Washington Life Magazine
Washington Life Magazine

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Dining GOURMET GEM IN MIDDLEBURG

Dining GOURMET GEM IN MIDDLEBURG

Chef Hump Astorga may just have the perfect background for opening a restaurant. A former interior designer, Astorga then turned to his other love, cooking, and coupled it with his fiery passion for a great dinning experience and developed Aster, a restaurant located in Middleburg. His attention to detail is meticulous and makes every aspect of Aster shine, from the food to the décor and service. Aster’s progressive menu has impressed many discerning critics with its nuevo cuisine, which includes dishes such as seared halibut with pickled fennel, summer squash strudel and baked jumbo lump crab laced with basil. Astorga designed the quaint restaurant to evoke feelings of comfort and anticipation, resulting in a very inviting atmosphere. The Aster is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday, and is well worth the drive.


Fashion FERRAGAMO OPENS LUXURY BOUTIQUE

Fashion FERRAGAMO OPENS LUXURY BOUTIQUE

Salvatore Ferragamo, the Italian luxury designer, opens its first store in the Washington area in Tysons Galleria in McLean this month although it will continue to sell its products through fine retailers such as Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. The 2,200 square foot space will showcase both men’s and women’s leather items, including shoes, handbags, belts, briefcases, signature silk ties and scarves, as well as select ready-to-wear pieces. Designed by New York architects Janson Goldstein, the store’s design reflects the new worldwide image of Ferragamo and includes natural walnut contrasts with high tech corian and metal and pearlized leather sofas and chairs. It follows the successful inauguration in September, 2003, of the flagship store located on Fifth Avenue in New York (which earned Goldstein the 2003 VM+SD Design Award).


Music BALTIMORE SYMPHONY’S MAJOR FIRST

Music BALTIMORE SYMPHONY’S MAJOR FIRST

In an unprecedented move, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) named Marin Alsop the twelfth music director of the BSO. Starting with the 2006-2007 season, Aslop will be the first female conductor ever to lead a full-time, full-sized orchestra. The board approved Aslop’s nomination with “an overwhelming majority.” Originally from New York, Aslop was taken under famed Leonard Bernstein’s wing as a young musician. At the time, she formed her own ensemble so she could have the opportunity to conduct. She has worked with most of the major orchestras in the United States, as well as in England. Her interests lie in more contemporary artists, such as John Adams, though her Brahms recordings with the London Philharmonic have been highly praised. Since its origins, the BSO has earned a reputation for world-class music and has a devoted national following. With the opening of the Music Center at Strathmore, the BSO becomes the nation’s first major orchestra with year-round venues in two metropolitan cities.


Culture YEARS OF OPERATIC JOY

Culture YEARS OF OPERATIC JOY

This fall, the Washington National Opera celebrates 50 years of bringing great opera to the nation’s capital. On September 17, the excitement of the golden anniversary season begins with a new production of Giuseppe’s Verdi’s rarely performed treasure, “I Vespri Siciliani.” The grand opera of passion and revenge stars Maria Guleghina and Franco Farina, and is masterminded by director/designer Paolo Miccichè with Maestro Plácido Domingo conducting. Beginning September 24, Domingo will step onto the stage for six performances to celebrate the second important anniversary of the season— his tenth year as the Opera’s general director. He will sing some of his most beloved roles in a “Trilogy” of acts from “Fedora,” “Otello” and “The Merry Widow,” opposite sopranos Mirella Freni and Barbara Frittoli, with music director Heinz Fricke conducting. On October 29, the Opera will treat Washington to the company’s very first “Porgy and Bess.” George Gershwin’s classic American stage work evokes the world of Catfish Row with songs that have become part of our musical heritage: “Summertime,” “I Got Plenty O’Nuttin,” “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” “My Man’s Gone Now” and “Bess, You is My Woman Now.” Renowned director Francesco Zambello will stage the new production. For tickets call (202) 295- 2400, or visit www.dc-opera.org


In the news RAMMY AWARDS

In the news RAMMY AWARDS

In honor of D.C.’s growing and trendy restaurant scene, the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington presented its highly regarded RAMMY Awards in early summer to an audience of local restauranteurs, chefs, managers and other interested guests. It’s no surprise that Café Milano took home “power spot of the year” or that CityZen at the Mandarin Oriental was dubbed “new restaurant of the year.” Georgetown’s Mie N Yu was named “favorite restaurant” and up-and-coming Café Saint-Ex was named “neighborhood gathering place of the year.” The black tie/blue chic theme was chosen in honor of Washington’s national reputation as a“cool restaurant scene.”




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