It’s that time of year again. Cookouts, vacations, and good ole fashion fun in the sun. Yes, summer time is finally here. Who wouldn’t want to visit a pool when temperatures climb above 90 degrees? In fact, if you have plans to do so this weekend you’d be surprised about the splash locals are making.
Swimmers gathered at Leesburg’s A-V Symington Aquatic Center at Ida Lee Park to try to set a new global record for the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson. Last year, nearly 4-thousand people set a Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous swim lesson. No word if these waders in the water helped break that this year. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintended, injury-related death of children ages 1 to 14 in the U-S. Leigh Macdonald contributed to this report.
While visiting family in South Carolina I decided to do a drop in at my old shop WIS-TV. It was like a big reunion. I got to see my former desk mate Dawndy who showered baby Adora with the most precious little outfit. It was so awesome seeing old work pals and sharing the new headline of my life- the baby! You know you’ve got true friends when you conveniently show up an hour before stories and anchors gotta be on-air and everyone stops to hug it out despite it being crunch time.
I’m in Columbia, SC this weekend where I met up with some of my favorite people! It’s tough when everyone is ordering up drinks and you can’t. To help me fit in the girls asked the bartender at Gervais & Vine to make me a special ‘mocktail.’ The waitress said the end result was ‘The Christian’. They named it after the owner who created it just for the occasion. It’s so pretty and tasted like a glorified Shirley Temple! Salud!
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!
Thanks to sister-for-life Kristina Dorville who took it back old school to Arlington to celebrate my life. How old you ask? According to the picture on the right..I’d say about 5. (And while we’re on this picture why not add: cheeky Carissais a supermodel- had to steal that one from Lauren P)
It’s a great example of a carefree night had by all at theClarendon Grillin Arlington. Apparently,there was another girl named Katie celebrating her birthday too but my good friends made it clear tothe bandthere was truly only ONE party in the house! All you had to do was look for the front row of friends who created the first ever ‘hit line’. Yep excessive ‘fist pumping’ was in the air and our energetic ring leader was none other than good friend Katherine Kennedy. If our performance didn’t win you over chances are we had you at “Want a mini red velvet cupcake fromBakeshop?” Justin the owner of the new Arlington joint was so sweet to send dozens of the birthday bites our way. [Pictured above: Carissa, Jesse, Dr. Alex, Angie & Lauren P. BELOW: AOII love from Stephanie, Alicia, Kymberly & Sandra Elizabeth]
WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA)– OH MY GOFF! Watch Angie Goff’s report on Georgetown Cupcake landing a reality TV show on TLC. Angie’s Army reports on the Tigerlily Foundation’s bachelor and bachelorette Auction for breast cancer. Virginians gather for a harvest dinner to celebrate locally grown food. Nationally, 75 artists gather to re-record “We Are the World” to benefit Haiti.
Singer Ginuwine and wife former rapper Sole’ were there. Other notables, Jeannie Jones from WPGC, Billboard jazz artist Marcus Johnson and a handful of local newsies including NBC4’s Craig Melvin and John Schriffen. We also spotted Washington Post’s Ivan Carter.
Dannia Hakki and Sherry Moeller formerly of Capitol File co-own the new DC based PR firm.
[Pictured: NBC 4’s Craig Melvin & John Schriff, Ginuwine and wife Sole’ with celebrity surgeon Dr. Ayman Hakki, Designer Taimur Baig and Anureta Chahal, Carissa Maguire with Colleen Laughlin and Angie Goff, Luxxury Spa’s Maha and Hiba Bittar Hakki, Moki’s Dannia Hakki with ABC7’s Cynne’ Simpson]
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