City Mouse in Country House Weekend (Middleburg, VA)

I couldn’t leave The LC for long. For those of you who aren’t up on your television pop culture of the early- to mid-aughts, “The O.C.” was a FOX network coming of age melodramatic show that made all its viewers (no doubt many found in the mid-west) 1) feel bad about themselves because they didn’t reside where all the “beautiful people live” 2) feel good about themselves because those families and kids were screwed up c) now makes us wistful for the Good Old Mischa Barton Days.

That said, last summer, when Visit Loudoun (Virginia’s Wine Country) invited the Punch and friends to scan Loudoun County at a bird’s eye view as the crow flies then dive down to imbibe on the nectar of the land’s grapes, as well as local produce, and pay a visit boutiques, businesses, spas, and more, well…I couldn’t help but nickname DC’s Backyard, “The LC”.  It may not be Cali and the people may live more low key lives on and off the land, but it was what I found and still find to be a beautiful treasure.

Amer Ahmed and Heather Guay and me at Goodstone Inn

This past weekend, a group of us headed west for one of this season’s more gorgeous weekends in the sun .  We had an opportunity to spend some time at Middleburg’s Goodstone Inn, which is known for its retreats, dining, private group events, wedding functions, stunning views, and memorable bed and breakfast stays.  It’s tucked back in the woods, up a windy rocky road, but when you come upon it, it’s a site to behold.  Boasting 265 unspoiled acres, this property has various cottage setups for sleeping and resting, but if you are the outdoorsy type, you have your choice of horseback riding, hiking, biking, kayaking, strolling and of course, a spa and serene pool.  http://www.goodstone.com/home.html

The back of Middleburg Country Inn

We stayed in historic Middleburg at the Middleburg Country Inn (we affectionately named “MCI”), found right at the entrance of the town.  This quaint B&B has a history that goes back to 1818.  The current building was converted to the Middleburg Country Inn in 1990 after a series of purchases prior.  It is now owned by Kevin and Jo-Ann Hazard, who bought the Inn in 2005 and were the most gracious of hosts.  The elegant suites and rooms (set for double or single occupancy) are named after all things Virginia from Montpelier to Monticello and Belgrove (where we stayed) and every detail has been paid attention to.  Guests are served breakfast in the morning in the dining room and ice cream at other times.  There plush robes in which to lounge, some rooms have Jacuzzis, and all have broadband internet and a TV/video library.  The best part of this sweet little nook is the back of the building, which holds multi-level decks to sit and sun on while overlooking the gardens and the old cemetery across the street.

Sit a spell outdoors or indoors at the Middleburg Country Inn

If you are hankering for some shopping, wine, and a bite to eat (not necessarily in the order), all are just a block or three away.  The Tasting Room, Red Fox Inn, Tully Rector (great collection of designer attire), Lu Lu Too, and Market Salamander are all within walking distance.

The breakfast room; a hallway at Middleburg Country Inn

Another lovely place in Middleburg I recommend considering is Lowelands Farm.  Proprietor Karen Lowe makes honey with herbs, fruits and spices, beeswax candles and herbal wine vinegars and fruited wine vinegars.  You’ll find savory sauces, seasonal mulling spices, gift baskets and of course Christmas trees during that cold time of the year. We tasted her homemade version of the German May Wine, infused with her own sweet woodruff and fat juicy strawberries.

Entrance to Lowelands Farm

If you are ready to get away from the hustle and bustle but don’t have the desire to drive more than an hour, The LC’s Middleburg may be your best bet.  To learn more, click on the link…and enjoy: http://www.middleburg.org/

The backgarden at Middleburg Country Inn

More photos from Middleburg VA

Fresh Look Party

Monday night the Punch’s Felice Cherry treated some of her gal pals as well as a few of the Punchers (Lena Aburdene and Whitney Stringer) to a beauty refresher at PR @ Partners in Chevy Chase.  One of Felice’s very first Punch assignments was to cover the opening of Current Boutique in Old Town and wouldn’t you know it, she actually won a Fresh Look Party (that’s how I got her to stick with it – see, you meet interesting people, get gift baskets, have fun and win stuff!) which was donated by the salon.

The Fresh Look Party happened to be a Monday evening when personally, I had another place to be afterward, so I selected the hair treatment and blowout with makeup refresher, while other guests took on the mini-facial.  Thank you James Cornwell (pictured above getting crazy with Felice), Myken (who did my do and facee) and to the staff of PR @ Partners in Chevy for their gracious hosting, gift bags, wine, champagne, treats, and of course for making us look lovely.

Directors and Producers and Actors! Oh My! Part 1

And So It Begins

And Action!

Fade In: A swingin’ soiree (not literally, it’s just a swanky scene) in a DC brownstone is just getting started.  I’m sipping a flute of champagne looking glamorous chatting with a girlfriend who has neatly arranged her right eyebrow in a perfect arch.  Hot industry guys (unfortunately, they are more into each other than me, but they’re still hot) surround us drinking and taking bites of small sandwiches while grooving to Thievery Corporation.

My arched eyebrow friend shakes her head.  “I cannot believe you’ve never been to Sundance!  You are lying to me,” she says incredulously.  “Um, no, I’m not lying. I seriously haven’t. I’m a Sundance virgin.” I shrug.  Apparently, me saying that I’ve never attended Sundance Film Festival is the equivalent of me saying I’ve never shaved my armpits.  (Little did I know that days later I would bear that same look and tone to a male jet setting friend when he shares with me that he’s never been to Vegas.  “Vegas? Why in the world would I ever go to a hotel named Paris when I can go to the city of Paris and stay in the Hotel Sorbonne?” he says with disdain in his Locust Valley Lockjaw.  Shame on me.) Back to the scene.

“Seriously, I haven’t been because I haven’t been able to do it up like I’d want to. I don’t know how to work the “mechanisms” (I air quote with my fingers) of what goes on out there. I don’t know where to stay, how to get around, what to do, blah blah blah. You know what I mean.  You have to understand.  You’re more hooked into that world because of the line of work you do.  You’re connected,” I continue.  My girlfriend lets her eyebrow take a much needed rest.  “Well, I guess that makes sense.  I mean, I am connected…and you wouldn’t want to experience Sundance not in style…” she pauses.  “But now you have no excuse.  You have a friend who has a movie out there and you have a free place to stay.”  She nods towards my friend who had generously offered  complimentary room and board at a private home a few miles outside of the downtown area.  “Seriously, you have no excuse, Pamela.  I’d go, but I’ve been so many times and I have a conflict.  I think I’m going to be in London, or New York, or LA or somewhere… anyway, it’s so much fun, you have to go.”

I wrinkle my nose. “Yeahhhh. I guess so.  And I do really want to support my friend’s film. And I can blog about it too, so I can write off my trip!” (Dear IRS people: This is proof that this was really a work trip.)

“All you have to do is buy a plane ticket,” my friend David says as he joins the conversation.  “Come’on, it’ll be fun.” They gang up on me in a jovial manner.  I take a swig sip of champagne and nod with fervor.  “Ok! I’m in!” Then again, after a few glasses of bubbles, I’d probably agree to go TP a neighboring yard if the whole gang was going.  Ok, that’s not true.  I mean in college yes, but not since, I swear.

Next day: I’m sitting at my desk with bleary eyes (darn that 4th glass) and type a message on my MacBook to David.  “So…I’m in I guess, are we still doing it?”  David replies back that we are and that there are now a few more people who will be joining the group, including a mutual friend Andy.  “I’ll look into tickets and let’s get this going!” his message reads.  I take a deep sigh, close my eyes.  Staring back at the screen, I type on my Facebook status “GOING TO SUNDANCE!”

Fade Out.

That’s a Wrap!

The deed was done within a few days and it was time to prepare. By prepare I mean, my wardrobe.  What the heck do people wear out there I asked about 101 people over the following days.  My head spun with the multiple conflicting answers:

Fur, definitely fur. Cute boots with wedges! Hot boots with fur. Forget the wedges.  Be casual. Wear jeans and sweaters. The girls look hot at night, like NY and LA! You have to dress up.  Apres ski attire all day and night. Be sexy but don’t look like you are trying too hard.  Don’t wear fur, only LA people do that. Fur inside is great. Wear fur outside. Casual, but chic. Chic, but natural. Dress down. Dress up.

This was going to be interesting. As I lugged out my biggest suitcase and my LV duffel, I realized that I was going to have to go and purchase a whole new “Sundance” wardrobe, especially after I got thoroughly confused when Googling “Sundance Images”.  Where was I going to get that Hello Kitty ski hat with matching mittens that Paris Hilton wore?  I emailed my friend Carmen Lopez who owns now two Current boutiques.  “Don’t worry, I’ll have the girls pull some stuff for you,” she responded back.  And pull they did. I was able to cover the entire gambit of suggestions and stuff everything into my bags (hey, you have to have choices!) without managing to have them explode (all though my suitcase was labeled “Heavy” by the Delta counterwoman.)

Thursday rolled around and David, Andy and I were off to see the Wizard.

Directors and Producers and Actors! Oh My! Part 2: The First Night coming soon to a blog near you.

Clean Bill of Health

That’s what I’m hoping to receive after my all day (and I mean, all day) Executive Physical at PartnerMD Tuesday.  I won’t be punching up since this examination will take up my entire attention (and I do mean entire – from toes to the top of my head and everything inside and outside and in between).  But, when I return, there are some “moving on up” announcements, photos from the L’Enfant Society’s Ball on the Mall Kick Off and how you can become involved, more from Haiti and PSI, the Georgetown Dish gets beautified, a long run down of what’s to come in February, and the countdown to Sundance Film Festival begins – by the way, a strong thank you and shout out to Carmen Lopez and the ladies of Arlington’s Current Boutique location for helping to outfit me for the cold weekend… (Yes, I have a bit of short timers disease right now. I hope there’s wireless where I’m staying…oh, and there will be some videos too from Park City, cannot wait…)

Current Boutique Expands into Old Town

Post and photos by Felice Cherry of http://www.cherrypickedstyle.blogspot.com/

Current Boutique opened their second location in Old Town, Alexandria on Sunday, December 13 with a bang.  From 5pm-8pm, customers snacked on hors-d’oeuvres, sipped champagne, mixed and mingled–and shopped, of course—all to great party music courtesy of the DJ.  Gorgeous live models showed off hot picks from Current and struck poses in the display window, luring in passersby off the street.

Quite sizeable for a boutique of its kind, Current has the look and feel of a high-end boutique and has a great location right along King Street.  Owner Carmen Lopez (pictured below) and her enthusiastic staff give Current customers the best of both worlds with a selection of new items and lots of great consignment options.

I found the jewelry selection especially amazing and spent a lot of time near the jewelry counter during my visit.  Current jewelry selection includes some vintage items, along with some very unique pieces from a local designer who uses vintage materials.  I couldn’t resist a fierce bejeweled cocktail ring, which I happen to still be wearing as I am typing this post!

Fashion BS (pictured below) was also working the room at the Current opening, podcasting live and brought their usual hilarity.  The pair acted as MCs throughout the evenings and surprised unexpecting shoppers by knocking on the doors of the fitting rooms and asking how they felt about what they were trying on—all on live podcast, of course!

At several points in the evening, Current and Fashion BS had some great raffle giveaways, including a free makeover, a gift basket of Sebastian haircare products, and an opportunity to co-host an episode of Fashion BS.  I had never previously won anything in my life, but somehow I ended up winning a “Fresh Look Party” for me and up to eight friends at the Mazza Gallerie location for Pr at Partners.  The package includes mini facials, conditioning treatments, blow outs, styling advice, and makeup consultations, while snacking on light fare and sipping champagne, and has a $1000 value.  I almost passed out, seriously.

The new Current Boutique of Old Town is located at 1009 King Street, Alexandria, VA.

Current Boutique Opens in Old Town

Refugees International Gets A Helping Hand

Post and photos by Niki Clark www.see2photography.com www.nikimclark.com

As I entered the Ann Hand boutique on MacArthur Boulevard, two thoughts entered my head. “Sparkles. Lots of sparkles.” And the second, “This lady has met everyone.”  And both are true.  Ann Hand, the generous host of Tuesday’s Refugees International’s Holiday Shopping event, is a renowned local jeweler whose beautiful (and sparkling) pieces have been worn by DC VIPS from Madeleine Albright to Hillary Clinton.
Hand has long been a supporter of RI. She and her Lloyd Hand husband both sit on the Honorary Committee of RI’s annual gala event. At the Holiday Shopping event, she donated 20% of all sales to RI, including online sales.  As I browsed (and eventually snagged) several bejeweled hair clips, Melanie Teff (pictured above with RI’s Elaine Martyn), an Advocate with RI, approached me. We struck up a conversation and I quickly became as enthralled with her story, and of her work at RI, as I was with the purple feathered hair piece I clutched in my hand.
Teff is a lawyer from the UK who focused for eight years on children’s rights, child abuse, and family law.  Since joining RI, Teff has conducted missions to Liberia, the Dominican Republic, northern Iraq and Syria, as well as Sudan.  As she tells me, to my great surprise, that 3.2 million people are displaced in Columbia, the second highest figure in the world after Sudan, I think her jovial smile must hide some of the travesties she has encountered in her missions.  As we make plans to meet later and chat more about the important work that Refugees does for the 42 million refugees that currently exist around the world, I pick up another jeweled creation. I may not be on the ground like the incredible staff at RI, but today, my credit card is making a difference too.  And that feels pretty good.

Learn more about Refugees International and be a part of the Washington Circle or the Young Humanitarian Circle.

Refugees International Holiday Shopping Event