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RTCA Evening Picked up the Pace at MSNBC's Neon After-Party

June 20, 2009 By NGrace

By Neil Grace and Catherine Hill

MSNBC threw a memorable Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner after-party that stood apart from parties past.  Held directly across the street from the main event at the Washington Convention Center, MSNBC turned the traditionally staid Historical Society of Washington, D.C. into a brightly-lit fete of themed cocktails, glowing neon necklaces and comfort food.

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As guests walked down the blue carpet entrance, we asked them the question of the night: are you a nerd or a jock? Politico’s Mike Allen said he was “all of the above!” and Patrick Gavin thought he was a hybrid of the two.  NBC’s Andrea Mitchell exclaimed she was a “total jock.” John “I’m a PC” Hodgman discussed the modern cultural divide at length during the dinner.

Inside the party, the scene downstairs included a Starbucks-sponsored coffee bar where guests ate ice cream sundaes and desserts.  From the main bar, guests walked outside to a large outdoor patio, where dance music had the party-goers on their feet for “Don’t Stop Believing.”  Faces and heads glowed in the light of neon necklaces and headbands.

Upstairs, special guest bartender Rachel Maddow was mixing up cocktails at her heavily-branded “Rachel Maddow’s Bar”– complete with MSNBC napkins and “Rachel’s Bar” menus.  Maddow’s signature cocktail was listed as a Hearst: a mix of gin, sweet vermouth and bitters (though she told us she actually served more of her cava drink, “Airmail” which mixed rum, fresh lime juice, honey and the bubbly cava on top).  Afterwards, Maddow relinquished her bar duties to catch up with Ana Marie Cox and John Hodgman.

Later in the night passed treats included mini-pancakes and mini-ham, bacon and cheese croissants.  As the bars began to close, guests went out back. Among the last to leave at 3:00 a.m. were MSNBC Morning Joe’s Willie Geist, Luke Russert and many of the cable network’s junior staffers.

Media heavy-hitters spotted at the party: Steve Capus, Tamron Hall, Norah O’Donnell, Contessa Brewer with Matt Ackland, Joe Scarborough with Mika Brzezinski, David Shuster, Carlos Watson, Chris Matthews, Lynn Sweet, Margaret Carlson, and Eugene Robinson.

Politicos rounded out the guest list, including Obama senior adviser David Axelrod, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Obama economic adviser Larry Summers, as well as Hilary Rosen, Alex Castellanos, Brad Dayspring, and Kevin Madden.

Filed Under: Event Coverage, News Media, rtca dinner, Washington Events Tagged With: Alex Castellanos, Ana Marie Cox, Andrea Mitchell, Brad Dayspring, Carlos Watson, Chris Matthews, Contessa Brewer, David Axelrod, David Shuster, Eugene Robinson, Hilary Rosen, Joe Scarborough, John Hodgman, Ken Salazar, Kevin Madden, Larry Summers, Luke Russert, Lynn Sweet, Margaret Carlson, Matt Ackland, Mika Brzezinski, Mike Allen, Norah O'Donnell, Patrick Gavin, Rachel Maddow, Steve Capus, Tamron Hall, Willie Geist

Chaka Kahn Officially Kicks Off Washington Summer Season

June 9, 2009 By NGrace

Chaka Kahn Performs in D.C.

Chaka Kahn Performs in D.C.

On a Washington day that threatened rain, legendary soul diva Chaka Khan brought sunshine and heat to the opening of the ninth season of Live! On Woodrow Wilson Plaza — Washington’s longest-running, free outdoor concert series. In front of a crowd of 400 loyal fans, Chaka performed her greatest hits for a 90-minute set, including: “Ain’t Nobody,” “Feel For You,” “I’m Every Woman,” “Tell Me Something Good,” and “Sweet Thing.”

Chaka, in a flowing purple dress and backed by a four-piece band and three back-up soul singers, came out to roaring applause from the crowd.  Dancing and grooving to her own songs, she kept the crowd on their feet, despite the heat. “It’s hot out there!” she shouted with her signature wide smile to the crowd. “I’m already brown, so I don’t need a tan!” The audience — including VIPs in a special tent set on risers with cold water — sang along to every song and die-hard fans brought out old records and images of the singer, including one fan with a purse made of laminated record covers.

The Live! On Woodrow Wilson Plaza series runs from June 3 through September 25, staged on the spacious Washington landmark, Woodrow Wilson Plaza at the entrance of the Ronald Reagan International Trade Building. Performances take place from noon until 1:30 p.m. (One exception: D.C. go-go legend Chuck Brown will take to the stage from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.)

Check out more photos from Chaka Kahn’s performance:

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Filed Under: Event Coverage, Washington Events Tagged With: Chaka Kahn

About White House Correspondents Insider

Exploring “behind the scenes” of the most powerful reporters and editors in the world, the Washington press corps. We track the White House Correspondents’ weekend and all the activities around it from journalists and media companies to the White House and politicos. Tammy Haddad is Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief of WHC Insider and she hosts the Washington Insider podcast.

White House Correspondents Insider is not affiliated with or approved by the White House Correspondents Association which is a registered trademark of the WHCA.

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