Guests at the November 13 kickoff cocktail party for theSecond Annual "Men of Substance and Style " Awardsat Blackie's Restaurant feasted on hors d'oeuvres of babylamb chops, coconut shrimp, and veal. Equally impressivewere the fine cuisine and talent of French chef ClaudeRodier as well as the fabulous makeover of the restaurant.Soaring ceilings and second story balconies complete with10-foot iron gates made guests feel as if they were in theheart of New Orleans' French Quarter.

Bobby Muller, president of VVAF (this year’s “Men ofSubstance and Style” benefiting charity) and co-founderof the global campaign to ban landmines, gave animpassioned talk about VVAF’s Campaign for a LandmineFree World. “Landmines are not intended to kill, but tomaim, they are an indiscriminate weapon, millions ofwhich are left in the ground decades after the war ends,victimizing mostly children in developing countries whoare collecting water for their families or playing in fieldstoo dangerous to farm,” Muller commented.

Nominations for the 2003 Awards have poured intoWashington Life. Winners will be announced in April at aparty at Saks Fifth Avenue in Tysons Corner. Last year'swinners included Rep. Harold Ford, Jack Davies, andDoug Gansler.