"Eater" Blog Dishes Out the Best in Food and Drink

Hey guys..hope everyone had a wonderful warm Thanksgiving. I enjoyed every bit of it..only thing I was missing was my Vonney!

So of course the holidays are here and I'm sick...again! SMH. I have been craving soup lately, so I was browsing different sites that offer up the best in delicious soups in the DC area and I stumbled upon the national food, drink and nightlife blog, "Eater." I must say this is a pretty cool site, which features the best in food, drinks, and spots to visit for whatever you're craving. It doesn't matter your location, Eater has a rundown of places to eat in the top major cities such as Atlanta, Miami, Denver, and Chi-town to name a few. To top it off, they even have a job section for those seeking employment in the hospitality business. You can search for a job and a drink...all in one place! Pretty cool stuff.

This week thru Friday, the blog is promoting their first ever Eater Cocktail Week, where they spotlight the area's best bartenders and cocktail trends, plus hangover foods for those rough nights...yea, we all have them lol. Visit the blog to see where to get your fix of alcohol served perfectly in a sparkling glass and where to go hangout with friends!

Cheers!

Weekend Fun: Stuff to Do 8/17-8/19

Hey guys...the weekend is almost here, so we've got the run down on fun stuff to do!!

Fri 8/17: Genesis Girls Night Out
Genesis Girls Night Out allows women to enjoy a fun-filled evening with their girlfriends while Shopping, Getting Pampered and Networking! From the hottest fashions you won't find in stores to complimentary cocktails, Genesis Girls Night Out its the perfect wonderland for every woman!! Tickets: $10

Fri- Sun 8/17-8/19: Washington, DC Restaurant Week

Take advantage of amazing prices at your favorite participating restaurants during Metro DC Restaurant Week! Most eateries will be serving lunch and dinner with a set 3-course pre-fix menu. Be aware that you might want to make reservations on Open Table to ensure your seat! Bon Apetit!

Sat 8/18: Jammin in the Park

Jammin in the Park 50th Anniversary Independence celebration, showcases the cultural diversity and rich history of Trinidad and Tobago, with support from the Caribbean diaspora and international community.

Sat 8/18: Sahara Dance Carnival
 Sahara Dance, DC's Center for Middle Eastern Dance, presents a magical evening of revelry, music and dance! Mardi Gras meets Middle Eastern moulid, featuring: 150 belly dancers and musicians, live music games and prizes, belly dance lessons and performances. Special guest performance by Mohamed el Sayed, a distinguished Egyptian dancer and musician who has taught and performed at major festivals around the world for over ten years. Tickets: $20

8/19: Swap Til You Drop: Summer Clothing Swap at Black Eyed Susie

Got any unwanted or unworn clothing items? Black Eyed Susie and Sew Frugal and Fashionable invite you out to sell your stuff at this cool clothing swap at Black Eyed Suzie Boutique in D.C.

$10 to swap with at least 10 items

$15 to swap with no clothing or items

Black-Eyed Susie is a local retailer specializing in Columbia Heights, DC secondhand/consignment-like clothing and accessories for men and women.

Sew Frugal & Fashionable offers introductory sewing classes which teach the basics of sewing and refashioning clothing. Sew Frugal offers practical ideas which are simple and creative to enhance your wardrobe. Sew Frugal encourages swapping, sewing and thrift store shopping to promote frugal living.

Have fun!

Weekend Fun: Stuff To Do 8/10-8/12

Hey guys!!! So the weekend is rapidly approaching, and that means we can all shout TGIF!!

8/10: Truckeroo:
Truckeroo is a monthly festival held June thru October at the corner of Half St. and M St., SE showcasing food trucks from the Washington, D.C. area.

Food trucks give new meaning to fast food! Each truck serves up tasty morsels on the cheap. What better way to enjoy the weekend than with food, music, crowds of people, and the beautiful weather! Come with a big appetite, you never know what kind of cuisines will be chef'ing it up!

8/11: Trillectro:
The first music festival in the district of its kind, trillectro is our way of bridging the gap between hip-hop and electronic music.
Modeled after Brooklyn's Dekalb Market, this unique and spacious venue reuses salvaged shipping containers to surround a main stage, bar areas, tents and gaming space for a dynamic retail and entertainment experience.

Summer can't get any cooler and kickass than this! I LOVE the name...fusing trill (a term hip hopers use for keeping it real) and electro (an upbeat genre of music).

Some names that will catch your ear:
Flosstradomus
Schoolboy Q
Phony Ppl
Flatbush Zombies
David Heartbreak

8/11: Old Town Boutique District Third Annual Summer Sidewalk Sale
The brick sidewalks of Old Town Alexandria, VA will be buzzing with shoppers grabbing rock bottom deals. Over 60 businesses will host unique promotional events offering deeply-discounted summer merchandise, product demonstrations and/or other special events.

Participating boutiques include:
Apple Seed
Bishop Boutique
Current Boutique
Diva
Lou Lou
Pretty People
The Shoe Hive
Zoe Boutique...plus many more! Visit the site to see more stores!


8/12-8/18: Montgomery County Fair
Demolition derbies, monster trucks, hermit crab races, loads of farm animals and, of course, plenty of gut-busting fried foods are what make MoCo's annual fair a beloved tradition.

Enough said! Go have some fun on the rides and eat plenty of funnel cakes and popcorn!

Hope you guys have fun this weekend!

Sketch Lounge at VeraCruz Gallery

Hey guys...so I've been on my mission to scope out some of D.C.'s trendiest underground nightlife events and happenings. I recently attended the first edition of Sketch Lounge, a new underground art gathering where local artists and those within the creative community showcase their artistic talents and network amongst some of the underground DC art community.

Sitting atop Duffy's Irish Bar and Restaurant on Vermont Ave NW, Vera Cruz art gallery is a small art loft dedicated to interior murals and local artwork displays. The concept is simple: artists are invited to create art on a small scale--using paints, markers, various mediums for collages, and pencils. Tables are provided for the artists, who then display their artwork on billboards. See something you like or want?? No problem, artists are up for selling their creations as well!
Nate Lewis, owner of Somaphony andcreator of Sketch Lounge, says he wants to expand his Sketch Lounge series, possible moving it to another, bigger venue. He's confident it will gain more buzz within the community. Love his confidence!

Express yourself!

Fashion News: StyleLiner: Boutique on Wheels

What do you get when you have a 20-foot potato chip truck, loads of luxurious accessories from around the globe, and a genius, trendy 29-year-old entrepreneur? The StyleLiner, "the world's first treasure chest on wheels!"

Joey Wolffer, creator of The StyleLiner and former Nine West jewelry designer, wanted to take her talents and love of fashion to the next level and did so by creating a mobile shopping experience like no other. Wolffer's style gallery offers her handpicked, one-of-a kind pieces from which she brings back from her worldly travels.

The StyleLiner concept is genius--nothing like it has been introduced and it surely includes all the bells and whistles, er, necklaces and belts that make up any chic boutique...it's just on wheels! The truck was revamped into a mobile shopping paradise complete with mannequins, shelves, and fun painting and artwork on the walls. Beware, the pieces showcased are unique and in limited supply, so if you love it, grab it --because it probably won't be there again. Your new accessories will have heads turning and definitely get people asking where you purchase them from.

Even better news? From May 4-June 17, the truck will  be calling M Street and Wisconsin Ave in Georgetown it's temporary residence. You can shop your heart out Thursday-Sunday from 11am-7pm!

StyleLiner will also be doing a Spring/Summer tour in The Hamptons in New York in July and August.

Can't wait to stop by!

Source: The StyleLiner
Source: Washingtonian

Upcoming Events: Music and Food Festivals!

Hey guys...so now that the weather is finally getting better, it's time to get outside and take advantage of it! What better way to do so than to attend some great music fests?! Music festivals are a great way to soak up the sunshine and get an awesome (and much needed) tan, drink booze, and listen to some goooood music. And, you don't have to put too much thought into what you're gonna wear! Here are some festivals coming up:

SweetLife Food and Music Festival 2012 at Merriweather Post  Pavilion

April 28

Tickets:  $75-$125

2012 Summer Spirit Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion  

August 4

Tickets: $44-$125 on sale 10am April 20

2012 National Harbor Food & Wine Festival

May 5-6

Tickets: $37-$185

Northern Virginia Summer BrewFest at Morven Park in Leesburg, Va

June 23-24

Tickets: $20-$30

Stay tuned for more!

Oct 13: Passport to Style - The Shops at Wisconsin Place

Looking for some random shopping fun to get into in D.C? Click your high heels to the Shops at Wisconsin Place for the Second Annual Passport to Style on Thursday, Oct 13 for a night featuring the industry's best fashion and beauty trends. Enjoy prizes, giveaways, makeovers and more!

  

Support amazing causes – 100% of ticket proceeds benefit two fabulous local charities – the Hope for Henry Foundation and the Washington Humane Society’s Fashion for Paws.

Here's what's in store for the night:

• SPOTLIGHT FASHION SHOW produced by uber-chic stylist Lydia Santangelo of TESstylist.
• Incredible offers - in-store promotions and fashion experiences at your favorite retailers at The Shops at Wisconsin Place.
• Swag Bag - featuring gifts and products from retailers and event sponsors.
• Complimentary drinks and delectable treats for event attendees.

Shops:

Bloomingdale’s

Anthropologie

BCBGMAXAZRIA

Ilori

MAC

Sephora

Talbots

White House Black Market

Restaurants:

The Capital Grille

The Tasting Room Wine Bar & Shop

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro

Tynan Coffee & Tea

Whole Foods Market

For those of you who are business owners, contact Courtney Retzky at cretzky@nedevelopment.com to promote your brand and become a part of this high profile event!

Hope you fab ones have a blast!!

Dinner or Sushi for Two at Cafe Asia!



So I just ran across this super cool deal from Gilt City, one of Gilt Group's numerous sites curating offers at the city's best restaurants, entertainment venues, salons, and more. I must say, they send me some great offers and discounts on soooo many fabulous things happening in D.C. For anyone who lives here, I highly recommend joining Gilt so you can reap the same benefits!

Check out this week's Deal...