Some of my greatest friends are in DC media. It was awesome to get together with a few of them to celebrate my new job. We may work at different outlets but we all love food and lots of it. We gathered at Carmine’s for a family style lunch that included a dessert bigger than Rebecca Cooper’s 3 kids (see photo). It was great to have some of my new co-workers John Schriffen and Rick Yarborough join us too! More photos by our dear friend Daniel Swartz at Revamp.com
Super nice gal pal and local sports reporting star Lindsay Czarniak is Bristol bound. We bid farewell at a going away party held at Public Bar in Tenleytown. Newly engaged and headed to ESPN there’s no doubt 2011 has been a great year! We’ll miss you Lindsay.. but know you’ll visit often! We know you will… now that you’re planning a Fall wedding in DC! Spotted: Former Redskin QB Jason Campbell, Doug Kammerer, Wendy Rieger, Pat Collins, Dan Hellie and the whole NBC clan. NBCer turned ABCer weatherman Bob Ryan joined colleagues Alison Starling and Pamela Brown. Also there,FOX5′s Laura Evans, WUSA’s Dave Owens, Ivan Carter, WTTG’s Lindsay Murphy,Mike O’Meara and Mike Wise. (Photo credit: Chris Abi-Najm)
Lindsay and fiancee Craig Melvin, a former colleague of mine in SC
Alison Starling and Pamela Brown
With Laura Evans
Party host Dan Hellie with Craig and former Redskin Jason Campbell
Moki Media’s Dannia Hakki with Carla O’Meara… the gorgeous wife of you guessed it my morning radio bud Mike!
Suck the head, pinch the tails! Ok.. so I didn’t do that first part.. but I sure did enjoy cracking some mud bugs at the Crawfish Boil. Hosted by “The Cajun Experience” in Dupont, the party was fully dressed with the sounds of Lousiana and a menu made to please. I tried the Poboy sandwichs and gator bites which taste like chicken. I wasn’t bold enough to do the frog legs though. We saw Louisiana Senator David Vitter with his family.. not only dining but also dancing to the New Orleans band Zachary Smith and the Dixie Power Trio. Photo Credit: Dave Phillipich
Thanks to Janet Donovan for this amazing compilation of candids that sum up a year of celebrity, politicos and media heads making buzz in Washington this past year!
A taste of Italia comes to Bethesda. We were there for the VIP Grand Opening of Vapiano on Bethesda Row. Between the ages-old olive trees and the warm mod decor… a blend of past and present was strong in the new restaurant. Vapiano’s offers a neat set-up… celebrating the concept of mediterranean group cooking. Guests’ meals are made-to-order right before your eyes. We tried the bruschetta, warm breads, basil pasta, chicken alfredo and of course thin crust pizza. In the end.. you get a hearty affordable meal while dining among an urban upscale feel.
VIDEO: Watch my coverage on the VIP grand opening party here on WUSA9.
Double Feastin’
Vapiano Bethesda, located at 4900 Hampden Lane, on the corner of Hampden Lane and Woodmont Avenue.
Happy blog birthday to KStreetKate.net! We joined Kate Michael and friends for the 4 year anniversary party at Luxxery Expresson Wisconsin Avenue. Cheers to KSK for continuing to keep us entertained and in the know about what’s going on and around the district.
Kate with District Dish co-host Sonya Gavankar
Watch Coverage of the party on WUSA9 Below:
Reese Gardner and Victoria Michael
Audrey Bouviers’ Sanam Toossi, Robin Feinman & Whitney Stringer
With fab journo Stephanie Green
Moki Media’s Dannia Hakki with The Ritz-Carlton’s Audrey Slade
After hearing rave reviews of Honey Pig (Gooldaegee) in Annadale, Virginia I said enough is enough, time to get stuffed. No Korean feast should go unshared… so I gathered with fellow kimchee and bulgogi fans. The rest is history… not grain of sticky rice left.
Below meet my Chingoos that’s ‘friends’ in Korean: Bottom: Nina Un, Nicole Siobal, Angie Goff, Sumita Pradhan Top: Laura Carlson, Dannia Hakki, Kamari Wheeler, Anchyi Wei and Jackie Turner
One of the most amazing places in the area exists in Centreville Virginia. It’s called ‘Spa World’ and it’s not your average day at the spa. In fact, it’s a full blown Korean sauna known in my mom’s native land as a Jjimjilbang. I ventured there with my little sister Jenny, Colleen who is a high school pal I went to school with in Seoul and Spa World junkie Dannia Hakki. It was a stroll down memory lane (on heated floors) taking me back to my childhood in Korea. Here’s the deal it’s basically a spa filled with a variety of saunas or poultice rooms: Amethyst Gem Room, Red Clay Room, Ice Room, Oak Wood Charcoal Room, Red Clay Ball Room (my favorite, you lay in little balls), Blue Onyx Room and the Salt Room (made of complete salt..ceiling and all).
There are classic spa services too. Manis, Pedis, massages.. but be warned they are the pressure point kind. Jenny and I got foot massages and let me just say I never knew my feet had so many nerves. Intense.
The public bath area (separated by gender) is where I have yet to venture into. Equipped with 5 different types of pools with high powered jets the bottomline you get in with bottom and all. I still can’t bring myself to jump in the bath in the buff. No thanks. I’d rather be eating at the spa’s restaurant. Afterall, the prison inspired suits they gives us come with an elastic waist. It would be such a waste not to get the most out of it. See pictures below along with this instructional video provided by yours truly.
How to make the classic Jjimjilbang Lamb Towel
Jenny, Colleen and Dannia enjoy the red clay ball room
The clay up close- it’s like the Chuck E. Cheese ball pen for adults
The golden key- ok it’s orange but it’s your ticket to everything. At the end of your stay (which could be overnight since it’s open 24 hours) they scan your key for your total. Food, services everything is charged to the key. General day pass is $35.
From the Korean restaurant there- a classic MILKIS!
Military charity is close to my heart. One of the big one’s I believe in is the one started by my buddy Andy Baldwin called The Got Your Back Network. His whole goal is providing resources and support to the wives who’ve lost loved ones at war. On May 4th you have a chance to come meet some of these brave ladies… be insipred by them… all while enjoying martinis and complimentary makeovers!
Joe and Rick
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