Wonk’d: Leann Rimes, Dana Milbank, and a Camel

This week has been a good one for celebrity-obsessed Washingtonians. A handful of “famous-for-famous” people, and a slew of “famous-for-DC” people, showed up at the Congressional Correspondents dinner on Wednesday night. And, of course, let’s not forget the camel sighting on Monday. (As for Butterstick, sufferers of panda withdrawal syndrome should check out this site or this one.)

After the jump, still more celebrity sightings. You’ve been doing a nice job of keeping us well-supplied; keep ‘em coming! (If you remember to do so, please include the word “Wonk’d” or “Sighting” in the subject of your message, so we can separate your message from the never-ending stream of offers for Cialis, OEM software, and mortgage refinancing.)

• Dave Chappelle at Left Bank in Adams Morgan on Saturday (2/4). They said he was super cool to everyone there and hung out for a few hours.

• dave chappelle was at Left Bank on Saturday night around 11pm. I saw him with four other people. he sat in the back VIP room behind the glass. he left with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.

• Oceanaire was a celeb-sighting haven today [Monday, 2/6] at lunch. At about 12:30, Leann Rimes and her husband, Dean Shremet, were spotted eating in a booth. We first noticed them because we heard her on the phone, and our table got into a heated debate over call etiquette in restaurants. Ironically, we had agreed that only a celebrity would commit such an offense when someone said “Hey, that’s Leann Rimes. Didn’t she get married at, like, 17?” We debated asking her to sing Happy Birthday to someone in our party, but couldn’t muster the enthusiasm to ask. Hmmm.

• Shortly after LeAnn and the too-metro hubby departed (although he looked MUCH straighter in person), Steve Francis caused a stir when he and a huge posse rolled in for lunch (at which point every male head in the place swiveled towards them in fascination and every woman could be heard whispering, “Who’s that? Is he famous?”). They were quite amicable, joking with the waiters and debating the specials, looking as unconcerned about being noticed as Leann seemed bothered by it. In hindsight, it was depressing that none of us had heard from Rimes since she got married, except for her InStyle Wedding special. I’m sure the Grammy awards look shiny on the mantle, nonetheless.

• Sat by Sandy “Stuff Your Socks” Berger last night on the US Airways shuttle from Boston to Washington. He was harumphed to say the least. Looked peeved to stand so I could get to my window seat, refused to put his tray up on descent into the city (former National Security Advisors don’t take directions from flight attendants!), and spent the entire time furiously
  filling out “Things To Do” lists.

• Washington Post scribe Dana Milbank, slope shouldered, haggard and bug-eyed, walking throught the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Omni Shoreham and overhead saying to a colleague, “This is an impeachment convention!” He was stopping by all the anti-immigration, anti-war, anti-snooping exhibit booths.

• Randall from the Apprentice was hanging out at a NJ party at the Marriot in Woodley Park. Atlantic City had a reception and he was mingling in the crowd, complete with a ‘body-guy’ (to put it in DC terms). All smiles and working the room somewhat quickly. Lots of big-time NJ politicians to get to know. Not a famous-for-DC celeb, but a celeb (of sorts) nonetheless. I was excited. Wish I would have had the chance to hear his explanation to completely bitch-slapping Rebecca on the final show…

• This may be one of the lamest sightings ever, but Joe Wilson made his presence known at Kotobuki on McArthur Blvd. last Saturday. In tow were two individuals: a young man that would most likely be comfortable at Saint Ex and a lovely young, blonde futurespy who was 8-9ish. Of note, Wilson is a very large man and that mane of silver hair is, unfortunately, somewhat thinning when not in photoshoot form. Mr. Wilson motioned to one of the sushi guys behind the sushi bar and stated that “he had never been to the restaurant but heard that the Washington Post said it was the best hidden sushi gem in dc.” Dunno if that got him any extra special service as sushi guy said “thanks” and went back to his business.

Earlier: Wild Nights, Wild Nights! Wonkette Paints the Town

READ MORE: butterstick, camels, cpac, dana milbank, dave chappelle, dean shremet, famous-for-dc, famous-for-famous, joe wilson, leann rimes, left bank, panda, panda withdrawal syndrome, pandas, sandy berger, steve francis

The Camel Situation Is Under Control

Denizens of D.C., there is no need to panic; the runaway camel has been recaptured. A Wonkette operative kindly did the legwork for us and reported back as follows:

Well, the back door to my building opens on to that alley, so I investigated. A couple of trips through the alley, as well as up and down 19th and 20th, led to zero camel sightings.

I did, however, see many large delivery trucks in the alley, into which one could, conceivably, fit a
camel. In fact, were one to deliver a camel, I imagine that’s what one would use.

So there’s the detective work, for any good it is.

As for what the heck a camel was doing in the middle of Washington, a different reader advised us: “The camel is part of a television shoot taking place at Interface Video on 1233 20th Street.”

Update: A source at Interface Video informs us: “The camel was employed in the shooting of a commercial on one of our stages in the building just to the east of where it had been unloaded. In our building deliverymen and camels are discouraged from using the front door.”

For a photograph of the camel, click here.

Earlier: Lawrence of… Washington, D.C.?

READ MORE: animals in the street, camels, interface video, washington, washington dc

Lawrence of… Washington, D.C.?

We just received this (somewhat random) email from a reader:

• Hey guys, I work at 19th and M, NW — you have to follow up on this… There is a camel loose on the street. As far as I can tell now, he’s in the alley on the south side of M street, between 19th and 20th. Those are all the facts I have now.

This camel on M Street could be as real as the WMDs in Iraq; we have no way of verifying the accuracy of this report (since that would require us to leave our apartments and do actual reporting). But if you can confirm its correctness or provide further details, please drop us a line.

READ MORE: animals in the street, camels, washington, washington dc