A Stripper Scandal Avoided

Let's start with the scene: an upstairs party room Tuesday night at Sonoma, one of Capitol Hill's hippest restaurants, where friends gathered to celebrate the publication of local writer Kelly DiNardo's new book about legendary striptease artist Lili St. Cyr. 

And along with the shrimp, open bar, and charcuterie, DiNardo also arranged for a performance by a local burlesque queen who goes by the provocative name of Kitty Victorian.  And here's where the potential comes in: In an adjacent party room, Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Doyle, a Democrat from outside Pittsburgh, was hosting his own gathering--sans strippers. So when Ms. Victorian began with the black fans, rhinestones, and loads of exposed flesh, the photographers were keeping their fingers crossed that Doyle might wander through and tabloid news might occur.

Alas, Doyle kept to his room until long after Kitty's fans were packed away. Our Liz Halloran asked Kitty whether she'd had any luck breaking into the political fundraising circuit. "Not yet," she said. "But I'm trying. I'm trying."