15 AND COUNTING!
When we published the first issue of Washington Life in September 1991 - I'm not sure if anyone envisioned that, 15 years on, the magazine would be a 180-page, 10 issues per year, thick and glossy publication distributed through-out the national captial region and places as far afield as New York, Boston, L.A., London and Tokyo. Then again, maybe our founder Vicki Bagley did - she was always thinking a few steps ahead. Looking at that first issue, I was struck by how much our city and social scene have changed yet remained the same ... I was equally impressed by how many people actually look just the same 15 years later! As Kevin Chaffee explains in our 15th Anniversary Retrospective, the era of the grandes dames (Susan Mary Alsops, Pamela Harrimans, Polly Fritcheys and Katharine Grahams) is over. Yet, the grace and glamour of Washington's balls and galas - which we detail in our "2006 Balls and Galas Directory" – remains firmly entrenched, as does the city's philanthropic heart and ever-shifting power bases. Our 15th Anniversary kick-off soirée in June was just another reflection of the wonderful community WL has helped build over the years. The celebration, which you can see inside, was hosted by Kuwait Ambassador Salem Al-Sabah and his wife, Rima, and attracted 400 guests – a veritable who's who of Washington. For more on the current social, poltical and cultural scene, find out who's at the top of the pyramid in "The 100 Most Invited." The President and First Lady, Bill and Hillary, and Ben and Sally are there, of course, but you might be surprised at who else has joined them (those sands are always shifting.) If you are planning to dress to impress, you're in luck because our September issue is filled with fashion coverage. Browse for jewels and gowns in our "2006 Balls and Galas Directory"; leopard prints, patent leather and black and gold in "Trend Report"; looks from Christian Dior, Donna Karen and Valentino, among others, in the "2006 Nordstrom Fall Fashion Preview" and accessories, for him or her in our pages and pages of "Trend Report" and "What's Hot." Over the years, we've made a few embarrassing mistakes, including one in our last "What's Hot," featuring cocktail rings and summer drinks. I deeply regret the phraseology used in the sub-head, which was not consistent with the standards of good taste, class and dignity we uphold. I offer my sincere apology for not editing this out. In anticipation of Virginia's official wine month, October, note the gourmet dishes and award-winning wine pairings from the WLsponsored CharityWorks 100 Point Vintage Wine Tasting Dinner held at Joe Robert's McLean home; or take a tour of Virginia wine country - we've sleuthed out the State's best vineyards and wine festivals. Keeping the focus local, it's time for Washington residents to do their homework on the D.C. mayoral primary. We give you a Proustian take with a questionnarie featuring Michael Brown, Linda Cropp, Adrian Fenty, Vincent Orange and Marie C. Johns. Also, a warm welcome to Gail Scott and her new WL column "Diplomatic Dance." We're all about loft living this month (big fans of high ceilings and wood floors, here). In "Real Estate Roundtable," we interview three major players in the still burgeoning D.C. loft scene: Jeffrey Miller, Sheila Simkin and Scott Pannick; while "Inside Homes" gives you an exclusive look at lawyer Julian Epstein's envy-inspiring PN Hoffman loft. On the event side, we give you extensive coverage of this year's WL-sponsored Opera Ball, one of the year's most spectacular fetes, graciously hosted by the Italian Ambassador and his wife at their residence. We also bid a sad farewell to ambassadors from the Netherlands, Peru and Colombia. Welcome back to all - hope your summer holidays left you recharged and ready for another busy social season (WL is sponsoring over a dozen events this Fall and will host a 15th Anniversary Welcome Back Party on September 12th at Cafe Milano). And don't forget to save the date for October's WL-sponsored Meridian Ball, Hispanic Foundation for the Arts and the Washington International Horse Show! Nancy R. Bagley
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