Well, not much apparently. Or getting put on the Very Nice list, which is what happened for about 50 VIPs and “children of” at Tysons Corner Center.  On Saturday morning, Tysons hosted area VIPs for a party with Santa, complete with breakfast, balloon animals, facepainting, caricature artists and music (and of chats and photos with Mr. Claus).  Attendees included Washingtonian publisher Cathy Merrill Williams, Washingtonian fashion editor Kate Bennett (pictured here), K St. Kate’s Kate Michael, freelance writer and author Cathy Alter, Urban Daddy Washington editor Jeff Dufour and Vocus VP Erin McCahill. (We hear Dufour had such a long list that Mr. Claus had to move him along. He then allegedly tried to remove Santa’s beard. We can’t fathom how he got himself a spot on Santa’s VIP list.)

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Jordin Sparks

At Childhelp’s “Capitol CAREaoke” charity event last night, the Fox News crew narrowly beat CNN’s team in most money raised.

FNC’s Shannon Bream, Jennifer Griffin, Jake Serwer, Lanna Britt and Fox Business’ Rich Edson were joined by local Fox reporter Melanie Alnwick to sing “Don’t Stop Believing.”

CNN’s Dana Bash, Lisa Desjardins, Lisa Sylvester, Jill Chappel, Gloria Borger, Peter Morris and Athena Jones performed a sloshy rendition of “Sweet Caroline.”

As Glittarazzi‘s Greg Blakey put it: “Fox did a good ass job.”

ABC 7′s Rebecca Cooper founded the event and told FBDC she started the fundraiser five years ago as an alternative to the usual stuffy black-tie events in Washington. She said they intended for members of Congress to be the performers, but the ones who agreed to sing got cold feet. “So at the last minute I had to recruit all my friends in journalism,” Cooper said. She told us Chris Matthews and his wife Kathleen have been two of the events’ “worst singers.”

Before the karaoke started, R&B singer Jordin Sparks, a celebrity ambassador to Childhelp, posed for pictures and took questions from the media. During the photo op a friend nearby alerted her that she had lipstick on her teeth. STOP THE PRESSES. “Everyone, Photoshop the lipstick off my teeth!” Sparks instructed after clearing it off.

Sen. Jon Kyl

Some attendees participated in a silent auction, which featured two tickets to a Madonna concert and two porcelain miniature lions (valued at $900), among other items.

Fresh FM’s Tommy McFly, Kelly Collis and Jen Richer performed “Love Shack” and thought it would be a good idea to toss frisbees into the audience, which was full of wine glasses and dinner plates. Can you say DUNCE?

The event drew in a total of $310,000 in donations.

Notables

ABC 7′s Kendis Gibson, Natasha Barrett, Kris Van Cleave and Pamela Brown; WRQX’s Aly Jacobs, Brooke Ryan and Chilli Amar; D.C. Councilman Jack Evans; NASCAR’s Paulie Harraka; Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.); LushClick‘s Elizabeth Manressa; Pamela’s Punch‘ Pamela Sorensen; Kate Michael of “K Street Kate”; and former Politico reporter Kiki Ryan, now with “Komen for the Cure.”

Quotable

“$18 million for charity at 10 years old? That’s fuckin’ insane.” — Random attendee remarking on child prodigy and violinist Brianna Kahane who performed at the event and has raised that much money for charity.

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Whether he’s getting his entire head eaten by actress Gabby Sidibe at a TIME/PEOPLE party at the St. Regis, or hunting down Washington D.C.’s Clark Rockefeller (the Bahamian Ambassador Nelson Lewis), Matt Dornic has been an unforgettable force at FishbowlDC for the past three years. Sadly, we say goodbye as he moves on to a new adventure at CNN. What some may not know is how adept Matt is at smoothing things over, whether it’s alleviating Ed Henry’s overreaction to me making fun of then-CNN staffers helping him into his blazer or dealing with HuffPost’s resident genius Jason Linkins telling us to die in a fire.  He also knows how to stir the pot – take his recent impromptu moment with Jack Abramoff on a couch at Daily Caller Editor-in-Chief Tucker Carlson’s home when he told the convicted felon that he was dating TWT’s Emily Miller. He explained how rough the past few years have been (Miller served as a witness against ex fiancé Michael Scanlon who was enveloped in the Abramoff scandal.) People often ask, what’s it like in the Fishbowl – do you two get along? We’ve spent many hours brainstorming features – some panned out, some did not. Au De Weigel perfume never made the cut but we spent days crying laughing as we came up with names for perfumes and aftershaves for various journalists around town, describing in excruciating detail what they’d smell like. That isn’t to say we don’t ever disagree — tension escalated during a recent war of words involving the Friday penis picture. In the end we came to a happy, framed conclusion. Dealing with Matt often means the unexpected – he’s sweating at Tammy Haddad’s famous brunch, he’s stuck in an elevator, he’s locked inside QGA, a life size George Bush cutout left leaning outside his door makes him scream like a schoolgirl, and a bird produces a shitstorm on his car. Matt – you will be missed. I speak for many FBDC friends and readers, we wish you well. Enjoy!

The infamous question you created that has tortured many a journalist in this town:  If you were a carbonated beverage, which would you be?

Ginger ale.  I’m generally sweet with a strong ginger spice flavor* (see: Jackie Kucinich).  A classic, natural beverage with European roots.  And I mix well with bourbon.

Who would you rather have dinner with – WaPo’s Ezra Klein, Michaele and Tareq Salahi or Nelson Lewis? Tell us why.

Nelson Lewis, without a doubt…especially if I could persuade Kate Michael and Ebong Eka to join us for a very special edition of the District Dish.  Why?  He’s the rarest and most exquisite creature Washington has ever produced.  It’s not every day you get a chance to dine with a congressman turned Rolling Stone writer turned Bahamian ambassador. That kid has lived.

What swear word do you use most often?

F*ck.  But I plan to tone that down for my new job.

You’re walking down a dark alley and you run into DCRTV Dave. What do you do? What do you say? And do you activate your mace?

I’d be relieved.  Dark alleys are dangerous, you know.  And despite his outward hatred for FishbowlDC I’m fairly certain he’s in love with us. So I’d probably ask to see his lower back, where I’ve heard he has my initials tattooed. And then I’d braid his beard.

When you pig out what do you eat?

Rarebit from Martin’s Tavern in Georgetown.  It’s essentially beer-doused Velveeta with white toast but the fancy name makes it okay.

Now for a really serious moment: What will you miss most and least about writing for FishbowlDC?

Fishbowl has served as my personal Prozac for almost three years.  Sure, there have been side effects but the daily dose of laughter and smiles gained through working with some truly incredible sources, co-editors and friends have made it worth the trouble.  And I’ll miss the hilarious and sometimes nonsensical email exchanges between Betsy and me. The anonymASS tipsters who cowardly use the tips box to trash FBDC’s writers will not be missed.

How did you come up with the ingenious phrase, “Sox News?” Any parting words for the glamour gals over in Sox News PR?

“I wish them well.”  They’ll know what I mean.

What is your absolute favorite item of clothing in your closet? We want the fabric, the brand, the store and the price if possible. If it’s a certain kind of underwear we don’t want to know about it.

A pair of brass-studded Fiorentini + Baker motorcycle boots I purchased at Barney’s for an obscene amount of money last year (see attached photo).  I rarely wear them because they make me feel a little “Adam Glambert” but I like the possibilities they represent….plus they keep all my driving loafers in check.

Pick one: Kim, Khloe, or Kourtney?

Despite her Chewbacca-like physique, Khloe is my favorite Kartrashian.  Sense of humor trumps appearance every time.

Have you ever had a tarot card reading?

Yes, the same night Kiki Ryan, Christine Delargy and I ordered a pizza to Martin’s Tavern (the kitchen was closed…).

Favorite item in the TIME/People WHCA Dinner gift bag:

The Bosch Tassimo coffee maker.  I use it every day. But I thought the bizarre baby-teething necklace was a solid addition this year.

On a serious note for a moment, what is your favorite Wendy Gordon photograph?

I studied French in high school and college so I’m a sucker for Wendy’s french maid/baguette photo.  C’est magnifique!

What scares you?

Pleated pants, the dark and pleated pants in the dark.

When and why did you last lose your temper?

The last time (and every time) I was in a cab.

Do you have a me-wall? If so, who’s on it?

No, I don’t really like pictures of “me” so I usually contribute to friends and family members’ me-walls by snapping the photos.

Tell us a secret not many people know about you.

Because I received so many questions after you outed me about Dawson’s, I’ll admit that I used to have acting aspirations.  Throughout college I worked on a number of film and television productions as a day player, extra, and actor – Dawson’s Creek, Summer Catch, Stateside, A Walk to Remember, and Black Knight to name a few.  And I did a national “back to school” ad campaign for American Eagle Outfitters.  It’s funny now but it sure beat slinging lattes at Starbucks. 

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1. Please envision your least favorite look for a home and describe. My least favorite look for a home is uptight. Decorating that is overly considered and where everything is just-so is more about impressing others, not welcoming them. I’ve been to places where the sofa is practically screaming out: don’t sit on me! You would just be squashing the cushions and wrecking the painstaking composition of decorative pillows. I like a house with a signs of life–and a bit of personality and whimsy–in it.

2. What is something that surprised you in writing this book? How long it took! I estimated it would take about three months, and it took more like two years. It wasn’t like I had to string a lot of paragraphs together, but sometimes writing briefly take a long time. That, and getting a job, which didn’t help.

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Spotted mingling and sipping cotton-candy-topped cocktails at the National Building Museum were Ward Sloane and Christine Delargy of CBS News, WaPo’s Rebecca D’Angelo, Laura Barron-Lopez from Roll Call, The Hill’s Kate Oczypok, Boehner spokesman Mike Steel and Mary Kathryn Covert, Jack and Susanna Quinn, K Street Kate’s Kate Michael, and DC Councilman David Catania.

*PSA:  Don’t forget to hug a diabetic in November – it’s Diabetes Awareness month.

JDRF’s Piper Dankworth Sutton, Congressman Chris Van Hollen, CBS’s Nancy Cordes and hubby Harald Cordes.

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NBC 4′s John Schriffen with his sister GWU Law’s Lara Schriffen and One Lounge Co-owner Seth McClelland. Photo credit: Dave Phillipich

Last night, Dupont Circle’s One Lounge featured The Pete Muldoon Band to kick off their first jazz night. Owners Seth McClelland and Niko Papademetriou enjoyed the evening with notable friends of the restaurant including Schriffen, KStreetKate’s Kate Michael, Washington Life Magazine’s Michael Clements and his wife Anchyi Wei and Luxxery Medical Spa’s Hiba Hakki among others.

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D.C. journos and other VIPs got a sneak preview of the Kastles’ new stadium last night at an event dubbed “Wimbledon on the Water.”  Owner Mark Ein and Washington’s winning tennis team treated guests like WUSA’s Brett Haber, HuffPo’s Stephanie Green, WTOP’s Mark Plotkin, Revamp’s Daniel Swartz, K Street Kate Michael, FreeInDC’s Amy Melrose, DistrictTicket’s Steve Fox and CSN’s Joe Beninati to court-side cocktails and hors d’œuvres to kick off the upcoming season and celebrate their move from City Center to swanky new digs on the Southwest Waterfront.

The season starts next week with Venus Williams on Tuesday, July 5th and Serena Williams on Thursday, July 7th and ends July 21st.  For more info or to snag some tickets, click here.

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Capitol File‘s Kate Bennett, husband, Cab, and their daughter.

A smattering of journos showed up to Tackle Box last night at its new Cleveland Park location. They offered a sampling off the newly expanded seafood menu.

Local VIPs such as Carlos Gray (Mayor Vincent Gray‘s son), WUSA 9′s Andrea Roane, NBC 4′s John Schriffen, Capitol File Magazine Editor-In-Chief Kate Bennett, KStreetKate’s Kate Michael and Luxxery Med Spa Celebrity Plastic Surgeon Dr. Ayman Hakki made a toast to owner Jonathan Umbel‘s second seafood shack.

Others in the crowd: David Bass, President and CEO of Raptor Strategies, his wife, and former Washington Examiner gossip columnist Karen Feld and, as one guest put it, her “overly medicated dog.”

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Those crazy kids of the Picnic Theater Company were at it again over the weekend. Selling out two straight performances, Washington Life‘s Michael Clements, Suspicious Package’s Christina Sevilla, Napoleon restauranteur Omar Popal, World Bank’s Bruce MacPhail, NIH’s Oli Robinson and  filmmaker Karim Chrobog, staged “An Evening with Anton Chekhov” at the Washington Club in Dupont Circle.  Spotted in the audience: The Atlantic‘s Garance Franke-Ruta, CNN’s Elise Labott, NYT‘s Eric Lipton, Boston Globe‘s Farah Stockman, WaPo‘s Nancy Trejos,  Nurith Aizenmann and  Annie Gowen, Tim Burger, Ashcroft Group’s Juleanna Glover, Christopher Reiter of Muleh, K Street Kate Michael.  Proceeds benefitted the Helen Hayes Award theater programs for DC kids.

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L to R: Nelson Lewis, actress Rose McGowan and Mankini

I wish we knew how to quit you, Nelson…but the wild web of  fake titles, stolen identities and lies just keeps growing.

We told you last week the wacky story of W. Nelson Lewis (26), the former Fox News guest greeter and Laura Ingraham Show producer who was recently arraigned in District Court for allegedly impersonating 55-year-old Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA).  Sporting a congressional pin, Lewis was arrested by the Capitol Police on November 17, 2010 after claiming to have been assaulted.  He later admitted that the claim was false.

FishbowlDC’s Betsy Rothstein contacted Kingston who described a long friendship with the Lewis family and a past internship for Nelson in his office. But the Congressman denied any connection to the congressional pin Lewis was wearing when arrested.

“My thinking is it’s one of those youthful indiscretions that just got out of hand,” Kingston reasoned with Rothstein. “It was a one-time event, harmless in intent. I’m friends with him. I don’t know the circumstance of this, but my impression is he’s out drinking one night, running his mouth, unfortunately the hole got a little bit deeper. There’s no ill intention.”

Unfortunately for Nelson, the story didn’t end there.  Over the next few days, a slew of other Lewis-fabricated titles and identities surfaced.  In a recent interview with Kate Michael‘s “District Dish” video series, Lewis referred to himself as a Bahamian diplomat – “His Excellency” - and entertained Michael’s co-hosts with stories about his activities as a features writer for Rolling Stone.  Both the Bahamian Embassy and Rolling Stone have adamantly denied any connection to Lewis.

“He shared with me that he had been named Minister Plenipotentiary for Artistic Endeavors for the Embassy of the Bahamas, giving me his new business card and e-mail address and inviting me to cover artistic events he was co-hosting, including one at the OAS,” said Kate Michael. “At no time did we have any indication that his claims might be false.”

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If that’s not enough, we’ve since discovered that no one at Rolling Stone has ever heard of Lewis and rather than working with Ingraham for the ten months he claims, he was actually terminated after only 15 weeks.  Weirder.

But this last little nugget takes the cake.  A reader directed us to this gem of a video where Kate Michael‘s “District Dish” interviews His Excellency Nelson Lewis, Minister Plenipotentiary for Artistic Endeavors at the Embassy of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.  In the video he explains how he took the diplomatic role to get out of thousands of dollars in DC parking tickets, his wild life as a writer for Rolling Stone and how FNC’s Greta Van Susteren jokes that her viewers of “On the Record” are likely in wheelchairs or a nursing home (note: we don’t believe this either).  Wow. 

My B.S. meter just exploded so watch the video below for yourself.

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DC media types kick started their Halloween weekend by attending three sold out performances of “An Evening With Edgar Allan Poe”  in the garden and ballroom of Dumbarton House.  Following on this summer’s sold out performances of Moliere’s “The Hypochondriac”, the DC-based Picnic Theatre Company staged a Halloween party production of Poe stories — Cask of Amontillado, Fall of the House of Usher, and the Telltale Heart, with DJ intermission, wine and crepes.  Ensemble cast:  Washington Life‘s Michael Clements, Christina Sevilla of Suspicious Package,  Napoleon restaurant’s Omar Popal, Picnic Theatre co-founders Bruce MacPhail and Oli Robinson.  Attendees included Tim Burger, Kiki Ryan, Christine Delargy, Wash Life‘s Kevin Chaffee, TIME‘s Jay Newton-Small, WaPo‘s Nancy Trejos, WaPo‘s Annie Gowen, NYT‘s Eric Lipton and Elham Dehbozorgi, NBC Washington’s Kate Michael.  Proceeds benefited Dumbarton House historical preservation and Clowns Without Borders.

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We’re hearing that two former members of the D.C. press will appear on Thursday night’s episode of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of D.C.”

1. Former TWT gossip scribe Stephanie Green.
2. Former Washington Examiner and NYP Page Six reporter Tara Palmeri.

Witchy housewife Lynda Erkiletian (who threatened to sue D.C. blogger Carol Joynt, as we’ve reported) approached Green at a fourth anniversary party for Kate Michael‘s “K Street Kate” blog at Luxxery Express medspa last night, and gave her the news. Our spy also informs that Erkiletian and her boyfriend, Ebong Eka, sadly, stole the limelight from Michael.

We’re told that the scene filmed by the ‘Housewives’ that included the reporters likely comes from a fashion event at the Mayflower Hotel back in February. Guests had to sign away to attend the event.

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Political analyst Amy Holmes, Examiner’s Tara Palmeri, Brightest Young Things founder Svetlana Legetic, Politico’s Kiki Ryan, bloggers Kate Michael and Pamela Sorensen, ABC 7′s Pamela Brown and VanityFair.com’s Erica Flint were just a few of the folks to help editor Jeff Dufour and UrbanDaddy celebrate Patron tequila with a private dinner at the Embassy of Finland on Friday.

To sign up for Dufour’s daily emails or to get in the know, check out UrbanDaddy DC here.

Ambassador Pekka Lintu, Laurel Colless and Jeff Dufour

L: Svetlana Legetic and Jeff Dufour R: Pamela Brown and Kate Michael enter the Embassy of Finland

*Photo credit Kaveh Sardari courtesy of UrbanDaddy

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Members of the Creative Coalition were among the first stars to roll in to town before this weekend’s WHCA Dinner. Celebs Tim Daly, Dana Delany, Adrian Grenier, Barry Levinson, Cheryl Hines, Morley Safer, Omar Epps, Marlon Wayans Steven Weber, Wendie Malick, Richard Schiff and Patricia Arquette joined Lani Hay, President & CEO of Lanmark Technology for a private dinner following The Creative Coalition’s performance event at the Library of Congress yesterday evening.

Representing Washington media were CBS’ Christine Delargy, Pamela Sorensen, Examiner’s Tara Palmeri and Nikki Schwab, Politico’s Kiki Ryan, Kate Michael, Jessica Hoy and Tim Burger who mingled with notables such as Washington Kastles owner Mark Ein, Victoria Michael and the city’s favorite master of the Rose Ceremony, Andy Baldwin.

Hostess Lani Hay with Marlon Wayans.

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