On April 16, starting at 7 p.m., more than 500 guests found their way to a new and unoccupied 12-story office building in NoMa (North of Massachusetts Avenue), a former industrial area of the city near Union Station that for the past two years, has undergone massive redevelopment. The raw space was the unexpected venue for the fourth annual Washington Life party dubbed the “Young and the Guest List,” an event that celebrates 250 of the area’s 40-and-under movers and shakers.
“With the new administration, we felt that Washington has changed and there has been a rebirth of the social scene, and we wanted to reflect that in the party by moving to an up and coming area,” said Michael M. Clements, the magazine's executive editor. “The list is different this year, as well. It recognizes the influences of younger power players, not just in the Georgetown social scene and the Hill, but a cross section of the city, people in the arts, technology, media, diplomacy, legal—and we reached for African-American power players.” The magazine previously hosted the fete at more historical venues, such as Dumbarton House (in 2006), Meridian House (2007), and Halcyon House (2008).
André Wells of Events by André Wells decorated the 20,000-square-foot space with more than 25 lounge and seating arrangements, ranging from metal café tables and chairs to a series of double beds draped in black silk and topped with pink and white pillows. Sheer white curtains draped and softened the wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows. Florists from Janet Flowers made good use of exposed pipes by hanging arrangements of cherry blossom branches and dangling glass vases with a single red rose. Guests wandered the vast space and found three bars where bartenders mixed Champagne cocktails garnished with fresh berries and edible flowers.
Design Cuisine created a temporary kitchen in an empty section of the 12th floor, where chefs prepared an extensive menu of hors d’oeuvres, including lobster and crab maki, tater tots with truffle oil, and mini burgers on Stilton cheese brioche buns. New York-based East Coast Entertainment provided the band BS&M, who played high energy R&B tunes, which drew the crowd to one end of the space. But rather than dance, most of the young guests preferred to chat in small groups.
Marketing firm Style & Image Network provided the 250 honorees with glossy gift bags filled with age-defying cosmetics and gift cards. At 11:30 p.m. remaining guests made their way across the street to club Ibiza for an after-party.
