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Jordan Wright
January 11, 2018
 Christie Prades as Gloria Estefan and Company ~ Photo credit Matthew Murphy When the original ten-piece Miami Sound Machine is banging out a full-on Latin beat smack dab onstage and bringing sizzling hot salsa rhythms and house party funk, you can party like it’s 1985, the year the group’s huge crossover hit “Conga” soared to the top of the Billboard pop charts.
 Entering the theatre Emilio and Gloria Estefan graciously greet fans ~ Photo credit Jordan Wright It didn’t mitigate the excitement that the show’s producers Gloria and Emilio Estefan were in the house last night driving the on-their-feet audience wild with cheers and selfies. But when it comes right down to it, it’s her story. Their story. A universal story of hopeful immigrants everywhere, that bonds us to their triumphs and tragedies in this electrifying musical.
 Christie Prades (Gloria Estefan), Mauricio Martinez (Emilio Estefan), Danny Burgos and Omar Lopez-Cepero ~ Photo credit Matthew Murphy On Your Feet! tells the story of 26-time Grammy Award-winning pop singer/songwriter Gloria Estefan and her producer/husband Emilio and their sensational rise to fame. In spite of a talent agent who blocked the act from crossing over into mainstream American pop and a record company who wouldn’t allow them to sing in English, the pair did an end-run around discrimination by directly approaching local DJ’s and dance clubs where their beat-driven music had an immediate fan base. “See this face?” Emilio demands of his agent. “This is an American!” With this line, the audience broke into instantaneous and sympathetic applause. After all, it’s kill DACA season and we feel their pain.
 Mauricio Martinez as Emilio Estefan, Christie Prades as Gloria Estefan and Devon Goffman as Phil the Agent ~ Photo credit Matthew Murphy The “jukebox musical”, as these throwback rock musicals are familiarly called (though one wonders if anyone from that era has ever played a jukebox), depicts the Estefans as children leaving on the “Pedro Pan” flights from Cuba in the early 60’s – flights that brought families from Havana to Miami from the fresh hell that was Batista’s revolution – and settling into the burgeoning Cuban community in Miami. Emilio hears Gloria sing and invites her to join his band, the Miami Latin Boys to gig weddings, bar mitzvahs and quinceañeras. To her mother’s dismay, Gloria joins the band. Even a mother’s wishes can’t hold back her teenager’s dreams or her talent.
 Nancy Ticotin as Gloria Fajardo and Company ~ Photo credit Matthew Murphy Flashbacks include Havana’s Montmartre Club and her mother’s truncated career as a nightclub singer, her Vietnam vet father José’s (Jason Martinez) tragic end, and little Gloria’s fondness for her grandmother (Alma Cuervo) and her guitar. The story charts the pop star’s meteoric success and the near career-ending tragedy of the car accident that left her unable to perform for months. It’s a deeply personal story that parallels artists’ dreams and immigrants’ aspirations.
Colored by the aqua and hot pink colors made popular by Miami Vice, it stars Christie Prades and Mauricio Martinez (from the original Broadway cast) as Gloria and Emilio. The Tony Award-winning musical includes many of Gloria’s greatest hits in 26 numbers from “Live for Loving You”, “Get on Your Feet” and “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You”, to heart-melting ballads like “Don’t Wanna Lose You” and “Here We Are”. 80’s period costumes by Emilio Sosa and Cuba-evoking sets by David Rockwell, the band is joined by three additional musicians from the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra.
Filled with uplifting sparkle. Get ready to party Latin-style!
Highly recommended for the whole family.
Through January 21st in the Opera House at The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St., NW, Washington, DC. For tickets and information call 202 467-4600 or visit www.Kennedy-Center.org.
 Company of the National Tour ~ Photo credit Matthew Murphy
Jordan Wright
December 23, 2017
 (From L) Josh Davis as ‘Inspector Javert’ and Nick Cartell as ‘Jean Valjean’ ~ Photo by Matthew Murphy The year was 1985 when Les Miserables hit London’s West End. It wowed critics then – Patti Lupone won the Laurence Olivier Award (Britain’s equivalent of an Oscar) for “Best Actress in a Musical” in her role as Fantine and the musical was further nominated for two awards for “Best Actor in a Musical’ (Colm Armstrong for Jean Valjean and Alun Armstrong for Thénardier) – and now. Through all its reincarnations, the operatic sing-through, backdropped by the French Revolution, still fills theaters around the world.
The spirit of this musical is as relevant as if Victor Hugo had just set pen to paper. Let’s reflect on Louis XVI’s agenda, shall we? Alienate the lower classes through starvation. Ignore science and reason for traditions. Keep monarchical rule in place amid mass resistance. And cut taxes on the privileged nobles thus keeping the peasants and rising middle class at bay. Hmmm. Didn’t work out so well for old Louis, hung for his Draconian policies.
 “I Dreamed A Dream” – Melissa Mitchell as ‘Fantine’ ~ Photo by Matthew Murphy At its very soul is the heartbreaking love story of the abandoned prostitute Fantine (Melissa Mitchell) and the reformed thief Valjean(Nick Cartell); Valjean’s death bed promise to adopt Fantine’s daughter Cosette (Jillian Butler); the heartwarming love story of the innocent Cosette and the idealistic Marius(Joshua Grosso); the tragic Éponine (Phoenix Best) and her unrequited love for her compatriot Marius; and the glory and desperation of a revolution led by Enjolras (Matt Shingledecker) that arose from social and economic inequality. There hasn’t been a story with as much 18th century history, nor as much inspirational music, till Hamilton arrived on the scene. And you know how that’s turned out. Tickets to that blockbuster are as scarce as hen’s teeth.
 Matt Shingledecker as ‘Enjolras’ ~ Photo by Matthew Murphy In this national touring company staging the intensity of both the battle and escape scenes are greatly enhanced by projections by Fifty-Nine Productions who have drawn inspiration from the apocryphal paintings of Victor Hugo. And as grim as the story may be, the drama of Valjean’s misery is lightened up decidedly by the characters of Madame Thénardier and her husband Thénardier.
 Allison Guinn as ‘Madame Thénardier’ ~ Photo by Matthew Murphy Played by Allison Guin and J. Anthony Crane respectively, this hilariously dastardly duo are innkeepers of the iniquitous, Au Sergent de Waterloo, where Cosette is raised in indentured servitude.
 J Anthony Crane as ‘Thénardier’ ~ Photo by Matthew Murphy Whether you’ve seen it once or a dozen times, as I suspect many in the opening night audience had, Co-directors Laurence Connor and James Powell give us an awe-inducing production so magnificently staged, so brilliantly performed, and so beautifully sung. Kudos too, for the evocative golden-hued scenes by Lighting Designer Richard Pacholski, who conjures up street scenes reminiscent of Dutch artist Petrus van Schendel’s firelit paintings and edge-of-your-seat, new orchestrations by Christopher Jahnke, Stephen Metcalfe and Stephen Brooker that are gloriously played by Conductor Brian Eads 14-piece orchestra on a total of 28 separate instruments.
 (From L) Joshua Grosso as ‘Marius,’ Phoenix Best as ‘Éponine’ and Jillian Butler as ‘Cosette’ ~ Photo by Matthew Murphy The night I saw it the magnificent operatic baritone, Andrew Love, received a standing ovation and rousing cheers for his understudy performance of Javert. And, in an eyebrow-raising surprise, the audience stayed through all the bows. Not one person fled before the lights went up. A rare sight in today’s theaters.
Absolutely brilliant in every way.
Through January 7th, 2018 at The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. For tickets call 202.628.6161 or visit OnLine Ticket Office
Jordan Wright
December 21, 2017
Photo credit Jordan Wright
Dining at the Hay-Adams for a Christmas Steeped in Luxury and Tradition ~ Mike Isabella Opens His Biggest Project Yet ~ Crimson DC Whiskey Bar, Diner and Holiday Pop-Up ~ The Maple Guild’s Maple Pecan Sandies
The Hay-Adams Proves Irresistible
Though I think and write about restaurants all the time, my mind can sometimes go completely blank when asked, “Where should we eat?” My response goes something like this, “Ethnic, inexpensive, romantic, large group, trendiest restaurant, intimate, posh, close by, Metro accessible, craft cocktails, pre-theatre dinner specials?” That usually ends the conversation with a thud. People want one answer. But with so many distinctly diverse options for cuisine and atmosphere, that’s the only way to narrow it down.
A few weeks ago, a friend asked where he and his wife should take their distinguished guests for Sunday brunch. The globetrotting trio were flying in from London and he wanted to impress in an elegant spot where they could relax and enjoy easy conversation. Brunch in the DC Metro area often means unlimited bloody marys or mimosas at a fixed price in a noisy, packed restaurant more suitable for large groups of friends or family. And that’s fine if that’s your jam. But for this group of sophisticated diners, that would most emphatically not do.
 Holiday decor in the lobby ~ Tiny creatures adorn the decorations – all created by the hotel staff Given my friend’s specific parameters, I told him to book his party at The Lafayette at the Hay-Adams. Recently chosen by Conde Nast Traveler for a 2018 “Gold List” Award, it checked all his boxes and more. I knew the food and service to be superb and the hotel was gorgeously decorated for the holidays.
Verdict: They loved it!
Here are a few photos I took from the current holiday dinner menu.
 Pan seared halibut filet with maitake mushrooms and wild rice pilaf ~ Octopus Za’atar with favs beans, merguez sausage, black garlic tahini and basil pistou
 Seared diver scallops with celery root purée, Brussels sprouts and saffron cream ~ Spiced Pear Strudel by Hay-Adams Pastry Chef Josh Short For those who have never enjoyed the charms of The Lafayette, nor the ultimate insiders’ bar below stairs at Off the Record, I highly recommend you go. But don’t let it get around. It’s our little secret.
Isabella Eatery Opens in Tysons Galleria
 Malachite green doors beckon diners to relax beside a fireplace at Isabella Eatery Former Top Chef Mike Isabella has come a long way from his early days at Zaytinya. His explosive empire just got even bigger with the opening of his 41,000-square foot emporium, eponymously named Isabella Eatery. Graffiato, Arroz, Retro Creamery, Non-Fiction Coffee, Octagon Bar, Pepita, Kapnos Marketa, Requin and Yona all take their places on either side of a catwalk the second level of this exclusive shopping mall.
 The bar at Pepita at Isabella Eatery ~ The chandelier and portrait gallery dining space Sit at one of the counters or pull up a seat up to a long wooden table, there are plenty of spaces for a crowd to chow down on any one of dozens of offerings from these varied cuisines.
 View of Graffiato and Retro Creamery ~ The central lounge Designed by Jason Maringola of the DC design firm Streetsense, it is a massive project. One of the multiple dining spaces is shaped like a rotunda and features wood floors and walls. Outfitted with a custom designed 25-foot wide $250,000 LED chandelier, it has gallery style art hung clear up to the rafters. Each dining space is stylishly reflective of the type of food and drink served – tacos and margaritas at Pepita; pizza at Graffiato; sangrias, pintxos and tapas at the soon-to-open Arroz; oysters, lobster rolls, crab cakes and champagne at Requin; poke bowls, sushi and sake at Yona; tzatziki, hummus, spit-roasted meats and beers from DC’s 3 Stars Brewing Company at Kapnos Marketa. And much, much more, including a small bakery at Non-Fiction Coffee. Lastly, the Retro Creamery, which is done up in the style of a 1950’s ice cream parlor with banana splits, gelati, sundaes, shakes and floats.
 Oysters, lobster rolls and Veuve Clicquot champagne at Requin ~ A group of friends enjoys the opening night at Isabella Eatery There’s something for every taste. An oyster and champagne bar caters to the luxe crowd, while takeout sandwiches and coffee drinks are for those on the go. A spacious modernistic lounge with crackling fireplace becomes the perfect setting to gather over craft cocktails, caviar and steaks from the deluxe Octagon Bar.
Enter through the mall or up a separate escalator accessible from the parking lot on International Drive.
Crimson DC Whiskey Bar Opens in the New Pod Hotel
 Preparing specialty cocktails at Crimson DC ~ A perfect Manhattan at Crimson DC’s Whiskey Bar
 The hunting lodge lounge Okay, it’s officially a trend – speakeasies, Prohibition-era cocktails, whiskey, bourbon and house made moonshine. But what if I told you can find all this in one spot. In Chinatown. With a view of the city. It’s Ian and Eric Hilton’s a three-in-one destination. The whiskey bar is a vast room broken up into smaller areas for lounging or gathering at the U-shaped bar. I’m not sure how many it seats at the bar. Best guess more than 50. Located below stairs in the stylish new Pod Hotel this spot has a Southern style party-all-night atmosphere. Retro wood booths on one side and sofas and a hunting lodge-themed lounge on another.
 The check in desk at The Pod Hotel The menu trends towards casual bar food – chicken liver parfait, Brunswick stew, a ham board with Virginia’s Olli Salumeria prosciutto, hushpuppies and Chesapeake oysters – fried and served in a po’ boy – or raw.
 Nighttime view of the Chinatown Arch from the rooftop bar at Crimson DC Take the elevator to the rooftop, where a cozy holiday pop-up bar is the perfect spot away from the madding crowd. Overlooking the Chinatown Arch with a 360-degree view of the city, it has both indoor and outdoor seating. Pop in for spiced lattes and gingerbread cookies.
 The rooftop holiday pop-up bar at Crimson DC A brightly lit, mid-century modern diner, bar and coffee bar is on the street level and open from 7am till midnight most days. Top picks: gumbo, biscuits, shrimp and grits, and caramel cake a la mode. And if you’ve never had it before, try the corn pone!
The Maple Guild Beats Out the Competition
What’s going on top of your Christmas morning breakfast stack – the perfect pancake topper from Vermont, naturally. This Vermont-based maple syrup company is the best there is. How do I know? Because The Maple Guild’s Original Grade A Maple Syrup has won the coveted “Best of East” Award at the Natural Products Association’s Expo East, beating out 1500+ other exhibitors for the prize. Yes! 1500 other products of all kinds to win the top prize.
 The Maple Guild Selection This prestigious award, chosen by all press and influencers at the Expo, is the top honor bestowed upon exhibitors at the trade show. The Best of East is the third award The Maple Guild has won at Expos East and West in the past calendar year.
But it’s not just their syrups – Salted Caramel, Bourbon Barrel, Cinnamon and Vanilla Bean (Salted Caramel is off the chain!) – you’ll want to try their maple syrup-sweetened fruity teas and maple cream – that luscious spread that you schmear onto your morning toast. Another product is tapt., a fruit-infused tree water with vitamins, minerals and electrolytes that was the winner of the “Hydration Award” by Runner’s World. Plus, they make a fruit-infused green or black tea sweetened with their maple syrup. And DC distillery Jos. A. Magnus & Co. is using some of the different flavored syrups in their Cocktail of the Month.
The Maple Guild is essentially the Willy Wonka of the maple syrup industry, dreaming up creative and innovative ways to consume maple. The heart and soul of the company’s products shows through in their organic steam-crafted syrups tapped from their 25,000-acre farm in Island Pond, Vermont. Metro DC area residents can find The Maple Guild’s products on OnLine and in-stores at Wegmans, ROOTS Market, GLUT, and MOMs Market.
Maple Pecan Sandies (recipe by Captain Cookie)
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup The Maple Guild original maple syrup
- 1 cup oil (corn, canola, or vegetable oil all work fine)
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 4 cup flour
- 1.5 tsp salt
- 1.5 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 cups chopped pecans
Recipe
- Preheat oven to 375*
- In a bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated. Stir in the powdered sugar, maple syrup, oil, and vanilla until well mixed.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and cream of tartar. Add to the butter mixture and mix on low, scraping the sides of the bowl until everything is uniformly mixed in (don’t over-mix)! Stir in the two cups of chopped pecans.
- Optional: Cover dough and chill for one hour before baking – this will make the sticky dough easier to handle.
- Scoop by tablespoons and bake at 375* for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are puffed with golden edges.
Finishing Touches
- Place one scoop of Salted Caramel Ice Cream between each cookie.
- For the true maple lovers, drizzle maple syrup on top of the ice cream before placing second cookie on top.
- Dig in!
Jordan Wright
December 16, 2017
Special to The Alexandria Times
 Melanie Bikowski Alexandria artist Melanie Bikowski is a mom first – at least that’s how she’d prefer you to think of her. Mother to two-year old Cayce, she is relatively new to the art world, yet in a few short years she has developed quite a following for her colorful acrylics. Originally from Hampton Roads in Southeastern Virginia, Bikowski grew up in Norfolk, moving to Alexandria five years ago. After getting dual bachelors’ degrees in Psychology and Creative Writing, she continues to seek her major in psychology at Old Dominion University. Her thesis is on ‘Mom’s Art’, a term that’s been used to describe the work of Canadian artist Ruth Oosterman, who also found inspiration collaborating with her toddler. Bikowski explains, “A lot of my work is bright, amorphous, abstract modern art and I wanted to incorporate my mom life into my work.” In the spirit of honoring a child’s drawings that most parents merely tack onto the refrigerator, Bikowski says, “I feel like that’s the reality of our home décor. Other people live in your home and they leave their work there too.”
 Abstract works with daughter Cayce While pregnant with Cayce, Bikowski had begun to have dreams of painting canvasses with her daughter. “We’ve been doing pure creation together while building our relationship. She has now become my muse.” Defining her paintings as spur-of-the-moment, intuitive, emotional art, she believes if an artist “flows the best of their emotions are at their highest.” She feels her daughter’s limitless sense of wonderment, childlike experimentation and freedom of expression inspire her, leading her to incorporate Cayce’s coloring pieces, drawings and stickers into her paintings. The toddler’s current fantasy playworld is heavily influenced by the Powerpuff Girls and My Little Pony.
“When I moved here my biggest dream was to be an artist. People were telling me that doesn’t exist,” Bikowski says. One day, while at her first job in Alexandria at the Robinson Terminal, fate drew her to the nearby Torpedo Factory where she found a gallery filled with dozens of artists. “I was stoked to see what was going on there and went every weekday after that. Watching the artists and hearing how excited they were – that just really saved me,” she says.
 “Home” Melanie Bikowski 2016 In January of 2014 her mother convinced her to take a course in abstract art at Alexandria’s famed The Art League with instructor, Beverly Ryan. Through Ryan, whom she considers her mentor, she took on an art challenge to complete one painting a day for a year. That massive effort turned into 466 paintings, of which she sold over 100. Over 80 of her paintings have Cayce’s work in them. During the same period, she discovered the Del Ray Artisans Gallery on Mount Vernon Avenue. Now celebrating its 25th year promoting art and artists in Alexandria, the gallery hosts monthly members’ shows open to the public. There she found a welcoming art scene with members helping each other find alternative submission opportunities.
That led her to collaborate on a show earlier this year with local artist, Lotus Heartsong, at the The Village Gallery in Old Town Fairfax. Featured in the Washington Post’s Going Out Guide, the women were thrilled to welcome over 300 people to their opening. As a result of the show’s huge success, she received a residency at Olly Olly, an alternative art space and gallery in Fairfax where she shares working space with four other artists and is able to show at their exhibitions.
 “A Call for Courage” Melanie Bikowski 2017 This January Bikowski will co-curate Sensorium with fellow DRA member Betsy Mead. The exhibit is described as the using the part of the brain that, “evokes emotional feelings of sympathy, appreciation or gratitude, or something that is moving, heartbreaking or tender”, and honors “how artists interpret the impact of our human journey through evoking the five senses.” The show’s cover art is Bikowski’s evocative painting, “Home”.
Sensorium runs from January 5th – 28th 2018 at the Colasanto Center, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301. Gallery hours are Thursdays 12-6pm, Fridays 12-9pm, Saturdays 12-9pm, and Sundays 12-6pm. The gallery is free and handicap accessible. For more information on the show visit The Del Ray Artisans Gallery. To learn more about Melanie Bikowski visit her website.
Kennedy Center
Jordan Wright
December 15, 2017
 An American in Paris in USA – Photo credit by Matthew Murphy Ballet buffs and George and Ira Gershwin enthusiasts will adore Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon’s film-to-stage homage of An American in Paris. Wheeldon successfully recaptures the mid-century modernist style of dance that Kelly created for the eponymous 1951 classic. The movie garnered six top Academy Awards and gave Kelly his one and only Oscar. In this multiple Tony Award-winning interpretation, Craig Lucas has freshened up both the story and the dialogue to appeal to millennials, mad for anything Parisian.
 Allison Walsh and McGee Maddox ~ Photo by Matthew Murphy Set in post-war Paris it is a story of three men enamored with the captivating, Lise (Allison Walsh), an aspiring ballerina whose backstory touches on France’s Nazi occupation. Jerry Mulligan (McGee Maddox), an American GI and amateur painter who, like many other soldiers, stayed behind in the City of Light, soon bonds with budding composer and jazz pianist, Adam Hoch (Matthew Scott), an American Jew who survived the war and stayed on with the intention of writing a ballet about it. Adam makes a few francs mentoring Henri Baurel (Ben Michael), a well-to-do society gent keen on a career as a song-and-dance man in America. All three pals are unaware that the others are in love with Lise.
 Ben Michael, McGee Maddox and Matthew Scott – Photo by Matthew Murphy There are disparate, sometimes awkward elements in the stage version that can sometimes feel as though it was produced by an ad hoc committee. The debonair insouciance we remember fondly of Kelly goes missing, yet the salient parts – the wonderful dancing, Bob Crowley’s seamless Parisian set designs, as well as his 1940’s costumes, are superb. Milo Davenport (Kirsten Scott), Jerry’s American sugar momma and arts patron, wows in an emerald green gown reminiscent of the period.
 Kristen Scott and Matthew Scott – Photo by Matthew Murphy If you love arabesques, multi-revolution pirouettes, dancing en pointe, lofty lifts and leaps, you will fall hard for Maddox and Walsh, who seem cloud-like and gravity-defiant. After a slew of hip rolls and high kicks in a nightclub can-can, comes Jerry and Lise’s 18-minute pas de deux finale that will cause you to dismiss any less than stellar moments. Crowley again delivers with Mondrian color-block leotards echoing the abstract minimalist movement of the period.
A twenty-person dance ensemble delights as feather-bedecked Follies girls (Henri’s show biz fantasy tapdanced in tails and high hats), in Grecian tableaus at a salon reception given by Henri’s staid maman, Madame Baurel (Teri Hansen), and in the many jazz ballet numbers.
And harder you may fall for David Andrew Rogers’ soaring orchestra backing songs like “I Got Rhythm”, “S Wonderful”, “The Man I Love”, “Shall We Dance”, “They Can’t Take That Away From Me”, and twelve other somewhat lesser known Gershwin tunes that dovetail neatly into the plot.
Through January 7, 2018 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts at 2700 F St., NW, Washington, DC. For tickets and information call 202 467-4600 or visit website.
Jordan Wright
December 5, 2017
Photo credit Jordan Wright
The holidays are a time for making memories with loved ones. Agreed? But if thoughts of capturing your seasonally-imbued memories feature a well-worn sofa and boxed wine, then read no further. This adventure requires you trot out your childlike sense of wonderment.
In a city that has emerged as a world class destination with cutting-edge cuisine, art exhibitions often seen nowhere else in America and a five-star luxury hotel, Richmond provides everything a couple or family could ever dream of. Okay, no skiing. And that’s what the holidays are all about isn’t it? Making wishes come true.
 The magnificent stained glass skylight in the Palm Court lobby I admit, I get a thrill of anticipation each time I check into The Jefferson Hotel – a turn of the 20th century American classic in the tradition of the country’s grandest hotels. The more familiar I am with its pleasures the more I feel the need to revisit, if only to assure myself that all is well with the world.
 Carrara marble statue of Thomas Jefferson amid Tiffany windows in the Palm Court lobby On this trip, I planned to experience the recent room renovations. The improvements at this 2017 recipient of the Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond Award are not mere window dressing, they are both elegant and technologically clever with television screens built invisibly into the vanity mirrors.
 New marble bathrooms at The Jefferson Hotel – Courtesy photo Marble, marble and more marble abounds on bathroom countertops, soaking tubs, and the spacious walk-in showers.
 Grand Premier Room – Courtesy photo Luxuriate on poufy comforters and down pillows adorning beautifully tailored designer bedding. Recently the hotel’s 262 guest rooms were rebuilt into 181 spacious new rooms, including 15 suites with entry foyers and spacious dressing areas. Our suite had a kitchen with marble countertop plus a large mahogany dining table and spacious living area with a view of the city.
 Jefferson Suite Living Room – Courtesy photo Perfect for inviting guests in for cocktails before dinner, or entertaining six for dinner in your private suite. And though room service is 24-hours a day, you’ll want to get out and about.
 Jefferson Hotel Holiday Tree – Courtesy Photo But first we stare in wonder at the Christmas decorations. Hundreds of poinsettias, yards of garland and ribbon, thousands of twinkling lights and dozens of toy soldiers adorn the Palm Court Lobby and the surrounding areas. A gingerbread display made from hundreds of pounds of gingerbread, royal icing and candies dazzles even the grownups. At midday, musical ensembles play familiar carols in the Rotunda and the festive ambiance is utterly magical.
 Courtesy photo Pro tip: If you’re planning on being here on a Sunday, book ahead for the lavish ‘Champagne Brunch’, and do not miss the spoonbread. The hotel’s signature breakfast concoction with deep Southern roots, is as light and fluffy as a cloud. Ask for the recipe. No, beg! I did.
Oh, and be sure to swing by Blooms at The Jefferson, the flower and gift shop on the lower level. I always find great hostess gifts and, of course, petits bibelots pour moi.
The hotel is currently offering a Holidays at The Jefferson Package for those wishing to celebrate the season with an overnight stay. It includes a newly constructed Grand Premier Room, complimentary valet parking, and rates from $275 per room, per night.
 Sally Bell’s Kitchen There is so much to do in town that after dropping off our luggage with the bellman, we head for lunch at the iconic Sally Bell’s Kitchen, a luncheonette directly across from the Science Museum of Virginia where you can tour special holiday exhibits including Ralphie’s, A Christmas Story, and “Fruitcake Science”.
At Sally Bell’s find throwback lunch fare like pimento cheese, corned beef spread, Smithfield ham on a roll, tomato aspic (this must be a Southern thing) and more, plus thirteen different flavors of cupcakes (caramel!) and five different kinds of pies (lemon chess!) with which you can fortify yourself for the day ahead.
 Black History Museum of Virginia is housed in the former Leigh Street Armory Cross the street to visit the Science Museum or opt for the Black History Museum and Cultural Center featuring art exhibitions and artifacts commemorating the accomplishments of African Americans in Virginia.
 Black History Museum of Virginia Recently relocated to a beautifully renovated location (at the Leigh Street Armory), it is an interactive and modern museum. For hours of operation visit website.
A must see is the Lewis Ginter Gardens spectacular Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights from 5 till 10pm. This annual holiday tradition glows with more than half-a-million twinkling lights, hand-crafted botanical decorations, model trains, holiday dinners, a fire pit with s’mores and hot chocolate, nightly family activities and more. For tickets and information visit website.
A restaurant I’d been hearing a lot about is L’Opossum, where chef and proprietor David Shannon has been creating masterfully complex dishes in an eclectically decorated, nondescript corner spot on China Street. I promise you’ve never seen anything like it with its Flintstones throw pillows and 50’s satellite chandeliers in a cozy, candlelit, appealingly garish room that feels like Gay Paree meets your granddad’s rec room. But don’t cast a gimlet eye on the quirky décor or the 1940’s illustration of a chic pirate on the menu – Shannon has a curatorial eye for mid-century modern – this is serious cuisine and it’s the essence of the new Richmond.
 Charred and chilled Chinese five-spice slices of venison – Chasing Dragons Above the Clouds of Yuzu with Lotus Chips (Left) – Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras with Fernet-Branca soaked Apricots, Butternut Squash Puree, Cherry-brandied Apples and Brown Butter Toasted Pecans (Right) Now I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the fab craft cocktails made with top shelf liquor and house made ingredients. Expect the unexpected. The ‘Hooty Hoo’ is a White Russian served with Yoo-Hoo, Black Lava salt and Xocolatl bitters. The ‘Honey Badger’ is a blend of Belle Isle Honey Habanero Moonshine, muddled jalapeno and orange, Ginjo Sake and St. Germain. Go on with your bad self. Have one of each.
 Les Escargots a la Ham Biscuit with Sweet Garlic Beurre Blanc (Left) Old Thymey Chicken Fricassee – Port and Chardonnay Drenched Breast and Thigh Topped with Lemon Spaetzle, Escarole and Lardons in a Mustard Jus (Right) Shannon, who was a semi-finalist for ‘Best Chef Mid-Atlantic’ by the James Beard Foundation, likes luxe ingredients – caviar, foie gras, brandied figs, absinthe mists, escargots and flambéd desserts.
 La Petit Mort au Chocolat en Flambe avec une compote de la cerises noir (Left) – The Rainbow Spoonicorn – “A mythical saffron and citrus confection with hand churned blackberryice cream. “A defiant lack of inhibitions and sprinkles” (Right) Expect a dining experience that would wow even the most sophisticated palate. Reservations are a must in this tiny, romantic spot.
 Citizen restaurant On day two we rose early and headed downtown for breakfast at the industrial-cute, Citizen. Laser-focused on the Southern thing, we order bowls of stone ground Byrd Mill grits topped with swirls of melted butter, sour dough toast with pear butter, Benton’s bacon, lentils with feta (too healthy?) and steaming hot cappuccinos.
 Citizen’s bar and open kitchen This lively spot serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a menu that trends hip, healthy and international.
 At the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts The Virginia Museum of Fine Art, one of the nation’s premier museums, is currently featuring ‘The Terracotta Army: Legacy of the First Emperor of China’. The exhibition showcases ten majestic terracotta figures, including a cavalry horse and 130 works that tell the story of China’s birth.
 The Sculpture Garden at VMFA You’ll also see arms and armor, horse and chariot fittings, ritual bronze vessels, works in gold and silver, jade ornaments, precious jewelry, and ceramics from the First Emperor’s mausoleum complex. If that isn’t thrilling enough, there’s the reinstallation of the museum’s breathtaking Fabergé Collection. For timed tickets to The Terracotta Army exhibit visit website.
 The Urban Farmhouse Market & Kitchen You can linger at lunch at Amuse or the more casual café, or head over to Scott’s Addition to The Urban Farmhouse Market & Café, a nifty, rustic place that features local artists and farm-to-table. It’s a friendly, low-key hangout with wall-to-wall floor-to-ceiling retractable windows and, naturally, a farmhouse vibe. The daily selection of gourmet sandwiches and salads, smoothies, espresso drinks, fresh pressed juices and fair-trade teas are listed on the chalkboard menu. Browse the antique wooden cupboards for local foodstuffs to take home.
Scott’s Addition is the trendy neighborhood for millennials, with its reconverted warehouse loft apartments, hipster eateries, coffee brewers, and craft beer breweries like The Veil Brewing Company, Strangeways Brewing, Isley Brewing Company, Väsen Brewing Company, Ardent Craft Ales and more. It’s the holy grail for brewhounds and those who like their aging done with apples. Blue Bee Cider has moved to the hood and is now firmly ensconced in a 19th century reconverted stables.
 Blue Bee Ciders While in the neighborhood, scour Class and Trash for cool retro collectibles, farmhouse tables, architectural elements and garden ornaments.
 The tasting room at Buskey Hard Cider ~ Buskey Founder/Owner William Correll (Right) Stop by for a tour and tasting at Buskey Hard Cider. You’ll probably meet Founder/Owner, William Correll, whose usually on site to explain the aging process – some ciders in steel barrels, some in old whiskey barrels from the Virginia Distillery Company.
 Stocking up at The Veil Brewing Company Nearby is The Veil Brewing Company. When we arrived, just before the 4pm opening, there was a line around the block. We were so shocked we thought they must have been having an early bird bargain sale. No such luck.
This über popular brewery has a comfy lounge area and a very efficient pick up area for take away and growler refill. You’ve probably heard of their ‘Double Espresso Hornswaggler’, an espresso chocolate milk stout that shouts “school’s out!”.
Back at the hotel we took a relaxing dip in the indoor pool before dressing for dinner at Lemaire. There’s no way to prepare you for Lemaire, except to describe it as the height of destination dining. The hotel’s lavish dining room fairly sparkles with grandeur. The capacious room is resplendent with crystal chandeliers, heavy silk draperies and exquisitely carved period architecture.
 Pearl Oysters, with champagne mignonette ~ Chilled Cucumber Soup with Georgia Olive Oil, Poached Shrimp and Preserved Lemon Place yourself in the expert hands of sommelier Shawn O’Keefe who will gently guide you toward the perfect pairings for Executive Chef Patrick Willis’ seasonal haute cuisine.
 Fresh Strawberry and Beet Salad with Wildflower Honey Chèvre, Orange, Ginger and Aged Balsamic Vinegar ~ Pan Roasted Swordfish with Carolina Gold Rice, Grilled Alliums, Roasted Fennel, Pine Nuts, Red Veined Sorrel and Strawberry-Rhubarb Gastrique Whether your preference leans toward seafood or meat, vegetarian fare or poultry, everything is sumptuously prepared and exquisitely plated. Desserts are as pretty as they are delectable and you’ll want to linger over a postprandial port or brandy till the cows come home.
 Slow Braised Spring Lamb Shank with Mascarpone Cheese Grits, Baby Carrots, English Peas and Trumpet Mushrooms and Port Jus ~ Meyer Lemon Tart with Toasted Meringue and Raspberries After a quick breakfast of muffins and coffee at the hotel’s bistro, TJ’s, shopping was on our minds and there are plenty of specialty clothing boutiques in Carytown. Bygones, the vintage clothing store for men and women, comes to mind. But my personal favorite is Helen Campbell’s La Petite Boutique on MacArthur Avenue.
 La Petite Boutique Helen has an eye for distinctive and feminine statement clothing in luxe fabrics, often with embroidery or intricate pleating. She also carries fabulous hats and accessories to complete a stunning ensemble you’ll see nowhere else.
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