WASH September 2008 : 10
EDITOR’S NOTE SEPTEMBER 2008 Didya hear that DC’s young and the restless are headed for a reality showon Lifetime?Or that Jean-GeorgesVongerichten is scheduled to set up shop here in the new W Hotel come spring 2009? Or that our city, in fact, houses the biggest celebrity in the world—no matter that he’s a politician. What is this, L.A.? Thankfully, no. But how far isDCfromtranscending its status as the nation’s KAREN SOMMER SHALETT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF capitol to the nation’s cultural capitol? We can’t yet boast the same quantity of artists per square mile as New York or celebrities as Los Angeles, but we certainly make up for it in quality. Take Cory Oberndorfer, the breakout muralist we feature in “Radar Art” this month.With a quirky fetish for roller derby girls, this pop artist could easily join the inner circle of au currant contemporary artists, who, inspired by AndyWarhol and Jeff Koons, have found their way to the international stage. Th en there’s DC’s art patrons, a few of which you can fi nd profi led in our home feature section this month. Jennifer Motruk Loy, James Alefantis and Andres Tremols, an artist himself, have made an art form of collecting. And if that’s not convincing enough, check out the work of DC’s architects. Robert Gurney turns a bombed-out non-profi t into a modernist haven that could stand up to any Tribeca haunt, also in our home feature section. And by the way, the client isn’t a New Yorker—he’s a DC politico. Check out “Open House” to fi nd out who. And then of course, there’s Hollin Hills. This homegrown modernist oasis has been with us for decades, but it’s because of the homeowners found within, not to mention architects like Ben Ames, that preservation of the minimalist gem continues. See “Period Peace” for a peek inside this nirvana for design-philes. Always looking to tout Washington’s latest and greatest innovators, we turn our fashion eye to Lacey Kirstein and her burgeoning shoe business in “Radar Fashion.” We are awaiting an announcement any day of which starlet will get to play Cinderella to Kirstein’s silver slippers. And as the mineral makeup industry booms,DC has a player in that game too.Natasha Bobo recentlymadeGeorgetown her home (after an international path to get here) and has set up shop after creating her formula in her kitchen. In “Radar Beauty,” fi nd out which major DC media mogul has become a fan. And if you can’t wait for Vongerichten, no need to stay home. Alain Ducasse and Art Smith are opening up this month.We talk to both celebu-chefs in our “Food Drink Bites” DC magazine works hard to show sides of Washington that those outside the Beltway (and some even inside the Beltway) haven’t yet realized are here. Odd, I think, because the modernist aesthetic and appreciation for edgier cultural forms is pretty pervasive in these parts as of late. So much so, we’ve been able to apply our vantage point to a very relevant new publication this month. Don’t miss our insert of the Men’s Book. It details a number of guys (and one woman) making the District safe for all men who appreciate the finest things in life. And don’t worry; even this girly- girl includes sports in that description. KSHALETT@MODERNLUXURY.COM 10 > SEPTEMBER 2008
Editors Note
Didya hear that DC’s young and the restless are headed for a reality show on Lifetime? Or that Jean-Georges Vongerichten is scheduled to set up shop here in the new W Hotel come spring 2009? Or that our city, in fact, houses the biggest celebrity in the world—no matter that he’s a politician. What is this, L.A.? Th ankfully, no.<br /> <br /> But how far is DC from transcending its status as the nation’s capitol to the nation’s cultural capitol? We can’t yet boast the same quantity of artists per square mile as New York or celebrities as Los Angeles, but we certainly make up for it in quality.<br /> <br /> Take Cory Oberndorfer, the breakout muralist we feature in “Radar Art” this month. With a quirky fetish for roller derby girls, this pop artist could easily join the inner circle of au currant contemporary artists, who, inspired by Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons, have found their way to the international stage. Th en there’s DC’s art patrons, a few of which you can fi nd profi led in our home feature section this month. Jennifer Motruk Loy, James Alefantis and Andres Tremols, an artist himself, have made an art form of collecting.<br /> <br /> And if that’s not convincing enough, check out the work of DC’s architects. Robert Gurney turns a bombed-out non-profi t into a modernist haven that could stand up to any Tribeca haunt, also in our home feature section. And by the way, the client isn’t a New Yorker—he’s a DC politico. Check out “Open House” to fi nd out who. And then of course, there’s Hollin Hills. Th is homegrown modernist oasis has been with us for decades, but it’s because of the homeowners found within, not to mention architects like Ben Ames, that preservation of the minimalist gem continues. See “Period Peace” for a peek inside this nirvana for design-philes.<br /> <br /> Always looking to tout Washington’s latest and greatest innovators, we turn our fashion eye to Lacey Kirstein and her burgeoning shoe business in “Radar Fashion.” We are awaiting an announcement any day of which starlet will get to play Cinderella to Kirstein’s silver slippers. And as the mineral makeup industry booms, DC has a player in that game too. Natasha Bobo recently made Georgetown her home (after an international path to get here) and has set up shop after creating her formula in her kitchen. In “Radar Beauty,” fi nd out which major DC media mogul has become a fan.<br /> <br /> And if you can’t wait for Vongerichten, no need to stay home. Alain Ducasse and Art Smith are opening up this month. We talk to both celebu-chefs in our “Food Drink Bites” DC magazine works hard to show sides of Washington that those outside the Beltway (and some even inside the Beltway) haven’t yet realized are here. Odd, I think, because the modernist aesthetic and appreciation for edgier cultural forms is pretty pervasive in these parts as of late. So much so, we’ve been able to apply our vantage point to a very relevant new publication this month.<br /> <br /> Don’t miss our insert of the Men’s Book. It details a number of guys (and one woman) making the District safe for all men who appreciate the fi nest things in life. And don’t worry; even this girlygirl includes sports in that description.
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