May 12, 2009
by Neil Grace
Capitol File billed its White House Correspondents Dinner after party as the evening’s “must attend” event, after Bloomberg combined forces with Vanity Fair for a trimmed down, ultra-exclusive, 300-invitation affair at the French Ambassador’s residence. Across town at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Niche Media’s Jason Binn (and Capitol File publisher) threw a larger fete in typical Binn-style aimed squarely at the younger Hollywood-meets-Washington crowd.
Forget modern art; it was celebrities that drew party-goers’ eyes. Inside, cast in a minimalist setting lit by the glow of red lighting, with music by BET entertainment, party-goers sipped on designer cocktails — in specialty glasses — from Maker’s Mark that fit the “Perfect Spring Party” theme envisioned by the organizers. Guests danced and mingled downstairs, while upstairs VIP lounges hosted the A-listers. There, Wanda Sykes sipped cocktails with Padma Lakshimi in an aubergine dress. Matthew Settle from Gossip Girl wandered up the stairs, followed by DC-celebrity Chef Jose Andres (FoodTV and newly-opened Bazzar in LA). Upstairs, DC’s Philippe Cousteau (grandson of Jacques Costeau) with ABC’s Jake Tapper, music promoter Arash Shirazi and Grooming Lounge owner Pirooz Sarshar.
Outside, Politico’s Patrick Gavin twittered live from the steps with his fiancé and crossed paths with Huffington Post’s Rachel Sklar. President Obama’s Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, worked the dance floor and made the rounds downstairs, then moved to the balcony and watched for a while as his staffers and party-goers danced the night away.
Spotted: Wanda Sykes, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, Connie Britton, Rachel Leigh Cook, Tim Daly, Kara DioGuardi, Mariska Hargitay, Dulé Hill, Meghan McCain, Kai Milla, Eva Longoria Parker, Christian Slater, Amber Tamblyn, Chris Tucker, Keisha and Forest Whitaker, Owen Wilson, and Michelle Obama’s favorite designer, Jason Wu.
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