Photo credit: Nicholas Griner
Washingtonians are addicts……..no, not that kind. Washingtonians are addicted to Lists. Why else would hundreds of guests pour into the The National Building Museum on a wintry night for Washington Business Journal’s Book of Lists celebration that brings together “the most influential, most connected, and most informed people in Washington?”
Sponsors and top executives kicked off the New Year by recognizing hundreds of power players representing every local industry from health care and technology to accounting and real estate. The event was filled with lots of networking opportunities, cocktails, photo stations, elegant bars, and Ridgewells’ new 2015 menu.
Oh, and a little pole dancing thrown in to hold your attention. Well, not exactly pole dancing, but we want to hold your attention too.
For $75 you can get the Book of Lists with listings of hundreds of the hottest area companies in their fields, by ranking as well as the names of key decision makers along with their titles and complete contact information. We’re not sure if you can get it cheaper from the NSA, but the sticker price seems reasonable.
There are all sorts of Lists in DC: Washingtonian’s Best of Washington, City Paper’s Best of DC, The Hill’s 50 Most Beautiful and on a national scale there’s Forbes Wealthiest: World’s Billionaires,
400 Richest Americans, America’s Richest Families, and as of yesterday Washington Life’s Young and The Guest List. Hollywood on the Potomac asked two who made that list, because our Book of Lists hadn’t arrived yet, about lists. We wondered what it means to be on a List.
“Being on a list can be a nice bit of recognition and a lot of fun — albeit as long as it’s something like the Young and the Guest List and not the Washington’s Biggest Bore list,” Judy Kurtz of The Hill’s ‘In the Know’ told us. “As co-editor of The Hill’s annual 50 Most Beautiful list, I know firsthand how much work it takes to make it all come together. While I’ve gotten a ton of reaction to being featured in Washington Life, I’m still waiting for the paparazzi and autograph hounds to bang down my door.”
Neil Grace, communications advisor for the FCC, had a different take: “My career is partly built on putting the spotlight on other people and organizations, so I’m more at home behind the scenes. But, it’s an honor to be recognized in a town that’s so full of smart, passionate and driven people – and the people on these lists are always more accomplished than I.”
As foodie Nycci Nellis would ask: “The List, Are You On It?”
