{ Guest Post } Chocolate, Cupcakes & Wine... Oh My!

What do you like to do on chilly, wet Saturdays? A determined and cold rain is soothing DC into a slumber today. This means I'm staying in and casting envious little glances at last weekend's full dance card: hiking in the autumn woods, a crafty pop-up shop, a dance festival (breakdance, Flamenco and ballet under one roof!), and a chocolatey, Bacchus-approved resuscitation. 

My first stop along this trip down short-term memory lane is Co Co Sala's celebration of DC Wine Week, which I reviewed on ReadySetDC. If you plan to visit DC, well, ever, you will want to pay close attention to this one and share it on Facebook with others who might like this tip for their next trip...

The DC Wine Week concept was concocted, appropriately, on a cocktail napkin. Founders Lisa Byrne and Vanessa French designed the week-long celebration around a brilliantly simple pairing: good wine and great conversation. In the spirit of inclusiveness and support of local business, Lisa and Vanessa welcomed a variety of merchants and events – tastings, custom DCWW menus, classes and a waterfront fitness training session – from Alexandria to Chevy Chase.

Great wine and conversation moved to Co Co Sala Chocolate Lounge & Boutique, where a tasting of sweets and bubbly in the bar’s warm candle-lit atmosphere made work-weary wine enthusiasts sigh “TGIF”. Attentive bartenders treated visitors to Prosecco, an ombre selection of chocolate (from white to 72% cacao), and a very special cupcake complete with instructions. The chocolate cupcake featured three delicious textures – moist cake, light-as-a-cloud mousse frosting and crunchy cocoa nibs – as well as a wine chaser. Equal parts chic and fun means this tasting is sure to sell out again next year. (Envision “Occupy Co Co Sala” signs populating F St should this tasting disappear from next year’s DCWW offering.)

A mini retreat, this event alone is enough to make you sign up now for DC Wine Week 2012 and toast to weekends at Co Co Sala throughout the year.

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images natalie @ calliope |  wine bottles, Vinoteca wine bar, wine tasting, chocolate & wine event photos by Frances Kupersmith & DC Wine Week logo

{ Guest Post } Kirtsy to Moments in Red

I had the small but lovely honor of curating two collections of images for kirtsy.com. This collection, titled "Moments in Red" is about moments we all experience. Like scent, color can conjure memories both simple and substantial. Red needn't be fiery. It can be exuberant, pretty, playful, uplifting, or just accompany moments marked by those vibes. In case you missed it, here's a storyboard I created based on that collection.

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baby hat unknown, superhero girl by Michelle Tandy, A-line dress with crinoline and red heels unknown, her life was her canvas unknown, girl in red dress leaping by Caitlin Bellah, chevron dress via atlanticpacific, blue-eyed girl with lipstick unknown for Guerlain, dotted skirt and red sandals builtbywendy, red leaf on cobblestone street by Mike Shaw, girl looking out window for gabrielleadamidis, Emma Watson red dress by Mark Seliger for VogueItalia, drink champagne and dance on tables image by natalie  @ calliope and photo by Barbie Hull, bokeh red tea cup by Laura Sici, woman in red gown on grass by Annie Leibovitz for Vogue, woman tossing petals unknown

{ Guest Post } RSDC Washington Glass School

Check out my article about the face of the Art Glass Movement in DC, the Washington Glass School. Most of us still perceive glass art strictly as decorative, but much of the work showcased at the WGS's most recent exhibition was undeniably expressive. The collection consistently impressed with creative use of mixed media, but it was the stories behind the work that illuminated the pieces and crafted an almost palpable connection with the artists...

Click here to read the article at ReadySetDC. (Note: Their system must be experiencing minor glitches with formatting/alignment and copy-paste issues affecting some of the text. Also, all except the first photo on that page are my slightly questionable attempts at indoor photography.)

Below is the work of Dale Chihuly, my first introduction to glass art:

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lamp by Mears via longviewgallery; glass chandelier, ceiling and spears via dalechihuly

{ Guest Post } RSDC Design Studio

Check out my interview with the owner of new DC design studio Sukio, Desiré Greene, also organizer of Apartment Therapy Design Evenings. We chat about her inspiration, hope for the emerging DC design scene, ATDE wish list and vision for Sukio. I've had interview phobia since concocting a pretty pathetic mock interview for a sociology class at William & Mary. One phobia down, an embarrassing number of additional phobias to go...

Click here to read the interview at ReadySetDC, an online magazine seeking to capture the cultural renaissance in DC, spotlight the creatives behind the scene and inspire.

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photo by natalie @ calliope