Overheard at Lunch: D.C. Gossip Girl

Ocean City Bans Nudity
If you’re looking to get out of D.C. this summer and be a little more “free,” Ocean City, Maryland, may not be your best choice. In response to the advocacy of “topfreedom” by blogger Chelsea Covington — who says, according to the Washington Post, that her cause is “about equality, positivity and against body shaming and the forced sexualization of the female form” — the town passed an emergency ordinance banning public nudity, including female breasts lacking an opaque covering. The new regulation imposes a fine of up to $1,000. Sorry ladies, there’s always Europe.

Caroline Biden.

Ex-Veep’s Niece Evades Jail
Caroline Biden, niece of former Vice President Joe Biden, pleaded guilty to a credit-card scam worth $110,000, the New York Daily News reported. Under the plea bargain, she will stay out of jail but have to repay the money. Biden, 29, used a stranger’s credit card to go on an extended shopping spree in luxury Greenwich Village pharmacy C.O. Bigelow in the spring of 2016. During her Georgetown University years, she blamed her troubles — including alcohol and Adderall addiction — on being the veep’s niece, according to the New York Post.

Miley Cyrus.

Miley Stays at the Mandarin
Pop star and equality advocate Miley Cyrus was in town earlier this month to headline a Pride weekend concert, along with the Pointer Sisters. Evidently Cyrus is a fan of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, as she was spotted there over the event-filled weekend. The hotel, which says it “offers five-star luxury in the heart of the US capital,” is located just south of the National Mall, near where Cyrus performed.

Former President Carter’s Friendly Skies
Former President Jimmy Carter is certainly friendlier in the air than we are. Twitter user @JayShef recorded a video clip of the 92-year-old former leader shaking the hand of every passenger on a flight from D.C. to Atlanta. Perhaps we could all learn a little from Carter’s aircraft-cabin cordiality.

President Carter shook hands with passengers.

Seersucker Thursday at Comey Hearing
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) did not scrimp on Southern fashion despite the seriousness of her agenda on a recent Thursday. On June 8, Feinstein took part in Seersucker Thursday, an annual event created more than 20 years ago by then-Sen. Trent Lott (R-Mississipi). Feinstein advocated for women to participate in the Senate tradition. Not even the Comey hearing could keep the 83-year-old senator from looking fashionably cool, evidently.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) celebrated Seersucker Thursday during the Comey hearing.

President Barack Obama with daughter Sasha Obama.

Happy Sweet Sixteen!
On June 10, right around the time it was reported that the Obamas would buy the Kalorama home they planned to rent until she finished high school, the younger Obama daughter turned 16. Photos from her Sweet Sixteen party showed Sasha Obama, in a bright-red slip dress, with her mom and dad and in a photo booth making silly faces — just like a typical 16-year-old. Congrats, Sasha!

Kate Mara Advocates for Animal Welfare
She may have played journalist Zoe Barnes on the popular Netflix series “House of Cards,” but in real life actress Kate Mara is an animal advocate. Fittingly, Mara stars in the summer movie “Megan Leavey,” which tells the tale of a Marine and her service dog. She was spotted earlier this month on Capitol Hill presenting a petition to get the Department of Agriculture to restore deleted files relating to animal cruelty at places like puppy mills and circuses, the Washington Post reported.

Actress Kate Mara advocates for animals.