Brunch,Lust & Lingerie

This insane Washington snow is disrupting not only power, warmth and sanity, but also wreaking havoc on fun events scheduled around town. Most appropriately rescheduled from Feb. 7 to Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, is the "Love, Lust & Lingerie" fete at Sylene lingerie boutique in Chevy Chase from 10:30 to 12. A don't-miss for the hitched and single alike, the event features champagne (YES! I've been cooped up waaay too long), mimosas, light brunch nibbles and an inspired panel in place to answer all of your lust and love questions. Andrea Rodgers who advises the lovelorn on her Ask Miss A website (and who is also featured in February's Washingtonian magazine) will team up with Cathy Alter, whose hilarious memoir Up for Renewal offers a way up and out of the horrible love/lust choice rut; Jess McCann, who reveals the successful sales pitch to snag scores of men in You Lost Him at Hello (love that title); and Kerry Reichs, author of the always-a-bridesmaid bildungsroman, The Best Day of Someone Else's Life. Don't worry, shy ones; you can write your questions anonymously on little pieces of paper and the panel will share their fabulous insights with you. ANY advice from these participants is sure to be not only wise, but extremely witty. Attendees also enjoy a 20% discount off sexy sleepwear.

RSVP REQUIRED. RSVP at 301-654-4200 or http://sylene.eventbrite.com/

Can't Judge a Boutique by its Cover

Drop inside Ginger, the upscale women's boutique on Bethesda Row, and you'll often find more going on inside than beautiful clothes. The store's Veterans Day event in support of the Wounded Warrior Project had locals pouring in to help launch Suzanne Somersall Allis' in-store jewelry boutique and support our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. The emotion was evident on the designer's face as she described how happy she was to be able to see her husband Brian, a Marine stationed in Afghanistan, when he arrives home soon for a two-week break. Not only did we love Suzanne's ethereal pieces--delicate starfish, coral, and sparkly flowers--we sipped bubbly and enjoyed appetizers from Redwood and sweets from Georgetown Cupcake. Providing great conversation was a slew of fashion-conscious writers--friends of Ginger owner Gretchen Hitchner, a former Capitol Hill press secretary who received her master's degree from Johns Hopkins. My daughter even popped in for a surprise visit with her friends. The highlight for her was meeting Cathy Alter, the heroine of memoir Up for Renewal.

Above, Suzanne shows off her Lemon pendant necklace, inspired by Pablo Neruda's poem, A Lemon.

Cathy Alter on post-memoir consequences

In case you missed the chapter of Fall for the Book that starred literary nonfiction duo Cathy Alter and David Shields last night at George Mason University, you can catch Cathy tonight at 7 pm when she reads from her hilarious, insightful and painfully honest memoir, Up For Renewal: What Magazines Taught me about Love, Sex, and Starting Over, at Barnes & Noble, 1851 Fountain Drive in Reston. Her book begins at a post-divorce low and ends up, well, you have to read it. In addition to the reading, Cathy will be sharing the consequences of writing a memoir before everyone in it has died--and yes, that includes her mother-in-law and parents. With Cathy's intelligence, straightforward style and warm sense of humor, the event is guaranteed to be a winner.

DSS afterglow

The DSS VIP line

What fun it was last night at the District Sample Sale in Georgetown. Just getting out and about is always fun enough for me, but shopping with friends (writer Cathy Alter, publicist Zena Polin, Kelly Collis Fredrick of CityShopGirl, Barbara Saylor of Capitol B, Makeda Saggau-Sackey of The Glamazon Diaries, publicist Jill Collins), plus champagne, great food and tons of clothes just about sent me over the edge. A reticent shopper not in awe of crowds, I surprised myself at the number of terrific buys I found. Fabiana Zelaya of Daisy Too gets the credit for getting me started and giving me that initial push into fashionland. She said she knew a Jae Basilio cardigan would look great on me, and she was absolutely right. So I got the long taupe and plum sweater for $68--marked down from $341. The bargain of the night. I followed that up with a pair of plum suede Bettye Mullers (from Simply Soles). And...I went from there. A black jersey dress from Emily Grace and a teal graphic Donna Morgan (perfect for my upcoming trip to Japan), champagne, a snack and a chance to say hi to many MoCo shop owners. And as always, kudos to Barbara Martin of The Patton Group. Am I gushing? Yeah, a little. Morning-after glow.

Ginger owner Gretchen Hitchner and friend, Cathy Alter


Cathy Alter, Zena Polin, Kelly Collis Fredrick, Maurisa Turner Potts, Jill Collins, Barbara Saylor

Friday quick bites from Lifetime to dining to shopping

Anticipate: Look for DC writer Cathy Alter's Up For Renewal on Lifetime in the near future. Yes, our local girl made good and just found out her book has been optioned for Lifetime Television. She's wondering who should play her? She suggests Tori Spelling. I say No Way. How about the lovely Sarah Jessica Parker or a more earthbound Cameron Diaz? Much more Cathy-esque.

Dine and Relax: Don't know where to eat? Try redDog Cafe on Grubb Road in Rock Creek Shopping Center, Silver Spring (very close to Chevy Chase). Chef Michael Chretien, formerly of Rock Creek in Mazza Gallerie, whips up a mean gazpacho served in a martini glass. That, the tender scallops served with cauliflower gratin and a glass of crisp white wine on the patio starts the weekend off right.

Shop: Have you visited the new stores on Wisconsin Place yet? Baby store Giggle is well-organized. Its bright white shelves are stocked with everything from organic baby clothes to all-natural baby skincare to a cute, unique selection of toys. Also in the shopping center are a spanking new BCBG Max Azria and White House Black Market, which just opened yesterday. 

Bon Weekend!

Renewal, jewels and reinvention

Last night's book party/jewelry trunk show at Bethesda's Ginger was a hit. The store filled up with friends and fans of jewelry designer Suzanne Somersall and writer Cathy Alter, who was signing paperback copies of Up For Renewal, her account of how she rose from the depths of post-divorce bourbon-and-bad-boy hell to ... I won't give away the ending.  Only to say she did it by following the advice of women's glossies. Silly? No; it worked. Obviously. Life coach Stuart Schneiderman's blog  praising Cathy's book basically says, when in trauma, "outsource decision-making." Eureka! When last night Jane Pennewell appeared as though out of the pages of a glossy in breezy silk trousers, a billowy linen blouse and chic haircut, she looked so sharp, I had to stop sipping chardonnay long enough to ask, "Who is she? And, how does she know how to dress like that?" Easy: she's an image consultant Cathy interviewed for her recent Washington Post story "The Minor Makeover." Again, when in doubt, outsource decision-making. As it turns out, that's what Pennewell did. She says after tragedy struck her family and she couldn't/didn't want to get out of bed, a friend got her up, dressed and out--every day. Pennewell ultimately decided to stay up, reinvent herself and dedicate herself to helping people do the same. Hence the warm smile. Everybody has a story. Each provides a peek behind the cover and a chance to find new means of survival, which sometimes requires a little reinvention. 

Image consultant (right) Jane Pennewell with friend and client Ann Tognetti

Cathy Alter signs books and shows off snazzy shoes from Ginger

Cathy with friend and Ginger owner Gretchen Hitchner 

Jewelry designer Suzanne Somersall 

Updates from The Front Row

Shopping was fun yesterday at Bethesda's first day of a three-day spree at The Front Row. Philippe Cousteau (above right), grandson of Jacques Cousteau, was in Ginger for the Calypso St. Barth Trunk Show in support of his environmental organization, EarthEcho. Cousteau Blue just happens to be a signature color of Calypso St. Barth this season. Ginger owner Gretchen Hitchner in maroon top, poses with friends including writer Zena Polin and novelist Cathy Alter. Stylist Craig Miller (below) of Salon Cielo ran open forums on hot summer hair. And there was so much more. Today brings celebrity chef Maria Liberati to Bella Italia at 5; bluemercury is offering complimentary makeovers starting at 10 a.m. And not to mention tonight's grande finale: a fashion show with Project Runway's indescribable Christian Siriano. Stay tuned!