America’s Cup of Polo

Andrea Rodgers and her “Guy Friday,” Mike Carson at the America’s Cup of Polo

What a great weekend! I attended the America’s Cup of Polo this weekend at Capitol Polo Club in Poolesville, Maryland. The event was to benefit Innocents at Risk, which I support.  On Friday night, “Guy Friday,” Mike Carson and I drove out to the polo club for the America’s Cup of Polo’s Rockin’ the Runway event, which included a dance performance, fashion show, and a performance by American Idol Star, Michael Johns who debuted his new song, “She’s Dangerous”.

Fashion Washington was on hand photographing the fashions, and presenting an award for the Sexiest Polo Chic attire.  They asked me about my yellow David Meister cocktail dress, my Innocents at Risk awareness bracelets, and the necklaces I was wearing from Keith Lipert Gallery. I layered a Jean-Louis Blin necklace over aa KMO medallion necklace.  

The fashion show included pieces by Ed Hardy, Betsey Johnson, and Ibhana. Hair was done by the fabulous, Ted Gibson of the new Ted Gibson Salon at Hela Spa at the Collection in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Make-up was done by the talented, Megan Riddle.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the weather conditions. It rained for about 5 days straight, right up until this event, so the ground was heavily saturated in good ole Maryland red clay mud. You can see from this photo of my feet how bad it was. One of my Facebook friends messaged me that she saw me at Friday night’s fashion show “but couldn’t get across the mud quick enough to come say hello.” Despite my feet sinking down about 3 inches into the cold mud with every step I took Friday night, the wine from the cash bar and the company made it an enjoyable evening. That said, my shoes were ruined.

On Saturday, Guy Friday and I drove out to the country with my friend Makeda Saggau-Sackey of The Glamazon Diaries and one of her friends. We joined the Founder of Innocents at Risk, Deborah Sigmund and her lovely mother in the Ambassador of Australia’s tent, and then made our way down to the Land Rover tent, which was so much fun. I saw lots of the First Chukker Foundation folks, my best friend, Cheryl Romero,  Omarosa Onee Manigault Stallworth, fashion and lifestyle expert, Paul Wharton, who starred in the popular MTV series Made, and is the style expert on TV One’s Makeover Manor.

Remember the mud I told you about? Well, we planned to leave about 9pm or so, but as we were leaving Guy Friday’s car got stuck in the mud. That’s right, all of us were pushing the back of Mike’s car as he gunned the engine trying to get some traction. Our efforts were futile. Mud was flying off the back of his tires — such a mess! As we waited for the tow truck to pull his car out of the mud, we enjoyed more wine and danced to Michael Johns performance of “American Girl” and Mya’s performance of “Lady Marmalade” and other songs. It was horrible that his car got stuck in the mud, but I’m glad we saw the musical performance — it was so much fun!

After dropping off Makeda and her friend, Guy Friday drove me home. It was only then that I realized I didn’t have my keys. After some time, I remembered pulling Innocents at Risk collateral out of the trunk of my car to take with us to the polo event. I was pretty sure that was where I had left my keys. Sure enough after the tow truck guy came and unlocked my car, my keys were in the trunk of my car.

I have to thank my neighbor Donna, for opening her door to me at midnight and ordering a pizza for us! (It was Papa Johns, as I still refuse to eat Domino’s after that YouTube video.) Donna is amazing! She is so good to my dog, Scarlett, and is a great hostess always offering up some Coors Light on her patio.

I also have to thank Mike Carson for being such a great friend. He stayed and waited for the 2nd tow truck with me, and made sure I got in my house ok. I feel bad about dancing and enjoying myself while he dealt with his car being stuck in the mud, but we lost him in the crowd and our cell phone batteries were drained so we had no idea where he was or what was going on. I just hope he knows how much I love and appreciate him!

Tareq and Michaele Salahi and others like Laurie Schaefer did a great job putting on this event. I know the hard work that it takes to put on something like this.

- Miss A

Pictured top left: Tareq and Michaele Salahi; top right: Ted Gibson doing a model’s hair backstage; middle left: Ric Hovsepian giving me a kiss; middle right: my toes swimming in mud; middle left: Paul Wharton, Omarosa and Michaele Salahi; bottom right: Rockin’ the Runway model Kamari Wheeler with my friend the beautiful, Kate Marie Grinold, Miss DC 2008 who was in the Top 10 at Miss America;  bottom left: the very handsome Australian Polo Team.