Bethesda Row premieres 'Boutique Week'

All next week, starting tomorrow to be exact, Bethesda Row is celebrating Boutique Week, eight days of in-store events, celebrity appearances, trunk shows, specials book signings and guest bloggers (including moi) hosting daily events. The week kicks off tomorrow with free Equinox yoga classes in Bethesda Lane (weather permitting, of course) and 20% off outerwear at Wear It Well. Don't miss Monday night at Ginger for a chance to meet DailyCandy D.C. editor Annie Lou Bayly, and The Devil Wears Prada author Lauren Weisberger, as she signs copies of her new book, Last Night at Chateau Marmont. Tuesday brings AskMissA's Andrea Rodgers to J. McLaughlin, a Kenneth Jay Lane trunk show and beauty samplings from Aveda; Wednesday is Shoshanna Day all day at Urban Chic along with Betsey Lowther of Fashion is Spinach; Thursday Norah O'Donnell and local chef Geoff Tracy will be signing copies of their new book, Baby Love at Sassanova. Friday is a full day of fun at lululemon athletica with a Function as Fashion show at 7:30 p.m., healthy tips, fitness gifts and ... MoCo Scene! I look forward to seeing you all there! Saturday (Oct. 9) visit Luna for a Soft Joie trunk show.  Click here for more details on all events.

Don't. Miss. This. ALL ACCESS: FASHION!

Last year we had a blast with Project Runway's Tim Gunn, the affable host of the inaugural All Access:  Fashion event at Tysons Galleria. This year, Sept. 30-Oct. 2, the celebrity host of the runway show Friday night will be Paul Sinclaire, the man who among many other things has consulted with Valentino, Trussardi, Dolce & Gabbana and Dior. He most recently collaborated with Saks Fifth Avenue to create an exclusive fall/winter line of womenswear. Guests may also note another famous face in the crowd: Patricia Field, who styled the looks that made Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw, Carrie Bradshaw.  And that's just Friday. The 3-day fashion mega-event opens with "The New Rules of Engagement: Luxury 2.0," a lively panel discussion by high-profile industry insiders including Ned Martel of the Post Style section and Aaron Battista, retail VP for 7 For All Mankind. Saturday is a full day of individual runway fashion shows by Betsey Johnson, Nicole Miller, 7 For All Mankind, Anne Fontaine, Karen Millen and B/A/S/L/E/R plus 50 in-store events. While runway seating is invite-only, everything is free and open to the public. The event benefits SOS Children's Villages, an international organization that helps orphaned and abandoned children around the world.

Tim Gunn

Tim Gunn comments on the looks at last year's All Access: Fashion show

In case you missed it, here's a Passport to Style replay...

Last Thursday night, people filled up the tent set up at The Shops at Wisconsin Place for  Passport to Style. The event drew a fashion-savvy crowd who gave $20 to benefit either Hope for Henry or Fashion for Paws. They were treated to lobster claw bites from Capitol Grille, wine tastings from The Tasting Room, $3 cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake (who donated the proceeds to Hope for Henry), a fashion show, a swag bag full of samples and discount coupons and much more. All the stores surrounding the tent had their own events as well. Fun!

What else? Georgetown Cupcake

Capitol Grille 

Don't think the sign was part of the show...

Coffee break courtesy of Tynan's

Shopping Break! Fab shoes I spotted at Adolfo Dominguez

This cutie was up for adoption by the Washington Humane Society

 The Tasting Room (my fave is the Topiary)

Jazz It Up at Rockville Town Square!

This Saturday patrons of Rockville Town Square can stroll, shop, sip and be treated to live jazz all afternoon at the center's annual "Jazz It Up" festival and Taste of the Square. Events kick off at noon and go until 7 pm. In addition to store specials, enjoy food and drinking tastings from Bobby’s Crabcakes, Buffalo Wild Wings, La Tasca, Oro Pomodoro, Primo Italiano and Spice Xingthe. Music schedule below:


Noon:     Donato
1:30pm:     Swing Speak
3:00pm:     James King
4:30pm:     Kevin Mittleman Trio
6:00pm:     The Jeff Carmella Band

Rain date is Oct. 2.

Have you gotten your ticket? Passport to Style is tonight!!

Jennifer Rotigliano from Wisconsin Place, Laurie Strongin with the Hope for Henry Foundation and Tara de Nicolas from Fashion for Paws talk about tonight's fashion extravaganza at The Shops at Wisconsin Place in Chevy Chase. Your $20 ticket goes directly either to Hope for Henry or Fashion for Paws. See our earlier post here. Video courtesy of TBD.com's "Let's Talk Live."

The Mothership Has Landed--Equinox grand opening today

Have you even gone inside a five-star hotel and wished you never had to leave? That's the way I felt when I toured Bethesda Row's brand-new Equinox gym. Sure, there are 20 specially trained and certified trainers, tons of of cardio equipment and weights--with huge windows overlooking downtown--and even a serene yoga studio (complete with mats, blankets and blocks). Oh yeah, and a Cadillac, reformers and chairs for Pilates. And, there is a full roster of innovative classes--including the functional training "Whip It" and Tabata. Exercise, schmexercise you might say. But, there's more! Like a dry-cleaning service (hello!), retail shop stocked with activewear, childcare at $9 for two hours (seriously? in Bethesda??), eucalpytus-scented chilled towels, filtered water, and lots and lots of gorgeous tile (my fave). Initiation is just $19 till the end of September. Here's a sneak peek at some of the details we love to love:

Tiled wall

Women's showers
stocked with Kiehl's

Childcare

tile detail from pool room

pool

Garden Love

Hester Garden; Photo from The Garden Conservancy

Nothing helps gives the soul peace like a well-tended garden-- your home's best fashion accessory. On Saturday, Sept. 25, we have a chance to tour four of the area's premier gardens in D.C. and Silver Spring when the Garden Conservancy's Open Days program comes to town. No reservations necessary. Admission is $5; children under 12 are free. For directions and more info about the program click here.