Washington DC

Fairfax Hotel Hosts Second Annual Capital Wine Festival

by Michael B. Dougherty (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

With the swearing in of the 112th Congress this week, there's either plenty to celebrate or a crucial need to dull the pain. Whichever mood your political leanings have put you in, the good news is that the Fairfax Hotel at Embassy Row (part of the Starwood luxury group) will be hosting the second annual Capital Wine Festival, starting on the 20th of January. Located in Dupont Circle, the festival is the creation of Chef Daniel Bruce, who helms the kitchen at the Boston Harbor Hotel and founded its sister event, the Boston Wine Festival. Since organizing Boston over twenty years ago, he's expanded the event to include New Orleans (2007), Berkeley (2010) and DC (2010). Two disparate, yet equally popular and significant, wine regions are covered by this year's festival: the US West Coast (California and Oregon) and Italy. Over the course of eight dinners, festival participants will experience the wines of vineyards such as Poggio al Tesoro, Continuum Estate and Ponzi Vineyards, all presented by representatives from the wineries. A food and 45-label wine gala reception kicks it all off, but unlike most festivals, there's no need to run between events to cram everything in. The Capital Wine Festival is spread out over a leisurely two months, meaning that the party/pity-party will continue long into the 2011 session.

Tags: california, dupont circle, fairfax hotel, italy, oregon, StarwoodHotels, washington dc, wine, wine festival

DuPont Circle, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

I saw this one on Curbed a few weeks back and decided it deserved the estate of the day treatment over here if only for the rather unique decorative touches. As Curbed pointed out, this one has a variety of interesting features, not the least of which is a quote from Homer's Odyssey on the risers in the entrance gallery. This over 10,000 square foot Dupont Circle mansion has a total of eight bedrooms and was used as a bed and breakfast. The Artists Inn Residence Bed and Breakfast had six theme rooms: Da Vinci, Dali, Hepburn, Ellington, Mozart and Shakespeare. There are a total of 13 fireplaces and the building has an elevator, five-car parking and a private outdoor terrace. It's a little quirky but it's great space that could be turned back into a family home once some of the theme details were removed. This one is listed at $15.5 million.

Gallery: R Street

Tags: dupont circle, estate of the day, washington dc, washington dc real estate

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Kennedy Home Gets A Big Price Cut

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

I would have guessed that the Washington D.C. home belonging to the late Senator Ted Kennedy and his wife Victoria would have sold quickly but it has been on the market since last January with no sale in sight. Now the home's price has been reduced to $6.995 million (when it was first on the market the price wasn't listed but it was expected to be in the $8 million range). The six-bedroom home was purchased in 1998 for $2.775 million and is located in the genteel Kalorama neighborhood. It has a classic facade with a rather White-House-like entrance complete with a columned portico and a hanging lamp over the front door.

The elegant home has a stately feel. The living room has cream colored decor and paintings reflecting the Kennedy love of the ocean. A long sun room has fan windows and a few Kennedy pictures on a table but the room that appeals most is Kennedy's narrow wood-paneled library which features a fireplace. The home includes an eat-in kitchen and a home gym set up with an Endless Pool. Mrs. Kennedy isn't leaving Washington, she has purchased a smaller three bedroom in the area for $1.65 million.

Gallery: Victoria Kennedy in Washington D.C.

Tags: celebrity real estate, edward kennedy, ted kennedy, victoria kennedy, washington dc, washington dc real estate

Garfield St., Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's home is perfect for a Washington D.C. mover and shaker. The 1930s Tudor mansion is located in the Wesley Heights neighborhood and has been gracefully renovated. The nine-bedroom home is on just over a half an acre of land which includes a guest house, swimming pool and deck. The home has a total of 12,500 interior square feet. The main home has a large kitchen, family room, a formal dining room, a large living room and a library that feels like a secret hideaway. The master suite uses the entire north portion of the second floor and has his and hers baths, dressing rooms, expansive closets and a secondary staircase. The lower level has a theater room, home gym, and full staff quarters. The two-bedroom guest house is connected by both an exterior breezeway and a lower level hallway and has a full kitchen and a spa room with a hot tub. The home also has two attached garages with room for three cars as well as exterior parking for at least nine more cars. It is listed at $8.995 million.

Gallery: Garfield Street

Tags: estate of the day, washington dc, washington dc real estate

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Sweat Out Holiday Indulgences in the SlimDome

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spas

Chances are, you've spend the past few weeks - and Thanksgiving weekend in particular - overindulging on your favorite foods. Prep for the next round of holiday festivities with a trip to your local SlimDome, an infrared sauna that promises up to a five percent reduction in body weight in just one 45-minute session.

We recently have become devoted to this treatment, which burns 400 to 600 calories per session and is safe enough to use daily. The process is easy - one simply lays inside the dome, a rather coffin-like device that slides up almost to the user's neck. A super-absorbent towel is placed on top of the dome's spongy padding ... because we guarantee you'll sweat ... profusely.

Unlike a regular sauna, the Dome only reaches temperatures of 110 - 140 degrees Farenheit, but it uses infrared technology to penetrate 1.5 to two inches beneath the skin's surface, generating a subcutaneous sweat that doesn't dehydrate but purges toxins from the body at a significantly higher rate than a regular sauna session.

And, because your head and face is outside the Dome, you won't feel nearly as hot.

The sauna may also have health benefits - D.C. area spa owner Amy Boyce of PureSkin (the only D.C. area spa to carry the Dome) says that her mother used the Dome daily after being diagnosed with unhealthy levels of mercury in her system. After a month of regular treatments, she was completely healed.

So here's to being both healthy - and happy with your weight - this holiday season.

Tags: pureskin bethesda, slimdome, spa treatment, washington dc, weight loss

Washington's Opera Ball To Be Hosted By Chinese Embassy

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Charity

The Washington National Opera has announced that next year's Opera Ball which is scheduled for May 7, 2011 will be held for the first time at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China under the patronage of Ambassador Zhang Yesui and Madame Chen Naiqing. The Opera Ball will be chaired by Susan E. Lehrman, the Washington philanthropist who has also chaired the Opera Ball at France (2008), Germany (2009) and Russia (2010).

The black-tie event begins with a series of dinners hosted by embassies throughout the city, followed by entertainment, dancing and desserts at the Chinese chancery. The ball is the Washington National Opera's most significant annual fundraiser. Opera Ball packages (embassy dinner and Ball) start at $1,000 per guest, and sponsorship packages start at $5,000.

Tags: china, chinese embassy, fundraiser, Placido Domingo, washington dc, washington national opera

Smithsonian Museum of Natural History Acquires Cullinan Blue Diamond Necklace

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Big Givers

Yesterday, the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History unveiled its latest addition to the National Gem Collection, the Cullinan Diamond Necklace - a piece dating back to 1910 and boasting a history nearly as rich as its famous neighbor, the Hope Diamond.

A 30-carat piece is crafted in the Edwardian style, and boasts a unique structure which allows it to be worn as both brooch and necklace. The centerpiece stone is a large 2.6 carat "fancy blue" diamond with a chain of smaller blue and white diamond pieces.

Jeff Post, curator of the collection, calls the piece "very important ... people get a little bit jaded here [with the Hope Diamond so close by] but there's no where else in the world you can go [to see two such diamonds together."

Tags: Cullinan Diamond, cullinan mine, CullinanDiamond, hope diamond, Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian, thomas cullinan, washington dc

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Giorgio Gucci Visits Capitol Hill To Protest Counterfeit Trade and Distribution

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Handbags

Giorgio Gucci made his first visit to Washington yesterday as part of a forum discussion entitled "Intellectual Property Rights in the Fashion Industry and Its Effects on Our Nation's Economy." Gucci, descendant of the famous Gucci dynasty, is the third generation of Gucci heirs that began with his grandfather, Guccio, who established the Gucci House of design in 1905. Panelists included Caroyl Miller, deputy textile negotiator from the U.S. Trade Representative Office, Jean Bonilla, director of the Office of Intellectual Property Enforcement and Steve Hicks, director of trade policy and agreement at the office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Tags: capitol hill, counterfeit, diane watson, giorgio g, giorgio gucci, greater washington fashion chamber of commerce, washington dc

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Smithsonian Offers Behind-The-Scenes Event

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Events, Art

A rare chance to go behind the scenes at the Smithsonian will be offered October 20-23. Smithsonian Journeys has announced the "Celebrate Smithsonian" event in which participants will meet Smithsonian curators and staff, explore Smithsonian collections not on public view, attend private demonstrations and the newest exhibitions and enjoy exclusive dinners with Smithsonian staff in museum galleries.

The program begins with a private gala reception and dinner at the Smithsonian "Castle" building. Richard Kurin, Under Secretary for History, Art and Culture, will welcome participants and give an overview of the Smithsonian's colorful past and present. The next two days will focus on Smithsonian collections in storage and on display. Museum staff will lead tours through the Museum Support Center, a high-tech home to more than 54 million artifacts, where scholars work on the research and conservation of some of the nation's treasures. At the National Museum of American History, curator of musical instruments Kenneth Slowik will how priceless instruments from the collection and demonstrate their rich tones.

Tags: Museum of Natural History, museum tours, norman rockwell, Smithsonian, washington, washington dc

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Swiss Skincare: Alchimie Forever

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spas, Cosmetics and Fragrance

The Swiss are known for many things - their private banks, their fantastic chocolate and cheese, and their skincare products, to name a few. La Prairie, Crabtree and Evelyn, Arbonne and Swiss Perfection are just a few of the famed brands to make the jump to the United States, but we were particularly intrigued by boutique line Alchimie Forever on our recent visit to Geneva.

The natural-based line offers a slew of skincare products for men and women alike based on treatments available at their flagship Forever Laser Institut, located just off the Rue du Rhone, the city's most elite shopping street.

We've been longtime fans of the brand's products - they maintain a flagship product store in Washington, DC and sell to several area spas - but were curious about the spa services. Was the Swiss experience going to be that much more phenomenal? Devoted testers we are, an appointment was made.

The spa boasts a distinctly modern vibe, with glowing lights in the spa's signature purple, blue and green colors and sleek, more than plush, chairs, in the waiting room. In keeping with the spa's medical-grade treatments, many of the pamphlets available for our perusal highlighted signature treatments involving lasers, including laser hair removal and Cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting), a new method of fat removal that literally freezes away trouble spots. Currently, Forever Laser Institut boasts the distinction of being the only Geneva spa to offer this treatment, developed by MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Tags: alchimie forever, forever laser institut, geneva, medical spa, switzerland, washington dc

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Lucky Ducks: DC welcomes its newest VIDs

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Pets

It's not everyday that one can claim to have been born at The Ritz-Carlton. For the sixth year in a row, Mother Ritzy Duck has returned to The Rtiz-Carlton, Georgetown, to honor her standing reservation and lay her precious eggs. Just in time for Mother's Day, seven bouncing baby ducklings were born, each deemed healthy by a local wildlife expert.

This year, "Ritzy" the VID (Very Important Duck) opted for a tall planter, located in the hotel's courtyard area off the main lobby. Hotel Security provided 24-hour service and offered velvet ropes and stanchions to keep curious guests at bay.

To ease Mama Ritzy's concerns during pregnancy, the hotel's "Just Ducky" Concierge issued a standard operating procedure to hotel staff - as per Ritzy's preferences, she was to enjoy only Ritz-Carlton bottled water and absolutely no "people food" to ensure that her figure would remain slim and healthy. During her daily lunch walks and swims with "Baby Daddy Duck," Ritzy's nest was monitored by a security camera and extra staffer. During the final days before hatching, Ritzy opted to enjoy gourmet organic duck pellets to ensure that she could rest in comfort as well as have food for her new ducklings at the ready.

When Ritzy and her ducklings are ready to leave the nest, they will enjoy red carpet treatment - a specially-designed duck crate will be placed into one of the hotel's private sedans for transportation to her permanent home in a nearby park.

To honor Ritzy's delivery, the staff at the hotel bar, Degrees Bar & Lounge, brought back her signature cocktail - The Duck Duck Goose - made with Grey Goose L'orange, pineapple juice and a splash each of grenadine and Sprite. And, out of respect for the nesting mother, the hotel has also opted to temporarily remove all duck-based menu items from the restaurants.

Tags: dc, ducks, georgetown, MothersDay, ritz carlton, washington dc

George Stephanopoulos and Ali Wentworth In Washington, D.C., Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

Just a few weeks ago we learned that George Stephanopoulos bought a home in East Hampton, N.Y., for $3.5 million. Now comes news that the Good Morning America co-host and his actress wife Ali Wentworth have listed their five-bedroom home on 31st Street Northwest in Washington D.C. The telegenic pair have a designer five-bedroom home that has graced the pages of Elle Decor. The Real Estalker sniffed out the property records finding that they paid $5.2 million for the home back in 2006.

The Georgian Revival home was built in 1907. Interior designer Elizabeth Martin whipped an interior that combines classic decor with pops of whimsey and color. The Real Estalker Mama didn't seem to be wild about the look but I think it does a nice job of combining the personalities of the couple, the more serious and cerebral husband and the equally smart but more whimsical wife. The family room's sedate brown paneled walls get a lift from bookshelves lined in orange and a spider-like overhead light. The home has a sunny but narrow kitchen with a huge television where one might expect an oven hood. This home is listed at $6.35 million.

Gallery: George Stephanopoulos and Ali Wentworth in Washington D.C.

Tags: ali wentworth, AliWentworth, celebrity real estate, CelebrityRealEstate, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, George Stephanopoulos, GeorgeStephanopoulos, washington dc, WashingtonDc

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The Floridian Hopes For Quick Condo Sales

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

A press release brings a quick update on The Floridian, a condo building near Howard University in Washington D.C. Last we heard in December, the 118-unit building was facing foreclosure. Now UrbanLand Company has announced it will begin selling the remaining 86 condos at The Floridian in the next 30 to 60 days. The building was recently acquired by an affiliate of The Goldstar Group, a Bethesda-based private real estate investment and management company.

The new pricing has studios starting at $227,000 and prices top out at a three-bedroom penthouse for $1 million. Originally prices for the loft style condos started in the low $300,000s. The Floridian is two eight-story towers, made of stainless steel, colored glass and limestone with10-foot exposed concrete ceilings, exposed ductwork, floor-to-ceiling windows, granite countertops, maple and bamboo floors, designer lighting and balconies in select units. The community also has underground parking and a shared rooftop terrace with sweeping views of the Capitol, the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral. The development is FHA approved, "so down payments as low as 3.5 percent are possible."

Tags: condo project, condoiminium, condos, floridian, washington dc

Forest Hills, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's home is in the quiet neighborhood of Forest Hills in Washington DC. This seven-bedroom home was built in 1927 in a Spanish Eclectic style which shows in the curving iron front door metal work. The home combines Mediterranean style with a classic touch shown in the graceful lines of the home. The home's muted cream-colored palette creates a soft impression. Large public rooms and both a chef's kitchen and a service kitchen make this home a natural for entertaining. It belongs to Washington news personality Barbara Harrison Pyle and some of her Emmys are on display in one of the bedrooms. The home is on over an acre of land that includes a swimming pool. It is listed at $7.5 million.

Gallery: Forest Hills

Tags: barbara harrison, BarbaraHarrison, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, forest hills, ForestHills, washington dc, WashingtonDc

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Toutorsky Mansion, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

The Toutorsky Mansion has to be one of the most interesting properties in Washington D.C. It's a brick-and-limestone neo-Belgian mansion built in the 1890s for Supreme Court justice, Henry Billings Brown. Brown occupied the house until he died in 1913. The home later operated as the Persian Legation and then as the headquarters of the American Zionist Organization. After that it was bought by Basil and Maria Toutorsky and operated as the Toutorsky Academy of Music.In 1988 it was donated to the Peabody Conservatory of Music at The John Hopkins University but sold a few years later. Lately the 17,000 square-foot home has served as a bed and breakfast with five guest rooms. The mansion is full of beautiful carved wood griffins, crystal chandeliers, monumental fireplaces and stained glass details. It is now listed for sale for $5.75 million.

Gallery: Toutorsky Mansion