Washington shines at Meridian Ball

Washington’s influence crowd was out in full force on Friday night – and many kept grooving until early Saturday morning – at the annual Meridian Ball.

The glitzy party has been a tradition for the last 47 years and aims to promote global leadership, bringing the public and private sector together. It begins with ambassadors all over town hosting a mix of individuals at their homes before the elaborate fete.

{mosads}Ambassador Yasser Reda, the newly appointed Egyptian envoy to the U.S., and his wife Nahla hosted guests – including your ITK scribe – at his home near Dupont Circle.

“This is our first event that we’ve hosted here,” he declared proudly, only about six weeks into his new job.

Other high-profile guests at the dinner included Ron Clark, a deputy under secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, and his wife, Shannon Kula, the longtime chief of staff to Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.).

The table centerpieces included distinctly American Halloween-themed ghosts and pumpkins. 

Once the multi-course meals were completed, those having dinner at separate residences all converged upon at the Meridian House event, which featured a long buffet table of desserts, including crème brulee served in teacups and surrounded by rose petals.

Open bars and two dance floors kept the soiree moving. 

In one room, a live band seamlessly transitioned from playing Aretha Franklin’s “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” to Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” and Katy Perry’s “Firework.”

Another dance floor, in a lantern-filled tent adjacent to the courtyard, boasted a DJ.

Frank Raines, former director of the Office of Management and Budget during the Clinton Administration, got down to some tunes, including “Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones.

Akin Gump’s Scott Parven – who lobbies for Japan, among other high-profile clients – was spotted dancing to Pharell’s “Happy.”

Others on the dance floor included Sarah Thorn, a lobbyist for Wal-Mart, and several of her colleagues; the Chamber of Commerce’s Andrew Kovalcin and Jared Parks; top K Street headhunter Nels Olson of Korn/Ferry International; and former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, who served under George W. Bush.

Sparkling in a sequin blazer was Paul Wharton — host of “Paul Wharton Style” on the CW network, who celebrated his birthday earlier at Fig & Olive. He was seen grooving with Erika Gutierrez, a PR maven and daugher of the former Commerce secretary, and posing for photos with guests.

The diplomatic event included guests from the State Department, the Energy Department and the Department of Homeland Security, among others, in addition to the Ambassadors of Tunisia, Switzerland, Hungary, Germany, Argentina, Grenada, Panama, and Barbados.

Journalists — including CNN’s Dana Bash and Jim Sciutto, and his wife, ABC’s Gloria Riviera — also made an appearance. 

Notably missing from the crowd, though, were the lawmakers often seen at the soiree, as it fell during a congressional recess this year.

However, a tipster tells ITK that Reps. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), the congressional co-chairs of the Meridian Ball, were in attendance. 

And fake politicians got in on the action, as Michel Gill, who plays the president on Netflix series House of Cards came to the ball, joined by his wife and fellow House of Cards co-star, Jayne Atkinson-Gill.

No word on how their dance moves fared, though.