If you hear the phrase “The Beach” being bandied about the Speaker’s Lobby, it’s only wishful thinking for lawmakers who have given this title to their private balcony off the second floor of the Capitol.

Don’t think it bears any resemblance to the idyllic sands of Leonardo DiCaprio’s strand in the movie “The Beach.” Gorgeous it may be, but it isn’t exotic. It is, however, their private place — forbidden to reporters and staffers — where lawmakers go to relax, smoke cigarettes or speak on their cell phones in a semiprivate, serene setting with sunshine beaming down on them.

Durst to perform at Improv
Will Durst, the stand-up comedian, performed at several political gigs last year, including ones attended by former President George H.W. Bush and former Vice President Al Gore.

The Chicago Tribune dubs him a “hysterical hybrid of Hunter S. Thompson and Charles Osgood.” July 12-17, Durst will perform at Washington’s DC Improv.

When he’s not doing stand-up, Durst writes a daily Internet column, and he was a contributing editor to both National Lampoon and the now-defunct George magazine. He is a five-time Emmy nominee and host of the PBS series “Livelyhood,” as well as a regular commentator on NPR and CNN. His hobbies include the “never-ending search for the perfect cheeseburger.” His heroes? Thomas Jefferson and Bugs Bunny.

For more information about tickets, which cost $15-$17, go to www.dcimprov.com or call (202) 296-7008.

Garden State Hate
Maybe Sen. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) should hold off on mentally decorating that governor’s mansion. A new billboard on the New Jersey side of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, in a prime spot for D.C. commuters, takes the candidate to task.

“Welcome to New Jersey,” it says, “A horrible place to do business. DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) nightmare state. Can Senator Corzine really do anything?”

The billboard’s creator plans to put up two more taking Corzine to task in high-visibility areas later this summer.

Celebrate the Fourth with the Capitol Club
Can’t decide what to do on the Fourth of July? Perhaps this year you want to rub elbows with the boys of the Capitol Club at their open-bar “Party on the Potomac” at Cantina Marina, 600 Water St. S.W.

Tickets are $65 for men and $55 for women. For more information, visit www.capitolentertainmentgroup.com.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Osborne’s scheduler gets engaged
Nathan Riedel, 28, vice president of political affairs for the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America recently announced his engagement to Daffnei O’Bryan, 29, the scheduler for Rep. Tom Osborne (R-Neb.).
The couple met a year ago in May and were engaged June 18 during a weekend getaway at L’Auberge Provencal in White Post, Va.

“It was an early birthday present,” said O’Bryan, whose birthday was Monday.
 
Lieberman staffer leaves to join Peace Corps with wife
Chuck Ludlam, who has served as counsel to Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) for the past four years, will retire this month after a 21-year career on Capitol Hill as well as two years in the Carter White House working in regulatory affairs. He and wife, Paula, have joined the Peace Corps and are headed to a village in Senegal, southern Africa, for two and a half years.

“This transition is certainly emotional,” Ludlam said.

Tips, complaints and sightings: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
Announcements, which include births, engagements, deaths and any interesting party or major life event may be sent to the above address.
Elana Schor contributed to this report.