Chris Matthews with author Sally Bedell Smith. Photograph by Jeff Martin.
Slideshow: Elizabeth the Queen Book Party
There are book parties—and then there are va-va-voom book parties fit for a queen. That’s what Sally Bedell Smith got this past weekend with the Washington celebration of her new biography, Elizabeth the Queen. I daresay even the Queen herself would have been gobsmacked.
Hosts Bernard and Joan Carl—he seriously rich with private equity money, together the owners of the French luxury linen company D. Porthault, and with homes in the Loire Valley, London, and Southampton—filled the rooms of their Kalorama mansion with the prettiest spring flowers, candles, and framed photos of the royal family at work and at play, and served a comforting Anglo menu. There was even a receiving line at the front door, as Joan Carl welcomed Washington’s version of aristocracy, high and low.
Smith, for her part, never budged from the library, where she sat near a fire signing copies of the book. Her husband, Washington Examiner executive editor Stephen Smith, worked the other rooms on her behalf. There were many rooms—even a carpeted tent—and many friends.
Alice Cowie, Carolyn Jones, Doug Jones, Leslie Jones, Gouverneur Siegel, and Lauren Duffy. Photograph by Jeff Martin.
Slideshow: Opening Night of the Washington Winter Show
Even with 44 exhibitors offering antique wares for sale, probably the most talked-about item at the Washington Winter Show on opening night was a plate that’s not on even the market. The one-of-a-kind Lenox porcelain dish, white with a yolk yellow border, has a historic and intriguing backstory—had President Kennedy not been assassinated it could well have been the chosen pattern for the Kennedy White House china service.
Both JFK and First Lady Jackie Kennedy ate off the plate, taking turns, as they decided whether it should be their White House pattern. The legend is they liked it and wanted to go with it. But due to the President’s death in 1963, the full service was never made, and only this one plate remains.
Christopher Reiter, Juleanna Glover, Becca Glover, Pepper Watkins, Kristin Glover, and Elizabeth Glover. Photo by Erik Uecke.
Slideshow: Inside Juleanna Glover’s Holiday Party
Who: Juleanna Glover, Elizabeth Glover, Kristin Glover, Christopher Reiter, Pepper Watkins
What: The “night before the night before Christmas” cocktail party
Where: Juleanna Glover’s Kalorama townhouse
When: Friday, December 23, from 8 PM on
For better or for worse, I was a guest at more than 100 parties in 2011. Here are the top ten standouts:
1) The Washington Winter Show at the Katzen Arts Center (January 6)
An event that pulled together real Washington society—the elder cave dwellers and their younger counterparts—amid interesting (and a few affordable) decorative arts, good music, and good food.
2) The Tudor Place Garden Party (May 4)
It always seems to take place on the prettiest spring evening. Lush food, great drinks, sweeping lawn, beautiful flowers, women in hats, and much camaraderie among Georgetowners young and old. For anyone who wants to mingle with Georgetown, this is the party.
3) The “Wedding Belles” Exhibition Faux Wedding Reception on the Lawn at Hillwood Museum
Caterer Susan Gage re-created a post-wedding lawn party as though it were scripted by Marjorie Merriweather Post herself, including a many-tiered wedding cake. On a beautiful, softly warm evening, guests got to sip, dine, and tour the gardens and the mansion.
4) David and Katherine Bradley’s Pre-Party for the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner (April 30)
Essentially every party the Bradleys host is a winner. They have that gift. But they throw a doozy of a true foodie dinner the eve of the WHCA bash. The exclusive guest list is “A” all the way: corporate, political, media, social, and some Hollywood.
The 2011 Excellence in Nursing honorees, from left to right: Stephen Perez, Cathy Williams, Jacky Schultz, Carol Ryan, Nancy Munro, Heidi Maloni, Col. Bruce Schoneboom, Elizabeth Bradshaw, Helen Obidiran, and Deborah Thomas. Photographs by Eric Uecke and Kelci House
Out of hundreds of nominations in 2011, The Washingtonian selected ten extraordinary individuals to be honored with the Washingtonian Excellence in Nursing Award for their contributions in the field of nursing. All ten honorees and eight honorable mentions celebrated their achievement at the first annual Excellence in Nursing awards reception at the House of Sweden in Washington, DC. The event began with a cocktail reception, followed by a three-course seated dinner, a presentation of awards, and dessert. Crocs and NOVA Uniforms were sponsors of the event, and Children’s National Medical Center, Georgetown University Hospital, Inova Juniper Program, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Suburban Hospital, and VMT Long Term Care Management showed their support by sponsoring a table.
Lindsey Becker, Rebecca Loveridge, Chef Robert Wiedmaier, Josie Taylor, and Cori Sue Morris. Photographs by Jeff Martin
Slideshow: March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction of DC
What: March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction of DC
Where: The Ritz-Carlton, Washington DC
When: Wednesday, November 16, from 6 to 9:15 PM
Tickets: $200 for individuals; $2,000 for reserved tables of 10
Who: The night boasted a lineup of all-stars from the Washington restaurant scene. Chefs Ris Lacoste of RIS and Jamie Leeds of Hank’s Oyster Bar presided over tables laden with sought-after small dishes, while Jo-Jo Valenzuela of Old Glory BBQ served up signature cocktails. Chef Robert Wiedmaier, the master behind Brasserie Beck, the Tasting Room and Mussel Bar, graced the ballroom as the event’s signature chef, and ABC7 anchor Leon Harris served as the evening’s emcee. Lauren Fleming, seven-year-old March of Dimes ambassador, and her mother, Nikki, warmed the room with their touching story and heartfelt thank-you.
Scene: Top DC chefs served up good eats for a good cause to a post-workday crew. Fresh from the office, foodies meandered among tables graced with bountiful amounts of local delectables. They mingled and ate, but mostly ate. On occasion, they took breaks to recover from overfull stomachs to bid on silent auction items. During the night’s live auction, Signature Chef Wiedmaier stole the show, interrupting auctioneer Jim Miller to up the ante on his own donation. Instead of auctioning off a single five-course tasting for ten people at Brasserie Beck, he offered up two for $2,000 a piece.”That’s the way it’s done,” Wiedmaier said.
Food and drink: Delectable seared scallops from Hank’s Oyster Bar rested on beds of creamy cauliflower fondue, indulging seafood lovers. Bastille Restaurant’s hearty Jerusalem artichoke soup greeted taste buds with hints of garlic and pieces of chicken confit, while B. Smith’s shrimp and grits spiced things up. Michel Richard Citronelle offered the sweet-toothed crowd a dessert they couldn’t refuse: crêpes suzette garnished with orange zest. Burger, Tap & Shake appealed to the kid in everyone, as regular chef-auction attendee Rob Stern pointed out. There’s nothing like seeing men in business suits unwinding with miniature root beer floats and brownies after a long day at the office, he joked.
David McCullough and his wife, Rosalee, join his former student Cathy Merrill Williams (left) at the American Concil of Trustees and Alumni award ceremony Saturday evening. Photographs by Zaid Hamid
The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) is an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage academic freedom, excellence, and accountability at America’s colleges and universities. Since 1995, it has worked with alumni, donors, trustees, and education leaders across the United States to endow the next generations with a high-quality education that will prepare them to be informed citizens.
Most Powerful Women Debbie Dingell, Julie Rogers, and Mary Kay Henderson. Photograph by Erik Uecke
Slideshow: 100 Most Powerful Women Luncheon
The Washingtonian honored the 100 Most Powerful Women featured in the October issue at a luncheon at the elegant St. Regis hotel. The honorees were encouraged to bring as a guest a woman with talent and tenacity whom Washingtonian should watch in the future.
PricewaterhouseCoopers was the presenting sponsor of the luncheon, and managing partner Chris Simmons served as the keynote speaker. Washingtonian partnered with Vital Voices, an international organization dedicated to identifying, investing in, and bringing visibility to women around the world. Guests had the opportunity to appear on a mock Washingtonian cover, thanks to Event Digital Photography. Lexus, the automotive sponsor, provided a sleek RX 450h, which was parked out front for attendees to admire. Floral arrangements by MultiFlor decorated the venue, which was equipped with tables and linens from Select Event Rentals. Music inside and out was provided by Elan Artists, while Event EQ coordinated the audio and visual elements of the afternoon's presentations.
Animal care staff at the Smithsonian National Zoo weighed the five new cheetah cubs this week, which weigh an average of 2 pounds each. Photo courtesy National Zoological Park
Slideshow: Cheetah Cub Pictures from the National Zoo
We alerted you to the fact that five cheetah cubs were born in Fort Royal, Virginia, at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute earlier this month, but now there are pictures! Can you say, "Aww"?
The five cubs, which were born on May 28, underwent their first weigh-in this week. The cubs weigh an average of two pounds each."When I was weighing the last cub, he was being a very tough little guy," said Adrienne Crosier, SCBI cheetah biologist in statement from the National Zoo Park. "We’re already starting to see differences in their dispositions and look forward to watching them grow and learning all we can from them."
The 2011 Green Awards recipients. Photograph by Erik Uecke
Slideshow: The 2011 Green Awards Reception
See Also:
In Green Giants, a feature in our May 2011 issue, The Washingtonian honors five individuals who protect our environment by finding local food treasures, by sending kids into the wild, and by building and living in ways that benefit us all. This year's winners include LEED-certified housing constructor Peter Guida, former CIA director R. James Woolsey, Casey Tree's president Barbara Shea, Poste restaurant chef Robert Weland, and Newton Marasco Foundation founder Amy Marasco Newton. The award recipients were honored with a reception Monday night.
To read more about the work of our Green Awards winners, pick up a copy of our May 2011 issue, on stands today!
