CarolJoynt.com

THEY'RE BAD, BUT THEY'RE GOOD, AND THEY'RE FUN

DAREN THOMAS, RACHEL PEARSON AND ROGER WHYTE

Thank God for Mondays with friends! Right? I needed a triple dose this Monday night and I got it at Bourbon Steak, with Daren Thomas, Rachel Pearson and Roger Whyte, The occasion was to celebrate Roger's leaving the Washington Performing Arts Society to go out on his own as an event production mastermind.  Also, he's director of events for the newly rehabbed Power House in Georgetown. This is a powerful event space.

I first became acquainted with it when PR impresario Robert Keith Gray had his offices there, and christened the building the Power House. Later, it was the offices of Herb Miller's Western Development Corporation. It langored recently but apparently has been rescued by Roger and his team. If you are a party person, then expect to enter its Grace Street doors sometime this year. And if you want to reach Roger to book it for a whatever, his number is 202-584-0062.

Geez, I don't know whether I have permission to post his phone number, but then he did give me his card and he didn't say it was "off the record." And he is in business!

Daren is head of development for the WPAS, Rachel is on the board. These three get together and it's nothing but drink, yack, drink, yack, drink, yack. In other words, a good time with serious dish. 

When we parted I headed home but they  each went off in different directions for various liaisons. MPTT.

Meet Roland Celette of The French Embassy (but quickly, he's leaving!)

ROLAND CELETTE

From the first time I met him I was impressed with Roland Celette, the cultural attache for the French Embassy. I think it was during arrangements for the French Film Festival several years ago. We had lunch at La Maison Francaise on Reservoir Road. Then, I started to see him everywhere: dinners at the ambassador's residence, cultural events all over town, and even in Richmond, at the opening of a spectacular Picasso exhibition at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. 

So, while I was saddened to learn he has given his notice and plans to return to France, I was delighted when he accepted my invitation for lunch and an interview. He's one of those people who everyone in Washington should know about. Please take a moment to read the resulting story: Who Is Roland Celette?