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Getting In: The Georgetown House Tour

Posted on April 28, 2011
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I love to walk along favorite streets (T Street near my house in NW, certain stretches of Swann Street…) and gaze into the windows and courtyards from the sidewalk, glimpsing what I can about the design and decor of the homes. There is a certain romanticism to this act – and a certainly an allure, like a 19th-century glimpse of an ankle – to being able to see only a sliver of what’s inside. This is the thrill of the Georgetown House Tour, or any house tour, really, but the Georgetown House Tour is the local standard. The homes are – without argument – impressive, lovely, and full of art, stunning objects, and history. I have always wanted to do the Georgetown House Tour. This weekend, I am finally doing it! Tonight is the Patron’s Party at the home of Leslie and Perry Steiner (hosted by Party Chair Charles DeSantis and co-chairs Martha Vicas and Nancy Margaret Ray Adler). Leslie is the author of both the NYT bestseller Crazy Love and Mommy Wars, and what makes the Party so fab is that the house hosting is NOT on the tour.

Before the Steiners were its occupants, the sister of celebrated Washington hostess and journalist Betty Beale lived there. The actual Tour is this Saturday, and the quintessential day is to do the Tour and hit up the French Market for sales on antiques, clothes…and to eat lots of crepes. I, for one, will still be peeking into windows; this time, at the almost-open rag & bone store on M Street.

Pics from the Patron’s Party and Tour to come!

*Henry Kissinger and his wife once lived in the house above (3018 Dumbarton). No big deal.

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NEXT Style

Posted on April 25, 2011
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On Saturday night, the Corcoran had an opening for its major spring exhibition, NEXT at the Corcoran: BFA Class of 2011. I may be biased, but the work is really, really good. The opening Saturday night found the Gallery FULL of pretty young things — and pretty not young things, and cool children, and cool grandparents, and a performance artist or two….

Artist Sara Winston with her work.

Hamiltonian’s Jackie Ionita looking Easter-cute….

Tell your subjects to look like they are in a band, and you get some good results.

Looking at work by Pauletta Palacios

An assemblage of ceramic objects by Victoria Shaheen, for the taking….

Work by Sila Dizdar

Artist Casey Goldman in her grandmother’s very special dress…

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Carolyn, Easter Sunday at the Florida Avenue Grill

Posted on April 25, 2011
Filed Under Only in Washington, Women | 1 Comment

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Top Artista!

Posted on April 22, 2011
Filed Under Around Town, Only in Washington | 2 Comments

Last night was the ArtJamz “Top Artista Challenge” at Bloomingdale’s I mentioned the other week and despite being a little intimidated at first – that first stroke of paint is the scariest, I discovered – I won! The event paired each of us with a mannequin dressed in (very covetable) spring dresses and accessories and asked that we paint a complementary canvas while attendees shopped and voted for their favorite work of art.

I used a scalpel-like tool instead of a paintbrush to really layer the paint on and create texture.

A portion of the proceeds of clothing purchased during the event went to Becky’s Fund (if you go today or tomorrow to shop, bring your receipt to customer service and ask that they give it to Heather Guay, and it’ll count); and then two generous supporters/art enthusiasts offered to purchase my painting and the painting Holly Thomas – a close second – did. Growing up and reading Babysitter’s Club books, I always wanted to be like Claudia Kishi, (the “artistic” one) or Stacey (the “fashionable” one) – how fun to have had the opportunity to make that happen!

I spoke to one attendee who, having watched me work, said he thought that he could do it, too. It was really inspiring to watch someone get so excited about letting loose, getting creative and trying something new. Remember when we were little and we painted with abandon? Hey ArtJamz…how about finger painting next time?

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Local Covers, Past and Present

Posted on April 13, 2011
Filed Under Only in Washington | 5 Comments

Current issues of the two biggest style-glossies in town have particularly lovely spring covers. Capitol File‘s features Lauren Bush in a fabulous orange dress that hits the high notes of some of the top trends for the season (brights? check. exposed back? long hemline for cocktail-wear? done.), while DC magazine’s summons the ethereal candyland-scape paintings of Will Cotton.

I’m featured in the “Chic Beat” spread in Capitol File, professing my love of Dita von Teese, and anything silk or cashmere (thank you, Kate!)

Back in the fall of 2005, when all of the magazines hit town, folks speculated over who would last. Capitol File and DC joined existing pubs in town – Washington Life and Washingtonian among them – but, does anyone remember DC Style?

I did some spring cleaning over the weekend, which in my apartment means going through tower upon tower of magazines. Hoarder of these publications that I completely recognize I am, I hate to tell myself that there’s a REASON I never throw stuff away, but the above goodie is a perfect example. This cover, January/February 2006, proclaiming theirs as “DC’s Sexiest mag!” was DC Style‘s last. Both DC magazine and Capitol File continue to step up their respective games doing more with less in a down economy (Cap File has a new Ed-in-Chief, Kate Bennett, and on Monday announced Mandi Norwood as Consulting Editorial Director for all of its titles, while DC Ed. Karen Sommer Shalett continues to impress with consistently in-the-know editorial). Economically, these aren’t the best of times, but if DC’s Sexiest mag in 2006 is any indication, we have come a long way, baby.

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Jason Wu!

Posted on March 22, 2011
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Jason Wu was in town last week for a series of events sponsored by Nordstrom, Vanity Fair and the magazine’s special correspondent, glamorous tall-drink-of-water Amy Fine Collins. Friday night welcomed a small-ish gathering to Long View Gallery to see the Fall collection, rub shoulders with Wu and Collins and eat some very adorable tiny food. Collins was dressed in a long, dramatic gown from the collection, which emphasized the back, long sleeves (hurrah!), lace details, and impeccably tailored, First-Lady-classic taste.

WWD reports that one customer bought a whopping 41 pieces – basically the entire collection.

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Power Lunching

Posted on March 14, 2011
Filed Under Events, Inspiration, Only in Washington | Leave a Comment

Top photos: Getty Images

Last week I went to a luncheon put on by Vanity Fair and Jones New York and hosted by Dee Dee Myers in celebration of the Jones New York Empowerment Fund and its 2011 recipients. The Fund is part of the company’s “Empowering Your Confidence” campaign – you’ve likely seen the regional “Power Women of DC” ads on bus shelters and in local magazines like Capitol File and DC magazine – featuring Myers, journalist Sheila Brooks, and Georgetown Cupcake entrepreneurs Sophie LaMontage and Katherine Kallinis.

The six women at the luncheon were each given $5,000 to start up a businesses, continue their education, or pay for equipment to bring existing companies to the next level. The room was filled with smart, engaging women from all areas of power in Washington – politics, business, the arts, and publishing. I sat with Washingtonian‘s Jill Hudson Neal and representatives from Ladies Who Launch, among others, including a woman who I was introduced to just before she had to excuse herself before dessert – Georgetown Cupcakes, of course – to dash off to greet a high-ranking Chilean official.

I left the lunch full of inspiration and a renewed faith in the power of entrepreneurial ideas, trusting instincts, and asking for help. What smart woman I know doesn’t have at least one business plan in her head?! It’s time for us to get them out, on paper, and happening. I’ll be looking to the online Jones New York Little Black Book of Career Advice to keep me going.

Yes, I have new hair! My new angled bob is ready for spring…

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