HollywoodOn Productions: Janet Donovan & Brendan Kownacki
“The big challenge is getting to Sunday,” FOX News’ Bret Baier told Hollywood on the Potomac at the Annual Garden Brunch hosted by Tammy Haddad, Kevin Sheekey, Hilary Rosen, Steve & Jean Case, Mark & Sally Ein, Anita Dunn, Bill Knapp, David Adler and Franco Nuschese honoring the work of Dog Tag Bakery and Blue Star Families at the The Beall-Washington home of Sally & Mark Ein in Georgetown. No kidding.
Bret and Amy Baier
“I do remember my first time at the dinner,” said Jake Tapper. “It’s a strange event. It’s an odd event.” So, is Tapper agreeing with Patrick Gavin and Tom Brokaw who spare no remorse in their disdain for the weekend events? Gavin spells it all out in “Nerd Prom” – a takedown of the WHCA week’s activities where corporate sponsors and advertisers morph into inside traders.
CNN’s Jake Tapper
“Why can’t Washington have a fun night? Okay, so you have corporate sponsorships, but that’s everywhere in everything now. It’s just sort of the way the country is going. It’s not specific to The White House Correspondents’ dinner,” quipped Michael Kelly, who plays evil House of Cards Chief of Staff to his alter ego President Kevin Spacey.
Michael Kelly
The only thing standing between guests and their Bloody Marys was co-host Tammy Haddad who welcomed everyone along side of the Kastles Mascot, courtesy of owner Mark Ein.
Tammy Haddad
Nothing stood between journalists and their electronic devices, not even Academy Award nominated actress Alfre Woodard seen here with April Ryan whose just published memoir: The Presidency in Black and White: My Up-Close View of Three Presidents and Race in America is making the rounds.
Alfre Woodard with White House Correspondent April Ryan
The Hill’s Judy Kurtz, US News & World Report’s Nikki Schwab with US Weekly’s Emily Goodin
Guests walking the Red Carpet talk about their first experiences at The White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. We call them tales from the crypt:
This year’s brunch honored the work of Dog Tag Inc., which seeks to provide a transformative opportunity for veterans with disabilities by offering education at Georgetown University and experiential learning in the small business venture, Dog Tag Bakery located on the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Grace Street in Georgetown.
The brunch also honored Blue Star Families, a national nonprofit network by and for military families from all ranks and services, including the National Guard and reserves. Blue Star Families is dedicated to supporting, connecting and empowering military families.
AOL’s Steve Case with Taya Kyle
“I learned a lot about service from Chris,” said Taya Kyle, widow of slain Navy Seal Chris Kyle who was the subject of “American Sniper” nominated for Best Picture and portrayed by Bradley Cooper.
“Chris Scott Kyle was just an amazing story. Talk about a charismatic individual,” Bradley Cooper told an audience at an event back in February. “The thing that was really beautiful was their relationship,” he said talking about Chris’s wife Taya, “and that was what made the story, I felt, different in that it really was a story about not just the soldier, but about the family. Half the movie is dedicated to what’s going on at home and also what he did after. He was honorably discharged… and he left the Seals with a very decorated career. He came home and he had a whole new path, and that path was to help vets, and he was tragically killed February 2, 2013 doing that very thing.”
Until next year: “Bye, Bye”
