Back Again

Philippa P.B. Hughes, Michael Sapienza and David Bonck at Gazuza for Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation Young Professional Happy Hour

I’m back from a long and restful weekend with the family which was spent at the ends of the earth. Well, not really, but when you have virtually ZERO cell service available from the usual vast coverage of the oh so friendly domestic Verizon Wireless (no joke – zero bars – I think I was actually negative bars if there is such a thing), it’s not so bad.  Coming from someone who goes to sleep clutching her BlackBerry like her life depends on it, I found it stressful at first, then slowly liberating to actually be “disconnected”.  It was quite an odd feeling to constantly “be in the moment” and not distracted by a square screen and a possible red blinking button.  So what’s there to do way out yonder near Deep Creek Lake, MD area?  Well, read for one.  I finished Brad Thor’s “The Apostle” (had already completed “The Last Patriot” – as a sucker for DC based thrillers, I’m definitely a Brad Thor fan – all thanks to David Vennett who gets a nod from Thor in the Acknowledgements), two James Patterson “Alex Cross” novels and of course, the latest New York magazine.  But there’s some interesting things to do to pass the time out there as well, which I’ll cover soon.

But first, last evening we joined local and celebrated talented artist Maggie O’Neill and her friend Maryam Montague, who was in from Morocco, Marrakech to be exact, on the steamy patio of Hudson for a welcome reception.  Maggie was one of the artists commissioned to do work for Maryam and her husband recently, so we were privy to viewing some of the pieces as well as talk all things Morocco.  “It’s on my list of places to go for sure,” said a few of the guests, while others raved about their travels there, sharing stories going as far back as almost a decade, which was the case for Mary Amons.  We agreed the state is a truly sexy, beautiful place – from the food to people to music to jewelry to wardrobe, to well, everything.

After chatting with some guests, who ahem, had been drinking the “pregnant water” (seriously, what’s up with that?) it was off to the Young Professionals Happy Hour for Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation at Gazuza on Connecticut Avenue.  Thanks to everyone who showed up, donated and purchased raffle tickets.  I know the foundation is considering other venues to hold future happy hours monthly through the end of the year. If you are interested in attending or hosting, please contact Michael Sapienza at michael.sapienza@chris4life.org.

Maggie O’Neill and Maryam Montague

Christine Weinberg, Amanda Polk, Kate Michael