A dinner in Potomac at the home of Marcia and Martin Feinstein was a musical as well as culinary treat,honoring composer GianCarlo Menotti , who was in town to direct the Washington Opera’s production of his opera, TheConsul.

Menotti, who turned 90 just a few days later, is as stimulating a conversationalist as he is a composer. For the last 25 yearshe has lived in Scotland, but travels all over the globe to oversee productions of his operas, as well as to the SpoletoFestival, which he founded, and it was fascinating to hear Menotti play verbal Ping-Pong across the table with his host.Former director of the Kennedy Center, Martin Feinstein, was also the director of the Washington Opera and produced many ofMenotti’s works. As the composer noted that evening, Martin was “the best friend my operas ever had.”

Francis (Chip) Menotti, his adopted son who is a Spoleto Festival executive, was in attendance, as was RomanTerleckj, artistic director of the Kennedy Center.

Seen: architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen, Jane Lingo, Gertie d’Amecourt, Bucky Block, Marcia McGee and Robin Hill, CathyHerter, Richard Howland, and Christina Stevens, who continues her longtime work of protecting creatures of thefield and of the deep.

A week later, a number of the Murray guests returned to the scene for Margaret Hodges’ annual Christmas Brunch.

Both Austin and Gogo Kiplinger, as well as sons Todd and Knight, do so much for the life of thistown (including the planning of a new museum to showcase the city’s history), that it was nice to see still another honorgoing to one of the family.

A Washington Chorus reception at the German Embassy honored Knight Kiplinger for his stalwart support. This praiseworthychorus is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and for Music Director Paul Shafer, his 30th anniversary in thatrole. Washington Chorus members are still pinching themselves over their unexpected Grammy Award last year for their liverecording of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem.

Art Buchwald had a tough summer after his recent stroke, said his son Joel at Bill Tiefel’s partylaunching Art’s latest book, Stella in Heaven. Joel said he made an amazing recovery, and Art proved it in his wittybadinage with longtime pal Ben Bradlee.

A frequent Washington visitor, Brownie (Mrs. John R.) McLean, of Palm Beach and New York, recently organized theCrystal Ball in Manhattan with several Washingtonians participating as committee members and guests along with New Yorkers anda group who flew up from Florida.

The Ball benefited “The Global Future Foundation” with this year’s proceeds going to the University of Houston’s GraduateProgram and Experimental Architecture for Space. Ballgoers first received handsome silver invitations to a cocktail party intheir honor hosted by New York’s Chanel boutique, then invitations from Gerald Goodwin for a reception at his ParkAvenue apartment, with the scene moving the next night to Madison Avenue for yet another party co-hosted by General ChairBrownie and National Chair Camilla Blaffer. The night after the Ball, held at the University Club complete withcandlelight dinner and strolling violins, the sturdiest guests went on to the last event in the chain, a reception at Club AuBar honoring the indefatigable Brownie and her Committees.