Modeling Beautiful Clothes

All clothing was hand selected by the personal shoppers Effie and Courtney at Tyson's Corners Bloomingdales, in McLean, Virginia. 

I do not look like a model, walk like a model, etc. I am not thin, not young and not tall. 

But when I walk around modeling fabulous designer clothes, I sure do feel like a model! I had a wonderful experience again this year modeling Bloomingdale's clothing by Ted Baker, Elie Tahari, etc.  Thanks to the Yacht Haven Garden Club's annual fashion show to raise funds for city-wide gardening projects, I was allowed to pretend that I could be a real model. How much fun is that?

St. Petersburg, Russia

We have such fond memories of the Imperial Russia that we encountered this summer in St. Petersburg, Russia. Originally a cold, windy swamp on the Baltic Sea, St. Petersburg was born when Peter the Great founded his government capital and created a city that is still stunning today. 

The 24k gold leaf domes seen here are the chapel at Catherine the Great's place, the Catherine Palace. The Palace is a lovely robin's egg blue. 

Pen-and-Inks from the 2015 TWIG house Tour

Here are three more wonderful homes from this year's TWIG house tour, a fundraiser for the INOVA Alexandria Hospital. TWIG is the junior auxiliary of the hospital. Their main fundraising arm is their upscale thrift shop located on North Columbus Street in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. 

Pen and Inks by Patricia Uchello

At River Farm, Headquarters of the American Horticultural Society, through Sept. 28, 2015

The Fig Arbor, for sale at The American Horticultural Society

Capri, Italy, for sale at AHS

Rose's Luxury

The Unassuming Exterior at 717 8th St., S. E.

As the first guests are seated, the long line continues.

FRESH and WARM POTATO BREAD WITH CHIVEY BUTTER, AND A BOURBON PEACH COCKTAIL

The Bourbon drink is bedecked with a  real leaf

My fave: Chilled Vadouvan curry with macadamia nuts and caramelized banana

Rock Shrimp ceviche with crispy plantains

Rarely have I stood for an hour in line for the privilege of a table at five pm. OK, make that never. But after hearing about Rose's Luxury for a year, I had to go see for myself if it were worth the trouble. And yes, it was!!

Carlo and I set out from home at 3:30 in the afternoon to drive to Capital Hill, Washington, D.C.  We arrived at 4, and joined a line of about 90 people. We wondered when the first in line had arrived...

At five o'clock, the hostess/maître d' started greeting each person in line and asking if they would like an early seating or a second seating. We opted for early.  By five pm, the line behind us was about 120 people long. 

The fabulous dessert: A combo of coconut ice cream, kiwi, caramel, burnt coconut and lime with strewn bachelor buttons, a pleasure for the tongue

 

     This is a menu of small plates, served on charming mismatched china and old glassware from the sixties and beyond, carefully collected before opening by the chef/owner.

We enjoyed everything: Grilled avocado with tomatillo, poblano, cotija cheese and cilantro stems;  lichee salad with vegetarian sausage, habanero and peanuts. The potato bread was divinely fresh and warm.

Creativity is big here: a corn creme brulee' works well.
Service is beyond friendly; it is warm and hospitable, and downright smiley! Open for dinner only, and closed on holidays and Sundays. See you in line!

Your food lover,
Patsie

Wind-Up Car

Seen in my neighborhood!!!