tART at Strathmore on Thursday October 27

A night of “Art with zing, music with spark and tangy treats. “

Beginning at 6:30 p.m in the Music Center at Strathmore, this fall arts fundraiser celebrates the power of the small, but sassy—the adventurous, the new, the offbeat and cheeky. Guests will be immersed in art as it’s being made and will incite real-time music creations by Strathmore’s Artists in Residence and local artists.

Electronica musician Yoko K. will create the soundtrack of the evening, looping guest soundbites into a continually evolving, organic music score. A large scale, site-specific installation will take shape at the hands of Wilmer Wilson IV as guests mingle. Additionally the live music performances will be top-notch: a mashup of live music from blues rock outfit The Daryl Davis Band, Gypsy jazz queen Mary Alouette and R&B crooner Jay Hayden.

Here’s one of my favorite features of the night: Stephanie Potter Corwin will capture the energy of the evening with guest glamour shots in her photo booth, projected live onto large screens throughout the party and e-mailed to revelers as mementos.

The food and drinks menu is really incredible. Dinner, hors d’oeuvres and open bar drinks are completely included in the reasonable ticket price. In case you are as food and beverage obsessed as I am, here is the run-down of the menu and signature cocktails.

The passed special cocktail will be a St. Germain, made with champagne and St. Germain liqueur, “the first liqueur in the world created in the artisanal French manner from freshly handpicked elderflower blossoms.”

Dinner will include

• mini foie gras-stuffed hamburgers with charred tomato catsup
• seared salmon with mushroom risotto
• stuffed chicken breast with red pepper and goat cheese
• pumpkin ravioli in a sage cream sauce topped with shaved parmesan
• roasted tomato, baby artichoke and gorgonzola cheese tart with gourmet greens and light vinaigrette
• braised short ribs with Yukon gold mashed potatoes

I don’t know about you, but I personally will not eat that well probably the rest of the year…and that is counting Thanksgiving and Christmas. And I will still have to find room to save for the dessert of chocolate ganache tartlettes, lemon tarts, passion fruit cupcakes with caramel buttercream and mini whoopie pies.

There will also be a fun martini raffle: you throw in $25 for a signature tART Appletini plus a costume piece of jewelry you wear all night and keep, and then you are entered for a chance to win the real thing — an oxidized silver diamond and pearl macramé bracelet valued at $750 from contemporary jeweler Amethyst..

You can also score some great deals on indulgent delights during the live and silent auctions, with Rolex watches, spa treatments, getaways to New York, chic shopping and more.

DISCOUNT – Just $75 for dinner, drinks, entertainment and a sparkling night to remember

Tickets for tART are $100 for most people, but special A Parent in Silver Spring readers can score all of the evening’s amazing delights for a discounted $75! 

And this is a night out you can feel GREAT about, as all the proceeds support Strathmore’s cultivation of young and future artists, from the 20,000 second and fifth graders who are introduced to orchestral music each year during the Strathmore Student Concerts to the rising stars of the Strathmore Artists in Residence program.

Here are the 3 Easy Steps to get your special ticket price of $75:

1.    Go to Strathmore’s website and register here, making sure to punch in Source Code 2193

2.    Then go to the tART event page on the calendar

3.    Tickets will be available to you at the special discounted rate of just $75.

4.    Add tickets to your cart and check out!

 

GIVEAWAYS

Giveaway #1:

I so believe this is the BEST Moms’ Night Out event of the year that I personally purchased two tickets and would love to give one away to YOU!

Leave a comment below if you would like my extra ticket for yourself.

Organize a GNO (girls’ night out, BTW) and if you win, share your winning ticket with a friend.

Giveaway #2:

If you attend tART, find me at the event and I will personally purchase you a $25 signature tART Appletini and entry in the martini raffle!

Yup, even if your entire moms’ group attends, I’ll hook you all up with your snazzy bracelet and drink combo, as well as a chance to win the $750 grand prize bracelet.

So send this post and link to your friends, tell your dudes to watch the kids or call your sitter, and join me for a fabulous (and very reasonable!) night out.

Disclosure: Strathmore is an advertising partner of A Parent in Silver Spring. However, I purchased the event tickets myself at full price and have offered my services as a member of the event host committee. Strathmore is a performing arts non-profit which I wholly support.

That is why this month’s Baby Bash and Bling Expo & Show on Saturday October 22nd is a must-attend event for those of you rocking a baby bump, decorating a nursery or dreaming of your blessed arrival.

The Baby Bash and Bling Expo & Show is an interactive lifestyle expo celebrating all things for expectant moms. This first-class event will help you discover new and interesting parenting tools, essential health and safety products, pregnancy and baby fashion trends, nutrition tips, and baby furnishings. There will also be an incredible “Bump the Runway” maternity fashion show, showcasing the latest in styles to showcase your belly bump and maintain your pre-pregnancy style.

And the organizers know moms-to-be well: there will be loads of great food and even “Bumptini” mocktails. There will be delicious hors d’ oeuvres, “Pregginista Punch,” a “Pickles & Ice Cream” station and a healthy snack bar.

Oh, and you will also receive your official first baby presents, for attendees receive a deluxe swag bag chock full of fabulous maternity and baby goodies.

What a fabulous way to spend a day, it is like a big group baby shower! If you have a baby on the way, you cannot miss this.

When: Saturday, October, 22, 2011 from 1p.m. to 4p.m. 

Where: The Crowne Plaza Hotel, 8777 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Tickets are available now at special early bird prices of$45 for one or $75 for two.  And for just ten dollars more, you can “bump” your ticket up to a VIP ticket at $55 and you will receive a luxe swag bag and access to the VIP lounge where you will receive a mini-makeover, hand massage and an express manicure. Nice!

To purchase tickets online visit http://babybashandblingtickets.eventbrite.com.

For more information on this great event, visit www.babybashandbling.com

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, all opinions expressed are my own. 

You’ll be there on opening night!

UPDATE: Megan H. and Judi R. are the randomly-drawn winners!

The show is suitable for ages 10 and up. I think it will be an awesome (and if you’re lucky – FREE) girls’ night out, special big kid and parent outing or a date night.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Blue Man Group is best known for their wildly popular theatrical shows and concerts which combine music, comedy and multimedia theatrics to produce a totally unique form of entertainment. Although it is impossible to describe, people of all ages agree that Blue Man Group’s show is an intensely exciting and wildly outrageous experience that leaves the entire audience in a blissful, euphoric state.

With no spoken language, Blue Man Group is perfect for people of all ages, languages, and cultures. Blue Man Group is coming to DC and playing at The Warner Theatre March 23-April 3. This unique theatrical experience is a form of entertainment like nothing else, guaranteed to be an outing you will never forget!

Tickets are available by phone at 800-551-7328 or online at ticketmaster.com

MARCH 23 – APRIL 3, 2011

Dates and Times

Wed, March 23 at 7:30pm
Thurs, March 24 at 8:00pm
Fri, March 25 at 8:00pm
Sat, March 26 at 1:00pm, 5:00pm, & 9:00pm
Sun, March 27 at 1:00pm & 5:00pm
Wed, March 30 at 7:30pm
Thurs, March 31 at 8:00pm
Fri, April 1 at 8:00pm
Sat, April 2 at 1:00pm, 5:00pm, & 9:00pm
Sun, April 3 at 1:00pm & 5:00pm

Ticket Prices
Gold Circle: $92.00
Orchestra: $82.00
Mid-Balcony and Upper Balcony : $72.00
Last 4 Rows: $32.00

TO WIN THIS GIVEAWAY:

TWO lucky readers will each win two tickets that must be used for the Wednesday March 23rd show. Bring ID, because your name will be awaiting at the Will Call window. The tickets are non-transferable.

You can get your name tossed in the virtual hat by

• Leaving a comment on this post – either leave your email address or login via Facebook so I can contact you if you win. If you don’t want to leave your straight-up email addy and for fear of being spammed by the bots (sounds like a science fiction movie, I know), do some fancy typing like Hottie [dot] McPhee [at] gmail and I’ll totally get it.
• Share this link on Facebook or Twitter for additional entries. Leave a comment here if you FBed or Tweeted, and friend me and follow me so I can see your lovely sharing and follow your feeds too.

I will randomly draw the two winners on MONDAY night at 9pm. Winners will be contacted directly and then posted here as well.

Good luck!

Dream Dinners
VitaMark Nutrition
MSS Concierge
Funfit Family Fitness
Tom Boy Tools
The Barking Cat
Scentsy
Mary Kay
The Pampered Chef
BeautiControl
Stella & Dot Jewelry
A Pampered Affair
Blessings Unlimited
Cookie Lee Jewelry
Rachel–Seated Massage

UPDATE: All tickets are now gone.  Thank you all!

I have 150 spaces to the exclusive, free advance screening of Secretariat on Wednesday October 6th in downtown Silver Spring at the Regal Magestic at 7:30pm. This film is rated PG, family-friendly and produced by Disney.

The question you should probably ask yourself is not whether your child is mature enough to hear the word “ass”, but whether he or she is mature enough to follow the story and not become so bored and whiny the experience is ruined for you.  Personally, my oldest is almost 7 and the only reason he will not be attending is that it’s too late for him on a school night.  But I look forward to watching with him via DVD later this year.

Official Film Synopsis: Based on the remarkable true story, “Secretariat” chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner.  Housewife and mother Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge.  Against all odds, Chenery—with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich)—manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time.

Tickets have all been distributed via apissgiveaways@gmail.com. Spaces on the list are non-transferable.  Please do not leave a comment on this post requesting tickets.  I will not be able to hook you up, even if you have a fancy screen name like sexysuzy78 and comment with something profound like  “me and my man need tickts and my nana too – thx!”

No list crashing or late admittance allowed. These screenings are often overbooked so although your name must be on the list, your seat is not guaranteed until the lights go dark.

The Regal Majestic is located at 900 Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring, MD 20910. There is ample parking available at two nearby public lots and the theater is walkable from the Silver Spring Metro stop on the Red Line.

Have fun!

“Let me tell you about being a child actor, kid. It’s great in the beginning if you can keep your folks out of the till. Then you’ll hit 24 and wonder if you should rent a permanent Hollywood Square. But if you can hold on through those Lifetime movies and animated voice work, eventually you’ll be able to re-woo your teen fans when they’re moms.  Just ask Patrick D. and Robert D.J.!”

Want to watch Jen get sperminated?

Jason do his loveable-manic-sarcastic schtick?

Relax in a cool air-conditioned theatre while watching something decidedly not for children?

Because I have 100 tickets to The Switch for Tuesday – a few days before it officially opens.

I haven’t seen the film. But I do see a lot of (OK,  every) romantic comedy or comedy targeted to women age 12 – 90. Yes, I suffer through it all. The implausible drivel and sexless kisses and doll-hair extensions and Ephronian retorts and recycled plots and man-childs who finally step up and BFFs who finally bone and he-said-she-said misunderstandings and squees and OMG cute shoes and ohhhh, they have a baby at the end I want another one sniff sniff.

I’m truthfully afraid of someday spontaneously bursting into a huge flame of hot pink tampons. Maybe I have a third ovary.

So I can say with a confidence and the self-imposed expert status that only a blogger can claim that this movie will probably be good. It’s by the same factory that churned out Little Miss Sunshine and Juno, two great screenplays with quirky, loveable characters.

Will the film be formulaic? I hope not, but probably. Rachel Green and Ross Geller-ish?  Definitely. Aniston and Bateman playing their same old patented neurotic gorgeousness? Ya ya ya, but hey, it’s a Tuesday night in August. There’s nothing on TV except Discovery and TLC (Hi baby, nice plug, right?) and you can set your DVR.  What else do you have to do?  Leave the kids with Dad, throw on a tank top, grab your girls and a catch a free show.

Tuesday, August 17^th

AMC Mazza

7:30pm

Watch The Switch trailer here – fyi it’s about a single mom doing IVF with a donor. It’s not a biopic of Mother Teresa. Please don’t be like the woman who emailed me after attending a free screening of Sex and the City that she was horrified about the rampant sexuality and materialism.  Seriously. BTW I really liked Olivia Hussey in Madre Teresa, add it to your Netflix queue.

OK, you just want your tickets. You can each have up to 4. Send me your name for the exclusive guest list to apissgiveaways@gmail.com. If you’re one of the first responders I’ll email you back. If you don’t receive an email from me it means the tickets are all gone. You don’t have to give me the name of your lucky 3 friends, just yours.

There will be no printable ticket. Just arrive 1 hour before the 7:30pm show and get in line. Tell the good looking greeter your name and she’ll check you and your guests off the list frat party style. There’s always the chance that the show will be overbooked and thus you are not guaranteed a seat until your tush is in it.

Have fun!  Tell Jason and his furrowed brow I said hi.

Do you like to go out with groups of friends on a week night (e.g. when your partner can stay home with the kids or a babysitter is easier to book)?

Then head to The Melting Pot nearest you for their new  Girls Night Out special four-course meal package, available for groups of 8 or more on Sundays through Thursdays for only $30 per person. (Of course, I’m sure dudes could enjoy it too, just be man enough to ask.)

The DC area locations offering the Girls Night Out Menu are: Midtown Washington DC, Arlington VA, Gaithersburg MD (this is where I went – it was freaking fabulous! – and close to my pad in Silver Spring) and Reston VA.  Other Melting Pot locations in the area that have other super specials are Columbia MD, Annapolis MD, Towson MD and Fredericksburg VA.

If you live elsewhere in North America, find your own nearby Melting Pot on this nifty map.

My last fondue experience was in the early ’90s in Berkeley. I would deviate from my usual close-lipped details of my sordid past and explain to you why I don’t remember very much about the evening, but since the establishment is surprisingly still open for underage college students’ enjoyment, I’ll refrain. My closest friends from college had similar experiences there, as well as close friends I’ve since made who also went to Cal.

Let’s just say that a Washington DC Bloggers Girls Night Out at The Melting Pot was everything my first fondue experience was not  – namely, it was delicious, decadent and I only had to taste it once.

We were treated to the new Girls Night Out Menu and enjoyed:

• Three cheese fondue dips for fresh bread and veggies: Feng Shui, Spinach Artichoke, and Fiesta cheese fondues

• A Melting Pot House Salad with choice of peppercorn ranch dressing or house vinaigrette

• A Girls’ Night Out entrée plate which included teriyaki sirloin, marinated breast of chicken, white shrimp, and pasta to cook in broth fondue

• Four chocolate fondue dips for fresh fruit, pastries, marshmallows and treats: Disaronno Meltdown, Cookies ‘n Cream Marshmallow Dream, Ying & Yang (pictured at the top of this post) and Flaming Turtle chocolate fondues

The Girls’ Night Out four-course meal package is available for groups of 8 or more on Sundays through Thursdays for only $30 per person at The Melting Pot restaurants in Midtown Washington DC, Arlington VA, Gaithersburg MD and Reston VA.

With the kids’ sports and birthday parties and craziness on the weekend, I’m thinking this is the perfect way to get my book club together and reconnect with my MOMS Club buds.  Or to celebrate with a fellow mom before she gives birth and is out of commission for girls nights for a while.  Or even a bachelorette party … at least the first stop in the evening!

If you’d like to make a reservation for your own group, email Lauren of The Melting Pot and tell her that you heard about it on A Parent in Silver Spring and she’ll handle booking it for you.

Also, follow The Melting Pot on Twitter @MeltingpotDC, and fan you closest Melting Pot location on Facebook, to hear about more special discounts and promos for friends of THE CHEESE.
www.facebook.com/MeltingPotGaithersburg
www.facebook.com/MeltingPotWashingtonDC
www.facebook.com/MeltingPotArlingtonVA
www.facebook.com/MeltingPotReston

Disclosure: 18 other bloggers and I were treated to the menu above to help spread the word about this new dining option for groups. We were not required to write about the experience nor provide a positive review in exchange for the meal.  All opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own.

Photographs of chocolate, table and cheese grabbed from Thien-Kim of I’m Not the Nanny and of wine from Lolli of Better in Bulk.

Momz Share's Jen & Lara and me. Photo by Amanda of http://thenagainphotography.com/

Chris Ann and Kristin of Love Feast Table – two girlfriends writing a memoir cookbook (thanks for the martini glass gals!)

Hide The Cheese - my new favorite food blog EVAH.  I am forcing this chick to be my friend.  She should be afraid. But if she runs away, at least I can make her recipes.

It’s My Time To Write - a truly great professional writer and mother just began this beautiful blog

Treets! Photo by Lolli of Better In Bulk.net

Tuscan Home Decor & Design – this woman does it all!  Thanks for the raffle donation!

Musings From Me

The Land of Bean

Sisarina

Tech Savvy Mama

Parentopia Devra

Teach Mama – Vote for Amy at the Scholastic Parenting Blog Awards!

I’m Not The Nanny

I crashed this photo of Seriously a Homemaker and Chief Bit Mom Leticia of Tech Savvy Mama. Photo by Lolli of Better in Bulk.net

Caffeine And A Prayer

Parenting By Dummies

The Too Fatties

Living In Maryland

Laundry For Six

An Acorn Dreaming

Urban Mama

A Spiced Life

Toddler Planet

Wrecklamation

The Traveling Marshalls

Twofer Mom

Linda Sellers

ProMom Blogger

and more women I wish I’d met!

Next time, I’d love to hang with YOU!  I’ll keep you posted on the next Momz Share, hosted by Scary Mommy, but you can also follow Momz Share on Twitter (@momzshare)and on Facebook (here) and if you are a business that would like to become involved in some way, please email lara.momzshare(at)gmail.com.

Tickets for the screening are $15, available here, and ALL proceeds will go to the GRAMMY In The Schools music education programs for young people.

(20 bucks says someone sings Bad Romance. )

Tuesday, April 6, 7:00 PM

Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse

2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204

Note: All attendees of shows at the Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse must be 21 or over or accompanied by a parent, so don’t drop off your teens!