Last night the United States Chamber of Commerce held its annual holiday party for members of Congress and Hill staffers, and the usual twentysomething suspects abounded. To find out what guests thought of the party, we waited outside the Chamber of Commerce headquarters to catch smokers or partygoers running for a cab.
Several guests stopped to comment about the decadent holiday affair, filled with carolers and loads of Christmas trees. Others, however, were wary about speaking with a reporter of any kind. (One even started screaming loudly the moment a recorder was produced.) This might have been a night for revelry, but most of the crowd stuck to their workplace mantra: “No comment.”
Partially thanks to the open bar, we were able to get a few guests to dish. Here’s what we gathered.
“There’s lots of red and gold. It looked very dignified. I don’t have a bad thing to say about it. I used to work on Capitol Hill and go to this every year. I remember always thinking that it’s one of the best events, especially since the actual building is gorgeous.”
—Executive branch employee, 32
“The building is incredible. It’s the only one that faces the White House, actually. The sweets are really delicious. There’s a guy, Roberto, he runs the catering department in there, and he’s banging. There was also a gingerbread house. [“Not for eating,” added a nearby friend.] There are a lot of decorations in there, with huge Christmas trees everywhere. This place does decorations like none other. But last year was a lot cooler: It was the theme of Rockefeller Center, so there was a big ice sculpture of the statue that’s right above the ice rink. I don’t think there’s a theme this year.”
—Chamber of Commerce employee, 26“It’s relaxed in there, and very well done. There are lots of big Christmas trees all over. They had Christmas carolers earlier. This place always throws a good party.”
—House staffer, 25
“It’s very ornate.”
—Senate staffer, 25
“We’ve been before, and I think it’s the same as last year.”
—Chamber of Commerce employee, 26
“The Christmas carolers were great. There are lots of people, and some really good chicken.”
—Government worker, 25
“I’d never been in the building before. It’s really beautiful.”
—Government worker, 25
“It’s gold; there are ornament balls everywhere. It’s very well done. I’m sorry, that’s all I can say!”
—One hurried departing guest
“It’s a fine party. The hors d’oeuvres are exquisite. There are little hot dogs, pigs in a blanket. There’s also lamb on a stick.”
—Hill staffer, 23
“The lamb was very tender. They had peppered turkey on a stick, too. But the smoky pigs in a blanket were the best. It’s the first time I’ve been here, and the decorations are amazing. They have a huge gingerbread house. Any gingerbread man would be fortunate to live in that house. Great service—any drink you want. I prefer a dirty martini. My whole thing is, D.C. is very expensive, and it evens it out with these receptions, so why not order the most expensive drink that you can?”
—Hill staffer, 24
Several guests stopped to comment about the decadent holiday affair, filled with carolers and loads of Christmas trees. Others, however, were wary about speaking with a reporter of any kind. (One even started screaming loudly the moment a recorder was produced.) This might have been a night for revelry, but most of the crowd stuck to their workplace mantra: “No comment.”
Partially thanks to the open bar, we were able to get a few guests to dish. Here’s what we gathered.
“There’s lots of red and gold. It looked very dignified. I don’t have a bad thing to say about it. I used to work on Capitol Hill and go to this every year. I remember always thinking that it’s one of the best events, especially since the actual building is gorgeous.”
—Executive branch employee, 32
“The building is incredible. It’s the only one that faces the White House, actually. The sweets are really delicious. There’s a guy, Roberto, he runs the catering department in there, and he’s banging. There was also a gingerbread house. [“Not for eating,” added a nearby friend.] There are a lot of decorations in there, with huge Christmas trees everywhere. This place does decorations like none other. But last year was a lot cooler: It was the theme of Rockefeller Center, so there was a big ice sculpture of the statue that’s right above the ice rink. I don’t think there’s a theme this year.”
—Chamber of Commerce employee, 26“It’s relaxed in there, and very well done. There are lots of big Christmas trees all over. They had Christmas carolers earlier. This place always throws a good party.”
—House staffer, 25
“It’s very ornate.”
—Senate staffer, 25
“We’ve been before, and I think it’s the same as last year.”
—Chamber of Commerce employee, 26
“The Christmas carolers were great. There are lots of people, and some really good chicken.”
—Government worker, 25
“I’d never been in the building before. It’s really beautiful.”
—Government worker, 25
“It’s gold; there are ornament balls everywhere. It’s very well done. I’m sorry, that’s all I can say!”
—One hurried departing guest
“It’s a fine party. The hors d’oeuvres are exquisite. There are little hot dogs, pigs in a blanket. There’s also lamb on a stick.”
—Hill staffer, 23
“The lamb was very tender. They had peppered turkey on a stick, too. But the smoky pigs in a blanket were the best. It’s the first time I’ve been here, and the decorations are amazing. They have a huge gingerbread house. Any gingerbread man would be fortunate to live in that house. Great service—any drink you want. I prefer a dirty martini. My whole thing is, D.C. is very expensive, and it evens it out with these receptions, so why not order the most expensive drink that you can?”
—Hill staffer, 24
