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As we rang in 2007, the
embarrassing postings on
Late Night Shots and regular
attendance at longtime favorite bars
gave way (for the most part) to the
adoption of more serious causes and
forays to sophisticated lounges. While
the under-forty set has always been
transient, last year held especially
notable changes and moved this crowd
closer to international leader status.
First out of the gate was the
Washington Ballet Jeté Society gala,
which brought together the younger
“scene” for a much anticipated annual
dance party. In the dead of winter,
people hiked to the Italian Embassy
for one of the best parties of the year.
The committee sold 500 tickets with
an additional 300 on the waiting list.
In total, an impressive $70,000 was
raised for The Washington Ballet,
proving that this set is capable of
making significant donations. More
importantly, it set the tone for a year
during which The Young & The
Guest List have contributed much
more to the city’s cultural vibrancy
than pleasing imagery. The Y&GL learned that
a good party can also help to serve a greater
cause. Events sold out in record numbers,
including Fashion for Paws, the Courage
Cup, and the Corcoran 1869 Society’s Fall
Fête In addition to the society charity
staples, many more Y&GL’s established
new nonprofits and foundations, and
worked har to support causes ranging
from military families to the local
school systems. Jenna Bush may be the
poster child for the Y&GL – In 2007,
she traded her partying tequila days for
months in South America, where she
wrote a compelling book about AIDS,
which raised money for UNICEF.
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2007 was a whirlwind year for Jenna Bush: a best-selling book, an
engagement and an impassioned campaign for AIDS/HIV support.
A year ago, you could walk into a handful
of Georgetown bars and – without question
– recognize at least 20 faces, if not more.
That’s no longer the case. There are still plenty
of people standing outside of Smith Point,
“JENNA BUSH MAY BE THE POSTER
CHILD FOR THE Y&GL – SHE TRADED
HER PARTYING, TEQUILA DAYS FOR MONTHS IN SOUTH AMERICA WRITING A
COMPELLING BOOK ABOUT AIDS, WHICH
RAISED MONEY FOR UNICEF”
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Town Hall and the newly bubbling
Gryphon Room, but it seems that
the traditional Georgetown scene has
disseminated throughout the city. This
could be because newer and better
venues keep opening up downtown; K
Street Lounge began a domino effect
that now includes Lima, Lotus, Fly,
and The Park. Other factors include
the splintering decline of the Bush/
Cheney ’04 campaign fraternity, and
the rash of hot new residential real
estate downtown.
As the 2008 campaigns heat up,
we’re bound to lose some of our
favorites to the heated battles for
middle-American swing states. We
never see Clinton’s leading lady, Huma
Abedin, anymore, and Sarah Lenti
just left for New Mexico to head up
a major congressional race. Journalists
are hitting the road, too. Alexander
Marquardt is holed up in Nevada
for CNN, and John Dickerson sends
his dispatches from small-town USA.
Alex Pareene, the former Wonkette
editor, just flat out left us for where he
belongs (New York City), as did 2007
Y&GL cover boy Marco Minuto, who moved
to New York to practice law. Sadly, no amount
of lamenting on LNS has brought more Gucci
models to town.
Looking ahead, we predict that Wesley
Fricks (newly elected Capitol Club
president), Princess Iman Al-Hussein
(recently returned to D.C.), and Brooke
Johnston (Miss United Kingdom, here
for a year covering politics) will become
bigger names in the coming months.
We’re waiting with bated breath
for what 2008 brings. But between
the elections, the weddings (Jenna and
Henry) and the Olympics, all signs point
toward a very good year.
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