Shoshanna, with a side of window and Chic P salad

Last spring my daughter Maddie and I jaunted to Georgetown to meet designer Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss at Urban Chic's trunk show. Last night we set out for the Bethesda location to see the latest from the designer and visit with fashion blogger Betsy Lowther as part of Bethesda Row's Boutique Week. The dresses were a classic mix of fem with a subtle touch of sexy. Shoshanna doesn't do plunging necklines or slit up-to-there skirts. Her bright florals have more subtle details--off the shoulder, ruching, and gathered skirts. Betsy looked great dressed in a flowered ruched number we all love.

But stay with me...there are two more parts to the story. The Before:

... the fantastic window display we passed at Ginger. We love this dress made of book pages--perfect statement of book + fashion (see my prior Devil Wears Prada post)

and After:

...amazing salad at Sweetgreen. I've already had the "bondi" and "guacamole greens" with shrimp and I love them both. Because I'm a falafel lover I tried out the Chic P... The best. I loved the crunch of the spinach and pita chips combined with soft, warm, spicy falafel. The salad also has roasted yellow peppers, mesclun and chickpeas all dressed with a light tahini/hummus lemon dressing. It was a bowl full of my favorite tastes. The textures worked splendidly as well--not too salty, mushy, hard or crunchy. A home run--especially paired with their deliciously chewy brown bread.

CityShopGirl Citywide Scavenger Hunt!

CityShopGirl is turning 1 in October! And like most birthday parties, fun and games are involved. But this one, a scavenger hunt, involves the entire metro area, a good cause and fantastic prizes. To join the fun, you must 1. Subscribe to CityShopGirl  2. Follow the clues on @cityshopgirl on Twitter and CityShopGirl emails  3. Show up at the cocktail party at Lotus Lounge Oct. 17 when the winners will be announced and the prize, worth over $2,500, awarded. The creative and enterprising team of Bethesda native Kelly Collis Fredrick, publisher of CityShopGirl, and Sarah Damelio of organic skincare company Skincando teamed up to promote local businesses and support Skincando's Operation Sand Flea. MoCo participants include Ginger, Urban Chic, National Jean Company, De La Ines Salon, ILORI, Sweetgreen, Still Point Spa, Red Dog, Crooked Monkey and LA Boxing, plus more from DC. There will be a suggested donation of $5 (and well-deserved) at the party to support Skincando's Operation Sand Flea, which sends burn- and itch-relieving Combat Ready Balm to our troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Subscribers can sign up as individuals or a team (up to 4 members) by emailing rsvp@cityshopgirl.com