Written by . Published: May 03 2011
Impact Arts + Film Fund and Funny or Die have been known to throw one of the best bashes during White House Correspondent’s weekend, and this year was no different.
The invite-only affair was held at the Longview Gallery on Friday, April 29, and Impact Arts + Film Fund also teamed up with both the National Journal and The Atlantic for this year’s star-studded soiree.
We spotted a bevy of A-listers, from Sean Penn and "Mad Men"’s Jon Hamm to The Hangover 2’s Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis, mingling with guests and then retreating to the Google-sponsored tent out in back.
"Parks and Recreations"'s Rashida Jones chilled out in VIP and Maria Bello turned heads in a dazzling blue dress. "Modern Family"’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson showed up -- this was his first White House Correspondent’s Dinner. It was also the first time we saw "Vampire Diaries" star Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev together. Bromance couple Chace Crawford and Tony Romo tried to avoid the overwhelming amount of camera flashes that they set off as they walked through the party, and Patricia Arquette and Oscar-winning Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black rounded out the coolest VIP list in town.
The Impact Arts + Film Fund, founded by Jody Arlington, Jamie Shor, and Kimball Stroud in 2008, is a non-profit organization in Washington DC that engages audiences with documentary and narrative film screenings, panels, and discussions that aim to engage, entertain, and educate audiences about socially relevant topics. You can learn more about what happens when "film crosses the aisle" here.
Elsewhere in DC, where celebrities had overtaken President Obama’s backyard to come and hear SNL’s Seth Meyers roast the hardest working man in America, David Arquette, "Modern Love"’s Jason Biggs, "30 Rock"’s Jack McBrayer, Marlon Wayans, Mekhi Phifer, "House"’s Omar Epps needed a well-deserved night to themselves during the whirlwind weekend of events in the Nation's capitol. They hit up hotspot Eden Lounge late night last Friday along with "Gossip Girl"’s MichelleTrachtenberg and "Pretty Little Liars"'s Shay Mitchell.
There was no dancing on tables but the crew did hang all night at a private table right next to the DJ booth. All of the actors were not only invited guests to the White House Correspondent’s dinner but also came to support the Creative Coalition, which is trying to keep funding for arts advocacy programs in schools.
(Eden Lounge photo courtesy of Moki Media; Dobrev photo courtesy of Emily Clack; all other photos courtesy of Tony Powell)
Laura Carlson is an entertainment reporter who has covered red carpets in Los Angeles and Washington, DC. She is a slave to celebrity news and has a passion for pop culture. You can follow her on twitter @lauraleecarlson.