Business Spotlight: Phoenix Fitness (A New Boutique Fitness Studio in Ballston)

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S.kidd

Photo Courtesy of Stephen Kidd.

 

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Boutique fitness studios are booming right now. And Phoenix Fitness is one of the latest fitness studios to open in Arlington. Phoenix Fitness , located in the Ballston area, offers high intensity interval training without the intimidation factor of big box gyms. The emphasis on small classes and motivating instructors will put fitness newbies at ease while offering up a challenging workout for all fitness levels. My favorite class offered at Phoenix Fitness is Tabata and emphasizes functional exercises, total body toning and high intensity interval training that will whip you into shape in no time.  I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Stephen Kidd, one of the owners of Phoenix Fitness. [Read more…]

Clarendon Moms Guide To The Presidential Inauguration 2013

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Clarendon Moms Inauguration Guide 2013

The Presidential Inauguration is around the corner. President Obama will be sworn in for his second term next Monday, January 21st, 2013. The date is also a Federal Holiday commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. An entire week of festivities will include the Presidential Swearing-in Ceremony, Inaugural Address, Inaugural Parade and numerous inaugural balls and galas honoring President Barack Obama for his second term. The official theme for the 2013 inauguration is “Faith in America’s Future,” monumentalizing the United States’ perseverance and unity, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the placement of the Statue of Freedom atop the Capitol Dome in 1863.

2013 Inauguration Schedule [Read more…]

ClarendonMoms.com Back To School Shopping Tips and @WUSA9 Fashion Segment

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Ever wonder how you can keep up with your child’s back to school style without breaking the bank? You can watch my debut appearance here on W*USA Channel 9 News where I discuss some of the best looks you’ll definitely see from the runways to the hallways to your kids closet.

Here are some tips to help you get the most bang for your buck this Fall!

KIDS WANTED FOR A LIVE TV FASHION MODELING OPPORTUNITY

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Kids Wanted For A Live TV Fashion Modeling Opportunity

Clarendon Moms is looking for children (ages 6 to 17) to model Back-To-School trends for a local TV morning show segment for major network. Prior experience preferred, not required. Models will each model one look during a 3 minute fashion news segment. Speaking not required but personality, confidence and a great smile encouraged.

WARDROBE FITTING: Tuesday, August 7th in DC or NOVA (Evening)

SHOOT DATE: Friday, August 10th from 5:00 AM-7AM

LOCATION: Upper NW DC, not easily metro accessible. Must have reliable transportation.

COMPENSATION: No pay, exposure through live television segment which will also be available online.

To apply please email 1 headshot & 1 full-length shot, age, pant, shirt and dress size (for girls), list any prior modeling experience. Send to: ClarendonMoms@gmail.com with (Model Call) in the Subject by Friday, August 3

You’re Invited: Meet Pandora Radio Founder Tim Westergren in DC This Wednesday, June 27th at Barracks Row

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Pandora Listener Town Hall
You’re Invited: to a Pandora Listener Town Hall meet-up in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, June 27th at 7:00 p.m. at the National Community Church theater on Barracks Row. The get-together will be very informal. I’ll share some Pandora history, background on the Music Genome Project and talk about Pandora today. I also want to hear what’s on your mind – questions, complaints, ideas – everything is fair game.
To RSVP, just reply to this email (tour@pandora.com) – ideally by June 26th. If you plan to bring guests just let us know how many and their names.
It should be a fun evening, complete with some Pandora swag!
Hope to see you soon.
– Tim (Founder)
WHAT: Pandora Listener Town Hall
WHEN: Wednesday, June 27th at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: National Community Church: Barracks Row
535 8th St SE
Washington, DC 20003
Click here for map and directions
RSVP: Reply to this email (tour@pandora.com) with your name plus the name(s) of your guests
Tim Westergren

The Georgetown French Market Is This Weekend (April 27th & April 28th)

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French Market

Join the Book Hill neighborhood of Georgetown as the shops celebrate the annual Georgetown French Market.

Superb shopping complimented by the scent of fresh coffee and the sounds of strolling musicians immerse the Book Hill neighborhood of Georgetown every spring with the annual Georgetown French Market coming up at the end of April.  The 2012 Georgetown French Market will be held Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28 from 10am to 5pm. Check out all the details on participating merchants and their offers here.

This event takes place along upper Wisconsin Avenue, NW, between P Street and Reservoir Road, and features nearly 40 Georgetown boutiques, antique shops, restaurants and galleries offering savings up to 70% off designer goods, art and antique home furnishings. Enjoy strolling mimes, children’s activities, live music and French cuisine from Georgetown cafes and restaurants.  To view the video from the April 2011 Georgetown French Market event, click on the link below.

Buying a New House in Clarendon

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New home buyers don’t want to buy a used or “pre-owned” house after they’ve visited over a dozen or so “lived-in” shacks in the neighborhood. They don’t want to inherit someone else’s paint colors, personal tastes in kitchen and bathroom appliances or light fixtures or lack of hardwood or bamboo flooring. Their hearts are screaming inside for something brand spanking new! If you’re like me, you’ve looked online at your favorite real estate websites like Redfin.com or Trulia.com and have virtually entered over 100 houses or condos without leaving the comfort of your sofa. Heck! I even have both the apps on my Iphone and Ipad for easy viewing during that treadmill run at the gym. And if like me, you’ve hired an agent and actually gone around the neighborhood a few times and walked into these archaic tear-downs. Your money doesn’t go quite as far here in Clarendon as it may go in your home town neighborhood (unless you’re originally from New York City or San Francisco). You may encounter a temporary case of sticker shock.  I say “temporary” because after a few weeks or months, you will get used to the $850,000 to $1,700,000 average cost of a single family home in our neighborhood.

If I’ve described you at all, this article is for you! Here, I will offer some tips on Buying New Construction from a Builder/Developer and also a list of some of the Top Builders in our neighborhood.

(Note: I will be writing an article on all new construction condos/townhomes in the near future).

Tips on Buying a New Construction House: 

1. Hire your own Buyer’s Agent. A Builder’s agent is representing the Builder & may use experienced sales tactics to pressure you into signing a contract.

2. Shop around for your own Lender. A Builder’s Lender may not offer you the best deal. Your own bank or credit union may offer you a better mortgage.

3. Obtain legal advice with a qualified Real Estate Attorney. Real Estate Attorneys can be very helpful explaining a Standard Purchase Agreement as well as answering questions about certain contingencies and cancellation rights

4. Verify your Options and Upgrades Packaging and Pricing.

5. Hire a Licensed and Accredited Home Inspector. Even with brand new construction, this step is imperative to making sure there are no major or minor defects on your new property.

Home Builders in Arlington

Toll Brother’s Inc. is one of the top, well established luxury homebuilders with 45 years of experience. They have won three of the most coveted awards in the homebuilding industry: America’s Best Builder, National Builder of the year and National Housing Quality. They have also been chosen as the First Place Winner for Innovative Product Design in the Big Builder Apex Awards.

Miller & Smith  is the third largest private builder in the entire Washington Metropolitan area. Over the last decade, they have won more Monument Awards than any other builder. They are known as the “dreamers, creators and innovators”. The competitive edge is the creation of new innovative and niche designs.

N.V. Homes was established in 1980 and take pride in offering additional architectural details and designer elements tailored to suit even the most unique and discriminating tastes. In 2011, they earned Energy Star’s Partner of the Year Award.

BCN Design Build seems to be everywhere I turn in Lyon Village. They have been around for a little more than a decade and have built some of the finest custom homes and additions in Arlington. They have been listed as one of Washington Business Journal’s 50 Fastest Growing Companies in the DC area for two years in a row.

Ryan Homes has been building exceptional, award-winning homes for the past 60 years. A large percentage of the homes Ryan Homes sales area direct result of customer referrals. Their success is based on customer service, award-winning designs, quality construction combined with affordable prices and unique communities in prime locations.

Stanley Martin offers a 9 step process that keeps the consumer involved. This has been one of the nation’s capitals finest builders since 1966 with over 10,000 family homes built in their Virginia and Maryland communities.

Pulte Homes has won more awards for customer satisfaction than any other home builder. They have been one of America’s largest homebuilders for over 50 years.

Van Metre Homes wins awards with their timeless beauty. Since 1955, they’ve been building trust for generations.

Recap: Sweet Hope Dessert For Toys Reception at Michel Richard Citronelle

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Where have I been over the last 15 or so years that this event has been going on? I don’t know. However, I’m making a vow to try to attend it every year from this point on! Michel Richard is one of my favorite chefs in the entire world!

Sweet Hope Dessert for Toys is a Dessert Reception to benefit the children at St. Jude’s Hospital. This is a charity near and dear to my heart. Each guest is asked to bring only one unwrapped, new toy or a monetary donation in exchange for an all you can eat buffet of the finest gourmet desserts Michel Richard’s Citronelle has to offer during the holiday season. As a self-proclaimed “foodie”, it wasn’t hard for me to sample and devour each of the tarts, cakes, cookies and candies offered along with the delectable and rich hot cocoa.

The reception featured a lovely and talented musical choir that performed classical holiday songs. The event only lasted two hours and there were plenty of goodies left. The gracious and generous staff made sure everyone was sent home with a nicely filled goody bag of the sweetest left-overs you could fit into one bag.

For more information on donating to the children of St. Jude, check out: www.stjude.org

POPPY Jewelry Show (featuring Local Artists) Friday, Dec. 16th 2-9 PM

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JEWELRY SHOW
IN

GEORGETOWN
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16TH  2-9PM 
1529 Wisconsin Ave, NW (upstairs)
Participating Artists

(click on the artists’ names to see more work)
Analya Cespedes         Heidi Hess         Beverly Tadeu         Eric Burris         Anya Pinchuk

Alice Kresse         Irene Weinz         Kate Rieppel         Sharlaine Anapu         Gayle Friedman

Barbara Pliskin          Ana Bonilla Galeano          Debra Sandler          Vasiliki Pavli