Happy Thanksgiving!

See you on the other side of this excellent four-day weekend. Try not to shop until Friday!

-C

Read all about it! Newseum!

C – The last time I visited the Newseum was during previews when they were about to open at their well-placed Pennsylvania location. It was beautiful but the exhibits weren’t quite done. Duct tape could be found on the glass and railings on many floors and it was clear it just wasn’t ready for prime time. Fast forward a few years and the Newseum is one of the hottest tickets in DC. Sure, it’ll set you back $21.95 (each!) but I think it’s worth it. And it’s not just for news junkies. It’s really about history. From the 9-11 exhibit to the Berlin Wall, the Newseum traces events in recent history that defined our lives, and tells of the journalists who brought the information to us. Tip: through the end of the year, your ticket will get you in two consecutive days. So, you can relax and take it bit by bit.

K – The Newseum always has interesting exhibits. I was looking forward to the latest exhibits – Anchorman: The Exhibit (until August 2014) and Assassination of JFK and Kennedy Family History (until 5 January).  The Anchorman exhibit was fun and interesting as it not only had displays regarding the show but it gave some history on newscasters. It also had interactive displays where you could read a teleprompter and give the “news” while your friends and family could watch you on “television.”

I had recently watched the television movie “Killing Kennedy,” which actually made the Kennedy exhibit more interesting for me. The exhibit included the Zapruder film – a silent, color-motion picture sequence shot with a home-movie camera by businessman  Abraham Zapruder – which showed U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s motorcade passing through Dealey Plaza. It also had clothing, blanket and a wallet owned by Lee Harvey Oswald among many other interesting items.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The Newseum is an interactive museum of news and journalism located at 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.

Happy Hour at Legal Sea Foods

C – How am I just now learning about Legal Sea Foods’ very affordable happy hour? K and I wanted to meet for drinks and a snack before the Kate Spade event last week, so she suggested Legal Sea Foods. For the record, I suggested Daily Grill but that just tells you how current I am on all things Tyson’s II. Daily Grill closed, apparently, some time ago.

The joint was not jumpin’, which was actually nice for what we wanted: just some time to chat. The food was not spectacular but good enough considering the prices. We spent $32 (not including tip) which included four appetizers, two Sam Adams on draft and a Bloody Mary. Not too shabby.

K- I’ve been to Legal Seafoods for happy hour and knew it would be a good place to have a drink and chat. I hadn’t had the snacks before and they weren’t too bad. As C said, not spectacular but good to have with a drink. I had the Bloody Mary and that was good as well. Overall, if you are wanting to have a drink and a chat with a friend rather than shout at them, Legal Seafoods might be the place for you.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Legal Sea Foods
McLean – Tysons Galleria II
2001 International Drive
Tysons Galleria II
McLean, VA 22102

Sleeping Beauty goes Goth

K- This past Friday I saw the ballet “Sleeping Beauty” (above photo from website) at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by New Adventures, a contemporary dance company from the U.K., directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne.

The story pulls from a couple of versions of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale and adds to it as well – like vampires.

The sets were amazing as were the costumes. The choreography – well, it was a bit repetitive. The first act I was very excited. It is very creative in that the baby Aurora is a puppet and I applaud the puppeteers because it was realistic yet fantastic but not hokey. The “Blue Fairy” in the Disney version is now “Count Lilac” in this one – sounds “vampirish” doesn’t it? There is not Prince Charming but Leo, a commoner. However, as it moved on, the scenes and costumes changed in an exciting way but not the dancing. The dancing was good but it went on and on with the same steps no surprises – a little disappointing.

Overall, I am glad I went as I did enjoy it.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Other ballets coming up at the Kennedy Center include the Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker, Mariinskys Ballet’s Swan Lake and American Ballet Theater’s Don Quixote. Theater shows that are coming to the Kennedy Center such as Elf The Musical, Peter and the Starcatcher and Flashdance The Musical look like they will be fun.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20566
Tickets and Information: 800-444-1324 or 202-467-4600

 

There’s a New Kate Spade in Town

C – I might have a little bit of a Kate Spade problem, so it came as no surprise to me that I would get an invitation to the opening of the latest and greatest store in Tyson’s Galleria. It’s not the first store in the Metro DC area, but it is the first in the Tyson’s area… which means it’s now way too close. So K and I popped over and did a little browsing while nibbling on mini-cupcakes. The event was a bit disorganized, but the 25% discount offered allowed me to pick up my standard thank you cards for a mere $15. A few other things caught my eye, but the bracelet I really wanted didn’t seem to be in stock.

K- I’m not as much of a fanatic of Kate Spade as C but I do like some of it so I went along. I found a lot of cute shoes, dresses and tops but didn’t go home with anything. I was a bit disappointed in the event as besides the mini-cupcakes there were tiny bottles of water or Coke. I had been expecting some light hors d’oeuvres at least as many other store events usually serve them as well as other items. Also, as C said, they were a bit understaffed and the line snaked around the store as two people at the register tried to take care of everyone. The store did offer customers a nice discount of 25% and C was able to get her cards so not a total loss.

KATE SPADE TYSONS GALLERIA (Tyson’s 2 to locals!)
Sun: 12-6, Mon-Sat: 10-9
2001 International Drive
McLean, VA
703.749.7980

John Oliver at Warner

K- This past Friday I went to see John Oliver at the Warner Theater. I wasn’t sure what to expect even though I’ve seen him on the Daily Show but he turned out to be very funny and engaging. He started out the show telling how he Googled himself and found out that he wasn’t funny and he was a Smurf. I can verify, he’s not a smurf and he is funny. The audience laughed throughout the show and even commented, which then began a comic dialogue between comedian and audience. At one point in the show John asked “What’s the first thing you think of when you think of Egypt.” For me, it’s pyramids but someone else blurted out “Sand!” So “sand,” which he thought was a funny answer, became a thread throughout the show. He also told a story about surviving Hurricane Sandy and watching the news as a jet skier sped in the background of a reporter at Battery Park and movers coming that day to his building to move someone. His funny stories definitely kept me interested and laughing – which is not an easy thing to do! Overall, it was very entertaining and in a great venue.

As for the theater, I hadn’t been to the Warner since the Helen Hayes Awards, which made me a little sad as it’s a great theater to see shows like John Oliver. It feels intimate and it’s just a beautiful theater. Also, there’s nearby parking and plenty of restaurants if you want to have dinner beforehand. I highly recommend it.

Poster in theater lobby

Bright and blurry photo of John Oliver

Seating in the theater

Inside the theater

Upcoming shows at the Warner include Cyndi Lauper, Brian Setzer and the Nutcracker Ballet.

Warner Theater

513 13th Street NW
Washington, DC 20004
Tel: 202.783.4000

Happy Hour at One80 Salon

Last night we went to an happy hour that One80 Salon held for it’s customers to thank them as well as let them know of the new services available such as facials by Maryam Gouloubandi; manicures and  pedicures by Marina Lopes –  and she does do manicures while you are getting a blow out to save you time. (Check out Channel 9 story here.)  They also have added brow artist Simone Fennel and make up artist Jeff Enriquez.

The happy hour definitely made everyone happy as champagne, white wine, red wine and delectable hors d’oeuvres such as shrimp and avocado spoons, smoked salmon on toast, crab tartes, ratatouille spoons, cucumber and cream cheese tartes, and petite pastries such as tiny eclairs and adorable little mice chocolates supplied by Hay Adams catering.  Guests were able to get mini-manis and mini facials as well as have their brows done. C and I both had mini-manis. C loved hers and kept looking at her nails – yes, I saw you!  I wasn’t sure whether it was worth my while to get a mani since my nails were very short due to peeling, breaking etc. But Marina assured me that she could make them look nice and she did! She also let me know that my nails were very dry and how I could take better care of them. So hopefully I can get them nice and long once again.

The stylists of the salon were very friendly and the happy hour gave you the chance to chat with them and get to know them better. Disclaimer:  I (K) personally go to the salon for my colour (by Jeremy) and cut (by Remi) and am never disappointed. I found the salon through the magazine Allure and had heard about Remi through the grapevine. After a disappointment with my previous stylist, I decided to give the salon a try and have been going there for the last couple of years.

Overall, the salon gave a great happy hour, which it seemed everyone enjoyed and if you are ever looking to try a new stylist or colourist – definitely give this place a try!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

One80 Salon

1275 K Street, NW

Washington DC

DC Area Farmer’s Markets

C – I love a good farmer’s market, particularly this time of year. Right now you can get all sorts of autumn goodies from apple cider to pumpkin bread. And the DC area, thankfully, has many markets to choose from. Here are a few of our favorites:

Falls Church Farmer’s Market
**Highlight: Open year round. Also, Black Rock Orchard’s irresistible apple cider.
City Hall Parking Lot
300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA
Every Saturday, Year-Round
April – Dec.: 8 a.m. – Noon
Jan. – March: 9 a.m. – Noon

Old Town Farmer’s Market
**Highlight: The surroundings. The history. It’s Old Town. It’s awesome. The market has been running since 1753.
Market Square, 301 King Street, Alexandria, VA
Saturdays, 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. year round.
Free parking in the Market Square garage during Saturday hours of the Farmers’ Market

Columbia Heights Marketplace
**Highlight: provides nutrition assistance by accepting SNAP/Food Stamps, WIC, Senior Get Fresh Checks, and WIC Cash-Value Checks as forms of payment. Healthy food is in reach for everyone.
Columbia Heights Civic Plaza
at 14th Street and Park Road, NW, Washington, DC
Saturdays from May 4 to December 14th
9am-1pm

Takoma Park Farmer’s Market
**Highlight: If you accidentally slept in and missed the Saturday markets, have no fear. This one’s open on Sunday!
Laurel Avenue, Takoma Park, MD
Sundays, year-round from 10am-2pm

Eastern Market
**HIghlight: This is the big mamma-jamma. It is to DC what Borough Market is to London AND, it’s accessible by METRO. It even has it’s own stop.
25 7th Street SE, Washington, DC
Tuesday to Friday – 7am – 7pm, Saturday –  7am – 6pm, Sunday –  9am – 5pm
Monday – CLOSED

Pulled in by Gravity

Movie synopsis: “Dr. Ryan Stone is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone – tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth…and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.”

K- Last night I saw the movie “Gravity” at Tysons Corner IMAX theater in 3D.  If you go see the movie, which I recommend, you must see it in 3D in order to get the whole “experience.”  Not seeing it in IMAX 3D you are missing a lot as the movie is just as much about the scenery – if not more so – than the story.

The visuals of Earth from space, sunsets and stars are amazing. The actors do well in telling the story and with the IMAX, 3D you feel more a part of it. The story itself is intense. The thought of being in space let alone some disaster happening and finding yourself floating away from your vehicle in a little suit depending on oxygen in a container surrounded by dark – except for the faraway stars – pretty nerve-wracking! And yes, there are some discrepancies in the story but hey, it’s a good movie so sit back and enjoy!

C – I saw it at Tyson’s Corner as well, in IMAX 3D which was spectacular. I can’t really put my finger on what, exactly, I liked about the movie as a whole except that it all felt so real — the emotional scenes, in particular. Welling up in the movie theater wearing 3-D glasses really doesn’t work. The tears get trapped in the frames. Something to think about next time I opt for 3D. Sandra Bullock was outstanding. Her work on this movie reminds me of what she did in the movie Crash, not because the roles are similar — they aren’t — but because I hung on every word in both movies. From the very beginning I didn’t think of her as Sandra Bullock, she was another person and her role in Gravity puts her in a completely different category as an actor.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.