Hoops Dream: 4 New Wiz Seats
The Wizards are calling them the "Dream Seats" -- four special courtside seats set up right next to the players' bench for the first time ever at Tuesday's Celtics game.
You know, like the Jack Nicholson seats at all those Lakers games over the years. But this is an entirely new status symbol for Washington and can be had for only $2,500 a seat, per game! You may have to make do with similar seats next to the visitors' bench -- Steve Case already bought up the four on the Wizards' side for the season's final 10 home games.
  Wizards' winners, from left: Franklin Raines, David Golden, Steve Case and Tige Savage. (Mitchell Layton, Washington Wizards) |
(Doing the math here . . . uh, yeah, that's $100,000.)
The AOL founder turned heads when he and three others, including former Fannie Mae CEO Franklin Raines , showed up astonishingly close to the action for the Wizards' loss to Boston. To some gawkers, it looked as if they were sitting on the bench, leaving Coach Eddie Jordan seatless. Not so, said team spokesman Zack Bolno : NBA guidelines prohibit such things. Jordan simply was pacing like most coaches do during nail-biters like Tuesday's game.
The Wizards added the Dream Seats after seeing the popularity of courtside fat-cat seats in cities such as Phoenix, where tickets go for about $1,500, and Los Angeles, where Jack & Co. pay $2,100 a game. Since Case told team President Susan O'Malley he'd be interested in any great seats that might open up, he got first dibs.
A spokesman for Case's new holding company, Revolution (Raines is a board member), said that Case bought the tickets to treat employees on the company's first anniversary and that everyone seemed to enjoy them. "What's not to like?" said spokesman Brad Burns . "You're at the heart of pro basketball with those you work hardest with."
For Lindy Boggs, a 90th-Birthday Clan Blowout
The entire Boggs clan is gathering in New Orleans this weekend to celebrate the 90th birthday of Lindy Boggs , former Democratic congresswoman and U.S. ambassador to the Vatican. Boggs's children -- lobbyist Tommy Boggs and commentator Cokie Roberts -- are heading the delegation of spouses, grandchildren (eight) and great-grandchildren (17) assembling for the first time since Katrina hit last summer. "She said she wanted to have a big party, and we're having a big party," said her son.
Lindy Boggs has been living at the Soniat House, a small hotel in the French Quarter, while waiting to move back into her house on Bourbon Street. Her actual birthday is Monday, but the festivities begin tonight with a family dinner at the legendary Arnaud's restaurant, then move to the Plimsoll Club on Saturday with a cocktail buffet for 400 or so -- they're not quite sure how many people are showing up. "We should have gone to Paris for the weekend," said Tommy with a laugh. "It would have been cheaper."
Straight From the Heartland
A VIP welcome wagon showed up at the Renwick Gallery last night to greet America's other first couple -- the Midwestern duo of "American Gothic."
" Grant Wood painted with great wit and a good heart -- the same characteristics that many in the Midwest have," said Laura Bush . "It's a rare treat for the people of Washington to see this painting."
The iconic duo is starring in "Grant Wood's Studio: Birthplace of 'American Gothic' " at the gallery for the next three months. The Art Institute of Chicago rarely lends the painting, and this is the first time it has been in Washington in 40 years.
THIS JUST IN . . .
Jessica Simpson , right, the tabloids' favorite divorce queen (at least this week's version), is leaving her soon-to-be-ex behind and coming to Washington next week. The singer will appear at a news conference Thursday for Operation Smile, which provides free medical care for children with facial deformities. Then she'll visit Capitol Hill. Simpson has been the charity's International Youth Ambassador for three years and traveled to Kenya with a medical team in October.
THIS JUST IN . . .
Jessica Simpson , right, the tabloids' favorite divorce queen (at least this week's version), is leaving her soon-to-be-ex behind and coming to Washington next week. The singer will appear at a news conference Thursday for Operation Smile, which provides free medical care for children with facial deformities. Then she'll visit Capitol Hill. Simpson has been the charity's International Youth Ambassador for three years and traveled to Kenya with a medical team in October.
