Hirshhorn After Hours Fall 2011

Christine and Serena and I used to go to every Hirshhorn After Hours, but it fell off our radar for awhile.  I hadn't been in about a year, but when we went back for old time's sake in October.  Still a cool experience, maybe not as hip a crowd as in its heyday, but fun nonetheless.  Fantastic art + drinks + music will always be a good time. We walked through the Andy Warhol: Shadows exhibit, the scale of which will knock you for a loop.

These girls are always the first ones on the dance floor.

They really crank the smoke machine up to 11 though. I could barely breathe. Every minute and a half, smoke would flood the dance floor.

This photo is going to be Christine's album cover.

High-five! Another party conquered!

Cosmo Couture at the Artisphere

Project Runway might be getting a little long in the tooth in its 9th season (!) but the concept is still so much fun. I was reminded of that on Wednesday at Cosmo Couture, a charity fashion show that challenged interior design firms and architects to create garments out of fabric samples and furnishings. My company had an extra ticket for the runway show at the Artisphere, and I was lucky enough to attend and help support our team.

In 2011, when no one has to make anything by hand and most things we see around us are mass-produced, it's fun to see what talented, creative people can create with the most unlikely materials. Creating something from nothing.

OK, maybe I'm waxing philosophical. The whole event was just plain fun. As the evening's emcee noted, Lady Gaga has nothing on these designs.

It is really hard to take photos at fashion shows. I just got a fancy new camera that I love, but I obviously still have a lot to learn about it, because my photos didn't come out very well. I put it on "Sports" scene mode. There ought to be a "Runway" mode.

Here's the judging panel, taking copious notes.

People using their iPads as cameras at events cracks me up. Maybe this is the new normal, but for now I say it looks silly.

There goes Audrey, wearing our firm's design. It was the prettiest one, in my estimation. The others were aiming for edgy, not pretty.

I didn't know that my former coworker Jenny was going to be in the fashion show. Not only was she in the show, she won the award for best model! She was so fierce! Mohawk, crazy eyeliner, badass attitude. She had a better walk than a lot of America's Next Top Model contestants I've seen, and I've watched at least six cycles, ha.

Luther and I sat near the stage, and Jenny told us after the show that she heard us saying "Jenny? Is that Jenny?" right as she turned the corner. It almost made her break character.

I loved the venue too. The Artisphere is enormous! It's new-ish, modern, with a sweeping staircase and an auditorium. If you get the chance to go to a party here, take it.

Grown-up coloring, cocktail in hand.

Could this turkey sculpture actually be a ride, like outside grocery stores in the '90s? There was a coin box, and I had to try it out. I put in my 50 cents, waited, and nothing! I've been scammed. But then, just as I was about to walk away, the turkey started bucking like a bronco. Everyone in the vicinity turned around to stare at the galloping turkey. It would be worth a trip to the Artisphere, just to see that, right?

Advice for Your Everyday Life

Maybe a good way to get more pageviews would be to write something actually useful for once. Here it goes:

• The easiest way to take off a paper ID bracelet from a club is to turn it inside out, then rip apart the ends.
• If you like an album in NPR's First Listen, you can listen to it past the release date if you keep it in your queue - just leave the player up and don't restart your computer. If you add anything to the queue, it will disappear though. *Note: this worked on my Mac, can't promise anything.
  
• The Washington Sports Clubs in Fairfax, Glover Park and on Connecticut Avenue are the only ones I've been to thus far that have Bravo on the TVs. If any other clubs have that channel, leave me a comment so we can start a list.
  

Deadmau5 and Carded Once Again

Remember how I got labeled an Unaccompanied Minor last month?  I went to the Deadmau5 concert yesterday - I was laughing, drinking a beer when this kid appears out of nowhere and shines a pen light on the back of my hand.  I couldn't figure out what was going on, then I realized, "Ohhh, he thinks I am under 21 and drinking illegally."

Once again, I am 25.  He singled me out - I was the only one for miles around to get the pen light treatment.  Oh, the injustice of it all!  Suddenly I felt so very uncool.  I need to hold onto every shred of cool I can, and this just isn't helping.  The worst part is that the guy who tried to bust me looked like he was 17 himself.

Whatever.  Then someone gave me these psychedelic glasses and all was right with the world.  (They are a little worse for wear.)

Just a Little Something I've Been Contemplating

Theory: When the soundtrack at the bar starts playing "Sweet Caroline," it's time to leave.