Gone Touring

Dear Loyal Punch Readers, please excuse the sporadic posting over the next few days and nights.  I will be touring DC’s Wine Country which is Loudoun County, VA (I know, I know… tough job. But someone has to bear the vineyards so as to report back to you on the grapes…and food…and beautiful countryside…) and checking out some of the unique sites, tastes, and sounds of our own backyard.

Expect a full detailed report on the Punch with photos coming soon. In the meantime, please don’t forget to purchase your ticket for the DC’s Wine Country’s Food & Wine Festival and look into the Visit Loudoun website.  You’d be surprised at all that awaits you just a few miles outside the Beltway!

P.S. Wine aficionado Steven Spurrier gave the Virgina Viognier an accolade of it being one of the best he’s ever tasted worldwide.

http://www.visitloudoun.org/things-to-do/wine-country/

http://www.vafoodandwine.com/

Celebrity Trainer Mark Jenkins on The District Dish

Check out his muscles (whew!) and get some of Mark Jenkins‘ tips. He has trained Beyonce, Missy Elliott, Puffy and more!  But even more importantly, he is working hard to help DC’s public school kids to get in shape and learn about nutrition.

www.thedistrictdish.com

Driver’s Seat

Punch Partner Lindsay Volkswagen of Dulles sent the Punch some latest and greatest on VW.  By the way, I was out on the road the other day and saw a ton of VW’s.  Maybe the following are reasons why….

Home Improvement:

In this year’s J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, Volkswagen improved its problems-per-100-vehicles (PP100) score by sixteen points (128 to 112 PP100) AND moved up nine ranking spots (from #24 to #15).

Carefree:

All 2009 or new Volkswagen’s come with Carefree Maintenance, meaning there is no charge for regularly scheduled maintenance for three (3) years or 36,000 miles.

Credit Earning:

The 2009 Jetta TDI Clean Diesel and the 2009 JettaSportwagen TDI Clean Diesel qualify for a $1,300 Federal Income Tax Credit.

Record Breaking:

The Jetta TDI Clean Diesel is EPA rated at 41 miles per gallon on the highway, but set a Guiness World Record at 58.82 miles per gallon.

22455 Cedar Green Road | Sterling, VA 20166
703-880-8080 Direct | 703-880-8222 Fax
botey@lindsayvw.com | www.lindsayvw.com

Dancing in the Streets

The VelocityDC Dance Festival leaped its way into guests’ hearts at the Launch party held at the Beacon Hotel. The collaborative effort brought together folks from the Washington Ballet (Artistic Director Septime Webre, of course), DanceMetroDC, The Shakespeare Theatre, Washington Performing Arts Society, and the CityDance Ensemble. Dancers, supporters, donors, admirers, and all those who “get” what this inaugural fall event will offer the city, mixed and mingled with each other, getting excited for what’s to come.

Held at Sidney Harman Hall on October 2-3, for only $15 per ticket, this one of a kind dance festival will bring world class performances, dancers, and movement to Washington.

VelocityDC Dance Festival Launched, but now it’s time to step it up …

Learn all about VelocityDC Dance Festival here at www.velocitydc.org.  You can follow them on Twitter, Join the Facebook Group and of course, get on the email list.

Check out the video footage from the Launch Party here:  WATCH VIDEO

Photos from the Launch Party:

Not a Sad State of Affairs

Honey, it ain’t easy auctioning off young single eligible bachelors to a group of a few hundred who happen to be hot and wet from sweat and an earlier rainstorm and a tad bit impatient because the auction was getting off to a bit of a late start.  In addition, because of the event’s well publicized Open Bar, they were well on their way to Drunksville after just passing Tipsytown.  And I might have to add that the majority of the group that I was staring down upon at Friday night’s Young Professionals in Foreign Policy’s State of Affairs Charity Date Auction held at Georgetown’s City Tavern Club, were … males.  That presented a wee-bit of a challenge. (Pictured above: Wright Sigmund being auctioned off)

The Emcee for the evening was the always debonair Ebong Eka, who is my co-host on The District Dish.  He, like so many of the other guys at the event, was dressed in a suit and just pouring sweat glistening.  Even though I too was pouring sweat glowing because of the air conditioning challenge the CTC faced that night with the large crowd, I have to say I was happy to be a female.  No tie, no suit, no jacket, no pants. Whew.

The guys I auctioned off ranged from the suave and sexy ESPN Deportes and Washington Redskins Anchor Jorge Andres, to the CTC’s GM, Steve Andronico (his dinner date included him making dinner for 12 at his own home-well worth the $-there was even a bidding war over that date), to guys in the consulting world, to even a 2nd Lt. in the Marines, Prescott Paulin, and even the famous “Arlington Rap”per Remy Munasifi was on the roster.  My Twitter buddy @cheeky_geeky (Dr. Mark Drapeau) was one of the last ones to be bid upon in the 2nd round, which was too bad, as half of the room had left after the break with Sick Feed playing.  It was just so hot and I was starting to wonder if the attendees were getting cricks in their necks from looking up to where the Dates were getting auctioned off.

Logically, as the majority of the attendees were males, the Ladies went for more (early and often), so thanks to all the ladies who stepped up and bid on our Gents. I even won a date…that was a surprise.

All in all, the end result was about 500 people in attendance and the Live Auction made around $6,000 for the YPFP. Thanks to all who came and participated!

Pictured: Event lead, Torrey Shallcross with YPFP and Emcee Ebong Eka

Run, Baby Run

It’s baaaaack! The SunTrust National Marathon brought to you by the Greater Washington Sports Alliance is on full speed ahead for its 5th year, but this time, it’s going to be bigger and better.  With a field size expanded to 12,000 (reached 8,000 this year) this annual marathon brings out the best runners in the city (including our very own fit Mayor Fenty) and from all over the country.

Online registration opens for the 5^th annual SunTrust National Marathon and Half Marathon at 12:01 am (EST), July 4, 2009. To honor the event’s fifth year, a one week registration sale will take place with a special price of only $65 for the marathon and only $55 for the half marathon. The sale ends at 11:59 pm (EST) on July 11^th.

Fast Facts:

• 5^th Annual SunTrust National Marathon and Half Marathon
• Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 7am
• District inclusive marathon and half marathon course
• Fastest flat, looped marathon course in the nation according to Running USA
• 3^rd fastest median marathon time with over 1,000 runners (Behind Boston and Steamtown) according to Running USA
• 2009 Race Gender Breakdown

Overall                            51% Men / 49% Women

Marathon                         65% Men / 35% Women

Half                                 44% Men / 56% Women

• Mayor Adrian Fenty – Official 2009 marathon finisher and honorary race starter
• Estimated 12,000  runners expected in only the fifth year of the race
• Over $250,000 dollars raised for charity in 2009
• Boston Marathon qualifier

For more information on the race, or to register for the SunTrust National Marathon on July 4th, go to: www.nationalmarathon.com.

To learn more about the good work that the GWSA does for exercise and health in our city, please go to www.gwsportsalliance.com.