By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

The eerie quiet on Washington's dinner circuit? All the big talkers have gone to Colorado for this week's Aspen Ideas Festival -- what we call wonk summer camp. "It is an intellectual's Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey," Atlantic Media Chairman David Bradley told us yesterday. "This isn't a group that plays volleyball on the beach over July Fourth weekend."

Bradley partnered with the Aspen Institute for the fourth annual gathering of policy types, CEOs, artists, scientists and 200 boldface names like Bill Clinton, Alice Waters, Colin Powell, Anna Deavere Smith, Michael Chertoff, Jane Harman, Thomas Friedman, Margaret Spellings and Christo. "Hi!" Sandra Day O'Connor greeted the crowd at Monday's opening. "I used to work for the Supreme Court."

The seven days of Big Thoughts -- four parts smarty-pants discussions, one part earnest study -- follow in the tradition of the Renaissance Weekends so trendy during the Clinton administration. "In the Internet age, there's sort of a hunger for face-to-face discussions," said Aspen Institute President Walter Isaacson. (Not to mention awesome networking.) More than 800 people will attend the four- or seven-day sessions; most pay $2,000 or more. Unlike at Davos and other VIP-wonk fests, the public gets to attend many festival events.

Plus, there's always the chance of seeing big fish out of water. New York City Ballet's Damian Woetzel attempted to teach ballet moves Monday to the crowd, including a less-than-graceful Bradley in the front row. "Wasn't attractive," the publisher admitted.

The Air and Space Museum's big movie debut has just had a change of title -- from "Night at the Museum 2: Escape From the Smithsonian" to "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian." Whattaya think, does "Battle of" sound more macho? Twentieth Century Fox reps say they wanted a more dramatic name for the spring '09 sequel; there are also a lot of other "escape"-titled flicks coming out -- such as "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," also starring Ben Stiller, who filmed "Museum" here in May. Smithsonian reps say they're cool with the switch.

Why does a privacy-loving couple like CNN stars John King and Dana Bash (whom we had to beg for details about their courtship) have their wedding video up on YouTube? The May 25 ceremony on Cape Cod looks fun -- the bride pinning a yarmulke to the groom's head; the couple hoisted in chairs on the dance floor; the guests forming a conga line; nary a distracting VIP face in the crowd. Totally sweet, normal stuff intended to be viewed only by the couple and friends -- but nothing stays private on the Web, does it?

After watching tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams and Roger Federer, the Means family of the District returned home yesterday from their dream trip to Wimbledon. Teenage players Elizabeth and Sarah Means, along with their sisters and parents, spent a week in London (thanks to a donation from former mayor Tony Williams) seeing top players compete in the early rounds. "I think it's going to make a huge difference -- not only in their games, but how they approach practice and training," mom Roslyn said yesterday. The visit also included playing a few matches, a jaunt to the countryside, shopping and England's signature tea and crumpets. "It was good," said Roslyn. "Different."

"I stress about that stuff like everyone else, but at the end of the day, I'm a good ol' Southern girl that likes her Cracker Barrel at 9 o'clock at night and if I want it, gosh darn, I'm going to eat it."

* Miley Cyrus on dieting and weight and body image, in Billboard. Gosh darn, sounds like someone's publicist was sitting right nearby.