Photo credit: Janet Donovan
Artist Pascal Blondeau brought a lot of guests to the holiday festivities at the residence of The Ambassador of France Gérard Araud to hang out with him – literally. Decking the boughs of a massive pine tree – traditionally decorated with candy canes, angels and garlands or the Star of Bethlehem – the hanging miniature stuffed polar bears were a tribute to the recent UN climate change conference held in Paris.
Aniko Gaal Schott, Pascal Blondeau and Dr. Susan Bennett
“Never have the stakes of an international meeting been so high, since what is at stake is the future of the planet, the future of life,” President François Hollande of France told a packed United Nations audience at the convention held at a nearby suburb of Paris. “I believe, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that there is such a thing as being too late. And when it comes to climate change, that hour is almost upon us. But if we act here, if we act now, if we place our own short-term interests behind the air that our young people will breathe, and the food that they will eat, and the water that they will drink, and the hopes and dreams that sustain their lives, then we won’t be too late for them,” said President Barack Obama. The Paris agreement: A done deal!
Spirits were high at the ‘no speeches’ occasion that bundled Congressional Members, Supreme Court Justices and Diplomats with Washington’s grand dames, journalists and art lovers just back from Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida where emerging artists claim the landscape during four days of exhibits that bring the international art world together. Washingtonians John & JoAnn Mason, as well as Carole Feld whose husband David Levy for years headed up The Corcoran Gallery of art, were again smitten by the annual artistic experience.
John and JoAnn Mason
Bob Woodward was taking a breather from his 18th book tour for his latest: The Last of the President’s Men. According to Woodward, it is “the final pieces of the Richard Nixon puzzle as told by Alexander Butterfield, the Nixon aide who disclosed the secret White House taping system that changed history and led to Nixon’s resignation.”
Bob Woodward and wife Elsa Walsh (far right)
Supreme Court Justices and Trial lawyers weren’t judging:
Justice Stephen Breyer and Ted Olson
Olson is the unlikely super hero Republican attorney who pushed through The Supreme Court decision that made same-sex marriage a constitutional right. Hollywood on the Potomac had the opportunity to interview Ted at the DC premiere of the HBO documentary “The Case Against 8” at The Institute of Peace in June of 2014. It’s a fascinating tale of courage and determination and you can read and see it here.
As far as we know, no one was caught stealing the polar bears so they are still hanging out at the residence.
The night in motion: Passez la soirée avec nous…
