise residence with a wonderfully low-key attitude. A luxury condominium so conveniently located, gone are the tedious rigors of commuting. The daily stress of politics & commerce can be left at the entrance, for at least the time one is in residence. From $700,000 to $7,000,000. Nancy Itteilag 202-905-7762; Foxhall Office 202-363-1800
Georgetown
Georgetown at its Finest! Superb renovation of classic all brick semi-detached residence featuring exquisite workmanship. Located in the East Village, this magnificent property is walking distance to shops, transportation and Montrose Park. Minutes to the White House, the Kennedy Center and National Airport. $2,195,000 Terri Robinson 202-607-7737; Georgetown Office 202-944-8400
North Cleveland Park
Brand New in 2006! Sensational 5400 square foot five bedroom, four and a half bath estate with incredible touches – 10 foot ceilings, three fireplaces, gorgeous hardwood floors and wonderful moldings throughout. Huge tablespace gourmet kitchen with adjoining family room & French doors leading to a large terrace & deck, library, media room, oversized 2 car garage and unmatched curb appeal! $2,195,000 View at www.robythompson.com Roby Thompson 202-255-2986; Woodley Park Office 202-483-6300
Logan/U Street
Impeccable Craftsmanship, Custom built, 3 BR, 2.5 BA, gracious LR/DR with fireplace and 23ft ceilings. Cook’s kitchen with Poggenphohl, Viking, Subzero. Palatial rooftop deck with city views and wet bar. Secured parking, and much more! $1, 095,000. Frank Griffin 202-256-4707, Jamie Finch 202-316-5600; Friendship Heights Office 202-364-5200
H I STO R I C A L L A N D S C A P E S
The Ballad of Chevy Chase The short history of an ambitious plan to develop high-end real estate in the middle of nowhere BY D O N N A E V E R S
I
f you look at the grainy photos of Chevy Chase Circle when it was first plowed, you see a muddy road circling a treeless pasture far from anywhere Washingtonians wanted to live. But Senator Francis G. Newlands of Nevada had both the vision and the money to form the Chevy Chase Land Company and invest $1,250,000 (a fortune in 1893) to replace the empty fields around the circle with a community of expensive houses for the “leisure class,” far away from the then-fashionable Dupont Circle or Cleveland Park. Reg rettably, his planned community did not
Left– The Chevy Chase Hunt in front of their first clubhouse, circa 1900 / Right- Senator Francis G. Newlands, founder of the Chevy Chase Land Company, in 1903.
come to full fruition until after he died. And, Sen. Newlands never knew that the hunt club he started as an afterthought would be one of the most prestigious country clubs in America. It all started in the 1700’s when a large tract of land around Western and Connecticut avenues was named “Chevy Chase” by its owner, Colonel Belt, who took the name from a 14th century ballad about the border wars between England and Scotland. In 1893, Newlands bought much of the Chevy Chase tract for his proposed development. He also bought a frame farmhouse that once belonged to Belt’s son to use as a venue for his friends to meet and fox hunt two or three times a week during the season. The farmhouse was replaced in the early 1900’s by a new building, designed by a
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brilliant and aristocratic young architect, Jules Henry de Sibour. He had just finished creating a magnificent Beaux Arts palace at 1746 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., for Clarence Moore, a West Virginia coal magnate who was well known in society, a member of the best clubs in New York and Paris, and Master of the Hounds at the Chevy Chase Club. Moore was so impressed with de Sibour’s work that he invited him to design the new clubhouse. After the clubhouse was finished, Moore decided to go shopping for foxhounds. In the spring of 1912, he went to the north of England, not far from the Cheviot Hills of the famous ballad, and purchased 25 brace of hounds. He sent the hounds back to the United States on one ship and then, unfortunately, booked his own passage on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. And the rest, as they say, is history. The horses and hounds of the club soon seemed out of place in the growing residential area, and golf replaced the hunt as the club’s focus Exclusive and selective from the beginning by refusing to admit members “from trade or business,” the club also scared away many eligible Chevy Chase residents with the 1899 initiation fee of a whopping twenty five dollars. So for years its members were downtown people: moguls of society, statesmen, bankers, senators and presidents. To this day, the club’s members include those at the pinnacle of power and prestige. The biggest change has been the initiation fee, which is now $75,000! What happened to Sen. Newland’s land development project? In the 1890’s, his guidelines stated that houses on Connecticut Avenue would have to cost at least $5,000 to build and those on the side streets at least $3,000. Now, these Chevy Chase Village homes range in price from $1 million to $4 million.
Top- The Chevy Chase Club / Above- One of the first 17 houses built in Chevy Chase Village.
The Land Company continues to develop commercial projects on property it owns at the intersection of Wisconsin and Western. Newland’s million dollar land investment at the turn of the 19th century, then referred to by the family as “Uncle Frank’s Folly,” made his heirs wealthy for generations. larence Moore’s beautiful house on Massachusetts Avenue, which he only occupied for a few years, is now the Embassy of Uzbekistan and still one of the best examples of Beaux Arts architecture in the city. The prolific and talented Jules de Sibour left his mark on Washington as few others have, designing many graceful private homes and buildings from 1906 to the 1930’s, including the Jefferson Hotel and the building which now houses the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The French-born architect, a descendent of King Louis XI, was also a star at the great American game of baseball. He lent a lot of muscle to the team at the Chevy Chase Club, where he enjoyed many years of club membership and became a “regular”.
C
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| OCTOBER
| washingtonlife.com
Stunning Tuscan Villa – Two Private Acres in Avenel
Bethesda, Maryland This incredible custom-built home combines incomparable materials with expert workmanship. This 12,000 square foot masterpiece features a dramatic floor plan with contemporary interior design. The many fine details include 12’ ceilings, custom cherry and bird’s eye maple millwork, herringbone-patterned hardwood floors, and ten-foot solid-core interior pocket doors. Ideal for entertaining, this extraordinary home can display a museum’s worth of artwork. From the sensational entry gallery to the gourmet kitchen to the fabulous master suite with private offices, sitting room and luxury baths, this villa stands out as a true property of distinction. The private rear veranda overlooks a gorgeous two-acre private lot while an exceptional columned loggia is perfect for beautiful outdoor dining. Located in the sought-after Eagle Ridge section of Avenel, this home is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own perfection. $4,400,000
Marc Fleisher $277 Million Sold in 2005 202-364-5200 x2927 (O) 301-983-2504 (H) http://marcfleisher.realtor.com
Dramatic Interior Design • Museum-Quality Workmanship See up to 50 pictures: www.homevisit.com/mc5556145
R E
N E W S
THE DISTRICT â&#x20AC;˘ MARYLAND â&#x20AC;˘ VIRGINIA THE DISTRICT Former CIA director William Colbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s widow Sally Shelton Colby has reportedly sold her Georgetown home at 3020 Cambridge Place N.W., for $1.895 million to Jonathan Blake and Elizabeth Shriver. Mrs. Colbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s career has been nearly as illustrious as that of her late husband and has included stints as U.S. ambassador to several Caribbean nations, deputy assistant secretary of state for Inter-American Affairs, deputy secretary-general of the OECD, assistant administrator for Global Programs at USAID and university professor. Mrs. Colby is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, was a Fulbright Scholar and received a Mastersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Degree in International Relations from The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. George Stephanopoulos, host of ABCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sunday morning news show This Week, and his wife, actress-comedian Alexandra Wentworth, are the new owners of st Streetďš? Nďš&#x2019;Wďš&#x2019; The five bedrooms/six and a half bath house
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BY MARY K M EWBORN was listed by Washington Fine Propertiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Bill Moody for Allison and Steven D. Lockshin, founder of Lydian Wealth Management. The Lockshins asked for and received $5.5 million for their corner compound which features a gourmet kitchen, formal living and dining rooms, beautiful vistas and an attached garage. Washington Life readers may recall that Stephanopoulos and Wentworth previously resided with their two young daughters, Harper and Elliott, at th Streetďš? Nďš&#x2019;Wďš&#x2019; That property was listed for sale by Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International affiliate Tutt, Taylor & Rankin for just under $3 million. Georgetownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Frey-Mockbee Houseâ&#x20AC;? has sold for $1,605,000. The three-bedroom East Village property located at P Streetďš? Nďš&#x2019;Wďš&#x2019; was built in 1876 and features exquisite architectural details including an ornate fireplace mantel, Jeffersonian windows and an intricately sculpted
wrought iron balcony. The property also boasts an enchanting garden with a trompe-lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;oeil walls and solarium access.The sellers are NewYork Times reporter Diana Jean Schemo and bio-security specialist Roger Breeze. The buyers are attorneys Kenneth and Ann Marie Peters. Mr. Peters works for Freddie Mac while his wife practices commercial real estate law with Ballard Spahr Andrews and Ingersol LLP. Jeanne Livingston and Susan Stead Daves, both with Long and Foster, listed the historic home for $1,855,000. Long and Fosterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nancy Itteilag represented the buyers. Dr. Stephen Linton is purchasing C Streetďš? Sďš&#x2019;Eďš&#x2019; on Capitol Hill from real estate appraiser John C. Donnelly for just under $900,000. Linton is founder and chairman of the Eugene Bell Foundation, a privately funded organization providing humanitarian aid to North Korea. Long and Fosterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nancy Itteilag was both the listing and selling agent for the George Stephanopoulos and his wife Alexandra Wentworth paid $5.5 million for 1315 31st Street, N.W.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| OCTOBER
| washingtonlife.com
Elegant Estate with remarkable craftsmanship. Interior features twin circular staircase & vaulted barrel ceiling, private yard with sport court & pool. Too many luxuries to list. McLean $11,000,000
JUST REDUCED! Gorgeous Sagatov designed & built colonial in sought-after Falcon Ridge. Sun-filled interior and private, wooded exterior. Great Falls $2,299,000
Fabulous New England style home lovingly renovated and expanded. Fabulous garden views from open floorplan. Located on one of McLean’s most prestigious streets. McLean $1,875,000
Smashing contemporary nestled on one of the most beautiful lots in North Arlington. Sun filled rooms, private yard with lavish landscaping, hot-tub & waterfall. Arlington $1,445,000
UN DE RC ON TRA CT Lovely 5 bedroom colonial sited on a large & private lot with pool. Gourmet kitchen opens to cozy family room. Generous master suite with sumptuous bath. Walk-out lower level. McLean $1,235,000
This elegant townhouse shows like a model home. Featuring exquisite mouldings, gleaming hardwoods, spacious master suite with sumptuous bath and beautiful backyard. McLean $989,000
The Penny Yerks Team Has Sold 16 Houses in the Past 3 Months! Isn’t It Time You Joined the Penny Yerks Team? #1 Weichert Agent Nationally Over $140 Million Sold Each Year Office: 703.760.0744 Web: www.yerks.com E-Mail: pennyyerks@aol.com Penny and Piper
1,638 square-foot, three-level, two-bedroom Victorian built in 1870. Thanks to Coldwell Banker’s Bobbie Brewster, David Plouffe and his wife Olivia Morgan have sold their home at th Street﹐ N﹒W﹒ for $1.2 million. The new owners are Julia Bovey and Mark Elliott, who recently arrived from Boston where Bovey served as communications director for the Conservation Law Foundation, a non-profit striving to solve environmental problems. Elliot is the managing director of the Atlanta-based brokerage firm Hodges Ward Elliott, which has been involved with Millennium Real Estate Advisors in recent efforts to market D.C.’s 353-room Madison Hotel. Morgan and Plouffe now reside at Macomb Street﹐ N﹒W﹒, a six-bedroom home they bought for $1.4 million from Ingrid Margrave, the widow of retired Foreign Service officer Robert Nicholas Margrave. David Plouffe is an experienced Democratic strategist who served as a director with both the Democratic Congressional and Senatorial Campaign Committees. He also assisted Senators Tom Harkin and Dick Gephardt in their Presidential bids. Olivia Morgan was the national spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and is now a principal of the Dewey Square Group which develops communications strategies to
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shape public policy debates. Kathy and Cole Werble have sold their seven-bedroom home at Garfield Street﹐ N﹒W﹒ to Sandey and Thomas Goodbody for $1.8 million. The 1923 Italianesque residence with its two front parlors, Tuscan-style tile roof and spacious sun porch sits opposite St. Albans school, where Kathy works as a librarian. Her husband is editor-in-chief of the RPM Report. Bobbie Brewster with Coldwell Banker was the listing agent for the Werbles’ beautiful abode, which boasts a renovated eat-in kitchen and National Cathedral views.
MARYLAND
In Chevy Chase, Norman Graham-Yooll of Rembrandt Builders has sold the fieldstone and brick Colonial he built in 2005 at Derussey Parkway﹒ The five-bedroom home with a threecar garage sold for $1,995,000. Highlights include Brazilian hardwood floors, granite baths, media room with surround sound, an exercise room and a sunroom adjacent to the gourmet kitchen.The property, with its beautifully manicured grounds and a flagstone terrace, is located within walking distance of downtown Bethesda and Crescent Trail. Long and Foster’s Joe and Wendy Faraji were both the listing and selling agents.The new owner is Craig Ramsey.
VIRGINIA
In Great Falls, Julie and David Mastran, the son of Maximus founder David V. Mastran, have parted with their charming Colonial-style home at Windy Hollow Road﹒ The property features a wrap-around porch overlooking the Potomac River and cost the couple $1.65 million in 2001. The new owners, Thomas and Sharen Burns, paid $2.225 million. Stephen A. Bannister of Ivy Development and his wife Carolyn sold Sunny Meadow Lane in Vienna to Ellen MacGregor and Martin Arase, chairman of the Columbia Group.The Columbia Group — which provides strategic services to the defense community — was formed last year when Computer Products, Inc., merged with Columbia Research Corporation. Arase and MacGregor paid $2.255 million for their new six-bedroom home with six and a half baths. The sellers had been asking $2.295 million. Please Send Real Estate News Items to: Mewborn@washingtonlife.com Left– Kathy and Cole Werble have sold 3414 Garfield Street, N.W. to Sandey and Thomas Goodbody for $1.8 million. Right– Dr. Stephen Linton is purchasing Capitol Hill’s 207 C Street, S.E. for just under $900,000 from real estate appraiser John C. Donnelly.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| OCTOBER
| washingtonlife.com
J A N E FA I R W E AT H E R . . .
A Cut Above the Rest
Bethesda, MD
$2,375,000
W
elcome to this stately colonial situated on a gorgeous half acre lot in close-in Bethesda! This home boasts beautifully landscaped front & back yards, a formal 2-story foyer which opens up to a huge Living Room with elegant moldings and cozy fireplace. A beautiful gourmet kitchen with a Breakfast Room and adjacent large Dining Room grace this house. Views abound from every room including the expansive Family Room with a 2nd fireplace and glass French doors to the back deck. A den or office, large laundry room and oversized 2 car garage finish off the main level! Up the grand staircase you’ll find a luxurious master suite with “his” and “hers” walk-in closets and a huge bathroom with a separate tub and shower. Also upstairs there are three additional bedrooms and two full baths. In the Lower Level you will find a bedroom, a full bath, a built-in bar and a light-filled Recreation Room with sliding glass doors to a back garden patio! This is a wonderful home in a fabulous location!
301-530-HOME
#1 Coldwell Banker agent in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area for the last 7 years 173 homes sold in 2005 $128 million in sales volume in 2005 www.janefairweather.com
301-718-0010
For more information on this and other fabulous homes for sale contact Jane at jane@janefairweather.com
T E N
T O
D O BY MICHAEL WHARTON
SIP PRESIDENTIALLY Sample the finest
FAIR THEE WELL Craft your
vintages and listen to jazz at the Mount Vernon Wine Festival and Sunset Tour. http://www.mountvernon.org/index.cfm, (202) 397-7328. Oct. 6-8
way back to Colonial times at the 62nd Annual Waterford Fair in Waterford,Va. www.waterfordva.org, (540) 882-3018.Oct. 6-8
FIND FLAVOR
as you stroll at the annual Taste of Bethesda. (301) 215-6660. Oct. 7
OBSERVE ARTFULLY View multicultural works of beauty at Art on the Avenue in Alexandria. www.artontheavenue.org, (301) 683-3100. Oct. 7
Get blown glass, sculpture and other contemporary fine arts at the Sugarland Crafts Fair in Gaithersburg. www.sugarloafcrafts.com, (301) 990-1400. Oct. 13-15
GALLOP GRACEFULLY Live the life to
VISUALIZE BETHESDA Watch as more
SIP WITH SOPHISTICATION Be in the
which you are accustomed at the 68th International Gold Cup in The Plains,Va. www.vagoldcup.com, (540) 347-1215. Oct. 21
than 300 artists and artisans showcase their work at the Bethesda Row Arts Festival. www. bethesdarowarts.org, (301) 816-6958. Oct. 21-22
know at D.C.’s Urbana Restaurant and Wine Bar. It’s a study in elegant restraint. www.urbanadc.com, (202) 956-6650.
NOSH PERIPATETICALLY Nibble
LISTEN UP! Bethany Yarrow, Peter Yarrow and Rufus Cappadocia stretch the musical boundaries of folk into new territory at Wolf Trap. www. wolftrap.org. Oct. 20
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SCARE UP SOME FUN Trick or
treat, play with the kids and learn about the animals at “Boo at the Zoo.” http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ ActivitiesAndEvents/Celebrations/Boo, (202) 633-4800. Sept. 23 - 24
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| OCTOBER
| washingtonlife.com
WIHS SPECIAL
MANE ATTRACTION You thought you have it good: show horses really know what it means to be pampered BY E M I LY G O LD
I
t’s the morning of an important event, and Maizy Toltien has an early wake-up call. For the past several weeks, she’s been working with her masseuse, acupuncture therapist and personal trainer to ensure that she’s feeling her absolute best for the big day. And now, it’s time to make sure she’s looking her best as well. After a light morning workout and nutritious breakfast, she enjoys a luxurious bubble bath.Then it’s time to primp: while one beautician gets to work making sure that every inch of her is smooth and glowing, another painstakingly styles her hair with impressive intricacy and precision. After hours of primping and pampering, it’s time for wardrobe. Then, after a final coat of polish is applied to her flawlessly manicured nails, she’s ready for the spotlight. The life of a Hollywood A-list celebrity? Not exactly. Maizy Toltien is a horse, and instead of getting ready to hit the Academy Awards, she’s preparing for the Washington International Horse Show at the Verizon Center, October 24- 29. It
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| OCTOBER
| washingtonlife.com
THE WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW IS THE EQUESTRIAN EQUIVALENT OF THE OSCARS OR THE SUPER BOWL OF HORSE SHOWS OWNERS AND RIDERS ARE WILLING TO GO TO EXTREMES TO KEEP THEIR ATHLETES IN PRIME CONDITION
is not unreasonable to draw a parallel, however. The Washington International is the equestrian equivalent of the red carpet. Horses and riders from all over the country compete year round in hopes of qualifying for this prestigious competition, and only the top 30 horses in each division are invited to attend. It is the place to see and be seen, and to face off against the sport’s crème de la crème. The Super Bowl of horse shows, if you will. Naturally, owners and riders are willing to go to extremes to keep their athletes in prime condition for their big day. Preparation for a competition like the Washington International begins weeks, even months, in advance. Every equine professional has a unique method for mentally and physically readying their four-legged charges for such an event. A fitness regiment is essential to success. In addition to regular exercise, many horse owners turn to equine massage therapy for added edge. “Horses can experience much of the same tension, stress and anxiety issues that humans do,” says Katie
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Washingtonian Paige Johnson, world-class rider and daughter of Robert and Sheila Johnson, aboard Lancier at last year’s WIHS
Boyer, a licensed equine massage therapist from Harmony, Pa. “The equine athlete is composed of 60 percent skeletal muscle which can benefit tremendously from massage. Not only does massage increase range of motion and enhance muscle tone, it can also improve the general disposition of the horse.” imilarly, acupuncture is becoming an increasingly popular practice among horse owners. Acupuncture involves the stimulation of anatomical points through the use of various techniques, most commonly through the use of thin needles.This stimulation allows the therapist to pinpoint and alleviate areas of discomfort. Other popular perfor mance-enhancing techniques include magnetic therapy, heat/cold therapy, and even animal communicators, or “horse psychics.” A week or so before the big event, preparation begins to intensify. A farrier, or blacksmith, comes to tend to the horse’s hooves. A healthy, well-balanced hoof is vital to soundness and performance. Prior to competition, the farrier trims off any excess hoof (the equine version of the mani-pedi) and fits the horse for new shoes if necessary. At this time, the horse is also “shaved” to remove unwanted hair from the muzzle, ears and legs. This creates a sleeker, more finished look that is pleasing to the eye. The horse’s mane is thinned and shortened, and the tail is conditioned and detangled. By this time, the horse is in top physical condition and ready to go. The night before the big day, the horse is shipped into downtown Washington, where temporary stalls have been erected on the streets around the Verizon Center. After settling in, horse and rider are assigned a time to go into the arena for “schooling,” an opportunity to ride in the ring and allow the horse to acclimate to its new surroundings. After schooling, the horses are groomed, fed and put into their assigned stalls all of which are amply stocked with bedding, hay and fresh water to ensure the horse is comfortable in its home away from home. Most owners opt to bandage their horse’s legs to prevent swelling and offer support for the tendons. Then it’s time for a good night’s sleep, with security standing guard. he day has finally arrived! Work begins early with a light exercise session, followed
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by a hearty breakfast. Then it’s bath time. At this level of competition, most horses have a groom, which is essentially a personal assistant to ensure that the horse is properly prepared and looks its best. The groom bathes the horse, making sure that every inch of the animal’s coat is spotless and shining. Up next: hair. A braider, roughly equivalent to a horse stylist, will style the mane into anywhere from 20 to 50 small, tight, identical braids, depending on the size of the horse and the length and thickness of the mane. Once the mane is finished and flawless, the braider sets to work on the tail, which is styled in a modified French braid on the top and flowing free on
the bottom for a classic and sophisticated look. After hair comes wardrobe, at which time the groom will dress the horse in its saddle and bridle. Right before performance time there is a final grooming to remove any dirt and dust, a coat of polish on the hooves, and then it’s time to go. The gates to the arena open (the metaphorical opening of the limo door), the crowd grows quiet, cameras begin flashing, and, finally, all the work has paid off. THE WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW WILL TAKE PLACE OCTOBER 24-29 AT THE VERIZON CENTER. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT WWW.WIHS.ORG.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| OCTOBER
| washingtonlife.com
MORE MARKETING = MORE HOMES SOLD With the changing market in Northern Virginia, it is critical to hire the best real agent to sell your home. Casey spends more money marketing your home which is why, even in a slowing market, we are having a record year. Let us help sell yours too! Plus Ask about our guaranteed sales program.
WHEN YOU REALLY WANT IT SOLD...CALL CASEY 703.827.8777 ListPrice
Address
City
ListPrice
Address
City
ListPrice
Address
City
ListPrice
Address
City
$1,375,000
2504 SHERWOOD HALL LN
ALEXANDRIA
$799,900
4712 GROVES LANE
FAIRFAX
$499,900
6109 OLENDER PARK CT
MANASSAS
$3,495,900
2619 SLEDDING HILL RD
OAKTON
$399,900
5963 FOUNDERS HILL DR #302
ALEXANDRIA
$995,000
$1,175,000 11730 SADDLE CRESCENT CIR
$564,900
8615 VERNON AVE
$769,900
4617 HOLIDAY LN
FAIRFAX
$269,900
8538 BRAXTED LN #287
MANASSAS
ALEXANDRIA $1,295,000
11619 POPES HEAD RD
FAIRFAX
$509,900
6133 OLENDER PARK CT
MANASSAS
$959,900
11733 QUAY RD
OAKTON
3601 DREWS CT
ALEXANDRIA
$995,900
10610 ROSEHAVEN ST
FAIRFAX
$509,900
6141 OLENDER PARK CT
MANASSAS
$1,425,000
10530 MILLER RD
OAKTON
$750,000
8745 TALBOTT FARM DR
ALEXANDRIA
$799,900
3286 TILTON VALLEY DR
FAIRFAX
$519,900
6129 OLENDER PARK CT
MANASSAS
$1,647,777
11264 DEROSNEC DR
OAKTON
$589,900
2614 CULPEPER RD
ALEXANDRIA
$679,900
10461 COURTNEY DR
FAIRFAX
$512,900
6113 OLENDER PARK CT
MANASSAS
$1,297,777
11256 WAPLES MILL RD
OAKTON
$897,777
4105 OAK HILL DR
ANNANDALE
$364,777
11638A CAVALIER LANDING CT
FAIRFAX
$539,900
6137 OLENDER PARK CT
MANASSAS
$997,777
10305 LEWIS KNOLLS DR
OAKTON
$640,000
6910 LITTLE FALLS RD #6910
ARLINGTON
$1,038,452
4732 GROVES LN
FAIRFAX
$2,490,000
46 LOT THE RESERVE
MCLEAN
$849,900
11230 CRANBROOK LANE
OAKTON
$895,000
5141 9TH ST N
ARLINGTON
$514,777
12529 N. LAKE CT
FAIRFAX
$1,800,000
163 THE RESERVE
MCLEAN
$2,195,900
10605 HANNAH FARM RD
OAKTON
$469,900
1104 QUINCY ST N #A
ARLINGTON
$599,900
12578 FAIR VILLAGE WAY
FAIRFAX
$2,799,000
903 CENTRILLION DR
MCLEAN
$329,900
11701 KARBON HILL CT #C
RESTON
$1,395,000
2134 21ST RD N
ARLINGTON
$760,000
10827B 2ND ST W
FAIRFAX
$1,650,000
900 ALVERMAR RIDGE DR
MCLEAN
$359,900
1644 FIELDTHORN DR
RESTON
$1,299,900
1604 RANDOLPH ST N
ARLINGTON
$775,000
3268 TILTON VALLEY DR
FAIRFAX
$1,925,000
7656 BURFORD DR
MCLEAN
$779,900
8026 KIDWELL CT
VIENNA
$299,900
2618 ARLINGTON MILL DR S #H
ARLINGTON
$749,000
4807 BENTONBROOK DR
FAIRFAX
$1,800,000
7841 MONTVALE WAY
MCLEAN
$800,000
9118 CRICKLEWOOD CT
VIENNA
$1,199,900
1600 RANDOLPH ST N
ARLINGTON
$759,900
3031 FALLSWOOD GLEN CT
FALLS CHURCH
$2,738,883
7800 MERITAGE
MCLEAN
$669,900
8861 ASHGROVE HOUSE LN
VIENNA
$749,777
4816 11TH ST N
ARLINGTON
$795,900
3033 FALLSWOOD GLEN CT
FALLS CHURCH
$2,039,979
1026 FOUNDERS RIDGE
MCLEAN
$1,399,900
10692 WATER FALLS LN
VIENNA
ARLINGTON
$1,585,000
OAKTON
$497,777
1104 QUINCY ST N #A
9119 WHITE CHIMNEY LN
GREAT FALLS
$2,340,000
152 ALVERMAR RIDGE DR
MCLEAN
$1,225,000
2775 CODY RD
VIENNA
$368,750
14470 GLENCREST CIR #41
CENTREVILLE $1,597,777
1020 PRESERVE CT
GREAT FALLS
$1,697,777
7416 OLD MAPLE SQ
MCLEAN
$649,900
1491 NORTHERN NECK DR
VIENNA
$599,000
5095 PALE MOON WAY
CENTREVILLE $1,850,000
942 SENECA RD
GREAT FALLS
$1,947,777
7003 ELIZABETH DR
MCLEAN
$1,077,777
2458 SANDBURG ST
VIENNA
$328,900
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Oak Hill $1,099,000 Three sides brck home on 1AC backing to woods. 5BR, 4.5BA. Open kit w/granite & sunrm. 3 fin lvls. LL w/wet bar, BR & BA. 2 frpls. Patio.
McLean $4,950,000 New stn & brck home on 1.15AC Built by Adrian Edwards Custom Homes. One of the last lots in The Reserve in McLean. Every amenity available.
Oak Hill $1,200,000 Private 1.5AC lot backing to woods. 3 fin lvls. 5BR, 4.5BA. Sunrm. Kit w/granite. FR w/ frpl. LL w/au pair suite, wet bar & gym. Cedar deck.
Vienna $1,225,000 Stunning home in Elgin Manor on gated cul-de-sac lot. Sunroom w/cascading windows. 2stry FR w/frpl. Gorm t kit. 6BR, 4.5BA, 3 fin lvls.
FFX Station From $899,900 Four new homes. 1AC lots. 15 models to choose from. 2-3 car gar. HWFs. Granite. Upgraded molding. Frpl. 1st fr mst avail.
McLean $1,999,900 New Home. Langley HS. 6BR, 5.55BA. Mahogany built-ins. HWFs. Viking. Custom cab. Raised panels. Tumbled marble.
Fairfax $1,395,900 Charleston Southern revival home on 2AC. 2 stry front porch. 5BR, 3.5BA. 10ft ceilings, custom moldings & arches.2 frpl. Custom kitchen.
McLean $1,199,900 Evermay home. 4 sides brck. 4BR, 3BA. Kit w/granite & ceramic flr. Mlding thruout. Lots of natural light. 2 frpl. Bckyrd w/slate patio & mature trees.
Oakton $1,049,000 Beautifully decorated, 2 yrs young. Min to Tysons. HWFs, molding, custom drapes. 5BR, 4.5BA. 3 fin lvls. Butler s pantry.Mst BR w/3sd frpl & Jacuzzi.
Herndon $1,399,000 Ideally located home in Caris Glenne. Former mdl w/2 sunrms, 10ft ceilings, 8ft doors, HWFs & cermaic flrs. 6BR, 5Ab, 2 pwder rms. 3 fin lvls. 4 zoned HVAC.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| OCTOBER
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123
OVER THE MOON
MARYLOU AND MARLOU The Middleburg/Saratoga Connection BY V I C K Y M O O N
I
t was another successful racing season in Saratoga for the folks from Middleburg. Carol Holden, who owns Sporting Life Stables with Sam Huff, our town’s most famous Pro Football Hall of Famer, had reason to celebrate: Her homebred chestnut filly won a maiden race with a purse of $25,100. It was an especially sweet moment, since the filly’s dam came from the California Equine Retirement Foundation. “Her owner didn’t want to pay any more bills and sent her off to be someone else’s problem,” says Carol, who hosts a thoroughbred racing radio program called “Trackside” with Huff, the long time analyst on Redskins Radio broadcasts. Together they’re also a major force in the West Virginia Breeders Classics, Ltd. program. Carol named the filly Burletta, which translates to a light or comic opera. “I thought [it was] appropriate for horse racing,” she notes. The Fout Family: trainer and father Doug, wife Beth and twins Dunn and Caroline were spotted on “jump” day, when the National Steeplechase and Hunt races take place each Thursday. Doug, who has fifty horses in training on the flat and over jumps, was in the winner’s circle with Eldon Farm’s Hirapour in the $75,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase. The big brown gelding was bred in Ireland by His Highness the Aga Khan’s studs and was the 2004 steeplechase champion. He’s also one of the early favorites for this year’s Eclipse award.
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The Hunt Balls and lavish parties once held by the Whitney family at Llangollen Farm in Upperville are legendary in the horse country.
The Fout family: Dunn, Beth, trainer/father Doug and Caroline.
Jackie Ohrstrom was also in the Spa watching some of her jumpers compete as well as making the rounds to parties, art galleries and the yearling sales with Marlou Gregory. Ann MacLeod has been making the trek
Marlou Gregory and Jacqueline Ohrstrom were in the paddock on steeplechase day.
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| OCTOBER
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Racing enthusiasts in the imposing old white and red wooden stands cheered.
LIZ AND LILA Back in Middleburg there’s a Whitney connection: the legendary Llangollen estate in Upperville. In 1930, sportsman and philanthropist John Hay Whitney purchased Llangollen for his wife, Philadelphia debutante and horsewoman Liz Altemus. John Hay Whitney, known as Marylou Whitney, with her husband John Hendrickson, presented the Whitney Trophy to 18-year-old jockey “Jock,” was “Sonny” Fernando Jara at Saratoga. Whitney’s first cousin. Jock Whitney also to upstate New York for more than presented his bride with a wedding fifty years — greeting friends from check for $1 million and his mother her box — including Louisa and gave her a $225,000 diamond necklace. John Barker and retired Washington Adele Astaire and her brother Fred were in the wedding party as well as attorney Henry “Duffy” Rathbun. The sweetest time at the track is Sen. Stuart Symington and humorist the crack of dawn on the backside. Robert Benchley. However…Liz and Jock didn’t Retired advertising guru Bill Backer (credited with the jingle, “I’d Like To last long. When they divorced, she Buy the World A Coke”) and his wife received $3 million in cash and the Anne religiously watch their horses deed to Llangollen. He later became exercise. And John Coles, who is a ambassador to Great Britain while joint-master of Orange County Hunt Eisenhower was in office. She later when not selling real estate, was up for married Col. Cloyce Tippett. If the walls of this magnificent the yearling auction. Of course, the highlight each season 1830’s Georgian-inspired mansion has been to watch Marylou Whitney could talk…they’d tell of the wild playing hostess at her legendary gala weekend parties that went on for at Canfield Casino. Marylou was the days. And of the time the “Lady of fourth wife of the late Cornelius Llangollen” brought her favorite horse into the great room or the Vanderbilt “Sonny”Whitney. All eyes were on the winner’s circle dozens of dogs that lived here full for the Whitney Stakes when, just nine time. (The most beloved ones were weeks after a mild stroke, the elegant kept in her deep freezer when they Marylou made a grand entrance. Her departed.) Revelers included Doris current husband, John Hendrickson, Duke, Elsa Maxwell, Eddie Arcaro, previously an aide to former Alaska Prince Aly Khan, Bing Crosby and Governor Walter Hickel, accompanied a revolving list of diplomats and her for the trophy presentation. politicians.
126
FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE VILLAGE OF THE PLAINS (pop. 266), where a charming collection of shops and restaurants awaits. The 69th running of the International Gold Cup will take place at Great Meadow this month and Middleburg resident Sheila Johnson is scheduled to sing the National Anthem for the opening ceremonies. The International Gold Cup was first held in 1930 at Grasslands Downs, Tennessee. Two years later it was moved to the Rolling Rock course in Pennsylvania. The Rolling Rock Hunt Meet ended in 1983 and the following year the International Gold Cup relocated to Virginia, where a stunning trophy, donated by the king of Spain, is still awarded each fall to the winner.
Roy and Lila Ash, who are very familiar with life in Washington, purchased the 1,100-acre estate following Liz Tippett’s death. He served as director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Richard Nixon. He also started Litton Industries, was the CEO of Sara Lee and served as treasurer of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The Ashes — who also have a home in California — have meticulously renovated and expanded the manor house to 13,000 square feet. All the walnut wood used for the new floors and the free-floating staircase in the main foyer is from trees on the
property. There’s a horseshoe stable (where Liz kept a black bear in one stall when he wasn’t chained to a tree — no confirmation if it was a walnut tree), training track, cattle barns, cemetery and more. During the remodeling, decorator Phyllis Nee made discoveries all along the way: snake skins in the basement and a walk-in safe for silver and jewelry now used as a wine cellar. The Ashes purchased Llangollen in 1989 for $6.9 million and it’s now for sale for $22 million. The Ashes own another estate in Middleburg called Huntland that’s on the market for $17.8 million. But that’s a story for another time.
hunt country dates OCTOBER
The Trouvails Vintage Collection show at Jeanne Blackwell’s Madcap Farm from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. (It is a close up show and sale before taking the collection to New York for the Manha an Vintage Show on October 13th and 14th.) 7306 John Marshall Hwy, The Plains, Va. (540) 253-5606.
OCTOBER -
Contemporary quilts by Mary Turner Buchanan and fiber arts by Diana Vicenti; Zigzag Gallery, 6477 Main St., The Plains, Va. (540) 253-5364 or (540) 253-7772.
OCTOBER
“A Day in The Plains” at Main St., The Plains, Va. Meet the artists, children’s fair with pe ing zoo and local musicians including the Gary Smallwood Trio; www.towno heplains.com. (540) 253-5364.
OCTOBER
International Gold Cup Steeplechase; seven races with $150,000 in prize money at Great Meadow, The Plains, Va. Also featuring Jack Russell Terrier Races and the Navy Parachute Team; www.vagoldcup.com. (800) 69-RACES, (540) 347-1215.
OCTOBER
The American Boychoir; 5 p.m., Grace Episcopal Church, The Plains, Va. Tickets required; www.gracechurch.net. (540) 253-5177.
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| OCTOBER
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T H I S
T O W N
WOE IS THE HOSTESS DURING MID-TERMS BY M I C H A E L ST R A N G E
T
he hell with Survivor: Race War. Mark Burnett should produce Survivor: Washington Hostess, and shoot it right now, with the midterms upon us. The Congress is elected only once every two years, but woe betide the Washington dinner party when campaign time comes ’round. The party giver-pol relationship is one of the great love-hate affairs in this town because one can’t survive socially without the other. Hostesses need office holders to power up their tables while the office holders need the hostesses to power up their PACs. I dare Survivor host Jeff Probst to ringmaster a circa 2006 Washington
just as you get to know them, they are booted from office. As for personality, well, there’s artless flirtation: “Oh, so you’re from California,” Democratic Congressman Swain coos as he corners me by the bar. “I raise a lot of money in your state.” Or, earnest devotion to the Bush White House and the Bible: Just as I raise my soup spoon Senator Devout from the Midwest softly implores, “May we first have a moment for our Lord”? Grace is fine at the family dinner table but it’s no way to start a candlelit black-tie dinner for 24, with French service, fine wine and Robert Rubin as the guest of honor. In our household, as in many in
but also helps pave the way for when he or she makes the happy decision to, ahem, “re-enter public life,” and craves a rainmaker job with Mr. Strange or his closest competitors like Akin Gump, Patton Boggs or Verner Liipfert. For fun, I toss in a few jaded but authentic socialites, some generous new money, maybe one or two presentable media types and, for sheer glossy star-power, Bo Derek, Alec Baldwin or Morgan Fairchild if they happen to be in town. Usually, by the cigars and cognac, the politicians are rolling on
“THE POLITICAL DIVIDE HAS STORMED INTO THE DINING ROOM WITH THE ANIMUS OF THE SUNNIS AND THE SHIITES ” dinner party. For one thing, the beator-be-beaten drama here isn’t staged; it’s for real. With rare exceptions, hostesses really don’t care to have politicians at the table. Our esteemed “friends” on the Hill, particularly the men, believe “Dinner at 8” is a relative term (for them; not everyone else), they shovel down the food as if at a campaign pit stop, most have no manners beyond what’s required for fundraising, and
130
this town, politics is part of the family business. Taxpayer dollars help fatten my piggy bank and, in return I, the wife of a lawyer-lobbyist-consultant, have dinners that include politicians. My mandate is to integrate them into Washington society. For my darling and his clients, it means cozy access to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist or Minority Leader Harry Reid on the sofa over good Scotch. For the pol, it’s face time with money —
their backs, begging to have their tummies rubbed.That’s why the only elected officials with any social cred either have genuine morals or are so corrupt it’s an art form. It’s the cycle of life in the nation’s capital. However, times are changing.The political divide has stormed into the dining room with the animus of the Sunnis and the Shiites. Rather than fighting it out in the desert, they cold eye each other across dinner
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
tables. How do you make a guest list out of that? The recent IsraeliHezbollah war re-energized distrust between Jews and Arabs; blacks and whites maintain an uneasy truce, while the Hispanics, instead of scowling, slowly snag everyone’s jobs. The Republicans and Democrats out and out hate each other. Back in the day, guests fondled each other under the table. Now they give each other the finger. It’s enough to make any hostess wilt. The old guard talk fondly of the days when national politicians were mostly good old boys or landed gentry, happy to make Washington their home, and who returned to the “district” only to get re-elected. It was easier then to plan a party. Now they fly into National Airport on Monday and fly out late Thursday. In their eyes, we, the permanent city, the social order, are practically irrelevant. Good for a meal, a flirt or a prayer, and good for a dime.
Readers wishing to contact Michael can email her at: MStrange@washingtonlife.com
| OCTOBER
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