Moments ago, at the Reagan Building for an Economic Club lunch, we corralled four real estaters who hardly need being identified, but just for the record: Studley's Tom Fulcher, Cushman & Wakefield's Audrey Cramer, Rand Construction's Linda Rabbitt, and starchitect Shalom Baranes. Shalom tells us of his many ongoing projects, two he's particularly excited about are the two rental towers (500 units) at CityCenter, slated to open in October; and the design for all of O Street Market, including hotel, residential, retail, and even senior living, expected to come online in a year.

Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson, right, may have had to don a black tie Saturday night to chair the Washington Performing Arts Society gala at the DC Ritz, but at least he was in town; he tells us he travels about 60% of the time (their flag flies on 4,000 hotels in 74 countries) and in just the last two weeks was in India, Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi, and Toronto. With him, we snapped wife and co-chair Ruth (her hand on his shoulder perhaps to be sure he doesnt leave to the airport); at the far left his EVP Kathleen Matthews and her TV pundit husband Chris; and in the middle, Irish ambassador to the US Michael Collins and wife Marie. You can read more in todays Scene.