The 14th annual record of notably social individuals from politics, diplomacy, business, philanthropy, and the arts.
Enrico and Andrea Cecchi (Photo by Joseph Allen)
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Mr. and Mrs. JAMES ABDO (Mai)
Mr. and Mrs. WILLIAM ABEL-SMITH (Mimi)
The Honorable and Mrs. TYLER ABELL (Bess)
The Honorable DAVID C. ACHESON
Mr. GLEN ACKERMAN and Mr. ERNESTO SANTALLA
Mr. THEO ADAMSTEIN and Ms. OLVIA DEMETRIOU
Fight Night celebrates its 20th anniversary with plenty of boxing legends, donations, Marines, cigars, eye-candy, and the inspirational Joe E. Robert, Jr.
Mayor Adrian Fenty and Raul Fernandez. (Photo by Tony Powell)
By Michael Clements
Photos by Tony Powell
Video by Michael Clements
Forget for a moment the wafting clouds of cigar smoke, flowing Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon, juicy NY Strip steaks, curvaceous table hostesses and Redskins cheerleaders, live music by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, boxing legend after boxing legend and, well, the overall downright manliness of Fight Night. Forget it all and remember this: for 20 years Fight Night has been raising millions of dollars ($2.8 million last year and over $2.2 million this year) for Fight For Children and other organizations that provide education and healthcare services to low-income children in Washington, D.C.
Roastee Stephen Colbert at the Spina Bifida benefit with tormentors Mark Shields, Sen. Orrin Hatch, and Rep. Rahm Emanuel. (Photo by Paul Morigi)
Remembering George Carlin, ribbing Steven Colbert, and honoring Gina Lollobrigida.
By Janet Donovan
Can we talk?
Political humor was succinct and scabrous as ever on the red carpet at the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor event on Nov. 10 honoring the late George Carlin. Fresh after the presidential election, acid-tongued comedian Joan Rivers spared no one: Sarah Palin was an easy target: “She got some nice outfits. She can wear them in private for the next eight years. She should just go back to Alaska and look good.” (Moose reference not included).
The 13th annual record of notably social personalities from the worlds of politics, diplomacy, business, philanthropy, and the arts.
By Kevin Chaffee
John Pyles and Barbara Harrison
This roster is neither the first, nor will it (inevitably) be the last to single out certain individuals, who, by virtue of birth, rank, wealth or accomplishment, take part in the social life of the nation’s capital. Estimable precursors – drumroll here – include The Green Book,” so-called for its faux green suede cover, which has appeared continuously since 1930; and the Blue Book of Washington, D.C., which ceased publication around 1990 after a century in print. The Social Register, sometimes called the “Black Book,” also contains the names of numerous prominent local figures, many hailing from so-called “blue blood” families, although it merged its thin Washington volume into a much larger 12-city national version back in the 1980s.
A major difference separating Washington Life’s list from the others – apart from having no discernible color – is that we do not publish a “phone book” containing addresses and contact information, much less schools attended, club memberships and yacht listings. Ours is merely an alphabetical nomenclature of people who make a difference by adding immeasurably to their city, and by extension, their country and the world. Another point of contrast is size. Compared to the many thousands of entries contained in other directories past and present, WL’s Social List, currently about 700 names and counting, is relatively small. We do not see the need to include every member of the Congress, Cabinet or Court (i.e., Supreme), much less all those with top jobs listed in the “Plum Book” of political appointments.
From Sundance to New York Fashion Week, surviving the Y&GL, and talking Love Letters with Patti Smith.
By Michael M. Clements
Junko Koshino fashion lands at the Kennedy Center (photo by Tony Powell).
“You know you are at fashion week when the bathrooms have skinny mirrors.” This pearl of wisdom came straight from the stylish lips of WL Trend Reporter Yona Park as she and I took in the Sass & Bide Fall Collection during the Super Bowl of fashion: Mercedes-Benz’s Fall Fashion Week in New York, which, incidentally, happened to coincide this year with the real Super Bowl. It doesn’t get any more “metro” than catching a full day of runway shows at Bryant Park and then watching the Giants humble the Patriots from a dive bar in the Lower East Side.
Franco Nuschese was in New York trend spotting as well. The Café Milano and Manfacto men’s clothing line owner was seated behind fellow Italian Ermenegildo Zegna at Zegna’s Fall Collection preview. Men looking to modernize their tuxedo collection should get fitted for Zegna’s latest styles; but be pre-warned – people will notice.
Café Milano meets Forest Hills.
By Deborah K. Dietsch
Photography Jonah Koch
Topped by a slate room, the 1904 stone house is entered from a circular driveway.
Cafe Milano has been called Washington’s version of Rick’s Cafe, the hang-out in the movie Casablanca. The popular Georgetown restaurant, which celebrates its 14th anniversary this month is similarly frequented by politicians, diplomats, celebrities – and the folks who like watching them.
Behind Cafe Milano’s longevity and success is its very own Rick, Italian-born owner Franco Nuschese, who looks more like Napoleon Bonaparte than Humphrey Bogart. Nuschese’s welcoming charm, applied equally to celebrities and less famous guests alike, is part of what keeps people coming back to the crowded eatery night after night.
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