The National Press Club hosted it’s annual please-become-a-member party holiday soirée on Wednesday.

“There are plenty of hors d’oeuvres and an open bar,” the extremely friendly staff of the NPC told us when we walked in. The host was right. In addition to the elaborate display of food that included grilled pork stuffed with apricots, onions and herbs, quail, sausage (pictured below), dumplings, chicken wings and an entire room full of desserts and an open bar was a piano that played Christmas tunes on its own and a TV screen that for some reason only displayed an image of a grinning CBS News’ Bob Schieffer.

Asked to address the current state of journalism, NPC Club President and freelance journalist Theresa Werner said, “I think it’s in constant transition as we are trying to find ourselves in this every changing landscape. I just don’t think we have found what we are going to be. We are in growing pains.” She added that the NPC wanted to do everything in its capacity to ease that constantly moving landscape for journalists.

Some guests came decked out in Christmas attire — snowman ties and such. Many of the female guests showed up with the most gigantic jewels we’ve ever seen — one woman wore a huge cross around her neck that looked like it could double as an anchor for the Titanic.

Over the course of the evening, NPC staff and board members spread out over the holiday fest that occupied three rooms and chatted up guests about becoming members.

Prizes raffled:

• A Powerball ticket with five chances to win the $550 billion jackpot.

• Two sets of James Taylor newsmaker luncheon tickets for next week.

• Signed bottle of Jack Daniels

• Chef Spike Mendelsohn cookbook

Journalists in attendance: RCP‘s Erin McPike, Jen Koons, formerly of National Journal, National Journal‘s Amy Harder, and Thomas Burr of the Salt Lake Tribune. Pictured above L to R: Joel Whitaker, Secretary of the NPC and Kyle Eggerding, a consultant for Dumhumy USA.

Overheard: “I like the mustache.”– a  partygoer to Joshua Funk, director of business development at NPC. Funk grew and maintained a mustache for the full month of November for charity purposes. And another: “I hate when they don’t have obvious places to put shit.” — partygoer who shall remain anonymous.

On a side note… Eddie showed off his social skills by chatting with Joel Porter of the American League of Lobbyists. Joel and Eddie had met months before. Unfortunately neither initially had any recollection of it. Eddie told Joel that he’d met someone else who worked at the same place and had the exact same job. “That was me!” Joel ultimately told him.

The sights and fashions of the NPC party… continued…

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Sam Husseini

WaPo‘s Erik Wemple wrote about Husseini’s ordeal on Friday, spelling out the reasons for Husseini’s suspension last week. Wemple questioned whether the NPC was justified in their decision to suspend him, razzed them for suspending a member on the slowest week of the year, and largely sided with Husseni, writing, “I’d rather see a rabble-rouser or two get thrown into the mix, the better to inject a little drama into things.”

Husseini isn’t lacking for drama. “The content of my questions is tough and that makes it grating to people who are wedded to the establishment,” he says. As he explains himself, “I’m trying to reinvent journalism. Journalism needs to be reinvented. It has become a lackadaisical enterprise that allows misogynist, autocratic and draconian figures to go unscrutinized.”

Some basics on this modern-day rabble-rouser: He has belonged to the NPC since 1997. He pays $600-$700 in annual dues. And yes, he has been “harangued” in the past about his tough questioning, but never to this extent. Some years ago, he recalled being suspended after being falsely accused of behaving badly at an event. In that instance, Husseini insists, it was another member, not him. They revoked the suspension and told him they’d made a mistake. Husseini wanted an apology letter in writing. They blew off that request. This time, however, he did receive a letter telling him explicitly not to come to the club during his two-week suspension.

Obviously this edict does not include today’s meeting at 5 p.m., at which time they could end the suspension, continue the suspension, or throw him out. Members of the Ethics Committee include Bloomberg‘s John Hughes, CQ Roll Call‘s John Donnelly and AP’s Theresa Werner. Those who will not attend today’s meeting are Kiplinger‘s Mark Wojno and government relations executive Shawn Bullard. Also expected to attend today’s meeting is NPC Executive Director William McCarren.

We’ve requested comment from McCarren on the matter.

UPDATE: See the letter to Husseini from McCarren…

continued…

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