Get Out: Concerts in the Park, Taste of Arlington and More

Needs ideas to get your weekend going? Look no further.

1. Concerts in the Park When/Where: Beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday at Volta Park, 1555 34th St. NW, Washington, D.C.  Why Go: This is the 10th year of Concerts in the Park and the 2012 season promises to be better than ever. Sunday, look for music from Georgetown’s own amazing singer and songwriter, Rebecca McCabe, plus balloons from Georgetown Patch, cupcakes from Sprinkles and much more! The theme is pink and green and there's a prize for the most inspired pink-and-green outfit. Pricing: Free! 2. The 25th Annual Taste of Arlington When/Where: Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday on Wilson Boulevard in front of Ballston Common Mall in Arlington. Why Go: Why not go? This annual street festival features live entertainment, children's activities and more than …

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Clarendon Home Invasion

Simple Ways to Bring Big Style to a Small Bath

Tips for decorating a small bath

Decorating a small bath? This is your chance to go big on style. Avoid the inclination to minimize style simply because you lack space. Instead go bold with these simple ways to bring big style to your small bath. Glide on glossy paint. Cover white walls with a high-impact, high-gloss paint.  By high-impact I mean a deep dramatic color like burgundy or gold. I especially like bold colors in powder rooms where the space is more like a show room for guests. Hang a dramatic piece of art. So much of bathroom wall space is taken up by mirrors, tile and towels. Change the mood in the room with a large piece of fine art. It doesn’t matter if it’s a modern acrylic or landscape oil painting, adding art gives a room a sense of sophistication. Make …

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Get Out: Spy at Night, Hope for A Golden Summer and More

Needs ideas to get your weekend going? Look no further.

1. Wine Class at Citronelle Where/When: Michel Richard Citronelle, 3000 M St. NW, Washington, D.C. The class will run from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. Why Go: If you'd like to learn a little bit more about vino, but don't have the time to hop a flight to Napa, pop into this once-a-month wine class at Citronelle on Saturday. This class will specifically delve into the blending. According to the restaurant's website, "Like a conductor in an orchestra, it takes great expertise and life-long experience to excel in the Art of Blending, but this class will give you a crash course on how it’s done." Pricing: The price of the class is $100. 2. Spy at Night Where/When: International Spy Museum, 800 F St. NW, Washington, D.C. The event is scheduled from 6…

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Clarendon Home Invasion

Children's Rooms Don't Have to Look Juvenile

Decorating children's rooms with taste and sophistication

Anyone faced with decorating a space for kids has come across the bedroom-in-a-bag approach to interior design. Usually themed and available at big-box relatilers, these kits include bedding, wall boarders, matching lamps, wall decals, waste baskets and rugs.  Yuck! Although it’s easy to give in to the whims and desires of little ones, creating “matchy-poohie” rooms is a mistake. Not only will you tire of the nauseating overkill on colors and cartoons, the children will grow out of the theme quicker than you can complete it. Instead, create timeless, classic rooms for kids by sticking with traditional themes and colors pleasing to both parents and children. I remember when my son was 4. He was obsessed with Batman. He wanted all things …

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Merlisa Lawrence Corbett

4:02 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Good point about the mirror. I'm sure that was purely for style. But I do think because parents spend as much time in a nursery as the baby, and certainly use the furniture more, it's important to keep them in mind when selecting furniture.   more ›

2012 Miss Gay Arlington Crowned at Freddie's Beach Bar

For contestants in the second Miss Gay Arlington Pageant, winning the title means more than the crown and cash prize.

In a state where marriage is defined as being strictly between a man and women, and components of the state's legal structure continue to favor heterosexual partnersnips, gay and lesbian residents came together Saturday at Freddie's Beach Bar for the second Miss Gay Arlington pageant. Those who came expecting drama queens and divas or a grown-up version of "Toddlers and Tiaras" were in for a surprise. Throughout the four rounds of competition, which required four costume changes, a talent performance and question-and-answer session, the prospective drag beauty queens of Arlington brought the glitz and glam, but held the drama.  "I'm excited to crown the next Miss Gay Arlington, because it means that we'll get a bigger family," said Diamond…

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Freddie's Hosts 2012 Miss Gay Arlington Pageant on Saturday

Contestants compete for crown, $300 cash prize in four categories — presentation, talent, on-stage question and evening gown.

If you want to see the best Washington-area drag, Freddie's Beach Bar is hosting the second-ever Miss Gay Arlington pageant Saturday. The competition starts at 8 p.m., and there will be a $10 dollar cover at the door. In addition to the crown, contestants are competing for a $300 cash prize, paid entrance to the 2012 Capital Pride parade and two bookings at Freddie's. To win, they'll need to hold the highest score after four rounds of competition — presentation (tied to this year's Mardi Gras theme), talent, evening gown and on-stage question. The reigning Miss Gay Arlington, Diamond D. Bottoms, will crown the winner. The contest is open to all who portray a female persona, according to the rules. It's presented by the Arlington Gay and …

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Clarendon Home Invasion

Gray on Display at DC Design House

Area designers show why gray is the new neutral.

Never has the color gray shone as bright and bold as in this year’s Washington D.C. Design House. The annual Design House, open to the public now through May 13, features the work of the area’s top interior designers. This year they transformed a 10,000-square-foot, seven-bedroom estate in Spring Valley into a showcase of ideas. While some designers went with a trendy bright orange or pale blue, gray is by far the hottest hue.  Perhaps the most stunning use of gray is in the family room, designed by Daniel K. Proctor of Kirk Designs in Baltimore. Proctor created four 8-by-4-foot architectural panels and mounted them on the wall behind a charcoal gray sofa. The panels give the room a sense of depth, while concealing a doorway to the kitchen…

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Clarendon Home Invasion

Create a Shaker-Style Kitchen

Tips on creating a timeless Shaker-style kitchen

Clean lines and simplistic elegance make a Shaker-style kitchen suitable for any home. To create an authentic Shaker kitchen, the key is to keep it simple. Born in 18th-century England, the Shaker movement emerged in New England in the late 1700s and reached its peak in the United States during the Industrial Revolution. Keen craftsmanship became the hallmark of Shaker architecture and furniture design. Shakers considered work an act of worship. They pursued perfection as praise to God. In this pursuit, Shakers designed with three tenets in mind: utility, simplicity and durability. An authentic Shaker kitchen has all three.   Features of a Shaker-style kitchen Because Shakers believed in strong community, continuity and order, the …

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