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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Irritated journo

“I’m getting sick of the media question why do they luv Marion Barry? Still don’t know? Ask somebody.” — WUSA9 anchor Bruce Johnson.

One scribe’s definition of insanity

“Twenty mins and counting while the TSA examines a glittery blue backpack belonging to my 6 yr old. #insanity.” — The Weekly Standard‘s Stephen Hayes.

Writer follows who?

“Wait when did Lauren Conrad get added to my top secret ‘people I actually follow’ list.” — Washington freelancer Moe Tkacik.

DePauw U. milks FNC anchor Bret Baier‘s alumni status…Read here as they basically reprint Politico‘s recent effervescent press release profile on him in its entirety. So much for aggregating.

Congratulations to…Thomas Burr, senior Washington correspondent for the Salt Lake Tribune, for getting elected to the National Press Club’s Board of Governors.

But more importantly…

A reader following TWT‘s Emily Miller writes in, “I’ve loved following your gun pilgrimage. More importantly…what lip gloss are you wearing?” Her reply: “Wearing @smashbox O-gloss.”

Sniffy Jay Rosen has a thought

“In his restless search for new voices and fresh perspectives, @davidgregory has Ted Koppel on his Meet the Press roundtable today.” — NYU Prof Jay Rosen.

Live-blogging Rudolph?

“My editor tells me Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is on. I’m gonna live-blog that instead of the debate. Cool with you guys?” — Yahoo! News’s Chris Moody.

Kurtz gets crabs at White House

“Nice press party at White House, scribes mainly talked about Newt & Iowa. Arianna drew a crowd. Excellent crab claws.” — Newsweek/The Daily Beast’s Howard Kurtz.

Cab driver lingo

“‘Which way would you like me to go’ is cab driver for ‘I don’t know of any way to get there.’” — New Media Strategies’ and American Spectator blogger J.P. Freire.

Eddie Scarry contributed to this report.

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Journo dines on assfat

“After lunch of fried assfat of sheep this week, Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha told me Anbar now has security concerns on 2 sides: Syria & Iran.” — WaPo‘s Dan Zak on location in Iraq.

Telling it like it is

“Golf outing: no news.” — a rare opening line of a White House Pool Report by The Salt Lake Tribune‘s Thomas Burr. Burr wrote that the outing included a 12-vehicle motorcade and added,  “Brief sighting of the president in a thin blue jacket.”

Kisses for the VP

“Always great to see VP Joe Biden & his wife Jill. That man loves to tell jokes!” — Washington Watch’s Roland Martin.

Separated at Birth Gone Wrong

A reader writes in to suggest that we pair FNC’s Bret Baier with Animal House’s Flounder. As you can see, doesn’t quite pan out even if Bret did let his hair go wild. But we thank the reader for writing in. Send in all Separated at Birth nominations to FishbowlDC@mediabistro.com or to Betsy@mediabistro.com.

The Onion Network’s Brooke Alvarez gives back: “I’m visiting a fourth grade class today to teach them what it takes to become a ruthless, power-hungry, news personality.”

Beer drinking journo attempts to horrify ancestors

“Drinking a beer called Nosferatu…somewhere my Romanian ancestors are horrified.” — NJ “The Hotline’s” Chris Peleo-Lazar.

There were many disgusting lines in NY Magazine’s story on House Maj. Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.). Chief among them was this one: “According to a former Republican congressman, Cantor was a given a seat at the GOP leadership table on the advice of [Roy] Blunt‘s then-girlfriend, a Philip Morris lobbyist who appreciated the fact that Cantor is Jewish. “Abigail is Jewish, and she understood the implications for fundraising,” the former [anonymously sourced] congressman says. “Eric had access to donors we didn’t typically have access to.

Too soon?

“I wonder if anyone has made any BJ jokes today, about the glowing Jobs eulogies in the media.That would be bad! But Steve would’ve laughed.” — WaPo‘s Gene Weingarten.

Journos Accused of Being Presidential Enablers

“I’m going to tell you a secret about us. We are not a disinterested party in politics. We want it to be exciting. We want colorful candidates. Look, we have columns to write. I have three hours of talk radio to fill everyday. We have TV shows to anchor and be guests on.” – Lefty radio host Bill Press on CNN “Reliable Sources” Sunday answering host Howard Kurtz‘s insistence that journalists are enablers who played into the pretense of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and NJ Gov. Chris Christie seriously running for president.

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POTUS suddenly became Tiger Woods over the weekend — at least in the golfing sense.

“Golfing done, POTUS home. After 18 rounds, the president his golf crew, with the pool in tow, returned to the White House at 5:52 p.m.” wrote White House Pooler Thomas Burr of The Salt Lake Tribune. “Earlier, your pool moved from the base exchange to the club house and held for nine minutes in the vans. Agents directed the pool vans out of sight of the golfers. Left Andrews at 5:24. Uneventful motorcade back.”

Some 22 minutes later, Burr offered a correction. “Unless he’s the most amazing golfer ever, POTUS played 18 holes, not 18 rounds. My bad.”

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President: Joseph Morton, Omaha World-Herald
Vice President: Matt Canham, The Salt Lake Tribune
Treasurer: Malia Rulon, Gannett
Secretary: Bob Keefe, Atlanta Journal Constitution

Board Members:
Todd Gillman, Dallas Morning News
Herb Jackson, The Record
Bart Sullivan, Scripps Howard News Service
Mike Coleman, Albuquerque Journal
Paul Merrion, Crain’s Chicago Business
Bill Theobald, Gannett
Matt Laslo, freelance radio reporter
Keith Chu, Bend Bulletin
Derek Wallbank, Minnpost.com

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“A brutal election,” Burr remarked. “Totally understand how appointed senators must feel.”

Burr and Morton were the only two candidates who submitted nominating petitions for two open seats on the Committee; therefore, there’s no need for an election this year, wrote Joan McKinney of the Senate Press Gallery in an announcement.

What’s the Standing Committee? It administers the House and Senate Press Galleries and issues credentials to daily news reporters covering
Congress.

Please note: Burr, despite this gynormous photograph, is not any more powerful than Morton — seems the only photograph to be found of Morton is this thumbnail picture.

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Got a blind item, interesting link, funny note, comment, birthday, anniversary or anything of the sort for Morning Reading List? Drop us a line or let us know in the tips box below.

We’ve got your morning mix of media Muesli after the jump…

continued…

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Good morning Washington.

Got a blind item, interesting link, funny note, comment, birthday, anniversary or anything of the sort for Morning Reading List? Drop us a line or let us know in the tips box below.

We’ve got your morning mix of media Muesli after the jump…

continued…

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Thomas Burr, 27, is the senior Washington correspondent for the Salt Lake Tribune. Besides covering the UT federal delegation, Burr covers the ’08 presidential race with a specific focus on UT’s adopted son Mitt Romney. He’s worked in Washington since ’05 and previously held beats at the Tribune reporting on the UT Legislature and Salt Lake County government. In the latter, Burr broke a scandal involving abuse of county vehicles that earned him several regional investigative reporter awards. He lives in northwest Washington with his two plants. But today he’s our Friday Feature:

Where’s your hometown? What was it like growing up there?

Salina, Utah — a town so small there still isn’t a stoplight. Growing up, I lived the hick life, complete with raising lambs and fetching eggs from the chicken coop. On occasion, I even cleared brush…

What’s your most embarrassing on-the-job moment? (Or as embarrassing as you’d like to reveal?)

Having my mom call me for a correction. I stood by the story….

If you could cover any past political story, which one would it be and why?

The Reed Smoot hearings. They had all the fun elements: allegations of polygamy, oaths of vengeance, a Utahn. Good stuff.

Read the rest here.

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