CarolJoynt.com

New Year's Eve With The Homies At Le Dip

DISCUSSING WITH SAM HARRINGTON WHAT WE ALWAYS DISCUSS: HEALTH CARE

It was gorgeous at Le Diplomate tonight for New Year's Eve. Wish I'd shot a few more snaps, especially of the abundance of blue and gold helium-filled balloons, but here's what I've got of our table of neighborhood pals: Sam and Debbie Harrington and Ellen Charles.

CAROL, ELLEN, DEBBIE AND SAM

We are good friends and live only a few doors form each other. Arrived at 14th and Q at  7:30, home by 10:30, putting on the socks and the PJ's and ready to tuck in under the covers and surf the NYE  web and TV action. Happy New Year, y'all. 

HOW THE MEAL STARTED: A CLASSIC PRESENTATION OF CAVIAR W/ BLINIS, ETC

Sam and Debbie, btw, write an adult "gap year blog" which I recommend for anyone who is a doctor, lawyer, pilot, or over 35, feeling burned out and in need of recharge and a new view on life.

Onward ...

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR, ALL

Thank you for visiting my website throughout the year.

Why I Love Austin, Texas

 

Above is a photo of a ritual that plays out before heading to Austin. I arrive at Reagan National early enough for a "boot" shine. It represents my general disposition about the Southwest flight ahead: an escape hatch to a completely different world from Washington. I've writen about Austin on more than one occasion, but extensively on my first visit, which I titled Austin On My Mind. Then again after a visit I called Back To Austin For .... There have been others.

Here are photos from my most recent visit, a week ago. They are iPhone glimpses, but touch on why I love Austin, Texas. There's so much to love.  The street art. The food trucks (this one at midnight for awesome pizza). The food scene in general. Here we are at Paul Qui's new place, where the menu is lively. The photo is of a Filipino "Halo Halo" dessert. The wonderful Rainey Street scene; sitting outside at Clive bar, stopping by Lustre Pearl. Serious coffee, seriously. We may have fried chicken and waffles in DC, but in Austin it's fried quail and waffles and yummy, at Olivia. Always a stop at my fave store, Allens Boots. To the extent I buy clothing anymore, it's where I buy clothing. While the photo is grainy and smartphony, you get the message of the Austin skyline: pickups in the foreground, skyscrapers in the background. 

If you haven't been to Austin, go. There's a nonstop out of Reagan. Stay at the Stephen F. Austin Intercontinental. It's well situated on Congress, in the heart of everything. Good rooms, good rates, a good breakfast buffet. There are alternative hotels, such as Hotel Saint Cecilia, and hotels by the lake with a pool, such as the Four Seasons. But go. You'll want to move there. I would if I could count on a job.

 

 

Back!

 
I've been away - Austin, New Orleans - but now I'm back in the conventional world of Washington, aka "home," and incrementally re-entering the subdued, predictable pace here. Quel adjustment! Over the next few days I plan to post a scrapbook of photos, so please return. The photo above was shot on Christmas morning at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, a popular (and ancient) tavern on Bourbon Street near where Spencer and I stayed as part of a rollicking holiday house party hosted by dear friends. The music on the incredible juke box was loud, classic American rock and R&B, and uplifting. I've enjoyed all kinds of memorable Christmas mornings, but this one, with Otis Redding as  soundtrack, and a Bloody Martini in  hand, was unique.

Bravo's New Cast For "Real Housewives of Washington DC"

UPDATE, 12/30 ... THE ONE ON THE RIGHT GOT FIRED TODAY. SO, CALL THIS SHOT "HAPPIER TIMES."

In Bravo's new version of The Real Housewives of Washington, DC,  join castmembers Bruce Allen, Robert Griffin III, Dan Snyder,  Mike Shanahan and (not pictured) Kyle Shanahan, in a hot mess of a power struggle that makes the Real Housewives brand irresistible TV: back stabbing, passive-aggresive manipulation, gossip, and leaks to their friends in the media. Will there be hair-pulling and table toppling? We certainly hope so. Tune in regularly. Where most RHO franchises have weekly runs, the the new RHOW has new episodes daily. 

New York Social Diary: The Best Washington Parties of 2013 Pt. 1

This morning on New York Social Diary is the first installment of a two part review of the most memorable parties of 2013 in Washington. Today focuses on Winter and Spring. Next Monday will be Summer and Fall. The list is highly subjective, of course, but based on attending dozens of receptions, openings, cocktail parties, galas and balls in 2013, a year in which I even went to the  opening of a Safeway in suburban Virginia. It didn't make the cut -- the bar was high - but still it was worth the effort and became a story for Washingtonian. 

Last week I wrote about the gala life in general, and what it takes to make a gala good, even great, and worth the price of a $1,000 ticket. 

What We Locals Sometimes Take For Granted

I was at a party tonight at the National Portrait Gallery's Kogod Courtyard for a promotional effort called "DC Cool." I expected all the mayoral candidates to be there, but didn't spot a one. Maybe they showed after I headed home, and more about that tomorrow at washingtonian.com. But here's the point of this post: beautiful night and I walked from 7th Street to 23rd Street, almost to home. This was a good walk because it gave me a chance to admire some of the city's sights and architecture - after dark, under the lights; what we locals sometimes take for granted.

THE CONTRAST OF THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY AND VERIZON CENTER

THE NATIONAL PRESS BUILDING (I WORKED HERE FOR 3 YRS AT THE BEGINNING OF MY CAREER)

THE HAMILTON, FORMERLY AWESOME GARFINCKELS, WHERE I USED TO TAKE BUYING CHANEL SUITS FOR GRANTED

THE SCENE OUTSIDE OLD EBBITT GRILL

TREASURY. WHEN I WORKED FOR UPI I USED TO BE SENT OVER HERE IN THE MORNING TO GET THE DAILY "BALANCE," OR THE "NUMBERS" USED BY GAMBLERS. BEAUTIFUL BUILDING, HOWEVER.

THE HAPPY FACE OF DEMOCRACY AS TOURISM

THE IMF BUILDING (I BELIEVE) ADJACENT TO FOUNDING FARMERS

THOUGHTS ON THE GALA LIFE, 2013

 I begin a look back on 2013 on New York Social Diary today. This first installment considers gala life in general, with some gentle, well-meaning advice. 

Getting Back In The Mood

OUR TWO TABLES FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER AT 1789

It's not easy coming out of the Thanksgiving holiday haze and shifting gears  into the mood of the work week ... but I must. It feels as if there's a thousand things that need to be done between now and Christmas. First is an after Thanksgiving detox, which doesn't translate as much more than lean and raw foods for a couple of days. I mean, I wasn't that bad. I broke some rules -- bread and dessert -- and both combine to make me feel lethargic. Rich food completely messed up sleep patterns, prompted strange dreams (though the road trip with Brad Pitt was fun). I will be tired for a couple of days. 

I fear even glancing at my calendar.  Do I or don't I go to the parties? With Thanksgiving coming late this year the holiday party season is compressed into about 2 1/2 weeks, with the weekend of December 15-17 being DefCon 2. 

Apart from Thanksgiving dinner with a large group of friends at 1789, the most fun I had this weekend was a pay-per-view mini movie binge. I watched: Parkland, We Are The Millers, The Way Way Back, Mud and World War Z (thus the Brad dream). Each delivered what I wanted it to, with TWWB and Mud being the stand-outs. Coincidentally, both are coming of age films.

Tonight, for better or worse, it's Sunday Night Football with our Landover NFL team trying to stop the downward spiral. Go team!

Spent today writing the first of two columns for New York Social Diary that will serve as a social year in review. Please check out Pt.1 tomorrow morning. 

I did realize this weekend that I want to write another book, picking up from where "Innocent Spouse" left off, but less about me and more about the world around me, the people I meet, places I go, what I see & experience. Of course, that's similar to when a mountain climber decides to go back up Everest. The story exists, but I need to find an agent and a publisher! And then there's finding the time.