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SUSAN PAGE: At The Q&A Cafe on Tuesday November 12. Please Join Us

Coming to The Q&A Cafe on Tuesday, November 12: USA Today's chief Washington correspondent, Susan Page. Susan is also biographer of former First Lady Barbara Bush. Her next book will be a biography of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. She's a regular on the Sunday shows and cable TV, and overall a well respected and well liked chronicler of all things Washington. Please join us:

What: A Q&A Cafe TV show taping with lunch served

When: Tuesday November 12, noon to 1 pm.

Where: The George Town Club, 1530 Wisconsin Avenue NW, at Volta

How: Call Joe Pikovsky at The George Town Club to book at seat. 202-333-9330

How Much: $35, all inclusive of lunch, soft drinks and dessert from Georgetown Cupcake. 

The Q&A Cafe is now in its 18th year, with more than 500 notable individuals having appeared for long-form interviews. It airs at 8pm each Friday on DC Cable, channel 16. Up next, Tuesday, December 10, RdV Vineyard founder and winemaker Rutger de Vink. 

Memo To Christoph Waltz: It's a Horror Story (On NYSD Today)

CHRISTOPH WALTZ

For Washington in general and Georgetowners in particular the story of Albrecht Muth and Viola Drath is all too familiar. They lived up on Q Street across from the Exxon. They were seldom seen and not well known until she was found dead in the upstairs bathroom and he was charged and convicted of the murder. Last week, Christoph Waltz announced he is directing and starring in a film about the couple. A "Memo to Christoph Waltz" is the title of my New York Social Diary column today. 

The Q&A Cafe This Evening: The Story of Marijuana Legalization in DC

ADAM EIDINGER, COMING TO THE Q&A CAFE

How did legal weed happen in DC and who was instrumental in making it happen? Easy answer: Adam Eidinger. He will be our guest at the George Town Club this evening at 5pm. Join us.

Adam, with the DC Cannabis Campaign, was the force behind Initiative 71. He has quite a story to tell, dating back to when he co-owned Capitol Hemp, a head shop that was famously raided and closed by DC Police. This Washington Post story gives some good background: A Protester Looks at 40. 

Adam is an activist, an organizer, a community leader, and runs a communications company, Mintwood Media Collective. He's somebody you'll want to meet and hear more about, as he accomplished something quite remarkable in the nation's capital. 

Again, the all-inclusive fee of $25 will include two cocktails plus food. For reservations please call the GTC at 202-333-9330, or reserve by email. You will be asked to confirm with a credit card. Seating will begin at 4:30, we'll do the interview at 5pm. The address is 1530 Wisconsin Avenue at the corner of Volta. 

All are welcome. 

Check out these stories:

Marijuana May be Legal in DC, but Washingtonians are Timid

Adam Eidinger Visits the Office of Rep Chaffetz, and In Costume 

Mayor Bowser's Gift to Adam Eidinger

 

It's Summer, The (Adult) Children Are Home

As you can probably tell it's embarassing to him ("hey, pose for a photo with your Mom"), but here I am out tonight with my darling son, Spencer, about to arrive at a party hosted by our friend Lyndon Boozer at the Library of Congress. Spencer indulges me by coming to some of these things -- and only some -- but I sometimes press because his GF, Katherine Davis, is in town from Houston and I think she likes to see the sights and sample the random perks. (In truth, they'd rather be in Shaw, at The Yards, or on 14th Street...and I can't blame them.).

The thrill for me was to show them the balcony view of the Reading Room, one of the capital's great and awe-inspiring spaces. 

Here are Spencer and Kate, on the balcony overlooking the Reading Room. And, below, a look up at the gorgeous ceiling, at twilight.

We also stopped by Rose's Luxury for a drink at the upstairs bar. Owner Aaron Silverman said that most nights now the wait for a table is down to one hour from the high water mark of 2-3 hours. If you haven't been, give it a try because the experience is big. One way to do it is stop by at, say 6 or 6:30, put your name down, and then take a walk in the Marine Barracks neighborhood while the time flies by before your table becomes available. I prefer reservations, personally, but that's not the way Aaron does it and its his place!

Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, One of the Greats, Comes to Town

Most Washington dinner parties are hum drum affairs where the cast of characters are a bureaucratic version of "Groundhog Day." But occasionally something wonderful happens,  a stunning talent is among the guests. That was last night, when three-time Oscar winning cinematographer Vittorio Storaro was feted at the home of the Italian Embassy's cultural counselor,  Antonio Bartoli. For me, who spent many hours in the thrall of director Bernardo Bertolucci, it was a special thrill. 

Storaro's credits include "Reds," "Apocalypse Now," "The Last Emperor," for which he won Oscars, and two films that blew my mind in my formative years - "Last Tango in Paris" and "The Conformist," plus later loves such as "Bulworth." In addition to Bertolucci, he's worked with Warren Beatty a lot, including successes ("Reds') and duds ("Ishtar"). 

Storaro is a young and spry 70, and still working. According to IMDB his latest project, "33 Dias," is in pre-production.

He is in town for a Georgetown University Italian Research Institute conference that is happening today, where the other speakers include writers Mario Vargas Llosa and Allesandro Baricco. 

Loving Austin, Savoring Graduation, Admiring Wildflowers

If I told you this view was Africa you might believe me, given the terrain, but it is Austin, Texas, which claims some of the prettiest terrain in the state. The exact location is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - a must visit if you go to Austin. 

Today on New York Social Diary I write about the Center and Austin and being in Austin for my son's graduation from the University of Texas. It's simple: I love Austin. Maybe its my Colorado DNA, that yearning for the field and prairie, for adobe and limstone and oak trees, and wildflowers. Big, open spaces. Hot sun. I love it all.

 

A Memorable Night With David Frost, Henry Grunwald and Warren Beatty

DAVID FROST ON "THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS," A TRANSPLANTED TV HIT

The death of David Frost took me back to a 24 hour period in 1972 when all in one night I intersected with him, Henry Grunwald, my boss at Time magazine, and Warren Beatty, at the time the most famous young movie star in the world. I give the evening a sentimental retelling on New York Social Diary. 

This is why, when 20 or so, a young person should live in New York. It's not dull. Things happen. 

The Place to be for Brunch On White House Correspondents Weekend was Cafe Milano

MC HAMMER, TODD BRADLEY, RAUL FERNANDEZ, RON DOZORETZ AND NNAMDI ASOMUGHA. 

Where to begin. Today the buzz was about a brunch up the hill in Georgetown at the mansion fomerly owned by Katharine Graham, when actually the place to be was Cafe Milano. When we first arrived at Milano we saw our friend Tina Brown, who had been at the brunch. "I realized I didn't want to eat standing and holding a plate," she said. TINA BROWN, KATHY O'HEARN AND HARRY EVANS AT LUNCH AT CAFE MILANO

Cafe Milano felt as buzzy as any party (as it often does). There was Tina and her husband, Harry Evans, and Tina's colleague Kathy O'Hearn, but also the foreign minister of Jordan; philanthropist Adrienne Arsht, having lunch with the mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa; Francesca Zambello, artistic director of the Washington National Opera; MC Hammer with Raul Fernandez and a group of friends, and, at the table adjacent to ours, Ron Dozoretz and Nnamdi Asomugha, who just signed with the San Francisco 49ers. The difference between here and elsewhere was quiet quality versus mosh pit. Charlie Rose found respite at Milano, too. 

ADRIENNE ARSHT, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM, HAVING LUNCH WITH MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA OF LOS ANGELES 

But Nnamdi was the man of the hour, with group after group of people stopping by his table to pay respects. No surprise, read about him. An incredible professional football career as well as a remarkable pattern of philanthropy and commitment to causes.

For a moment, but in broad daylight, Milano felt like Rao's.

MY LUNCH POSSE: JOHN FOX SULLIVAN, FRANCESCA CRAIG, KEVIN CHAFFEE

CAVE DWELLER DROP BY: TANDY AND WYATT DICKERSON WERE AT MILANO, TOO

(deleted. hahaha. sometimes i write crazy s**t)

THE MAN WHO IS CAFE MILANO, LAURENT MENOUD, ON THE LEFT. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS COULD LEARN FROM HIM.

An Update on The Q&A Cafe: Taping Today and May 9

We're actually taping an episode of The Q&A Cafe today, but it's in studio and without an audience. It's a spring/summer preview of fashion, food and the arts for DC. I'll let you know the air date asap, but it's likely to be this Friday, April 26. The guests are colleagues from Washingtonian, discussing their beats: Kate Bennett on fashion, Sophie Gilbert on the arts, and Jessica Voelker on food and restaurants. 

Our next Q&A Cafe taping at the Ritz Carlton Georgetown is on Thursday, May 9, when the guest will be Christopher Kennedy Lawford, grandson nephew of JFK, as well as an actor, author, activist, drug addict and alcoholic, who has been in recovery for more than two decades. He has quite a story to tell. 

Seating begins at noon, the fee is $38 covering all costs of lunch, soft beverages, tax, tip and dessert from Georgetown Cupcake. For reservations please call the hotel directly at 202.912.4100 and speak with Esmaralda Prifold or email her directly. 

Washington Social Life

What a Washington dinner party looks like. In this case an intimate dinner for patrons of  the Washington Opera on Sunday night at Plume restaurant at the Jefferson Hotel. This was shot as dinner was seated. The party was hosted by Connie Milstein, on the right, who owns the hotel and who is the force-in-chief of this year's Opera Ball. On the left is Nini Ferguson, a one-time force of DC single life who is married now and so also known as Sydney Ferguson Johnson. Of all the photos I shot tonight I chose to post this one  because it expresses the fun that defined the evening, from the moment guests arrived for cocktails until they departed with their swag bags. Between courses there were songs from "Phantom of the Opera," performed by actor/singer Norm Lewis, who has a DC connection because he's in "Scandal."

Monday Evening at the Harman Gala (Yes, Monday) w/ William Shakespeare and F. Murray Abraham

THE VIEW FROM MY TABLE AT THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM THIS EVENING

Tonight was the annual gala of the Harman Center for the Arts, which includes a stage show and presentation of the "Will" Award. This year it went to Oscar-winning film and stage actor F. Murray Abraham. Monday galas aren't common in DC, but they also aren't unheard of. PEN/Faulkner also holds their gala on a Monday evening. Instead of cocktails they served wine, and so my date and I slipped over to Rosa Mexicano to Margaritas plus a bowl of quac. Delicious drinks and food and a moment to relax before back to work. Plus we were starving and new the program ahead would be 90 minutes long.

F. MURRAY ABRAHAM AND IRISH AMBASSADOR MICHAEL COLLINS

This was fun tonight. Very easy-going, the dinner especially. I talked to Murray Abraham twice and was impressed with the way he just zeroes in on you. NOTE TO WASHINGTON MEN: It's not bad to zero in on a woman! Michael Kahn is cool, too. 

I also danced to the Motown spun by the deejay, but hoped he would segue into Gangnam Style. Maybe Monday isn't the night for Gangnam Style. Being a Monday it was totally okay to dance by myself. My "date," Shane Harris, remained at the table, locked in conversation with two Mary's - Mary Collins and Mary Haft. He was fine with my twirling on the dance floor. Shane is becoming quite the social varsity player. Every hostess is town should be clamoring for him, because both the men and the women love having him at the table. That's the ticket here. He's charming, funny, erudite and, most of all, smart and informed. And a gentleman. And wicked.

Speaking of charming and handsome, these two are Kevin Allen and Jeff Martin, they are professional photographers who work with me often. Kevin shot the story Saturday night at the National Italian American Foundation Dinner, and Jeff did tonight and also last week's winery dinner at RdV Vineyards. They are young, and very talented, smart, and good sports about putting up with me on social stories. I'm always, "come here, get this, see that, oh, there's the shot, quick over here, look it's them..." Thirty years as a television producer can make you bossy. They catch things, too, that I didn't see. We collaborate well. We've got each other's backs. Sometimes I miss shooting parties myself, but having Jeff or Kevin there, or James Brantley or Ben Droz, frees me up to talk to the guests, which I think makes the story better. 

I wasn't the only solo dancer. It was that kind of night. People just took to the dance floor, grooved to the music, put Monday away. Heavy heavy Four Tops. We should get raves back in action here in DC, if they ever were here before. I remember them from San Francisco in the 70s. It was about dancing and music and endless but good. 

Marion Barry's News-Making Interview at The Q&A Cafe on YouTube

Here is DC Council Member and former Mayor Marion Barry with me at the Ritz Carlton Georgetown Hotel after finishing our 45 minute interview. It aired tonight on DCN/Channel 16. It also made a lot of news when it was taped last week. So, please check it out. Here's the YouTube clib below:

 

Washington Gets What It Craves

HE'S AMAZING: ROBERT GRIFFIN III

Yesterday's losses aside, Washington is at the threshold of something wonderful: becoming a legit sports town. It's all happening and will likely get better and better. It's the subject of a commentary I wrote for today's edition of New York Social Diary

Oh, Happy Day. The Nats Are In the Playoffs

I'm so happy I was at the park for this special night. It felt like it was going our way from the beginning of the game. The fans are so with the team. And the team itself seemed calm, ready. It wasn't a fully packed house, but close enough. Very vocal. Everyone stood for the last two outs. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m., only by phone or online.

Gore Vidal's Last Months, Days and Hours

GORE VIDAL (photo: The U.K. Telegraph)

This afternoon I had an interesting conversation with the man who was often at Gore Vidal's side for the past eleven years, his house manager and personal chef. He was with Vidal when the writer died at his home in Hollywood one week ago. Please read my report of the revealing conversation at washingtonian.com

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?