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Celebrities, Chefs, and Entrepreneurs: Photos of the Best Parties Around DC

Party photographer Dan Swartz’s monthly roundup.

Written by | Photographed by Daniel Swartz | Published on
Lauren Gaspard of Interscope Records, musician Ari Lennox, and Autumn Dennard-Merritt of Soho House Cities Without Houses at Ari Lennox's Vacancy album release party.
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Party photographer Dan Swartz’s diary of bashes, benefits, and galas.

January 13

Anheuser-Busch 8th Annual Brew Across America at Nationals Park

Anheuser-Busch’s Brendan Whitworth, Senator Eric Schmitt, and Representative Wesley Bell.

 

January 21

NFL Super Bowl LX Reception at La Vie

The NFL’s Kenneth Edmonds, Roslyne Turner, and Brendon Plack with former NFL star Barry Sanders (second from right).
FanDuel Group’s Jonathan Nabavi and the Walt Disney Company’s Bill Bailey.
DC United and Audi Field’s Lauren Turner (left) and Janine Brunson-Johnson (far right) with Aijne Williams of New Wave Audio and Krystal Williams of Doable You.

 

January 23

Ari Lennox Vacancy Album Release Event, Hosted by Soho House Cities Without Houses, at Manifest 002

Manifest’s K.J. Hughes and Brian Merritt.
Lauren Gaspard of Interscope Records, musician Ari Lennox, and Autumn Dennard-Merritt of Soho House Cities Without Houses.
The Spice Suite’s Angel Gregorio, musician Phil Adé, author Alex Elle, and Grounded’s Danuelle Doswell.

 

January 29

Democracy Forward “Together for Democracy” Conference at the Conrad, Washington D.C.

Comedian Jordan Klepper and Democracy Forward’s Skye Perryman.
Reverend Paul Raushenbush of Interfaith Alliance, Bishop of Washington Mariann Budde, and actor/director H. Adam Harris.
MS NOW’s Eugene Daniels and New York state attorney general Letitia James.

 

January 31

Alfalfa Club Dinner After-Party at Cafe Milano

Washington Commanders minority owner Mark Ein, controlling owner Josh Harris, and Marjorie Harris.
Philanthropist Amy Baier and Bret Baier of Fox News.
Meta’s Dina Powell McCormick, Senator Dave McCormick, Cafe Milano owner Franco Nuschese, and Washington AI Network’s Tammy Haddad.

 

February 4

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Annual DC Gala at Columbia Square Atrium

Gala co-chairs Anthony Lewis of Verizon Communications, Colette Honorable of Exelon Corporation, Nicole Venable of Invariant, and Yebbie Watkins, chief of staff to Congressman James E. Clyburn.
Gala vice chairs Katharine Weymouth of Blu Ventures, Joyce Brayboy of Goldman Sachs, and Jennifer Stewart of Stewart Strategies & Solutions.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater artistic director Alicia Graf Mack and Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation Board of Trustees chairman Daria L. Wallach.

This article appears in the January 2026 issue of Washingtonian.

January 13

Anheuser-Busch 8th Annual Brew Across America at Nationals Park

Anheuser-Busch’s Brendan Whitworth, Senator Eric Schmitt, and Representative Wesley Bell.

 

January 21

NFL Super Bowl LX Reception at La Vie

The NFL’s Kenneth Edmonds, Roslyne Turner, and Brendon Plack with former NFL star Barry Sanders (second from right).
FanDuel Group’s Jonathan Nabavi and the Walt Disney Company’s Bill Bailey.
DC United and Audi Field’s Lauren Turner (left) and Janine Brunson-Johnson (far right) with Aijne Williams of New Wave Audio and Krystal Williams of Doable You.

 

January 23

Ari Lennox Vacancy Album Release Event, Hosted by Soho House Cities Without Houses, at Manifest 002

Manifest’s K.J. Hughes and Brian Merritt.
Lauren Gaspard of Interscope Records, musician Ari Lennox, and Autumn Dennard-Merritt of Soho House Cities Without Houses.
The Spice Suite’s Angel Gregorio, musician Phil Adé, author Alex Elle, and Grounded’s Danuelle Doswell.

 

January 29

Democracy Forward “Together for Democracy” Conference at the Conrad, Washington D.C.

Comedian Jordan Klepper and Democracy Forward’s Skye Perryman.
Reverend Paul Raushenbush of Interfaith Alliance, Bishop of Washington Mariann Budde, and actor/director H. Adam Harris.
MS NOW’s Eugene Daniels and New York state attorney general Letitia James.

 

January 31

Alfalfa Club Dinner After-Party at Cafe Milano

Washington Commanders minority owner Mark Ein, controlling owner Josh Harris, and Marjorie Harris.
Philanthropist Amy Baier and Bret Baier of Fox News.
Meta’s Dina Powell McCormick, Senator Dave McCormick, Cafe Milano owner Franco Nuschese, and Washington AI Network’s Tammy Haddad.

 

February 4

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Annual DC Gala at Columbia Square Atrium

Gala co-chairs Anthony Lewis of Verizon Communications, Colette Honorable of Exelon Corporation, Nicole Venable of Invariant, and Yebbie Watkins, chief of staff to Congressman James E. Clyburn.
Gala vice chairs Katharine Weymouth of Blu Ventures, Joyce Brayboy of Goldman Sachs, and Jennifer Stewart of Stewart Strategies & Solutions.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater artistic director Alicia Graf Mack and Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation Board of Trustees chairman Daria L. Wallach.

This article appears in the January 2026 issue of Washingtonian.

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Dan Swartz
Dan Swartz