Only 400 Washingtonians were lucky enough to be invited to Playboy’s first-ever White House Correspondents Association dinner after-party Saturday night.
The inaugural event popped off at 9:30 p.m. As the WHCA handed out awards to journalists, guests at the K Street party were being welcomed into the Living Room nightclub by 18 of Playboy’s “Bunnies.”
Regina Walsh, dressed in a strapless black one-piece and sporting a white bunny tail on her rear, said the event is her first one working for the company.
Guests started pouring into the basement venue at 10 p.m. Bunnies greeted every person at the main floor entrance and again at the basement doors with glasses of fizzing rosé.
Cooper Hefner, son of the late Hugh Hefner, dropped in shorty after 10:15 p.m. and hung out with a group of men in the gated VIP area, complete with five bunnies for the special guests.
Women were dressed in glittery knee-length dresses and full-length gowns. Men donned black suits and undone black bow ties — a sign of relief the formal festivities of the night were over.
The venue, though normally a night club on weekends, was transformed into what felt like the basement of the Playboy Mansion. Every nook and cranny was redecorated to take on a cozy vibe with only red and blue lights filling the crowded space.
More than three dozen 12×12 framed pictures of Playboy women were on display throughout the spot. Even wall mirrors were plastered with the Playboy logo.
Entertainment included a live band and DJ spinning top 40 hits and 2000s hip hop songs, including “Ignition.” By 11 p.m., a female singer serenaded the crowd on piano with “Someone to Watch Over Me.”
A special guest will be announced at midnight. Multiple sources at the party speculated R&B singer Miguel will appear.
Guests spotted at the event:
- Brian Karem, Playboy White House correspondent
- Brian Stelter, CNN media correspondent
- Hasan Piker, “Young Turks”
- Andre Buvakovsky, Washington Capitals
- Claire Ashley, beauty influencer
- Courtney Cox, actor
- Kyle Richards, Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”
- CNN anchor Don Lemon
