HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Hot Happy Hour
By Neda Semnani
Roll Call Staff
June 9, 2011, 12:55 p.m.
HOH teamed up with FamousDC to throw a recess happy hour on Cava’s rooftop bar Wednesday night. And we are not exaggerating when we say it was hot like whoa.
The place was dripping with sweat and packed to the rafters with Hill folks. (Dudes, we have to ask, what’s up with the blazers and the button-downs? Take off the jackets. Roll up the sleeves. It’s summertime and way too hot for propriety.)
Obviously it wouldn’t be an HOH happy hour if the drinks weren’t free (thanks, Roll Call!), the guests weren’t sassy (thanks, FamousDC!) and we didn’t overhear Hill people.
Jim Billimoria, communications director for the majority with the House Ways and Means Committee, looked dashing sporting a new haircut. We’d tell you where he got it done, but he won’t let us. Never mind that, because he did introduce us to his friend, Daniel Reilly, spokesman for House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).
Kyle Downey, communications director for Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), also stopped by, and we spotted him chatting with Congressional Quarterly’s health care reporter Emily Ethridge. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce boys, Nick Schaper (former staffer for Speaker John Boehner as well) and Andrew Kovalcin, also hung out. As did the lovely Carly Baker from the British Embassy.
Tommy McFly, the new morning drive-time disc jockey for 94.7 (he starts in two weeks! Give him love), made an appearance (and a couple Katy Perry jokes) and was laughing with Josh Shultz of NJI Media and FamousDC. Pete Snyder and Sara Diaz of New Media Strategies, the other fabulous happy hour sponsor, were seen chatting it up with Famous Amos Snead of FamousDC and Story Partners.
Media cats spotted sweatin’ with the Hill folk: Rick Klein from ABC News’ “Top Line,” John Bailey from MSNBC’s “Daily Rundown” and Evan McMorris-Santoro and Ryan Reilly of “Talking Points Memo.”
Here’s what we know, kids: Hill folks plus news folks plus free booze times a rooftop (and after a Congressional scandal) equals trouble.
And at HOH we do love trouble.
