Posts Tagged ‘Northern Virginia Magazine’
Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
Look - no more memos! / Photo credit: Shutterstock/Lichtmeister
Whether you have the world’s greatest job selling hats, working for the Govt., building homes or perhaps dealing with musical animals, we all need some kick-back-and-relax in our lives. Fortunately for us all, TopGolf Alexandria hears that and raises our afterwork happy hours to a new level: three different days of golf and drink specials.
The Dedication of a Line Cook, Updated
Posted by Stefanie Gans / Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
Facebook screengrab
Think working in the restaurant world is easy?
There’s no calling in sick. No bullshit excuses.
Get run over by a car? Your ass is at work. Or at least that’s the dedication of Will Artley‘s staff at Pizzeria Orso.
UPDATE, 2:42 pm
@chefwillartley tweets the full kitchen conversation:
Read the rest of this entry »
Local Sales Sure to Have Shoppers Smitten
Posted by Natalie Kaar / Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
Enjoy anniversary savings on upholstered furniture through June 3 at The Nest Egg. (Photo: The Nest Egg)
You’re already stoked about the weekend, what with Gold Cup and summer-like weather in the forecast, but here at SWAG we highly suggest penciling in time for some retail revelry as well. The sales outlined for our area and online are big and bounteous.
A few of the standouts:
In celebration of the store’s 8th anniversary, The Nest Egg at Fairfax Corner is offering an additional 10-percent discount on upholstered furniture pieces from Lee Industries or Talbott Furniture when three or more upholstered items are purchased from the lines through June 3. This means total savings of 40 percent off MSRP.
Tomorrow, May 4, through Sunday, May 6, The Shoe Hive in Old Town Alexandria is hosting an ASHA trunk show and sale. Receive 20 percent off the New York-based line of jewelry designed by Georgetown University grad Ashley Dodgen-McCormick featuring contemporary, sophisticated designs that showcase fine gemstones as well as other top materials at affordable prices.
Also in Old Town, Treat is hosting local designer Ruth Barzel and her latest lovelies. Enjoy 15 percent off all spring jewelry designs plus giveaways, sweet treats and more this Saturday, May 5, and Sunday, May 6.
But that’s not all the jewelry deals. Yet another favorite NoVA boutique is hosting jewelry trunk shows at two of its locations tomorrow. Periwinkle’s National Harbor shop is having a Simple Girl trunk show and offering 25 percent savings, while the Potomac Green location is having a mollybeads trunk show, offering free earrings with purchase.
Attention shoe girls: Now through Monday, May 7, Bloomingdale’s is having a Spring Shoe Sale in stores and online, offering up to 30-percent savings on all sorts of stellar shoes from sandals to flats to pumps.
Through the end of today, May 3, a 15-percent discount is being doled out on all Restoration Hardware outdoor collections.
The Real Deal Sale is still rolling at Neiman Marcus with savings of up to 40 percent on contemporary, shoes, handbags, etc.
And it’s Spring Sale time at Calvin Klein, with 50 percent off everything site-wide.
Happy shopping!
–Natalie Kaar
PS. And let’s not forget dozens of NoVA deals from Specialicious.
A Harmonica-Playing Elephant? The National Zoo’s Got That
Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
Not your average animal. / Photo credit: Devin Murphy, Smithsonian’s National Zoo
A trip to our capital’s (free!) zoo makes for a must-do for tourists – and locals – alike. In addition to the soon-to-be added group of Asian otters, the Zoo is home to a new breakout musical star.
Lick Your Screen: Italian Nachos Edition
Posted by Rebekah Lowe / Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
When I walked into The Don’s Wood-Fired Pizza last night for dinner, a piece of pizza was my only intention. But when “Italian Nachos” caught my eye on the menu, how could i resist? I’ve had chili nachos, Irish nachos, and now it was time to add Italian nachos to that list. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Would there be chips? Would there be cheese drizzled across my nachos? These nachos came deconstructed: a heaping pile of pizza dough freshly baked into perfect flatbread with plenty of oregano, garlic and Parmesan sprinkled on top and served with a side of spicy melted cheese with a pinch of peppers folded in. Delicious.
Are there any other types of nachos to try in NoVA?
Italian Nachos | The Don’s Wood-Fired Pizza | Sterling
Photo by Bekah Lowe
[Do you have a lick-worthy photo? Send it in: food desk / follow @bekahlowe]
Quick tips for Mother’s Day, today only!
Posted by Lynn Norusis / Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
marekuliasz/Shutterstock.com
Starting to brainstorm what to get for Mom? Here’s a helpful hint…
Head over to the Microsoft Store in Tysons Corner Mall today, 10:30 a.m. to noon, and let Michele McGraw, of mom blog Scraps of My Geek Life, and Elizabeth Thorp, founder of kid-friendly travel site Poshbrood, help.
The duo will take you through, step-by-step, a workshop on how to create DIY gifts for mom using Windows technology (Photo Gallery, Movie Maker and Microsoft Paint). And, attendees are eligible to win a Windows PC plus other swag!
Posted by Lynn Norusis / Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
Reston, Fairfax, Arlington, Sterling, Vienna, McLean, Manassas, Chantilly, Centreville, Ashburn. These Northern Virginia areas all include dating hot spots. Readers say whether it’s a rainy day or you’re outside getting your bronze on, you’re guaranteed a fun date out of the ordinary with the following recommendations.
“If you are thinking about “hot sports” for a date, I strongly recommend Aikido, a Japanese martial art. (http://www.aikido-nova.org/ or http://www.novakiaikido.org/index.html) Aikido can teach you more about your partner (i.e. what they are thinking, whether or not they are happy, do they have problems at school, work, or family). Everything will show up when both of you practice it. Aikido requires both partners to know and understand each other. If one partner is distracted, they will not be able to concentrate and will make a lot of mistakes. Or maybe you did something wrong but you do not know what; you will figure out when your partner tries to “kill” you. I see a lot of couples come to Aikido class over the weekends; it is a great martial art for couples.” – Khang
“I live in Sterling and I can’t believe I still haven’t gone to Rebounderz! Another great place to have a good, fun night is at Laser Nation in Sterling. You can play laser tag with other adults and have a fun time as if you were a kid again. Also, Lake Fairfax Park in Reston, is a great place to take a walk with a date and go on a petal boat around the lake.” – On the Rebound
“I’d like to recommend Alf Laylah. It’s in Vienna, on route 7 by the Mercedes-Benz Dealership. This place is great if you enjoy different cultures, especially the Middle East. I met many people from different cultures here. Alf Laylah is a small restaurant during the day and in the evening they have loud music, a dj, and a spacious dance floor. On Wednesday evenings, they have international nights, where the dj plays songs from different cultures and people dance to songs from different cultures. I am an Asian-American and learned how to dance to Arabic, Turkish songs at Alf Laylah. Overall, I thought this place was a good spot for people who enjoy groups of friends from different backgrounds.” – Yessuu
“One thing I see as a perfect date is attending the Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival that’s offered this summer where you can enjoy amazing warm nights on blanket. You can bring your own picnic basket or grab a bite from one of the restaurants nearby and enjoy the movie. Movies that are offered aren’t always the most recent but there are a couple of movies that everyone can love. And this summer the theme is “Every Night is Election Night” and is offered ever Friday from June to September, perfect weather for an outdoor movie/picnic date.” – Britta
“Great Falls National Park is a great place to have a good time. Going to different places in different environments lightens up the mood and you don’t get bored.” – Sana
“When you’re getting to know someone, you want to make a good impression and do something unique. I think mini golf is a good first date option. Everyone knows how to play mini golf; it’s straightforward and easy. At the same time, it can also get competitive to a certain level if you or your date like competition. If it’s a nice day outside, you can follow up with ice cream or snow cones.” – Ashwin
“I like competition, so great first dates would include Nerf gun fights, going out to a shooting range, playful sparring, or bowling. This can build up the adrenaline between two people and may create some laughs during the date. If you’re looking for something creative, buy a canvas, tarp, and paint, wear all white, and have a mini-paint party. With the paint, you can use your hands and paintbrushes to splatter paint on the canvas and create an abstract masterpiece with your significant other.”
– Jacinta
“Call me old fashion, but I think people should re-establish the picnic idea. Something about lying in the open sun, relaxing with your love interest, and feeling that open breeze makes your body quiver with excitement. On top of that, you get to feed the ducks, play Frisbee, go kite flying, or fishing. But if nature doesn’t appeal to you, try an amusement park or rock climbing. It’s about the thrills! It’s about that sense of danger! It’s a good way to excite the mind and get that rush of adrenalin. Just be careful; not everyone likes to be scared.” – Mike
“Another great place for a date after having dinner is taking a nice, long walk at National Harbor in Maryland. The area is very lively at night, especially in the Gaylord National Resort. The lighting and indoor environment of the resort is very inviting. On the top floor of the resort there is a wedding area for those couples who want to act out their wedding ceremony just for fun. There are plenty of activities if you do decide to go there during the daytime ranging from outdoor concerts to wine and food festivals.” – Thien
“I take my girlfriend to Fairfax Corner or the 29 Diner in Fairfax.” – Dilan
“The best first date I’ve ever gone on was to the National Zoo. We used the metro to get there and spent the day in D.C. Because the weather was so fantastic, it was great just walking around, talking, and really getting to know each other. It was a great time!” – Christina
“…doing certain things that get you out of the indoors is adventurous, out of the box, and shows you want to have a good time with your date rather than just sit there and listen to each other talk for hours. Mini golf, basketball, or throwing a baseball are all simple things that are fun and easy. It’s old news to just go to dinner and watch a movie; it’s simply too boring and not as much fun anymore.” – Ricky
“I agree with Thien. National Harbor is such a wonderful place to enlighten your date and the surroundings are amazing. Not only are there a lot of different spots where you can take pictures, there are amazing restaurants.” – Aira
E-mail your relationship and dating ideas, anecdotes, and questions to me at littleredbook@northernvirginiamag.com.
Katie
FRESHFARM Markets Welcomes Ballston Farmers Market into the Family
Posted by Sally Traynham / Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
For all NoVinians who feared that Ballston Farmers Market was no longer in action, FRESHFARM Markets is teaming up with the Ballston Business Improvement Distrcit (BBID) to debut the market on June 21.
The BBID’s desire for a fresh approach in combination with FRESHFARM’s success with other area markets (such as their Crystal City location) makes this partnership an ideal fit. Enthusiastic about the new addition, Bernadine Prince, co-executive director of FRESHFARM Markets, talks about how much she likes the location.
Ballston, says Prince, is “a neighborhood with a good mix of residential, retail and non-profits and near the metro.” To keep the regulars, Prince recommends keeping the Thursday afternoon (3 p.m. to 7 p.m.) time slot.
While most area farmers markets open in May, FRESHFARMS is taking its time to roll out the renewed market, making this the 11th on its roster. Because of the brand-new partnership FRESHFARMS requires an extra two months to recruit all of the farmers and producers. Prince estimates the market as having 10-15 farmers and producers, and remains optimistic about the project, saying we’ll “see how the first year goes.”
“Because it’s a tough growing season [due to the mild winter and temperatures warming so soon], it is better to err on the smaller side to make sure the market looks robust,” explains Prince whose main goal is to make sure that vendors and customers are happy with fresh, local goods.
Photo: Sally Traynham
[tips for the food desk]
Posted by Lindsey Leake / Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Romney campaigns down the street from NoVA Mag office
Buzz Bin (Northern Virginia Magazine)
Obama to visit Arlington’s Washington-Lee High on Friday
12-year-old girl missing from Fairfax County
Jury finds husband of Falls Church mayor guilty of molestation
Alexandria named among nation’s most playful cities
(Compiled by Lindsey Leake; photo by Matt Basheda)
Posted by Lindsey Leake / Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012
NoVA Mag editorial interns make it to Chantilly campaign event in the nick of time.
By Matt Basheda and Lindsey Leake
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
The man himself. Photo: Matt Basheda
For us interns, the morning started off just like any other Wednesday, checking emails, returning phone calls and preparing to spend the day writing. I was in the process of compiling articles for the weekday Buzz Bin blog when a particular story—announcing Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney would be campaigning in Northern Virginia this week—caught my eye. As I read on, I discovered that he’d not only be speaking to a throng of local voters about a mile from where our office is located, but that he’d be doing so in exactly 25 minutes.
After urgently sharing this information with fellow intern Matt, I knew we were on the same page. It didn’t matter that we’d been unaware of the event or that we were too late to even register to attend; we had to go right away and get the story. We grabbed our iPhones, a notepad and the office camera, and we were off.
Directions were not needed to the Exhibit Edge warehouse on Walney Road; a maze of police cruisers and motorcycles, campaign signs peppered along the sidewalk and a long row of lined-up pedestrians told us we were in the right place.
Normally, press gets advance entry to such an event, but our last-second endeavor meant we had to stand in line with the audience.
Much has been said about the boundless enthusiasm of presidential campaign supporters—the type of people who travel far just to catch a glimpse of their candidate, and more importantly, introduce their toddler to the man who will save the country. But a campaign stop’s unique surreality must be seen and felt to be known. As we stood in line waiting to gain entrance to the impromptu auditorium, hopefulness swirled thick in the air, more present than the pre-storm humidity. Buzz words like “deficit” and “taxes” swarmed like gnats.
"Get ya campaign buttons here!" Photo: Matt Basheda
Our fellow line-waiters spoke of nothing but campaign issues, even bragging on occasion about their homemade campaign flair—custom buttons and bumper stickers that no one had seen yet, but that everyone envied.
Disneyworld offers a comparison. These people were happy—really happy to be at this particular place at this particular moment. This Chantilly parking lot at 10 a.m. was a realm unto itself. A baseball stadium during playoffs, pre-game, also comes to mind. Especially when a vendor toting buttons, hats and stickers moved down the line shilling his wares.
And like both locations, the denizens’ clothing blended into uniformity. American flags were particularly popular: as T-shirts, as scarves, as pins on business suits.
The crowd coiled into the warehouse. The scene was something out of a rock concert’s backstage area. Music blared—Taylor Swift and assorted country acts. Free coffee, doughnuts and other snacks sat piled on tables, for free.
Perhaps the nearly unlimited happiness contributed to the event’s informality (minus the TSA-esque security checks). Whatever the case, we set up shop in the press area with no questions asked and no passes flashed.
Congressman Frank Wolf took the stage first as emcee. After Wolf’s brief introduction, Romney emerged with his wife Ann to raucous applause. She spoke before he did, delivering a miniature speech of her own, a sort of First Lady campaign speech.
And then Romney took the mic and the crowd went wild. If you want to see grown men in suits act like female Beatlemaniacs, attend a campaign speech: they held up signs, they cheered, they jeered at Obama’s name.
The warehouse was small as far as warehouses go, and when room began to run out, the crowd spilled upward. Massive, Home Depot-style shelves soon served as impromptu bleachers.
The crush. Photo: Lindsey Leake
Call-and-response was on the audience’s mind, if not Romney’s. Applause rose and fell with each punctuation mark. Obama’s health care plan got the silent movie villain treatment.
Meanwhile, the stifling room turned into a sweatbox. Several hundred people on a sultry May day crammed into a completely closed warehouse—for security reasons—becomes uncomfortable within minutes.
We had it nice—the press area was spacious compared to the sardine-packed crowd, but we still started melting in short order.
Perhaps that’s why Romney kept his speech short. This was no keynote—merely a stump for small businesses, with a little education-talk thrown in for seasoning.
He summed his message thus: “I will endeavor to bring Americans together.”
And when the speech was done, Romney made himself available for handshakes, compacting the crowd even further as they nearly crushed one another for an opportunity.
Then, to one final roar from the crowd, he departed. The main warehouse doors—which might as well have been floodgates in this case—were flung open, and the people pooled into the parking lot. The aforementioned snack table was obliterated.
Many audience members still milled about, happy to share their viewpoints—no matter the political standpoint.
Back outside, swarms of Romney supporters voiced their opinions of his speech to a range of D.C.-area news outlets.
“I really appreciated [the speech],” high school senior Amber Taylor shared with us, “because my dad and most of my family and a lot of our school’s parents own small businesses … I’m excited to vote.”
Photo: Lindsey Leake
At the edge of the parking lot, dissidents made their presence known. However, although they gladly debated with anyone willing, these protestors primarily stood their ground with silence—other than yellow signs stating their point of view.
“We’re happy to be here,” said one unusually cheery protestor. “And we’re happy to be a part of the process.”