SUGARPLUM CHELSEA
First Daughter Chelsea Clinton, 13, has pirouetted her way into the role of Favorite Aunt in the Washington Ballet's holiday production of The Nutcracker. Chelsea, who takes classes at the Washington School of Ballet, is, by all accounts, a model, albeit atypical, student. When told how to clean her leotard and tights, she replied apologetically, "The problem is I don't do my own laundry."

ROLL OUT THE...RED CARPET
And let's have a barrel of fun! Or so thought polka-lovin' patrons of Blob's Park Bavarian Beer Garden outside Baltimore when they looked up from their bratwurst on Nov. 13 to find a celebrity in their midst. No, not polka king Frankie Yankovic but Justice Harry Blackmun of the Supreme Court. Celebrating his 85th birthday with 100 friends, Blackmun—who has hinted he may soon retire—even look to the floor with wife Dottie. "I'm doing all right," he said. "I don't know how to polka, but I can still waltz!"

HEINZ SIGHT
Washington has been playing ketch-up lately with the ever so discreet romance of Sen. John terry (D-Mass.), 49, and Teresa Heinz, 55, widow of Pennsylvania senator John Heinz, heir to the Heinz food fortune, who was killed in a helicopter crash two years ago. Heinz and the divorced Kerry quietly enjoyed each other's company last summer at her sprawling farm outside Pittsburgh and her waterfront mansion on Nantucket. Last week the two finally went public. After announcing she would not seek her husband's former Senate seat, Heinz joined Kerry at a Boston AIDS benefit, prompting the Boston Globe to observe that "they showed all the signs of special affection, including worshipful glances and unambiguous body language."

TOOTSIE'S ROLL

Nothing is more politically correct for stars today than to make a meaningful contribution, and what better way than with a check? Topping the Federal Election Commission's list of big celebrity contributors during last year's presidential campaign was singer Don Henley, who forked over more than $65,000 to Democratic candidates and organizations. He was followed by Dustin Hoffman, who gave more than $45,000 to the Democrats. Taking no chances, Sly Stallone spread it around, giving $20,000 to the Republican National Committee and 10,000 to the Democratic National Committee. And Roseanne and Tom Arnold contributed more than $30,000, mainly to female candidates for the U.S. Senate.

Then there were the odd contributions: Ross Perot Jr. gave $1,000 to George Bush; Katharine Hepburn pitched in $1,000 to Ross Perot; Paul Newman donated $1,000 to the Committee to Draft Ralph Nader; and Ted Turner kicked in $1,000 for Pat Buchanan, among others, while wife Jane Fonda stuck to her guns and donated approximately $15,000 to the Democrats.