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EDITOR'S LETTER
FEATURES VICTORIOUS THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS WIN THE STANLEY CUP ........
FYIDC INSIDER'S GUIDE ........................................ THE DISH Dining Around Nats Park..................
POLLYWOOD EMBASSY ROW .......................................... RFK Memorial Service ........................................
HOLLYWOOD ON THE POTOMAC ....... Meridian Ball Reception .........................................
Ford's Theatre Gala...............................................
Honoring A Maestro ............................................ Colombian Embassy Honors Women Leaders ........... Harvard Business School Gala...............................
LIFESTYLES LUXURY TRAVEL Journeys to Switzerland,
WASHINGTON SOCIAL DIARY OVER THE MOON ...................................... Arena Stage Gala ................................................. Inova Lobster Fest ................................................ Embassy Chefs Challenge.......................................
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Great Ladies Luncheon .......................................... Inventors Hall of Fame........................................... The Links High Tea .............................................. The Wing Opening Party .......................................
Fashion for Paws ..................................................
Georgetown Patrons Party ....................................... Heart's Delight Wine Tasting and Auction................ Spring Theatre Events ..........................................
Parties, Parties, Parties! ...........................................
HOME LIFE
INSIDE HOMES Rueben and Shivani Bajaj........... FASHION EDITORIAL Rooftop Revelry .......... REAL ESTATE NEWS ................................... INNOVATORS & DISRUPTORS Basket ........ OPEN HOUSE .............................................. BOOK TALK Summer Reading ......................... MY WASHINGTON Ashok Bajaj ...................... the Bahamas and Japan ........................................
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COVER: Ted Leonsis and Alexander Ovechkin at Capital One Arena (Photo by Tony Powell) TOP FROM LEFT: Joseph Kennedy speaks at Robert F. Kennedy's 50th Anniversary Memorial Service (Photo (U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery / released); Capitals players at the Stanley Cup parade (Photo by Washington Capitals Photography/Patrick McDermott); FASHION TALA RAASSI Spring/Summer ‘18 collection ($178) talaraassi.com; MONICA SORDO Brujo Orbit earrings ($620), Curio Concept Store, 1071 Thomas Jefferson St. NW, (202) 851-4946. CULT GAIA Acrylic Lilleth bag ($328), Saks Fifth Avenue, 2051 International Dr, McLean, Va. 22102, (703) 761-0700. CHANEL sunglasses ($635) Saks Fifth Avenue, 2051 International Dr, McLean, Va. 22102, (703) 761-0700. (Photo by Moshe Zusman); William T. Newman, Jr. and Sheila Johnson at the Ford's Theatre Gala (Photo Courtesy) Abaco Club golf course (photo courtesy)
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WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
t h e i n s i d e r’s g u i d e to p ow e r , p h i l a n t h r o py, a n d so c i e t y s i n c e 1 9 9 1
Editor in Chief
Nancy Reynolds Bagley EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Virginia Coyne Senior editor
Kevin Chaffee deputy editors
Erica Moody Catherine Trifiletti contributing editor
Roland Flamini columnists and contributing writers
Janet Donovan, Steve Houk,Vicky Moon, Stacey Grazier Pfarr and Donna Shor art director
Matt Rippetoe
principal Photographer
Tony Powell Contributing Photographers
Joy Asico, Ben Droz, Alfredo Flores, Larry French, Naku Mayo,Kyle Samperton, Erin Schaff, Jay Snap and Amanda Warden
PUBLISHER & CEO
Soroush Richard Shehabi Sales and marketing representative
John Arundel Bookkeepers
Janet Banks and Michelle Frazer web technologies development
Eddie Saleh,Triposs Mihail Iliev legal
Mason Hammond Drake, Akerman, LLP editorial interns
Sarah Carr, Maddy Gale and Katelyn Rutt
Founder
Vicki Bagley creative director Emeritus (*)
J.C. Suarès Chairman, Executive Board
Gerry Byrne Washington Life magazine publishes ten times a year. Issues are distributed in February, March, April, May, June, July/August, September, November, and December and are hand-delivered on a rotating basis to over 150,000 homes throughout D.C., Northern Virginia, and Maryland. Additional copies are available at various upscale retailers, hotels, select newstands, and Whole Foods stores in the area. For a complete listing, please consult our website at www.washingtonlife.com. You can also subscribe online at www.washingtonlife.com or send a check for $79.95 (one year) to: Washington Life Magazine, 2301 Tracy Place NW, Washington D.C., 20008. BPA audited. Email us at info@washingtonlife.com with press releases, tips, and editorial comments. Copyright ©2011 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. *deceased
EDITOR’S LETTER
W
#ALLCAPS
e’re still revelling in last month’s Stanley Cup victory by the Washington Capitals over the Las Vegas Golden Knights. What an exhilarating win it was, and what an incredible parade the city and fans organized for our hometown hockey team! Washington Life was fortunate enough to be a part of the celebration, the first championship parade for a District sports Executive Editor Virginia Coyne, Editor in Chief Nancy Bagley, Publisher Soroush Shehabi and Camron Shehabi at the Washington Capitals’ championship parade. team since 1992, when the Washington Redskins bested the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI. This special commemorative issue showcases the incredible Capitals organization, from the players to the owners, all of whom played a significant role in the championship victory. We also highlight the Caps’ beloved owner, Monumental Sports CEO Ted Leonsis, and his unique leadership style, let you in on some fun facts about the players and share exclusive photos from the morning of the parade. But there’s much more in this special summer issue. Our travel Edward M. (Ted) Kennedy Jr. and Nancy Bagley at a brunch following the RFK Memorial Service. package takes you beachside to the Bahamas, outlines the joys of touring Switzerland in the sunshine and gives you a roadmap to visit Japan any time of year. You’ll want to flip to our fashion pages and go poolside on the roof of The Channel apartments at the DC Wharf where boldly colored suits and statement jewelry take center stage. Now that hockey season is over and baseball is in full swing, we take you on a mini food tour around Nats Park in the Navy Yard neighborhood, where some of the city’s most dynamic restaurants are popping up.
In My Washington, Ashok Bajaj, who opened Bombay Club, the first of his 10 restaurants, in 1988, reflects on the city’s changing food scene while sharing his feelings about his critically acclaimed Rasika being denied a Michelin star. Finally, we visit the home of Rueben and Shivani Bajaj (no relation to Ashok), whose Potomac residence melds Indian tradition with modern familyfriendly elements. Our event coverage includes photos of a special memorial service at Arlington Cemetery marking the 50th anniversary of the death of Robert F. Kennedy. President Bill Clinton, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and Rep. Joseph P. (Joe) Kennedy III were among the speakers. You’ll also find images of the Ford’s Theatre Gala, where our friend, Salamander Resorts founder Sheila Johnson, was awarded the Lincoln Medal for her philanthropic efforts; the WL-sponsored Harvard Business School Club and Arena Stage galas; and Inova’s annual Lobster Fest. That’s all, folks. Have a wonderful summer! We’ll be back in September with our annual Balls and Galas issue.
Nancy R. Bagley Editor in Chief
Readers wishing to contact Nancy Bagley can email her at nbagley@washingtonlife.com
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WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
FYIDC The Insider’s Guide to Washington BY ERICA MOODY
‘HAMILTON’ AT THE KENNEDY CENTER
BROADWAY’S BEST
DYNAMIC DUO
Catch the powerhouse husband and wife music duo at their first co-headlining tour since 2014. The “On The Run II” extravaganza promises to deliver all the songs from their joint album “Everything Is Love” along with some of their biggest hits. It’s a musical experience well worth the trek to Landover. July 27 and 28, FedEx Field,Tickets start at $75, ticketmaster.com.
RIVERPALOOZA PADDLE
ON-THE-WATER OUTINGS Get out on the water with Potomac Riverkeeper Network’s familyfriendly excursions on weekends throughout the summer. Canoe and fishing outings, camping trips, kayak adventures, snorkeling and other activities raise awareness of the role that the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers play in our lives and in local tourism. Events include a “Women on the Water Paddle” (July 21) and a “Paw Paw Bends” two-day camping trip. Various weekends in July and August; for prices and schedules, visit potomacriverkeepernetwork.
CARNE Y ARENA
THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE Academy Award winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu’s virtual reality project that puts viewers into the shoes of Hispanic immigrants crossing the southern border has quietly become one of the hottest tickets in town. Grab one fast when they open to the public online every two weeks throughout the summer. FREE, until August 31, 1611 Benning Rd. NE, carneyarenadc.com.
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BREW AT THE ZOO
ANIMALS & IPAS Mingle with critters while sipping craft beer for conservation efforts at the annual “Brew at the Zoo” hosted by Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ). More than 100 craft breweries will be pouring, including local favorites Port City Brewing Company, Right Proper Brewing Company, Bluejacket and Denizens Brewing Company. July 19, 6-9 p.m., Smithsonian’s National Zoo, General admission $50 for FONZ members/$65 for nonmembers.VIP tickets $95 for FONZ members/$110 for nonmembers, Sober driver tickets available for $30, nationalzoo.si.edu/events.
BASEBALL AMERICANA EXHIBITION
HISTORIC ARTIFACTS America’s favored pastime gets its own inning at the Library of Congress this summer, a perfect chance to learn baseball history before heading to a Nationals game.The exhibition explores the roots of the game and the sense of community built around it, with historic photographs and other artifacts showing the evolution of the sport throughout the decades: early baseball cards, scouting reports, baseball movies and even early flickering footage from the 1800s. The Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE, FREE and open to the public Mon.-Sat., 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Loc.gov.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
CO U RT E SY P H OTOS
BEYONCE & JAY-Z
Now is your chance to secure $10 tickets to the celebrated Broadway musical. Forty orchestra tickets will be sold to Lin Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” at the discount price for every performance until the run of the show ends on Sept. 16. Digital lotteries begin two days prior to each performance with a four ticket maximum per family. Showings at 7:30 p.m. or 1:30 p.m., kennedy-center.org.
THE DISH
BASES LOADED Eat and drink your way through Navy Yard with plates that knock it out of the park. BY C AT H E R I N E T R I F I L E T T I
BEER HERE:
COOL OFF: Del’s frozen Shandys at Salt Line (79 Potomac Ave. SE) have made a name for themselves since debuting last summer. As temperatures heat up, there’s no better way to pre-game nine innings of baseball. For a non-boozy option, head to the original outpost of Ice Cream Jubilee (301 Water St. SE) for a great choice of custom scoops.
Brewheads, make your way to Bluejacket brewery (300 Tingey St. SE ) and Bardo beer garden (25 Potomac Ave. SE), both of which boast wide open spaces to accommodate the sudsy set. The indoor Bluejacket seats 200 people while Bardo’s two- acre property on the Anacostia River can accommodate up to 750 revelers.
CHLOE (1331 Fourth St. SE) Chef/owner Haidar Karoum, formerly of Doi Moi, Estadio and Proof, now has his first solo restaurant (named after his niece) and it’s already earned rave reviews for its charm and authenticity. The internationally-inspired menu is a reflection of the chef’s life experiences, including summers spent in Germany and Copenhagen. DON’T MISS: Cobia crudo with avocado, Thai chilies, lime, fish sauce, crispy shallots and puffed black rice ($14)
WHALEY’S
ANA AT DISTRICT WINERY (385 Water St. SE ) Dishes from the seasonal American restaurant pair well with the urban winery’s 16 bespoke offerings by the glass. Look out for Washington’s first official vintage released earlier this year, a 2017 Dry Rosé. DONT MISS: Golden beet muhammara with pomegranate, almonds, Aleppo pepper and candied lemon served with fry bread ($10) P H OTO BY TO N Y B R OW N ; P H OTO BY SCOT T S U C H M AN ; P H OTO CO U RT E SY; P H OTO BY CAT H E R I N E T RI F I L E T T I
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
(301 Water St. SE) Enjoy the classic match of warm weather and seafood towers at Whaley’s where the onetiered displays come in three sizes and feed two to six people. The seafood-leaning eatery nails the combination of oysters, grilled calamari, poached mussels, little neck clams, uni, shrimp, lobster, crudo and catfish rillette. DON’T MISS: Impress a group with the Instagramfriendly large seafood tower ($145)
OSTERIA MORINI (301 Water St. SE) Pasta, especially when fashioned by super chef Michael White, is good anytime of the year. At the rustic Italian waterfront brunch, lunch and dinner spot, a range of favorites from Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region populate the menu, including samplings of cured meats and paninos. DON’T MISS: Any of the homemade pastas, especially the seasonal corn-filled ravioli with chanterelle mushrooms and garlic scapes ($23)
| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
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POLLYWOOD The Nexus of Politics﹐ Hollywood﹐ Media and Diplomacy | Embassy Row, Meridian Ball Pre-Reception and more!
Former President Bill Clinton and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend sit with the Kennedy grandchildren at Arlington National Cemetery during a memorial service marking the 50th anniversary of Robert F. Kennedy’s death. (U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser)
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POLLYWOOD | EMBASSY ROW
Trade and a Parade European Union envoys strike back | Trump to visit the Queen | Hungary à la mode BY ROLAND FLAMINI
,
FORTHCOMING VIDEO The 29 European Union ambassadors in Washington are making a collective video to push back against President Donald Trump’s assault on U.S.-EU bi-lateral trade. In the finished film, each envoy will speak out against Trump’s frequent charges of European protectionism. The plan is apparently to put it on the embassy websites and to make it available on YouTube. It’s the second stage of the envoys’ determined counter-offensive against Trump’s damaging new tariffs and his anti-European tweets and rhetoric. In June, they took the highly unusual step of publishing an op-ed article in the Washington Post and other media outlets headlined “An Open Letter on Trade: the Facts Speak for Themselves.” Being diplomats, Trump’s name isn’t mentioned, but the message was clear. “The U.S. makes more money doing business with the EU than with anyone else,” said the Open Letter. All 29 envoys signed the op-ed, and that, according to EU spokesman James Barbour, “was intended to be as significant, if not more so, than the message itself.”
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Hungarian Amb. Laszlo Szabo
Model
HE LOVES A PARADE Among the VIP guests at Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday parade— the Trooping the Colour —was Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis about the same time that his president was squabbling with the U.K. and America’s other allies in Canada, and just prior to Trump’s buttering up its number one enemy, Kim Jong-Un, in Singapore. At the annual ceremony in central London, hundreds of troops from the Queen’s personal bodyguard in their ceremonial bearskins and red jackets, along with cavalry and artillery, perform intricate, exhaustively rehearsed military choreography, with bands playing and flags flying. Just the kind of parade Trump has ordered Mattis to organize in Washington later this year. Trump himself is expected to visit the Queen this month, not in London where massive protests are threatened, but at Windsor. Prime Minister Theresa May will also receive the president not at 10 Downing Street but 41 miles away at Chequers, the prime minister’s official country house in Buckinghamshire. MAGYAR MODELS To mark the end of Hungary’s rotating presidency of the Viseg-
rad Four, that country’s embassy organized a show of Hungarian fashions – an unusual choice of event considering the V4,which unites Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, is little more these days than an institutional thorn in the side of the European Union. It was a stunning show nonetheless. Hungar ian designer Katti Zoob has moved into haute couture after years as a leading theatrical designer and it showed in the collection displayed at the embassy. Her creations are graceful, feminine and dramatic, recalling Hungarian folklore, but with a touch of “Game of Thrones.” Some designs harken back to another age, with plenty of lace ruffles at the neck, dramatic capes and Zoob’s version of the sleeveless surcoat with heavily embroidered panels. Ambassador Laszlo Szabo explained that the clothes and models were flown in from Budapest for the event but his young daughters, also drafted as models, stole the show. It seems that the old showbiz warning to actors to avoid working with children or pets also applies to fashion modeling.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| SUMMER
2018
| washingtonlife.com
P H OTOS BY TO NY P OW E L L
Kitti Kael and model
The Kennedy family
Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III
Rep. John Lewis
RFK MEMORIAL SERVICE Arlington Cemetery | PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES FOR RFK HUMAN RIGHTS AND BEN DROZ
Bill Clinton
Ted Kennedy Jr. and Kiley Kennedy Kick Kennedy
REMEMBRANCE AND CELEBRATION The life and legacy of Sen. Robert F. “Bobby” Kennedy was remembered 50 years to the day he was felled by an assassin’s bullet, ending a life full of purpose, and the promise of a better world. More than 4,000 people filled the Arlington National Amphitheater to hear excerpts of RFK’s greatest speeches, delivered by speakers from all walks of life, from a New Mexico Indian chief to former President Bill Clinton. Members of the Kennedy family also spoke, including rising star Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III, RFK’s grandson, and RFK’s eldest child, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy, who was 16 at the time her father was assassinated. “No one will ever know how it feels to lose a parent at a young age,” Kathleen Kennedy said. Country music star Kenny Chesney performed, before 90 close friends gathered at RFK’s gravesite for a private service, where widow Ethel Kennedy gently laid a rose at his grave. Afterwards there was an upbeat celebration of RFK’s life for 800 guests, hosted jointly by Irish Ambassador Dan Mulhall and diplomatic hostess Esther Coopersmith at their adjoining Kalorama residences.
Kenny Chesney
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS AT WWW WASHINGTONLIFE COM
Ethel Kennedy
Caroline Croft and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
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POLLYWOOD | HOLLYWOOD ON THE POTOMAC
POWER WOMEN ‘Wonder Woman: 1984’ films in Georgetown and Time Warner executive Carol Melton hosts a screening of ‘Ocean’s 8.’ B Y J A N E T D O N O VA N
une was big month for at the Metropolitan Museum of Time Warner. On the 14th, Art’s annual Costume Institute Georgetowners awoke to a scene Gala in New York City. from the ’80s and a trip down We call this ‘a perfect movie’ memory lane. The landscape where each performer shines from Wisconsin Avenue and P next to their co-stars in a Street down to M Street had fabulously integrated way. The been converted into a retro time caper has a great and twisted warp. Classic cars—Mercuries, surprise ending! Chryslers, station wagons—lined Time Warner’s Executive Vicethe roadways. On Wisconsin President of Global Public Policy Avenue, Commander Salamander, Carol Melton invited 130 friends the iconic, offbeat fashion and to a pre-screening reception held A scene from Time Warner’s Carol lifestyle clothing store that at Fiola Mare on the Georgetown “Wonder Woman: 1984,” Melton at the G screening shuttered in 2010 after 34 years Waterfront, a stone’s throw from starring Gal Gadot. of “Oceans 8.” in business was back. Or at least the AMC Theatre. its façade was. Known for a bizarre inventory Wonder Woman Lynda Carter. “Seeing this extraordinary cast of women that included yellow wigs and lipsticks, We asked Carter, who played the at the top of their game own this film and black nail polish and fingerless gloves, it was superhero on television from 1975-1979, the red carpet at two premieres was a blast,” often described as a hybrid of Frederick’s what she thought of the movie run of her Melton said. “For the New York World of Hollywood and a punk boutique where famous role. “Wonder Woman exists in the Premiere after-party, Warner Bros. had on Friday nights neighborhood teens would hearts and minds of all of us, and that’s where magically transformed the museum’s Temple drop by for a dose of green and pink hair people identify with my character and with of Dendur to resemble the film’s version at spray (think Debbie Harry), often to their Gal and Patty’s creation in this movie,” she the Met Gala.” parents’ chagrin. said. “There’s some essence of the dignity “At the London premiere, dinner Welcome to “Wonder Woman: 1984,” and the beautiful nature of Wonder Woman with castmembers at the top of the Tate the follow-up to the 2017 blockbuster film that you walk out holding.” Modern was a highlight,” she reported. “As “Wonder Woman,” that made the character While “Wonder Woman: 1984” won’t be I said when I introduced our Georgetown a feminist icon. ready for the big screen until 2019, Time screening, the fun is in watching these “Filming the movie here was a big deal Warner celebrated the release of “Ocean’s women do everything the guys can do, but for D.C. and Georgetown,” Councilmember 8” that same week in Georgetown. in ball gowns and stilettos . . . and, notably, Jack Evans told us. “In many ways it was a The Warner Bros. production is a 2018 it only took eight of them!” return to past days.” American heist comedy film directed According to FORBES, Warner Bros./ “Seeing Wisconsin Avenue as it was in by Gary Ross and written by Ross and Time Warner Inc.’s all-female heist caper has the 1980’s was lots of fun,” Evans said, adding Olivia Milch. It’s a spin-off from Steven already passed $100 million at the box office that having Commander Salamander back, Soderbergh’s Ocean’s trilogy and features and is looking at a $250-$275 million in if only for a day, brought back cherished an ensemble cast that includes Sandra revenue worldwide, plus whatever it earns memories for so many people. “Now that Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, in Spain (July 6), Italy (July 26) and Japan we see it can be done, I hope there’s more Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Rihanna, (August 10). to follow!” Helena Bonham Carter and Awkwafina. The Also in June, a federal judge ruled in favor of Directed by Patty Jenkins and starring storyline follows a group of women, led by the AT&T and Time Warner merger, meaning Gal Gadot, Chris Pine and Kristen Wiig Debbie Ocean, the estranged sister of Danny the screening was her last with the company plus a rumored re-appearance by original Ocean, who plan a highly sophisticated heist for power woman Carol Melton.
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| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
G A L G A D OT P H OTO C O U RT E SY T I M E WA R N E R . C A R O L M E LTO N P H OTO BY JA N E T D O N OVA N .
J
Lucky Roosevelt
James Blanchard, Qatari Amb. Meshal Bin Hamad, Maurizio Greganti and Stuart Holliday WL SPONSORED
Swiss Amb. Anita Dahinden, Gudrun Waldner and Austrian Amb. Wolfgang Waldner
RECEPTION AHEAD OF THE MERIDIAN BALL’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY Villa Firenze, Residence of the Italian Ambassador PHOTOS BY NICK KLEIN
Antonia Gore and Betty Ann Tanner
Alonzo Fulgham
PLANNING A MILESTONE When Meridian International Center launched its annual ball in 1968, Lyndon B. Johnson was President, the United States had orbited the moon for the first time and two proponents of peace, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, had been felled by assassins’ bullets. A half century later, on October 12, Washington’s leading center for international engagement will host its golden anniversary ball, with 25 pre-event dinners at embassies and an epic celebration afterwards at Meridian House. With the gala three months away, Italian Ambassador Armando Varicchio and Meridian President Stuart Holliday hosted a joint reception announcing the event’s Leadership Committee members, including the first Meridian Ball chairman, Jane Sloat Ritchie, former chairmen from the last 50 years and representatives of corporate sponsors including United Airlines and Whittle Schools & Studios. VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS AT WWW WASHINGTONLIFE COM
Sheila Johnson and Jack Nicklaus
Suzanne Somers Marie Osmond, Sen. Rand Paul and Kelley Paul
Anita and Tim McBride
FORD’S THEATRE GALA Ford’s Theatre | PHOTOS BY JAMES R BRANTLEY LINCOLN’S LEGAGY Entrepreneur Sheila Johnson and golfing legend Jack Nicklaus were awarded the Lincoln Medal for their philanthropic achievements at the annual Ford’s Theatre Society gala. The medal recognizes individuals whose accomplishments and attributes exemplify the legacy and character of President Abraham Lincoln. The star-studded event included singer Marie Osmond, who presented the award to Nicklaus, and former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who bestowed the medal upon Johnson. First lady Melania Trump hosted the awardees and other VIPs at the White House prior to the gala. THIGH-MASTER OF CEREMONIES: The evening’s host, actress Suzanne Somers showed off her famous legs in a shimmering mini dress.
Debbie Driesman and Frank Islam WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
Ford’s Theatre Chairman Phebe Novakovic and David Morrison Elise and Marc Lefkowitz
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POLLYWOOD
Pascal Blondeau and Jordanian Amb. Dina Kawar
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg celebrates her 85th birthday with the Maestro’s baton French Amb. Gérard Araud and Philippe Auguin
WL EXCLUSIVE
HONORING A MAESTRO Jefferson Hotel and French Ambassador’s Residence PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL
STRIKING A HIGH NOTE Philippe Auguin, the music director of the Washington National Opera since 2009, was honored for his leadership at two parties during the same week. “He is a great French import who taught us all what great opera can be,” Kennedy Center Chairman David Rubenstein told guests at the Jefferson Hotel several days prior to a dinner at the French Embassy Residence where Ambassador Gérard Araud touted the Maestro’s extraordinary versatility conducting operas in German, French, Italian and other languages not only here, but throughout the world. “I adore Washington,” Auguin told guests, making no mistake about where his heart lies. “We’ve shared countless hours of happiness that will remain forever in my heart.”
Susan Pillsbury and Singapore Amb. Ashok Mirpuri
Juleanna Glover and Christopher Reiter
VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS AT WWW WASHINGTONLIFE COM
Bret Baier, Colombian Amb. Camilo Reyes and Amy Baier
Capricia Marshall and Colombian designer Daniella Batlle
Adrienne Arsht
Pilar O’Leary
COLOMBIAN EMBASSY HONORS WOMEN LEADERS Colombian Ambassador’s Residence | PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL
Elizabeth Vasily, Luke Russert and Maureen Orth
FASHION DIPLOMACY Thirteen Washington women who have demonstrated “a special friendship” towards Colombia received custom-made outfits by Colombian designers and fêted at a cocktail reception hosted by Ambassador Camilo Reyes. Honorees included philanthropist Adrienne Arsht, who endowed the Latin America Center at the Atlantic Council, and Maureen Orth, whose Marina Orth Foundation funds STEM programs in Colombian schools. The evening was part of a week of festivities celebrating the rhythms, sounds and flavors of the South American nation.
Brian Donahue and Gladys Sanmiguel
VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS AT WWW WASHINGTONLIFE COM
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| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
Charles Monterio, Thomas Morehead and Earl Stafford Jr. Kuwaiti Amb. Salem Al-Sabah
David Bradley, Jeffrey Immelt and Antonio Alves WL SPONSORED
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON DINNER The Four Seasons Georgetown PHOTOS BY BEN DROZ AND JACK CONROY
A GLITTERY SALUTE In the spirit of the times, the Harvard Business School Club of Washington this year honored Jeffrey Immelt, 62, the legendary former chairman and CEO of General Electric; and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Jr., 80, who has engineered $400 billion in corporate finance deals during his lifetime, including a few which helped his longtime friend Donald Trump after his casinos failed. After 400 guests walked the red carpet and enjoyed a three-course dinner, Immelt regaled them with a story about Trump boasting of being the “richest golfer in the world” and then hitting a hole in one. Ross marveled about how Harvard’s case method “leveled the playing field” for less experienced, poorer students like himself. The event’s principal sponsor was the Todd Hitt Family Foundation and proceeds supported the Non-Profit Leader Scholarship Fund which was created by the HBS DC Club in 2009.“ The caliber of guests we had this year was unprecedented. They are role models, titans and unicorns, and we are gathered at this celebration to learn from them the secret sauce for success and prosperity,” HBS Club CEO Antonio Alves noted with Immelt chiming in, “I love Wilbur; We’re lucky to have him as Secretary of Commerce ... We both made a lot of money, him more than me.” ALSO SPOTTED: MPAA Chairman Charles Rivkin, HBS ’88; Margaret Brennan, host of CBS News’ “Face the Nation” and CNN’s Michelle Kosinski.
Innis Hitt, Todd Hitt and Aidan Hitt
NBA’s Chris Bosh
Dr. Susan Blumenthal and Chris Liddell
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Hilary Geary Ross
Sen. Rob Portman
Sean Spicer and Alan Behar
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
Adrienne Arsht and Katherine Bradley
Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin
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SPECIAL FEATURE | WASHINGTON CAPITALS
CITY OF CHAMPIONS The Washington Capitals bring a world championship back to Washington.
T E A M C A P TA I N A L E X OV E C H K I N H O I ST S T H E STA N L E Y C U P AT T H E WA S H I N G TO N C A P I TA L S V I C TO R Y PA R A D E A N D R A L LY O N J U N E 1 2 , 2 0 1 8 . ( P H O T O S B Y PAT R I C K M C D E R M O T T F O R T H E WA S H I N G TO N C A P I TA L S )
T
heir hunger was contagious. From the moment the Washington Capitals defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in the playoffs and moved on to the Stanley Cup finals against the Las Vegas Golden Knights, the city’s hockey fans were ready for the win. Washingtonians went to the office in Caps jerseys. They hosted Super Bowl Sunday-type viewing parties. They inundated social media with the hashtag #ALLCAPS. And during away games, the Capital One Arena here in D.C. and its surrounding streets overflowed with people of all ages rocking the red, watching the action on massive screens and screaming “We want the Cup!” In Game 5 in Las Vegas, when Lars Eller scored the goal that would secure the championship, the massive crowds both inside and outside the arena back home went wild, jumping in unison and altering their chant to “We HAVE the cup!” Some swear the ground shook that night. What is certain is that the win caused a seismic shift in the city’s psyche. “I was so elated because we had had our hearts broken so many times over the years,” says Jack Davies, a partner in Monumental Sports and Entertainment, which owns the
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Washington Capitals, Wizards and Mystics. “To see the TV coverage of the fans filling the streets in D.C. was icing on the cake.” “We have the greatest fans in the world, and now we have the greatest hockey team in the world,” Ted Leonsis, Monumental’s founder and CEO and the team’s majority owner, proclaimed triumphantly at the Capitals’ victory parade and rally five days later. The hundreds of thousands of fans before him on the National Mall, a literal sea of red, roared in exhilaration. Parade organizers had expected about 100,000 people that day, but crowd estimates numbered as high as 600,000 – a figure close to, or more than (depending on which expert one consults), the number of people in attendance at the inauguration of President Donald Trump. No doubt about it, it was a historic turnout for a victory that had been a long time coming. In its 44-year history, the Stanley Cup, the holy grail of hockey, had never been won by Washington, and not since 1992 had a local professional sports team brought home a world championship.That was the year the Washington Redskins triumphed over the Buffalo Bills at Super Bowl XXVI, seemingly an eternity ago.
This year, all the pieces were in place to purge the ghosts of the past, making Washington the city now of Jeff Bezos, Michelin starred restaurants, traffic jams at midnight and cranes reaching to the sky – whole again. Historically, the Caps have made the playoffs 13 times, placing them firmly in the top five teams in the National Hockey League, yet the chance at the Cup kept slipping through their gloved hands. Their archrivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins took each of the past two postseason series against the Caps (and nine of the past 10) on their way to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles. In 2018, for the third straight year, the Caps and the Penguins met in the second round of the playoffs. But this time the outcome would be different. The Caps moved on to the Eastern conference finals against Tampa Bay, winning the nail-biting series four games to three in Game 7, and then on to the Stanley Cup finals to face the NHL’s year-old franchise, the Las Vegas Golden Knights. In their first match-up, Washington lost 6-4. On to games two, three and four, the Caps went with fierce, unbridled determination, besting the Golden Knights each time. With
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
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their 6-2 lopsided win in Game 4, the Caps were on the cusp of that elusive Holy Grail. In Game 5, when Danish centerman Eller’s puck crossed the Knights’ net, winning the game 4-3, the hex had been lifted. The clock on their 44-year year quest for the Cup stopped ticking, for good. Team captain Alex Ovechkin tossed off his helmet and gloves, letting off what appeared to be a primal scream. The 6’3” Russian scoring powerhouse was named playoff MVP and was the first to hoist the Cup after the win. It was a raw, emotional moment where he yet again let out a hulking scream, the ultimate release after years of blood, sweat and tears. “Ovi” or the “Great Eight,” as he’s affectionately called by fans and teammates, had finally met one of his life goals. One was to win the Stanley Cup; the other is to lead the Russian Olympic team to a gold. The hockey prodigy has spent his entire NHL career in Washington. He was recruited from the Russian Super League by the Capitals, their first overall pick in the NHL entry draft in 2004, when he was just 18. Today, at age 32, he is one of the highest paid players in the NHL, earning $10 million annually.Yet, after years of getting close to the Stanley Cup, then allowing it to slip from his grasp, some observers doubted whether Ovi, who has been called one of the most explosive goals scorers in the league was worth the price. The fans stood by their man, and so did the ownership team, a tight-knit group that considers each other and the players, family. They never doubted this day would come. “I always knew that these players were the best,” says Monumental Sports vice chairman and partner Raul Fernandez. “They are world class athletes.They are smart and hungry. So, of course I believed they would win.” In 2018, Ovechkin rallied his troops and locked his eyes, and heart, on the prize. The intense focus and dedication he had on reaching his goal (evident to anyone who watched him seemingly sprint across the ice) paid off. The Cup would be his. “I’m particularly happy for Ovi and Nicklas Backstrom because winning the Cup validates the many years of hard work on their parts in trying to bring it home for the fans and for
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
Jubilant fans lined Constitution Avenue and its cross streets to celebrate the Washington Capitals’ Stanley Cup win.
Captain Alex Ovechkin (center) and teammates pose with the cup at the victory rally.
themselves,” says Monumental partner Roger Mody. “This cements their legacies to the game of hockey.” After the win, Ovi joyously posted a photo of himself holding the cup on Instagram. “It’s been 13 years,” he said. “And now me and my boys are Stanley Cup champions!!!!” The post was liked more than 262,000 times. “We love you Alex,” responded Michelle Freeman, also a partner at Monumental. “You have shown us what is possible with perseverance and commitment. You never gave up and the
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victory is that much sweeter.” But hockey is the ultimate team sport and the victory was shared with Ovechkin’s tireless teammates, who stepped up to create some of the most memorable moments of the season. Canadian-born Devante Smith-Pelly, one of the few black athletes in the NHL, scored clutch goals throughout the playoffs, including the important game-tying goal in the championshipclinching Game 5 of the finals. “I really feel as though Devante Smith-Pelly is the unsung hero of the finals,” says Sheila Johnson, founder of Salamander Resorts and
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SPECIAL FEATURE | WASHINGTON CAPITALS
OWNER’S BOX
MONUMENTAL SPORTS PARTNERS REFLECT ON THE SUPPORT OF THE FANS
RAUL FERNANDEZ “This was one of the most exciting experiences of my life. Every day of the playoffs was memorable. It was amazing to see the tremendous support the fans gave the team – at home, in the streets, at the arena and in bars. The energy was so great and positive. Nothing brings people together like sports.” JACK DAVIES “The spontaneous outpouring of support at the watch parties and at the parade is nothing any of us will ever forget. The parade was a joyous ride and I even found myself feeling tearful when I realized how far we had come as a team and a city that now truly feels like a hockey town.” ROGER MODY “Parade day was a surreal experience for me. I wasn’t exactly sure what the turnout would be like on a work day, so I was in utter disbelief to see the hundreds of thousands fans enjoying the moment that we all have been waiting for. It’s an experience I will never ever forget for the rest of my life.” KUDOS FOR MAJORITY OWNER TED LEONSIS
SHEILA JOHNSON “Ted Leonsis has been an incredible leader and it has been an incredible ride for all of us. We’re like family, and we have a common goal: we want to have the best teams in Washington and to be able to provide the best entertainment for everyone who comes to the Capital One Arena.” GEORGE STAMAS “Ted makes us all – fans, citizens and partners alike – feel we are all on the journey together and feel inspired for having done so. To me, this is one of Ted’s most beloved qualities. Thanks Ted, from ALL of us.”
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HOW LORD STANLEY ROCKS THE RED
ADVENTURES OF THE TRAVELING CUP Once the Capitals and specifically team captain Alexander Ovechkin got their hands on the Stanley Cup, there was no tearing them away from the prized championship trophy. Here is brief review of where Lord Stanley traveled in its first few days after being presented to the Caps. >> After bench pressing the Cup in the lobby of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Ovechkin brought it along to the hotel’s nightclub Hakasan to enjoy a DJ set by Tiesto and a showering of Veuve Clicquot. After a stop in Washington, Ovi and Braden Holtby buckled up the Cup and headed to New York for “The Tonight Show” where Jimmy Fallon went feet-up for a ‘cup’ stand Once on DC soil, Ovi took the Cup to Don Tito in Arlington, where it enjoyed its beverage of choice: Bud Light Hoping to impart some good luck on the other Washington sports franchises, the Cup made a visit to Nats Park. After leisurely swimming in a fountain at the Georgetown Waterfront, Ovi used the Cup for keg stands and revelry at Nick’s Riverside Grill. Later that night it made an appearance at Cafe Milano
Ovi got cozy with the Cup in bed. The Cup starred in the championship parade where 600,000 loyal fans got a chance to see it in all its shiny glory. Some of the player’s toddlers even had a chance to sit in it. Ovi slow-danced with the cup to “Simply The Best” at the W Hotel downtown The Cup traveled around Arlington to meet first responders and hospital patients doing what it does best – spreading joy. PHOTOS FROM THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS O F F I C I A L I N STAG R A M A N D N A STA S I YA OV E C H K I N A’ S I N S TAG R A M
another member of the ownership team. “His amazing goal really turned the tide in the final game and I think he needs to be recognized for that.” The fans did recognize Smith-Pelly, chanting his name in the Capital One Arena. And then there was Braden Holtby’s seemingly impossible save in the final moments of Game 2, when he extended his arm to stop what was a sure goal on an open net by Vegas’ Alex Tuch, a move that helped preserve the win. The players’ personal stories and the owners’ and the team’s commitment to the community also took center stage after the win, endearing them to their fans even more. Less than a week after winning the Cup, Leonsis and Ovechkin spent the entire afternoon driving around with the trophy, visiting young players at Fort Dupont Ice Arena, police officers at an Arlington station and kids at MedStar Children’s Hospital. Defenseman John Carlson took the cup to Bethesda in early July, posing with fans to help raise money to fight brainstem cancer. And in an emotional visit, longtime Capitals equipment manager Woody Leydig brought the Cup to the makeshift offices of the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, after a gunman killed five editors at the publication. It was a much-needed morale boost for the beleaguered newspaper team who had spent the last few days attending memorial services for their murdered colleagues. In a television interview after the championship win, a teary T.J. Oshie talked about his father, who suffers from Alzheimers disease. “My dad, he doesn’t remember a lot of stuff these days,” said Oshie. “He remembers enough. But I tell you what ... this one will stick with him forever.You can guarantee that.” There’s no doubt that this win will stick with Washingtonians forever, too. The players and owners plan to make sure of that, because for them, it is all about the fans. “We’re absolutely nothing without you guys,” screamed center and alternate captain Nicklas Backstrom to the sea of red filling the National Mall on parade day. As the Queen song that blared along Constitution Avenue during the victory parade goes, “We are the champions, my friends.” John Arundel, Virginia Coyne, Erica Moody and Catherine Trifiletti contributed to this report.
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| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
TED LEONSIS
GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP TRICKLES DOWN Monumental Sports majority owner Ted Leonsis leads by example. BY VIRGINIA COYNE | PHOTO BY TONY POWELL
O
n the morning of the Washington Capitals Stanley Cup victory parade, after posing for official portraits with the team and his partners, Monumental Sports and Entertainment founder and CEO Ted Leonsis boarded a bus outside Capital One Arena that would take him to the parade route. The excitement was palpable. Family members and friends were also on board, snapping selfies and posting images they’d just taken out on the ice with the players and the Cup. Minority owner Michelle Freeman, CEO of the Carl M. Freeman Companies, was going live on Instagram, scanning the bus with her iPhone to show the smiling faces of some of Washington’s most powerful business leaders, including Salamander Resorts founder Sheila Johnson, former AOL executive Jack Davies and attorney George Stamas, all members of the ownership team. Many had donned Capitals jerseys or short sleeved T-shirts for the occasion, which would have them out in the hot sun for half of the day. But Leonsis was not dressed casually. Instead, he wore a blue pinstriped suit and red tie. And neither did he have a smartphone. Amid the controlled chaos, he stood up and not-so-jokingly pulled out his flip phone. “Do you think I’ll get good pictures with this?” he asked as the group laughed.“At least it can surf the Internet.” It was an endearing moment indicative of Leonsis’s leadership style and affability. “He’s amazingly approachable,” son Zach Leonsis, a top executive at Monumental Sports, says of his father. “One of his very favorite things to do is to walk around the concourse of the arena prior to the start of a game. He loves the natural interactions and relationships that form with fans.” In fact, Ted Leonsis stressed his respect for Capitals fans in an interview with Sportsnet immediately after the Stanley Cup win against the Golden
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Knights in Las Vegas.“To do this for our fans, to do this for this great fan base is beyond description,” he said. A few days later, that same respect was extended to his team’s rivals. On the day of the Capitals’ victory parade here in Washington, Monumental Sports purchased a full-page advertisement in the Las Vegas Review-Journal congratulating their formal rivals “on the most successful inaugural season in the history of professional sports.”The ad ended with:“It was an honor to compete against you in the Stanley Cup Final.You are truly VEGAS STRONG,” a nod to what the city had been through in the wake of the mass shooting on the Vegas Strip on Oct. 1, 2017, the deadliest ever in the United States. It was another in a series of episodes “passing it forward” for Leonsis in the span of a couple of weeks. At the beginning of the finals against the Golden Knights, the owner surprised 200 of his employees with round trip air travel, hotel rooms
| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
and tickets to the game. Friend and Monumental partner Earl Stafford, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, says such actions are par for the course for Leonsis. Stafford says that even before his association with Monumental, he was the recipient of Leonsis’s kindness. “In 2010, I was on board a plane for LasVegas when a passenger attempted to open the door in mid-flight,” he explains. Stafford helped to apprehend and constrain the passenger until the aircraft landed safely, a selfless act Leonsis took notice of. “I honestly didn’t linger on the incident, but Ted Leonsis graciously invited me to the owner’s suite and had the news video played on the scoreboard during an intermission,” Stafford continues. “That is the kind of guy Ted Leonsis is. He genuinely does great things for others without any expectations of return. My life is blessed by Ted Leonsis’ friendship.” “He’s one of those rare leaders,” says Michelle Freeman, one of three women on the ownership team along with Johnson and the group’s newest member, Laurene Powell Jobs, founder of Emerson Collective. Freeman says it was Leonsis, a co-founder of AOL, who convinced her to take her husband Joshua Freeman’s stake in the ownership team after he died in a helicopter crash in 2006, leaving her alone to raise three young children and manage the family’s construction business. In 2017 Leonsis was presented with the Champion Award from WISE (Women in Sports and Events) for his commitment to women in the workplace and especially in sports’ front offices. Freeman praises her friend for his inclusiveness. “His ownership team reflects the block he grew up on in Brooklyn. It’s women, African Americans, Latinos and Jews,” she notes.“It’s a beautiful, diverse group of people who truly love one another like a family. It’s amazing.”
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Alex Ovechkin and Braden Holtby
SPECIAL FEATURE | WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Devante Smith-Pelly (Photo by Ted Leonsis) The Monumental Sports ownership team poses with the Stanley Cup.
Roger Mody, Raul Fernandez and Michelle Freeman Karen, Jake, Max and Fred Schaufeld
WL EXCLUSIVE
Melissa, Zach, Ted, Lynn and Elle Leonsis
A CAPITAL CELEBRATION Earl and Amanda Stafford with their grandchildren
Alex Ovechkin and Anastasia Shubskaya
Capital One Arena PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL AND VIRGINIA COYNE
PARADE DAY Monumental Sports and Entertainment’s ownership team and their Stanley Cup-winning Washington Capitals gathered for official group photos and early morning revelry ahead of the victory parade. Owners and their families rocked the red and took turns posing with the Cup before heading to the red double-decker buses that would ferry them and the players along the crowd-filled parade route on Constitution Avenue to the rally on the mall at Sixth Street NW.
Patrice Brickman
Sheila Johnson, Jack Davies and Kay Kendall
John Irelan and Dede Wilsey
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WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
Jeong and Cindy Kim
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CAPITALS QUIRKINESS Our beloved Capitals are eccentric and we would have it no other way. Here are a few fun facts about the hockey champs. BY C AT H E R I N E T R I F I L E T T I
PRE-GAME MENTALITIES
Superstitions and sports practically go hand in hand. Especially in the case of Washington sports franchises that have been plagued by the “D.C. Sports Curse.” Whether there’s merit to any of these pre-game idiosyncrasies, we will never know.
SEEING IS BELIEVING: Before game time, Braden Holtby can be found on the bench with his head down visualizing game scenarios. One famous meme documents his eyes darting back and forth following an imaginary puck. These breathing and visualization techniques, as he calls them, help him cut down reaction time when the real life scenarios play out.
HIDDEN TALENTS REVEALED
Beyond their lightning fast slapshots and powerful body checking, these bruisers on the ice have expanded their repertoires outside the rink.
ANDRE BURAKOVSKY
BROOKS ORPIK
Soccer goalie
Bull riding
LARS ELLER
BRADEN HOLTBY
Cooking
Water skiing
T.J. OSHIE
HOT LAPS: The now infamous “hot lap” was
Spinning a pen around his thumb
originated by Jay Beagle in the first round of the playoffs. After losing in Game 4 to Pittsburgh, Ovechkin took over the morning routine and from there the baton continued to get passed after each road loss. Players have kept quiet on specifics, but not even coach Barry Trotz was exempt from the ritual–he skated his very own hot lap in Tampa Bay.
IN THEIR NEXT LIFE …
If they had to choose jobs outside of hockey, what would they be? We wouldn’t have guessed any of their answers.
CHICKEN PARM POWER Ovechkin is said to scarf down a chicken parm from Mamma Lucia’s before home games. The local Italian eatery capitalized on the attention and built gameday specials with the tagline “Eat like Ovechkin!” Word on the street is that some of his teammates have tried the pregame ritual, but felt lethargic after.
VICTORY BEARDS Many players grow beards during the playoffs and won’t shave until the season officially ends.
RAPID FIRE FAVORITES MATT NISKANEN
BROOKS ORPIK
Truck driver
turns to red wine as a guilty pleasure
BRADEN HOLTBY Architect
BRADEN HOLTBY
NICKLAS BACKSTROM
has a pet Leopard Tortoise named Honey
Carpenter
MATT NISKANEN counts the White House as his favorite spot in D.C.
ALEX OVECHKIN calls mom his childhood hero
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
T.J. OSHIE Professional golfer
TOM WILSON Favorite board game – Balderdash
| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
ALEX OVECHKIN Referee
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LIFESTYLES | TRAVEL
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Switzerland’s second largest city befits outdoorsy travelers with a taste for luxury. WHAT TO DO
Geneva offers more than just watches and chocolate. Take advantage of the gorgeous countryside with a bike tour, and stop at the city’s wineries, especially the scenic Château du Crest, for tastings along the way. Pack a picnic and hike to the top of Mont Salève where you can admire beautiful views of the city and watch parasailers take off. If you’re not up for walking, a regularly operating cable car can take you up and down the mountain. With such close proximity to France, it would be a shame not to pop over to the medieval town of Yvoire. Ferries offer scenic cruises that depart from city center for a quick day trip to the
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BY ERICA MOODY
tourist-friendly town, where you can amble down cobblestoned streets, buy handmade gifts and enjoy romantic open-air repasts. WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
For a meal out of a fairy tale, dine at Hôtel Restaurant du Parc des Eaux-Vives overlooking the park and lake. The restored 19th century villa serves fish caught from Lake Geneva and other regional dishes and there is an an extensive Swiss wine list. On your trip to Yvoire, make sure to enjoy lunch at Les Jardins du Léman. The fresh perch and garden views are outstanding. One of the oldest brasseries in Geneva, Café du Centre’s al fresco atmosphere is fun for people-watching after a
day of shopping and sightseeing. WHERE TO STAY
The luxurious Mandarin Oriental overlooks the Rhone River in the center of town, and offers spacious, scenic suites with an elegant purple color scheme. Its restaurant Rasoi by Veneet is a must for its innovative take on Indian cuisine. For a true countryside respite, sit back and enjoy the unparalleled La Réserve Hotel and Spa. Frequented by the likes of Roger Federer, the wellness-centered luxury hotel sits on a 10-acre landscaped park on Lake Geneva and offers a spa, outdoor swimming pool, healthy food and boat service to and from the city.
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U.S.-based Alpenwild Tours offers seven-to-10-day expeditions featuring curated, guided tours with chefs and expert guides that explore the heart of Alpine traditions and the culture of rural Swiss farmers. One day we were in Montreux meeting a farmer who harvests herbs for Ricola and the next we traveled to the tiny town of Gruyère (pop. 55), making cheese and artisanal rye bread. Soon we were hiking up a mountain in the Rhone Valley to watch a truffle hunting dog sniff our lunch out of the ground. During a fishing trip on Lake Lucerne, one could watch helicopters harvesting grapes from a steep hillside. Later that night there was a Pinot Noir tasting so good that we didn’t act surprised when told that Swiss winemakers only export 10 percent of their yearly production. We feasted on lamb and raclette in the ski resort of Zermatt and discovered that beyond the world class skiing, the resort boasts the country’s highest concentration of gourmet restaurants, including two that are Michelin-starred and 17 that have been awarded Gault Millau points. We took a chocolate walking tour of Zurich, allowing our sweet tooth to guide us through the city’s signature delights of pralines, Champagne, truffles and macaroons–all made by hand. — JOHN ARUNDEL
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The Italian-speaking town of Lugano, which borders Northern Italy and is just a short drive from Lake Como, is a treat for the senses. Lakeside restaurants, motorino-filled streets, high end retailers, historic churches and a striking contemporary art museum give this municipality an undeniably cosmopolitan vibe. Check into The View Lugano, a luxurious hilltop hotel where every room (and every spot in the room, including the shower) offer panoramic views of Lake Lugano below. The interiors are modeled after yachts and heavily feature teak and chrome. The trade-off is that the city center is more than two miles downhill. As a consolation prize, guests are offered complimentary use of Smart cars and electric bicycles to ride into town. A number of free street fairs in summer, including the quirky Buskers Festival (July 18-22), which is equal parts concert, freak show and art exhibition, will make you fall in love with the city even more. —V.C.
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1SYRXEMR 8MQI MR 1 VVIR The ultimate fresh-air escape awaits in this picturesque village. B Y V I R G I N I A C O Y N E Visiting Mürren in the Jungfrau region is like stepping into a snow-topped alpine dream. In winter, this tiny Bernese Alps village is a popular skiing destination, with rustic chalets dotting the slopes. In summer, the peaks remain white, but visitors trade their skis for hiking boots and pass the time walking up wildflowercovered hills (sharing the trails with massive cows), parasailing over the valleys or sitting in the biergarten in nearby Gimmelwald, cold lager in hand.
WHERE TO STAY
WHAT TO DO
Book a room at the Hotel Eiger, an historic inn across from the train station that has been run by the same family since 1892. The town can’t be reached by car, so guests must arrive via narrow gauge railroad from Lauterbrunnen. The hotel has been extensively renovated and includes a spa, two restaurants and suites with balconies where one can step outside as the sun rises to gaze upon the majestic triple peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
Mürren is at the foot of the Schilthorn, which offers multiple hiking trails for every fitness level, including a grueling fivehour trek to Piz Gloria, a rotating restaurant on the summit that rewards mountaineers (as well as those who take the cable car up) with stunning 360-degree views. The peak is also home to the Bond World 007 museum, showcasing artifacts from the 1963 movie “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” famously filmed on the mountain.
8EOI XLI WGIRMG VSYXI Traveling by Swiss Rail is the easiest and most scenic way to get around. Three-, four-, eight- and 15-day passes (we recommend paying extra for first class) can be purchased online and printed at home so there’s never a need to wait at a ticket booth. Swiss Rail Passes include unlimited rides on most trains (which run with
| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
Swiss precision), buses and boats as well as free admission to nearly 500 museums across the country. Be sure to take a least one trip on a glassenclosed panoramic train like the Glacier Express (pictured). Dubbed “the slowest express train in the world,” it takes you from Zermatt to St. Moritz in eight beautiful hours. —V.C.
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LIFESTYLES | TRAVEL
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fter a breathtaking flight over a string of remote islands, we found quiet repose at The Abaco Club at Winding Bay, a true sporting club and private golf club community in Marsh Harbour, Bahamas. Nestled on a crescentshaped beach 200 miles east of Palm Beach, Fla., this is what vacationing in the tropics should be all about, with sweeping vistas, secluded beaches, warm crystalline waters, swaying coconut palms and the country’s top-rated golf course. Everything Washingtonians crave about the Caribbean is here: Scottish-style links, bonefishing and water sports that include kayaking, sailing and snorkeling. Nature abounds inland with wild horses, wild boar and the perennial Abaco Parrots that
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chirp you awake in the morning. “When we first looked at The Abaco Club we knew it was a very special place,” says David Southworth, founder and CEO of Southworth Development, the owner/operator of five other private clubs and residential communities, including Creighton Farms near Middleburg,Va. “It had all the things that money can’t buy.” After taking control of the 435-acre tropical playground from Ritz Carlton Clubs in 2014, Southworth completed the full purchase earlier this year and has committed over $40 million in capital improvements, including construction of a new marina and boat slips in Little Harbour, and expanding food and beverage offerings. As this is the heart of the Caribbean, fresh seafood
is the central attraction. At Flippers, an open-air tiki bar and restaurant serving conch fritters and Goombay smash cocktails, the bartender whacks open coconuts with a machete. Dinner is served at Cliff House, an upscale restaurant set on a ridge overlooking the ocean. Abaco stone crab claws and shrimp linguine are at the top of the menu. Although The Abaco Club is a private association built principally for homeowners, most are not around 52 weeks of the year so there’s an abundance of rentals available, including one-bedroom cabanas, 2-4 bedroom cottages or fourbedroom homes. These can often be reserved for special pricing during summer. “We call it ‘barefoot luxury’ at its best,” Southworth says.
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Want to lounge by the beach, sip specialty rum and play poker with the likes of Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake? Look no further than the resort destination of Baha Mar, ready for visitors after a $4.2 billion renovation. The integrated resort property facing Nassau’s Cable Beach allows visitors to sample Bahamian life without ever leaving the resort. It boasts authentic local cuisine (try the fresh conch salad served beachside), employs more than 3,500 Bahamians and features more than 8,500 pieces of Bahamian art and an educational art program, The Current. The sprawling complex offers three hotels—Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, SLS and Rosewood—all stunning in their own way, sharing several jaw-dropping swimming pools, a golf club, spa and the largest casino in the country. Restaurants and bars offer a surprising variety of food and drink and include a cigar lounge (co-owned by the aforementioned Woods and Timberlake). Visit www.bahamar.com. — ERICA MOODY
| S U M M E R | washingtonlife.com
TRAVEL
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The best way to see the land of the rising sun is through the eyes of local guides. BY JOHN ARUNDEL
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P H OTOS BY B E N S I M MO N S
t’s hard to describe first emotions once you’ve landed in Japan, bleary-eyed and brain still fogged by the 14-hour flight from Dulles. At first glance, Japan’s imperial history, shogun palaces, mountainous national parks and thousands of shrines and temples make the “Land of the Rising Sun” appear refreshingly bereft of Western style influences—seemingly locked in a past that stretches back a millenium. Japan’s teeming cities (nine million people now live in Tokyo), advanced technologies (Shinkansen bullet trains fly at 264 m.p.h.) and funky pop culture are so deeply connected to the West that it sometimes seems as if it is leapfrogging ahead with its modern fashions and latest trends. Nearly every corner of Japan can suddenly produce an awe-inspiring moment for even the most jaded world traveler. It is a country where even casual tourists will notice how the past seems to meet the future; contradictions are found almost everywhere.The cities are just about as modern and high-tech as you’ll find, but in the distance, a bright red imperial palace once occupied by shoguns will catch your eye.
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Its fairly isolated location as an East Asian island-nation never previously made it a must-see for tourists like Paris or Rome, but the Japanese National Tourism Organization is working with renewed vigor to lure more Americans to come, especially in advance of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo when Japan will be in the world spotlight. You’ll rarely see Western tourists outside of Japan’s major cities and it’s strongly advised that even when visiting tourist-friendly Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Kanazawa or Mt. Koya that you enlist a tour operator such as Washington-based JapanQuest Journeys to map an itinerary for a more memorable, curated experience. Case in point: While Japanese cuisine is renowned the world over, the most celebrated restaurant in Japan is now a ten-seater inside of a busy Tokyo subway station. A few of the more popular excursions that Washington-based JapanQuest Journeys offers its clients include zen meditation sessions with a Buddhist monk, dinner at a Japanese ochaya, or “introduction only” tea house featuring geisha entertainment, or a trip to the ancient feudal capital of Kyoto to experience the tranquil, 400-
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year-old Ryokan Inn, where guests sleep on tatami mats. “We specialize in getting unparalleled insider access and finding these unique experiences using our network of local specialists,” says Scott Gilman, managing director and co-founder of JapanQuest Journeys. “Japan’s highly diverse culture is best experienced in a manner that is close-up, hands-on and expertly-guided.”
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LIFESTYLES
ROOFTOP REVELRY STATEMENT JEWELRY SHINES WITH BOLDLY HUED SWIMWEAR UPGRADING YOUR POOLSIDE LOOKS ALL SUMMER
PHOTOGRAPHY MOSHE ZUSMAN | WWW MOSHEZUSMAN COM ASSISTED BY ARYEH SCHWARTZ STYLING TALA RAASSI | WWW TALARAASSI COM MAKEUP TERESA FOSS-DEL ROSSO | WWW DCELITEIMAGE COM HAIR JACQUI DAVIS | PR PARTNERS DOWNTOWN SALON MODELS VICTORIA TOLAND AND MADELEINE ADAMSONE | KINGSLEY MODELS < TALENT MANAGEMENT EDITORIAL INTERNS MADDY GALE= SARAH CARR AND KATELYN RUTT EDITORIAL DIRECTION CATHERINE TRIFILETTI
PHOTOGRAPHED ON THE CHANNELâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ROOFTOP AT THE WHARF WWW DCCHANNEL COM THE CHANNEL APARTMENT BUILDING AT THE WHARF HAS LUXE UNITS AND AMENITIES THAT RESIDENTS CAN ENJOY INCLUDING ONE-ACRE OF OUTDOOR GREEN SPACE BOCCE COURTS A DOG RUN AND AN INFINITY POOL OVERLOOKING THE POTOMAC RIVER
TALA RAASSI Spring/Summer â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;18 collection ($178) talaraassi.com; MONICA SORDO Brujo Orbit earrings ($620), Curio Concept Store, 1071 Thomas Jefferson St. NW, (202) 851-4946. CULT GAIA Acrylic Lilleth bag ($328), Saks Fifth Avenue, 2051 International Dr, McLean, Va. 22102, (703) 761-0700.
TALA RAASSI Spring/Summer â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;18 collection ($178) talaraassi.com; VIVETTA Kastrup necklace ($895), Curio Concept Store, 1071 Thomas Jefferson St. NW, (202) 851-4946.
TALA RAASSI Spring/Summer ‘18 collection ($178) talaraassi.com; SOPHIE BLAKE Frida earrings - 14k Gold over brass ($325); SOPHIE BLAKE Selena rope bracelets 14k Gold over sterling silver ($350), sophieblake.com; ALEXIS BITTAR golden studded hinge bracelet ($215), Saks Fifth Avenue, 2051 International Dr, McLean, Va. 22102, (703) 761-0700.
TALA RAASSI Spring/Summer ‘18 collection top ($88) bottom ($88) talaraassi.com; ALEXIS BITTAR lucite necklace ($276); ALEXIS BITTAR hinged bracelet ($345), Saks Fifth Avenue, 2051 International Dr, McLean, Va. 22102, (703) 761-0700. LAURIE AND JOE embroidered fold over clutch ($350), d/eleven, 11 District Square, SW (202) 554-0915.
On Victoria: TALA RAASSI Spring/Summer ‘18 collection top ($88) bottom ($88) talaraassi.com; SOPHIE BLAKE Charlotte Ring - 14k Gold over sterling silver ($195), sophieblake. com; CULT GAIA Zaha Bamboo bag ($208); FENDI Eyeline Aviator sunglasses ($520), Saks Fifth Avenue, 2051 International Dr, McLean, Va. 22102, (703) 761-0700. On Maddy: TALA RAASSI Spring/Summer ‘18 collection top ($88) bottom ($88) talaraassi. com; TOM FORD Marcella sunglasses ($415); CULT GAIA small acrylic ark ($318), Saks Fifth Avenue, 2051 International Dr, McLean, Va. 22102, (703) 761-0700. SOPHIE BLAKE Stella cuff ($295) sophieblake.com. MONICA SORDO Cao Square Block earrings ($365) Curio Concept Store, 1071 Thomas Jefferson St. NW, (202) 851-4946.
CHIARA BONI Flare Print Dress, Natalia Print ($695) Saks Fifth Avenue 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW (202) 363-2059. LIZ CLAIBORNE Vintage Liz Claiborne Fuschia/Teal Silk Scarf (hairstylist’s own). THIERRY LASRY Pink/Blue/Multi Color Hedony Shades ($400) Hu’s Wear 2906 M St. NW (202) 342-2020. MIA ELLIOTT Gold leash with Handmade Links Chain ($225); Gold Link Wrap Bracelet with Brass Toggle ($175); Fusshia. Oyster Shells with Emerald Dangles ($175) www.miaelliott.co.
TALA RAASSI Spring/Summer ‘18 collection ($178) talaraassi.com; ALEXIS BITTAR lucite necklace ($276); Saks Fifth Avenue, 2051 International Dr, McLean, Va. 22102. AMINAHSADE Shady sunglasses ($26), aminahsade.com.
TALA RAASSI Spring/Summer â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;18 collection ($178) talaraassi.com; BERNARD DELETTREZ large hand cuff ($1,900); MONICA SORDO Nautilus Earfan earrings ($620), Curio Concept Store, 1071 Thomas Jefferson St. NW, (202) 851-4946.
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LIFESTYLES | INNOVATORS AND DISRUPTORS
GROCERY SHOPPING THAT MAKES ¢ENTS Basket is one big data entrepreneur’s crowdsourced approach to grocery shopping savings — and it’s heating up. STO RY A N D P H OTO BY DA R A K L AT T
S
o many groceries to buy (again). So many stores. And so little time and cash to burn. Hmm, what to do … Wait, you guessed it, there’s an app for that. It’s called Basket, the brainchild of Neil Kataria, a data science expert and Arlington, Va. entrepreneur, and he’s literally got sweat beads of excitement forming on his forehead as he talks about giving power to the grocery shopper. Basket is a smart grocery list built “for shoppers, by shoppers” that takes your shopping list and locates which stores nearby or online carry all your items and where the price for your total list is cheapest (Hint: it’s usually not online). It’s a crowdsourced approach based on having what Basket claims is the largest community of grocery shoppers in the world working together. Enter, for example, organic raspberries, Sriracha, red wine v inegar and dark chocolate Ghirardelli chips into the app and Neil Kataria you’ll see that prices can vary 26 percent based on choosing a grocery retailer one mile away, versus another six blocks away. All you need to do is head in the right direction to accumulate week-after-week savings; no couponing necessary. Maybe that’s why Basket is brandishing the hashtag #GrocerySoHotRightNow. Kataria’s fire for saving started early. Even before his teens he was a price-calulating savant obsessed with weekly newspaper grocery ads and coupon inserts. He would match local sales with items the family purchased, add in coupons and then sum up savings from the receipts in a notebook. “We were saving $30 to $40 every trip,” he says, “I just loved it.” Fast forward to being a parent of three and Kataria wondered if he was getting the best savings by ordering items online from Amazon
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and Diapers.com, or if he could save more by shopping locally. In his research he found that shopping off line could save nearly 30 to 40 percent. That prompted him to launch the company in 2014 and the app in 2016 with Andy Ellwood, an early employee of Waze — the com mun it y-based traf f ic and navigation app. Now, Basket boasts over 500,000 users who have helped to add over 16 billion dynamic prices, and covers over 170,000 stores across the U.S. Momentum is clearly in high gear. Steve Harvey’s daytime talk show, “STEVE,” recently featured Basket for a whole week of soul food cooking and saving on recipe items with celebrity chef Lawrence Page. Harvey pronounced in one segment: “We ain’t talking about nothing but chicken and the Basket app!” On the business end, Basket just took its “gold mine” of pricing i n for m at ion a nd propr iet a r y technology to launch a platform where brands can track nationwide competitor pricing on a daily basis. Next, Basket is aiming to aggregate available coupons; include nutritional information and tags (“vegan,” “gluten free,” “Paleo”); and offer useful venue information such as safe parking lot lighting or how a store caters to children. Regardless of hard-charging targets ahead, Kataria’s goal with Basket remains simply, “to have shoppers who have saved time for themselves or family, as well as have saved money.” Ok then, last question: how has the app, with this ability to save time and money as well as collaborate on the grocery list, affected him personally? Pause. Slight smile. “My wife and I argue less,” he says. And that’s #SoHot.
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BOOK ROUNDUP
SUMMER BY THE BOOK Dive into a page-turner while poolside. BY ERICA MOODY
It’s the perfect time to catch up on reading and these buzzworthy selections will entertain and inform you all season long. >> WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LULULEMONS By Lauren Weisberger Miranda Priestly’s hardworking, fashion-obsessed assistant Emily (played by Emily Blunt to perfection in “The Devil Wears Prada”) is placed front and center in Lauren Weisberger’s hilarious sequel. The book takes us into Emily’s post-Priestly life where she’s now an agent to the rich and famous. The Manhattanite is averse to the suburbs but career demands take her to Greenwich, Conn. and a cutthroat world of backstabbing housewives and slimy senators. (Simon & Schuster) YOU THINK IT I’LL SAY IT By Curtis Sittenfeld Curtis Sittenfeld has a way of capturing contemporary American life in a manner that’s concise, original and witty, all wrapped up in digestible prose that makes it seem effortless. Her first collection of short stories includes gems like “A Regular Couple,” in which a honeymooning husband and wife run into a high school nemesis who ends up ruining their vacation, and “The Prairie Wife,” the tale of a woman who obsessively follows her college exlover on social media. (Random House)
seriously, befriending terrorists and their sympathizers online to get a comprehensive look at the inner-workings of their networks. He also looked into Russian “fake news” tactics and how to recognize when you’re being duped. (Harper Collins) DEMOCRACY IN CHAINS By Nancy MacLean The 2018 Lillian Smith Book Award winner addresses racial and social inequality issues in a thoroughly researched work examining the influence of money in politics, particularly that of James McGill Buchanan and the rise of the radical right. It’s timely for those who may be wondering,“How did we get here?” (Random House) CAMPAIGN WIDOWS By Aimee Agresti Even wonks need a beach read, and this one has it all: politics, power and privilege wrapped in one delightfully juicy novel. The “campaign widows” in Washington author Agresti’s book are spouses who have been left behind while their significant others are on the campaign trail. It’s a plight that many politicians are sure to relate to, and the “escapist” read (Agresti’s words) will appeal even to those outside of the political world. (Graydon House)
WHAT THE EYES DON’T SEE MESSING WITH THE ENEMY By Mona Hanna-Attisha By Clint Watts This account of the clean water A former FBI special agent and crisis in Flint, Mich. was written cyber-security expert looks by the city hospital pediatrician into a “social media world of who led efforts to address hackers, terrorists, Russians and the public health emergency even after the fake news” in this exposé/guide to protecting government told her she was being irrational. yourself in a climate of manipulation and The author’s heroic firsthand account will misinformation. Watts took his research inspire readers to activism. (Random House)
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THE HELLFIRE CLUB By Jake Tapper When Jake Tapper is not reporting on corruption in Washington, he’s writing about it. The CNN anchor’s debut political thriller opens in 1954 in Rock Creek Park when a congressman wakes up in a car with the dead body of a woman nearby. David Baldacci called this fictional glimpse at the 1950s political underground a “potent thriller.” (Harper Collins) THE INCENDIARIES By R.O. Kwon Kwon’s debut novel is a classic boy-meets-girl story with a dark twist. When the female protagonist joins an extremist cult to cope with the death of her mother, a group-led bombing sends the book spiraling into a race against time.You’ll leave the book pondering loss, violence, religion and the obsessive lengths one will go to for love. (Riverhead Books)
FOR THE KIDS
Keep your children engaged as well.
WHAT IS LIGHT? By Markette Sheppard, Illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson Local television personality, CBS’s Markette Sheppard has released her first children’s book, a feel-good celebration of the wonder in a child’s world. The uplifting board book with vibrant illustrations is excellent for classrooms and young readers between the ages of two and five. (Agate)
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WASHINGTON S O C I A L D I A R Y over the moon﹐ inova lobster fest﹐ theatre events﹐ heart’s delight wine auction and more!
Nicole Venable and Alethia Nancoo at The Links High Tea at the Fairmont Hotel. (Photo by Tony Powell)
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OVER THE MOON
Easement Does It Hunt Country residents protect their historic acres with conservation easements that will preserve them for future generations. BY VI C KY MO O N
huck Kuhn has been a long-time But the real competition frequently resident in the Virginia horse takes place in the hunter ring for country and is president and CEO the lead line classes. Interim show of JK Moving Services, the largest president Barbara Roux of St. Bride’s independent mover in North America Farm (presenting sponsors of the — a company he started in his parents’ entire show) had a great time with her basement 36 years ago. granddaughter Natalie Handy (who He owns the 540-acre Egypt Farm took home a multi-color rosette on and last year purchased the 150-acre Piccolo). historic Middleburg Training Track, Just up the road in Paris—make that once owned by the late Randy Rouse Paris, Va. of course—we have word of and originally built by the late Paul an exquisite 5,200-square-foot house Mellon in 1956. on the market. It includes a master Since then, Kuhn, 52, and his son, and three other bedrooms, a spacious Steve, 23, have been busy establishing kitchen, a family room, living room, the charitable JK Community Farm formal dining room, center foyer, near Middleburg. They plan to use mudroom, powder room and much the property to grow crops and raise more. livestock and contribute the produce A real nature-lovers hideaway, it’s and meat to nonprofit groups such as listed at $945,000 by Peter LeonardChuck Kuhn has been at Egypt Farm in Loudoun County for five years. Loudoun Hunger Relief. Morgan of Hunt Country Sotheby’s “Using my land to grow and share Conservationist of the Year for Leadership International Realty in Middleburg. food is a way we can contribute and address and Lifetime Achievement from the Land And guess what? This 2008 customhunger issues by providing healthy foods Trust of Virginia (LTV) at its 20th annual built home sits on 20 acres within a 2006 throughout the year,” Kuhn says. garden party held at Rose Marie Bogley’s Virginia Outdoors Foundation conservation This year, four acres (with more to follow Peace and Plenty Farm at Bollingbrook in easement. next year) are in use for more than 16 types of Upperville. Easement does it. vegetables, including potatoes, sweet potatoes, The LTV also has received a $20,000 grant lettuce, corn and kale. The Kuhn family is from the Virginia Environmental Endowment also donating beef, pork and venison. They for its Blue Ridge Conservation Initiative in anticipate giving 53,000 pounds of produce order to map a 200,000-acre area to focus and meat this year, with a retail value of the future conservation efforts. donation approximately $235,000. There is also late-breaking news from As if that’s not enough, the JK Moving the oldest horse show in America. The organization and the Kuhn Family 165th edition of the Upperville Colt and Foundation has recently aligned with the Horse Show recently concluded a seven-day Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy (LWC) to run with the $216,000 Grand Prix Jumper purchase 87 acres known as Stumptown Classic. This year’s competition, sponsored Woods for $1 million.The land, with plentiful by Lugano Diamonds and outgoing show native species of plants and wildlife, is now president Michael Smith and his wife, Barbara Roux, interim president of the Upperville protected by a conservation easement. Wendy, was won by Ali Wolff from New Colt and Horse Show, with her granddaughter NataAnd speaking of land conservation, Albany, Ohio, on Casall after she prevailed lie Handy on Piccolo in the leadline class. Jacqueline B. Mars was honored as in an eight-horse jump-off.
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PHOTO BY CALLIE BROADDUS; PHOTO BY MISSY JANES
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Amanda Stafford, Jessica Stafford Davis and Earl Stafford
Arthur Espinoza and Edgar Dobie
Arlene Kogod, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Beth Newburger Schwartz WL SPONSORED
ARENA STAGE GALA Arena Stage Mead Center for American Theater PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL
Christine Warnke and D.C. Councilman Jack Evans
Barbara Hawthorn and Tom Mansbach
THEATER LEADERS Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was honored with the third annual Beth Newburger Schwartz Award at Arena Stage’s annual gala, an evening that included a concert from the funny and talented country music singer Mary McBride, a threecourse dinner and tap dancing by emcee Maurice Hines. Trustees Lavern Chatman and Maggie FitzPatrick chaired the event that also honored Jessica Stafford Davis with the Emerging Leader award. In addition to its repertoire of powerful, politically relevant plays, Arena Stage’s also serves more than 20,000 students and artists annually through its community engagement programs. VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS AT WWW WASHINGTONLIFE COM
Mike and Kristi Rogers
Bitsey Folger
Joyce Moorehead and Khady Kamara Judith Batty, Beverly Perry and Lavern Chatman
Philippe Lanier
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Judy Lynn Prince
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Molly Smith, Maurice Hines and Suzanne Blue Star Boy
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Standing (L to R) Andi Biagi, Priscilla Sosa, Bob Biagi, Regina O’Shaughnessy, Andy Heye, John O’Shaughnessy, Seated (L to R) April Hager, Bob Hager and Karen Heye Jean and John Warner, Barbara Comstock and Milt Peterson
WL SPONSORED
INOVA’S LOBSTER EXTRAVGANZA The Peterson Residence | PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL
Denise Todd, Cynthia Cute, Mike Boyles, Sheila Todd, Chris Todd and Marybeth Turner
Sage Bolte, Shara Sousa, Sammy Sousa, Isabella Sousa, Liliana Sousa and Gabriella Sousa
Dr. Craig Chiefetz and Jon Peterson
Kathy Newma and Belgian Embassy Chef Dries Molken
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BEER & BIBS Each summer, prominent Northern Virginia developers Carolyn and Milt Peterson slip away to their family retreat in Maine, where fresh lobsters are plentiful. As a prelude, every first Saturday in May, they host nearly 800 supporters of Inova Health Foundation’s Life with Cancer at their home in Fairfax, where everyone dons bibs to enjoy fresh Maine lobster and corn on the cob along with cold beer and wine. This year’s Lobster Extravaganza began with cocktails and a silent auction and was followed by a Kentucky Derby viewing and music by The Lone Rangers. The event raised $800,000 for Inova.
Stephen and Kathryn Jones with Tony and Annette Nader
John Irelan and DaveDede Polet,Wilsey Karina Homme, Paul Liberty, Steve and Emilie DiLeonardo, Jen and Mark Siciliano, Elaine and Todd Stottlemyer
Carolyn Peterson and Lauren Peterson
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Philippines Embassy Chef Abie Mateo
Veronika Strapkova, Zuzana Senasiova and Andrea Lubocka
Ghana Embassy Chef Francis Otoo
Tom Noll and Martha Krabill
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EMBASSY CHEF CHALLENGE Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL
Gloria Reyes and Colombian Amb. Camilo Reyes
Joseph Depestre, Naomie Pierre-Louis and Frantz Derenoncourt
CULINARY WORLD TOUR Guests were able to “travel the world” by tasting dishes from 28 embassies at this popular annual foodie event. The panel of esteemed judges included Kyirisan chef Tim Ma, Busboys and Poets owner Andy Shallal, Washington Post food writer Maura Judkis and the Culinary Diplomacy Project’s Lauren Bernstein. Embassy of the Phillipines chef Abigail “Abie” Sincioco-Mateo took home the Judges Choice Champion and People’s Choice award for her pork sosig. Embassy of Ghana chef Francis Otoo took second place in both categories for his lamb jollof rice. VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS AT WWW WASHINGTONLIFE COM
Lucia Noseda
Diane Rehm
Cindy Jones and Lorraine Wallace
Crystal and Barbara Wright
GREAT LADIES LUNCHEON Ritz-Carlton, Washington DC | PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL FASHION FOR A CURE Exquisitely patterned designs from the Italian fashion designer Etro graced this year’s catwalk at the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation’s (ADDF) annual Great Ladies Luncheon & Fashion Show hosted by the event’s founding executive chairmen Elise and Marc Le owitz and emceed by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. The morning kicked off with a scientific presentation led by neuroscientist Dr. Howard Filit addressing ADDF’s mission to find effective Alzheimer’s treatments. After the informative session, models took to the runway to showcase Etro’s Fall 2018 collection while guests dined on Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. In its eighth year the event raised $640,000 for Alzheimer’s research. PRICELESS AUCTION ITEM One lucky bidder walked away with a Shih Tzu puppy.
George Vradenburg with Lynn and Wolf Blitzer WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
Elise and Marc Lefkowitz
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Dr. Eric Fossum and Su Fossum Gerhard Sessler and Jim West Alvaro De La Rocha and Sumita Mitra WL SPONSORED
Sally and Stan Honey
Estelle Sell and Arthur Fry
NATIONAL INVENTORS HALL OF FAME National Building Museum | PHOTOS BY BEN DROZ
Dr. Jacqueline Quinn and Arthur Fry
BRAIN TRUST Fifteen individuals (five posthumously) were inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame at a black-tie event that has been billed as “The Greatest Celebration of American Innovation ®.” The 46th annual ceremony was held in partnership with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Among the inductees was Stan Honey, who invented the graphic technology that allows for the first-down line to be highlighted on television during football games. VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS AT WWW WASHINGTONLIFE COM
Simone Sanders
Anita Hill and April Ryan
Joigie Tolson, Marilyn Charity, Annie Whatley and Dianna Campbell-Salisbury
WL EXCLUSIVE
THE LINKS HIGH TEA The Fairmont | PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL TEA IN THE CITY Powerful local women were honored at The Links’ D.C. chapter’s 7th annual Women’s Recognition High Tea reception, a lively event where hats are always de rigueur. Those honored included American Urban Radio Network White House Correspondent April Ryan, who received the Leadership Award for Journalism; Professor Anita Hill, who took home the Leadership Award for Legislative and Public Policy; and National Women’s March co-founder Janaye M. Ingram, recipient of the Leadership Award for National Trends and Services. All proceeds went to the Links Foundation Inc.
Chinyere Hubbard
Alicia Batts
Julie Greene and Tycely Williams
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Yene Damtew, Baghi Solomon, Gifty Marcos, and Maki Ayalew
Morgan H. West, Farrah Skeiky and Courtney Rhodes
Audrey Gelman and Mayor Muriel Bowser
THE WING OPENING PARTY The Wing, 1000 Thomas Jefferson St. NW | PHOTOS COURTESY THE WING WING WOMEN The all-female social club that started in New York has branched out to Washington with the recent opening of a stunning 10,000square-foot space in Georgetown. Hundreds of guests enjoyed drinks and light bites as they explored what the space has to offer, including a color-coordinated library stocked with books by women authors from New York’s femaleowned Strand bookstore, gorgeous pastel mid-century modern style furnishings that are undeniably feminine, a café serving coffee and food all day and a beauty room with free Chanel products. “D.C. was the most requested city,” noted co-founder Audrey Gelman, who lived in Washington when she worked on the 2008 Hillary Clinton campaign. Member privileges include attendance at intimate after-hours events with high-profile women from a range of fields.
Dr. Lynne Lightfoote and Dr. Sharon Malone
Carson Kressley greets a pooch backstage
Bettina Stern, Ami Aronson, and Michelle Freeman
Jessica Abrahams with Fiona, Gilly, Matilda and Sophie
Joy Kingsley-Ibeh, Afua Sam, Cecilia Sanabria and Ana Tavakoli WL SPONSORED
FASHION FOR PAWS Omni Shoreham Hotel PHOTOS BY AMANDA WARDEN DANIEL DELGADO PHOTOGRAPHY MOSHE ZUSMAN AND CHRISTINE PEELER
CANINES AND COUTURE It’s not everyday that you can bring Fido or FooFoo to a glamorous Washington soirée, which is precisely what makes the Human Rescue Alliance’s dog-friendly benefit one of the most energetic, if not exactly dander-free, events of the year. The 12th annual extravaganza raised $385,000 to celebrate the organization’s life-saving programs and the thousands of animals it rescues and cares for annually. For the second year in a row, television personality and celebrity designer Carson Kressley served as master of ceremonies, capitalizing on his love for both fashion and dogs. Fellow animal lovers, who raised money in the months leading up to the event, enjoyed their turn strutting in designer duds alongside their pets on the runway.
Mark Del Rosso and Teresa Foss-Del Rosso with Sasha
DC United’s Steven Birnbaum with Hamilton
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Jonathan Taylor and Trish Yan
Boomer Foster, Bill and Karen Sonneborn and Jeff Detwiler
Krista and Alexa Johnson Stephen Vardas
WL SPONSORED
GEORGETOWN PATRONS PARTY The Sonneborn Residence | PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL
Marjorie Dick Stewart, Theresa Neilson and Adrienne Szabo
CLASSIC HOMES Karen and Bill Sonneborn opened their home for a reception to kick off the annual Georgetown House Tour, which invites participants to explore some of the neighborhood’s most significant houses. Guests at the Patrons Party toured the Sonneborn residence, where the late Alfred Friendly, former managing editor of the Washington Post, and his wife Jean raised their five children. Proceeds from the gathering benefited St. John’s Ministries, which provides resources to the city’s homeless and unemployed. Long & Foster | Christie’s International Real Estate was the platinum sponser for the event and TTR Sotheby’s International Realty was a gold sponsor.
John Seichter, Salley Widmeyer and David Stralo Terri Robinson and C.C. Christakos
Gramercy Tavern Sous Chef Paul Wetzel and Pastry Chef Miro Uskokovic
Andrew Seiffert Gillian Almeida and Vince Sheehy
Chiko’s Scott Drewno and Danny Lee WL SPONSORED
HEART’S DELIGHT WINE TASTING & AUCTION
Giorgio Rapicavoli
Ritz-Carlton, Washington DC | PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL WINE FOR THE HEART The American Heart Association’s epic schedule of wine and food events spanned four days and raised over $1.8 million in the process, bringing the organization’s 19-year fund-raising total to $21.8 million. Programming included a Congressional reception, an exclusive Vintners Dinner and Auction with a menu prepared by famed chef Daniel Boulud and a Grand Tasting with food and wine stations to end the fun-filled weekend. Brian Kearney, a Heart’s Delight’s Executive Committee member, expressed appreciation to some of the “finest chefs and winemakers from around the country and the world” and to the organization’s “mission to fight against heart disease and stroke.” HIGH ROLLER One committed vinophile walked away with a prized five-litre Jeroboam of Château Margaux 2005 for $42,000 during the live auction.
Brian Kearney
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PARTIES PARTIES PARTIES
SHOWSTOPPING SOIREES
Washington’s vibrant theater scene gets support from a variety of springtime events. VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS AT WWW WASHINGTONLIFE COM
‘THE ILIAD’ DEBUT [ATLAS PEFORMING ARTS CENTER] CO U RT E SY P H OTO
Conor Bagley and Iason Togias
Councilmember at large Robert C. White Jr, Sen. Roger Wicker, The Hon. Jim Moran, Sen. Chris Coons and Rep. Gerry Connolly
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton
Conor Bagley produced and directed best friend and classically trained actor Iason Togias in an adaptation of Homer’s “The Iliad” by Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare, a one-man show that kept audiences mesmerized. Bagley is fresh off winning a Tony Award for co-producing the Broadway musical “Once on This Island.” Both Bagley and Togias are Georgetown Day School and Yale University graduates.
WILL ON THE HILL [SHAKESPEARE THEATER COMPANY] P H OTO S BY K EV I N A L L E N
The West Wing’s Melissa Fitzgerald joined the Will on the Hill extravaganza this year and, along with other actors and Washington insiders, helped raise more than $500,000 for the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s education and community outreach programs. Directed by Artistic Associate Craig Baldwin, “My Kingdom for a Farce” was an original script written by Michael Trottier with assistance from West Wing Writers.
Arthur Espinoza, Michael McIntyre and Chris Jennings
HELEN HAYES AWARDS
Ed Zakreski, Merrill Shugoll, Euan Morton, Mark Shugoll and Ryan Rilette
[THE ANTHEM] S H A N N O N F I N N EY P H OTO G R A P H Y
Ashley Taylor Bronczek, Sarah Wingfield, Candace Ourisman and Stephanie Ahr
‘WAITRESS’ YOUNG PATRONS PARTY
The 34th annual Helen Hayes Awards honoring Washington’s theater community was held at the Wharf’s new concert venue, The Anthem, for the first time. Esteemed theater artists Michael J. Bobbitt and Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan hosted the evening. Actress Nancy Robinette was honored for her work as an actor on Washington stages for 35 years. Felicia Curry took home the Outstanding Lead Actress Award for her work as Nina Simone in the Arena Stage musical.
[NATIONAL THEATRE] P H O T O S B Y B E N D R OZ
After the overwhelming success of their “Mean Girls” fundraiser last year, the Young Patrons of The National Theatre threw their second ever reception, this time for the “deliciously fun” musical “Waitress.” The sweet celebration was complete with brunchy cocktails, sweet and savory pies and a viewing of the hit show.
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Michael Burke, Victor Shargai and Amy Austin
BROADWAY IN BETHESDA [ROUND HOUSE THEATRE] CO U RT E SY P H OTO S
Guests at Bethesda’s Round House Theatre’s annual gala were transported to Broadway during an evening that included an intimate performance of comedy and song by Hamilton’s Eaun Morton, who regaled guests with one of King George’s solo numbers in addition to versions of such classic hits as “Why” by Annie Lennox. A live auction brought in $80,000 to support the theater’s arts and education programs.
Felicia Curry
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PARTIES PARTIES PARTIES
CHEERFUL CELEBRATIONS VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS AT WWW WASHINGTONLIFE COM
GREAT GATSBY: LIFE’S A PICNIC [ELWAY HALL, WARRENTON, VA.] P H O T O S B Y J O R DA N F R I E L KO E P K E
Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program board member and former Fox 5 News anchor Will Thomas helped raise nearly $130,000 at the Great Gatsby: Life’s a Picnic event with all proceeds benefiting the cause. Guests dressed in 1920s “Great Gatsby”-style attire while enjoying live jazz, a surprise fly-by from a World War II-era plane and a catered lunch served, most appropriately, in individual picnic baskets.
Marissa Sams Frank Culbertson, Michelle Jose Sacin, Liz SaraLucas and John Hoskinson and Wiener Kernisan
ARIANESPACE ANNUAL DINNER
Michael Perez, Dana Rooney and Amy Little Thomas
[PHILLIPS COLLECTION] P H OTO BY TO N Y P OW E L L
Clients and friends of Arianespace gathered for its annual dinner celebrating the successful Satellite 2018 conference, which brought together industry professionals for three days of programming at the convention center. Arianespace CEO Stephane Israel, welcomed guests to the organization’s annual dinner at the Phillips Collection, inviting them to enjoy the artwork.
Anne Pratt and Will Thomas
Barry Dixon and Cathy Brentzel
Cynthia Steele Vance and Mark Lowham
LADURÉE ANNIVERSARY [LADURÉE GEORGETOWN] CO U RT E SY P H OTO S
Noor Tagouri
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Ladurée U.S.’s CEO and owner, Elisabeth Holder Raberin, hosted an intimate breakfast to celebrate the patisserie’s first anniversary in the nation’s capital. High-profile guests, including Hirshhorn Museum director Melissa Chiu, Meridian International Center advisor Tracy Bernstein and WUSA-9 anchor Lesli Foster, enjoyed fresh-pressed juices, savory breakfast dishes and, of course, a selection of the bakery’s famous macarons.
Melissa Chiu, Elisabeth Holder Raberin and Tracy Bernstein
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Barbara Lang, Bahishta Talash and Marco Aguilar
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Guests hold up candles honoring Holocaust victims.
STRATHMORE SPRING GALA [STRATHMORE] P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y O F S T R AT H M O R E
Music and art lovers gathered to support the organization and celebrate founder and CEO Eliot Pfanstiehl’s final soiree before his summer retirement. The event featured cabaret icon and five-timeGrammy nominee Michael Feinstein, who gave the event an aura of suave sophistication with a performance that included his trademark twists on American classics. Following the show, guests were invited to an after-party that featured live music, drinks and desserts.
Eliot Pfanstiehl and Richard Madaleno
U.S. HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM TRIBUTE DINNER [MARRIOTT MARQUIS] P H O T O S B Y R AY M U N D F L A N D E Z
Guests gathered to mark the 25th anniversary of the museum, celebrating the “living memorial” by honoring recipients of the Elie Weisel Award, which recognizes those who confront hatred, prevent genocide and promote human dignity. Co-chaired by Michael Gelman and Deborah Ratner Salzberg, the event welcomed 120 Holocaust survivors, with a keynote address delivered by David M. Rubenstein.
Taylor Schilling and Uzo Aduba Laura Osnes and Michael Feinstein
PENFED ‘NIGHT OF HEROES’ GALA [MANDARIN ORIENTAL HOTEL] P H O T O S B Y I M AG E L I N K
The PENFED Foundation held its Annual Night of Heroes’ Gala, honoring the nation’s defenders throughout the event. The celebration raised over $2.5 million this year with proceeds helping to support more than 35,000 veterans, active military members and their families. Tony La Russa, National Baseball Hall of Famer and co-founder of Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) and its flagship program Pets and Vets, received the Community Honoree award for helping to provide service dogs to veterans.
Major Vincent Cerichone and his service dog Taco
John Curtis, Dr. Diana Bianchi, Jennie Lucca, Dr. Ned Sharpless, Julie Sharpless, Todd Pantezzi and Tracey Talbot
Frederick Y. Pang, Bill Belichick, Tony La Russa and Bruce Kasold
CHILDREN’S INN ‘EVENING FOR HOPE’ GALA [RITZ-CARLTON, TYSONS CORNER] P H O T O S B Y KC V P H O T O G R A P H Y
Farrah and Andy Mackenzie
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Seats were in high demand at the sold-out event attended by nearly 800 supporters, including senior government executives and representatives from major federal health agencies. Notable guests including National Cancer Institute Director Dr. Norman Sharpless and FOX 5 anchor Tony Perkins presented during the night, and guests enjoyed a congratulatory video presentation from astronauts inside the Internal Space Station. Inn residents Farrah Mackenzie and Jordan Soto, accompanied by their parents, shared their personal stories giving guests a glimpse into the life-changing impact of the organization’s work. The evening raised more than $1 million to benefit residents and their families.
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HOME LIFE
8VEHMXMSREP [MXL ER %QIVMGER 8[MWX Rueben and Shivani Bajajâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s modern Potomac home was built around family, ritual and one very impressive garage. BY CATHERINE TRIFILETTI PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL
HOME LIFE | INSIDE HOMES
ueben Bajaj denied his Indian heritage when he was growing up, dodging questions about his background. Now, the principal of commercial real estate firm White Star Investments fully embraces it, citing three pillars of Indian tradition that he lives by: family, respect and food. Upon entering the “B” labeled gates to the Bajaj’s Potomac home, that dedication to family rings true. He and his Delhi-born wife Shivani live in a house adjoined to that of Rueben’s parents, tech millionaires Ken and Kavelle Bajaj. The couple wanted theirr three-year-old twins Ken and Rayne to grow up as close to their grandparents as possible. “We followed the tradition of living with the parents, but with a very independent American twist.” Rueben says. The two youngsters should have no trouble getting along on the 10-acre property in the company of the family’s seven dogs, and the dozens of chickens and peacocks housed in a large coop in the backyard. And that’s not to mention the 1,000-gallon exotic fish tank in the entryway. “We love animals,” Shivani explains. The couple had what they refer to as a “partiallyarranged” marriage six years ago, plotted by their mothers who are friends. Shivani was living in Delhi at the time helping with her family business, Orient Craft Limited, one of India’s largest garment producers, which supplies apparel to major U.S. brands like Gap, J. Crew and Ann Taylor. Eventually, Rueben’s charm won her over and she moved stateside. After traditional Indian and American wedding celebrations, the couple enlisted locally-based Churilla Homes to build their custom 12,000-square-foot digs. Shivani says she developed European sensibilities growing up abroad, specifically a taste for quality Italian craftsmanship. So, when it came time to decorate, the Bajajs jetted to Italy with design teams from the U.S.
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PREVIOUS PAGE: (clockwise from left) Lush gardens engulf the 10-acre property, a passion of Rueben’s mother Kavelle. A 1,000-pound Buddha statue sits in the backyard and represents serenity; a large circular Giorgetti coffee table in the living room is flanked by a custom Italian-made sectional and two Minotti side chairs; Rueben wanted to bring a taste of his favorite pastime of scuba diving home with the 1,000-gallon aquarium that sits in the entryway. It was a custom-built by Las Vegasbased Acrylic Tank Manufacturing from the Animal Planet show “Tanked”; Rueben built the “garage of his dreams,” for his prized automobiles, which all have back stories. The Hindustan Motors car was gifted to him by his father-inlaw and is the first of its kind on U.S. soil. It took a letter from the Smithsonian to help cut through customs’ red tape with the quid pro quo that they could access the car for exhibits. THIS PAGE: (clockwise from top left) The family loves to play host in the formal dining room. The clay figure painting is by American artist Peter Opheim. The glass table is Reflex and the light fixture is Murano glass; the Bajajs raised the ceiling to fit a Murano glass chandelier Shivani fell in love with; the “Jungle Room” is meant to have an “African hunting lodge feel,” inspired by a safari Rueben took in South Africa. The chandelier is made of naturally fallen elk horns. The ceiling is lined with real grass reeds and vaulted with barn wood from a farm in Pennsylvania. WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
and India in tow. They spent four days in Milan at the world renowned furniture fair Salone Internazionale del Mobile, scooping up the sleek modern pieces that now rest in each room. The weekend was an exhausting whirlwind, but worth the trip. All of the acquired custom furniture found a place, even a towering milkyhued Murano glass chandelier, an impulse buy that was initially too big for the existing space. The solution? Raise the roof nine feet to make it fit. Naturally, things changed once the twins arrived. “All of our personal stuff got pushed aside,” Rueben jokes. Notably, Shivani transformed her beloved dusty pink-colored “Orchid Sitting Room” into a play area for the kids. The child locks on her Minotti armoire say it all. Rueben designed a fully functional home office so that he could spend more time with the little ones. His soundproof man cave, accessible only via a hidden automated door, along with the underground 14-car garage, are the only spaces where Shivani, the driving force behind the overall design aesthetic, completely handed over the reigns. Working in conjunction with the Florida-based design firm Collins & Dupont, they wanted to create a place that was “contemporary, yet homey.” Shivani explains: “If you walk through our home you will see that it’s done with a lot of love and care–every little piece that you ask me about, I can tell you a story about.” Amid all the bells and whistles, one-of-akind pieces of pop art and state of the art technology, the real attraction is the breezeway that connects the grandparents with their grandchildren and the countless family photos that adorn the walls. It’s those elements that elevate the house into a home. “Everything I do is for the family. We do everything as a family,” Rueben says. “There is no hierarchy.”
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OPENING PAGE: Rueben and Shivani Bajaj with their three-year-old twins Ken and Rayne, and their nine-year-old Swiss Shepherd, Ivanka.
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HOME LIFE | REAL ESTATE NEWS
If These Walls Could Talk The Hirshhorn mansion, whose owners played host to Pablo Picasso, sells for $5 million to Edens CEO Jodie McLean BY STAC E Y G R A Z I E R P FA R R
THE DISTRICT Donna Wegener sold
P STREET NW in Georgetown for $2.75 million to Winsor Properties LLC. The 19th century three-
bedroom Victorian in the East Village features 11-foot ceilings, original crown moldings and hardwood floors. French doors connect the eatin kitchen to a flagstone terrace overlooking well-manicured gardens. Washington Fine Properties Mary Ehrgood was the listing agent. Eileen McGrath, also of Washington Fine Properties, was the buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agent.
MARYLAND Marc and Eileen Weller bought CONGRESSIONAL PARKWAY in Potomac for $4.125 million from Edward and Loretta Downey. Mr. Weller is president of Sagamore Development Company, a real estate company he founded in 2013 with Under Armour founder Kevin Plank. The 1996-built Brendan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill mansion in Bradley Farms sits on over four acres of land and features 10 bedrooms, embassy-sized formal rooms, a luxe paneled library, an indoor pool, a spa, a greenhouse and an apartment over the garage. TTR Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Marc Fleisher listed the property while Washington Fine Propertiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Joanne Pinover represented the buyer.
The former Kalorama residence of art collectors Joseph and Olga Hirshhorn fetched $5 million when Jodie McLean, CEO of Edens, a real estate development company, purchased BANCROFT PLACE NW for $5 million from Stephen and Alison Adkins who bought the house in 2009. The mansion was built in 1924 for Brig. Gen. George P. Scriven (chairman of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the forerunner of NASA) and designed by architect George Ray in the Georgian style. The Hirshhorns purchased the house in 1969 from the estate of Mrs. Scriven and it would serve as their primary residence until Mr. Hirshhornâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death in 1980. The couple maintained close personal friendships with some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most legendary artists, including Pablo Picasso and Georgia Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Keefe, who often spent her birthdays there. In 1981, it was sold to George Washington University, which used it as its presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house for nearly two decades. In 2009, it was sold to GWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former president Stephen Trachtenberg and his wife, Francine. Stan Kelly of TTR Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Realty was the listing agent. Greg Gaddy of TTR Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s represented the buyer.
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VIRGINIA Bechtel international civil engineering firm executive Cliff Mumm and his wife Christine bought
NASH STREET NORTH in Rosslyn from attorney Peter Greenspun and his wife Katherine for $3.05 million.The Mumms are also selling BANCROFT PLACE in Kalorama for $2.6 million.Their new Turnberry Tower digs include a posh master suite with a marble bath, an entertainment bar, a private elevator and expansive balconies. Washington Fine Propertiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Nancy Itteilag was the listing agent; Cynthia Howar, also of Washington Fine Properties, was the buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agent.
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Jake Land LLC sold WOODLAND DRIVE NW, a 10,000-square-foot Georgian mansion in Massachusetts Avenue Heights for $5.425 million. The classic brick residence was built in 1928 and features a lush and private 1/2-acre lot framed with mature landscaping, a heated swimming pool with adjoining spa, multi-tiered terraces, embassy size rooms and a full-service wine cellar. Compassâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Daniel Hynes was the listing agent. Robert Hryniewicki, Adam T. Rackliffe and Christopher Leary of HRL Partners at Washington Fine Properties represented the buyers.
The Slovak Republic purchased TH STREET NW, a 1926-built Beaux Arts mansion in Kalorama, for $7.4 million. Previously owned by Hani and Cheryl Davis Masri, the house was restored and remodeled by the renowned New York City architecture firm Ferguson & Shamamian to feature grand rooms with high ceilings, ornate woodwork and custom fixtures. The five-bedroom property includes a garage and a private terrace. The property was listed by The Chauvin House Team of Compass. Washington Fine Propertiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Nathan Guggenheim was the buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agent.
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Juggernaut Capital Partners founder John Shulman, purchased P STREET NW in Georgetown for $3.9 million from Thomas Beddard. Former owners of the historic four-level 1820s East Village beauty include famed cellist Donald McCall and his wife Karine Clark McCall (a granddaughter of the Montana â&#x20AC;&#x153;Copper King,â&#x20AC;? industrialist and Corcoran Gallery Art donor William Andrews Clark). The five-bedroom, light-filled Federal has seven fireplaces and has been impeccably restored. It features a double parlor and a garden level gourmet kitchen opening to a private garden. The property was listed by Carroll Dey and Greg Gaddy of TTR Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Real Estate. The buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agent was Washington Fine Propertiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Nancy Taylor Bubes
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HOME LIFE | REAL ESTATE NEWS
PROPERTY LINES
COLORFUL HISTORY: The Cafaro family, successful Ohio strip mall developers, listed their famed Tudor Revival at CHEVY CHASE CIRCLE in Maryland for a cool $25.9 million. JJ and Janet Cafaro bought the house in the 1990s for $1.975 million when their longtime friend Jay Rockefeller was considering a run for president and the couple wanted to establish a Washington-area presence. The 13,000-square-foot manor was built by architect Leon E. Dessez, designer of the vice presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residence at the Naval Observatory, for Senator Francis Newlands in 1891. In 1909 baking company magnate William Corby, the inventor of a machine that molded bread dough, bought the house and dubbed the property â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ishpimingâ&#x20AC;? after the Chippewa word for â&#x20AC;&#x153;high ground.â&#x20AC;? In the 1960s, the house was a strong contender to become the official U.S. vice presidential home but Marylanders didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t agree with the District annexing the property. Long & Fosterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ted Duncan is the listing agent.
OUT OF THIS WORLD: The former home of John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth, is for sale in Bethesda for $1.499 million. Long & Fosterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wendy Banner is listing the 1990-built EAGLE RIDGE PLACE which boasts five bedrooms, an open floor plan and nearly 8,000 square feet of space. Glenn, a former senator from Ohio, was one of the seven original astronauts in NASAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mercury program. SECRET HIDEAWAY: Developer and banker Eric Hovde listed his secluded, 2002-built stone and stucco mansion tucked away at
UNIVERSITY TERRACE NW for $7.4 million. This gated sevenbedroom residence designed by Chryssa Wolfe sits back from the street and is nestled among old growth trees on a stunning nearly one-acre lot. The 10,000-plussquare-foot house features large-
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scale entertaining rooms, a generous master wing with high ceilings, a first floor guest suite, a grand library, a detached artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s studio, a wine cellar and a pool overlooking the grounds and gardens. TTR Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Realtyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Michael Rankin is the listing agent. Send real estate news to Stacey Grazier Pfarr at editorial@ washingtonlife.com.
CELEBRITY PARTY HOUSE: DUMBARTON STREET in Georgetownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s East Village is listed for $5.5 million. The six-bedroom modern structure was built in 1948 by Joseph Alsop (one of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most influential and widely read political columnists of the time) and has since been completely restored and remodeled. All rooms are on the main level, including a dramatic 36-foot living room and a solarium with a cupola that is open to a south-facing courtyard containing a garden and pool. The house has welcomed a long list of high profile guests including Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and George W. Bush as well as Dean Acheson, James Forrestal, Paul and Bunny Mellon and W. Averell Harriman. Michael Rankin of TTR Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Real Estate is the listing agent.
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OPEN HOUSE
Splendid Spaces Act fast on these luxurious listings.
EASTON HOPKINS NECK RD â&#x20AC;&#x153;Normandieâ&#x20AC;? is one of Talbot Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest waterfront estate properties. The magnificent French manor house with architectural significance sits on a 61-acre peninsula with over 3,200 feet of shoreline. This one-of-a-kind property boasts eight bedrooms, eight full and two half baths, a 55-plus car auto-barn with an office and two bathrooms, a stunning pool and a custombuilt dock with water and electric.
ASKING PRICE: $6,500,000 LISTING AGENT: Rob Lacaze, 410310-7835, Long & Foster | Christieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
MCLEAN SPRING HILL FARM DRIVE ASKING PRICE: This exquisite Tudor estate offers five bedrooms, five bathrooms and $4,639,000 three half-bathrooms, three fireplaces, an attached three-car garage, a LISTING AGENT: pool and stunning landscaping. The open floor plan includes a gourmet John Eric, 703-798kitchen, a breakfast nook, formal dining and living rooms, a family room, 0097, Compass a library and a large master suite. Also featured is a spacious home theater and rec room, hardwood floors, walls of windows and ample storage space.
THE PALISADES ST PLACE NW Step inside this stunning custom home in Washington, D.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exclusive Palisades neighborhood. Built in 2018, this extraordinary property features over 8,000 square feet of interior living space and includes the finest in luxury amenities, including a gorgeous kitchen replete with high end appliances, an elevator and a spacious outdoor patio for entertaining.
ASKING PRICE: $3,850,000 LISTING AGENT: Sandra Leiva, 703338-5098, TTR Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Realty
THE PALISADES HUTCHINS PLACE NW Built in 2013, this newly constructed house features hardwood floors, high ceilings, crown moldings and top-of-the-line appliances. It offers an idyllic outdoor lifestyle with gorgeous water views of the Georgetown Reservoir and a lovely landscaped yard. The outside area includes a new deck, a large patio, a natural gas fire pit, an outdoor cooking area, a hot tub and a newly planted garden. Close to MacArthur Boulevard NW, this sophisticated home allows for city convenience and all the benefits of urban living.
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ASKING PRICE: $2,450,000 LISTING AGENT: Connie Carter, 202-491-6171, Washington Fine Properties
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MY WASHINGTON ASHOK BAJAJ Founder, Knightsbridge Restaurant Group INTERVIEW BY VIRGINIA COYNE
shok Bajaj, the New Delhi-born owner of 10 popular restaurants in Washington, celebrates the 30th anniversary of his first eatery, Bombay Club, later this year. We asked him to let us in on the secrets to his longevity and his reaction to Rasika’s shutout from the Michelin Guide. >>
MY TOP SPOTS
I drive by the U.S. Capitol nearly every day and never get bored of the sight. It’s such a spectacular building..
I am fan of several local theaters, but the terrace of the Kennedy Center overlooking the Potomac River is so special.
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On Saturday and Sunday afternoons I like to take long walks in Rock Creek Park to clear my head.
Kafe Leopold in Georgetown has a European, hidden-away feel, and the clientele is so ecletic. I always enjoy going there.
BEFORE COMING TO WASHINGTON YOU WORKED IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY IN LONDON AND SYDNEY. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO OPEN BOMBAY CLUB HERE? There were not a lot of great restaurants in D.C. then. We had JeanLouis at the Watergate and some other good French places but there weren’t any Indian fine dining establishments in the city. Indian food wasn’t very popular in the United States, with the exception of a couple of restaurants in New York, and I wanted to introduce it more broadly. When I came here, the city felt right and ready for something new. HOW HAS THE FOOD SCENE CHANGED IN THE LAST THREE DECADES AND DO YOU FEEL YOU’VE CONTRIBUTED TO THE EVOLUTION? Certainly, as a group, we have contributed to the evolution. The food scene has completely changed. Back then, if you opened a restaurant, you did it on K Street or Connecticut Avenue. Now restaurants are in every corridor of the city—Shaw, Brookland, H Street NE, Capitol Hill, Navy Yard, you name it. It’s becoming more like New York, where you can eat, live and play in the same neighborhood. YOUR CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED RASIKA RESTAURANTS WERE NOT AWARDED MICHELIN STARS IN THE 2017 OR 2018 EDITIONS. WERE YOU ROBBED? A lot of people were angry. I was angry as well. Everyone wants to be in the Michelin Guide. It would have been nice to be included but what matters the most is what the people who dine here regularly
say. I appreciated that so many others, including local critics, felt we deserved to be in the guide, but the bottom line is you have to value what your diners think. Rasika is still very busy. Bombay, 30 years later, is still busy. How can I complain? TELL ME ABOUT YOUR COOKBOOK, “RASIKA: THE FLAVORS OF INDIA”, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN 2017. It was 25 years in the making. I’ve been collecting thoughts in my head since the early years of Bombay Club because I wanted to show Americans that Indian food is as sophisticated and varied as any other cuisine despite its unfair rap for being spicy or smelly. But I needed the right person to work on it with me and that turned out to be Vikram Sunderam, Rasika’s James Beard Award-winning chef. We published it to coincide with the tenth anniversary of Rasika. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE DISHES AT YOUR ESTABLISHMENTS? It’s hard to pick. The tandoori salmon and green chile chicken are still the most popular items at Bombay Club. The salmon is not actually on the menu, but regulars know that we always have it. At Rasika, the black cod and palak chaat (crispy baby spinach) are among my favorites. The chef at our Italian eatery, Bibiana, makes homemade pastas that are really delicious. And I think Sababa has the city’s best hummus. WHAT’S THE SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS? Because dining habits are constantly changing, you may have to change concepts every five to ten years. I recently did that when I closed Ardeo+Bardeo, my Italian restaurant and adjacent wine bar in Cleveland Park, and reopened them as Bindaas and Sababa, which serve Indian and Israeli street food, respectively. Also, I’m still enjoying myself. So far so good. Thirty years ago seems like yesterday.
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P H OTO O F A S H O K BA JAJ CO URT E SY KN I GH TS BR I D GE R E STAU RA N T G R O U P. P H OTOS O F T H E U. S . CA P I TOL , R OCK CR EEK PAR K A ND K E N N E DY C E N T E R VI A W I KI M D I A CO M M O NS . CO FF E E P H OTO V I A K A FE L EO P O L D/ I N STAG RA M .
A