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A Night With Edgar

Posted on March 8, 2013
Filed Under Around Town, Events | Leave a Comment

Last night I unearthed one of my favorite outfits for the grand opening of Edgar, the new power lunch/drinks spot on Connecticut Avenue. The outfit? Oh, just a vintage plum-and-black satin-striped jumpsuit with exaggerated sleeves. Yes, just this old thing. I wore normal work clothes and then may or may not have changed in the bathroom of an office building across the street where I had an appointment prior. The invite said cocktail attire, and I take these things seriously.

{earring options, MAC Girl About Town lipstick}

I arrived to a purple carpet and a gaggle of leggy models donning smoldering YSL Le Smoking-style tuxedo looks. After a dinner of cheese, charcuterie and Moet–but still craving something sweet–I took my leave to discover one of the best, most unexpected parts of the night: the Carpe Donuts truck parked outside, serving free delicious hot cider and fresh hot sugar donuts.

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Pose for the camera now, click click

Posted on January 30, 2013
Filed Under Around Town, Only in Washington | 1 Comment

I was part of a photoshoot for a local accessory designer + friend over the weekend at Immortal Beloved in D.C. Here are some behind-the-scenes shots I took. I can’t wait to share the final results!

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Lunch at Tiffany’s

Posted on December 18, 2012
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{Pamela Sorensen of Pamela’s Punch enjoying some candy cane ice cream}

I’ve never had breakfast at Tiffany’s, but I think lunch with Tiffany–at Blue Duck Tavern–probably takes the cake. A Tiffany Blue cake, to the specific.

Last Wednesday I attended an intimate luncheon to celebrate the legendary jeweler’s 175th year. The event involved many of my favorite things: pretty, sparkly jewelry, amazing food and wonderful company. I caught up with seatmates Sarah Schaffer (Capitol File) and Jennifer Barger (Express, FW) and got to know Tiffany Group Director Bryant Rice, who not only gave me a bit of insight about his day-to-day (basically, making sure lots of people are happy) but also gave me the lowdown on cult spirits brand Pappy Van Winkle and his own background as a jewelry maker. Nothing bonds folks quite like food, and so we ate a lot of it: plate after plate of beet salad, country pate, duck confit, truffle risotto, truffle-glazed scallops, and the most to-die-for stone-ground grits…to name just a few items on our custom menu.

We had our Tiffany and ate it too: after presenting each course, Chef Sebastien Archambault brought to the table the most delightfully girlie dessert: a chocolate cake made to look precisely like a Tiffany box. To top it off? A tall vase full of scoops of candy cane-flavored ice cream. In Tiffany Blue, natch.

Tiffany has an incredible history. I was once given a stack of gorgeous coffee-table books about the company and now I’m eager to go through them to learn more (for instance, did you know that Tiffany redesigned the Great Seal of the United States, found at the center of the dollar bill, in 1885?). Impressive is a somewhat recent expansion of the brand’s offerings, into handbags and small leather goods. I encourage all of you to wander into the store at The Collection at Chevy Chase just to see them, because each one is perfectly and thoughtfully made. The weight is perfect, the materials are sumptuous. Many are lined in, piped with, or just gloriously wear the Tiffany Blue shade in a manner so classic and surprising that it’s a wonder these goods took til 2010 to be introduced. Many of them are convertible in some way, whether a chain that removes to serve as a necklace or a tote that flips inside out, from daytime color to nighttime metallic. These are serious bags that have been made with care and attention to the customer’s needs. I covet them all.

Needless to say, I’m looking forward to watching Tiffany as it unveils more anniversary pieces this spring. Here’s to 175 more years!

**I also look forward to transitioning from a Blackberry to an iPhone in the new year….sorry for the subpar photos!

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The Party People

Posted on November 21, 2012
Filed Under Around Town, Everything Else | Leave a Comment

Last weekend I celebrated my birthday (I’m still 27, isn’t that amazing?!) and celebrations involved some great people and places around town. On Friday, I had dinner at Izakaya Seki, the new little Japanese place a few steps off U Street.

I loved the shochu, a distilled alcoholic drink that I like over ice in the cute tin cups they use. I want to go back to try the sweet potato, green tea, and black sugar varieties. I love the way the bottles look, too…they’d make an unexpected idea to bring to a party or give as a gift.

Next we went to Bohemian Caverns to hear Jonathan Batiste play jazz. He’s a 26 year-old whiz from Louisiana, now in NY, who in addition to playing shows with all the greats all over the country, often plays with the Stay Human Band in the streets and in the subways. He’s an incredible musical storyteller. I felt lucky to be in the audience with a great, intimate crowd that included the Turkish Ambassador, who is, it turns out, an enormous fan.

The next night I went to the launch of Ulysses Room, the new art/retail/event loft and creative brainchild of Virginia Arrisueno of DENADA & her artist husband Kelly Towles along with creative duo Carla Cabrera and Marshall Johnson (of TPWP). I took home one of Virginia’s cozy, perfectly made scarves (thank you, Ulysses Room!)–in fact, I’m wearing it as I type from my mother’s ancient computer–and I plan to go back to the space for another one. They have the right slouch, weight and drape for both form and function–perfect for staying stylish in cooler weather. Just look at all of these beautiful Washingtonians:

After that, it was off to my co-birthday celebration with the lovely Shannon Cusello (if you get your hair cut at Immortal Beloved, as I do, you have seen her and her exquisite tiny-ness there). We drank a special “Scorpio Stingers” all night.

And now I’m home in lovely Lexington, Virginia hanging out with the trees and the sunshine and my parents and pies. Life is good.

{Ulysses Room images courtesy Marshall Johnson of The President Wears Prada)

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