DC This Week ™: 5/30/10

Monday, June 7, 2010

Join DC Magazine for the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams White Hot Party this Thursday

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Seersucker Ride and Social Coming June 12th

seersucker group pic

Dandies and Quaintrelles - the team behind the DC Tweed Ride- partners with Holly Bass Performance Projects and Hillwood Estates, Museums and Gardens to bring you the premier spring bike event, The Seersucker Social.

The Seersucker Social, scheduled for Saturday June 12, is set to offer the same delightful kind of unique and alternative entertainment experience by encouraging folks once again to mount their bicycles in high style. While the fall event called for tweed, seersucker has been selected as the ideal vintage fabric of choice to keep cool for the spring ride. Our event partner Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens will provide a fabulous dreamlike setting for the post-ride social.

The ride is free for everyone, but you'll need to register so we can send you the ride course by email. Also registered riders are eligible for prizes and giveaways!

You do need to purchase a ticket for the post-ride social. Ticket holders will receive THREE drink tickets (beer/wine/cocktail/juices), wrist band for event access to all games, treats and entertainment. No tickets will be sold at the door and no additional drink tickets will be sold at the event. (Children aged 10 and under with a paid adult receive free wristbands!)

Saturday, June 12, 2010 from 3:30 PM - 8:30 PM (ET)

TICKETS ARE $20 HERE.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Happy hour 7 days a week? That’s what I’m talking about.

Happy hour 7 days a week? That’s what I’m talking about. Venture to Social in Columbia Heights for Happy Hour specials ALL NIGHT on Sunday's and Monday's starting at 4 p.m! Also, happy hours are Tuesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to8 p.m.

$1 Cans of PBR
$2 Bottles of Bud Light and Miller Lite
$10 Buckets of Corona Pony Bottles
$18 Pitchers of Sangria, Mojitos and Superfly's
$3 Glasses of House Red and White
$3 Happy Hour Cocktail
$4 Snacks (Made to Order Guacamole,Maryland Crab Dip,Spinach and Artichoke Dip,Black Bean Salsa,Chicken Wings,Angus Burgers, Fries)
$2 Housmade Potato Chips

Social
(3400 Block of 14th Street)
1400 Meridian Place, NW, Washington, DC 20010

Renaissance Reduxx: The Solo Show of Kelly Castillo this Saturday @ ART WHINO

The premier of her 2010 series, Renaissance Reduxx, is a feminist critique of the modern day Renaissance women submitting to and breaking out of societal confines. Renaissance Reduxx follows the pursuit of women out of the banality of the traditional roles that subjugate women, portraying them on the verge of their journey in finding more exotic pursuits by way of eastern religions and empowered sexuality. The series will premier on the East Coast at Art Whino in June and then debut on the West Coast in print in art magazine Guardians or Bravery (GOB) with a corresponding art exhibition hosted at Rothick art haus in July.

Saturday, June 5th, from 6pm – Midnight
Art Whino Gallery
173 Waterfront St.

National Harbor, MD 20745
Show end date: July 5th

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Coming to the RAMMY's this Sunday?

I'm in for a culinary filled weekend with a Sunday brunch planned at Casa de Floyd for friends and then jetting off to the RAMMY's for some 1940's glam later that night! You can still snag a ticket HERE and on Sunday, June 6th join us for the 2010 RAMMY awards. Hope to see you there!

6:00pm – 7:00pm, Reception
7:00pm – 8:00pm, Awards Ceremony
8:00pm – Midnight, Dinner & Dancing

The Marriott Wardman Park
2660 Woodley Road, NW Washington, DC 20008
Black Tie & 1940’s Glam

And the nominees are.................

Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year
The nominee is a restaurant that demonstrates a high standard of excellence in food, service and atmosphere and shows dedication to sophisticated culinary techniques. The nominee must have been in business a minimum of two years by December 1, 2009.

2941
Michel Richard Citronelle
Minibar by Jose Andres (my pick!)
Oval Room
Source

Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year
The nominee is a restaurant that demonstrates a high standard of dining excellence. The nominee must have been in business a minimum of two years by December 1, 2009.

Central Michel Richard
Liberty Tavern
Proof
Vermilion
Zaytinya (my pick!)

Neighborhood Gathering Place of the Year
This nominee is a restaurant that demonstrates a high standard of quality and congeniality rooted in its neighborhood.

Bar Pilar (my pick!)
Belga
Cork
EatBar
Kemble Park Tavern

New Restaurant of the Year
A restaurant that must have been opened between December 1, 2008 and November 30, 2009 and already distinguishes itself as a pacesetter in food, beverage and service.

Bibiana
Birch & Barley (my pick!)
Bourbon Steak
Eventide
Inox

Chef of the Year
The nominee is an executive chef or chef de cuisine who demonstrates consistent standards of excellence and serves as an inspiration to other food professionals. The nominee displays a dedication to The artistry of food, exhibits an ongoing commitment to the community and may be from any type of establishment. The nominee must have been a chef for the past five years with a minimum of two years based in the Metropolitan Washington area.

Bertrand Chemel - 2941
Scott Drewno - The Source
Daniel Giusti - 1789
Vikram Sunderam - Rasika (my pick!)
Haidar Karoum - Proof

Rising Culinary Star of the Year
The nominee is an “up and coming” chef who demonstrates exemplary talent, shows leadership and promise for the future. The nominee must have been based in the Metropolitan Washington area for a minimum of two years.

Michael Isabella - Zaytinya
Liam LaCivita - The Liberty Tavern
Shannon Overmiller - The Majestic
Nicholas Stefanelli - Bibiana
Jon Mathieson - Inox (my pick!)

Pastry Chef of the Year
The nominee is a restaurant pastry chef who prepares desserts and pastries and demonstrates a high standard of excellence and culinary artistry. the nominee serves as an inspiration to other food professionals. The nominee must have been a pastry chef for the past five years with a minimum of two years based in the Metropolitan Washington area.

Anthony Chavez - 2941
Amanda Cook - CityZen
Josh Short - Neighborhood Restaurant Group
Fabrice Bendano - Adour (my pick!)
Travis Olson - 1789

Wine Program of the Year
The member restaurant is distinguished by the quality, diversity, clarity and value of its wine program. The nominee’s wine program best suits the cuisine and style of the restaurant while enhancing the dining experience. The nominated restaurant must have been in operation for a minimum of two years by December 1, 2009.

2941
Citronelle
Dino
Knightsbridge
Proof (my pick!)

Beverage/Mixology Program of the Year
The member restaurant is distinguished by the quality, diversity, creativity, clarity and value of its beverage program. The nominee’s beverage program best suits the cuisine and style of the restaurant while enhancing the restaurant experience. The nominated restaurant must have been in operation for a minimum of two years by December 1, 2009.

Brasserie Beck
EatGoodFood Group - Restaurant Eve, The Majestic, Eamonn's, A Dubliner Chipper/PX
Founding Farmers (my pick!)
PS7's
Tabard Inn

Power Spot of the Year
This nominee is a top choice member restaurant, a spot to “see and be seen” with the movers and shakers on the national and local political and business scene. It best exemplifies “how Metropolitan Washington works.”

Art & Soul
BLT (my pick!)
Bombay Club
Source
Teatro Goldoni

Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene of the Year
This nominee is a member restaurant or hotel bar that is innovative with an energetic scene (atmosphere, drink menu, etc.) with a hip and eclectic crowd and is a great people watching and meeting place.

Birch & Barley - Church Key
Bourbon Steak
Masa 14
Posto
POV (my pick!)

Manager of the Year
The nominee is a manager or general manager in the food service industry who displays the highest level of professionalism and leadership with a member business. This person must be an inspiration and mentor to all his/her co-workers displaying outstanding service, an excellent work ethic and a positive image.

Souheil Moussadik – CoCo. Sala (my pick!)
Ryan McCarthy – Passion Food Hospitality
Ashley Williams – Mie N Yu
Mark Politzer – Bourbon Steak
Fernando Contreras – KAZ Sushi Bistro

Employee of the Year
The nominee is a non-managerial employee of a member business who serves as a model employee by displaying outstanding service, an excellent work ethic and a positive image. This nominee must have been working in the food service industry for a minimum of three years by December 1, 2009.

Corina August – Mie N Yu
Joe Bolam – Urbana
Adolfo Cajchon – Seasons
Marco Guzman – Café Atlantico
Jose Orantes – Dino

Associate Member of the Year
The RAMW Joan Hisaoka Associate Member of the Year Award is given annually to an associate member who best exemplifies commitment to and support of RAMW.

ProChile
SYSCO
The Legacy Group
Fiji Water
Adams-Burch

Jazz in the Garden Series is BACK this Friday

The Jazz in the Garden Series is a weekly free summer concert series featuring an array of jazz artists performing a range of styles—from swing to progressive to Latin—every Friday evening from 5:00 to 8:30 at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, rain or shine. ARRIVE EARLY with your blankets and picnics to snag a good spot!

Skip the lines by preordering a keepsake basket that serves two. American picnic fare includes Saratoga water, summer sausage and cheese, fresh-baked artisan breads, two gourmet spreads, and local seasonal fruit. The basket also contains a stamped postcard of an American masterpiece from the Gallery's collection, a pen, and a current Calendar of Events.

To order the baskets and wines by the bottle, click here or call (202) 289-3360 by 6:00 p.m. on the prior Wednesday.

DC Chefs Move to Schools

The “Chefs Move to Schools” program, run through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will pair chefs with interested schools in their communities so together they can create healthy meals that meet the schools’ dietary guidelines and budgets, while teaching young people about nutrition and making balanced and healthy choices. With more than 31 million children participating in the National School Lunch Program and more than 11 million participating in the National School Breakfast Program, good nutrition at school is more important than ever.

Jaime Montes De Oca, Jr., the Chef de Cuisine of Zentan is lending his support to adopt a school in the District along with Jamie Leeds, one of Washington’s most highly recognized owner/chefs of Hank’s Oyster Bar and CommonWealth Gastropub .

Join the Chefs Move to Schools Program, visit the chef sign-up form here or the school sign-up form here.

Tonight if you don't catch Passion Pit @ 9:30 club, peep their DJ sets at Velvet Lounge

PassionPitt

Tickets are $10 in advance HERE.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

ON MY RADAR: Luxe City Guides

With a number of trips in the works this year I've been bombarding my Amazon account with travel book purchases to get me up-to-speed. But I was overjoyed this morning when I found a Luxe City Guides sale on Gilt Groupe Home. You can snag the Asian Grande tour package above for just $38 (normally $75). This Asian Grand Tour Box set of 8 contains guides to Bali, Bangkok, Beijing, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. I scored a copy of the Thailand Capitals Set for just $15 (normally $27).

Gilt Groupe, Gilt Man, Gilt Home and Gilt Fuse provide access, by invitation only, to Men’s, Women’s and Children’s coveted fashion and luxury brands at prices up to 70% off retail. Each sale lasts 36 hours and features hand selected styles from a single designer. Sign up today HERE.