| |  | The first museum dedicated to international espionage, “The InternationalSpy Museum,” slated to open in spring 2002, will be located |
| at 800 F Street, N.W. The museum will feature the largest collection of internationalespionage artifacts ever publicly displayed, including: Escape Boots - designed forBritish pilots in WWII; a Robot T1340 Camera — an East German cameradesigned to photograph through walls; Enigma, the legendary WWII Germancipher machine; and Shoe Transmitter — a Soviet listening device hiddeninside the heel of a target’s shoe. Some of the museum’s advisors: Judge William Webster(former director of the FBI and CIA); former Chief of KGB Foreign Counterintelligence MajorGeneral Oleg Kalugin; Rep. Louis Stokes; and former Chief of Disguisefor the CIA Antonio Joseph Mendez. Longtime CIA Employee E. PeterEarnest will serve as Executive Director. WL wants to know whether MaxwellSmart’s phone shoe will be among the artifacts. | | 
The International Spy Museum
(Courtesy of International Spy Museum)
| | Grand Re-opening. Did we say grand? TheBenetton store in Georgetown has relocated fromits former location in Georgetown Park to new, more commodious digs at 1200 Wisconsin Avenue,N.W. (the former site of The National Bank of Washington). Café Milano co-owner IraklisKarabassis (who coincidentally owns and operates over 65 Benetton stores across the UnitedStates) threw a reception at the new 3-floor, 9,000 square foot megastore onDecember 20. Among the guests was | 
Model | | D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams, who advisedthe crowd to “come out, spend money, revitalize the economy, get parking tickets inGeorgetown!” The store boasts a mixture of Italian porcelain and hardwood flooring,stainless steel fixtures, and contemporary graphics that showcase Benetton and Sisley’s colorful, trendy clothingand accessories to full advantage. Twenty percent of sales during the opening party and proceeds from a live coatauction benefited the “Toys for Tots Foundation.” New megastores are scheduled to open soon in other major cities, including Moscow,Osaka, New York, Madrid and Barcelona. Shop ‘til you drop, Washington! | | 
Iraklis Karabassis, Rhonda Landrum,
Mayor Williams & Claudia De Kim | 
Pavlos Liuanios
& Angelo Passaretta | 
Herb Miller | | (photos by Geoffrey T Chesman) |
| | Diamonds are a hotel’s best friend, too. The Ritz-Carlton, Washington,D.C. was awarded the AAA Five Diamond Award at the organization’s annualceremony held at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, in Naples, Florida in mid-October2001. Said the Ritz’s DC General Manager James McBride, “It is truly atribute to the fine service, effort and expertise of our ladies and gentlemen hereat The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. The award belongs to all of them. I considerthis a stepping stone on our journey to excellence.”
| | Other news regarding the Ritz-Carlton—The Kobalt Restaurant whereWashington Life celebrated its 10th Anniversary is changing its name toThe Grill. The name is shared by many of the Ritz-Carlton’s sister hotelsnationwide. A pianist will accompany your meal on Friday nights from 8 to11:00 p.m. and on Saturday nights the restaurant will feature vocals and danc-ingwith The Allens. Chef Emery Santo graduated from the prestigiousJohnson and Wales University and came to Washington after stints in thekitchens of The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel and Philadelphia. If you came tothe WL party and sampled the mouthwatering salmon, foie gras, lobster springrolls, or avocado crab cakes, don’t worry. The chef was Emery Santo duringhis “trial period.” He obviously passed with “flying colors” and Washingtonand The Ritz-Carlton are fortunate to have him.
| | WL has also learned that well-respected icon of the hotel industry, William R.“Bill” Tiefel, Chairman Emeritus of the Ritz –Carlton Hotel Company, hasannounced his retirement at the end of this year after 40 years of dedicated serviceto the Marriott Corporation. Described by Marriott InternationalChairman and President J.W. “Bill” Marriott Jr. as “a visionarywho is not afraid of change, and who is anxious to see things donebetter tomorrow than they are done today,” Mr. Tiefel counts amonghis many honors and accomplishments: being named Corporate“Hotelier of the World” in 1996 by Hotels Magazine; a 2001“Industry Achievement Award” from Widener University’s School ofHospitality Management; leading the evolution of Marriott Lodginginto one business (when he started at the company in 1961 therewere 3 existing hotels & another on the way, today there are over2,300); leading the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company acquisition within the MarriottCorporation, and making the Marriott Vacation Club International the strongest time-sharebusiness in the country. Mr. Tiefel and his wife Norma will split their timebetween their homes in Kalorama and Palm Beach, Florida. | | 
Bill Tiefel
| | “The Donut King,” an independent film that premiered at the firstGeorgetown Independent Film Festival in August 2001, was selected forthat winter ritual for the movie industry celebrating “indies” in Park City, Utah, theSundance Film Festival. It was the only film by a D.C. filmmaker singled out forthis honor. Twenty-three year-old Angela Ottinger shot the black-and-white short(just over 3 minutes long) about a boy, a woman, and a doughnut. Keep thosedoughnuts and indie films rolling.
| | Shopping bag chic. Neiman Marcus is introducing speciallydesigned shopping bags this spring. Renowned fashion illustratorTobie Giddio, best known for her work in Vogue, Harper’sBazaar, and The New Yorker, has interpreted the traditionalNM butterfly via a black ink drawing with Pantone film cut andplaced unto it, creating a bold visual with an abstract feel. Thebag will be available throughout the year; an assortment of artistsutilizing different mediums will be interpreting the logo for NM. | | 
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