Good cocktails, great appetizers, and the most gracious bartenders in the city (thanks, Dan!) made our first party of '06 particularly pleasant. First-time attendee Luis Gomez promised to send us his pics of Nicole Kidman, who was in town recently shooting scenes for a new movie. (Gomez says it's impossible to take a bad picture of Nic — big surprise). Speaking of movies, John Hanshaw invited us to his upcoming film festival at local independent theater E Street Cinema. Meanwhile DC Style's Lauren Webb and MB hostess Rina Rapuano pretty much agreed that the feather boa is the greatest fashion accessory of our time. Perhaps MB hostess originale Laurel Touby will come to our next party to weigh in on the topic?

- Lisa Gschwandtner

At Left Bank, January 12, 2006

Photos by Christopher Anderson

DC Style magazine writer Lauren Webb and mb hostess Rina Rapuano

mb hostess Lisa Gschwandtner

Commerce Clearinghouse associate editor David Hansen, National Geographic Traveler editorial business manager Susanne Hackett, DC Style articles editor Christie Findlay, Lauren Webb

Reason magazine assistant editor Kerry Howley, Science News staff writer Ben Harder, and Environmental Science and Technology writer Paul Thacker

BieBeaute International president Sylvie Nguyen, WJLA & News Channel 8 continuity editor Athena McCrary, and WJLA & News Channel 8 sales assistant Robert Meyers

CQ Press editorial assistant Anne Stewart, International Association of Firefighters communications assistant Jim McBride, and CQ Press production editor Anna Schardt

North Star Writers Group member Gabe Caggiano, DC Examiner copy chief Liz Dehoff, writer and editor Rina Rapuano, and former Talon News White House correspondent Jeff Gannon

Writer Michael Behar, WIRED Magazine contributing editor Carl Hoffman, Eli Research managing editor Ursual Dimmling, Congressional Quarterly reporter Shweta Govindarajan, and Indy World Media president John Hanshaw

The Washingtonian features editor Bill O'Sullivan, Community Association Institute's Randi Tetenbaum, and writer Lisa Gschwandtner