I have been thinking about how to best write about this weekend and all that has been the White House Correspondence Dinner. With so many things to write about, where do I even begin? I contemplated breaking the post into smaller chunks but that just didn't seem right so hold on a bear with me, this is a long one!
I did decide to include subheads so you can scan a head to your favorite part. There are also thumbnails of the best pictures throughout the post but these and others are located at the end of the post in the slideshow/larger format.
Did you experience your own wild weekend surrounding nerd prom? If so, post a comment, I would love to hear about the celebrities you saw!
History
Coming into this weekend I didn't know much about the dinner or it's history, just that it is the weekend to see all sorts of celebrities. In reality, this tradition was started in 1920 and honors top aspiring journalists from around the country with scholarships. In fact, the dinner is a fundraiser meant to provide money for these scholarships as well as a time to honor the idea of free speech and media. Who could have imagined that so many years later it would take on the glitz and glam we now know today.
One of the first things I learned is that those within the WHCD circles don't call it by its name, but rather the nickname "nerd prom." Reasons vary as to why and who first coined the term, but I believe it goes back to the fact that you are bringing together some of the most powerful groups in our nation; big and small screen celebrities, national and local journalists, and government officials from governors to senators, military officials, and of course the President. What do all of these people have in common (other than being famous of course)? Absolutely nothing and that is what makes this weekend so great! One site I follow reported a conversation in which Meghan McCain was overheard trying to explain the Farm Bill to "a confused" Kim Kardashian. Who knows if it is true, but I think this example perfectly personifies nerd prom – it's like the most awkward first date x the almost 3,000 guests in attendance.
Leading up to the Main Event
Parties begin as early as the Wednesday before the dinner. As the week progresses, the parties become more lavish, and the celebrities more famous and plentiful. This is a weekend that showcases the value of your connections within this town because the only way into one of these parties is to know someone. That is, unless of course you are one of the lucky ones who manages to crash, another tradition that comes alive during this time.
Enter me, the newbie from North Carolina and avid celebrity fanatic. While I make it a point not to buy the trashy magazines, I cannot contain my love for E! TV and all that is Hollywood glamour. It didn't take much to realize that this weekend would be my best chance to act out my fantasies of hobnobbing with celebrities… If only I knew someone that could get me in somewhere, anywhere really.
Glam Night 2012
By Thursday, a small group of friends and I were busy divising a plan that would have us party hopping around town in the hopes of a lucky break. We figured, let's get dressed up and go out. What's the worst that could happen? We get turned down, catch a fabulous dinner and drinks downtown, maybe see a few celebrities … that's not too bad right? And so it was decided… Glam Night 2012 was on!
We started our night at Zaytinya in Chinatown, just a block away from where the NPR Friday Night Spin party was being held at the Gibson Guitar Showroom. After a fabulous dinner of Greek tapas and wine, we made our way past, secretly hoping we could slip past the bouncer (with the ear piece and the guest list). In a stroke of luck, the bouncer was nowhere to be seen, fitting seeing as the party was obviously wrapping up. (Had our dinner really taken that long?) Just when we thought our first hotspot was a total bust, out walked the star of the show, Solange Knowles in a hot pink skirt and mega heels. Beyonce's little sister had apparently just finished DJ'ing for the party and was on her way to bigger and better things, as were we.
Estatic at our first celebrity spotting, we made our way towards the White House and the W Hotel to see if there was any chance of making it into one of the two parties being hosted within the walls of one of the hippest hotels in DC. Our original plan was to make it onto the rooftop bar, until we realized that was the location for The New Yorker cocktail party. From the looks of hotel staff stationed at (almost) every doorway within the lobby, we weren't making it very far in the direction of the roof, or the basement towards the Google-Hollywood Reporter Party for that matter. We decided instead to hang out for a bit, after all, with the usual decor making you feel as if you are at some fancy night club, an acoustic guitarist playing, and a stocked bar… how can you go wrong? (Plus we were secretly hoping to catch a glimpse at stars going and coming from one of the two events.) Thankfully, our patience and diligence paid off, rewarding us with sightings (but no pictures) of Daniel Dae Kim (Hawaii 5-O and Lost), Jenna Bush, and Sofia Vergara (Modern Family). While I really wanted to stop them to ask for pictures, I could not get over how calm and collected most people were. Here you had no paparatzi waiting outside, no crazed fans screaming and running… I imagine that the atmosphere must have been a welcomed change for some of the atendees. Daniel Dae Kim even took off from the event on foot, choosing to walk the city instead of hoping into a waiting car like most of the others – how refreshing.
Bringing our celebrity spotting total to four (that we noticed), my friends decided it was time to part ways; but not before one last walk to the White House and a celebratory picture.
Glam Night 2012 in front of the White House (I promise it is there)
As James and I climbed into the cab headed towards the First Ammendment Party, hosted by The Atlantic and Funny or Die, we had no idea that our celebrity count was about to go sky-high (at least compared to anything this North Carolina girl has seen). I will save you the painful details, but suffice it to say that this was the place to see celebs as they came and went from the fabulous party, located in the cavity of what was once a downtown Borders Bookstore. It was here that we saw Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family), Richard Kind (Spin City), Adam Savage (Mythbusters), Kate Upton (Sports Illustrated model), Daniel Dae Kim (again – this time we got a picture), Kerry Washington (Scandal), Rosario Dawson, and Woody Harrelson. There was also an actress that was on the office, but I don't remember her name, nor did I get the picture (epic fail, I know). One of my favorite moments of the night came when Adam Savage left, as he walked out he seemed somewhat starttled by the attention an people clammoring for his picture. Suddenly his face changed and he chuckled, "Oh yea, I'm famous." It was one of the humanizing moments I have heard or seen with a celebrity- the moment that they forget who they are and find it funny that someone actually wants a picture with them.
What a night! 12 celebrity spottings and pictures!
Nerd Prom 2012
On Saturday we headed to the Washington Hilton Hotel early, hoping to get a good spot to see the red carpet entrances. I made it to the front row of onlookers, but was unfortunately cleared out by the secret service before we could witness any notable arrivals. We eventually made our way inside to the lobby of the hotel where we quickly scanned the already crowded area for a place to stand. Off to the side of the lobby, seemingly out of the way was the perfect spot to see entrances, feet from where the secret service let high-profile government and military officials go downstairs to the red carpet. After dashing across the lobby with a friend, we were pleased to be standing front and (just off) center. It was later pointed out that I had cut off General Martin Dempsey (Chariman, Joint Chiefs of Staff) in order to get there. Apparently, I will not live that down for a while…
From our perch we were able to see who was entering as they walked through the revolving, and mostly sticking, door. It turned out that most of my best pictures occurred when the door would stick, trapping the unsuspecting celebrity inside. (Zooey Deschanel had the best reaction, and the best recovery.) For this, I will forever be thankful, at least until I get a new camera. While our spot was great for watching arrivals, once inside, our views were largely limited to the celebrity backsides as they made their way towards the escalator and red carpet. As a result, most of my pictures are either blurry or from behind, but I did grab a few good ones!
After the red carpet hoopla died down, we made our way to the sports bar inside the hotel where we watched the dinner in style while munching on a cheeseburger, pizza, and chicken quesadillas. The food was surprisingly good, but the company was even better. We dined beside three members of the security detail for Mayor Bloomburg of New York City. All were friendly and made jokes about being in the south, to which we responded they were nowhere near. Their identity was later confirmed when I realized my picture of the mayor did not come out, but was in fact of his security detail. As the dinner winded down, the security detail disappeared, and we were ready to get back to the lobby to see who we could see on their way out. We were treated with sightings of David Gregory (NBC's Meet the Press), Ann Curry (NBC's Today Show), Daniel Dae Kim (third spotting of the weekend! Hawaii 5-O, Lost), and Christine Baranski (The Good Wife).
Unfortunately it was raining, which meant that fewer stars would be walking to the numerous after parties. So we just made our way around and back into the red carpet area where we caught glimpses of a few other starts, includng another glimpse of Rosario Dawson, Viola Davis (The Help), Colton Dixon (American Idol), and even a picture with Newt Gingrich and his wife Callista Gingrich (no, her hair did not move, but she was very pleasant).
What a weekend and one that I will not forget for a long time. We have all decided that Glam Night will be a tradition, and after my Twitter rambles naming off stars, I suspect that our table will grow next year for the events at the Washington Hilton as well. My hope is that in time, I manage to get a real invite rather than having to show up hours early in hopes of chasing a poor celebrity down in the lobby to get a picture, but until that day I will gladly dress up for a weekend of fun!
Following is the full list of who we saw over this star-studded weekend. Scroll to the very bottom for a slideshow of the pictures!
Actors: Reese Witherspoon, Charlize Theron, Christine Baranski (The Good Wife), Viola Davis (The Help), Daniel Dae Kim (Hawaii 5-0, Lost), Sofia Vergara (Modern Family), Woody Harrelson (Cheers, Hunger Games), Rosario Dawson (Men in Black II), Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman (Mythbusters), Dakota Fanning (Twilight, War of the Worlds), Jonah Hill (21 Jumpstreet, Moneyball, Superbad), David Arquette, Zooey Deschanel (Almost Famous, 500 Days of Summer), Kerri Washington (Scandal), Aasif Mandvi (The Daily Show), Ginniger Goodwin (Once Upon a Time), Colin Hanks (Tom Hank's son), Omar Epps (House), Julie Bowen (Modern Family), Tamara Tunie (Law and Order), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family), Richard Kind (Spin City), Uggie the Dog (The Artist), Nasim Pedrad (SNL)
Government/Military: Newt and Callista Gingrich, Rahm Emanuel (Mayor of Chicago), Chris Christie (Gov. of New Jersey), Michael Bloomburg (Mayor of New York), Bobby Jindal (Gov of Louisiana), Eric Cantor (R-VA, House Majority Leader), Mitch McConnell (R-KY, Senate Minority Leader), Olympia Snowe (R- MA), Leon Panetta (Secretary of Defense), Janet Napolitano (Secretary of Homeland Security), General Martin Dempsey (Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff), Admiral Bill McRaven (Commander, US Special Ops Command)
TV/News Personalities: Suzanne Malveaux (CNN), Chris Mathews (MSNBC host of Hardball), Ann Curry (NBC's Today Show), David Gregory (NBC's Meet the Press), Al Hunt (Bloomburg Executive Editor), Colton Dixon (Americal Idol), Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos (Kelly's husband and actor, All My Children)
Other: Jenna Bush, Kate Upton (Sports Illustrated Cover Model, 2012)
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