The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner weekend picked up steam on Friday evening at The Atlantic's party on the eve of the annual event, with journalists, lawmakers and Trump administration officials rubbing elbows.
Held at Atlantic Media owner David Bradley’s home, tucked between Embassy Row and Kalorama Heights, the party brought out 150 guests who gathered under a large enclosed tent in the backyard.
President Trump
Donald John TrumpPrevention is a critical tool in the fight against addiction USMCA is a needed reprieve from Trump-induced uncertainty Sam Donaldson slams Sarah Sanders: She's had 'a lifetime achievement Oscar for lying' MORE has told members of his administration not to attend the Saturday dinner – and is skipping it for the third year in a row in favor of a political rally in Wisconsin – though members of his administration have attended parties surrounding the dinner itself.
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway
Kellyanne Elizabeth ConwayBig tech partners with DEA on opioid drop-off efforts George Conway lashes out at 'Deranged Donald' on Twitter The Hill's Morning Report - Trump tells House investigators 'no' MORE was among those in attendance at the invite-only soiree on Friday night, where guests mingled with cocktails amid on-and-off rain showers before being seated at tables adorned with brightly colored spring flowers, including daffodils, sweet peas and peonies.
Partygoers dined on roasted spring vegetable terrine, grilled salmon and desserts of strawberry sorbet and wine poached cherry cheesecake before they were entertained for The Atlantic’s first “Cabaret.”
“The exits have been sealed,” joked emcee James Hamblin, a staff writer for the magazine.
Staff members at the media outlet then performed acts including an original song, a standup comedy routine, a particularly lively rendition of Adele’s "Rolling in the Deep" and an original parody song: “It’s Hard to be a Liberal and Date in DC.”
Also spotted at the event: Sen. Mark Warner
Mark Robert WarnerPartygoers hit dance floor at UTA correspondents' dinner bash As Russians prepare for 2020, scrutiny of Facebook, social media companies may be misplaced Dems reject Barr's offer to view Mueller report with fewer redactions MORE (D-Va.), Trump challenger William Weld
William (Bill) WeldBill Weld: Trump has 'lost the capacity to govern' 40 percent of Iowa Republicans want primary challenge for Trump: poll MORE, British Ambassador Kim Darroch, CBS News’ Washington bureau chief Christopher Isham, MSNBC Live anchor Stephanie Ruhle, former Defense Department and CIA chief of staff Jeremy Bash, CNN anchor Brian Stelter, SiriusXM’s Olivier Knox, actress Shohreh Aghdashloo, NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly and Heather Podesta.