After a two year pandemic hiatus, the White House Correspondents Association’s annual dinner, aka Nerd Prom, is back this weekend. This year’s gathering takes us back to the days of 2016, with celebrities—Kim and Pete, Drew Barrymore—descending upon the city, the President showing up for a roast (Donald Trump never went during his time in office), and parties taking place around the clock, starting tonight. Daily Show host Trevor Noah will host the main event–the dinner itself, which happens Saturday night at the Washington Hilton in Dupont Circle, and President Biden plans to attend. As for the rest of the weekend, here’s what’s on the docket.
Thursday, April 28
Cocktails & Correspondents
Where: The home of author and political reporter Jonathan Allen.
Hosts: Jonathan Allen and Molly Jong-Fast.
Free Expression Awards from Freedom Forum
Where: The Anthem in Southwest DC.
Host: MSNBC host and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart. Daily Show contributor and comedian Jordan Klepper is the featured entertainer.
Bytes & Bylines
Where: The Irish Ambassador’s residence in Kalorama.
Hosts: Ambassador Daniel Mulhall, Allen Gannett, De’Ara Balenger, Eric Kuhn, Susanna Quinn, Sarah Kate Ellis, and Stellene Volandes.
Washington Women in Journalism Awards Ceremony
Where: The Larz Anderson House in Dupont Circle.
Hosts: Story Partners and Washingtonian.
Honorees: ABC’s Martha Raddatz, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, the Washington Post’s Kathleen Parker, and NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe.
Friday, April 29
Politics and Inclusion Dinner
Where: Masseria restaurant, near Union Market.
Hosts: CNN’s Abby Phillips and ColorComm’s Lauren Wesley Wilson.
Guests: CNN’s Don Lemon, Van Jones, and Jim Acosta; The View’s Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro; MSNBC’s Rashida Jones, Tiffany Cross and Symone Sanders.
NBCU News Group D.C. Bureau’s Open House
Where: The NBCU News bureau at 400 N Capitol St.
Hosts: News Group Chairman Cesar Conde
VERSUS with ELLE Magazine and Chief
Where: Ciel Social Club in Mount Vernon Triangle.
Hosts: Entrepreneur (and Ciel owner) Vinoda Basnayake, Elle executive editor Sarah Austin, and Chief co-founder and CEO Carolyn Childers.
The Creative Coalition’s #RightToBearArts Gala
Where: Art & Soul restaurant at Capitol Hill’s Yotel.
Hosts: Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas and a slew of actors, including Tim Daly (Madam Secretary); Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary); BD Wong (Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens); and Mario Van Peebles (A Million Little Things). KT Tunstall will perform.
Voto Latino’s Our Voices
Where: National Archives Museum.
Hosts: Voto Latino CEO Maria Teresa Kumar and actor Rosario Dawson.
UTA’s Celebration of American Journalists Party
Where: Fiola Mare restaurant in Georgetown.
Host: United Talent Agency, which represents, among others, Chelsea Handler.
CAA Party
Where: Dovetail at the Viceroy Hotel in Logan Circle.
Host: Creative Artists Agency.
Potential celeb guests: Sophia Bush and Drew Barrymore, who are both represented by CAA. This is also one we’re watching for Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian, who are reportedly coming to town.
Funny or Die Party
Where: The Reach at the Kennedy Center.
Hosts: Funny or Die and People.
Expected guests: Comedian Billy Eichner; CBS’s Gayle King; musicians JC Chasez and Julian Casablancas; Real Housewife of Potomac Ashley Darby; and actors Harry Hamlin, Lynda Carter, BD Wong, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Saturday, April 30
White House Correspondents Garden Brunch
Where: Beall-Washington House in Georgetown.
Hosts: PR consultant Tammy Haddad with Washington Kastles owner Mark Ein and Sally Ein; Bloomberg’s Kevin Sheekey; MSNBC/NBC News host Stephanie Ruhle; Washington Week moderator Yamiche Alcindor; Cafe Milano owner Franco Nuschese; Clinton Foundation’s Craig Minassian; and KnightSwan’s Teresa Carlson.
Honorees: The 27th annual brunch will honor journalist Bob Woodruff and speaker/author Lee Woodruff and Lt. General Donna W. Martin. Blue Star Families and Dog Tag Bakery will be recognized.
Saturday After Parties
After Party at the Residence of the Ambassador of Colombia.
Where: The Colombian Ambassador’s residence in Kalorama.
Hosts: Ambassador of Colombia Juan Carlos Pinzón. Thievery Corporation’s Eric Hilton is performing.
theGrio’s “A Seat at the Table” (honoring journalist April Ryan)
Where: Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History & Culture
Hosts: TheGrio and comedian Chris Tucker. Mary J. Blige will perform, with a special appearance by D-Nice. Brian Henry will be the evening’s DJ.
Expected guests: Media mogul Byron Allen, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, theGrio contributors Touré, Panama Jackson, Natasha Alford, and Michael Harriot, and more.
The Paramount Party
Where: The French Ambassador’s residence in Kalorama.
Hosts: CBS’s George Cheeks, Showtime’s David Nevins, MTV Entertainment Group’s Chris McCarthy and Paramount+’s Tom Ryan. Note, this was the location of the Vanity Fair soirees of years past.
VERSUS’ After Party with Julian Casablancas
Where: Ciel Social Club in Mount Vernon Triangle.
Host: Ciel owner Vinoda Basnayake. The Strokes singer Julian Casablancas will make an appearance and “curate” the music.
Expected Guest: Gossip Girl‘s Evan Mock.
NBCU
Where: the Reach at the Kennedy Center
One of several weekend events being hosted by NBCU, the afterparty will reportedly feature DJ Jaime Ferreira.
Sunday, May 1
Politico Brunch
Where: The home of former Politico owner Robert Allbritton and dermatologist Elena Allbritton.
Hosts: The Allbrittons.
CNN’s Hangover Brunch
Amy leads Washingtonian Weddings and writes Style Setters for Washingtonian. Prior to joining Washingtonian in March 2016, she was the editor of Capitol File magazine in DC and before that, editor of What’s Up? Weddings in Annapolis.
