Happy Independence Day

We at the Punch wish you a very safe and happy 4th of July Celebration this weekend. For all of you in DC, enjoy the Fireworks, the National Mall concert and be careful on the Metro (remember tourists - you WALK on the LEFT side of the escalator!).  If you are in NYC, hopefully you will be able to get near the soon to be re-opened Statue of Liberty.

I was on the treadmill (because I was working off one glass of the 101 glasses of wine I’d had this week in DC’s Wine Country) watching FOX News and caught Martha MacCallum reciting “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus with the Statue in the background.  I got goosebumps as I heard the words because they are so beautiful.  Here it is for you to read and remember how lucky we are to live in our Freedom.  Happy 4th!

“The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles.
From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“”Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!”” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

May the uncorking begin

I returned from my adventure/expedition/experience in “The LC” (Loudoun County, that is- think Middleburg, Leesburg, Purcellville, Lansdowne, Bluemont, etc.) refreshed, relaxed, and seriously over served (shocking, right?).  There is just so much to share with you.  I’ll be creating a fun entertaining, educational (and hopefully inspirational) Series of my time spent in The LC, which is a mere 45 minutes from the nation’s capital.  You can add this to your list of summer reading pleasure.

Coming attractions (and major endorsements for these wines I tasted) will include Breaux Vineyards, Bluemont Vineyard, Sunset Hills Vineyard, Corcoran Vineyards - all of which will be at the DC’s Wine Country Food & Wine Festival - the recently renovated ($50 million worth, baby) Lansdowne Resort, Lightfoot Restaurant, Magnolias at the Mill, Tuscarora Mill (”Tuskie’s” to the locals), Salamander Resort & Spa, Salamander Market, Salamander Touch, and sooooo much more.

In the meantime, I did get a chance to check out Whitehall Manor, where this coming weekend’s DC’s Wine Country’s Food & Wine Festival will take place.  WOW. Now that’s God’s country … so peaceful.  Not that it will be considered “peaceful” when hundreds of foodies and wine lovers take over it during the evenings of July 10th - 12th!

Speaking of the Festival, thought I would share with you this generous offer:

Apply the code: PUNCH at check out when you and your friends purchase your Festival ticket AND transportation (provided by Reston Limo) and $15 will be automatically taken off. Your TICKET & RIDE will be only $35! Now that’s a serious deal.  My friends and I will be there on Saturday the 11th, so hopefully you can make it too.  We want to see you there!

P.S.(I would call this deal “Get Drunk on the Punch” … but that would be just wrong.)

Kastles Season Gearing Up for Kick Off

Washington, are you watching our Serena Williams at Wimbledon?  Are you getting pysched for the Washington Kastles Season to start? I sure as heck am. Next Tuesday and Wednesday are going to be stellar in the way of tennis for DC.

On Tuesday, July 7th at 7pm, the Washington Kastles season kicks off by welcoming Venus Williams and the Philadelphia Freedoms to our burgeoning sports town.  Venus is the current defending Wimbledon Champion, but we have the doubles eight-time Grand Slam Champion Leander Paes, the reigning WTT Women’s and Championship Finals MVP Rennae Stubbs, along with Olga Puchkova and the adorable Scott “Boom Boom” Oudsema.

Then, after we beat Venus and the Freedoms, we take on Anna something or other. She’s just some tennis player that’s known for her beauty, whom she dates, her fashion and ok, fine … on top of that she knows how to throw a racket around.  Some ladies just have it all.  On Wednesday, July 8th at 7pm, you can watch Anna Kournikova and the St. Louis Aces take on our Kastles.

July is tennis season and there’s no better place to watch the fun sport of WTT than at the Kastles Stadium.  This is is made for th whole family and it’s a great venue for group outings, summer dates, and business deals. I plan on being at every match, so if you miss any, you can always read about it on the Punch, Twitter, Facebook and Flickr.

Buy your tickets now: www.washingtonkastles.com

The District Dish with DJ Adrian Loving

from Dissident Display is up for your viewing and learning pleasure. This cool cat dishes with Ebong, Kate and me at the Blue Duck Tavern in the Park Hyatt Washington.  We discuss the deconstruction and infusion of art, media, and music in the city, some of his upcoming projects and PSA, where you can find him in the city (think Embassies!) and why he’s so “against the grain”.

www.thedistrictdish.com - Thanks for watching!

In Memoriam

Post by Lena Aburdene (This is a memorial in honor of Dr. Kelly Murray and her daughter Sloane, who were recently killed during a torrential storm in the Washington, DC area.)

I recently graduated with my second Masters degree in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola College.  Part of my reason for selecting this program was because I really wanted to help people who were suffering and in deep crisis.  Over the course of the past three years that I spent at Loyola, I gained an amazing family of students and faculty who shared the same passions as I did and were dedicated to constantly extending themselves to others in need.

On Friday June 26th, one of the faculty members of my small, close-knit Loyola community was tragically killed, along with her 7 year-old daughter Sloane (pictured above) by a falling tree branch during an intense storm.  Dr. Kelly Murray (pictured above) was an amazing woman to say the least.  Not only was she an associate professor at my school, she had her own private practice and was the dedicated mother of 6 daughters, ages 10 months – 12 years.  I remember walking by Kelly’s office and always making a point to stop and admire her door, which was completely covered in art work by her daughters.  I was always in awe of a woman who could handle being a mom to 6 kids, a wife, a published author, an educator, a soccer coach and a dedicated therapist.  Kelly also founded GirlsUP, an organization that seeks to “provide an opportunity to improve a girl’s sense of self and collective spirit to meet life’s challenges confidently.”

Over the past 3-4 years that I was in the Pastoral Counseling program, I worked with cancer patients (both children and adults) and the mentally ill and homeless who were also suffering from addictions and many times, serious cases of post traumatic stress disorder.  Working with people in deep crisis can often lead you down a dark path and I credit my continued strength, optimism and hope to the guidance and support of all the teachers in my program.  I don’t think I would be where I am today or be able to continue in the work that I do without them.  Kelly and Sloane Murray will obviously be missed more than words can describe.

Kelly and Sloane are survived by Kelly’s husband Sean and the remaining 5 daughters: Jillian (12), Meghan (11), Maeve (6), Quinn (2) and Kieran (10 months).  Because Sean and Kelly worked so hard to support their family, there is a scholarship fund being set up to help put the girls through college.  They will need a lot of support to make up for their financial loss in the future.  If you feel inclined to make a donation to the fund, payments can be made to the Murray Scholarship Fund (send checks to Kelly McMahon, Attn: Murray Scholarship 3908 Leland St, Chevy Chase, MD 20815).

Please take a moment today to feel deep gratitude for the loved ones you have in your life and to also remember the ones that are no longer with us, who have touched our lives and made us who we are.

Photo credit: Beth Jansen Photography (www.bethjansenphotography.com)

Photos: Kelly Murray, Sloane Murray (age 7)

Kelly and her daughters: Meghan, Jillian, Maeve, Quinn and Sloane

Best in Show

Washingtonian magazine will again be hosting their annual “Best of” event, much to the delight of readers, attendees, those in the running for the winning titles and of course, those who actually walk away with the titles.

Come check out the “Who’s Who & What’s What” of our nation’s capital according to the magazine, which is no doubt  well-versed in what it takes to be at the top in a hard to please town.

When: July 15th, 2009 7pm-10pm

Where: National Building Museum 440 G Street, NW

What: Washingtonian magazine’s “Best of 2009″ Event, featuring more than 50 of the area’s best restaurants and celebrated chefs, from Michel Richard of Citronelle and Central, to Eric Ziebold of CityZen, to Tony Conte of the Oval Room to Scott Drewno of The Source by Wolfgang Puck.

All funds from the Silent Auction as well as a portion of the ticket sales will go towards the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Thank you to lead sponsor Verizon Wireless (the company whom I have given all my earnings to…)

Learn more and buy your tickets today (with a $10 coupon by putting in “Best Friend” in the Code Space):  http://www.washingtonian.com/sections/bestof.

Operation Sand Flea Sees Off Our Troops

Last Monday, Sara Damelio of Skincando (pictured) had the honored privilege of personally handing out the donated Combat-Ready Balm at BWI Airport to the deployed troops headed to Iraq and Afghanistan.  She shared with her friends and supporters that this “was the manifestation of a dream and one of the most intense emotional experiences of my life. Tears flowed and hugs were given. The soldiers were so kind, humble and appreciative.”

She and others, including WMAL 630 and the USO had the chance to shake these men’s and women’s hands, thank them for their courage and hug them good-bye.

Thank you to everyone who donated to Operation Sand Flea.  Sara would like to thank YOU Loyal Punch Readers for your support by offering you a complimentary Combat-Ready Lip Balm. To receive your gift please email Sara your name and address to skincando@aol.com and in the subject line write “Pamela’s Punch”.

Happy Independence Day Weekend!

Gone Touring

Dear Loyal Punch Readers, please excuse the sporadic posting over the next few days and nights.  I will be touring DC’s Wine Country which is Loudoun County, VA (I know, I know… tough job. But someone has to bear the vineyards so as to report back to you on the grapes…and food…and beautiful countryside…) and checking out some of the unique sites, tastes, and sounds of our own backyard.

Expect a full detailed report on the Punch with photos coming soon. In the meantime, please don’t forget to purchase your ticket for the DC’s Wine Country’s Food & Wine Festival and look into the Visit Loudoun website.  You’d be surprised at all that awaits you just a few miles outside the Beltway!

P.S. Wine aficionado Steven Spurrier gave the Virgina Viognier an accolade of it being one of the best he’s ever tasted worldwide.

http://www.visitloudoun.org/things-to-do/wine-country/

http://www.vafoodandwine.com/

Celebrity Trainer Mark Jenkins on The District Dish

Check out his muscles (whew!) and get some of Mark Jenkins‘ tips. He has trained Beyonce, Missy Elliott, Puffy and more!  But even more importantly, he is working hard to help DC’s public school kids to get in shape and learn about nutrition.

www.thedistrictdish.com

Driver’s Seat

Punch Partner Lindsay Volkswagen of Dulles sent the Punch some latest and greatest on VW.  By the way, I was out on the road the other day and saw a ton of VW’s.  Maybe the following are reasons why….

Home Improvement:

In this year’s J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, Volkswagen improved its problems-per-100-vehicles (PP100) score by sixteen points (128 to 112 PP100) AND moved up nine ranking spots (from #24 to #15).

Carefree:

All 2009 or new Volkswagen’s come with Carefree Maintenance, meaning there is no charge for regularly scheduled maintenance for three (3) years or 36,000 miles.

Credit Earning:

The 2009 Jetta TDI Clean Diesel and the 2009 JettaSportwagen TDI Clean Diesel qualify for a $1,300 Federal Income Tax Credit.

Record Breaking:

The Jetta TDI Clean Diesel is EPA rated at 41 miles per gallon on the highway, but set a Guiness World Record at 58.82 miles per gallon.

22455 Cedar Green Road | Sterling, VA 20166
703-880-8080 Direct | 703-880-8222 Fax
botey@lindsayvw.com | www.lindsayvw.com