Call it our Pre-Indictment Party. The evening before the political axe fell for Lewis "Scooter" Libby, DC partygoers mingled at coffeehouse/bar Tryst. Aside from political gossip, a few newcomers to town learned where to shop (U Street) and where to park (um, try Zipcar). Veteran freelancer Carl Hoffman -- with a steady gig at Wired Magazine -- gave tips about how to survive the freelance market and write about what inspires you. Look for his latest article in Outside magazine; it involves his great-aunt's will, a natural-gas well, and the vistas of Montana. That's all we're telling you.

- Lisa Gschwandter, D.C. hostess

At Tryst, October 27, 2005
Photos by Chris Anderson

mb hostesses Lisa Gschwandtner and Rina Rapuano

Post-Newsweek Tech Media copyeditor Tara Taghizadeh, freelance journalist and playwright Maurice Martin, and Post-Newsweek Tech Media senior writer Trudy Walsh

Writer and editor Kevin Foley, science writer Karen Celia Fox, and publications dirctor Ted Allen

Jenny Mandel and mb's Lisa Gschwandter

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars editorial assistant Alison Williams and writer/editor Meaghan Parker

Freelance film and arts Public relation specialist O. Abiola Akintola, writer Adam Van Loon, writer Inez Saki-Tay and Jenny Mandel

AOL Black Voices programming manager Celia C. Peters, O. Abiola Akintola, mb's Lisa Gschwandtner, and Inez Saki-Tay

Destination Magazine senior writer Beth Wenger, editor for Congressional Quarterly Bob Benenson, and Lisa Gschwandtner

OTP executive producer Skip Kelly and AOL Black Voices programming manager Celia C. Peters

Inez Saki-Tay and Jada Bradley

mb's Lisa Gschwandtner and OTP executive prodecer Skip Kelly