Dress for Success’ 6th Anniversary Kick-Off Reception

With Wednesday evening being the Fashion Show benefiting Charity Network Inc (Stop Traffick with Fashion!), you may be thinking, “What to do Thursday night?”  Ok, even if you’re not, let me share with you what you could and should do.

Dress for Success is holding their 6th Anniversary Gala Kick-Off Reception at new Ceviche Wine Bar in Glover Park.  This will be a great chance to not only learn more about this fantastic charity, but also test out the restaurant’s cool enomatic wine machines.  These machines by the way, were recently used by some big Hollywood names at a Creative Coalition event (featured in latest edition of Capitol File Magazine on page 172: http://www.latinconcepts.com/files/lc_1213816143_cf_wine_bar_article.pdf)

The event starts at 6pm. Please rsvp to Maureen Bryant at maureenbryant@rocketmail.com. 

About Dress for Success: By providing professional attire, training and a network of support and career development tools to help women currently on welfare to thrive in work and in life, Dress for Success impacts thousands of children’s lives as well. Since its inception, Dress for Success expanded to over 80 locations in five countries. Dress for Success Washington, D.C. has suited over 5,000 of the more than 400,000 women served world wide since opening its doors in 2002.

RAMMYS are here again

It is hard to believe it’s that time of year again.  No, not summer. No, not July 4th activity planning time. The RAMMYS.  This coming Sunday the 29th, the prestigious Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington will host their annual awards dinner and ceremony at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel with the theme of "Setting the Global Table."

Each year, as the number of superior chefs who choose to call the Nation’s Capital home (or a 2nd, 3rd, or 10th home) grows and the level of talent rises, the RAMMYS only get better.  Our own "celebrity" chefs are not just recognized in our city, but throughout the country and world.  These professionals are highly respected within their own industry, by the harshest restaurant critics, and throughout their fan base.  A great part of this night is the focus on not just the creations these masters make, but also on restaurant management, service, the town newbies, and as well as community service. 

For an inspiring night which is fun and where you will no doubt be well fed (and cocktailed for a Sunday night - you know that’s when "industry" people party), please purchase your ticket for the 2008 RAMMYS.

http://www.ramw.org/ 

7pm - 11pm, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, $250 for non-members $200 for members

An interview to brighten your day

Do not be afraid of the long web address.  Click on it and you will hear the interview and piece about man’s best friend with the lovely Tara deNicolas of the Washington Humane Society on 99.5 FM.  Enjoy!

http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/18227/podcast/WASHINGTON-DC/WIHT-FM/6-20-08%20dogs%20podcast.mp3?CP

Olympic Trials and Tribulations

Our own local Olympic hopeful, Michael Walton, has his "Olympic Training Blog" on www.myvoicedc.com.  Walton is also a major supporter of The Many Hats Institute, the all-volunteer charity whose "Hatters" include folks like Pirooz Sarshar, Hunter Campbell, Charlie Muldoon, Fabian Koss, Skip Henderson and Lizette Corro. Let’s keep our fingers crossed he sails through the trials with flying colors.

Check out his blog:  http://www.myfoxwfld.com/myvoicedc/2008/06/20/myvoicedc

Natural Born Beauty Product

I am not a product freak.  I have several friends who are, their bathroom drawers and closets bursting with bottles, jars, tubes, sprays, gels, liquids, lotions and powders with mysterious foreign names or splashy colors with funky titles.  While I do indulge here and there, I subscribe to more of the “find one of something, use it, throw out the container and buy another one of that same kind”. Boring? Perhaps. Not daring? Probably. Simple and easy? Yup.

In a world where the boutiques lining M Street are overflowing with product lines from which to choose that will make us prettier, younger, healthier and nothing like our natural born selves, I get very intimidated.  All of these companies have ways to buy their goods online if not in person, and holy heck, heaven forbid you want something that was produced last month.  That’s old news … there is something even better to try today!  New, improved, better - so you too can be new, improved and better.

With that said, anytime someone gives me a product to try, I figure, what the heck.  Why not? While I am not the type to be in constant search of the hottest wares, nor one who pours over pages and pages of magazines, dogearring them, then running to the nearest store to find that 2 oz $35 bottle of magic, I can still test the waters.

I was contacted by a rep from Alchimie Forever, a Swiss company.  We exchanged a few emails and next thing I know, a box showed up at door with a glass tub of their Kantic Lights Off calming night cream and a glass pump of the their Superpulse rejuvenating eye balm. Calming? Rejuvenating? Done and done. I’m in.

When trying any new product, it is good to do a patch test of course, just in case you have a weird allergy.  Also, don’t use it for the first time before a big important event where you’ll be seen in public - you never know about late reactions.  Neither of those rules did I follow by the way with these products.  It didn’t matter though.  When I opened the night cream, I received the faint fragrance of blueberries.  I dipped my finger into the white marshmallow fluff, it was like whipping cream.  It easily spread onto my cheek, but it was such a soft texture, as soon as it absorbed, my skin felt instantly smoother. The same thing happened with the eye balm.  This could not be really happening, I thought.  Let’s wait until the next time I use it to see if this occurs again.  Trust me, it did.  In fact, I became (like a beauty product nerd) excited to have the chance to whiff the light berry scent, feel the creaminess on my face, and love the results each time.

While these two products are the only ones I have tried so far of the Alchimie Forever line, I am sure to look into others.  Check out the story of the two doctors who started the company and their luxurious face and body products (they have a line for men as well). 

The great thing is, while I wasn’t looking for a change in my beauty regimen, I definitely am glad I found it. 

Created at Forever Laser Institut in Switzerland by doctors Luigi and Barbara Polla, Alchimie Forever products blend science and nature, sensorial pleasure and anti-aging benefits, visual chic and softness. Alchimie Forever utilizes nature’s most powerful extracts to bring you daily skin care products that will preserve your skin’s youthfulness. Hypo-allergenic and cruelty-free. For men, for women, for all.

The Big "O" (for organic)

Thanks to Matt Lowe for this suggestion.  He had friends who went and loved it.  I have yet to check it out personally, although I do hope to soon.  It looks splendid-o.  The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm is all organic and appears to be a nice getaway type of venue.  Chef Christian Evans has received critical acclaim and you have to love a chef with a conscience.

If you get there before me, please let us know how it is!

Twinkle Toes

The Jete’ Society’s next event is right around the corner.  Join friends and supporters of the Washington Ballet’s young professional group on June 27th.  Details below.

Studio Soiree:
Bring a friend. Grab a drink and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and dancing in the Ballet’s studios, while gaining exclusive access to all the best items before the Studio Sale opens to the public.

Don’t miss out on this night of fun and fantastic finds and the opportunity to feel good about raising funds to support The Washington Ballet’s signature education program, DanceDC.

Date: June 27, 2008
Time: 8:00 - 11:00 p.m.
Cost: $15 - Jete Society Members
$25 - Friends and Guests
Where: The Washington Ballet Studios
3515 Wisconsin Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20016

Sure to be a sell-out, buy your ticket now!
https://www.trgarts.com/eticket/o/TWB/p/run_module.php?__module__=635
Jete Jettison Studio Sale:

Come support The Washington Ballet and The Washington School of Ballet at the Studio Sale. Clothes, Accessories, Furniture, Home Goods, Art etc … will be on sale! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to find some great deals!
Come volunteer or shop at the sale and give some gently-used items a "Second Act!"

Wanted:
Volunteers and Items Donated

For More Information on Volunteering at the Studio Sale or For Information on Donating your Items to the Sale, Please Email: Slange@washingtonballet.org

for the "last minute larrys and lisas"

Apparently, there are a FEW tickets left for Courage Cup on Saturday, so if you are a "last minute Larry" or "Lisa", you can still get in.  Not sure that will last all day though.  If you have a VIP wristband, you can join the After Party at L2, thanks to the generosity of Rodrigo Garcia.

http://www.couragecup.org/meadowmatches/

"Affairs of the State" - Tonight!

Don’t forget to buy your ticket for tonight’s (Friday) Young Professionals in Foreign Policy Fundraiser at the City Tavern Club.  Starting at 8:30, you not only will get great live music by SICK FEED, cocktails, and a Date Auction, you can bid your way into a lunch with some major heavy hitters:  Paul Wolfowitz - John Podesta - Danielle Pletka - Richard Perle - Norman Mineta - Bruce McNamer - Roderick von Lipsey - Robert King - Walter Issacson - John Hamre - Lee Hamilton - Michele Flournoy - Douglas Feith - Steve Clemons

To purchase tickets or for more information, please go to : http://www.ypfp.org/

And check out today’s Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/19/AR2008061903150_2.html

Stop Traffick with Fashion - tickets

Oops. It has come to my attention through a reliable source, that how to purchase a ticket for next Wednesday’s "Stop Traffick with Fashion" on the www.stoptraffick.com site, wasn’t clear. 

Once you get to the site, please click on the "Paypal/Donate" link and that will take you to a link that specifically states you are purchasing a ticket for the Wednesday fundraising event.  Sorry for any confusion and see you next week!

By the way, heard some more great news, Broadway Gallery’s Founder, Sue Broadway, will be showcasing some of her exquisite jewelry at the event.  We look forward to checking out her pieces.