Kiki Ryan

Spitzer back at a Washington hotel, this time for econ panel

Apparently Eliot Spitzer thinks he can come to the city where he paid a prostitute to have sex with him, which led to his resignation of the governorship, and no one will talk about it. It seemed that way Monday at the Willard Hotel, where Spitzer sat on an economic panel hosted by the New Republic and clearly hoped to have people remember he is a smart man that can indeed think with what’s in his head, not just what is in his pants. The only mention outside of the issue of the ISE “inflection point” was when he told reporters he has no desire to go back into politics, and he instead will be working in the family business of commercial real estate. While quickly...

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From lobbying to sex, drugs, and music

Washington is a city known for it’s straight-laced, white-collar kind of overtones. But when the lights go down, and the ties come off, you never know who’ll you’ll find deep in the underground music scene. R.S. Moore, who was a health care lobbyist in the early 2000s, has taken his experience as just one of those people and turned it into a tongue-in-cheek novel called “Dickfish.” The book follows the stories of six young D.C. professionals as they make their way around the city’s personal, political and party adventures. “’Dickfish’ is a mock memoir,” Moore said. “While the characters are not mirrored on me or any other...

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The Rev. Wright in Washington, Obama leaves town

We’re sure President Barack Obama is glad to be on vacation in Camp David this week — the Rev. Jeremiah Wright can’t blame those in the White House for not being able to meet with him. Two months after Obama was elected, Wright said, “Them Jews aren’t going to let him talk to me. I told my baby daughter, that he’ll talk to me in five years when he’s a lame duck, or in eight years when he’s out of office.” The former pastor is in Washington, only a few miles from the White House. The controversial minister is preaching this week at the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Arlington, Va. Tuesday marked his first of three nights in town for a...

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Prejean’s lawsuit extends her time in limelight

Just as her fame clock creeped close to the 15-minute mark, “opposite marriage” advocate and former Miss California Carrie Prejean hit the snooze button for the third time. The dethroned beauty queen is suing Miss California USA officials Shanna Moakler and Keith Lewis, claiming the organization forcibly removed her crown because of her religious beliefs. Prejean became famous (or infamous) for her answer to celebrity blogger Perez Hilton’s question about gay marriage. In the days that followed, the beauty queen also took heat for saying she’d rather be “biblically correct than politically correct.” Following her dethroning June 10, she told...

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Iconic investigative journalist Dunne loses battle to cancer

Writer and investigative journalist Dominick Dunne passed away Tuesday night at his home in New York City after a two year battle with bladder cancer, reports the New York Social Diary. Washington insiders close to the Vanity Fair writer are confirming the news that he has indeed passed away. Close friend David Patrick Columbia writes this on the late journalist: "He has handled his illness with unrelenting courage. He has not allowed it to hinder his daily life for a moment more than required. When he was feeling his worst, if you happened to call him to inquire about his health, he’d say: “don’t ask me about that, tell me a good story.” Story. The dish....

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The right to bare all bared in paper

Well, it is under its section called “Eye Openers.” Metro riders may have gotten a shock Tuesday morning when opening the Washington Post’s Express. The second page featured a practically naked woman gracing almost half the page. The picture shows a topless woman on Venice Beach, Calif., with two small metal stars covering her just enough it make it legal. The woman is one of thousands who went shirt-free during the weekend as part of “National Go Topless Day,” a day that protests the law that men can go topless, but women cannot. The organization Go Topless claims the equality granted by the 14th Amendment allows them the same chest-bearing rights as...

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Politicians fall prey to jokes, not lawsuits from Klayman

You better laugh or he’ll sue. We’re betting that the audience in attendance for lawyer and Judicial Watch founder Larry Klayman’s stand-up comedy act had prepared to laugh at everything he said out of fear of being slapped with a lawsuit. But as it turned out, Washington’s most litigious man had some pretty funny zingers aimed at the town whose residents he once loved to sue. Performing Wednesday night at the Funky Buddha Lounge in Baca Raton, Fla., Klayman took some time to discuss his soon-to-be released book, “Whores: Why and How I Came to Fight the Establishment.” As he explained to a full house, the purpose of the book is not “to...

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Smithsonian lets public ‘Hope’ for new diamond setting

You will never get to wear it around your neck, but the Smithsonian Museum is allowing you to choose how you would wear the Hope Diamond if you ever got the chance. To mark the fabled gemstone’s fiftieth anniversary in Washington, the Smithsonian is allowing the public to vote online for three new possible settings to display the gem. Commissioned by famed jeweler and donator of the diamond, Harry Winston, the three settings are more artistic and modern designs in platinum and white diamonds. Formed more than a billion years ago and discovered in India, the 45.52 carat deep blue stone will be displayed bare for the first time in the National Museum of Natural History until...

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By the numbers: Health Care

70 The number of specialty doctors that oppose the health-care reform proposals. 0 The percentage of people in the Midwest that “strongly support” the attempts made on health care reform -Numbers released Wednesday by the American Society of Medical Doctors....

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Morgan’s monikers are the talk of Nats’ clubhouse

Like ESPN broadcaster Chris Berman, the Nationals’ new centerfielder Nyjer Morgan is a nicknamer. No sooner did he arrive to Washington, following a trade with Pittsburgh earlier this year, that he began dreaming up monikers for his new teammates. And he revealed a few of them in a Q&A at the ESPN Zone on Wednesday: -Willie Harris: “Sweet Ricky Plum” -Ryan Zimmerman: “Peter Franchise” -Elijah Dukes: "Cholly Chirp" -Adam Dunn: “Freddie Physical,” because he “puts a hurtin’ on the ball” I’m still working on a few other guys, though,” he said. His own nickname? That dates back to 2000, when he began...

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Celebrity hairstylist’s newest salon already star-studded

He only opened his newest salon a few months, but already Ted Gibson is living up to the “celebrity” part of his “celebrity hairstylist” tag. “Sex and the City” star Cynthia Nixon recently brought her fiery hair to Gibson’s Chevy Chase salon. As have Anne Hathaway, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Tatyana Ali and Lynda Carter, who all traveled up Wisconsin Avenue for a blowout or a trim from the New York City stylist. Gibson’s people tell us all the ladies were in town for events occurring at the White House. Speaking of the White House, another celeb who has some familiarity with 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. is actress Rashida Jones. She, too, has...

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Speakeasy: Michele Bachmann

“With Gov. Palin taking a well-deserved step out of the spotlight, it appears that I may be absorbing even more of the liberals’ scorn.” — Lightning rod Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., begging her supporters in a fundraising letter not to “let them Palinize...

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Former Miss DC juggling kids book, dating advice

She’s been a Miss DC and competed for the Miss America crown. She’s been a Hill staffer. She’s the writer of a well-read blog. And now, Kate Michael is adding “author” to her resume. The 2006 Miss DC is finishing up a kids book based on a poem she wrote on “colors and how colors make us feel.” The book is aimed at a third-grade level, and she had third-graders from Bruce Monroe Elementary School in the District draw some of the illustrations for it. And once she gets a few more illustrations from another grammar school, she’ll put the finishing touches on it. She aims to publish it in February. Meanwhile, she’s developing an idea for...

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Blago starts Web site, praises his Elvis impersonation

Rod Blagojevich may have kicked out of office months ago, but don’t think for a minute he’s going anywhere. The former Illinois governor has started his own personal Web site to praise his own “history making” achievements, let people know about his public appearances and look for work. Case in point: The first post he has up under his “Rod in the News” section — him singing Elvis. Last Friday, the disgraced politician was paid by a Chicago-based sound production studio to perform the King’s “Treat Me Nice” (although we think “Jailhouse Rock” would have been more appropriate) at a downtown block...

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Vacation-packed August for Obama girls

Talk about a great summer vacation. After kicking off the summer with a trip to Europe, the Obamas are taking the last month before school starts to show their girls more of America. Last weekend, Michelle took Malia and Sasha to Philadelphia to learn about the founding of our country their father serves. The first stop was a visit to Betsy Ross’ house Saturday, with reports saying the youngest Obama had written a school paper on Ross and was eager to see where she sewed the flag. They also visited Independence Hall and Isaiah Zager’s Magic Garden mosaic/maze on South Street. Then this Friday, the whole family is set to fly to Montana. They will visit nearby...

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Ex-KGB agent gives an espionage how-to

Warning: after you read this post, it will automatically self destruct. OK, not really, and neither will famous KGB spy Oleg Kalugin’s book “Spy Master: My 32 Years in Intelligence and Espionage Against the West,” which he discussed at the International Spy Museum Thursday. The museum’s executive director remarked they’ve run programs like “Sexpionage” and “The History of the Martini” (with a tasting), yet this was the most packed he’d ever seen it. Kalugin was the youngest KGB general in history, was the head of their counterintelligence operations and even went undercover in the United States, posing as a reporter and...

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Ephron’s got something cooking at Smithsonian

There’s an exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of American History dedicated to the star of her latest film, but don’t presume Nora Ephron knows anything about it. The writer of “Julie & Julia” was in Washington on Wednesday night to donate props from her latest film, which tells the true stories on legendary cook Julia Child and the woman who started a blog about her adventures in attempting to prepare Child’s recipes. And though Child is in her film’s title, Ephron’s connection to the exhibit only came about when adding pieces from the film. When Yeas & Nays spoke to Ephron following her remarks about the new objects to be added to the...

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Family time for Dave Grohl

That was Foo Fighters front man and Alexandria native Dave Grohl flying into Washington Dulles International Airport on Wednesday with his wife and two kids. A source tells us the rocker was coming into town to see his mom, who still lives in the area. Also spotted: country artist John Rich. Half of the duo Big & Rich and the songwriter behind last year’s pro-John McCain song, “Raisin’ McCain,” Rich dined at the Caucus Room on Wednesday night. Left: Grohl at Dulles (Photo: Mark...

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Kate Gosselin a ‘Plus’ to population in Washington area

With only a few more episodes to film on her TLC reality show “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” Kate Gosselin has made plans to get a place of her own, right here in the Washington area. First reported by RadarOnline, Gosselin is looking to buy a space in The Palladium Condominum building in the wealthy area of Rockville. Apparently the much-publicized, messy and drama-filled separation of Gosselin and her husband, Jon, has reached a boiling point, with Kate deciding she cannot remain near the kids when it is her soon-to-be-ex-husband’s turn to watch their brood in their Pennsylvania home. Jon already has moved into an apartment building on the Upper West Side of...

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Joe Gibbs: Life Coach

Former Redskins coach and NASCAR champion owner Joe Gibbs signs copies of his new book, "Game Plan for Life," at Books-A-Million in D.C. Tuesday. Later, he held a book chat at McLean Bible Church. On Wednesday, he'll appear at Costco in Chantilly, Va. Photo: Carrie...

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Shaq shoots for a chance to meet Obama and misses

Could America’s biggest basketball star show up 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. unannounced and score a chance to meet with the White House’s biggest basketball star? Apparently not, as Shaquille O’Neal, with hopes of meeting with President Barack Obama, was turned down by Secret Service Sunday. O’Neal — in town to host WWE’s Monday Night Raw at the Verizon Center — posed an impromptu survey last Friday as a guest on D.C. Radio’s “The Mike Wise Show” to gauge his chances of getting in to see the first b-baller. “I got on a nice suit, I’m in D.C. paying a visit, I jump out of a cab in front of the White House, I don’t...

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Cash for clunkers program is car genocide

Our government is officially sponsoring a genocide — of cars. Various congressmen gathered with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood Monday morning to kick off the new buyer incentive program, the Car Allowance Rebate System at the Department of Transportation. The “Cash for Clunkers” program allows people to trade in old cars for a rebate of up to $4,500 to buy a more environmentally friendly car in hopes of boosting the auto industry. LaHood sounded a bit vicious in explaining the process, describing it as essentially a “murdering” of the car. After a deal is made with a car dealership, sodium silicon is poured onto the car, the engine then fogs, and...

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Filmmaker did 'profanity research' on D.C.

Armando Iannucci, the British filmmaker behind the upcoming political satire "In the Loop," said while the project is not a documentary, he was driven to get the details right. And that included some investigation into the language used in Washington's halls of power. "I did a bit of profanity research," Iannucci told Yeas & Nays last week. "They don’t swear in the State Department, but they do in the Pentagon." But for all of his research into Washington for the project — which follows a group of British politicians and staffers as they visit the U.S. in the run-up to war — the film's most notable swearer is a British communications...

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Preventing DUI: Ladies, it’s up to you

Getting interns to make smart choices around booze isn’t the easiest of tasks. But it becomes easier when you appeal to their romantic natures. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif., hosted an event for interns on Capitol Hill on Thursday to encourage the bright young go-getters to “make the right choice” when it comes to drinking alcohol. Roybal-Allard introduced Brandon Silveria, who became permanently disabled after a drunken accident. His story wound up as an episode of the former hit television series “Rescue 911.” Silveria’s father, Tony, also spoke to the audience of interns and labeled them all as type “A” personalities for...

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'Biggest Loser' contestants show us the 'Proof'

Contestants from the next season of "The Biggest Loser" swooped into Proof restaurant in Penn Quarter on Monday night to prove that they could order off a menu with nutrition in mind. How'd it go? "They had a lot of substitutions on things," said chef Haidar Karoum. "A lot of them wanted to hold the sauce, hold the potato purée, etc., so they steered clear of anything too bad." Sounds like even though trainer Jillian Michaels didn't join them in D.C., they've picked up some advice from she and her fellow fitness pros. Karoum said they stuck mostly to scallops, hangar steak, stuffed chicken and salads. "No foie gras, no sweetbreads, no pork...

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Food documentary makes Congress sick for change

After watching the documentary “Food, Inc.,” you may find yourself like first lady Michelle Obama, planting your own backyard garden. The film on America's corporate food industry, which is currently out in theatres, was specially showing Thursday evening at the Capitol Visitors Center. Given the audiences grossed-out reaction to some scenes, the film clearly sent a message to those on the Hill of needed policy changes. Did you know: - Thanks to antibiotics and pesticides, farmers and grow a chicken in 49 days instead of the natural time of three months? - While being raised, cows stand ankle deep in manure where E. coli evolves, which can wind up in the...

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Numbers: The Real World

7:2 Number of crew to cast members spotted around Washington, D.C. to film “The Real World:...

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Maryland nudists’ record skinny-dip

One way to get yourself into the Guinness Book of World Records in Maryland this past weekend - get naked. That was the plan for about 600 people Saturday, who all simultaneously jumped naked into three area pools in attempt to start a new world record. At exactly 3:00 p.m., 267 people of all ages stripped down in Crownsville, 123 in Davidson and an additional 140 in Baltimore bared it all to participate in a corrdinated in-the-buff jump occuring with other nudist camps in America and Canada for the culmination of Nude Recreation Week. As of Sunday, an estimated 20,000 people opted for their birthday -not swim - suits to set the first record of its kind. That's one way to get a record...

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Fictional book blends reality at Georgetown eateries

“I see faces here that I have seen here since back in the ’70s,” said Nathan’s owner Carol Joynt as she opened Nathan’s final “Q&A Cafe,” undoubtedly noticing several faces in the crowd who have starring roles in her guest’s newest book, “Mortal Friends.” Many of Georgetown’s ladies who lunch filled the restaurant on one of its final days to hear author Jane Stanton Hitchcock talk about her murder mystery of thinly veiled characters living in the Washington enclave. Joynt was hard-pressed to uncover who was who in the book, suggesting that the book’s character Carmen Appleton is event planner Carolyn Peachey...

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Running leads actor Edwards to Africa

Who would have thought running a marathon in Chicago would lead you to a starting line in Africa donating shoes? That’s where former “ER” actor Anthony Edwards found himself, beginning a new chapter of his life as the first chairman for Shoe4Africa, an organization promoting empowerment through sports and education, centered on receiving donations of running shoes. Edwards was in Crystal City on Tuesday speaking on a panel as part of InterAction Forum 2009. “That’s it. That’s what I want to spend my time doing,” said “Goose,” recalling how he responded when he heard how the simple act of donating shoes can change a person’s...

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Fans mourn Rep. Lee's rambling speech at Michael's memorial

After his comments disparaging Michael Jackson, fans of the “King of Pop” are looking to silence Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y. But the same seems to be true of those praising him, as Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s dedication at Jackson's memorial service Tuesday apparently showed. The Houston Democrat appeared in Los Angeles on Tuesday to present the Jackson family HR 600 — a bill she and Rep. Diane Watson, D-Calif., introduced to honor the singer’s contribution to the arts and humanitarian efforts. Problem was, she treated the stage in the Staples Center as she would the House floor. She took up more time speaking than others there who knew the singer more personally,...

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Fenty swings — and sometimes misses — as Kastles open stadium

When you’re an athletic mayor, everyone’s always asking you to take a couple swings. So it was again Monday for Mayor Adrian Fenty, as the Washington Kastles kicked off the World TeamTennis season with their first practice, a stadium dedication and youth clinic. “This is just so great for Washington, D.C.,” he told the crowd, before being handed a racket to participate in the kids’ clinic. Although undeniably fit, Fenty had a little trouble hitting the ball, as he whiffed a few. (Maybe it was the shirt, tie and dress shoes he had on?) Fresh off the plane from Wimbledon were Kastles players Leander Paes, an eight-time Grand Slam doubles champion, and Rennae...

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Obama heads to St. Louis stadium for first pitch

He didn’t pick his hometown team the Chicago White Sox nor his new home’s team the Washington Nationals. President Barack Obama has opted to head to St. Louis to throw his first ever opening pitch as president. Obama will take to the Cardinals’ mound July 14 to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. With his dedication to community service it’s not completely random for him to pick this game as his first throw. MLB, along with People Magazine, has implemented an “All-Stars Among Us” program that “recognizes individuals serving their communities in extraordinary ways.” Obama will be the fourth...

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Speakeasy: Megan McCain

“I want Hilary Duff to play me. I think she’s really hot — hotter than me — but I’d still want her to play me.” — Sen. John McCain’s daughter, Meghan, to the New York Daily News Monday night about who she would like to play her in a movie version of her still-unreleased book....

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Harvard Class of ’91 sticks together

It certainly doesn’t hurt to be a member of the Harvard Law Class of ’91 these days. That, after all, is President Barack Obama’s graduating class. Let’s back up a bit. The job of D.C.’s Judicial Nomination Commission is to suggest candidates for open judicial vacancies in the city. The president typically chooses from the commission’s list. This spring, when the commission recommended three candidates to fill the Superior Court vacancy created by the retirement of Rafael Diaz. Ultimately, the commission settled on Jeffrey Gutman, Sharon Larkin and Elizabeth Shapiro. Earlier this month, however, Obama nominated Stuart Nash, an associate deputy...

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Book deal claims Edwards sex tape, remarriage

Despite the fact that South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., have recently been caught in extramarital affairs, John Edwards has still not escaped the media’s attention. Former Edwards aide Andrew Young just inked a deal with St. Martin’s Press for a new tell-all book that makes a variety of shocking claims, most notably of an alleged sex tape between the former presidential candidate and Rielle Hunter, his former mistress and mother of a child alleged to be his. According to the New York Daily News, Young’s book proposal tells the story about what happened to him after famously taking the fall as being the father of Hunter’s daughter...

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Tailor: Power brokers moving to a more ‘Obama-like’ fit

First lady Michelle Obama isn’t the only one in the White House changing the world of fashion — her husband, President Barack Obama, is slowly influencing similar changes for men. Anthony Asaf has been tailoring for the high-powered, high-profile men in Washington for years, coming in from Hong Kong to create bespoke suits, shirts and ties. We caught up with the tailor last week while in town for his thrice-yearly visits. “Yes, changes are being seen” around town, he said. Asaf said that though the classic colors of black, gray and blue remain, his clients — who require anonymity, but include committee chairmen in Congress, ambassadors and lobbyists...

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Actresses demand no more junk in health care, schools

In keeping with her role as a nurse in Showtime’s new series “Nurse Jackie,” Edie Falco came to Capitol Hill on Thursday to advocate for the issue du jour, health care reform. With the sun beating down on thousands of supporters of Health Care for America, Falco shared her story of hardship with the health care system. “I’m here because I’ve traveled through the health care system and there are holes.” Falco said heatedly, sounding like the tough wife she played on “The Sopranos.” While staying in Washington, Falco was spotted eating dinner at Poste Moderne Brasserie in the Hotel Monaco on Wednesday night. And the day before, two...

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Kasten: There are no new insults

During an address to the National Press Club on Thursday, Nationals President Stan Kasten kept returning to the parallels he sees between how he helped to build the successful Atlanta Braves teams of the '90s, and how he's trying to build the Nats presently. And the similarities aren't all just on the field, either. "One thing I've learned is they've invented no new insults," Kasten said, referring to the media and disgruntled fans. "I've heard it all before. ... I'm currently in my village idiot phase in Washington." Kasten was also preparing for a bittersweet moment at Thursday night's game against the Red Sox. That's when John Smoltz -- the future Hall of Famer...

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Hollywood is still here

No, they haven’t left yet. In fact, the cast of “How Do You Know?” is fast making our city their own. Reese Witherspoon (who stars in the romantic flick) and Jake Gyllenhaal (who’s along for the ride with Witherspoon), were spotted Tuesday evening at the Potenza bar, sitting close to each other while they watched the Nationals game. Dressed supercasually, the pair drank Rosa Regale while enjoying the Margherita pizza. They later went over to the Potenza wine shop where they purchased a half case of wine. (Witherspoon’s fellow star, Jack Nicholson, picked up a to-go version of the same pizza Saturday. After all, if you can’t trust Jack with a food...

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Star power at Meek fundraiser

Locally bred actor Jeffrey Wright (“Casino Royale,” “Cadillac Records,” “W.”) came back home Wednesday night to dip his toes in our city’s industry — politics. Wright was the guest of honor at a fundraiser for Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Fla., who’s running for Senate in 2010. Held at the Northeast home of Yebbie Watkins, chief of staff to House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, one attendee said “it was the rare fundraiser that actually went on for hours after it ended — truly nobody wanted to leave.” Wright even observed that it was more successful than one of his first early events in New York for President Barack Obama. Hmm,...

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Speakeasy: Sonia Sotomayor

“I’m a bear in a courtroom.” -Judge Sonia Sotomayor, in a 1993 speech released by the Senate Judiciary...

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City honors its own king of the ring

Muhammad Ali didn’t make it to the Silverdocs Film Festival on Tuesday night for the premiere of his new film, but one boxing luminary did get to town. On Tuesday morning, D.C. City Councilman Kwame Brown presented a resolution passed by the council honoring local boxer Lamont Peterson. In April, the undefeated Peterson won the WBO Junior Welterweight Championship. “Not only is Mr. Peterson a personal inspiration to the youth of our city, but he has also helped demonstrate to the national boxing community that D.C. is a world-class boxing destination,” Brown said. Lamont Peterson, left, and Councilman Kwame Brown, 4th from left at the John A. Wilson Building on...

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Birthday perks for the president’s birthday girl

The first daughters have once again caused envy in every tween girl around the world. First stirred by their time spent over inauguration with The Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus, they've now gone transatlantic, with Sasha Obama celebrating her 8th birthday Wednesday with the cast of "Harry Potter." Sasha, her older sister Malia and their mother the first lady visited the newest set of the final "Harry Potter" film in the northwest London town of Neasden. British media is reporting that the movie's stars – Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson and the book's creator J.K. Rowling – threw a small birthday party in the Howgarts Grand Hall set. Michelle Obama...

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Frank: Specter has been 'disappointing' as a Dem

In a new interview with GQ, powerful Democratic Rep. Barney Frank says while he's "glad to have" party-switching Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Penn., on his side, he's not all that impressed with Specter's performance so far. "[A]s an elected official, I have to say I don’t think he did our profession any good," Frank says. "First of all, to announce that it was done purely so he could survive. Secondly, his performance since then has been very disappointing." In particular, Frank calls out Specter for saying, soon after he switched parties, that he was "confident the courts in Minnesota will do justice to [Republican] Norm Coleman, and then said, Oh, I...

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Wilson, Witherspoon, Rudd will call Adams Morgan home

Surprise No. 1: A-listers Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon and Paul Rudd are coming to town later this month, but they won't be lobbying; they'll actually be working. Surprise No. 2: They won't be filming chase scenes along Pennsylvania Avenue, but rather witty dialogue and romantic intrigue in ... Adams Morgan. The three actors star in a new romantic comedy by James L. Brooks that remains officially untitled, although reports have referred to its working title, "How Do You Know?" As we reported on Tuesday, Wilson will play a Nationals relief pitcher who competes with Rudd for the affections of Witherspoon. Monday afternoon saw about 200 locals get picked as extras at a...

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Nancy Reagan enshrines her husband in the Capitol

Some conservatives may argue there aren’t enough Republicans on the Hill. Well, they can rejoice in now having another Republican permanently in the Rotunda — albeit one made of bronze. Partisanship was not on anyone’s mind as former first lady Nancy Reagan unveiled the Capitol’s newest statue — that of President Ronald Reagan. Joining Mrs. Reagan in the place her husband was both sworn in to begin his second term and where he laid in state after his death were Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.; House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio; Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; former California Gov. Pete...

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Pelosi gives the talk, but doesn’t give a suit

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi famously loves her Armani suits, but so much so that she can’t even donate one to charity? Apparently so, as her staffers said before her arrival at the Sixth Annual Capitol PurSuit Drive Tuesday morning. The clothing drive that collects suits for low-income men and women has gathered almost 50,000 pieces since it began, but this year they weren’t able to count on Pelosi. Pelosi remarked at the event in the Rayburn House Office Building, stating “it is the example of giving that produces even more giving.” But as her staffers told us before she arrived, “She did [donate] last year but not this year ... but our office donated...

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Mary Tyler Moore dishes on more than diabetes

She played one on television, but Thursday it was Mary Tyler Moore’s chance to address real-life journalists at the National Press Club. And given the fact her show debuted three months before the club even started to admit women, seems like she finally “[made] it after all.” Moore was in town on behalf of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to discuss her own personal 40-year struggle with the disease — one that she kept secret until the foundation asked her to be its international chairwoman. “It was my best-kept secret, to now my lifelong crusade,” Moore remarked about how thankful she was to finally have publicly acknowledged her battle...

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Cheney brings the laughs, as only he can

The deadpan jokes started from the get-go. “Good morning, or maybe good afternoon,” former Vice President Dick Cheney teased in the opening of his speech on terrorism and torture, which was pushed back due to President Barack Obama’s news conference Thursday morning on the same topic. “Clearly he was a member of the Senate and not the House, because of course, in the House we have the five-minute rule,” Cheney scoffed. Actually, the simultaneous scheduling of speeches that took obviously different tacks dominated the talk around the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy. The former VPOTUS was even introduced by a staffer asking how interesting...

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Hargitay loves Dems — even those that don't know her

Just because she’s senator of the state home to all things Hollywood doesn’t mean Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., is up on all her celebrities. She had an embarrassing moment Wednesday when she met actress Mariska Hargitay. “[Sen.] Boxer doesn’t know who I am,” the Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning actress recalled to us Wednesday night at the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship gala, where she was honored. “She said, ‘And what do you do?’ So I told her nicely I was on television,” Hargitay said she replied. “But then she pronounced my name wrong,” she said with a laugh about their encounter. Hargitay was met with that...

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Former Bush aide and radio host gets naked to endorse book

Sex sells, but a naked Michael Smerconish — not what most have in mind. The former aide to President George H.W. Bush, radio host, cable news pundit and punching bag to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck, has a new book coming out that features him in his boxers on a news room set. And apparently the book cover had to be one-upped to promote it — Smerconish appears in the May issue of “Philadelphia” magazine without the boxers. Smerconish is known to take risks so posing naked is not that shocking. In what some call the “shot heard around the dial” the man who once ran for office as a GOP candidate at 24 and vocalized the value of ethnic...

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Seen and heard at the Corro. Dinner

Behind the scenes for Obama's speech: What went into President Barack Obama's well-received array of jokes on Saturday night at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner? About two weeks of work, says Jon Favreau, the president's chief speechwriter. Favreau told The Examiner that that's how long it took himself, speechwriter Jon Lovett, Obama political adviser David Axelrod and a team of joke writers to craft the punchlines. He also said they spent several hours on Friday, working out his opening sight gag with the teleprompter screens. Favreau's flame: Speaking of Jon Favreau, we may be seeing our next "PoliWood" power couple in Favreau and Rashida Jones, as we...

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Speakeasy: Tammy Haddad's Garden Brunch

"The story of this party is Todd Palin showing up and looking good, and Val Kilmer looking like he slept under a bridge." -an attendee at the annual pre-Correspondents' Dinner brunch, held by media consultant Tammy Haddad "The Republicans are out of power. Just look around." -a GOP consultant, as she surveyed the Democrat-heavy crowd at the...

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Top Chef: Congressional edition

Who's the top congressional cook? This year, it's Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., who along with his wife Jill, won the Best in Show award at this year's March of Dimes Gourmet Gala. Their winning creation? Watermelon Pine Nut Gazpacho. Other winners in the appetizer cook-off: Best Presentation Award: Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, and Vicki Risch for their Idaho Potato Lollipops Health and Happiness Award: Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kansas, and Vicki Tiahrt for their Skinny Dippin, KS Style American Regional Cuisine Award: Rep. David Scott, D-Ga., and Alfredia Scott for their Creamy Grits with Shrimp Easiest Presentation Award: Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, and Teresa Loebsack for their Asparagus and...

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Pens hanging their skates at Ritz

Attention Caps fans: Yeas & Nays has learned that the Pittsburgh Penguins are staying at the Ritz Carlton on 22nd and M streets while in town for their series against our hometown skaters. Just sayin'....

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Speakeasy: James Carville

"Barack Obama is a better man than me." -The opening line of an email James Carville sent to Democratic supporters Thursday. He goes on to say that "these Republicans are a joke," something the president could never say....

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Media Mix

Photo: Noah Kalina Alt-rocker-turned-local-DJ favorite Bob Mould just returned to Washington after playing at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. You can catch his next performance May 16 at 9:30 Club for his monthly “Blowoff.” Q: What book are you currently reading? “Ripped” by Greg Kot Q: What Web sites do you check every morning? Hipsterrunoff.com, Andrew Sullivan’s The Daily Dish, pitchfork.com and the online version of German news magazine Der Spiegel Q: What's your favorite TV show? I TiVo “Monday Night Raw” every week Q: What was the last movie you saw? “Slumdog Millionaire” Q: What was the last thing you...

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Speakeasy

“Hillary plays golf, too, and she is good. But she’d rather read a book.” – Clinton White House photographer Sharon Farmer on Wednesday at the National Press Club, as she showed a photo of the former first couple on the golf...

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Bennett's Duke hangs opposite Fairey's Obama

"What a moment for me," said Tony Bennett, as his painting of Duke Ellington was officially accepted into the National Portrait Gallery on Wednesday morning -- the 110th anniversary of the Duke's birth. "It's something I never dreamed about, and it came true." The portrait depicts U Street's favorite son surrounded by a sea of pink roses. Why? Bennett explained that every time Ellington wrote a new song for Bennett to sing, he'd send him a dozen roses. "When the dozen roses would arrive, I'd say, 'Duke wrote another song,'" recalled the 82-year-old crooner. In fact, Bennett said, it was Ellington who inspired him to start painting. "Do two things;...

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Celebrity designer fashioned to style D.C.

Chic boutique Rihanna walks the red carpet in her shoes and Blake Lively “gossips” while holding her handbag, and now thanks to a new boutique in Georgetown, it may be only a matter of time before Devi Kroell styles first lady Michelle Obama. “She’s what the first lady should be,” Kroell told Yeas & Nays on Wednesday night, referring to the first lady’s modern style and penchant to wear young American designers like Jason Wu and Isabel Toledo. Austrian-born Kroell traveled from New York to Georgetown to host the grand opening of Hu’s Wear — a luxury boutique that exclusively carries her line of modern and sleek clothing, shoes and...

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