Scene in D.C.: Bob McDonnell, Mark Warner, Karen Akers
Brushing off speculation that he’s at the top of Mitt Romney’s vice presidential short list, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell said he just wants to “help Mitt win.”
The Washington Performing Arts Society Annual Gala and Auction Saturday night was held at the Marriott (MAR) Wardman Park Hotel. Arne Sorenson, president and chief executive officer of Marriott International Inc./DE, chatted with McDonnell “about travel, of course.” Sorenson’s wife, Ruth, is on the society’s board.
New York Broadway star Karen Akers, a guest of philanthropist Adrienne Arsht, wore a Harriet Kassman emerald dress that accentuated her signature auburn bob.
During dinner, a spirited pledge drive inspired Reginald Van Lee, Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) executive vice president, to donate $30,000 to the society. Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan, active on Twitter while he socialized, said, “I have 75,000 followers.”
Other diplomats present included Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero and Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki, the honorary diplomatic chairman of the gala. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wore a mandarin-style jacket to honor Japan’s patronage of the event, which raised almost $1 million.
Broadway singer Brian Stokes Mitchell entertained the 600 guests with “One Enchanted Evening” and other favorites. McDonnell said his musical tastes include “a little bit of everything”, especially country and rock ‘n’ roll from the “‘60s and ‘70s.”
Corcoran Ball
He wasn’t the only Virginian who crossed the Potomac for art over the weekend. Senator Mark Warner, the Virginia Democrat, was present for the 57th annual Corcoran Ball Friday night at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
“He’s the real muckety-muck here,” Warner said, pointing at Russell Sullivan, the Democratic staff director for the Senate Committee on Finance, as the two caught up at the top of the Corcoran’s imposing white staircase.
The first floor of the gallery was frosted in pink to resemble Marie Antoinette’s salon. Each gallery room had tables set with exquisite china and floral centerpieces.
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano stood with her predecessor, Michael Chertoff, who now runs the Chertoff Group, in front of a work by Nancy Spero. Timothy Ring, the chairman of C.R. Bard Inc. (BCR), admired a sculpture by Lee Bontecou.
White House social secretary Jeremy Bernard called the ambience “absolutely beautiful,” adding that he was relieved to be entertained rather than doing the entertaining.
Francois Delattre, the French Ambassador to the U.S. and honorary patron of the gala, gallantly kissed the hand of every woman introduced to him. He said he was calling it an early night because of the French presidential election Sunday.
After dinner, a Marilyn Monroe impersonator sashayed through the crowd and planted a flaming-red-lipstick memento on the cheek of Arthur Jackson, the president of One on One Basketball Inc.
(Stephanie Green is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
Today’s Muse highlights include Jeremy Gerard on theater and John Mariani on wine.
To contact the writer on this story: Stephanie Green in Washington at sgreen57@bloomberg.net or on Twitter @stephlgreen.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
Washington Performing Arts Society Gala
Brian J. Silver/DC Hot Spots
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell talks to Arne Sorenson, the chairman and CEO of Marriott International.
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell talks to Arne Sorenson, the chairman and CEO of Marriott International. Photographer: Brian J. Silver/DC Hot Spots
Washington Performing Arts Society Gala
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki and his wife, Yoriko, the honorary diplomatic chairmen of the Washington Performing Arts Society Gala.
Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki and his wife, Yoriko, the honorary diplomatic chairmen of the Washington Performing Arts Society Gala. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Washington Performing Arts Society Gala
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan sends a tweet to his 75,000 followers.
Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan sends a tweet to his 75,000 followers. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Washington Performing Arts Society Gala
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Brian Stokes Mitchell performs Broadway hits.
Brian Stokes Mitchell performs Broadway hits. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Washington Performing Arts Society Gala
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Reginald Van Lee, executive vice president of Booz Allen Hamilton.
Reginald Van Lee, executive vice president of Booz Allen Hamilton. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Washington Performing Arts Society Gala
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Broadway singer Karen Akers.
Broadway singer Karen Akers. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Washington Performing Arts Society Gala
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Corcoran Ball
Senator Mark Warner, his wife, Lisa Collis, Russell Sullivan, Democratic staff director for the Senate Finance Committee and his girlfriend, Lisa Carr, associate director for faith-based partnerships at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Senator Mark Warner, his wife, Lisa Collis, Russell Sullivan, Democratic staff director for the Senate Finance Committee and his girlfriend, Lisa Carr, associate director for faith-based partnerships at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Corcoran Ball
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Steve Labensky, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Chertoff Group Managing Chairman Michael Chertoff, and Meryl Chertoff.
Steve Labensky, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Chertoff Group Managing Chairman Michael Chertoff, and Meryl Chertoff. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Corcoran Ball
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
William Kennedy Smith and his wife, Anne Smith.
William Kennedy Smith and his wife, Anne Smith. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Corcoran Ball
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Corcoran Ball chairwoman Deborah De Gorter and Corcoran women's committee chairwoman Nancy Smith.
Corcoran Ball chairwoman Deborah De Gorter and Corcoran women's committee chairwoman Nancy Smith. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Corcoran Ball
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
C.R. Bard Inc. Chairman and CEO Timothy Ring and arts patron Kathryn Gleason admire Corcoran Gallery sculpture.
C.R. Bard Inc. Chairman and CEO Timothy Ring and arts patron Kathryn Gleason admire Corcoran Gallery sculpture. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Corcoran Ball
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
"I love pink," said the Washington Ballet's artistic director, Septime Webre, as he surveyed a Marie Antoinette-inspired pink salon.
"I love pink," said the Washington Ballet's artistic director, Septime Webre, as he surveyed a Marie Antoinette-inspired pink salon. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Corcoran Ball
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Amfar event producer Miranda Robertson and Advent Capital trader Eliot Keele.
Amfar event producer Miranda Robertson and Advent Capital trader Eliot Keele. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Corcoran Ball
Stephanie Green
Corcoran committee member Jill Bruno and plastic surgeon James Bruno.
Corcoran committee member Jill Bruno and plastic surgeon James Bruno. Photographer: Stephanie Green
Corcoran Ball
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
The grand staircase of the Corcoran Gallery in full bloom.
The grand staircase of the Corcoran Gallery in full bloom. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Corcoran Ball
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
T.C. Ostrander, legislative assistant in the U.S. Senate, and broadcast journalist Pamela Brown.
T.C. Ostrander, legislative assistant in the U.S. Senate, and broadcast journalist Pamela Brown. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Corcoran Ball
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
White House social secretary Jeremy Bernard.
White House social secretary Jeremy Bernard. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Corcoran Ball
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Ralph Crosby, the former chairman and CEO of European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co. (EADS) North America, French Ambassador Francois Delattre, and Sean O'Keefe, the current chairman and CEO of EADS.
Ralph Crosby, the former chairman and CEO of European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co. (EADS) North America, French Ambassador Francois Delattre, and Sean O'Keefe, the current chairman and CEO of EADS. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Corcoran Ball
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Dentist Todd Ardochick, Marilyn Monroe impersonator, and Arthur Jackson, the president of One on One Basketball, Inc.
Dentist Todd Ardochick, Marilyn Monroe impersonator, and Arthur Jackson, the president of One on One Basketball, Inc. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Corcoran Ball
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
One of the many galleries set for dinner.
One of the many galleries set for dinner. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Corcoran Ball
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
A view from the second floor looking down on the pink salon.
A view from the second floor looking down on the pink salon. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Rate this Page
Bloomberg moderates all comments. Comments that are abusive or off-topic will not be posted to the site. Excessively long comments may be moderated as well. Bloomberg cannot facilitate requests to remove comments or explain individual moderation decisions.