Washington Life’s guide to the capital’s most influential under 40 residents in 2010

Mayor Adrian and Michelle Fenty at The Kennedy Center Honors.

Our annual Young & The Guest List feature is known for containing the names of accomplished, dynamic, and successful Washingtonians, all under 40 and devoted to making the nation’s capital a place that attracts (and keeps) the best and the brightest. This fifth annual compilation is no exception. During the past year, myriad political and economic events have made waves far beyond the Beltway and more than a few of our players have gotten bigger headlines than seasoned veterans. Our president, after all, is only eight years past the eligibility cutoff to have been listed himself. Many of his young staff included here, have quickly become fixtures in the White House and halls of Congress, to say nothing of the social scene. We have numerous “change makers” from the government, along with major players in the arts and sciences, journalism and business as well as the non-profit and philanthropic sectors. In the spirit of the famous Irish proverb, “praise youth and it will prosper,” we share with you 250-plus men and women who dare to dream big and act even bigger.

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Tracking Washington’s contribution to the world’s preeminent art fair. Has the art world recovered?

By Carolina Furukrona

Jason Rhode's installation, "Untitled," 2004, Rubell Family Collection

From December 1-6, 2009, Miami Beach became the epicenter of the art world once again when the most important art show in America, Art Basel Miami Beach, and its nearly two dozen satellite fairs, welcomed the annual pilgrimage of art world players. The event annually takes the temperature of the art market – and the diagnosis this year was good. Over the course of several days, I set out to host a group of Archives of American Art supporters in a series of events and to meet and connect with the vibrant Washington, D.C., art community that made its way to sunny Miami.

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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.

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.

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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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Politics might be our calling card, but Washingtonians have a strong art community, and it showed this year in Miami

By Michael M. Clements

Olafur Eliasson, ‘One-way colour tunnel,’ 2007

It’s apropos that Washington D.C.’s hot art scene is being showcased in balmy Miami around the spectacle of Art Basel. Here, in this internationally-renowned art fair, I’m off to uncover the multi-layers of local artists, collectors, curators, gallery owners, and creative types that are driving local visual arts communities from Georgetown to H Street NE.

Where better to begin then poolside at the Raleigh? Joining me for see-and-be-seen salads and afternoon mojitos is local art connector and collector advocate, Philippa Hughes. “Oh, there’s David Lynch,” Hughes says excitedly. He is in town promoting a short film he directed for Cartier (more on that later). Benicio Del Toro strolls by followed by Thelma Golden, chief curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem. Golden is sporting a stylish long sleeve black tee with a silver sequence Obama face woven in it. “What are you hoping to find here?” I ask her naively. “Something that speaks to me,” she answers before heading through flowing white curtains into the lobby.

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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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Talk about getting enlightened! Stockholm is the City of Northern Lights and much much more, so let’s get Swedish chic!

By Carolina Furukrona

In Sweden, the Aurora Borealis, or northern lights, can, on occassion, be visible as far down as Stockholm.

With a smorgasbord of international celebrities and gorgeous citizens, chic Scandinavian fashion and design, world-class gastronomy, and bustling nightlife, Stockholm has become the winter it capital of the world. So forget visions of red noses, jolly Saint Nic and boring holiday parties. Instead, shake the ghosts of Christmas and New Year’s past and book an über hip trip to the source of Yule tided trendy – Sweden. And, don’t forget to bring along a group of your closest friends. Read the full story

Erika Gutierrez and Marco Minuto

There is a certain je ne sais quoi about a party and much like romantic chemistry it’s either there or it’s not. More often than not it’s the guests of a party, which add the flair that makes an event a success or “just another party.” Our 2nd annual The Young and the Guest List presents Washington members of society under 40, who, to cut to the chase, are the je ne sais quoi of the young social scene. The list represents a generation of social up and comers and firmly established personalities, who have proven themselves through their philanthropic and professional efforts, and style. Our social committee welcomes suggestions below

A
Miss Huma Abedin
Mr. James Alefantis
Mr. Michael Allen
Mr. Steve Andronico

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