EDITOR’S LETTER
15 AND COUNTING!
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hen we published the first issue of Washington Life in the sub-head, which was not consistent with the standards of good taste, class September 1991 – I’m not sure if anyone envisioned and dignity we uphold. I offer my sincere apology for not editing this out. that, 15 years on, the magazine would be a 180-page, 10 issues per year, thick and glossy publication distributed n anticipation of Virginia’s official wine month, October, note the through-out the national captial region and places as far afield as New York, gourmet dishes and award-winning wine pairings from the WLBoston, L.A., London and Tokyo. Then again, maybe our founder Vicki sponsored CharityWorks 100 Point Vintage Wine Tasting Dinner held Bagley did – she was always thinking a few steps ahead. Looking at that first at Joe Robert’s McLean home; or take a tour of Virginia wine country — issue, I was struck by how much our city and social scene have changed yet we’ve sleuthed out the State’s best vineyards and wine festivals. Keeping the remained the same ... I was equally impressed by how focus local, it’s time for Washington many people actually look just residents to do their homework the same 15 years later! As Kevin on the D.C. mayoral primary. We Chaffee explains in our 15th give you a Proustian take with a Anniversary Retrospective, the questionnarie featuring Michael era of the grandes dames (Susan Brown, Linda Cropp, Adrian Mary Alsops, Pamela Harrimans, Fenty, Vincent Orange and Marie Polly Fritcheys and Katharine C. Johns. Also, a warm welcome Grahams) is over. Yet, the grace to Gail Scott and her new WL and glamour of Washington’s balls column “Diplomatic Dance.” and galas – which we detail in our “2006 Balls and Galas Directory” e’re all about loft – remains firmly entrenched, as living this month does the city’s philanthropic heart (big fans of high and ever-shifting power bases. Our ceilings and wood floors, here). sary 15th Anniversary kick-off soirée in In “Real Estate Roundtable,” team takes a break during our 15th Anniver WL the of e Som ce. June was just another reflection of we interview three major players Kick-Off Party at the Kuwaiti Ambassador’s residen the wonderful community WL has in the still burgeoning D.C. helped build over the years. The loft scene: Jeffrey Miller, Sheila celebration, which you can see inside, was hosted by Kuwait Ambassador Simkin and Scott Pannick; while “Inside Homes” gives you an exclusive Salem Al-Sabah and his wife, Rima, and attracted 400 guests – a veritable look at lawyer Julian Epstein’s envy-inspiring PN Hoffman loft. On the who’s who of Washington. event side, we give you extensive coverage of this year’s WL-sponsored Opera Ball, one of the year’s most spectacular fetes, graciously hosted by the or more on the current social, poltical and cultural scene, find out Italian Ambassador and his wife at their residence.We also bid a sad farewell who’s at the top of the pyramid in “The 100 Most Invited.” The to ambassadors from the Netherlands, Peru and Colombia. President and First Lady, Bill and Hillary, and Ben and Sally are there, of course, but you might be surprised at who else has joined them (those elcome back to all – hope your summer holidays left you sands are always shifting.) If you are planning to dress to impress, you’re in recharged and ready for another busy social season (WL is luck because our September issue is filled with fashion coverage. Browse for sponsoring over a dozen events this Fall and will host a 15th jewels and gowns in our “2006 Balls and Galas Directory”; leopard prints, Anniversary Welcome Back Party on September 12th at Cafe Milano). patent leather and black and gold in “Trend Report”; looks from Christian And don’t forget to save the date for October’s WL-sponsored Meridian Dior, Donna Karen and Valentino, among others, in the “2006 Nordstrom Ball, Hispanic Foundation for the Arts and the Washington International Fall Fashion Preview” and accessories, for him or her in our pages and pages Horse Show! of “Trend Report” and “What’s Hot.” Over the years, we’ve made a few embarrassing mistakes, including one in our last “What’s Hot,” featuring cocktail rings and summer drinks. I deeply regret the phraseology used in
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From top left: Kelly Ginter, Alex Misci, Michael Clements, Soroush Richard Shehabi, Nancy Reynolds Bagley, Vicki Bagley, Clay Gaynor, Elizabeth Kelly, Addia Cooper-Henry and Nicole Bagley. Not pictured: Katie Tarbox Astrid Parker, Shawn Parell, Gerry Byrne and J.C. Suarès. 18
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