Tina Fey Live at Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Award
• July 26, 2011

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts became a “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock” annex, Tuesday, Nov. 9, as Tina Fey was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Many of Fey’s comedic friends were there to celebrate her award—the 13th Mark Twain Prize and the third for a woman—and, of course, her friendship and career, from Second City Comedy to SNL, and other comedy connections.

The wisecracking love fest included lots of TV clips and featured a dozen of Fey’s favorites on stage: Fred Armisen, Steve Carell, Jimmy Fallon, Jon Hamm, Jennifer Hudson, Jane Krakowski, Steve Martin, Seth Meyers, Lorne Michaels, Tracy Morgan, Amy Poehler and Betty White.

Steve Martin, a Mark Twain awardee, opened the show: “Every year, Washington, D.C., becomes a comedy Mecca. And we know how funny Mecca is.” Via video, Fey’s “30 Rock”co-star Alec Baldwin appeared as Mark Twain himself, talking to the future, and befuddled that a women will receive a humor award. Amy Poehler, looking up to the balcony level, where Fey sat with husband Jeff Richmond and her parents, said, “You got that ‘Evita theme working.”

Lorne Michaels, another Twain awardee, praised the group of “talented performers with low ratings.” Betty White confessed: “I’m the only one here who actually dated Mark Twain. And I can tell you they didn’t call him Samuel Longhorne Clemens for nothing.”

Accepting her award, the night’s honored guest took to stage of the Kennedy Center, saying that it would soon be known as “The Tea Party Bowling Alley and Rifle Range.” Fey joked that she thought the award was for “Austrian humor” and that, in the future, people will say of her jokes: “Wow, that is racist.” She thanked Lorne Michaels, who hired her on SNL. Acknowledging her famed Sarah Palin impressions, Fey recalled the 2004 Life magazine cover of her and Sen. John McCain, foretelling the look of the 2008 McCain-Palin campaign. Later, Fey and her cohorts were seen hanging out at the Four Seasons.

“Tina Fey: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Award” will air on PBS nationwide, Nov. 14 (WETA locally). [gallery ids="99548,104495,104484,104491,104488" nav="thumbs"]

President Obama and Chancellor Merkel dine at 1789
•

Before her official welcome to Washington today, President Barack Obama took German Chancellor Angela Merkel to 1789 Restaurant, where they dined alone, having salad and beef tenderloin but no dessert, at the second-floor Wickets Room, June 6.

Dan Harding, general manager of 1789 and the Tombs, said that the White House gave them short notice of the special visit, calling at 4 p.m. for a reservation. Dinners for the two leaders were prepared by sous chef Erwin Rhodas, not executive chef Daniel Giusti, who was off for the day, filming a Food Network show in New York, Harding said.

The presidential motorcade rocketed along Prospect Street just after 7 p.m., as neighbors found nearby intersections closed by the Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police Department. Countersniper team moved atop Georgetown University’s Walsh Building across the street from 1789 and the Tombs, and police dogs checked the sidewalks. A crowd gathered at 36th & Prospect with phones and cameras and waited for the president to depart.

Meanwhile, patrons continued to enter 1789 and the Tombs and were wanded by the Secret Service. Georgetown University students Saum Ayria and Chris Scribner, dining at the Tombs at the same time as the president, enjoyed the surprise. “What a Washington, D.C., experience — the president just upstairs.” Scribner said. As Obama and Merkel left around 9:15 p.m., Jennyfer Sellem, a lawyer from Paris interning at the French Embassy, snapped a shot of the leaders inside the limo as it raced back to the White House. “What happened yesterday evening has added to my amazing experience here,” she said.

The big state dinner for Germany is tonight at the White House. [gallery ids="99930,99931,99932,99933,99934" nav="thumbs"]

Newsbabes Fight Cancer With Verve, Class and Beauty
•

D.C.’s Newsbabes lit up the Collonade Room May 17 at the Fairmont Hotel, all to benefit the fight against cancer, to meet friends and colleagues and to make some guys smile. The third annual Newsbabes Bash for Breast Cancer is a prelude for the June 4 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The stunning and fun group of female journalists honored cancer survivors Jennifer Griffin of Fox News, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and others. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius spoke about how cancer has touched her and America’s families. Washington, D.C., first lady — or first daughter — Jonice Gray Tucker recalled losing her mother Loretta to cancer and “all those left behind” by her death and stressed the greater need by underprivileged or minority groups to fight cancer and raise awareness for early detection. When the Newsbabes lined up, WTOP’s Man About Town Bob Madigan joined them as the honorary host and one lucky fellow. [gallery ids="99761,99762,99763,99764" nav="thumbs"]

A look into Georgetown’s Past
•

The first Americans called it Tohoga – “sweet land of sassafras.” This settlement may have changed its trails and huts, but Georgetown remains the meeting place for the District and its nation.

When walking along M Street – once called Bridge Street, and later referred to as “The Miracle Mile” – we should be mindful that these same steps were once trod by the likes of George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Other notables followed: Francis Scott Key, William Marbury, Benjamin Stoddert, William Corcoran and J.C. Calhoun. Georgetown, formerly of Maryland, was the first (and for a while the only) complete business community and village in the new nation’s capital.

The Old Stone House (residential, 1765) and the City Tavern Club building (business, 1796), both on M Street, are the oldest structures in Washington. The beginnings of IBM occurred on 31st Street. Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone switching station was next to the C&O Canal, where such a telecommunications structure still remains today. Georgetown University is the oldest Catholic institution of higher learning in the country. President Abraham Lincoln frequented Oak Hill Cemetery, where his son Willie was once interred.

Then in the late 19th century, Georgetown suffered an economic downturn as a result of progressively worse flooding and river silting. Becoming almost a slum, the city was essentially frozen in time.

That freeze later melted when those with government jobs sought housing here during and after World War II. The antique, authentic aesthetic has attracted smart, affluent Americans and foreigners alike ever since. It is said that by leaving their homes untouched, the poor saved Georgetown.

Fifty years ago this month, in 1960, Georgetown became the fashionable place again when an N Street resident by the name of John F. Kennedy ran for president. Today, we are intimately familiar with the senators and government officials, foreign dignitaries, journalists, authors, artists and businesspersons all living or working here. Together we are helping this old town continue to tell new stories. You see, history is not only the past in Georgetown. It is present all around you. [gallery ids="99248,104169,104190,104174,104186,104179,104183" nav="thumbs"]

Miss America Wows the Nation’s Capital
•

“First, to become president and then a Supreme Court justice,” said Miss America 2011, Teresa Scanlan, of her high goals at a Capitol Hill Club reception, March 29. And you believe her.

Miss America brought her campaign to the nation’s capital this week, joined by her cabinet of 16 other state title-holders from the Miss America Pageant, where Scanlan was crowned Jan. 15 in Las Vegas at the age of 17. During the Cherry Blossom Festival, her tour expanded to include fellow contestants who have formed a powerful sisterhood and made the scene from the halls of the U.S. Congress, to a Potomac River cruise and restaurants around town.

At the Miss D.C. Scholarship Organization fundraiser, hosted by Lisa and Charlie Spies in the GOP gathering place, two blocks from the Capitol building, a former Miss D.C. Sonya Gavankar of the Newseum and Miss D.C. 2011 Stephanie Williams introduced the “astounding, accomplished women,” who are easy on the eyes as well as easy to speak with. Former Misses D.C. Jen Corey and Kate Michael were also there.

Miss Oklahoma Emoly West said it was “great getting to meet more people around D.C.” Miss Arizona Kathryn Bulkley found it was “awe-inspiring” to be on the floor of the House and Senate. Miss Florida Jaclyn Raulerson loved the tour of the U.S. Capitol and walking through the Rotunda, after the women had lunched there.
But it was the now 18-year-old Miss America from Gering, Nebraska, who was the star of the show.

Homeschooled until her junior year at Scottsbluff High School, Scanlan has enrolled at Patrick Henry College, a conservative Christian school in Purcellville, Va., less than 40 miles from D.C. “I will be staying around and do internships,” she said, as she posed with and easily charmed everyone — future voters, no doubt — who wanted to say hello.

While the other 16 women were down at the Tidal Basin that afternoon, admiring the cherry blossoms and posing for pictures, the mature-for-her-age Scanlan was three blocks north at the White House Council on Women and Girls, a federal watchdog in matters of public policy, especially equal pay, family leave and child care. The presidential board relates to her Miss America Platform on eating disorders, which was prompted by one of her best friend’s bulimia. “It is also important to be encouraging women in science,” Scanlan said of the education campaign. (In October, she will be meeting the man himself, President Obama.)

Other places and events felt the Miss America magic: a gala at the Kennedy Center, the Congressional Correspondents’ Dinner and the Embassy of Croatia (her maternal grandparents are from there). At a lunch at Cafe Milano, Franco Nuschese presented her with Ann Hand’s Liberty Eagle pin, made famous by such wearers as Hillary Clinton and Madeleine Albright, both Secretaries of State. All well and good, but, as you know, Scanlan is aiming for the White House. And those who know her well, especially in Nebraska, fully expect her to get there. [gallery ids="99637,105239,105246,105243" nav="thumbs"]

‘Once Upon a Prom’ at Ella Rue
•

Ladies, hurry up and drop off those old prom dresses at Ella Rue. The boutique, owned by Krista Johnson, will accept donations for Once Upon a Prom, a non-profit, now in its fifth year, run by Ashley Taylor of Ann Hand LLC. The P Street shop held a fundraiser, March 31. The dresses are provided free, one per each young woman who otherwise could not afford it. The 2011 Prom Dress Giveaway at Eastern Market is set for April 17. [gallery ids="99224,103531,103528" nav="thumbs"]

G’TOWN House Tour Parties Honor Frida Burling
•

The Georgetown Hour Tour kicked off at the Steiners’ home on Q Street, April 28, with a classy patrons’ party for Saturday’s main event. During the house tour, the Georgetowner, along with Eagle- Bank, 42 Degrees Catering, Boffi Georgetown, Canal Builders, hosted a daylong hospitality suite at Boffi on M Street, April 30. (Special thanks to DC Greenworks, Ultra Violet Flowers and Euro Motorcars, Inc., Bentley Bethesda.) Saturday climaxed with a presentation to the house tour’s patron saint: Frida Burling — who lets you know that she is 95, just a little older than the house tour itself — and reminded all: the tour benefited the Georgetown Ministry Center and other charities. [gallery ids="102513,120129,120121,120133" nav="thumbs"]

Corcoran Ball Artfully Shimmers
•

Never failing to impress, the 56th Annual Corcoran Ball — hosted by Tammie Collins — shone through rich colors, classic settings and an A-list all its own, as those other parties went on around town, April
29. With the masterpieces in ad hoc dining rooms, the thousand or so guests also viewed fresh artworks by Corcoran students. And to finish, dancing amid the alabaster splendor. [gallery ids="99666,106029,106040,106037,106034" nav="thumbs"]

White House Correspondents’ Parties, Etc.: D.C.’s Prom Dates
•

The parties before and after the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton, April 30, grabbed the attention of pols, entertainers, media, activists and fans before that huge Sunday evening announcement by President Obama. He attended the dinner, poking fun at Donald Trump along with comedian Seth Myers. The first lady was wearing Halston; the Donald was wearing a frown.
Parties began with Quinn Gillespie, Lani Hays, Creative Coalition, People, the Bradleys, Tammy Haddad’s garden brunch on R Street, where Sarah Palin was the one not to miss (but she left early). Then, afterwards, MSNBC at the Italian Embassy; Capitol File with Bing and the Creative Coalition at the Reagan Building; Washington Life on Q Street; Vanity Fair at the French ambassador’s residence. On Sunday, brunches from Politico Q Street and John Laughlin and Thomson Reuters at the Hays Adams.
So, is all this truly D.C.’s nerd prom season, as many like to say? We report; you decide.
[gallery ids="99668,106084,106089,106094,106099,106104,106109,106114,106119,106124,106079,106074,106145,106049,106141,106054,106137,106059,106133,106064,106069,106129" nav="thumbs"]

BID Members, Friends ‘Come Out and Play’ at Swedish Embassy
• July 13, 2011

Board members, staff, friends and business leaders met June 9 for a lively annual meeting of the Georgetown Business Improvement District at the House of Sweden on the edge of the Potomac. The main event was the unveiling of the redesigned BID website and a new logo and tagline for the merchants of the town – “Come Out and Play” – as well as staff, safety and finance reports. Along with Design Cuisine finger food, guests later got those cool brown swag bags with the new logo and enjoyed desserts from Sprinkles Cupcakes on M Street and Georgetown Candy on Wisconsin Avenue. Sweet! [Editor’s Note: See GT Observer in this issue for news on the BID update.] [gallery ids="100065,106149,100066,100067,100068,100069" nav="thumbs"]