1) Jumbo Gumbo
In Super Bowls past, we've picked our teams based on the cuteness of the uniforms (or, um, the quarterback). This year, we're voting with our stomachs. Sorry, Indy: New Orleans' tasty homegrown dishes top our list, the best of which are compiled in "Cooking Up a Storm" ($25, Chronicle). Recipes come from local chefs, residents and the city's paper, the Times-Picayune, which started republishing reader favorites after Hurricane Katrina. Shrimp and grits? Sounds like a winner.
2) This Ole Thing?
Flamenco dancers always look sexier than other steppers. (Maybe it's the castanets?) See their drop-dead dresses and other costumes — a paprika-red gown, shown; a lightning bolt-emblazoned matador suit — as they sashay into the Corcoran Gallery of Art's Dressed to Dance ($35, Feb. 8, 7 p.m., 500 17th St. NW; 202-639-1700). Equal parts runway show and dance showcase, the evening highlights creations by Spanish designers and artists such as Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso.
1) Pink Palm Qualms?
Heading to the tropics (or planning your spring wardrobe) doesn't always require sundresses and capri pants strewn with neon flowers or Boca-bright beach umbrellas. Roberta Freymann's surf-to-sunset-cocktails botanic-print tunics ($77), beaded clutches (shown, $198) and sarongs just washed into Hysteria (125 S. Fairfax St., Alexandria; 703-548-1615). Girl's dresses patterned with blue monkeys or pink pigs boast a similar punchy, not-too-preppy island mood.
2) Hoppy Returns
When locally brewed Tuppers' Hop Pocket Ale disappeared from local bars and grocery stores two years ago, every hophead (fan of floury, heavily hopped beer) in town cried into his or her mug. The powerful, balanced brew — discontinued by Chantilly's Old Dominion Brewing Co.— froths over again, thanks to Hampton, Va.'s St. George Brewery, which just released new bottles ($10 per four-pack, Whole Foods). The medium-dark potion tastes swell with gumbo or chili.
1) Preppy Your Face
Palm tree patterns and other tropical prints cover Lilly Pulitzer's retro-chic tunics, swimsuits and sundresses. Now, the line's bright hues headline on a limited-edition MAC makeup collection, in which tangerine lip glosses, sunset pink nail polish and floral-stamped eye shadows (shown, $19.50, MAC Cosmetics, 3067 M St. NW; 202-944-9771) brighten up complexions — even ones that haven't gotten much sun lately.
2) A Flash in the Pan
In third grade, flash cards helped you learn multiplication and division. As an adult, drill yourself on the difference between achiote and wasabi with a Spice deck from Ghigo Press ($11). Cards simmer with lavish shots of culinary stars such as cilantro and sage, and tips on cooking with them. (Who knew lavender tasted great on asparagus?) Similar decks on wine grapes and coffee also help you go to the head of the foodie class.
1) Gourmet To Go
Sleek Logan wine bar/resto Cork attracts foodies for its mix of vino, tapas and nicely low-key atmosphere. The same upscale, friendly vibe extends to the nearby Cork Market + Tasting Room (1805 14th St. NW; 202-265-2674), a new gourmet grocery brimming with cuisine from Cork chefs (buttermilk fried chicken, lemon basil vinaigrette, $6) and more than 80 artisanal cheeses. Oh, and as its moniker indicates, you'll also find 350 types of chardonnay, merlot et al. On the menu next month: regular wine-tasting classes.
2) Anthro Report
We confess to near-weekly treks to style den Anthropologie to scour its frequently updated range of quirky-pretty fashion (such as the Roses Underwater clutch, $98, shown), crafty decor pieces and other beyond-cool ephemera (the stock of vintage housewares rivals that of the Georgetown flea). Now there's one more stop on our shopping route: The chic chain just opened an outpost at the Shops at Wisconsin Place (5406 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase; 301-654-1481), also home to new branches of Sephora and BCBG Max Azria.
1) Mild Side of Wild
This winter, faux fur coats have been spotted on fashionistas from Centreville to Capitol Hill. For those who find even non-animal pelts too cavegirly, Prairie Underground's cotton knit shrug ($190) proves warming and disarmingly stylish. Thrown over a thermal tee — or dressing down a cocktail frock — the versatile piece should attract compliments, not protesters flinging red paint.
2) Chew as Directed
Our New Year's resolution: No sweets no more, at least until February 14. But for serious sugar emergencies, we'll keep a bottle of Chocolate Crisis Center's candies ($9, Apres Peau, 1430 K St.; 202-783-0022) close at hand. The bite-sized treats come in inspired flavor combinations like chocolate cinnamon, tiramisu cocoa or candy apple caramel, all potent enough to help sate a raging sweet tooth with just a few nibbles. Whew. Crisis averted.
1) Rodarte Supplies
The endless onslaught of cheap-chic designer collaborations — Sonia Rykiel for H&M! Christian Siriano for Payless! Obscure Manhattan socialite for some Korean handbag brand! — could bore even a stalwart bargainista. But Rodarte's new limited-edition line for Target, out Sunday in stores and on Target.com, puts the innovation back into the idea. The exclusive SoCal label sells only in a few haute boutiques, making this collection — including lacy tights and cardis ($13 and $30, shown) — the only way for most of us to get our paws on its pretty-meets-quirky designs.
2) Sweet Reliefs
After the seasonal string of cookie exchanges, bake sales and the lollipop-laden care package Mom still insists on sending, we're ready for a dessert detox — at least until Valentine's Day. Instead, we'll get our sweets fix from Philosophy's Remind U.S. shampoo/shower gel/bubble bath (left, $20), scented like fresh-baked Snickerdoodles. All sales of the sudsy soap benefit the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which supports service members and veterans. This means you'll both do good and smell good.
Continue Reading "Grab Bag: Quirky Finds for You and Your Home" »
1) Sticky Business
The time between mega-sugar benders just got a lot shorter. Peeps, not just for Easter anymore, star at the world's first store dedicated to the cutesy marshmallow treats at National Harbor (150 National Plaza, National Harbor, Md.; 301-749-5791). Expect hordes of trad bunnies and chicks plus T-shirts, plush toys and holiday puffs shaped like snowmen and reindeer (shown, $1.60 for six). Their seasonal cleverness should make up for the long winter's stomachache an overdose will cause.
2) Dapper Wrapper
Local style whiz Mauro Farinelli stocks his Clarendon shop with beyond-hip menswear labels (Rag & Bone, A.P.C., Fred Perry) not easily found in the area. The latest brand to join the natty racks: Wolf vs. Goat, Farinelli's own line of gentlemanly dress shirts, work pants and slim-tailored pea coats (shown, $565). Check out the store's whole snappy assortment Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., when Brit designer Andrew Buckler will be on hand for a trunk show (Farinelli's, 2839 N. Clarendon Blvd., Arlington; 703-647-9856).
Continue Reading "Grab Bag: Peeps and Treats to Adorn Yourself With" »
WHEN IT COMES to good grooming, guys usually catch a break. Forget to shave? A five o-clock shadow passes for scruffily sexy. (Not so much on a woman's legs.) Six months between haircuts? Shaggy hair equals surfer cool. Calloused hands? That';s a sign of a hard-working dude. But in an era of metrosexuals and a manly yet manicured president, those excuses start to fall flat. And, truthfully, there's no good way to justify those long yellow toenails hanging out of your flip-flops, Howard Hughes Jr.
A cabinet full of facial products isn't a stretch for a guy with a longtime subscription to Details mag. But can your average, Capitals-loving dad embrace the pore-cleansing mud mask? This reporter was slathered, scrubbed and softened by a bunch of treatments to see whether he could still feel like a man — even when sporting a good mani/pedi.
TWEENS MAYBE haven't learned to freak out about parabens and sulfates yet. Help them kick off a life of natural beauty care products with Glory for Girls, a line featuring an antioxidant-rich wash ($16), scrub ($12) and other shower caddy staples in recyclable packaging.
FIRST THERE WAS Coco Chanel. There there was Coco Moore, a most fashionable Sonic Youth offspring. And now there's Coco Perez. That's right, gossip biddies — to quote Sir Elton John, "the bitch is back," but in a whole new wardrobe.
Infamous celebrity blogger Perez Hilton expands his media empire with the launch of sister site Cocoperez.com, focusing on all things fashion and fashionable.
While he's usually the one asking the questions, we put on our most haute coutre press hats and turned the tables on the 31-year-old self-proclaimed "Queen of All Media" to get the scoop on his vogue new endeavor.
Continue Reading "Coo Coo for CocoPerez.com: Perez Hilton Talks About His New Web Site" »
Addison Road