Smithsonian Smarts Pays Big For DCCK; Brooks Brothers Inauguration Cocktail Party Draws Charitable Journos

GEORGETOWN -- Whistles were blown, horns were tooted, and kazoos were, well, 'kazooed' at Brooks Brothers' stately Georgetown location on Thursday night, as the classic American clothier hosted a charitable trivia match in honor of the forthcoming inaugural weekend.

Competing in yesterday's trivia tourney, which itself was just part of a much grander cocktail reception, were Bloomberg Television correspondent Megan Hughes, POLITICO senior political reporter Jonathan Martin, and RealClearPolitics National Political Reporter Erin McPike.

Helping cheer on all of the volunteer contestants at the store were close to a hundred friends, family, and co-workers -- many of whom are household names for the world's newshounds. In exchange for their support, Brooks Brothers had prepared a healthy buffet of passed presidential hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, as well as an endless supply of freshly rolled Dominicana cigars.

And when the smoke finally cleared, it was Hughes that emerged the clear victor with even emcee Marc Pachter, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's acting director, unmistakably impressed by her command of presidential history.

In winning the trivia contest, Hughes got to pick the beneficiary charity that would receive the evening's $1,000 purse. And D.C. Central Kitchen (DCCK) will certainly benefit greatly from her selection.

Still, even after her initial triumph, some guests remained unconvinced of her mastery of presidential history. And they literally paid dearly for it.

After challenging the Northwestern University graduate to name all of the U.S. Presidents, one rather well known guest was forced to cough-up another contribution to DCCK as a penalty, after Hughes quickly committed them to paper.

The donation was undeniably dapper though. Befitting a President even.