Star-studded affair

Amid the scores of Hollywood celebrities at Monday’s Huffington Post party at the Newseum, there were actually a few politicians.

At an event that attracted Ben Affleck, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Marisa Tomei, Val Kilmer, Dustin Hoffman and Teri Hatcher, faces that normally pop up at any Washington event, like that of Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) or White House senior adviser David Axelrod, blended into the crowd.

Dodd, who beat the stampede of partygoers by arriving a half-hour early, had just come from a dinner honoring former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Moments later, the now gray-haired Jamie Lee Curtis opened the front door, stammering an “I’m, uh, fine, thank you,” before speed-walking toward the dance floor with the few other early birds.

And then the celebrity onslaught — and politician trickle — began.

In came “Seinfeld” creator Larry David, yelling, “I’m starving!” and carrying an Au Bon Pain bag before describing his bathroom worries regarding Tuesday’s Inaugural festivities.

“Tomorrow I’m going to put a diaper on,” he said. “On this great day, the only thing I’m going to think about is where the bathrooms are.”

Don King paraded through in a bejeweled red, white and blue jean jacket, talking to anybody who would listen about having to “improvise and overcome — that’s what they say in the military.”

M.C. Hammer soon followed.

And then — wait, it was a politician — Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker.

But the celebrities kept coming: Television actor Rick Schroeder, Kilmer, Hoffman, musician Herbie Hancock.

Who’s she?

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.).

“Layers — I’m into layers,” she said when asked how she’d dress for Inauguration Day’s cold weather.

Judith Light, from TV’s “Ugly Betty,” told reporters this was her first Inauguration.

“Somebody called me an Inaugural virgin,” she happily volunteered.

Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) and Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Jim Himes (D-Conn.) then sneaked by.

Schakowsky, looking lost, said she was trying to find a friend to help get her into the party.

Himes, when asked if he would be wearing long underwear to the swearing-in, replied, “That’s a very personal question.”

Gregg looked like he was not quite sure what he was in for.

What was he expecting?

“I have no idea,” he said.

The celebrity parade continued: Affleck, Kutcher, Moore. A Trio of Desperate Housewives: Hatcher, Dana Delaney, creator Mark Cherry. Designer Kenneth Cole. David Arquette. Michael J. Fox. Sting singing a “Brand New Day” on stage.

Inside the party, Dodd talked to Sharon Stone and Hoffman; Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) advised Robert DeNiro on the best way to get to the Capitol on Inauguration morning; MSNBC’s Chris Matthews chatted up Affleck. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) made her way past Moore and Hatcher, both of whom were hanging over the second-floor banister to take in the music and crowds below.

A few minutes before midnight, hats and noisemakers were passed out and the countdown to Inauguration began. At midnight the horns blew and people screamed, “Happy Inauguration!”
 

Emily Goodin contributed to this article.