Soul man
Physician, author and spiritual guru Deepak Chopra was the guest of honor Monday night at a “Zenned out” dinner at Teatro Goldoni, where he rubbed shoulders with several journalists on the road to enlightenment, including writer-turned-hostess Sally Quinn and her husband, former Washington Post Executive Editor Ben Bradlee.
Earlier in the day, Dr. Chopra had been the center of attention at a luncheon at the Monocle on Capitol Hill, where he dined with about 50 “women from many sectors of Washington, D.C., including journalists, government relations specialists [and] nonprofit organizers,” said lobbyist Christine Warnke, who organized the Teatro dinner along with publicist Janet Donovan.
In town to promote his new book, “Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul: How to Create a New You,” the New Delhi-born motivational speaker found time to talk about lighter fare. The soft-spoken doc, who seemed slightly annoyed there was no microphone at the soiree, chatted with G2 before the dinner about two esoteric topics that have puzzled deep thinkers for centuries: eyeglasses and pop stars.
Dr. Chopra sported some superfly glasses, black with sparkles, so we had to ask where they came from and whether they offered any special healing for his vision. “My grandchildren gave them to me,” said the proud grandpa of three. “They are made by Swarovski in Switzerland.”
A close friend and medical adviser to the late Michael Jackson, Dr. Chopra expressed outrage in the press following the pop star’s sudden death at the doctors who, he claimed, overprescribed medications to the dependent pop star.
Asked if he had seen the new concert rehearsal film “This Is It,” Dr. Chopra told us, with apparent sadness, he was “hesitant” to view the documentary because Jackson’s memory is still too fresh.
As for all the fretful babble about H1N1, Dr. Chopra said relax, people.
“If you look at the statistics, you have a much better chance of dying in a car accident or of a heart attack,” he observed. “The dread alone is causing people to get sick.”
Date set
We could not let Washington power couple Ms. Quinn and Mr. Bradlee sneak away from the Chopra dinner without asking about their 20-something son, Quinn, who is rumored to be off the market and engaged to yoga instructor Pary Williamson.
Yes, indeed. Ms. Quinn told us, the happy couple will wed next fall.
“Ten, ten, ten,” specified the mother of the bride.
The date was selected “because it will be easy to remember,” the 88-year-old Mr. Bradlee told us, tongue in cheek.
“She’s a very lucky lady,” we volunteered.
“No, we’re the lucky ones,” Ms. Quinn responded.
The younger Mr. Bradlee was born with a hole in his heart and recently published his memoir, “A Different Life: Growing Up Learning Disabled and Other Adventures.”
• To contact Stephanie Green or Elizabeth Glover, e-mail undercover@ washingtontimes.com.
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