In this tough job market for journalists, the Washington Times is hunting for a new top editor, according to a “confidential” job description.

Since being traded to the Washington Wizards in 2005, Caron Butler has risen from a promising player to an elite young star. Last year, the six-foot-seven forward from Racine, Wisconsin, recorded career highs in points (19.1), rebounds (7.4), and assists (3.7) while becoming a first-time All Star alongside teammate Gilbert Arenas.

Butler elevates over Toronto's Juan Dixon for a right-handed floater in the lane. Photo courtesy of Washington Wizards.

Butler is a busy guy these days—the Wizards’ season opener is less than a week away—but we had a chance to catch up with him after a morning shoot-around in Toronto.

What’s your favorite television show?
The Game—it’s a new show on CW. And I loved The Sopranos.

Your favorite movie?
The Color Purple. I’m a big fan of Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, and Whoopi Goldberg.

Favorite book?
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.

Favorite singer or band?
I liked Aretha Franklin growing up, but my favorite singer now is Mary J. Blige.

All-time favorite restaurant?
Believe it or not, the Cheesecake Factory.

Favorite food?
Fried shrimp.

Favorite vacation spot?
Me and my wife go to Maui every summer, and I love going to Jamaica.

What makes Washington special?
It has the best fans—the most loyal. And the city is so historic.

What: An evening of cocktails and charitable shopping, with 15 percent of sales benefiting Knock Out Abuse Against Women. The event was a prelude to the organization’s November 8 fundraising gala at the Ritz-Carlton, Washington, DC. Knock Out Abuse was created in 1993 and has since raised more than $5 million to aid victims of domestic violence through local charities such as the Bethany House of Northern

Knock Out Abuse Against Women cofounders Cheryl Masri and Jill Sorensen

Virginia, My Sister’s Place, N Street Village, Crossway Community, the Children’s Law Center, and Safe Shores.

Where: Ralph Lauren, 5471-A Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase.

When: Tuesday, October 23, 6:30 to 8:30 PM.

Who: Ralph Lauren general manager Jeff Kesler was the man of the evening—literally, as the 200 or so guests were primarily Washington’s most stylish women, including Knock Out cofounders Cheryl Masri and Jill Sorensen along with director Ellen Blankenship and 2007 event chair Debra L. Lee. A slew of former chairwomen were also spotted, including Holly Muldoon Boggs, Holidae Hayes, Ann Walker Marchant, and Norma Ramsey.

What: A ritzy auction, black-tie dinner, and dated-but-fabulous concert by En Vogue, all to benefit Best Buddies International. The organization pairs volunteers with the intellectually challenged to create one-on-one friendships.

Where: The Potomac mansion of Sargent and Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

En Vogue - en vogue once more

When: Saturday, October 20, 6:30 PM

Who: As the evening’s emcee, Best Buddies International founder Anthony Kennedy Shriver gave a shout-out to a slew of high-society guests, including Olympic gold-medalist Carl Lewis (who later ended up onstage with En Vogue), Audi exec Matthias Braun (Audi just signed on as the exclusive vehicle sponsor of Best Buddies), and of course, Shriver’s parents, who host the event every year. Also around the dinner tables: German ambassador Klaus Scharioth, Austrian ambassador Eva Nowotny, Swiss ambassador Urs Ziswiler, and Princess Thi-Nga of Vietnam. At Mrs. Shriver’s request, Dancing With the Stars cast members Karina Smirnoff and Alec Mazo wowed the crowd with a ballroom number. But Arnold Schwarzenegger, if he hasn’t already, may want to retire the “I’ll be back” line—the California governor and honorary ball chair hasn’t been to the annual gala since 2001.

What: The Hill’s Political Book Fair, an annual event highlighting the latest in Washington’s political nonfiction.

Where: Main level of the Trover Shop (221 Pennsylvania Ave., SE).

When: October 17, 5:30 to 7 PM.

Who: The Hill newspaper packed the small book shop with 12 Washington authors who signed, spun, and sold their books for nearly two hours. Among them were five politicians past and present: Representatives Charles B. Rangel, David Obey, Jay Inslee, and Steve Israel and former House majority leader Tom DeLay. Other authors included Terry McAuliffe, Christopher Hitchens, political strategist Bay Buchanan, and the American Enterprise Institute’s John Fortier. The fair drew interested readers, but most in attendance were Capitol Hill staffers—including the right-hand men and women of the Congress members—and media types.

Food: Officially, none. However, the Trover Shop handed out coupons for free beer and wine at the Hawk ’n’ Dove down the street and kept its candy selection well stocked for patrons needing a sugary pick-me-up.

What: An afternoon tea in celebration of the British School of Washington’s relocation from 16th Street to 2001 Wisconsin Avenue. The British School, founded in 1998, has 285 students, ages 3 to 18, who follow the National Curriculum of England and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The tea was an opportunity for students, teachers, and staff to introduce the school to the Georgetown community.

Head Teacher Jenny Arwas and Deputy Head Kelvin Williams

When: Thursday, October 18, 4 to 6 PM

Where: The new school will not be finished until December, so tea was held nearby at historic Tudor Place. The neoclassical estate oozes Colonial history, making it an ideal venue—even with its current scaffolding due to renovations. Tudor Place was built in 1816 by Thomas Peter and his wife, Martha Custis Peter, granddaughter of Martha Washington. Dr. William Thornton, architect of the US Capitol, designed the house, famous for its circular domed portico and expansive gardens.

Who: A mix of students and staff from the British School, from the head boy and girl of the lower school right up to the head teacher herself, Jenny Arwas. Deputy head Kelvin Williams and British Schools of America chief operating officer Marina Major were also present. The small crowd included many parents, including the ambassador of Malta, Mark Miceli, and his wife, Josette, whose son is enrolled in the school.

Tenzin Gyatso—the Dalai Lama, as he is known here, or Kundun to his own Tibetan people—has a particular take on greetings: No kissing, even on the cheek—“I am a monk!” And no European-style cheek-to-cheek greetings, either: “I feel cautious because you”—he points to a member of the audience with a goatee—“have facial hair.”

The exiled Tibetan religious leader visited N Street Village, a homeless shelter for women near Logan Circle, Friday morning as part of his trip to DC to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. He expressed solidarity with the women who had gathered to see him. “I was asked if I would like to visit with those who are homeless,” he said. “Anyways, I myself am homeless! At 24 I lost my own country. At 16 I lost my freedom. Now over 72, things are difficult, but we never shirk our hope or determination. Keep our determination. Hope is very essential.”

The Dalai Lama professed his thanks for the opportunity to meet people going through difficult times. Hugs and handshakes—again, no kissing—offer calmness and confidence to the two parties, he said. He added that meeting people who are experiencing hard times fulfills a moral responsibility to offer his experience and strength. This “practice of compassion” gives the practitioner inner warmth and strength, he said.

The Washington Humane Society sponsored the event at the shelter. In Buddhism, the Dalai Lama pointed out, one must be compassionate to animals because they all “share the same sense of being.” A homeless woman who has worked with animals at the Humane Society posed onstage with the Buddhist monk and a puppy while 20 cameramen jostled to capture the moment in the crowded room.

The Dalai Lama’s speech seemed off the cuff—he conferred with a translator on several English words—but used humor to acknowledge cultural differences, all the while building common ground. “We all have the same right to be happy human beings,” he said. “The future depends on everybody’s children.”

On the perceived divide between Christianity and Islam, he said, you can’t judge a religion by a few “mischievous” members: “Totally unjust, totally wrong.” Take that, Christopher Hitchens.