WHAT YOU MISSED
Eating Good While Doing Good: 10th Annual Carpenter’s Cook-Off
This past Sunday the Carpenter’s Shelter held it’s 10th Annual Carpenter’s Cook-Off. Each year the DC area’s best restaurants serve up tasting portions of their favorite dishes. Cook-Off attendees got to vote for the “people’s choice” while enjoying live music and a live auction on trips, tickets, meals and more. In addition, a panel celebrity judges picked the event’s official winners. Proceeds go toward ending homelessness in the national capital region.
Wine Dinner Delights at Agora Restaurant
Agora Restaurant hosted its second wine dinner this week at its 17th Street, NW DC location. The Turkish and Greek fusion restaurant’s wine director, Thierry Lesparre, was on-hand to pair four wines from the country of Georgia alongside Executive Chef, Ghassan Jarrouj’s, four-course menu.
With archeological proof of winemaking going back as far as the Stone Age, Georgia is known by many as the birthplace of winemaking. According to Lesparre, the country’s rich soil and varied terrain–which ranges from near desert to subtropical lowlands–contributes to its success in grape and wine production.
Howard Theatre Grand Re-Opening
Washington D.C. has been abuzz with news of the Howard Theatre’s grand re-opening. The theatre’s triumphant return marks a culmination of the massive restoration effort lead by the non-profit Howard Theatre Restoration that began in September 2010.
This past Tuesday night, a crowd filled the theatre for a VIP Grand Opening Concert and Celebration of the Historic Howard Theatre. This truly diverse crowd – a mix of ages, races, genders, and styles unlike any I’ve seen in D.C. – demonstrated the theatre’s potential to become the universal cultural touchstone it once was.
What You Missed at Artini 2012
OH at The Corcoran last night: I feel like I’m in ‘Sex & the City — Not really a ridiculous statement given the night had all the makings of a hot metropolitan event…the martini’s, the art, the fashion, the lovely ladies, the dapper gentlemen.
Sundays With ArtSee
This past Sunday, ArtSee combined the two worlds of caffeine and color to showcase the work of local artist, Celeste Chen, at Tryst in the heart of Adams Morgan. Sunday’s event, which was free and open to the public, was the third event in the featured series, Sundays With ArtSee.
As late brunch-seekers and the java-hungry packed into the expansive coffeehouse, Chen and Elizabeth Grazioli, founder and chief executive officer of ArtSee, greeted guests at the door and introduced them to the 13 featured paintings adorning the walls.
Find Your Inner Artist at ArtJamz
Looking to paint like Pollock without getting evicted from you white-walled apartment? Look no further than ArtJamz – a studio that provides the space and all of the supplies for your creative (and messy) endeavors. Oh yeah, and they provide the booze, too – You know, to help unleash your “talent.”
Since 2010, ArtJamz has worked more as a “pop-up” event, selecting specific dates and places throughout the city to host painting sessions. But owner, Michael Clements, recently settled the creative company in an 800 square foot studio in the heart of Dupont Circle.
On Wednesday evening, ArtJamz opened its doors to guests and the media for a preview of the new digs. The champagne was flowing and so were the creative juices, as guests contributed to a large communal canvas that will hang in the studio as a memento of the opening.
What You Missed: DC Fashion Week
Jet-setting around the world is one way to experience global fashion trends; but attending D.C.’s Fashion Week is much cheaper and more convenient route to take.
Held bi-annually on the heels of New York Fashion Week, this season’s non-profit event drew approximately 5,000 of D.C.’s most fashion-forward to a series of events celebrating eclectic fall and winter collections from local and international designers.
Fujimar Grand Opening Rocks DC
Last night DC said goodbye to Lima Restaurant and hello to Fujimar, and we have to say, the owners deserve kudos for fully rethinking their restaurant concept and pulling off a grand opening with nary a bump in the road.
Located at 1401 K St. NW, Fujimar focuses on Asian-Latin food with a fresh, modern twist and there were plenty of broadcast media, VIPs, photogs, food writers, and other K Street types on hand to give the thumbs up or down.
Wine and Chocolate Lovers Help Determined Soles and Raise Money to Support MS
Sometimes, a cliché like “Never judge a book by its cover” offers a valuable lesson. For instance, look at Multiple Sclerosis, or MS.
From the outside, you can’t always tell when someone is ill with the disease. MS’ symptoms can be frustratingly elusive and be remitting and recurring in varying degrees of severity. We might not see the affects from the outside because MS’ debilitating side effects aren’t always visible. Because someone isn’t in a wheelchair or bed ridden, doesn’t mean they aren’t suffering.
In recent years, progress has been made with non-invasive, oral medications and many patients’ lives have been improved, but there still isn’t a cure.
It’s why raising funds for research for new drugs, treatments, and most importantly, a cure, is critical.
One woman leading the fight is Jackie Varacalli. She is waging her own battle with MS and has never lost her courage or her positive attitude. She inspires people to rally round her and join the fight against MS. Together, they have created a dynamic team devoted to raising money to help others suffering from this disease.
Social Media Week DC Put the “Social” in Social Media
If you‘re a social media nut, professional, or novice, last week’s Social Media Week DC was the hottest tech ticket in town.
This unique event was born three years ago and was the brainchild of Crowdcentric Media LLC. Each year, 60,000 people attend live events during Social Media Week and they are joined by more than 500,000 others virtually and via mobile devices. The event allows anyone involved in social media to explore how social media affects economies, media, cultures, politics, and life.
International Wine & Food Festival Rocks DC Again
Every year the International Wine & Food Festival comes to DC and gives consumers and hospitality trade the chance to eat, drink, and be merry. They get to meet and greet and see what’s new and hot in food and drink. This year’s festivities were held on February 11 and 12,2012 and were again hosted at the cavernous marble monument to commerce that is the Ronald Reagan Building.
Moët Hennessy Proves Its Wines Are Iconic at the 2012 Winemaker Tour
Tuesday, February 8, 2012 was a fantastic day for hospitality pros in DC. That was the day Moët Hennessy, which is the beverage face of renowned luxury brand Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, hosted an invitation only trade tasting of their wine icons from around the world. It was part of their 2012 Winemaker Tour, which is on the road promoting wines around the country.
