DailyCandy Washington, D.C.

More Than Words

2009-11-20T14:15:00Z

Library: Archives of Fashion Vintage Shop

It was Miss Lail with the horsebit belt in the library.

Need a bigger clue? We’re talking about Library: Archives of Fashion, an online vintage shop out of Charleston.

At the helm is Lauren Lail, who sees each fashion piece as a story, together creating a unique anthology.

Designer items share virtual racks with no names, all dangling reasonable price tags and detailed measurements.

Hopeless romantics will be drawn to floral dresses, ruffled tops, and crochet vests. Big sunglasses, chunky belts, and animal prints will appeal to those with a penchant for drama. And boyfriend cardis and blazers offer self-help on days when you’re not feeling your thinnest.

There are times we can all use a cover-up.

Available online at libraryfashion.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Sully Sullivan Photography

Life of Pie

2009-11-20T08:30:00Z

Dangerously Delicious DC's Early Holiday Orders

Family bonding fills the pit of your stomach with a heaping slice of anxiety (and a side of dread).

This Thanksgiving stuff it with baked goods instead, courtesy of Dangerously Delicious DC.

Owner Rodney Henry, who started baking to keep himself afloat while touring with rock bands, has been making his pies — with all-natural, fresh ingredients (no syrups here) — in Baltimore for years.

Though still not officially open, his new Atlas District bakery is firing its ovens early for holiday orders. Choose from pumpkin, cinnamon-laced apple, pecan, or Southern sweet potato. Can’t decide? An order of three scores free delivery within the area.

In early December, hit up the vivid red chandelier-lit shop for dozens of sweet, savory, and often irreverent pies. Case in point: The DC-centric Marionberry Pie topped with rock candy (wah wah).

The holiday hurdles are coming.

Just keep your eyes on the pies.

Dangerously Delicious DC, 1339 H Street NE, between 13th and 14th Streets (202-398-7437 or dangerouspiesdc.com). For pie orders, e-mail orders@dangerouspiesdc.com or call 202-398-7437.

Photo: Courtesy of Dangerously Delicious DC

The Weekend Guide

2009-11-19T14:15:00Z

What to Do This Weekend

It’s a dog’s life.

MAKE
Cake for Canines
What: Give Fido a little something to be grateful for this Thanksgiving (or his next b-day) with a doggie dessert mix. For bonus points, get the bone-shaped cupcake pan.
Why: You’ve got a case of puppy love.
Where: Online at puppycake.com.

SAVE
Heidi Merrick Sale
What: The L.A. designer is discounting dresses, bathing suits, skirts, and blouses by 50-75 percent.
Why: It’s going, going, gone.
Where: Online at heidimerrick.com.

USE
Wordnik
What: The comprehensive online dictionary includes pronunciations, relevant quotes, etymologies, and recent appearances on Twitter and Flickr.
Why: Spread the words.
Where: Online at wordnik.com.

ORGANIZE
LobotoMe Notepads
What: Handy checklists make for more efficient packing, grocery shopping, working out, meal planning, and more.
Why: You’d forget your head if it weren’t attached.
Where: Online at lobotome.com.

WATCH
Handmade Nation
What: Artist/first-time filmmaker Faythe Levine traveled across America to make this inspiring documentary about the recent rise of crafting and DIY.
Why: Get creative juices flowing.
Where: Online at buyolympia.com.

EAT
Full Circle Flavors
What: Three lovely sisters in Pennsylvania make chocolaty Amaretto, Limoncello, and Orangecello cakes.
Why: You’re well rounded.
Where: Online at fullcircleflavors.com.

Would you rather hit the road this weekend? All you need is a change of clothes and our road trip tips at dailycandy.com/guides.

Photo: Courtesy of Puppy Cake

The Weekend Guide

2009-11-19T08:30:00Z

What to Do This Weekend

Tiding you over till Glee.

SEE
Show Boat
What: Signature Theatre reinvents the retro musical with new songs and innovative staging.
Why: Send visiting relatives down the river.
When: Thru Jan. 17. Tues. & Wed., 7:30 p.m.; Thurs. & Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 & 7 p.m.
Where: 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington (703-573-7328). Tickets online at ticketmaster.com.

SHOP
Holiday Heist
What: Get a leg up on seasonal shopping with crafty jewelry, art, bath products, and stationery, courtesy of D.C. Craft Mafia.
Why: Go for Heist, not lows.
When: Sat., noon-6 p.m.
Where: The Soundry, 316 Dominion Rd., Vienna (703-698-0088).

LEARN
Terra Cotta Warriors Cooking Class
What: Guest Chef Susanna Foo’s four-course Chinese culinary demo (coconut chicken shumai, braised short ribs), inspired by the visiting soldiers.
Why: Get your skills on terra firma.
When: Sat., 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: TenPenh Restaurant, 1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, b/t 10th & 11th Sts. (202-393-4500). Reservations required to jillian@passionfoodhospitality.com.

DRINK
The Black Rooster Pub’s Grand Reopening
What: Beloved downtown bar escapes closing, celebrating with drink specials, darts, and tunes.
Why: The Rooster is a phoenix.
When: Fri., 6 p.m.
Where: 1919 L St. NW, at 20th St. (202-659-4431).

VEG
Thanksgiving with the Turkeys
What: Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary hosts a vegan potluck.
Why: Proceeds benefit the nonprofit’s abandoned and unwanted farm animals.
When: Sat., noon-4 p.m.
Where: 15200 Mt. Nebo Rd., Poolesville (301-428-8128).

Baby, you can drive your car this weekend. Rev up with the aid of our road trip tips at dailycandy.com/guides.

Photo: Chris Mueller / Courtesy of Signature Theatre

Under African Skies

2009-11-18T17:00:00Z

DailyCandy Goes to Cape Town

Humming with young boho buzz, Cape Town has emerged from its rocky past as the creative capital of Africa. From high-stakes adventures (paragliding off Signal Hill) to creature comforts (crisp, local sauvignon blancs), the city will leave you breathless.

GPS
While the day away in City Bowl’s historic open-air markets, public gardens, and cobblestoned pedestrian malls dating back to the 17th century’s Dutch East India Company. Tamboerskloof has chic outdoor cafes and prime-time people-watching. Style junkies should head to emerging neighborhoods Woodstock (for design collectives and art galleries), Bo-Kaap (for colorful cottage architecture), and de Waterkant (for a hopping gay scene).

NEST
To experience the social swirl at its best, stay within easy access of Kloof Street. Kick up your heels at Tamboerskloof’s sleek and chic Kensington Place (38 Kensington Crescent; +27-21-424-4744) for primo pampering (like your suite sprinkled with rose petals).

The Airstream Penthouse Trailer Park atop the new Grand Daddy (38 Long Street; +27-21-424-7247) offers a campy-cool vibe in the form of seven vintage caravans refurbished by local artists and set against stunning Table Mountain. Trailers have themes — Afro Funk, Love of Lace, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Sip Castle lager at the rooftop bar and catch a flick at The Pink Flamingo outdoor cinema. Really, now. Who said trailer trash was a uniquely American phenomenon?

INGEST
Native glamazons start the day with Ouma Rusks, the South African equivalent of a biscotti, and yummy meia de leites (espresso with steamed milk) at Vida e Caffe (34 Kloof Street; +27-21-426-0627). For lunch, grab a quiche at Melissa’s (94 Kloof Street; +27-21-424-5540), which has an awesome pay-per-kilo buffet. Thirsty? Sundowners are a Capetonian institution. Snag a harborside table at Cape Grace’s Bascule (West Quay Road; +27-21-410-7100) and choose from more than 400 whiskeys. The largest single malt collection in the Southern hemisphere, it’s a whiskey lover’s wet dream.

INVEST
Share the love with jealous pals back home and swing through the historic Greenmarket Square (54 Shortmarket Street) for authentic African curios like Hutu masks, soapstone giraffe sculptures, and wooden rhino salad tongs. Saturday mornings, the city’s creative cognoscenti descend upon Woodstock’s vibrant Neighbourgoods Market (373-375 Albert Road; +27-21-448-1438). Tarts, curries, and biltong (South African beef jerky) are a must. And make room for one-of-a-kind textiles, vintage dresses, and handcrafted charm necklaces.

DIGRESS
For old-world glamour and traditional Afrikaans fare, stop by Sunday jazz brunch at Steenberg Hotel and Winery in Constantia Valley (10802 Steenberg Estate, Tokai Road; +27-21-713-2222), the oldest vineyard on the Western Cape. (Owner Graham Beck’s brut NV is what the Obamas popped on election night.)

For insider access to vineyards, hook up with Roar Africa. Its people have been in the region for eleven generations, and co-founder Deb Calmeyer can impress the pickiest oenophile. The VIP visit to UK diamond king Laurence Graff’s new winery, Delaire Graff Estate (P.O. Box 3058, Stellenbosch; +27-21-885-8160), gets you into the off-limits barrel room and a sneaky sampling straight from the casks. (The property’s chic David Collins-designed boutique hotel is set to open next year.)

THE REST
No snoozing for you: There’s high-voltage adrenalin and raw wildlife at every turn. Swim with sharks at Seal Island. Ride big waves at Muizenberg Beach. Hike Table Mountain for sweeping views of the city and the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Visit indigenous penguins at Boulders Beach. And catch a glimpse of the only free roaming white lions in the world at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve (+27-28-572-1824).

Don’t worry about the eternal flight home. You’ll be sleeping the whole way.

Photos: Courtesy of Kelley McMillan; Courtesy of The Grand Daddy; Courtesy of Cape Grace; Courtesy of Neighbourgoods Market; Courtesy of Delaire Graff Estate; Courtesy of Sanbona Game Reserve

Skin City

2009-11-18T14:15:00Z

Khirma Eliazov Handbags Debut

After your FUPA made an unscheduled appearance at a late-night dance party (followed by its own tag on Facebook), you swore your skin-showing days were over.

But you’ll rethink things when you get a glimpse of Khirma Eliazov’s handbags. The fashion editor-cum-designer uses unusual exotic skins to make them stand out (in a good way).

The carryalls are comprised of Italian leather, canvas, and gold or silver hardware with textured panels made of stingray. Styles include an oversize number for day, a sleek tote you can carry into the evening, and a pouch with a long body strap good for hitting the town at night. All are available in rich fall hues like navy, eggplant, black, taupe, and gray.

The price tags are steep ($240-$1,495 to be exact).

But you’ve considered paying more for tight skin.

Available online at khirmaeliazov.com. DailyCandy readers get 20% off on purchases made today with code DailyCandy.

Photo: Courtesy of Khirma Eliazov

Cocktail Spin

2009-11-18T08:30:00Z

The Passenger Bar Opens

All aboard The Passenger. Seat yourselves in the green leather booths.

Your captain this evening is ace bartender Tom Brown (Cork), assisted by his brother — and sommelier — Derek (The Gibson, Better Drinking).

Food and beverage service will begin shortly. Choose from punch bowls of Sherry Flips and mulled wine, 25 wines by the glass (sparkling gewürztraminer, Lebanese rosé), and craft beer. There’s no cocktail menu; just tell the boys what you like, and they’ll custom blend your drink using fresh-squeezed juices and top-shelf spirits.

Local bites include artisan half smokes and beef jerky. Nosh by the bar or pass through swinging doors to the old-fashioned dining car.

In the next month, Derek’s cozy cocktail club and laboratory, The Columbia Room, opens.

It’s sure to take off.

The Passenger, 1021 Seventh Street NW, between New York Avenue and L Street (202-393-0220 or passengerdc.com).

Photo: Courtesy of Jim Webb Photography

This Little Deal of Mine

2009-11-17T16:00:00Z

Let ’em shine!

Let's Be Ecological

2009-11-17T14:00:00Z

My, what a big carbon footprint you have! Try these green products with an edge, dear.

Deck the Hall

2009-11-17T08:30:00Z

B. Hall, Baker Whoopie Pies

The other night we had mind-blowing whoopie. Five times to be exact. Then woke up this morning and had some more.

You’re judging us, aren’t you? Eat it.

No, really. Take a bite of B. Hall, Baker’s whoopie pies. When she noticed times getting tough last year, former Hill staffer Beryl Hall started baking fluffy, lip-smacking treats using fresh, all-natural ingredients (Mexican vanilla, real maple syrup).

Flavors rotate with the seasons. Fall brings pumpkin with maple frosting and dark chocolate with fudge filling. Stock up for winter with festive red velvet. When Washington’s birthday rolls around, celebrate with cherry vanilla. Warm weather welcomes coconut and peach.

The tiny, pop-in-your-mouth snacks are the perfect pick-you-up.

Go on. Get some.

Available online at bhallbaker.com.

Photo: Courtesy of B. Hall, Baker

Get Pumped

2009-11-16T14:15:00Z

Easy Does It: How to Change a Flat Tire

We’re always looking for a reason to hang out with hunks. Especially if it requires flexing, moaning, and pushing.

So it only made sense to find a muscley beefcake to teach us how to change a busted tire for our next Easy Does It how-to video.

Don’t be intimidated by the task at hand: Fixing a flat is actually really easy — and totally beats waiting for AAA or flagging down a sketchy truck driver. Plus, we figure self-sufficiency (especially if you’re in BFE) is always a good policy.

Now it’s time for a little pump and grind.

To submit questions you’d like us to answer in our next Easy Does It video, e-mail easydoesit@dailycandy.com. Feel free to ask us anything (anything!).

Karma Kamal-eon

2009-11-16T08:30:00Z

Kamal Paper Products

You there, with the abbreviated vocab and early arthritis. Put down the phone and pick up the pen.

It’s time to trade text messaging for textile messaging, courtesy of Kamal paper products.

Virginia-based designer Kamal Patel creates colorful, patterned greeting cards that get the message across in as many characters as you like. She takes cues from her Indian heritage, sourcing antique beads from the East to embellish her pinwheel cards with intricate dots and swirls.

Choose from a spunky selection of starbursts, peacock feathers, botanicals, and geometric prints with art deco appeal. Patel uses recycled paper and hand-mixed inks, so there’s no need to worry about your carbon footprint.

Find wrapping paper and coasters, too. Buy them.

ASAP.

Available online at onkamal.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Kamal

Kamal Paper Goods

2009-11-16T08:00:00Z

With intricate patterns and bright colors, Kamal paper goods (from $5.50-$24) look more like art than typical greeting cards. Founder Kamal Patel draws from her Indian heritage to create the original pinwheel, peacock feather, and starburst designs. The delights extend to coasters and wrapping paper.

Let's Take It Slows

2009-11-13T14:15:00Z

Split Pea and Okra Fritter Recipe from Detroit's Slows Bar B Q

You’ve never been the type to fritter things away. Until now. Down at Slows Bar B Q, Detroit’s destination for all things slathered in saucy sauce and washed down with craft beer, chef Brian Perrone’s split pea and okra fry-ups make a scrumptious start to any meal.

Split Pea and Okra Fritters
Makes 25-30 fritters

Ingredients
2 c. green split peas, cooked and cooled
4 c. baby spinach, packed
½ c. hot sauce
¼ c. buttermilk
6 eggs
2 tbsp. kosher salt
1 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. baking powder
¼ c. yellow cornmeal
3 c. all-purpose flour, plus a little more
8 c. okra, sliced

1. Combine split peas and spinach in food processor, add hot sauce and buttermilk, process until smooth. Transfer to large bowl.

2. Whisk in eggs; add salt, sugar, baking powder, and cornmeal.

3. Whisk in flour a little at a time until mixture is not too loose, not too firm.

4. Fold in okra.

5. Drop by rounded tablespoon into 350º oil, fry until golden brown and cooked all the way through. Serve immediately.

Slows Bar B Q, 2138 Michigan Avenue, at Fisher Freeway West, Detroit (313-962-9828‎ or slowsbarbq.com).

Photo: Courtesy of Greg Holm

Bar Attender

2009-11-13T08:30:00Z

Food and Cocktail Pairing Menu at PS 7's

You drink better than you eat (Maker’s and mac ’n’ cheese, champagne and chicken nuggets).

Something’s not adding up.

Balance the equation with a gourmet food-and-cocktail dinner at PS 7’s. Call at least one day ahead to share any preferences or aversions, then plop down at the bar and let chef Peter Smith and master mixologist Gina Chersevani woo you with a sublime seven-course meal.

The duo pairs each seasonal dish with a complementary cocktail. Pumpkin soup with chestnuts and scotch caramel matches the booze in the S.S. Balvenie. Cucumber-wrapped oysters meet a slushy sherry sip (a play on oysters’ bed of ice and sherry vinegar). Wash down the Yummy Tummy pork belly with a Belly Rub cider.

Awesome grub + delicious drinks + a sweet scene = fulfillment.

You do the math.

Available at PS 7’s, 777 I Street NW, between 7th and 9th Streets (202-742-8550 or ps7restaurant.com). Call ahead to book.

Photo: Courtesy of PS 7’s

The Weekend Guide

2009-11-12T14:15:00Z

What to Do This Weekend

Drink up.

CARRY
Wine Totes
What: Carry vino in these perfectly sized cotton bags. They’ve got designs just for Bordeaux, Rioja, and Napa Valley wines.
Why: Beats a paper bag.
Where: Online at maptote.com.

MAKE
All-Natural NyQuil
What: The handsome Hot Knives blogger guys devised a recipe using booze, mint leaves, green chili, and ginger that’ll show your cold who’s boss.
Why: It’s good going down.
Where: Online at urbanhonking.com.

SHOP
Castor & Pollux
What: NYC-based store is bringing its equine-themed clothes, accessories, and antiques to the Net. Designers include Filippa K, Acne, and United Bamboo.
Why: Start horsin’ around.
Where: Online at castorandpolluxstore.com.

USE
Cell Phone Radiation Protection
What: These cases purport to be the first of their kind to reduce radiation from your cellular.
Why: Don’t fry your brain.
Where: Online at pongresearch.com.

EAT
Bobbysue’s Nuts
What: Delish organic snacks are the perfect combo of savory and sweet (even the It’s Raining Chocolate variety). A portion of sales goes to help homeless animals.
Why: You’ll love deez nuts.
Where: Online at bobbysuesnuts.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Kate Mathis

The Weekend Guide

2009-11-12T08:30:00Z

What to Do This Weekend

Try knickers, not snickers.

PEDAL
Dandies and Quaintrelles’s First Tweed Ride
What: Dress to kill and hop on your bike to promote good old-fashioned style.
Why: Proceeds from the postride party benefit Arts for the Aging.
When: Sun., 11 a.m.
Where: Ride begins at H & 8th Sts. NE and ends at Marvin, 2007 14th St. NW, b/t U & V Sts. (202-797-7171).

GIVE
Denim Drive
What: Donate old jeans and get 20 percent off, plus fit recommendations from J Brand’s chief stylist.
Why: Habitat for Humanity uses your denim donation as insulation.
When: Thurs., 6-10 p.m.
Where: National Jean Company, 7301 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda (301-907-0295).

BROWSE
Museum Shop Around
What: Sixteen museums, theaters, and galleries set up temporary gift shops with jewelry, art, books, and local crafts for early holiday shopping.
Why: Hop and shop.
When: Thurs., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: The Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda (301-581-5100).

DIGEST
Food and Folklore
What: Eatonville hosts a themed three-course literary dinner with Zora Neale Hurston biographer Valerie Boyd.
Why: Your eyes are watching cod.
When: Fri., 6:30 p.m
Where: 2121 14th St. NW, at V St. (202-332- 9672). R.S.V.P. required at 202-332- 9672 or foodandfolklore@gmail.com.

STYLE
Bastani & Branding
What: A tempting night of Persian ice cream in conjunction with I RAN Home (In America), the gallery’s exhibition of emerging Iranian-American artists.
Why: You’ll lick it a lot.
When: Sat., 6-9 p.m.
Where: The Fridge, 516 8th St. SE, rear alley (202-664-4151).

Photo: Matt Shaw / Courtesy of Dandies and Quaintrelles

Future Perfect

2009-11-11T17:00:00Z

Top Ten Destinations for 2010

Last week we announced our partnership with Black Tomato. Today we’re showing what it can do: get you to the destinations everyone’s going to be talking about next. (P.S. to those who haven’t booked holiday trips yet: Look. how. easy.)

Here are the top ten for 2010.

Colombia is the perfect cocktail of sea (Caribbean), mountains (Andes), and rain forest (Amazon). In Cartagena, check into Sofitel Santa Clara, then wander cobbled streets to gaze at brightly colored buildings, watch spectacular sunsets from Cafe del Mar on the harbor, and have dinner at Club de Pesca (order mahimahi). End your visit snorkeling crystal blue waters while recuperating in a stunning ecohab in the cliffs above the Parque Nacional Tayrona beaches. Details.

Safaris always deliver, especially in Botswana, where the flood plains of the Okavango Delta are home to elephants, lions, wildebeest, giraffes, and buttloads of wild cats. Bond with the beasts from a different perspective on HMS Zib, a spanking-new houseboat that cruises the river. At Zarafa Camp, you can sleep in a four-poster bed, relax in a free-standing copper tub, and snooze by roaring open-stone fires. Details.

If you want to turn a classic on its head, set your compass to the land Down Under, which has so much more than the well-publicized East Coast. Western Australia has laid-back charm, beautiful beaches, and rugged landscapes. Start at The Richardson Hotel in Perth, then head up the coast to Ningaloo Reef to swim with whale sharks, surf alongside dolphins, and take in mesmerizing sunsets at wine tastings. From the ecotents at Sal Salis, it’s a quick kayak ride to the reef’s fish, turtles, and manta rays. Details.

Since Turkey is outside the euro, your budget will stretch further. European Capital of Culture Istanbul will be throbbing next year and, when combined with Bodrum and Cappadocia, mixes ancient and modern. In Istanbul, stay at Tomtom Suites in the historic Pera area for incredible views of the rooftops and harbor. Or across the water on the Asian side at Sumahan for huge suites with funky fireplaces and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Bosphorus. Look out Côte d’Azur: Bodrum’s up-and-coming beach hotspots Cesme (your hotel: 7800) and Türkbükü (book Maçakizi) have sugar white sand and emerald waters and are the coolest place to top up your tan in style. In Cappadocia, take a balloon ride tour of the stunning lunar landscapes and ancient caves, then recover from it all at Anatolian Houses. Details.

Rounding out the list: lost cities in Syria, volcano surfing in Nicaragua, spiritual awakening in Bhutan, maharaja living in India, lunar landscapes in Chile, and wildebeest migrations in Tanzania.

The got-there-first bragging rights are yours for the taking.

For more information and help booking trips, go to blacktomato.co.uk.

Photos: Courtesy of Black Tomato; Courtesy of Ningaloo Reef

I Love You, Mann

2009-11-11T14:15:00Z

Elliot Mann Handbags Launch

Your dating life is proof that men are from Mars and women are from Venus.

So Elliot Mann must be from Marnus.

One look at his bags, and you’ll suspect the guy’s too good to be true (he is, in fact, imaginary — inspired by two of the designer’s mentors).

Made out of vintage embroidered fabrics from all over the world, each carryall is a one-of-a-kind creation. All are vibrant in color and pattern with sturdy braided leather handles, and they’re big enough to tote around a laptop and groceries on top of the essentials.

The just-launched online shop stocks only twenty bags at a time, and at $275, expect them to go like hotcakes. Thankfully, inventory will constantly be replenished as it’s sold.

Looks like the planets have been aligned.

Available online at elliotmann.com.

Elliot Mann Bag Collection

2009-11-11T14:00:00Z

One-of-a-kind showstoppers, Elliot Mann bags ($275) have a rich history. Fabrics are sourced from Asia, Nepal, and Peru, with Morocco next on the horizon. They all had a previous existence in some other form — furniture upholstery, curtains, even a monk’s robe.

Get the full story on Elliot Mann.