There's a Ford in Her Future: A Sweet Tea

Just like family: From left, Debbie Beard, her daughter Emily Threlkeld and future mother-in-law Dorothy Bowles Ford, at a tea party that Ford threw in honor of Threlkeld. (Amy Argetsinger - The Washington Post)

Venues: St. Regis Hotel, then Georgetown's Halcyon House, finally downtown's Josephine lounge.

Biggest "list" names present: Gymnast Dominique Dawes, newscasters Will Thomas and Pamela Brown, hottie explorer Philippe Cousteau (mobbed by the ladies).

Food: Sushi, Himalayan salt-slab beef, mini ice-cream sandwiches.

Bar: Open! Free-flowing Veuve Clicquot.

High spirits: Fun-loving lobbyist Juleanna Glover, on a dare, playfully pouncing on millionaire bachelor Mark Ein, who was a perfect gentleman about it.

Downside: The time spent in line to get wristbands and in transit on shuttles to Georgetown. "Extraordinary rendition," muttered one wag.

Swag bag: Designer perfume, high-end body wash and self-tanner, anti-aging potions, fancy tea bags, leather-bound datebook, gift cards and coupons to restaurants, salons and boutiques, mix CD, chocolates.

THIS JUST IN . . .

Britney Spears will likely spend another 14 days at UCLA's psychiatric hospital, People and TMZ.com reported yesterday, both citing unnamed sources. The troubled pop star was admitted early Thursday after weeks of erratic behavior and a reported intervention by her family.

HEY, ISN'T THAT . . . ?

John Edwards belting out a lusty karaoke version of Bon Jovi's "Who Says You Can't Go Home," with accompaniment by wife Elizabeth and daughter Cate, at his campaign's closing-out party Friday night at a Carrboro, N.C., bar called Milltown (no, really!). Seemed to know all the words!

Laura Bush dining with Doreen Gentzler Friday night at the new restaurant Jackson 20 in Old Town Alexandria. The first lady (in a mauve suit) ordered crab cakes and fried oysters; shared cheese fries with the NBC-4 anchor; and they sampled several desserts, sent out on the house.