Dupont Darling » DC Celebrity Spotting

Would You Take January Jones on a Date to Hank’s Oyster Bar?

Dupont Darling — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:35:01 +0000

By now everyone knows that Mad Men actress January Jones was spotted at Hank’s Oyster Bar on Friday night rendezvousing with Senate staffer Ben Dunham. I know, I know, there’s no confirmation that it was a date, blah blah. It’s more fun to assume it was a date so that’s what we’ll be doing in this post. Moving on, was Hank’s a good choice for a dinner date with Mrs. Betty Draper? I think it’s perfect. Here’s why:

1. Let’s face it, there probably aren’t many restaurants in D.C. that would knock January Jones out. This is not a slam on D.C. I just mean that the hottest ingenue from the hottest show, who goes back and forth between LA and New York and wherever else, probably isn’t going to do backflips over Komi. That’s why Hank’s was an ingenious choice. While it’s not super upscale, Hank’s has charm for days. The space is lovely. Hank’s pays attention to details, e.g. goldfish crackers before the meal and dark chocolate after. The wait staff is friendly and the cocktails are good. Going with the neighborhood gem instead of bribing the maitre d’ at Citronelle for a last minute reservation was the right move.

2. Right now, Ben Dunham is working the environmentally-conscious politico angle. No need to take things a step too far by heading to a place like Tosca, which is more lobbiest/power broker. Hank’s is for fun District locals, not wealthy middle-aged men from McLean.

3. January Jones clearly watches her figure. Besides oysters and fish, Hank’s has a number of small plates. There are a lot of dishes from which January could cobble together a good low-cal meal. Hank’s does not offer desserts.

4. Hank’s is warm and cozy. The lighting is exactly right, the space is small but not claustrophobic, and the menu includes modern takes on old favorites like mac and cheese and lobster rolls. Cozy is the perfect mood for a second date.

5. I don’t know anything about Ben Dunham but my guess is he may have been a little out of his comfort zone on this date. If he lives anywhere near Dupont, he was smart to pick a spot close to his neighborhood. Home court advantage.

So, cheers to you, Ben! Great choice. Where to next?

October Celebrity Sighting Roundup

Dupont Darling — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:22:58 +0000

October was a pretty good month for celebrity spotting in the Dupont area. I don’t often bump into celebs in this neighborhood, or anywhere in D.C. Except George Stephanopoulos, whom I see all the time. (George, if you’re reading this, stop following me.) I’ve also separately run into Condi Rice and Jesse Jackson. But this post is not about D.C. “celebrities,” it’s about real, live famous people Here’s a rundown (collected from WaPo’s Reliable Source):

January Jones, Hank’s Oyster Bar, October 30th

Stevie Wonder, Whole Foods, October 13

Mark Cuban, the Palm, October 9

Richard Gere, Obelisk, October 8

Gabriel Byrne, Bar Dupont, October 7

WaPo Watches the RWDC Watchers

Dupont Darling — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:43:40 +0000

The front page of the WaPo style section features this article by Dan Zak about the crowds gathering (or sneaking a peak while intentionally not gathering, as the case may be) outside of the Real World DC house on the corner of 20th and S St. The Post describes reactions to the RWDC phenomenon as “hostility, curiosity and zealous indifference.” I’d say that “indifference” is the appropriate descriptor for my own attitude, as well as that of my friends, but I am curious about one thing: Why haven’t I bumped into these people? I live four blocks from the RWDC house and I am constantly out and about in Dupont. The fact that I haven’t seen them yet may be explained by the Post’s suggestion that they hang out at Third Edition in Georgetown, while it is safe to say that I do not. Still, a run-in seems inevitable. When? Where? Only time will tell.

Neighborhood Watch, Washington Post