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The one thing you can always count on Washington for is a certain stubborn blindness to cool. There are plenty of bars and restaurants, but they never quite add up to a "scene." Trends arrive at least two or three years late—witness the recent excitement over cupcakes and tangy yogurt. In New York, young fashion designers come and go. But in D.C., Ann Taylor will always occupy a special place on Connecticut Avenue.
That was true until Friday. Now, witness some scenes from the new pimped-up city that is Washington in the Obama years
- Tom Hanks standing outside the virtual rope line at Maureen Dowd's party, unable to get in.
- Larry David and Ron Howard yukking it up inside.
- A variety show on the mall, which, let's be frank, felt a lot more like the Oscars than anything having to do with politics.
- Several motorcades NOT carrying George Bush or Dick Cheney. (We know this because the cars were white and studded with lights.)
- Several lost denizens of Park Slope wandering the city with big, long dry cleaning bags.
- Caught in the Metro doors last night: one white mink, one sparkly mermaid tail of a ball gown, one rhinestone glove.
- Overheard on the Metro: "I just had to run inside and get some pasties."
- Overheard in the office: "Oprah called."
Like many transplanted New Yorkers, I have always complained about D.C.'s dowdiness. Now, I realize there are things I will miss. A city like this is relatively good for women since it prizes intelligence and hard work above all. Unlike in N.Y. or L.A., my friends here do not spend their late 30s contemplating Botox and lifts. How long will that last if Beyoncé keeps visiting?