Usually when you throw a party, you invite more people than you expect to actually show up, assuming that a few folks will RSVP “No.”
But New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd ran into a different scenario Sunday night when she and Hollywood mogul David Geffen threw a party for Washington and Hollywood A-Listers in her Georgetown townhouse: Roughly 400 invitations were sent out and nearly all 400 showed up for her party, which quickly became buzzed about as the party to go to that evening.
As a result, Dowd’s house on 32nd and N streets quickly became a can of sardines and more than a few attendees told Yeas & Nays that it was simply one of the most crowded parties that they’ve ever attended.
“You simply could not move,” said one. And that was if you were lucky enough to even get into the party: Lots of folks just ended up mingling outside Dowd’s home, including actor Tom Hanks, Larry David, Diane von Furstenberg, Sen. Bob Casey, George Lucas, Ron Howard, Brian Williams and Tom Brokaw (who was none too happy with the packed house).
Hanks was happy to chat up folks outside, but David quickly grew hungry, prompting Dowd to bring him some crackers as he waited outside.
Nearby was a party being thrown by Vanity Fair contributors Dee Dee Myers and Todd Purdum, which had a much more subdued atmosphere: It didn’t have quite the star appeal (“big” names included ABC News’ Claire Shipman, Slate’s John Dickerson and former FCC Chairman Michael Powell), but least you could get a seat.
