New To You Inc. of Falls Church is celebrating 20 years of friends and fashion! In 1992, owner Christina Novak opened New To You, an “unconventional consignment shop,” that resells a fine selection of vintage and designer goods. It was Novak’s dream to cultivate a fashion boutique that sells high-quality, previously-owned designer items to women of all ages, styles, and cultures and for 20 years she has been doing just that!

“I love helping a woman or man to look their best. When you are well-dressed, you feel confident and self assured and know that you can do anything you set your mind to,” owner Christina Novak states. (Photo courtesy: newtoyou.net)

Thursday, May 31 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. New To You invites you to celebrate the store’s 20^th Anniversary. Peruse the exciting array of jewelry, designer clothing and men and women’s accessories while sipping champagne and snacking on hors d’oeuvres.

Annual Memorial Day Sale at Leesburg Premium Outlets

Leesburg Premium Outlets kicks off the summer with their annual Memorial Day Weekend Sale. Beginning Friday, May 25 to Monday, May 28 expect extra discounts on top of everyday savings of 25 to 65 percent off retail prices. With over 110 discount designer stores, the outlet center is home to the best name brands including Anne Taylor, Barneys New York, Burberry, Coach, Cole Hann, Crate and Barrel and J. Crew—among others.

Happy Shopping!

-Hilary Adleberg

The Queen of Funny. / Photo courtesy: Shutterstock/ s_bukley

Forgot Cleveland. This week, Betty White will be heating things up by heading to the National Zoo for a book signing. On Friday, May 18, the eternally youthful 90-year-old will be promoting “Betty & Friends: My Life at the Zoo“ and “If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t.”

The commedianne, who recently joined the Twitterverse (and caused a co-star to have a slight meltdown!), continues to ramp up the hilariousness with her hostess with the mostess skills on SNL, hysterical senior citizen pranking youngsters on NBC’s “Off Their Rockers,” plus adding a whole lot of sass and sarcasm to the cast of “Hot in Cleveland” as the fiesty Elka Ostrovsky. 

White’s upcoming day at the Zoo, from 12:30 to 2 p.m., is free and open to the public, however, officials have now just announced that the pre-registration has already maxed out. Guess you’ll have to pull a Betty and finagle your way in to the Zoo in Your Backyard exhibit to get your chance to hang with Ms. White (monkey costume anyone?).

At the very least, purchase her books here and here, and read all about White’s love for animals, the Los Angeles Zoo and the endearing stories that follow.

–Lorin Drinkard

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Woodbridge man charged in murder-for-hire plot

Washington Examiner

Highway work threatens future of historic Woodlawn Stables

WTOP

Gay prosecutor denied Virginia judgeship

Washington Post

$300K to $500K in antique coins, banknotes stolen in Fairfax

WJLA

Drugs stolen from Spotsylvania County ambulance

FOX DC

Report: Mismanagement rampant at airports authority

Washington Times

Five in custody after gun reports at two Culpeper County schools

WUSA9

(Compiled by Lindsey Leake; photo courtesy of Shutterstock/Fer Gregory)

If you regularly flatiron your hair, this could become your new best friend. (Photo courtesy of Natalie Kaar)

Overachievers can be annoying. That is if they’re your siblings or something. But you’ve got to respect them. And when it comes to overachievers in hair products, I’d argue they just about deserve salutes.

Exhibit A of the latter: Bumble & bumble’s Bb Styling Lotion ($25 for 8 fl oz), one of the beauty biz’s longstanding all stars.

The product is meant for hair of all types, but it’s especially well suited for frequently styled, chemically treated or otherwise fragile strands. Let’s face it, in the summer, doesn’t that just about sum up all of our majorly in-need-of-maintenance manes?

What it does: After having saturated towel-dried hair with it before blowdrying in sections, or having applied a few sprays of it to dry hair prior to heat styling (a frequent flatiron user, this is what I do, applying three sprays — one to each side, one to the back of hair), Bumble & bumble’s Bb Styling Lotion adds body, control and sleekness while leaving the hair feeling incredibly soft (has built-in moisturizers) with natural movement. Translation: no stickiness, no weighing down the ‘do, no fly-aways. Totally dreamy.

All that for $25? I’d pay far more — but don’t tell Bumble.

I know you may be thinking “A lotion that doesn’t weigh down the ‘do?” Trust me, I was very skeptical myself, but use it once before flatironing, and I’m betting you’ll quickly become a believer.

Happy shopping — and styling!

–Natalie Kaar 

We live in a locavore food world, but does that translate into wine? Would you choose Virginia wine over wines from California, France or Argentina? [NYT]

Milkshake is different than most kids’ groups. They’re a real rock band who just happen to play kid- and family-friendly music.

Hailing from Baltimore, they formed from the remnants of a ’90s grown-up rock act called Love Riot. But with the band’s demise and arrival of kids, the singer and guitarist from Love Riot decided to partner once more, this time with a group to fit their new lives as parents.

Thus, Milkshake has something most children’s music lacks–coolness. Although the lyrics feature themes like pirates, Halloween and aquariums, true pop sensibility hovers in the background. Part Monkees, part Cheap Trick, all fun.

Their 2009 release, “Great Day,” was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Musical Album for Children category.

Saturday’s show provides a sneak preview of songs off Milkshake’s upcoming album, “Got a Minute?” as well as their favorite tunes from the past few years.

Milkshake is a six-piece band, but the Jammin Java performance is a special, intimate event with the Milkshake Trio–Mikel, Lisa and Sheppy.

Tickets are $12, and are on sale now. The show begins at 11 a.m.

Photo by Stefanie Gans

Cheesetique released its new menu earlier this month (along with opening the darling patio seating). There’s about 15 new items (such as the Southwestern chicken sandwich with Chihuahua—like the dog—cheese), but don’t ignore a sandwich that’s been on for around six months. Because you’re really going to want to add this to your food brag list: Gjetost, the cheese that tastes like peanut butter. 

GJETOST AND BANANA ($8) A salty-sweet grilled cheese made with Norwegian Gjetost (YAY-toast) and banana on cranberry walnut 
bread (Try it with bacon, it’s good, we promise!)**

Charlotte Devilliers, a manager at the Del Ray Cheesetique, says the reason the cheese tastes so much like the classic nut spread is because of the added sugar, something quite rare in cheese-making. The sugar, says Devilliers, “gives it this caramel quality and kind of sugary, peanut buttery quality.” 

Imported from Norway, the cheese gained a following with hikers because of its durability. Packaged in a tiny, dense block, it only melts when applied to direct heat—all qualities that contribute to its on-the-go superiority. 

You can try this cheese in a sandwich or buy a 2 inch block for $6.99.

And I swear, it really tastes looks and tastes like peanut butter, but with a tiny hint of cheese funk.  

**Rant alert. If something tastes SOOOO GOOOD with bacon, then put the bacon on the sandwich to begin with and don’t make us pay extra for it. Upsells are not becoming. 

Julian Rovagnati/Shutterstock

This week marks the 2012 American Craft Beer Week. Here are some local events where all beer geeks can drink and celebrate NoVA’s rising craft beer culture.

Tuesday, May 15

Tuesday Patio Cookout
5 p.m. @ Northside Social
Housemade sausages on the grill featuring draft beer from DC Brau, Port City and Lost Rhino.

Broad Street IPA Tuesday Tapping 
3 p.m. @ Mad Fox Brewing Company
The Centennial hopped IPA counterpart to Mad Fox’s Orange Whip IPA, Broad Street IPA brings grapefruit and resiny herbal aroma. 

He Said/She Said Beer Dinner
@ Dogfish Head Alehouse Fairfax
Randall the Enamel Animal, featuring 90 minute with Hops.

Flying Dog Beer Dinner
7 p.m. @ Virtue Feed & Grain
A five-course dinner where each course pairs with a Flying Dog brew.

Union Jacks Beer Feature
@ Union Jacks
Union Jacks features Widmer Brothers (OR), with specials, prizes and giveaways.

Wednesday, May 16

Kill the Keg 
6 p.m. @ Mad Fox Brewing Company
Mad Fox has invited five local brewers back for another Kill the Keg event. First keg to be finished wins the honors! Participating breweries include: 
Port City – Monumental IPA
Lost Rhino – Zlaty Pils
Chocolate City – The Ugly Sticke
DC Brau – Ground Wolf IPA
Devils Backbone – Eight Point IPA
Mad Fox – Orange Whip IPA

Flying Dog Rooftop Party
6 p.m. @ Whitlow’s on Wilson
Celebrate craft beer in the summer breeze on Whitlows Rooftop deck.

Ommegang Steal the Pint Night
@ Fireworks Pizza Arlington
Fireworks will host Brewery Ommegang, pouring BPA, Art of Darkness, Three Philosophers and Rare Vos.

Randall the Enamel Animal
@ Dogfish Head Alehouse Fairfax
Randall the Enamel Animal, featuring bourbon soaked wood-chips.

Union Jacks Beer Feature
@ Union Jacks
Union Jacks features Dogfish Head (DE), with specials, prizes and giveaways.

Thursday, May 17

Cask Night
6 p.m. @ Mad Fox Brewing Company
Mad Fox’s brewing team sets all six beer engines to work with APA, Stout, Wee Heavy, Porter, Mild and Yards IPA. 

Randall the Enamel Animal
@ Dogfish Head Alehouse Fairfax
Randall the Enamel Animal, featuring Amarillo hops and live music by Mateo Monk.

Union Jacks Beer Feature
@ Union Jacks
Union Jacks features Flying Dog (MD), with specials, prizes and giveaways.

Friday, May 18

Flying Dog Tap Takeover
6 p.m. @ Westover Market
Flying Dog will be taking over 10 taps with favorite brews.

Union Jacks Beer Feature
@ Union Jacks
Union Jacks features Goose Island (IL), with specials, prizes and giveaways.

For more beer tastings, check your local Total Wine & More for craft beer tastings each day of American Craft Beer Week.

[tips for the food desk]

foodandmore/Shutterstock

The Food Desk at Northern Virginia Magazine is looking for NoVA home cooks and food bloggers who would be interested in working with us on future projects.

Interested or know someone who would be? Shoot us an email and we’ll fill you in. 

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Potomac River is ‘most endangered’ in the nation

WTOP

Batman’s sweet wheels headed to D.C. 

NBC WASHINGTON

Dumfries woman wins $100,000 while shopping for milk

InsideNova

Virginia lawmakers consider $44 million in budget amendments

WAMU

Two men charged with rape in Fairfax County incident

Washington Examiner 

Virginia Supreme Court rules in favor of Fauquier County winery

Washington Times

Alexandria tops Amazon best-read cities list

WTOP 

(Compiled by Lindsey Leake; photo courtesy of Shutterstock/Michael Rosenberg)