Say Yum: Repeal Day Party at Urbana, Anyone?

The only thing better than a baby bathtub filled with booze is a whole bar filled with it ... and that's just what you'll find at Urbana's Repeal Day bash this Saturday. Snag classic cocktails like Gin Fizzes for $8 all night, and a 25 cent first cocktail for those who come in period attire. Um, as if we needed an excuse to don fringe and feather headpieces.

Groove to '20s music all evening and enjoy a special $33 prix-fixe menu. We'd highly suggest becoming their fan on Facebook too, as you'll learn special codes for even more deals throughout the night.

Other available cocktails will include a Classic Martini with Ketel One or Belvedere vodka, Noilly prat dry vermouth, shaken or stirred, the Chapala with Partida blanco, lillet blanc, orange juice, housemade grenadine, fresh lemon, the Sazerac with Woodford Reserve, Lucid absinthe, peychaud’s and angostura bitters, simple syrup, a Dark and Stormy: Gosling’s Black Seal rum, Ten Cane rum, ginger beer, fresh lemon, the Bensonhurst with Maker’s Mark, Noilly prat dry vermouth, maraschinoand cynar or the Bebbo: with Plymouth gin, honey, fresh lemon, orange juice.

For dinner, choose from an app, entree, and dessert with options including Curried kabocha squash soup with almond coconut foam, crushed almond biscotti and toasted pumpkin seeds, a Roasted Alaskan salmon with beet risotto, oven roasted beets and Clementine beurre blanc and a decadent Chocolate brioche with English toffee bread pudding, bing cherries and cherry chocolate gelato. Yum!

Travel Tuesday: To Chicago (and back) We Go

It was a whirlwind weekend for this curious puppy - we made our first trip to Chicago to visit our college bestie Dr. Meg for a surprise birthday party, with some great stops for work along the way, and then flew back early Sunday to see the lovely {av} and join in her first-ever Blogger Blitz Washington at one of our favorite restaurants, Urbana.

Vintage suitcases in the lobby of The James. So fun!

My beautiful room - chic and minimalist.

Along the way, we got to explore some of the Windy City's best sights, including a stay at The James Chicago (which we conveniently booked using SniqueAway, one of our favorite travel sale sites). From there, we headed down the Magnificent Mile and did a bit of shopping before popping into hotspot The Purple Pig with our good friend B, a new Chicago resident. Sadly, it was a bit crowded, so we opted for the less chic but nevertheless quite good Bandera before enjoying a long afternoon of shopping.

Spiked Hot Chocolate, YUM

The great menu - there was even a "toppings" bar!

It was freezing, so we warmed up with spiked hot chocolate at the Park Hyatt Chicago's NoMi restaurant, which offers great views of the lake and downtown's shopping district, before yours truly headed over to luxe hotel The Elysian for a relaxing spa afternoon. The facilities were gorgeous and the treatment quite good, but the staff, in our opinion, could use some work for the cost and rating given the hotel.


Then it was a quick stop at Barney's to freshen our makeup - where we met and chatted with celeb makeup artist Claudio Riaz - before heading to drinks at Sable in the Hotel Palomar with Dr. Meg and another college friend, A. Can you say awesome? Loved the tequila cocktail "Second Wind" and the delish chicken and waffles, but the whole menu was great. Of course it's a sister resto to our fave Urbana, which we went to on Sunday ... no shock there.

Claudio Riaz via Arizona Foothills Magazine

That's the "Second Wind" up front - you can't see the great sidecars they came with!

Sunday was full of shopping before a surprise party for Dr. Meg at Bangers & Lace in Wicker Park, where we sampled our first Chicago-style hot dog. Yum! Then it was off to what might be the most hipster hangout we've ever visited - a place called Rite Liquors, which happened to be a bar INSIDE a liquor store. So creepy, so awesome. I wish I'd taken a photo. Tres fun.

Chicago Dog! Image via The Paupered Chef

One more night at The James (we were so sad to see it go!) and it was back to DC, where we met up with {av} for Blogger Blitz DC! It was so great to meet and chat with 40 of the city's most fashionable and fun lady bloggers.

The best nametags I've ever seen.

Totally worth the $10 entrance fee to get this great lookbook of all of the gals!

We can't wait to check out all of your blogs, including the adorable gals behind  The Capital Barbie, Julip Made, A Lacey Perspective, Rosa Loves DC and many, many more.

We've got a lot of reading for this week - but don't miss tomorrow's great installment of Wellness Wednesday, where the team from Sports Club LA has a workout sure to keep you looking fab in those holiday cocktail dresses!

xoxo,
Deacon

To Do Thursday: Warm Winter Cocktails, Secret Passwords, Quidam and More!

What does your weekend look like, friends? We've had a busy week of events and are looking forward to getting a few things done before heading back to Annapolis for the holiday, but it's hard with so many fun activities going on around town. In this week's "To Do Thursday," we share a few of our favorite happenings - if you've got a fun event or activity that we should take note of, drop us a line!

Apple Buttered Rum at the W Hotel DC

Warm Winter Drinks - POV at the W Hotel
We had the exclusive chance to preview the W Hotel's new winter drinks menu at POV Tuesday evening, where we also got to take in the fun "apres ski" party from Gilt City. We sampled the new warm drink menu and determined our faves-  a mulled rum cider and a tea-like scotch and lemon concoction that truly felt like it soothed our soul - or at least the memory of our long, long day at work!

Image via The Washington Lobbyist

Secret Passwords for Freebies at Urbana 
What's the password? Say the secret word "nutmeg" and "bubbly" and score a free app and free glass of sparkling wine on your next visit for dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Dupont's Hotel Palomar.

Quidam
We got the chance to preview this great limited-engagement Cirque du Soliel show at Verizon Center last night and let us tell you ... it's pretty magical. Quidam tells the story of a young girl who retreats into her imagination after feeling abandoned by her parents. Basically, it's a trippy romp through storyland, complete with awesome aerial silks shows, tumblers, audience participation and more. The intimate setup makes the massive Verizon Center feel cozy, so there's really no bad seat in the house, and it's the first Cirque show we've seen where a live band plays and helps set the tone of the show. We're not a huge fan of clowns, and there are clowns aplenty in this show, but it was still awe-inspiring. Don't miss the best part - a man and woman strength display that is sure to rock your socks off.

Sugarloaf Crafts Festival
Want to get a head start on your holiday shopping? We're giving away six tickets (three pairs) to this weekend's Sugarloaf Crafts Fest at the MoCo fairgrounds. It's a great way to explore local artisans ... gratis!

Mark Your Calendars: Wedding Showcase at Kimpton's Hotel Palomar

Calling all couples! Deacon feels like he's been sharing a lot of wedding news recently, and we hope it's been useful. Next up?  Make planning your big day easier at a complimentary Wedding Showcase hosted by Kimpton’s Palomar Washington, D.C. (one of our favorite hotels).

The event will feature the District’s best wedding and event vendors, including top local bakeries, wedding planners, florists, photographers and entertainment. Taste sample wedding cakes, nosh on fabulous hors d’oeuvres and cocktails from Urbana Restaurant + Wine Bar, tour the guest rooms and event spaces, and even chat with participating vendors about planning an eco-chic affair.


WHEN: Thursday, March 31, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: Palomar Washington, D.C. – A Kimpton Hotel

2121 P Street, NW Washington, D.C. Metro: Dupont Circle

You're Invited: Kimpton Hotels Fundraising Party

Want to spice up your boring Wednesday? This Wednesday, December 1, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is hosting a fundraising party for Red Ribbon Washington DC, Cocktails for a Cure.

Join others at Urbana Restaurant and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and one complimentary drink for the $10 admission ticket. Urbana will be offering small Western Mediterranean bites while guests enjoy live auctions, including jetBlue Airways tickets, stays at Kimpton Hotels throughout the country, designer furnishings, original artwork, and much more.

All proceeds will go directly to Whitman-Walker Clinic. So hurry, time is running out. Visit Cocktails for a Cure online to RSVP.

Say Yum: Happy Birthday Urbana

Urbana is turning 4, and they want you to help them celebrate! Join the Dupont Circle hotspot between July 19 and 25 to enjoy a $4 happy hour, birthday cake and Prosecco for all in the dining room, plus a four-course, $40 dinner menu with included glass of wine.

Happy hour has been extended from 4:00 to 8:00 PM throughout the rest of the summer, so don't miss the chance to try Chef Alex Bollinger's new small plates bar menu, with dishes like crab beignets with yellow corn, scallions and remoulade, duck meatballs with Anson Mills polenta, and falafel with pickled red onions and tahini. 

Between July 19th and 25th, Urbana will also gift one prize a day to patrons who dine or drink in the bar and the dining room.  Prizes will include complimentary appetizers, entrées, desserts, dinner for two, and an overnight stay in the adjacent Hotel Palomar.  Winners will be announced daily on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Say Yum: World Cup at Urbana Restaurant

Grab your friends and get ready for cross over’s, corners, and slide tackles for this year’s highly anticipated World Cup. Urbana Restaurant and Wine Bar is offering a more luxurious World Cup experience starting on June 11^th, where guests can watch the games live while enjoying South African wines and great food.

On the weekends, full brunch service and the restaurant’s signature ‘Bottomless Bellinis’ will also be available at the bar starting at 8 am. Dinner and bar patrons can celebrate in some of the winnings too—when Italy, France, Spain or the U.S. win a game, guesets can mention “World Cup Wine Special” and receive 25% off bottles of wine from the country of the winning team that day.

And for those who simply can’t get away to watch live matches, Urbana will show reruns during happy hour serving a special selection of $5 small plates in addition to regular happy hour specials from 5-8 p.m.

For additional information on specials visit Urbana’s Facebook page .

Say Yum: Urbana

K and I had the chance to dine last night at Urbana, Hotel Palomar's hot restaurant. I'd never been, but what better excuse than the restaurant's new executive chef, Alex Bollinger. While I'm normally not much for hotel restaurants, (they're underwhelming and overpriced as a general rule) ... Urbana was a definitely pleasant surprise.

It's a "cozy" space, as K describes it - blue/gray lighting, intimate seating, and a subterranean setup that feels comforting, not confining. To quote her again, "this would be the perfect place to go when it rains!"

Highlights:

• the "focaccetta" - cross between foccacia and bruschetta with mozzarella and prosciutto. YUM.
• butternut squash ravioli - sweet, rich and filling, but not gratuitously overwhelmingly.
  
• halibut with asparagus faro "risotto" - a perfect compliment of flavors.
  
• our fabulous and conscientious server. Thank you!
  

Overall, a great experience. I'll definitely be back.