On one side, you have the Independent Women's Forum, which supports's nomination of White House counsel to fill the seat vacated by retiring Supreme Court .

Miss Miers "has had a long and distinguished career as one of the foremost lawyers in the country," says IWF Senior Vice President , who adds that her group "rejects the feminist argument that the seat to which she was nominated is a 'woman's seat.'?"

By originally nominatingto replace Justice O'Connor, she explains, Mr. Bush laid to rest the notion that any one sex or ethnic group owns a particular seat on the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, although the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute thinks Miss Miers is a smart woman and "able lawyer," the group of right-leaning women is concerned about the nomination "on a number of levels."

"It is sure to be frustrating to accomplished conservative judges who have worked hard to distinguish themselves on the bench," the group says. "It will be frustrating to those accomplished lawyers who have labored in the trenches, practicing constitutional law and helping to establish clear legal precedents ...

"What does the president's selection of Miers say to them? 'Thanks for your efforts to preserve and uphold the Constitution, but we do not have the political will to defend you or your views.'?"

That was Washington National Opera director giving a surprise performance at Tuesday evening's private opening of Zengo, a new Latin-Asian restaurant he and chef have just opened at Gallery Place.

Among the 450 guests strolling up Zengo's red carpet were business leaders such as of Western Development Corp., politicos such as D.C. Council member, top chefs such as of Kaz Sushi Bistro and fashionistas, including of Neiman Marcus. Greeted by the sounds of drums and a dancing Chinese lion (intended to bring the restaurant good luck), the guests sipped on mojitos and sampled sushi and other delicacies.

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