Rule on Spouses Doesn't Tee Off the Champ

Food: Muy delicioso ! Late-harvest corn mousse, shaved Everona sheep's milk cheese, pear-walnut salsa, grouper, caramelized banana, Virginia peanut tuille.

Bar: Open! Plentiful champagne.

People-magazine-come-to-life moment: Seeing Ashley Judd, in a stunning silk floral gown, chatting with dimply "Poseidon" star Josh Lucas outside the ladies' room.

Entertainment: Michael McDonald , who filled the dance floor with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."

Minor quibble: Wynonna didn't sing.

Goodie bag: Kiehl's toiletries; a $100 gift certificate from Saks.

Readers Tell Us

A reader complained she paid $20 to see John Legend last weekend at Zanzibar nightclub -- yet never heard him sing:

" Seven p.m. came, 8 p.m. came, 9 p.m. came -- no John Legend. A manager assured me that he was coming but could not guarantee that he would perform. He finally did arrive, at close to 10. He was mobbed by the crowd and was whisked away by security after about five minutes. "

Ah, the old celebrity "appearance." Savvy clubgoers know to read between the lines. If an ad promises a night "with" Ludacris or a party "hosted by" Diddy , don't expect a show. "It means they roll up late, wave to the crowd, say 'Hey, what's up, D.C.?,' then disappear into the VIP room," says Post nightlife columnist Fritz Hahn. "You're paying to be in the same building." Some appearances surprise: At H2O a few years ago, Slick Rick sat by the dance floor and greeted fans. As for Legend, Zanzibar says they never promised a concert (their Web site invited fans to "spend an evening with" him) though some promotional reports arguably implied more. Another red flag: prices too good to be true. When Legend plays Cramton Auditorium next month, it'll cost $46.

Do you have a tip? E-mail reliablesource@washpost.com.