More sources...

1.) Those absolutely blinding lights and sirens at the Naval Observatory Entrance last night: The first of several Cheney Holiday parties. Two word description from multiple sources: Powerful (for the moment) and Stuffy. Food: mediocre. Drinks: aplenty--though everyone seemed remarkably sober right up to the bitter end--with staffers trying to act as self-important as their actually important bosses.
2.) Top-secret celebrity dinner: moved to Thursday.
3.) Billionaire alert: the younger brother of Brooks Brothers CEO Claudio Del Vecchio (also heirs to the Luxottica fortune) will be coming stateside in January to get his MBA at Columbia. He has great friends here in town, so is expected to be a frequent visitor.

My sources tell me...

1.) ...that Richard Dreyfuss' Martha's Vineyard political foray last week went off almost without a hitch. Not long before he was to begin the town hall meeting he organized and hosted, there was a little tooth issue resulting in severe exposed nerves. Thanks to the heroism of a small town, off-season dentist in residence, he was fixed up in a flash and started the discussion on his recent passion, introducing civics back into American public schools (remember when there was such a thing as calm discourse?). He's in town often as his documentary production team is located here, and James Madison University is somewhat nearby (he is active with their faculty and was married there earlier this year).
2.) ...that a certain very-uber-super-duper A-list VIP will be flying into town tomorrow, hosting a top-secret dinner for 30 at a private residence, then *poof!* he'll be gone. I've heard he uses Signature, so if you see a few darkened SUVs near the tarmac, try to snag a peek...

Agenda

Tonight: Tiny Jewel Box and Capitol File fete. It seems like Tiny Jewel Box is having a billion of these, but hey, it's holiday cocktails and some interesting designers (Temple St. Clair, Leslie Greene) will be personally showing their collections.

Tomorrow: Jolly Holiday for the Smithsonian Young Benefactors. Sponsored by Washington Life; this year they're breaking from their wine & beer format and will be featuring Snow Queen vodka cocktails. Castle at the Smithsonian.

Saturday: Fundraiser for Horton's Kids, an amazing charity which provides mentoring and assistance to impoverished children right here in DC. Grand prize is a reception for 40 at Cafe Milano; featured guest is Eric Felten, What's Your Drink columnist from WSJ. Private residence.

Sunday: ...and rest.

The Love House

So today, I went to a few houses. The first belonged to a pretty renowned architect, and it was a SWEET house. It had a moat (well, kind of--it ran along the whole front of the house). And amazing woodwork. And the basement--it was dug out about 15 feet beyond the main floor, and it had a glass ceiling. Stop for a minute and picture that. It was rather sick. The furniture looked like it would be straight from Vallency, but no--it was all custom. The parties you could have there would be unbelievable. The cars in the garage were worth around $400k. And there were only two of them.

Then we went to another house. Wasn't nearly as big, or as grand, or as obvious. Then you stepped inside and looked out the glass doors that ran the length of the living room. Directly outside were state-protected undeveloped cliffs leading to the ocean, beautiful desert cliffs with hawks circling* with the sun making beautiful shadows on the terrain.

The woodwork inside--cedar curved walls that were so pristinely assembled and finished and mitred that I was witness to a group of about 10 architects trying to figure out how they were crafted. Cement countertops in the kitchen were cast in glass, which makes them shiny and smooth beyond material recognition. The back yard was landscaped with Korean grass, which looks almost otherworldly, but oh so very cool.

Every wall was covered in beautiful art--upon further exploration, I realized that the majority of it was created by the lady of the house. Pictures of and notes from kids and grandkids were everywhere. The house just resonated with love and care.

Across the cliffs was a huge, Mediterranean monstrosity that we learned was where Michael Jackson sequestered himself when he was first found to have a liking for the kiddies.

I looked across, and I just felt cold. Then I thought of the other house we had seen, and felt the same.

I learned later that the Love House belongs to a man rated by Forbes as being one of the 40 richest men in the country. But to me, he just looked like he lives a happy, happy life. So yes, pretty damn rich, indeed.

*Okay, so the circling hawks: beautiful to me; probably not so much to the rabbit or squirrel or whatever little fluffy thing they were actually circling. But still.

The Perfect...

1. Birthday party: mine. I love my friends. Loved the night. Loved DC Celine's fantabulous boots. Loved the Botox gift cert my husband got me, even though he hates the thought of it. Loved seeing all of my disperate groups of friends getting together and making new friends. Loved my Johnny Cash auction book from Sotheby's (thanks B2!) and all of the other so very thoughtful things I rec'd despite ze no gifting policy (notes en route!).

2. Day: this one. Because RIGHT NOW, I'm sitting on a bench. On a beach. In La Jolla. It's 80 degrees, and I just finished a private tour of a famed architect's sicksicksick home. Oh, and I'm eating a chocolate chip cookie the size of my head.

Next...

Thursday, after not quite recovering from Wednesday (head hangover, mental exhaustion plus feet hangover from wearing the most fabulous-looking but heinous-wearing 5" patent platforms), it was time to head out for another night.

M2 came over, looking fabulous as ever in her vintage flapper dress* she bought from the Alex event the night before. Me: oh, I thought I'd be fine by wearing the World's Most Uncomfortable Heels again for another night. IDIOT.

First, off to the OnLokation event at T Street Flats. It wasn't bad, better than I expected, although I think her business model needs to be tweaked a bit. Either it should be a free, invite-only event with focus on sponsors and exhibitors, or a ticketed event that is more of a scene. It's hard to do both--very hard. But I think this was their second event, and attendance was not bad, although the bar could have been much better. The space: much better than it looks from the outside, strange smells and bad front entrance aside. It could really be transformed into a great space for the right event.

Speaking to T Street Flats developer Chip Ellis at the event, he told of their ambitious plans--beautiful condo spaces, lots of bottom floor retail, terraces above with views of Washington from every angle--and dear god, the location could not be better. Renovations start this spring.

Next, off to the CapFile anniversary party. Packed to the gills with a few celebs (Fran Drescher, Iman) thrown in for effect. Could have made HUGE points with the fam by scoring a picture with The Nanny, but no luck. It was a beautiful space, albeit acoustically challenged. Food: excellent. Bar: stocked. Scene: the usual suspects, but everyone looked fabulous. A solid event all around.

About 10:00, my feet Could. Not. Take. It. Anymore. So I left M2 to head to the afterparty at Posh, and headed home to catch a bit of rest before my big day.

*Note: all of the remaining vintage from the event is still at Alex, through the end of this week. Get in there and check it out while you can!

So First Things First...

Haute for the Holidays: What a great night. Attendance was smashing, everyone had fun, lots of new faces at Alex (all of which hopefully found their perfect holiday frocks!). Fabulous goodie bags including bottles of Snow Queen vodka, R. Nichols notecards, Graham Webb Halo shampoo & conditioner, Altoids, and the first edition of the Alex Stylette (you may be able to get one if you stop in and ask nicely!).

The vintage couture brought in for the event was truly phenomenal. It was worth it just to come and walk through the fashion history stored on those racks. Amazing.

The Vogue book and Jaanu diamond pendant were both raffled off to incredibly happy winners--and all proceeds went to Labels for Love and Suited for Change, which was just the icing on the cake.

So for all of you who came out, thanks!