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Bipartisan Hot Spot, Cafe Milano, Marks 30 Years With Blowout Bash

By The Georgetowner • November 14, 2022 0 2543

Mayor Muriel Bowser and Franco Nuschese, owner of Cafe Milano, speak onstage during the 30th anniversary party at Cafe Milano on Nov. 11. Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Haddad Media.

Cafe Milano, the Georgetown eatery at 3251 Prospect St. NW that has served as a bipartisan gathering spot since owner Franco Nuschese opened its doors on election day 1992, marked its 30th anniversary with a blowout celebration at the restaurant on Nov. 11.

Attendees included CNN Chairman and CEO Chris Licht, former Virginia Gov. Terry McAullife, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Dionne Warwick, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) Fox News anchor Bret Baier, BET founder Bob Johnson, CNN Anchors Wolf Blitzer and Kaitlan Collins, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, Kellyanne Conway, British Ambassador Karen Pierce, UAE Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba, former National Security Advisor Gen. Jim Jones, former CIA and NSA director Michael Hayden, former Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, former Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman, and more.

Jonathan Karl, ABC News chief Washington correspondent and co-anchor of “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” served as emcee. Urban jazz harmonicist Frédéric Yonnet and his band provided the evening’s entertainment. Tony Award-winning Hamilton performer Paul Oakley Stovall surprised Nuschese with a solo rendition of “The Room Where it Happens” and rapper Doug E. Fresh took the stage to perform a few songs.

Karl read a letter from President Joe Biden congratulating Nuschese. Mayor Muriel Bowser presented Nuschese with a plaque marking the restaurant’s 30 years.

“I am incredibly honored and humbled by all of the love you are giving me tonight,” Nuschese said. “But I want you to know one thing — this party is for you. We would not be here tonight if it wasn’t for you and for all the support you have given us over the last 30 years.”

Nuschese also announced that in honor of Veterans Day, Cafe Milano would be donating to three organizations supporting Veterans and military families: Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, Blue Star Families and Dog Tag Bakery. Nuschese invited party-goers to also donate, and acknowledged the men and women in uniform in attendance at the event.

Cafe Milano welcomed its first guests on Nov. 3, 1992, the day President Bill Clinton was elected. It has since counted not only Washingtonians, but world leaders, governors, ambassadors, members of Congress, sports figures and celebrities as regular diners.

: Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Franco Nuschese, Laurent Menoud and Lyndon Boozer. Photo by John Harrington/courtesy Cafe Milano.

: Marlene Cooke,Franco Nuschese, Photo by John Harrington/courtesy Cafe Milano.

: Krista Johnson and Josie Taylor. Photo by John Harrington/courtesy Cafe Milano.

: Photo by John Harrington/courtesy Cafe Milano.

: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Franco Nuschese at Cafe Milano’s 30th anniversary party. Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Haddad Media.