Washington Winter Show

For Washington antique lovers, the New Year launches with the Washington Winter Show (WWS) founded in 2009 by former Trustees of the Washington Antiques Show to raise funds for local charities serving needy children and families in our area. The 2012 beneficiaries are Fight for Children, The Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys, Starlight Children’s Foundation, THEARC and the St. John’s Community Services. The Jan. 5-8 events at the Katzen Arts Center at American University kicked off with a preview night party of “Celebrating the White House,” this year’s theme with Caroline Kennedy serving as Honorary Chair. The Loan Exhibit showcased “Treasures of the First Families” curated by Leslie Jones. Forty-five leading US and European exhibitors displayed period furnishings and decorative arts, vintage jewelry, porcelains, ceramics, silver and architectural garden accents. When former White House Florist Nancy Clarke was unable to present her program, former White House Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier saved the day as well as charming his scheduled audience the following day. He told wonderful insider tales of accommodating a series of quite determined First Ladies and signed copies of his five books chronicling a stellar career. WWS included appraisals, guided walks by Frank Babb Randolph, John Peters Irelan and Andrew Law as well as appraisals and jazz by the Levine School of Music Faculty Jazz Band.