What: Reception and dinner in honor of the Royal Ballet’s upcoming week of performances at the Kennedy Center.
Where: The British ambassador’s residence.
When: Monday, June 22, 7:30 PM.
Who: The Royal Ballet company’s dancers, choreographers, and technicians mingled with former ambassadors, diplomats, and big names in the Washington arts scene, such as Michael Kaiser, the president of the Kennedy Center, who stopped by before dinner.
Attire: Suit and (sometimes) tie for the men and garden-party dresses for the women, with lots of variety in between. Some of the more creative men stepped it up with their shoe selection: We spotted cream-colored alligator loafers and lace-up black patent boots along with more traditional looks.
Scene: After enjoying the weather with drinks in the garden adjoining the residence, the dinner buffet was served inside under the gaze of Queen Elizabeth II (okay, so it was just an Andy Warhol portrait of the Queen).
Guests sat in casual clusters of small tables arranged throughout the residence’s posh reception and dining rooms—think marble, ornate chandeliers, and Oriental rugs. The tables featured quirky aromatic floral centerpieces that mixed mint leaves with pastel spring blooms.
The food was followed by speeches from the British ambassador, Sir Nigel Sheinwald—who joked that he’d be brief, so as not to delay the much-anticipated dessert—and Dame Monica Mason, a former dancer and the current artistic director of the Royal Ballet, who recalled her first visit to Washington with the company in humorous detail. The company performed in an arena that had just hosted a circus; the smell was less than pleasant.
After dessert, more mingling—and, one hopes, a good night of sleep for the dancers, who begin their performances today.
Food and drink: Guests visited the buffet with gusto, sampling salmon mousse, chicken sautéed with vegetables, haricots verts, roast beef, and a comprehensive cheese plate. For dessert, waiters brought out a seemingly endless parade of dishes including trifle, the classic British dessert, along with miniature tarts and several types of cake (including one that was an unorthodox shade of blue).
Ratings: Boldface names: 2 (out of 5) Swankiness: 2.5 (out of 5) Food and drink: 3 (out of 5) Overall exclusivity: 2 (out of 5) Total: 9.5 (out of 20)
A Night Out: Dinner with the Royal Ballet at the British Embassy
What: Reception and dinner in honor of the Royal Ballet’s upcoming week of performances at the Kennedy Center.
Where: The British ambassador’s residence.
When: Monday, June 22, 7:30 PM.
Who: The Royal Ballet company’s dancers, choreographers, and technicians mingled with former ambassadors, diplomats, and big names in the Washington arts scene, such as Michael Kaiser, the president of the Kennedy Center, who stopped by before dinner.
Attire: Suit and (sometimes) tie for the men and garden-party dresses for the women, with lots of variety in between. Some of the more creative men stepped it up with their shoe selection: We spotted cream-colored alligator loafers and lace-up black patent boots along with more traditional looks.
Scene: After enjoying the weather with drinks in the garden adjoining the residence, the dinner buffet was served inside under the gaze of Queen Elizabeth II (okay, so it was just an Andy Warhol portrait of the Queen).
Guests sat in casual clusters of small tables arranged throughout the residence’s posh reception and dining rooms—think marble, ornate chandeliers, and Oriental rugs. The tables featured quirky aromatic floral centerpieces that mixed mint leaves with pastel spring blooms.
The food was followed by speeches from the British ambassador, Sir Nigel Sheinwald—who joked that he’d be brief, so as not to delay the much-anticipated dessert—and Dame Monica Mason, a former dancer and the current artistic director of the Royal Ballet, who recalled her first visit to Washington with the company in humorous detail. The company performed in an arena that had just hosted a circus; the smell was less than pleasant.
After dessert, more mingling—and, one hopes, a good night of sleep for the dancers, who begin their performances today.
Food and drink: Guests visited the buffet with gusto, sampling salmon mousse, chicken sautéed with vegetables, haricots verts, roast beef, and a comprehensive cheese plate. For dessert, waiters brought out a seemingly endless parade of dishes including trifle, the classic British dessert, along with miniature tarts and several types of cake (including one that was an unorthodox shade of blue).
Ratings:
Boldface names: 2 (out of 5)
Swankiness: 2.5 (out of 5)
Food and drink: 3 (out of 5)
Overall exclusivity: 2 (out of 5)
Total: 9.5 (out of 20)
More>> Capital Comment Blog | News & Politics | Society Photos
Most Popular in News & Politics
MAP: Road Closures for Trump’s Military Parade
Man Jumps From AU Radio Tower in Apparent Suicide
Smaller Crowds, Big Emotions for Army’s 250th: What We Heard Around DC
The Smithsonian Says It Will Decide Who Runs Its Museums, Thanks; Trump’s Parade Will Close Some DC Streets for Days; and a Maryland Bear Got a Ride to a Park in Virginia
PHOTOS: “No Kings” Protests Draw Thousands in DC Area
Washingtonian Magazine
June Issue: Pride Guide
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
How Would a New DC Stadium Compare to the Last One?
The Culture of Lacrosse Is More Complex Than People Think
Did Television Begin in Dupont Circle?
Kings Dominion’s Wild New Coaster Takes Flight in Virginia
More from News & Politics
DC Pedestrian Killed by Truck Carrying Tank From Trump’s Parade, Kristi Noem Went to Hospital for Allergic Reaction, and Most Virginia Primary Results Are In
Another Mysterious Anti-Trump Statue Has Appeared on the National Mall
Army Says Tanks Didn’t Damage DC’s Streets; Trump Attends, Leaves G-7 Summit; and an Alligator Got Escorted Out of Fairfax
5 Things to Know About the New Trump Smartphone
PHOTOS: Army 250 Festival and Parade
Trump’s Damp Military Parade Overshadowed by Weekend of Political Violence, Protests; Dems Turn Out Early for Virginia Primary; Washington Post Journalists Hacked
How Would a New DC Stadium Compare to the Last One?
PHOTOS: “No Kings” Protests Draw Thousands in DC Area