The Ring's on Her Finger

One month into the engagement of Jenna Bush and Henry Hager, and still no details have emerged about the forthcoming wedding of the year. Heck, we don't even know what year that's gonna be, let alone where (the smart money's on Texas or Maine over 1600 Penn), who'll be standing up at the altar with the happy couple, or what color the cummerbunds/satin pumps/Jordan almonds will be. By most accounts, the bride-to-be, 25, has been far too busy making the promotional rounds for her new non-fiction book,"Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope," set for release this month, to even think about these things yet.

But finally, one gleaming little development for you celebrity-wedding junkies: The blond First Twin has started wearing the engagement ring that Hager, 29, an MBA student at the University of Virginia, gave her last month.

Those who've seen it up close describe it as "beautiful" and "classic," but far from blingy -- a single diamond flanked by two sapphires on a simple band that appears to be either white gold or platinum.

And yes, she's wearing it on her left-hand ring finger -- the same digit where she so often carelessly sported a piece of costume jewelry over the years, prompting many phone calls to this column from baffled witnesses asking if she was engaged yet. This time, it's for real.

SORRY, YOU'RE NOT ON THE LIST

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One in an occasional series of dispatches from parties you should have crashed.

Occasion: Saturday's black-tie opening-night gala for the Washington National Opera.

Draw: The fall social season kickoff for D.C.'s grown-up A-list.

Entertainment: Hipster-techno take (videocams, drag queens) on Puccini's iconic "La Bohéme." "Many of the conservative people, they love it," said General Director Placido Domingo. "But I'm sure some people don't like it."

Cost: $1,000 a seat.

Menu: Beets and goat cheese, roast lamb, chocolate mousse bombe.

Bar: Open! Tons of fine champagne and wine at dinner.

Most Important of the Very Importants: Michael Chertoff, Newt Gingrich, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Gen. Peter Pace.

Life of the party: Next-big-thing tenor Vittorio Grigolo, a chart-topping crossover sensation in Europe who trained with Pavarotti. The hunky 30-year-old wowed onstage and flirted at the party afterward. "I don't know how to be a sex symbol," Grigolo told us. "Sex is selfish. I make love. Maybe I can make love to women from the stage."

Rave review: "His bod matched his voice," sighed U.S. Ambassador to Barbados Mary Ourisman.

THIS JUST IN . . .

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Ted Kennedy, who has written a kids' book and a policy tract but never a memoir, is considering writing a book on his career. The Associated Press reports the senior senator from Massachusetts is in early talks with publishers, guided by D.C. superlawyer/literary agent Bob Barnett.

A sparkly gown Carol Channing wore in the 1949 original Broadway production of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" was recovered Friday night in Hollywood, a day after the 86-year-old actress reported it stolen from a hotel lobby as she checked in. Police said a man found the dress -- which Channing valued at $150,000, but whatever -- in a bag abandoned in a nearby park.

Madonna -- still not Jewish but a big fan of Kabbalah -- toasted the Jewish New Year in Jerusalem Saturday with Israeli President Shimon Peres. The two exchanged gifts: a copy of the Jewish Bible for her, a volume of the Kabbalah "Book of Splendor" for him, local papers reported.

HEY, ISN'T THAT . . . ?

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Leonardo DiCaprio, finally showing his face in D.C. Saturday afternoon more than a week and a half after co-star Russell Crowe arrived to shoot the spy thriller "Body of Lies." Leo made what may have been his first public appearance at Georgetown waterfront hangout Tony and Joe's in T-shirt, shades and scruffy goatee; he looked heavier than usual (for the role, no doubt), sat outside with two male friends and tipped 20 percent.