The 41 freebies inside the legendary People/Time swag bag
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Version 0 of 1. Behold, people, the glory that is the People/Time White House Correspondents’ Weekend Gift Bag. To call it a mere goodie bag fails to convey the 17.2 pounds of luxury swag presented to guests departing Friday’s cocktail reception. Well, not every guest – White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett attended the party at the St. Regis Hotel, but walked out empty handed due to ethics rules for government officials. “No, no,” she told us. “We can’t accept any gifts. But I’ve heard about it.” View Photo Gallery —The People/Time White House Correspondents’ Weekend Gift Bag was presented to guests departing Friday’s cocktail reception. Here’s what is inside. Of course she’s heard about it: The now legendary gift bag has become one of the tangible perks on the four-day party circuit. Long after you’ve scarfed down yet another crab cake and downed your last (really!) vodka tonic, there’s still the overnight case overflowing with goodies. Companies lobby for months to be included in the bag, and a mix is carefully selected to appeal to both women and men while remaining under a total value of $600, which means guests don’t have to report it to the IRS. “For the first time in memory, I don’t have to check with the White House counsel to accept a goodie bag,” said former Obama economic adviser Gene Sperling. Full coverage from the red carpet to after-parties here. (The Washington Post does not allow reporters to accept gifts of significant value — these items are donated to an annual newsroom auction for charity. Except for a chocolate bar or two that always seem to mysteriously disappear.) There were a total 41 items (including copies of People and Time, natch) carefully packed into the black Longchamp knockoff. “It’s like a weightlifting set,” said lobbyist Tony Podesta (pictured above). This year’s standout was undoubtedly the Skullcandy Supreme Sound Aviator headphones, valued at $149.99 according to the price tag slapped on the corner of the box. The rest of the goodies can be roughly divided into Food and Drink, Health and Beauty, and Random Cool Things to keep or re-gift. (Mother’s day is just around the corner, kids.) FOOD AND DRINK A Buy One, Get One Chipotle card Fika Himalayan salt chocolate Food Should Taste Good sweet potato chips Gevalia coffee Hint fizz grapefruit sparkling water Illy Issimo Caffe espresso drink Kusmi Tea detox blend Justins organic peanut butter cups Macrobar banana and almond bar Norman Love chocolates Somersaults Santa Fe Salsa snacks Two Moms blueberry bar Vita Coca coconut water HEALTH AND BEAUTY Burts Bees dark spot corrector Egyptian Magic skin cream Hello mint grapefruit breath spray Help Remedies pain reliever Kiehl’s Hand Salve and after-shave balm Luster White teeth whitening system Schick Intution and Hydro 5 razors Skyn Iceland cleansing cloths Smashbox foundation primer Spa Ritual pink neon nail polish The Honest Company hand sanitizer and lip balm VitaBath lime citron basil body wash RANDOM COOL THINGS Bowhaus pet collar charm Corkcicle wine cooler C Wonder scented soy candle Hachette’s “The Very Fairy Princess” by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton Happy Socks neon socks Pampered Chef mini mix ‘n chop Skullcandy earphones Soul Cycle cardio workout class Swell Bottle stainless insulated water bottle Toyota yoga in a box kit Vera Bradley umbrella |