Napoléon Bistro

Photos by Tony Powell

Omar Popal

THE EVENT: Omar Popal is smart, handsome, charming, a bit mischevious in good hearted way, and oh-so-discreet – just a few of the reasons why 300 of his best pals jammed Napoléon Bistro, his family’s Adams-Morgan eatery, to drink, dine, and dance in honor of the actor/model/restaurateur’s 30th. THE SCENE: The birthday boy watched good-naturedly as a lifetime’s worth of often embarrassing but always wittily encaptioned photos were put together and projected by big brother Mustafa Popal and sister Fatima Popal. Later, clan elders surrendered the premises to late-arriving scenesters who partied until closing in the lower level lounge/discothèque. THE GUESTS: Paul Wharton, Karim Chrobog, Routiza and Bita Vahhabaghai, Carolina Furukrona, Douglas Eldridge, Erwin Gomez, and Will Thomas.

Caron and Andrea Butler

Location: Capitol Plaza and Ibiza Nightclub

WL HOSTED - Photos by Betsy Spruill Clarke, Luke Christopher, Fitsum Bellay, Anchyi Wei, and Carol Joynt/NYSD

THE EVENT: This year’s soirée got the accomplished listees down to the growing NoMa district, just north of Union Station. Capitol Plaza, the new-office-space-turned-spectacular-lounge was brimming with political stars from the White House, professional athletes, the arts crowd, journalists, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and young social scenesters. THE SCENE: Event planner André Wells turned the salute to the under-40 set into a night to remember. The industrial space featuring a sweeping view of the city was transformed with towering floral arrangements from Janet Flowers, food tiers by Design Cuisine and Georgetown Cupcake, and sashaying models in outfits from CUSP. The 500 guests took a turn on the dance floor, then settled back in Roche Bobois’ sleek lounge areas. The midnight revelers then made their way to Ibiza Night Club to carouse ’till dawn. THE GUESTS: Nationals star Ryan Zimmerman, George Chopivsky and Clara Brillembourg, Chris Hayes, and Jason Van Buren.

How to top three years of headline-making fêtes? With the unexpected!

Syzygy’s decor was the perfect complement to Capitol Plaza’s sweeping views of the city,

As we celebrated our fourth year of the Young & The Guest List, we were certain those who attended would expect us to continue using classic venues for the annual soirée. In the past, we celebrated in such historic locations as Dumbarton House, Meridian House, Halcyon House, and the St. Regis Hotel. This year, however, we were after something completely different. From the beginning, the tone of The Young & The Guest List party was set by the black and silver invitations designed by Haute Papier’s Sarah Meyer Walsh.

Once again, we enlisted Events by André Wells. Who better than maestro Wells to transform Capitol Plaza – a recently completed, modern commercial building in the city’s most up and coming neighborhood, the NOMA district in Northeast – into a sophisticated urban lounge? He infused the cavernous concrete space with the elegance of a bygone era and the high-end luxury our guests have come to expect from our annual celebration of 250 of the city’s top under-40 over-achievers.

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Kate Marie Grinold, Adrian Loving, Lindsay Czarniak, Michael Dove, Dominique Dawes and Francis Hoang represent a few of the many successful locals on the list.

In a city filled with some of the nation’s most dynamic young people, the 250 individuals who comprise this year’s Young & The Guest List repeatedly stand out; as leaders, risk-takers, givers, connectors, and changemakers. Their achievements vary widely, but each was nominated, researched, and debated before being added to the list. What emerged from this process is a more accomplished group than ever before, and so for the first time, we’ve decided to include their professional titles alongside their names. The past three months have reminded us all how quickly the city’s young power players can change. But after four years, The Young & The Guest List is still the only place to find them all.

A

Miss Huma Abedin
Aide, Office of Secretary of State Hiliary Rodham Clinton

Mr. Marc Adelman
Principal, Adelmania Consulting

His Excellency the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates Yousef Al Otaiba

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Young Power Players Show Substance and Style are in Vogue.

Photography Gabriel Scindian at the Willard Intercontinental Washington
Style Lana Orloff
Makeup Stacie Snyder Hair by Jesse Harbaugh
Shoot Assistants: Georgia Bobley, Megan Buerger, Sara Siegel, and Whitney Wegner

ON MARIA: Shoshanna gold dress ($350); Urban Chic, 1626 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-338-5398, www.urbanchiconline.com. Spark Creation Signature Collection gold necklace ($14,220) and oval pavé earrings ($4,125); Liljenquist & Beckstead Jewelers, 2001 International Dr., McLean, Va., 703-448-6731, www.liljenquist.com. Chas. Schwartz dripping earrings ($2,150); Chas. Schwartz & Son Jewelers, Willard InterContinental Hotel, 1400 F St. NW, 202-737-4757, www.chasschwartzjewelers.com. ON JAMAL: Isaia blue pin-stripe suit ($3,120), Isaia purple tie ($225), and Isaia lavender pin-stripe dress shirt ($450); Saks Fifth Avenue Men’s Store, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-497-5100, www.saksfifthavenue.com. Hulbot Big Bang 44mm “Red Gold Black Ceramic” automatic chronograph watch ($22,900); Liljenquist & Beckstead Jewelers, 2001 International Dr., McLean, Va., 703-448-6731, www.liljenquist.com.

Jamal Simmons
Emerged from the 2008 election as one of the new young voices in the world of political analysis, becoming a fixture of CNN’s election coverage. Currently the president of New Future Communications, Simmons is committed to engaging more people of color in the political process, and regularly volunteers his time mentoring and speaking to young people interested in government.

Maria Teresa Petersen
Named by Hispanic Magazine as among the top Latinas in government and politics, the executive director and co-founder of Voto Latino launched the first-ever national mobile texting campaign to register voters in 2006. A frequent guest on Chris Matthew’s Hardball, she also appears on CNBC, NPR, CNN Español, and Fox News as a political analyst.

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The fresh new faces that have all of Washington — and the country — watching

By Kate Palmer

Without a doubt, the young, new Obama aides are overnight celebrities. To the new administration, they’re a continuing connection to America’s youngest voters. To veteran Washingtonians, they’re simply the flavor of the week. And to aspiring young politicos, they’re, well, masters of the universe.

Indeed, the newest members of Washington’s political establishment are a young, ambitious bunch. In that way, they’re not so different from the more conservative counterparts they replaced. And like any members of the postmodern, post-racial, post Clinton, post-everything generation, they’re as aware of the threats of the future they will help shape as they are optimistic about its potential.

So what is it about this crop of fresh new faces that has all of Washington – and the country – watching?

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In a world where pretty young things too often become blond charity parodies, Fashion for Paws is giving a racy web tactic an uptown makeover

By Christina W. Wilkie

The annual Fashion for Paws runway show is Saturday, March 28 at the Embassy of Italy.

Ever heard of a website called myfreeimplants.com? It’s the one where women raise money online for breast implants from anonymous men, who “contribute” to their personal “surgery funds” in exchange for the privilege of interacting with them – also online (or supposedly). Pretty sleazy, but clever, too.  I mean, who wouldn’t want to view a lineup of lovely ladies, and then decide whom to assist in “enhancing” themselves? A voyeuristic power-trip dressed up like an act of altruism. Brilliant.  But tacky.

So, imagine my surprise when a friend recently directed me to her “personal fundraising page” on the website of the ‘Fashion for Paws’ runway show, scheduled for March to benefit the Washington Humane Society. Right below her come-hither photo in an evening gown, there was a tab that said, “Sponsor Me.” Huh? Right above the photo is a box with a thermometer showing just how close she is getting to achieving her “goal.” And a list of the people who’d sponsored her so far. Confused, I backed out of her personal page, and to my total amazement there was a list of 40 of Georgetown’s most beautiful and philanthropic young people, each of whom had a link to a page with their picture and plea for sponsorship. Wait. Where have I seen this before?

Now, don’t get me wrong. Fashion for Paws is a top-drawer party, mostly owing to the tireless efforts of Tara deNicolas, the Humane Society’s darling director of communications. Certainly there’s no quid pro quo for the fundraising models and their donors, and the Washington Humane Society is a charity we can all get behind. Which is why I get such a kick out of this website; managing, as it does, to stay just this side of good taste. In a world where pretty young society gals too often let themselves be turned into blond charity parodies, Fashion for Paws has taken a racy concept and given it a convincingly uptown makeover, raising more than $50,000 for the Washington Humane Society in the process.  You work it, girls.

Like the concept? Choose your favorite model to sponsor at www.fashionforpaws.org

Jennifer Carter and Matt Landsberg

Location: Lima Lounge, K Street

WL SPONSORED – Photos by Kyle Samperton

EVOLUTION OF STYLE: That was the overall theme of the re-opening of K Street’s Lima Lounge after their “evolution week,” which coincided with the launch of WL’s annual Style issue. Local fashion gurus mixed and mingled with other WL stars while sampling Lima’s new menu items and exploring the re-vamped and re-styled three floors of the lounge, which now includes a new top-floor bar among other additions. THE FASHIONISTAS: NuNu Deng, James Woodyard, Cole Sharp, Brian Komar, Kadrieka Maden, Adam Hasler, Pepper Watkins, and Becca Glover.

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How to cope with the great unknowns

By Edie VanHorn

The newly-minted “Mr. and Mrs. Lett” were among a number of autumn nuptials this month.

Life’s big questions seem especially weighty between the ages of 25 and 40. For instance, what does my birth control really control? Do Red Bull Vodkas make me look cheap, or smart and alert? Is my boss really flirting with me … or am I flirting with him? With any luck, we find answers to some of them, and ditch the ones we’re not likely to figure out. Just this month I came across a few anecdotes to illustrate how some of us are coping with the “ifs,” and “as ifs,” during these uncertain years. Some will serve as inspirations, others as warnings.

Partner Up (and Settle Down)
This fall, some of the best couples I know decided to forego the June swoon to say “I do” amid the falling leaves. First in line were Nancy Margaret Ray and Andy Adler, the belle and the bachelor, whose Mississippi nuptials were enhanced by Michael Saylor’s decision to fly the entire back room of L2 down to the Magnolia State for the 500-plus person bacchanal. Later that month, not-so-rugged individualists Becca Glover and Pepper Watkins tied the knot in a private ceremony, capped off by a primo party at Juleanna Glover’s Kalorama townhouse, where guests danced to a blues band of Pepper’s pickled prepsters. Tate Yost and Gideon Lett rounded out the festivities with a rehearsal dinner at the Metropolitan Club and a divine reception at the Hay-Adams. We also congratulate Lindsay Stroud, who proposed to (and got a “yes” from) Shannon Delany on Nantucket, on the beach, at sunset, with birds singing, and hermit crabs dancing. Cynics be damned – true love is real, and when the hermit crabs dance – marry him!

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Adam Comar and Sophie Pyle

Location: Teatro Goldoni

WL SPONSORED - Photos by Jonah Koch

UP THE ANTE: The stakes were high as the Fabretto Foundation’s Poker Tournament and Masquerade Ball got underway at Teatro Goldoni. Guests donned masks as the clock struck 10 p.m. and it was all captured on film as host Katherine Kennedy and friends Sophie Pyle and Krista Johnson filmed scenes for their upcoming reality show while guests indulged in Teatro chef Enzo Fargione’s delicious dishes at the bar.

Becca Glover and her exemplary fiancé Pepper Watkins

Set personal goals to launch your social season.

By Edie Van Horn

The 2008-2009 social season began last month with a private soirée at the home of Calvin and Jane Cafritz and will end after the Opera Ball in June. With so many parties and personalities to consider, it’s the perfect time to make a New Social Season Resolution (NSSR), or two, for the coming months. There is always room for improvement, and last month provided some perfect examples of how to be better butterflies.

Madison turns five!

The “pre-resolutions” Edie Van Horn might have written something like, “There were lollipops and ferris wheel rides for lucky little girls at L2 the other night. The party celebrated the fifth birthday of the Madison, and was jointly sponsored by MENSA and NuvaRing.” Wait. Stop! How could I be so catty, shallow, and downright ghasp boring? Ergo, my NSSR #1 is to think of something more interesting to say about the Madison’s attractive, successful, philanthropic young ladies. I resolve to forego the easy lay-up, and instead say, when prompted, “Actually, I met the ever so charming Sarah Servesherself last week. Did you know that she’s the chief of staff to Senator Reelectme?”

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Halycon House's Artist's Studio was transformed by Andre Wells into a chic lounge with dramatic illumination from Frost Lighting and a bar for signature drinks. (Photo by Jonah Koch).

The Young & The Guest List party is a blessing and a curse. Each year, the morning after the party when the thank you emails come in and partygoers share that they’ve had an enjoyable time, it’s rewarding. But, as the YGL season descends upon us, there is always growing anxiety about how to throw together an even better bash.

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A year in review.

2007 was a whirlwind year for Jenna Bush: a best-selling book, an engagement, and an impassioned campaign for HIV/AIDS support.

As we rang in 2007, out went the embarrassing postings on Late Night Shots, Katherine Kennedy and longtime favorite bar Dragonfly for more serious causes and sophisticated lounges. While the under forty-set, has always been transient, it seems last year marked some notable changes and moving this crowd closer to becoming the leaders of this city.

The Washington Ballet Jeté society brought the together younger scene for their annual dance party. In the dead of winter, people hiked to the Italian Embassy for one of the most fun parties of the year. The exclusive committee including Pamela Brown, John Cecchi and Bret and Amy Baier sold an impressive 500 tickets with additional 300 on the waiting list. In total, an impressive $70,000 was raised for The Washington Ballet and proved that this set is making significant donations. But more, importantly, it set the tone that The Young & The Guest List contributions to the city’s cultural vibrancy is more than pleasing imagery. The YGL learned that a good time, a good party can also help to serve a greater cause. We saw more events selling out in record numbers including Fashion for Paws, the Courage Cup, and the Corcoran 1869 Society’s Fall Feté. In addition to the society charity staples, many more were actually establishing non-profits and foundations including efforts to support our troops and Imagination Stage. Jenna Bush could perhaps be the poster child for the YGL, who traded her partying Patron days for days in South America writing a compelling book about AIDS, which raised money for UNICEF.

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Tunes our YGL’ers are grooving to.

Justin Fishkin
Evan Bliss & The Welchers, “Sign Off”
Tegan & Sara, “Walking With a Ghost”

Nathaniel T. G. Fogg
The Bravery, “Public Service Announcement”
Flight of the Conchords, “Business Time”

Crosby Haynes
George Strait, “How ‘bout them cowgirls”
Good Charlotte, “I don’t want to be in love”

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WL’s highly anticipated list of those we consider are the future leaders of Washington.

Left to right: Michelle and Adrian Fenty, Kirsten Pollin, Joel Limmerick and Katie Rost, Philippe Cousteau, and Mae Haney Grennan and Michelle Haney Maddux.

Since its debut two years ago, the release of The Young & The Guest List annually creates quite a buzz. The issue sells out in three-days, we receive lengthy nomination letters and last year, several tried to crash our party. We become just as excited about this issue, because it seems this is the only time the spotlight is brightly shined on the under forty set whose formidable accomplishments including best-selling books, multi-million dollar companies, congressional seats and mayorships sometimes go without their deserved fanfare.

Each year, we sit down with a committee to compile a list of 150 members who significantly contribute to the vibrancy of city. More often their names are unknown: are sometimes overshadowed by their boss (these range from the President to financial heavyweight David Rubenstein), perhaps they rarely go out because their writing groundbreaking State policy on Africa or maybe they are helping to securing an election for their candidate. Make no doubt though, these are the future faces of Washington, who behind the scenes are an integral part of making this country work. Listees range from the president of the Corcoran 1869 Society to our very own Mayor and his wife, to award-winning filmmakers and authors. For the third time, we present The Young & The Guest List.

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Our hot and successful Young & The Guest Listers go about their daily routines and explore Cady’s Alley.

Photography Tim Coburn
Stylist Lana Orloff
Make-up Artist and Styling support James Cornwell with Pr@partners
Hair Stylist Loretta Jameson with Pr@partners
Shoot Assistants Amanda Conseco and Melissa Grady with Pr@partners

Brooke Daley at Cafe Leopold

Julie Haus yellow chiffon top ($198); Bloomingdales, 5300 Western Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., 240-744-3700. Louis Vuitton cruise shorts ($1,215); Louis Vuitton, 1-866-VUITTON. Cole Haan yellow croc print heels ($375); Bloomingdales, 5300 Western Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., 240-744-3700. 14K yellow gold amethyst charm bracelet ($595) and 14K yellow gold amethyst cocktail ring ($850); Boone & Sons Jewelers, 5550 The Hills Plaza, Chevy Chase, Md. 301-657-2144;. Jimmy Choo Tasha green wild nappa bag ($1,295); Jimmy Choo Boutiques,www.jimmychoo.com or 1-866-JCHOO-US.

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With hints of romance reminiscent of Paris’ grand cafes, the newly-opened Napoleon Bistro and Lounge in Adams Morgan was the perfect place for Washington Life to meld spring’s hottest looks with some of The Young and the Guest List’s hottest invitees. The result? … The Classic Modern

Photography Yvonne Taylor
Styled Lana Orloff
Make-up and hair Carola Myers and Crystal Maria Whitehead
Produced by Michael Clements

Dabney Langhorne Doswell (Left): Rozae Nichols navy dress with copper strap, $284 (Blush, Potomac, Md); 14k hand made pin/pendant featuring 24.41ct amethyst with checker board faceting and .30ct diamonds, $5,980; 14k ring with an 8.77ct amethyst and over .50ct of diamonds, $3,890; custom designed dangle amethyst earrings with hand applied hammer finish and diamonds, $2,998 (All jewelry, Adeler Jewelers, Great Falls, Va). Marco Minuto in Ralph Lauren Black Label and Megyn Kelly in Dolce & Gabbana, full credits inside.

“For spring 2007, look for modern short and floaty dresses. Forget skintight numbers except for formal – the loose style can be slimming as long as you keep the sleeves and length short. Add pretty girly colors and floral patterns for adornment, and try tulip skirts, bell sleeves and little bolero jackets. Keep the slim pants and don’t forget cork or wood heels!” – WL Stylist Lana Orloff.

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