Text Amended: June 8, 2009
TIME.com is following several members of the Twitterati as they attend the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in the enormous subterranean ballroom of the Washington Hilton on Saturday night. (TIME picks the best Correspondents' Dinner hosts of the Bush era)
The conviviality actually began in the early afternoon, with the pre-party to be at the home of former Hardball Producer Tammy Haddad. Meanwhile, the tag "#nerdprom," given to the event by twittering dinner attendees "caused confusion" in the wider twittering world, said one outsider-tweet, "as it was scheduled between the #startrek convention and the middle aged basement dwellers meetup." Following are selected #nerdprom (or alternatively #whca) tweets (all times Eastern Standard):
Meghan McCain, blogging for The Daily Beast, guest of ABC (12 noon)
Tonight I am going to be wearing tons of sparkles, tons of fabric, tons of hair and tons of makeup cause I like glamour and am not from DC!
David Carr, New York Times media correspondent (1 p.m.)
If tammy haddad's party is any indication, #nerdprom is going to be off the hook busy. Wag: "Why r u surprised? DC is last place w/any $."
David Carr (1 p.m.)
Just met capt. Phillips, who stared down pirates. Ev year, #nerdprom pivots arnd heroes. He' 1 og the It Boys this year.
David Carr (2 p.m.)
is todd palin the prom king of #nerdprom? Rocking a nice tan suit at the garden party, chatting all comers.
David Carr (2 p.m.)
Gossip boy chace crawford, the A list of the B list of #nerdprom just walked out, at same time as prom king todd palin.
Newt Gingrich (3 p.m.)
Going to the white house correspondents dinner tonight — right now going grocery shopping — already did dry cleaner and shoe repair
Patrick Galvin, writer for Politico. (4:15 pm)
#nerdprom Kilmer says he's "probably not" going to run for Governor. Video up soon...
Pete Snyder, Founder & CEO, New Media Strategies (5 p.m.)
Lots o' nerd love at the pre-prom... D-lister 80's stars galore. US Weekly photogs in the trees = DC a gaga
Howard Kurtz, Media correspondent, Washington Post (5 p.m.)
pics of the big afternoon pre-party on my Facebook page. Good day to put out bad news as all journos otherwise engaged. #Nerd Prom
John McQuaid, freelance journalist and author, (5:15 p.m.)
#nerdprom is a winking, self-deprecating term but actually shows a lack of media self-awareness: nerds aren't this narcissistic.
John McQuaid (5:30 p.m.)
How did Michael Kelly bringing Fawn Hall to the '87 WH Correspondents Dinner — a witty gesture — morph into today's icky #nerdprom?
Trashwire, a celebrity blog (5:45 p.m.)
So far my iPhone works at #nerdprom, but I'm hearing people say their blackberries aren't getting a signal. #whcd
Matt Cooper, former TIME Correspondent (5:50 p.m.)
Is looking forward to #nerdprom, #WHCA dinner and refuses to believe this talk of rain is real.
Meghan McCain (5:50 p.m.)
I have the most talented hair and makeup people in the universe!! Thank you so much @joshrupley and maureen!!!! Xoxoxo!!
The Note, ABC News' Political blog by Rick Klein and others. (6 p.m.)
Thanks to paparazzi for not crowding me on #nerdprom red carpet — still schvitzy from metro
David J. Sanders, columnist, Arkansas News (6:20 p.m.)
A[rianna]. Huffington creates a stir at #nerdprom arrival. Sting a first-timer
Gottalaff, political blogger (6:25 p.m.)
#nerdprom Newtie gets screams, but for all the wrong reasons.
Ashton Kutcher, actor (6:30 p.m.)
Off 2 the White house correspondents dinner. I'll shootnlive vid if something exciting happens. Maybe Obama will take the pee challenge lol
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