CityShopGirl has a happy hour fit for a chef this Wednesday

Enjoy a special extended happy hour for CityShopGirl readers at one of DC's popular downtown venues. This Wednesday, April 29 enjoy $5.95 burgers and $8.95 pizza pies as well as $7.95 supermugs (34 oz), $2.95 longnecks and wine specials.

A special CityShopGirl cocktail will also be available for $2. Come join the fun and enjoy these great deals until closing time.

Chef Geoff Downtown
1301 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20004
202-464-4461
www.chefgeoff.com

First Lady Obama's mini photo recap in the New York Times today

See the full photo recap HERE. Photo Doug Miller of the New York Times.

My Alma Mater surpassed the $500 million goal!

I received my Masters in Applied Politics a few years back from the University of Akron in Ohio. I just learned recently that University of Akron President Luis M. Proenza announced the University’s Aspire. Attain. Advance. comprehensive campaign surpassed the $500 million goal announced publicly in 2007.

Dr. Proenza said that the unprecedented campaign will continue, with challenging economic times making it even more important to enhance donor opportunities to help UA serve its students and community well.

He told about 250 major donors at an event at the University’s E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall that, to-date, the University has raised more than $606 million during its comprehensive campaign — well over the $500 million original goal and far ahead of the anticipated 2012 goal date. The success of the current campaign places it among the top campaigns ever for a public university in Ohio.

So congrats to Dr. Proenza and the staff at U of A!
UA's Aspire. Attain. Advance. comprehensive campaign has raised $606 million to date. Learn about the campaign and its beneficiaries. Pledge to the campaign.

S.O.M.E. Charity Fundraiser this Wednesday @ MIDTOWN

Join some of DC's most philanthropic minds for a charity event this Wednesday at MIDTOWN FOR S.O.M.E.

S.O.M.E. is an interfaith, community-based organization that exists to help the poor and homeless of our nation's capital. They meet the immediate daily needs of the people we serve with food, clothing, and health care. In addition, they help break the cycle of homelessness by offering services, such as affordable housing, job training, addiction treatment, and counseling, to the poor, the elderly and individuals with mental illness. Each day, S.O.M.E. is restoring hope and dignity one person at a time.

S.O.M.E. Charity Fundraiser
100% of profits will be donated
(door donations, bar sales, and table sales)
Wednesday, April 29th -- 10pm - 2am
Midtown Lounge - 1219 Connecticut Ave, NW Washington, DC

Event Description:

$10 Suggested Donation at Door
$200 Grey Goose Bottle Service
Reservations Call: 202.487.6874

Proper Attire Required
Doors Open at 10pm
21+ to Enter

Web Link:
http://www.anotsocapitolidea.com/2009/04/some-charity-fundraiser-midtown-lounge.html

HOST COMMITTEE:
Fletcher Gill, Eric Lund, Paul Wharton, Nicole Siobal, Alexis Levine, Jessica Bevacqua, Hernani Salazar, Kristina McCann, Stephanie Yen, Shozo Aoki, Richard Strauss, Eve Masroor, Mathew Herbert, Mike Bramson, Zack Huhn, Mahsa Salarvand, Yesenia Ocon, Maryam Wakman, Leah Van Ness Taylor.

GOLD CUP is HERE this weekend! Member's Hill is Calling Your Name

Too bad I'm in New York this weekend, but stay tuned as we will trek to America's Polo Cup the next weekend with the crew. CLICK HERE for Gold Cup details. Last year was phenom!! See my pictures below.

Dig Knoll Furniture? Get your pocketbook ready because Friday VASTU is having a Knoll Sale

One of Vastu’s most anticipated sales events is here. The Annual Knoll Space Sale begins May 1st and will run through May 10th. This year, buyers will get 15% off any new Knoll order.CLICK HERE to explore Knoll products. Visit VASTU at

1829 14th Street NW
202-234-8344
or online at www.VastuDC.com

Saarinen side table; Orig. $659, Sale: $560

Bertoia stool; Orig. $1,180, Sale: $1,003

Up top: Platner dining table; Orig. $2.848, Sale: $2,421

DC Charity Spotlight: Alternative House - The Abused & Homeless Children's Refuge

WISH LIST $500: 3 weeks of counseling/support for a homeless mother; $750: Safe Youth Project after-school program for 2 teens; $1000: shelter, food, and counseling for 5 teens for 1 night

Alternative House was founded in 1972 as a shelter for runaway and homeless teens. It has evolved into much more: a dynamic system of services designed to keep young people off the streets by offering safe and accessible places where they can get help, develop life skills, and improve family relationships. A 2-week emergency shelter serves almost 200 teenagers a year, providing temporary refuge and intensive counseling. The Community Outreach program helps young people steer clear of gangs, drugs and violence; provides safety and educational support for teens suspended from school; and after-school programs for others. Counselors on the Mobile Outreach Unit work the streets to provide survival supplies, referrals, and support. A transitional living program provides homeless teen mothers and their children with housing, job training, and child development counseling while teens continue their education and save for the future. After the closing of four shelters, Alternative House is the only shelter for youth in Northern Virginia. Your philanthropy keeps the doors open and protects our vulnerable children.

Judith Dittman,

Executive Director PO Box 694 Dunn Loring, VA 22027 703-506-9191 TheAlternativeHouse.org

Handmade Mart Applications Due Sunday

The folks at Pyramid Atlantic have paired up with Party Hat Rodeo (aka Kimberly Dorn) and 60Bugs (aka Debbie Lee) to produce the first ever Handmade Mart in Silver Spring. Vendor application deadline extended to Sunday, May 3!

This this one-day, juried show will feature 50+ vendors selling handmade goods, live indie rock on stage all day, plus cool hands-on workshops in the Pyramid Atlantic Retail Store! The Handmade Mart will take place on Ellsworth Drive (Between Fenton and Georgia Ave.), which is right smack in the middle of all the Downtown Silver Spring restaurants, bars and shops. Read more here.

Word on the Street: RENT is coming to the Warner Theatre from May 26 to 31

DC Fab Empire has the skinny HERE. Tickets are $45 HERE.

DC Hot Spots from Apartment Thearapy DC

Check it out HERE.

DC Scores Soccer Ball is this Thursday. Tickets are still on sale.

DC SCORES bridges the academic and athletic development of youth by providing them with creative writing and soccer activities each day after-school and for five weeks during the summer. Beginning with only five schools in 1994, DC SCORES has quickly expanded to 23 participating elementary and middle schools within the District. Operating in Wards 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, DC SCORES has worked with more than 4000 8-14 year olds and over 300 coaches and writing instructors in the D. C. Public Schools.

On April 30^th their 2009 Soccer Ball will take place. BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY.

The Soccer Ball is a mixed forum that will feature a combination of lounge-style seating and open high tables. The Soccer Ball, highlighted in BizBash Magazine as one of “Washington’s Top 100 Events,” is DC SCORES’ annual fundraising gala, a night filled with music, student performances, and the inspired cuisine of Latin Concepts’ restaurants. The Soccer Ball will also feature a live and silent auction boasting a variety of items from jewelry to sports memorabilia, trips and dining experiences. Approximately 400 guests from the Washington, DC business and philanthropic community are expected to attend. The 2009 Soccer Ball is presented by Latin Concepts and sponsored by DC Magazine.

Download a sponsorship packet for the 2009 Soccer Ball: (PDF format)

When and Where:
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Organization of American States
17th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW
6:30 pm, VIP reception
7:00 pm, cocktails
8:00 pm, event

Details:
VIP admission: $200
General admission: $150

The proceeds from the Soccer Ball will support one of Washington’s largest and most successful youth development programs, DC SCORES, whose innovative model increases students’ commitment to education, healthy living, and civic responsibility by combining soccer, written and spoken word, and community improvements every day after school. DC SCORES currently enrolls over 700 students annually from 23 DC public elementary and middle schools.

For more information, contact Tohry Petty at tpetty@americascores.org

I lost all of my phone numbers

I got a new phone from Sprint today because my old one had screen problems. Nevertheless, I didn't have to pay for a new phone BUT they are unable to transfer all of my contacts to the new phone (even though they did it last time). I'm a bit upset, but nonetheless, please TEXT ME your name to my phone number so I can easily save the number. This would be very helpful. Thanks.

Get Trunk Got Crunk this Weekend

Alicia Kersting in Artistic Aya gear

Yours truly sticking my tongue out at the camera. Not very lady like




















Shanika Wright
















































Also above: Phillipa Hughes, Susanna Pegg, Ora Nwabueze, Rachel Cothran, and Asma Ahmed, Kelly M. Thorton, Susannah and Tiffany Goodyear.

The Get Trunk event with Artistic Aya to benefit Pediatric Aids/HIV Inc. was a huge success! More than 200 DCers came out to Left Bank and Napoleon for the affair. It was an honor to take part in the event and strut the platform and lead the goodie bag recruitment for the event.

I want to personally thank all of our goodie bag sponsors and Ora and Susannah from the Dunes. In addition, Rachel from Project Beltway and Dana from Artistic Aya. Additionally, our make-up was done by the Naomi Singleton and hair by Patrick McKee at XYZ Salon in Adam’s Morgan.

Our music was by Collins Hughes (DJ at Marvin on Wednesday) and local DC band Tennis System. Here are a few pictures from Maria Byrk. But stay tuned as Maria and Dakota will have hundreds of pictures to show in the near future.

A big thank you to our goodie bag sponsors:
Radiance MedSpa
Theory Cast
Crooked Monkey
XYZ Salon
Vastu
Kelly Thorton Photography
Sherry Council of America
Artistic Aya

Coming soon to the old FIVE in South Dupont: Public Bar

Stay tuned. Visit them online HERE.

Hey foodies - is this the new YouTube of the culinary world? Chef Spike Mendelsohn launches Food2

Chef Spike Mendelsohn of Good Stuff Eatery is joined by Kelsey Nixon, voted “Fan Favorite” on season four of “The Next Food Network Star” in a young, hip, new webseries for the Food Network. The duo’s culinary talents are put to the test as Chef Spike and Kelsey offer two takes on classic dishes – Kelsey’s “by the book” approach and Spike’s “off the hook” spin. The Food2 website is HERE.

All in all more than a thousand online videos are waiting to be sampled and savored at Food2, along with recipes, tips and more.

Food2 has already built a following by giving out small bites of content online - blog posts, Facebook page, Flickr photos and “tweets” have been available since early March. Now a full-fledged Food2 website is live featuring:

• Video – Food2 has more than a thousand short food and drink videos including web originals with new, fresh faces as well as shorts from the trusted talent and kitchens of Food Network.
• Challenges – Users compete head to head in virtual Food2 Challenges to find the prettiest, the tastiest, the cheapest, the weirdest and the ugliest food around.
• Recipes – From quick and easy to palate expanding, no matter what type of needed, the authority of Scripps Networks and the Food2 community will steer you in the right direction.
• Tips – Whether gourmand or food-newbie, community-provided Food2 tips make navigating the kitchen a snap.
• Blog – Just like a party where everyone winds up in the kitchen talking food, the best food bloggers and most current food culture content all gather here at the Food2 Blog.

Last weeks Shecky's winner was a Navy Girl!

So last week I gave away two free tickets and goodie bag tickets to Shecky's Girls Night Out. I asked you readers for a submission on a stellar shopping find in the past few months that you had and tell me about the purchase and what it meant to you.

Michelle Bryan wrote to me with an amazing response and I just had to share with you guys. Michelle works at the Armory here in DC on a small arms range with a bunch of men learning to shoot guns [which in my mind means a lot of eye-candy]. She also works at the Wild Onion in Hyattsville.

Michelle bought a home in Hyattsville recently and that is where her dope shopping finds come in...................

"So far as money savers I have found an establishment called Community Forklift, located off Kenilworth Ave. [in Maryland], that has an abundance of refurbished materials for home owners remodeling their house. It has everything one needs to get a good start on their remodeling projects. Since my entire bottom floor is gutted, I needed a make shift kitchen until my electric and ventilation were complete with inspection and everything. Well I found two sets of nice looking cabinets and counter tops to attach to the top for $60. The cabinets were $25 each and the counter tops were $5 dollars each. I now have a working kitchen that makes my kitchen feel very homey. A woman without a kitchen to cook in, is a frazzled lady and I am extremely applicative for the community forklift."

So congrats to Michelle and I had the pleasure of having happy hour with her at Poste last week during their garden party and it was lots-o-fun. If you too have a home you are trying to fix up check out Community Forklift!

Trevor Young's Non-Places Opening @ Flashpoint Gallery this past weekend.

Asma

Me


Ora and Elvis

Me, Tiffany, Philippa and Asma
Ladies and gentleman.............. please take your seats.

This past weekend we took flight at Trevor Young' opening at Flashpoint Gallery. Be sure to check out his newest works and stop in at the gallery. It was a pleasure to serve all of the guests with the girls and rock our stewardess inspired digs. My outfit was courtesy of Ebay and the Pan Am bag was picked up for me at a thrift store here in DC for mere $3. The gloves came from a thrift store in Baltimore.

Doggie Happy Hour @ Hotel Manaco this Tuesday in Alexandria

Back by popular demand, Kimpton's Hotel Monaco Alexandria and Jackson 20 will kick off its second year hosting the celebrated Doggie Happy Hour in the brick-lined restaurant courtyard. All summer long, guests, two and four-legged alike, will enjoy this pet-friendly experience in the restaurant's well-appointed courtyard.

Your canine friends can feast on complimentary gourmet doggie treats and designer water bowls while humans can enjoy cocktails and inspired 'tavern bites' from Jackson 20's newest bar menu.

5:00pm-8:00pm
Prices a la carte
480 King Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
For reservations please call 703.549.6080.

"Put a CORC in It!" Wine + Cheese Tasting Tonight

M Bar introduces "Put a CORC in It!" -- a wine + cheese tasting series celebrating the launch of The Corcoran College of Art + Design's rotating student art exhibition at the Renaissance M Street Hotel. Art is available for purchase by guests.

The Renaissance M Street Hotel partnership with the Corcoran Gallery of Art and The Corcoran College of Art + Design is a leading representative of Renaissance Hotels and Resort¹s global initiative to promote the arts through local artists and art galleries.

Wine + cheese tastings are complimentary
6:00pm-8:00pm. FREE
1143 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20037
For more information please call 202.775.0800.

On My Radar: PASTE

Peep Jason Laurits' t-shirt company PASTE - HERE. I was lucky enough to scoop one of his designs this past week while he was here in DC for. PASTE is based out of New York and since I'll be headed to the NYC this weekend I only thought it was fitting to let you guys in on his designs.

New Summer Menu's @ all my favorites!

Word on the Street from Fritz Hahn @ Going Out Guru's is Gibson, PS 7's, Poste and the Tabard Inn have new menus out, while Bourbon Steak and PX have some new drinks on the menu.

DC Design House is Erected

Peep it HERE.

"Get Trunk" with Artistic Aya and I this Sunday. VIP tickets are almost gone!

Please join me on Sunday April 26, 2009 from 3 to 6 p.m. at LeftBank as I strut the platform when the The Dunes present the Fashion, Accessories and Art of "Artistic Aya", Dana Ayanna Greaves, a tremendously talented DC-based designer and artist.

Tickets are $20 for general entry and $50 for VIP. All tickets include open bar from 3-4:30 pm, a runway show, an off-runway accessories show, pop-up boutique and live music by Collins Hughes (Marvin Wednesdays) and local band Tennis System. With your VIP ticket purchase, you will be granted exclusive access to mix and mingle with DC’s creative elite at the "Get Trunk" after-party at Napoleon Bistro's Metropolitan Lounge with an open champagne bar and a live DJ set from 6-9PM. Your VIP ticket also includes a goodie bag with products and gift certificates donated by various DC-area businesses, including Crooked Monkey, TheoryCast, YELP, Radiance Medspa DC and Artistic Aya.


This event will benefit Pediatric Aids/HIV Care, Inc., which tirelessly has been supporting young victims of HIV/AIDS in DC for over 20 years. In March of this year HIV/AIDS was classified as a "severe epidemic" in DC, with rates of infection exceeding those of many underdeveloped countries. As a result, the work of the Pediatric Aids/HIV Care is particularly invaluable to the Washington, DC community. Please come out to support an exceptional artist and organization, and to mingle with some truly creative and committed people.

This Saturday Flashpoint Gallery presents the works of Trevor Young and there is a little flight crew surprise for everyone

This past weekend I had the pleasure of checking out Trevor Young's newest works at his studio in downtown Silver Spring. This Saturday, Flashpoint welcomes him for an exhibit, Non-Places.

In his words, "In my paintings, the room represents a mental space, and with every blank canvas, I am moving into a new room. I have to choose potent symbolic elements to “decorate” these areas and convey a narrative. I have incomplete visions that can only be clarified through a process of shifting, adding, and taking away. I fumble awkwardly through dusty boxes of thoughts and emotions, mislabeled and stacked haphazardly, grasping stubbornly for the right language to tell my story. Through this process, a painting becomes a pastiche of historical embellishments, psychological metaphors, and emblems of transience."

Join us Saturday night for an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at Flashpoint Gallery.

Young returns to Flashpoint with Non-Places, curated by Annie Adjchavanich. The exhibition will feature 100 paintings of non-places — generic spaces, such as freeways, hotel rooms, airports and supermarkets, which are familiar and safe, but often make us feel like we do not belong.

So what is the flightcrew surprise? Well you'll have to be there in person to see it for yourself. Let's just say Trevor has asked some of his good friends to take part in dressup and you won't be disappointed with my or the rest of the crews outfits.

916 G Street. NW
Washington, DC
Across the street from Chinatown Metro

Saturday ART WHINO presents Black & White

This Saturday BLISS @ Black Cat