When planning the launch party for a book titled What a Party, high expectations will have to be met. Never one to let down, former Democratic Party chair Terry McAuliffe hosted a fete—which also celebrated his 50th birthday—that defied Washington norms by running until the early hours of the morning (2 a.m.!) on February 8 at the new Park Hyatt Washington.
“In Terry’s book, he writes about hundreds upon hundreds of friends and associates, so we knew early on that this event would be huge,” said McAuliffe advisor Tracy Sefl, who worked with the book’s publisher, St. Martin’s Press, to plan the event. (The book’s subtitle is My Life Among Democrats, Presidents, Candidates, Donors, Activists, Alligators, and Other Wild Animals; many of those folks showed, but the alligators did not.)
“In Terry’s book, he writes about hundreds upon hundreds of friends and associates, so we knew early on that this event would be huge,” said McAuliffe advisor Tracy Sefl, who worked with the book’s publisher, St. Martin’s Press, to plan the event. (The book’s subtitle is My Life Among Democrats, Presidents, Candidates, Donors, Activists, Alligators, and Other Wild Animals; many of those folks showed, but the alligators did not.)
Senate majority leader Harry Reid, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, and several ambassadors were among the 1,000 guests who showed up to hear McAuliffe’s longtime friend Hillary Clinton speak. Decor was sparse throughout, as the planners chose to rely on the Park Hyatt’s modern aesthetic. (The hotel recently underwent a $24 million renovation.) “There was no elaborate decor, no large floral arrangements. The venue spoke for itself,” Sefl said. The event was originally planned to take place in the much-buzzed-about Blue Duck Tavern, but the growing guest list forced Sefl to expand into the hotel’s lobby, suites, and ballrooms.
Senator Hillary Clinton presented McAuliffe and his daughter Sally with a four-tier apple pie croquet en bouche in the Park Hyatt's downstairs ballroom.
Photo: Len DePas/courtesy of Park Hyatt Washington
After speaking for 45 minutes, Senator HillaryClinton presented McAuliffe and his daughter Sally with a four-tier apple pie croqueten bouche in the hotel’s downstairs ballroom. Created by Blue Duck Tavern’spastry shop, the caramel-drizzled cake consisted of three types of apples andapple cream.
Photo: Len DePas/courtesy of Park Hyatt Washington
While Clinton and McAuliffe spoke in the hotel’sdownstairs ballroom, guests milled about Blue Duck Tavern upstairs, samplingsignature dishes from the new restaurant’s menu.
Photo: Len DePas/courtesy of Park Hyatt Washington
In the Triple C suite, guests were privy tocoffee, chocolate, and Hennessy Cognac, including 200-year-old Richard, whichretails for $1,300 a bottle.
Photo: Len DePas/courtesy of Park Hyatt Washington
Blue Duck Tavern’s apricot mousse and strawberrypuree accented with a chocolate stick was showcased atop the restaurant’smarble countertops.
Photo: Len DePas/courtesy of Park Hyatt Washington
