Bardot, Jesse Jackson; Stephen Peck Helps Vets: D.C.
Tousled hair and sexy pouts were the stars last night at the Sofitel Lafayette Square’s opening party for “BB Forever: Brigitte Bardot, La Legende,” a collection of photographs of the French actress.
A snap of Bardot in sunglasses outside the hotel greeted arriving guests such as chef Michel Richard, Air France-KLM station manager Etienne Dailly, and Francoise Parguel, the vice president of communication for Sofitel (AC) Worldwide.
Inside, a black-and-white theme prevailed, punctuated by red roses and bowls of purple macaroons. A deejay played French pop tunes.
The collection of 35 photographs was curated by French journalist Henry-Jean Servat, who said he has known the reclusive star for more than 20 years. When he was young, he joked, priests warned him to avoid the “she-devil’s” movies.
With her permission (she rarely leaves her home in France, he said), he collaborated with Parguel to select photos that represent Bardot, now 77, as an icon embodying innocence and wantonness, much like Marilyn Monroe.
Sofitel agreed to donate 10,000 euros ($12,576) to the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, which helps animals.
Josh Studl, a director at Sidar Global Advisors, and arts patron Philippa Hughes sipped specialty cocktails such as the “Bardot Pout,” a mixture of Grand Marnier, orange juice and soda water. Others were content with a flute of Taittinger Champagne.
Vets Housing
Stephen Peck, the son of actor Gregory Peck, was honored last night at the 40th Annual Housing Person of the Year Gala, held in the National Building Museum.
Peck, the president and chief executive of U.S. Vets; Kelly Caffarelli, the president of the Home Depot Foundation; Jim Knotts, CEO of Operation Homefront; Mike King, CEO of Volunteers of America; and Tim Cantwell, president of Cloudbreak Communities, were all honored for their work on behalf of veterans with housing problems.
Peck said his late father was never able to serve in the military because of his bad back but would be thrilled with the event. Its goal was to raise $500,000 for the National Housing Conference, a nonprofit established in 1931 to advocate for safe and affordable American housing.
This year’s gala had a special focus on housing and foreclosure problems among veterans, which Carol Galante, the acting assistant secretary for housing-Federal Housing Administration commissioner for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, said were especially severe at present.
Caffarelli said that the Home Depot (HD) Foundation has given $23 million in the past year to charities focused on veteran housing.
Wells Fargo (WFC), represented by Don Gilbert, senior vice president and community-development manager, and Tim Hanlon, president of the Wells Fargo Foundation, said that the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation would be matching five-to-one all contributions made last night and through noon today up to $100,000.
After the awards, the 800 guests enjoyed a buffet dinner of potato gnocchi and rockfish.
American Progress
The attire at the Campaign for America’s Future annual gala Monday night could best be described as “anti-establishment chic.”
Young liberal activists such as Jesse Littlewood, a project manager with Echoditto.com, arrived at the Washington Hilton in jeans and sneakers. One attendee sported a sticker that read “healthcare not warfare.”
The honorees were Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor and publisher of the Nation magazine, civil-rights leader Jesse Jackson and Occupy Wall Street, which received the Paul Wellstone Citizenship Award.
Jackson said that he and Robert Borosage, the co-director of Campaign for America’s Future, met during Jackson’s 1984 presidential bid.
Representing the labor contingency of the progressive movement was Shane Larson, legislative director of the Communication Workers of America. Sean Crowley, communications director and Frank Clemente, campaign manager for Americans for Tax Fairness, were spotted sampling canapés and cocktails at the dinner’s pre-reception.
(Stephanie Green is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
Muse highlights include Jeremy Gerard and Warwick Thompson on theater.
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.
Brigitte Bardot Party
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
On the red carpet outside the Sofitel Lafayette Square for the opening of the hotel's exhibition "BB Forever: Brigitte Bardot, La Legende," a tribute to the French actress.
On the red carpet outside the Sofitel Lafayette Square for the opening of the hotel's exhibition "BB Forever: Brigitte Bardot, La Legende," a tribute to the French actress. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Brigitte Bardot Party
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Pierre-Louis Renou, manager of Sofitel Lafayette Square, Francoise Parguel, vice president of communications worldwide for Sofitel, and exhibition curator Henry-Jean Servat.
Pierre-Louis Renou, manager of Sofitel Lafayette Square, Francoise Parguel, vice president of communications worldwide for Sofitel, and exhibition curator Henry-Jean Servat. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Brigitte Bardot Party
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Josh Studl, director of Sidar Global Advisors, and arts patron Philippa Hughes.
Josh Studl, director of Sidar Global Advisors, and arts patron Philippa Hughes. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Brigitte Bardot Party
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Victor Obadia with Silver Spoon, chef Michel Richard, Annie Boutin King, director of social catering for The Ritz Carlton, and Etienne Dailly with Air France.
Victor Obadia with Silver Spoon, chef Michel Richard, Annie Boutin King, director of social catering for The Ritz Carlton, and Etienne Dailly with Air France. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Brigitte Bardot Party
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Photo of Brigitte Bardot in Sofitel bar.
Photo of Brigitte Bardot in Sofitel bar. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Brigitte Bardot Party
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
The scene inside the Brigitte Bardot party.
The scene inside the Brigitte Bardot party. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Housing Person of the Year Gala
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Stephen Peck, the chief executive of U.S. Vets, and Kelly Caffarelli, the president of the Home Depot Foundation, at the Housing Person of the Year Gala where they were both honored for their work on housing issues and veterans.
Stephen Peck, the chief executive of U.S. Vets, and Kelly Caffarelli, the president of the Home Depot Foundation, at the Housing Person of the Year Gala where they were both honored for their work on housing issues and veterans. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Housing Person of the Year Gala
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Wells Fargo president Tom Hanlon and Don Gilbert, senior vice president and community development manager for Wells Fargo.
Wells Fargo president Tom Hanlon and Don Gilbert, senior vice president and community development manager for Wells Fargo. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Housing Person of the Year Gala
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Peter Dougherty, associate executive director and senior policy advisor in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Moises Loza, executive director at the Housing Assistance Council.
Peter Dougherty, associate executive director and senior policy advisor in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Moises Loza, executive director at the Housing Assistance Council. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Campaign for America's Future Dinner
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
The Nation editor and publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel, and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, both honorees at the Campaign for America's Future dinner.
The Nation editor and publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel, and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, both honorees at the Campaign for America's Future dinner. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
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