This is why I like living in D.C.: I can just jump out of my bed and into proverbial bed with the Tea Bag Party down at Lincoln Memorial, no problems. Inaugurations, closed-to-the-public dinners at the Hilton, public executions down by the Potomac, all kinds of fun gatherings in your nation’s capital: This District is truly my oyster.

Like millions of normal, well-adjusted Americans in the sane (and/or para-sane) community, I’ve been mildly curious about the Tea Party movement. Their stuff is kooky. Like: Mormonism, LaRouche, and Scientology all mixed into one kind of kooky. They didn’t mind paying taxes under Mr. Bush, or I mean at least they weren’t acting like Mr. Bush invented taxes, but now they are going nuts about paying (the same rate 0f) taxes to a Black Man, acting like he invented them? Or desperately hoping he’s not a U.S. citizen so this nightmare (for them) would magically be over? And then… Paranoia is fun and all, I enjoy it myself, but really? You think Mr. Obama is a socialist/communist? Based on what? I just don’t Feel the Fear here. If anything, Obama is TOO normal, mainstream, pro-business, etc.

But I never argue. With crazy people or sane people. Believe what you want, I don’t care. I’m as apathetic it gets.

So, as I documented already in the august pages of The Huffington Post, I went down to the Mall (THE Mall) yesterday because I saw an easy chance to satisfy my curiosity about the ‘baggers. I took the bus, not Metro, because I knew (and was correct) that the teabaggers could figure out the subway but not buses. Buses are a too-advanced skill for tourists. I know this from when I take my cheap ass to other cities and try to avoid cabs this way.

This was my first glimpse of Tea. A polite stream of teabags trotting down 18th Street. A few minutes later I stopped at a coffee shop to get a snack. I had on running shoes, white shorts, and a navy t-shirt, but was conscious that my camera in a strap case over my shoulder made me look like a tourist or worse, a teabagging tourist. I wanted to blend in when I got to the Tea Party, but not before or after. I felt like whispering to the Af-Am gentleman who waited on me that I was one of him, not them. Continue Reading »

Hi. It’s SM aka Scott “Salahi” Shrake. The lovely Mendelsohn siblings, Spike and Micheline, whom I wrote up a couple years ago for BYT, invited me to come down and rub elbows with real media people at Good Stuff Eatery, on Capitol Hill.

They were showing off their new cookbook, which has lots of summer cookout/cook-in solutions. It’s not foofy bullcrap you have to spend $400 at Whole Paycheck in order to make. It’s simple stuff with flair. I could sit here describing it, but look: FIRST LADY OF AMERICA Michelle Obama likes Spike’s cooking, okay? And she’s an organic gardener and burger aficionada. ‘Nuff said.

So I called my bud Cathy Alter and we went down to have burgers, fries, shakes ‘n’ stuff and just generally chill. They made Cathy one of their turkey burgers and she loved it. We bumped into Vanessa Camozzi of DC on Heels, as well as Karen Sommer Shalett, editor-in-chief of DC Magazine. Some other folks were there but I don’t know them. OK? I’m an Outsider and I plan to stay that way. Here are my encaptioned photos…

I’ve never had a stronger urge to shoplift!

I was invited by a friend (who had a real invitation) as her +1 to attend the Gala Grand Re-Opening Celebration of the so-called “Social” Safeway on Wisconsin Avenue in Upper Georgetown this past Wednesday night. So, in other words, I didn’t crash.

Unfamiliar legitimacy, along with blurred boundaries: They were giving us free food and drink everywhere, always in close proximity to impeccably stocked shelves of groceries. “Here’s some free chocolate-covered potato chips, sir.” So, can I have this 1-lb bag of fine Arabica coffee, too? How about this bottle of wine? Very confusing to my sense of right and wrong, not to mention my meager supply of party etiquette.

The photos (and captions) below tell the rest of the story…

The most golden of all the Golden Girls, Betty White

So, as you may already know (or have seen), our 2010 White House Correspondents Dinner crashing was our best yet.

Not normally on my side, LUCK was probably our best asset (next to our fabulous attire). Upon our arrival, we checked out the scene from our secret Bondarazzi place, and decided to switch it up a bit.

We can get down there...

Somehow, we found ourselves on the red carpet, and amid flashbulbs. After that, everything was a piece of cake!

Scott at the various parties...

We got some good ones this year. Dressing up helps a lot. Here’s one of me yelling at Scarlett Johansson. I was mad at her, apparently.

MORE PHOTOS AT HUFFINGTON POST, TOO!

Because of the heightened security from the fallout of the Salahi Effect, SM and I decided to check out the scene before approaching today. We are fairly certain we won’t be able to get into the preparties (sorry Business Week) this year, as they have added a layer of security on the lower levels. However, we are confident that by using our stealth moves, dubbed Bondorazzi, we will at least get a few choice shots tonight.

Celebrities set to attend tonight have not impressed me of yet, but I’m sure we’ll get some surprises.. although SM had some impressive encounters already!

In anticipation of the upcoming WHCD this Saturday, May 1, 2010, click here for a look back at a past crash (2009).

Sarah C. and I attended (crashed) the 2009 White House Correspondents Dinner. Once again I published what I thought were the most worthy pics on Huffington Post. Here are the people who, sorry, didn’t make the cut. Let’s look at them…

Famous lady whose name I don't know, WHCD 2009

It’s good to know the right people. In my case, many of my connections were forged during my early career as a bartender. So last night, when I received a call from Theo G. (my good friend, old boss, and general Bad Ass About Town) to attend the soft opening of Buddha Bar DC, I jumped at the chance.

I’ve had my eye on Buddha Bar for a long time. The DC location, situated in a beautiful office building on 4th and Mass, was supposed to open last October, but was held up in construction. Its hip concept received previous acclaim in Paris, Dubai, Las Vegas, and other world hot spots, and has become the standard for “the lounge.” Ambient music (which has spawned a collection of cds played by folks who just want to chill out), luxe decor and a sexy staff will certainly make this location of Buddha Bar the new place to be. Continue Reading »

In anticipation of the upcoming WHCD this Saturday, May 1, 2010, click here for a look back at a past crash (2008).

I crashed the 2008 White House Correspondents Association Dinner alone, with a borrowed digital camera. I published the pics I thought would be most popular on Huffington Post. Here are the C- and D-Listers who didn’t make that cut…

Greta Van Susteren in a smashing tux!