KenCen Honors bring A-Listers to D.C.
POSTED December 4, 2008 | 9:16 AM
Perhaps no other event in Washington, D.C. brings in such star power as the annual Kennedy Center Honors. And this year's event, which takes place Sunday, is no exception.
Yeas & Nays has gotten a sneak peak at some of the stars heading to town for the event, which honors achievements in the performing arts. (This year's recipients are Barbra Streisand, Morgan Freeman, George Jones, Twyla Tharp and Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who.)
Clint Eastwood is presenting Freeman with his award, according to Eastwood's agent, Leonard Hirshan. Eastwood directed and starred alongside Freeman in "Million Dollar Baby," for which both men won Oscars. The men will also be working together again in the upcoming Eastwood-directed film "Human Factor," which begins filming his March in South Africa. Denzel Washington will also participate in the tribute to Freeman.
Also coming to town: Queen Latifah, Beyonce, Brad Paisley, Randy Travis, Garth Brooks, Ne-Yo, Shelby Lynne, Idina Menzel, Alan Jackson, Joss Stone and Glenn Close.
Despite the strong roster of celebrities, all eyes will be focused on Streisand. Why? Simple: The notorious Bush basher will be forced to spend some time with President Bush during the event, as protocol dictates that honorees typically spend some time with the president at the White House and Bush will be seated with the honorees during the Kennedy Center ceremony.
"This could get ugly," said one source involved with the star-studded weekend.
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Former PM arrives in style
POSTED December 4, 2008 | 12:05 AM
Blair's Bentley
When President Bush enters retirement next month, will he have as nice a ride as his ally, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair?
Blair showed up Wednesday for a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations in a silver, four-door Bentley -- the kind of car that would make James Bond proud.
And there's another trapping of high office that Blair can't let go of, either: the podium. After he spoke, he and CFR chief Richard Haass sat down for a discussion. But when it was time for questions from the audience, Blair quickly moved back to the lectern. "It feels more like prime minister's questions," he explained. "I just feel more comfortable."
In the audience for Blair's remarks: British Ambassador Nigel Sheinwald, former Defense Department official Douglas Feith, prominent lawyer Robert Barnett and former Hillary Clinton adviser Mark Penn.
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Marlene Cooke back in town
POSTED December 4, 2008 | 12:05 AM
Here comes trouble
She's back!!! Marlene Cooke, the legendary fourth wife of late Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke who earned a place in the Washington gossip hall of fame with her antics, was spotted Tuesday night at Saks Fifth Avenue in Chevy Chase for a fashion show with designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka.
"She looked beautiful," said one observer.
The Bolivia native was a constant source of headlines during the 1990s. She successfully fought deportation proceedings stemming from a cocaine charge in the 1980s. She was arrested in Georgetown after driving her Jaguar down M Street with a young man clinging to the hood, and later hurling her shoe at police officers. After Mr. Cooke died in 1997, it was discovered that he had written her out of his will, although she later won a reported $20 million judgment against his estate. Earlier this decade, she moved to Rome.
Besides her local friends, many of whom she caught up with at Saks we hear, she maintains other ties to the area. Her son, Rodrigo Garcia, is the manager of the L2 nightclub in Georgetown.
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Pooch Poll
POSTED December 4, 2008 | 12:05 AM
This is America, after all, so the Newseum is asking its visitors to vote on the dog President-elect Obama should buy for his daughters. The sign reads: "The American Kennel Club recommended five hypoallergenic breeds for Malia, who has allergies, and Sasha. But Obama says they would prefer a dog from a shelter. What kind of dog do you think the Obama family should take to the White House?: Poodle, Wheaten Terrier, Bichon Frisé, Chinese Crested, Miniature Schnauzer [or] Shelter Dog."
Photo: Carrie Devorah
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Bushes prepare for final holiday season at the White House
POSTED December 3, 2008 | 3:05 PM
Lame duck never tasted so good
White House Pastry Chef Bill Yosses, Chef Cris Comerford and first lady Laura Bush (Photo: Carrie Devorah).
Just because the election is over doesn't mean that the partying has to be. In fact, over at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the first family and White House staff are gearing up for an endless stream of White House parties, events and visitors.
First lady Laura Bush unveiled the White House's holiday decorations and food Wednesday morning in a special preview for journalists, and the sheer volume of things is truly stunning.
To wit:
369 hand-decorated ornaments adorn the Blue Room's Christmas tree
1,250,000 Christmas Cards will be sent by the First Family
780 feet of garland
232 wreaths
412 poinsettias
And then there's the heartburn-inducing stats:
22,000 holiday cookies
3,000 grapefruits
600 pounds of asparagus
700 gallons of eggnog
If you're one of the 60,000 guests who will pass through the White House during the holiday season (25 holiday receptions and 7 dinners), you'll be treated to such food as lobster salad, smoked salmon with potato pancakes, herb-crusted lamb chops, shaved Virginia ham, cheesy stone-ground grits, roasted beef tenderloin, chilled gulf shrimp, brioche bread pudding, pumpkin pie, pecan pralines, chocolate truffles, blueberry cobbler and, of course, Barney, Miss Beazley and Kitty cookies.
This year's theme -- "A Red, White and Blue Christmas" -- aims to celebrate "the patriotic spirit that unites as Americas," according to the White House, and can be seen in some of the more notable decorations: Two 13-foot tall statues of Uncle Sam at the entrance to the East Wing, wreaths hanging from eagles' talons and red poinsettia arrangements in red drums. Heck, just to make sure that no one doubts how much the Bushes love America, there's even "patriotic ribbon."
The show stealer, however, is the Gingerbread White House, which replicates the North Portico. The 40" by 29" house took more than two months to construct and was created with more than 350 pounds of white chocolate and 125 pounds of gingerbread. And, yes, it includes replicas of the Bush family pets in a sleigh on the roof.
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