| A viewing of the exhibition “Elizabeth I Then and Now,” was followed by anopening night performance of Maxwell Anderson’s “Elizabeth the Queen” at theFolger Shakespeare Library’s Spring Gala on March 27.
Above: Actress Michael Learned. Below left: Benefit Chair Debbie Dingell, RalphJones, President & CEO, Chubb Group, and Karen Hastle Williams. Below right:Chargé d’Affaires of the British Embassy Tony Brenton and his wife Sue.Bottom: Jim Kimsey, LaSalle Leffall, Jr. & John Macomber. Photos by Lynn Hornor Keith | 
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(About all those suitors: the masterfulGeorge Gower painting (c. 1540-1596) in the Folger collection is knownas the Plimpton “Sieve” Portrait (given by bequest to the Folger by the latebanker Francis T.P. Plimpton). It shows the queen with a golden sieve in onehand, neatly referencing the fable that a virgin could carry water in a sieveto Elizabeth’s nickname,“The Virgin Queen.” This might seem passingstrange, given her spirited nature and all those fervent suitors, but historians clearthat up for us by explaining that she was so labeled “because she never married.”End of story.)
After the magnificently done production in the Folger’s ElizabethanTheater with its rough hewn beams and balcony came the Elizabethan Feast.Sophisticated guests gasped at the beauty of the tables set with solid rows of sumptuousfruit and flower arrangements on tapestried cloths, metal beakers fordrink, and chargers for the food—and what food.
| An invitation-only screening for the new documentary, “Mr. Gehry Goes to Washington” about thenew Frank Gehry-designed addition to the Corcoran Gallery of Art was held at the Motion PictureAssociation of America on April 2.
From left: Carl Colby, the film’s director; Lisa Hughes, producer; Corcoran director David Levy; andPamela Peabody, executive producer. Photo by Neal Freed |
The Tudor feast was replete with pullets, “cates” and flummeries to delightthe eye and palate. There were “pigges” roast suckling pig, trays of sliced meatsof all sorts, duck, beef, French hens, and side dishes fit for Elizabeth herself.
Among the guests were Dr. LaSalle Leffall, Jr. and Ruthie Leffall,Jacqueline B. Mars, Shirley and Albert Small, actor Kenneth Branagh,designer Sarah Williams (the girl behind those flower-petal-covered bagsthat are blossoming all over town.)
Honorary chairs were Tony and Sue Brenton, he’s the chargé d’affaires of theBritish Embassy and is awaiting the arrival of the new ambassador. The benefit chairwas Debbie Dingell, and the whole event was overseen by Dr. Gail Kern Paster,director of the Folger Shakespeare Library.
At one table sat Jim Kimsey (with Katherine Wood), Esther Coopersmith,Garnett Stackelberg, Carmen Petrowitz and George and Nannette Herrick.Esther described Jim’s magnificent new house in McLean. “It’s next to the compoundof Prince Bandar, the ambassador of Saudi Arabia, and it is a showplace,with parking space for 25 cars beneath the house,” she said.
| President Bush, Vice President Cheneyand many other powerful Washingtoninsiders made it to the April 11thretirement party for Dave Gribbin atthe Kalorama home of Juleanna andJeffrey Weiss. Gribbin joined Clark &Weinstock in 2001 with more than30 years of public policy experienceon Capitol Hill, the executive branchand the private sector. Most recently,Gribbin was vice president for governmentrelations for Halliburton from1996–2000, which he left whenhe went to serve as the director ofCongressional relations for the Bush-Cheneytransition.
From left: Wendy Petruzzello and Campbell Brown. |
No—he doesn’t have 25 automobiles, but Jim likes to entertain, as he did theweek before with a very private party celebrating the publication of QueenNoor’s book, “A Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life,” from this localgirl who grew up to become queen of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
Mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves, who has gone from triumph to triumphin the world of opera, is a true child of Washington, and was one of the tworecipients of The Cathedral Choral Society “Laura E. Phillips Angel of the ArtsAward” at the Society’s recent gala, held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown.
She first achieved fame at the 1991 Ravinia Music Festival, when her voiceand presence brought down the house as Dalila (opposite her mentor and frequentmusical partner, Placido Domingo.)
Keeping it in the family, the other recipient was musician David Perry, who is herhusband. He graduated with a degree in voice and guitar from the North CarolinaSchool of the Arts, and as a recitalist has performed at the Kennedy Center, TheFolger Library and the Smithsonian.
His Dupont Circle shop, that features classical guitars, lutes and mandolins,brings musicians from distant corners.
The award is named in honor of Mrs. Phillips, who generously supported themusical arts until her death in 1999 at age 95.
| The Historical Society of Washington, D.C. recognized the city’s first elected Mayor,Walter E. Washington, at a dinner at the new D.C. Convention Center on April 9.Former D.C. Mayors Sharon Pratt and Marion Barry as well as current Mayor TonyWilliams were in attendance. Proceeds raised went towards a portrait commission ofMayor Washington and a gift in his honor to the new City Museum to help preserveWashington D.C.’s history.
Clockwise from top left: Dorothy McSweeny, Charlene Drew Jarvis and BillMcSweeny; Former Mayor Marion Barry and Mayor Tony Williams; Pat Shannonand Togo West; Former CIA Director William Webster & Former Sen. Chuck Robb.Photos by Steve O’Toole | 
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Susan Kidd served as mistress of ceremonies at the outstanding evening, andFrank and Cecelia Ross and Steven andNancy Smith were the gala co-chairs.
The main dish at Anna Maria and Giorgio Via’s dinner for 18 was BrassatoMilanese, a dish that was a labor of love for the hostess. The braised beef isstarted a day ahead and cooks for four hours “in lots and lots of wine, preferablyBarolo,” Anna Maria says. “Then,” she adds, you cook it three hours morethe day of your dinner, and the sauce is spectacular.”
Enjoying the brassato, as well as canneloni of home-made pasta so light italmost floated off the plate, were the Moroccan Ambassador Aziz Mekouarand his wife Maria Felice Mekouar; the new Ambassador of Iceland HelgiÁgústsson and his wife Heba Ágústsson; John and Giselle Theberge Jeppson;Belgian Ambassador Franciskus van Daele and Baroness von Daele;Ludmilla Antonova, cultural attache of the Embassy of the Russian Federation;the Austrian Ambassador Peter Moser and Lizzy Moser; the deputy chiefof mission of the Italian Embassy, Pierandrea Magistrati and Elena, whowill soon be returning to Rome, and Martin and Marcia Feinstein.
Speaking of acquisitions, Deena Clark, one of the guests at the StateDepartment’s recent donor’s reception for the Diplomatic Reception Rooms, gave anamusing insight into the methods of the rooms’ longtime director, Clem Conger,who was famed for his genial arm-twisting of possible benefactors.
| Nearly $130,000 was raised at the annual Cathedral Choral Society Laura E. PhillipsAngel of the Arts Awards gala held at the Four Seasons Hotel. This year’s awardrecipients were opera singer Denyce Graves and her musician husbandDavid Perry.
From left: David Perry, Denyce Graves & Edward Lewis; Gala co-chairsNancy & Steven Smith and Cecilia & Frank Ross. |
When the White House was looking for a donor for a chandelier, Deena volunteered,but “Gwen Cafritz beat me to it.” So she gave a chandelier to the StateDepartment instead.
Some time later Clem called, saying “Deena, you are the luckiest girl, I can’tbelieve your good fortune, it is just marvelous.” Knowing Clem, Deena thought“oh- oh, here we go! ” but she couldn’t resist asking why.
“Because,” said the man known as the “Grand Acquisitor,” “I’ve found a partnerfor your chandeliers,” and now, says Deena, “to go to the Reception Rooms,you have to pass under BOTH my chandeliers.”
The Scarlet Ball at the St. Regis Hotel to benefit Gilda’s Club not only lived up toits name, it provided fun from the git-go.
You were greeted at the door by Bobby Colbaugh, wearing a red clownnose and a pair of Groucho glasses, and a red bow tie with his dinner jacket.
James, the coat checker, sported red, red hair (dyed for the occasion)and the ballroom was a sea of scarlet dresses. Men wore red bow ties, anda few donned long red wigs that were passed around the room as the eveningprogressed. Dan Bernoske crowned his height with a towering scarlet Mad Hatter topper.
| The Corcoran Gallery of Art’s youngpatrons’ group, the 1869 Society,held its annual black-tie gala onApril 5. Guests at the VenetianMasquerade Ball were treated to anexclusive viewing of the exhibition,“Whistler and His Circle in Venice.”
Clockwise from top: Sabrina Seal, HeatherMiller & Tony Podesta; Eden Ellis & AlexMichel “The Bachelor;” and Jennifer Park &Johnathan Pearl. Photos by Lili Iravani | 
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The club honors the wishes of the late beloved comedienne of “Saturday NightLive,” Gilda Radner, who died of ovarian cancer.
Her hope was that non-profit clubs could be funded to provide a place wherecancer patients and their families could meet with others in a supportive anddiverting environment, and they have proved invaluable.
Gala chair Mary Elizabeth Evans enlisted all the help she could get,including importing her family from Cleveland to help. Yes, that’s her sisterMeg Rogers and husband Matt, Meg in a frizzed scarlet wig. Meg’s daughterJillian lent a hand, and that was Meg’s son James in the coatroom.
A twelve-piece orchestra, and a good buffet set the tone. Mary Elizabeth toldthe St. Regis she wanted fun food, and they came up with a smash—literally.
One guest wondered “Why are they giving us dessert now?” when she sawlong-stemmed martini glasses being filled from a pastry bag that looked likeDairy Queen gone highbrow. Not at all, it was the Mashed Potato Bar, and thesmashed spuds came complete with a dozen toppings, such as pine nuts, baconcrumbles, grated cheese, and confetti-like bits of roasted red peppers.
The turnout was small, but it was a great start, and in the words one ofGilda's mad characters, Emily Litella, made famous "Never mind."
They raised some money, partied hardy, and they'll be back next year.Gilda would have loved it.
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