Meridian Ball

EMBASSY HOPPING
“It gets better every year,” Meridian Ball hosts Walter and Didi Cutler jointly exclaimed as they welcomed over 600 guests to the 37th Annual Meridian ball on October 2. Thirty embassies hosted seated dinners before guests made their way to the Meridian International Center.

MOONLIGHT JAZZ
The Washington Jazz Arts Institute’s ensemble and a swing band energized the scene as Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and her husband John danced along side fellow Justices Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Also spotted: U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Sens. Chuck Hagel and Gordon Smith, Rep. Edward Markey and Susan Blumenthal. The event raised more than $500,000 to help promote global outreach in exchange and arts programs.

SPECIALTY FARE
Icleand’s Ambassador Helgi Agutsson said that he actually caught the salmon that he served at his residence.

William Howard Taft III, Janet Taft, Cathy Merrill and Ellie Merrill

Marjorie Billington, Susan Smith, Sen. Gordon Smith and James Billington	Caren Braun and Jack Helm

Rep. Ed Markey and Susan Blumenthal	Pat Oxley and Rep. Mike Oxley

Lebanese Amb. Farid Abboud and Rim Abboud	French Amb. Jean David Levitte, Marie- Cecile Levitte and Isabel Ernst

Amy and Brett Baire and Alison Hodge	Sassy Stieffel and Michelle Maddox

Nancy Coffey and Dennis Lockhardt	Helgi Walker and Maldwin Drummond

Nada Simonyi and Hungarian Amy and Brett Baire and Alison Hodge Amb. Andras Simonyi

PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON