DOLLHOUSE

GEORGETOWN
Dollhouse magazine 1 Fashion, Entertainment and Culture

BOUTIQUE
SPOTLIGHT
GOING VINTAGE
A Classic
Piece:
WITH ANNIE Tribute to
CREAMCHEESE the Little
Black Dress
PLUS:
5
REASONS WHY WE’RE
CRUSH’N ON DC,
WINING AND DINING RELATIONSHIP

102:
IN THE DISTRICT, &
MORE!
WHAT TO DO
WHEN YOUR
BEAU IS A
HOMEBODY
Dollhouse 2
DOLLHOUSE JANUARY-MARCH
2011: Premiere Edition
Features

22 OUR CITYLIFE: The Top 5 Reasons

We’re Diggin’ DC…
Other than Obama, of course.
by Leigh Johnson

24 THE VALUE MENU

Want to get the most out of life?
Features Editor, Lydia Siriprakorn,
will tell you how.
by Lydia Siriprakorn

68
Gelila Sisay
Exclusive Interview
“Local Stars in the Area”
by Matia Johnson

Fashion

27 NET BUZZ: BLOG SPOTLIGHT:

Princess Dominique Does Fashion,
Shoes, & All Things Beauty.

28 BOUTIQUE SPOTLIGHT:
Going Vintage with Annie
Creamcheese.
words by Avril Hunt &
Matia Johnson

66
A CLASSIC PIECE: TRIBUTE TO THE
LITTLE BLACK DRESS
by Matia Johnson

Dollhouse 8 www.dollhousedmv.com
DOLLHOUSE JANUARY-MARCH
2011: Premiere Edition
Fashion Continued

30 CHIC SIMPLICITY
Contemporary Fashion at
its best.

36
DOWNTOWN CRUSH’N
A Trendsetting, Love
Triangle.

Love, Lust &

the In-Between

56
INSIDE LOOKING OUT
What to do when Your
Beau is a Homebody.
by Matia Johnson

58
BREAKING UP IS HARD TO
DO
Chick Therapy: So Make it
Easier...
by Amber Hurwitz

Entertainment

16
4 GO SEES IN THE DMV
Venture out and about in
our City.

50 WINING AND DINING IN THE

DISTRICT
Hot spots, restaurants, and
more!

Dollhouse 10 www.dollhousedmv.com
 DOLLHOUSE Matia Johnson
Founder/Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief Assistant Leigh Johnson

Brand Assistant Jean Hilpert

Features Editor Amber Frances

West Coast Features Editor Lydia Siriprakorn

Design Director Frank Carter

Contributing Staff Writers Amber Frances, Avril Hunt, Leigh Johnson, Zena Polin, Lydia Siriprakorn

Contributing Photographers Tori Martin, Michael Phillips

Interns Jean Hilpert, Michael Phillips

Hair Stylist Brandi Campbell

Make-Up Artist Awmna Rana, Jasmine Reese

Copyright: Dollhouse Magazine, LLC, Winter 2010. The entire contents of Dollhouse Magazine are
protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the
publisher or Editor-in-Chief.

We reserve the right to edit, rewrite, refuse, or reuse any printed material obtained in this magazine.
Dollhouse is registered with the District of Columbia DCRA, and is not responsible for errors or
omissions and may feature the same material on its blog site www.DollhouseDMV.com, as well as
other mediums and purposes.

Dollhouse 12 www.dollhousedmv.com
 letter from the editor

S o who can really define the DMV in one

word? Shall I pick fabulous? Shall I pick unique?
Or shall I pick expanding? How about, I pick all of
the above, and then some. To define this region
(Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia), you
have to live, breathe, and eat its culture. I can’t
just pick one word to describe this city, because it
cannot be defined or minimized to just one word.
It’s “divinely multifaceted,” just like the people who
reside in it.

To say that I’m excited about this issue finally

launching would be an understatement. So, let’s
just say that I’m ecstatic because it sounds bet-
ter! Coming up with this idea back in September
2008 seems like a long time ago, but it’s really not.
Back then creating mock websites for the maga-
zine and coming up with an incredibly chic name
(that I changed a bunch of times, but that’s just a
sidebar) was just something for me to do to pass
the hours. Who would have thought that all of the time and creativity would have transformed
into something quite fantabulous?

The Dollhouse staff and its contributors endeavor to showcase all of the culture, the fashion,
the entertainment, the lifestyle, and oh-so-more in our city. We are preparing a movement to
take over your DMV. So, in closing, I want to thank everybody who took a part in this produc-
tion, from the graphic layouts to the editorial spreads, photographers, and interns, you guys
are the bestest! Your support is greatly appreciated so I hope you stay along for the ride. This
is merely just a taste for what is to come. So stay tuned, and thanks for being a part of the
brand!

With Love and then some,

Matia C. Johnson
Editor-in-Chief

Dollhouse 14 www.dollhousedmv.com
 DH
Entertainment

4the DMV Go Sees in

National Museum of Crime and Punishment

Explore the technology and science behind solving crimes, dis-
cover the heroes of law enforcement, and venture into the dark
side of the criminal mind. Described by Good Morning America
as a “must see for CSI fans,” the National Museum of Crime &
Punishment includes a crime scene lab and the filming studios for
America’s Most Wanted with host John Walsh. A simulated FBI
shooting range, plus hundreds of interactive and artifacts per-
taining to America’s favorite subjected fill the three floor, 25,000
square foot museum.

Pose Ultra Lounge

Gaylord National Resort guests will be electrified
at this cutting-edge, two-story lounge that offers
dramatic vistas of the nation’s capital viewed
through 18-foot, floor to ceiling windows. The
Pose Ultra Lounge is open exclusively for Gaylord
guests. National Resort guests and convention
attendees Tuesday-Saturday nights; 9 pm-2am.

A VIP lounge, perfectly poised on the club’s sec-

ond floor/mezzanine level, overlooks the dance
floor below, and accommodates guests in ex-
travagantly upholstered reserved seating. Three
dance pods made of glass jut out from the mez-
zanine above and showcase fabulous dancers.
Gaylord National convention groups can enjoy
their very own VIP treatment here too by having
the entire club or just the second floor area all to
themselves.

Dollhouse 16
 www

The National Harbor

Welcome to the National Harbor, the premiere
lifestyle destination in the D.C. Metropolitan
The Comedy Zone DC area. The night view of the Harbor is absolutely
Come along for some of the best entertain- breathtaking. Built on a scale rarely seen, it is an
ment in the DC metropolis to ensure a won- exciting, sprawling community that includes fine
The night
derful Comedy Zone
out for you andDCyour friends. There restaurants, unparalleled shopping, and lavish
residences.
is great food, great service, and a dazzling,
breathtaking view of neighboring Virginia The National Harbor
provinces, and distinctive Washington D.C. The property also features Gaylord National Re-
landmarks just across the Tidal Basin. Visit The sort and Convention Center, the largest hotel in
Comedy Zone DC, located on the 14th floor in the Washington, D.C. area. The National harbor
the Windows Over Washington Restaurant at brings together recreation, work, living, and en-
the Double Tree Hotel in Crystal City, VA. tertainment in a way that will forever change the
landscape of the urban lifestyle.
Here is the lineup: Entertainment begins on
Fridays at 6:30pm and follows about the same
course Saturday, with The Comedy Zone Re-
vue Dinner Show, offering live jazz music while
being served dinner, followed by two variety
acts and the headlining comedian. The Sat-
urday Uncensored show starts at 10:30pm and
consist of an opening comic and more.

It’s also open for special birthdays, anniversa-

ries, or bachelorette party planning, and can
handle up to 500 persons. Reservations are
recommended for performances and can be
made online at www.TasteOurLaughter.com
or by telephone at 1-866-33-LAUGH (1-866-335-
2844). Parking is included in the ticket price
and is available in the self parking garage of
the hotel.
5
DH
Fashion 1

Music and Entertainment

Chic, Trendy Boutiques

Hot Spots and Restaurants

Reasons 4

We’re Crushin

DC
On OBAMARAMA: America’s First family

STREET CHIC: DC’s Local Trendsetters

Dollhouse 22
The Value M
DH
Features
As I sit in a pretentious corner of Starbucks listening to
my iPod and staring at my blank laptop screen, I realize
that the smell of overpriced coffee and cluster of hipsters
around me are not the source of inspiration I had hoped
for. Instead, my hunger for inspiration has led me behind
the sticky counters of a local fast food joint.
Deep fried in under-appreciation and buried under
years of minimum wage, there lies an unlikely Ameri-
can hero—the American fast food worker. The job
is not an easy one. Each day for hours on end, they
serve a rushed, ungrateful, hungry swarm of people
in an excessively vibrant, multi-colored uniform, com-
plete with a cap somewhat like a distant cousin of
the dunce cone. Their day begins before the crack
of dawn and ends well after last call when the bars
clear out and the drunks are tucked away in beds
other than their own. Every day they rise to witness a
society constantly in motion, but in which direction?
New toys and playgrounds no longer generate fits
of laughter and exhilaration. Slides and tire swings
are no longer enough for thrill-seekers. We grow up
and become calloused. Our threshold for joy, excite-
ment, and a good rush are now higher and often
too hard to reach. The childish desire to live for the
enjoyment of life is replaced with “grown-up” priori-
ties—a secure job, social status, financial responsibili-
ties and professional obligations. Happy Meals be-
come Happy Hours and we take nothing from them,
except employee gossip and a bad hangover.
As adults, we stop living for the enjoyment of life
because we think we have to. We live for security
and stability because that’s what pays the bills. We
strive to conduct our life decisions within reason so
that the future is dependable, and by dependable
I mean “predictable.” How can it be that we have
constructed a society in which we are alive only in
our youth and consequently, dead for the rest of our
lives? Surely those who have struggled through less-
Dollhouse 24
than-perfect childhoods deserve a chance to feel
alive as well.
We are taught to expect very little from adulthood
in terms of emotional fulfillment. We are told that
childhood and the college years are the best days
of our lives, and that everyone hates their job. But
the reality of that statement is that everyone hates
their job simply because we HATE the daily grind.
Everyone is following a path that isn’t working.
We expect to hate our jobs, wives, husbands and
bosses, so we don’t bother seeking out what will re-
ally make us happy. We end up in the same miser-
able spot because we all follow the same miserable
path. But we do it anyway, because it is secure and
predictable. Failure to find happiness as a society is
somehow more tolerable than failing to find happi-
ness in an individual pursuit.
So to endure the monotony of this logical frame-
work, we dream of diving in headfirst—into anything
that makes us feel alive. We root for the underdog
at football games because a victory against the
odds is even sweeter than one that is expected. We
indulge in love that doesn’t make sense. We devel-
op catch phrases like “Whatever happens in Vegas,
stays in Vegas,” to mask crazy weekends that don’t
fit in with the rest of our structured, conventional
lives.
Don’t model your life after millions that have
mapped it out before you. Live freely. People can
ask you every day, what you’re going to do next
and how you’re gearing up for the “real world.”
They ask because they are worried and in fact,
frightened by diving headfirst into life. Break the
mold. Tell them that you are already in the real
world and further preparation is not necessary.
What is there to be afraid of? If there is nothing to
fall back on, the only route for you to go is forward.
Take a risk and dive head first into your future
Words by Lidia Siriprakorn
www.dollhousedmv.com
Menu
Have you found you yet?
 Princess Dominique Does

Net-Buzz Fashion, Beauty, and all

other things
Extremely Beautious

Linda Grosvenor

So what’s the name that’s on your family, but I developed a following ated from college but I welcome
birth certificate? of people who appreciated what I anyone who has a taste for the finer
Linda Dominique Grosvenor. loved as much as I did. things in life.
They’ve been alling me Princess
Dominique since about 2000 when What are your hobbies? Who is your muse?
I started blogging. Walking on the beach, browsing My muse is beauty. Anything beau-
bookstores and watching movies. I tiful is seemingly drawn to me and
Where are you from? am a sever movie buff. I am drawn to it.
I was born and raised in the Bronx
but I’ve lived several places includ- How did you come up with the Whose your favorite shoe designer?
ing New Jersey and North Carolina name of your blog, Princess I love them all. I don’t think I could
Dominique Does Fashion? And choose. Right now I am seriously
What’s your favorite thing about how did it get so successful? crushing on too many to count.
DC? When I started my blog I used to
The food, night life, and the fact that rant about celebrities and dish on If you died tomorrow, what would
I may actually be living there soon. Pop culture. I stopped that when I you want to be buried in?
Imagine that, Princess Dominique found my true calling, fashion. A black slimming bustier dress and
in DC. a pair of Emilio Pucci shoes
What’s your readership? What are
How did you begin your blog? your demographics? Where do you see yourself in 5
I started as a way to vent and share I people of all age ranges on my years?
my love of fashion. It was getting blog. It does seem like mostly Television, definitely television.
on the nerves of my friends and women though who have gradu-
Viisit Princess Dominique at
DH
Fashion

Princess Dominique
does Fashion, Beauty,
and all other things
Extremely Beautious

Net-Buzz
by: Matia Johnson

DM: So what’s the name that’s on your birth

certificate?
PD: Linda Dominique Grosvenor. They’ve
(people she knows) been calling me Princess
Dominique since 2000 when I first started blog-
ging.
DM: Where are you from originally?
PD: I was born and raised in the Bronx, New
York but I’ve lived several places including
New Jersey and North Carolina.
DM: What’s your favorite thing about DC?
PD: The food, nightlife, and the fact that I may
actually be living there soon. Imagine that,
Princess Dominique Does DC.
PD: When I started my blog I used to rant
about celebrities and dish on Pop culture. I
stopped that when I found my true calling,
which was fashion.
DM: What’s your readership like? What are
your demographics?
PD: I have people of all age ranges on my
blog. Mostly those who have a taste of the
finer things in life.
DM: Do you have a muse?
PD: My muse is beauty. Anything beautiful is
seemingly drawn to me and I am drawn to it.
DM: Who’s your favorite shoe designer?

DM: How did you begin your blog?
PD: I started as a way to share my love of fash-
ion. It was getting on the nerves of my friends
and family, but I developed a following of
people who really appreciated what I loved.
PD: I love them all. I don’t think I could choose.
Right now I am seriously crushing on too many
to count.
DM: If you died tomorrow, what would you
want to be buried in?

DM: What are your hobbies?
PD: Walking on the beach, browsing book-
stores, and watching movies. I am a severe
movie buff.
DM: How did you come up with the name of
your blog, Princess Dominique Does Fashion?
PD: A black slimming bustier dress and a pair of
Emilio Pucci shoes.
DM: Where do you see yourself in five years?
PD: Television, definitely television.
For more Princess Dominique news, visit her blog at
www.princessdominique.com.
Dollhouse 27
DH
Fashion

GO VINTAGE
WITH ANNIE
CREAMCHEESE
GEORGETOWN BOUTIQUE GIVES DC
A
FASHION EDGE
words by Avril Hunt & Matia Johnson
photos courtesy of Jen Kolb from Annie Creamcheese
W
ashington, DC is putting
itself on the map in the
fashion world. Ever since
Inauguration Day last year,
DC has been flooded with stars
and more stars, becoming favor-
ably the second Hollywood and a
baby New York all mixed into one.
Holding its respective title as a new
trend-setting city, DC has strong
aspirations to live up to its name.
Now when the fashion savvy think of
the latest trends in chic apparel, the
metropolitan area has become a
contender with other big fashion cit-
ies including New York, Miami, and
Los Angeles. Here in the heart of the
city to give all of the true fashion
addicts and shopaholics an instant
fix is the trendy Georgetown bou-
tique, Annie Creamcheese.
In this posh, little star-studded
gallery, they offer a wide selection
of luxury vintage women’s apparel;
from dresses, to scarves and clever
accessories, all the way down to
handbags.
If you love vintage clothing from
as early as the 1930’s until the 1990’s
from designers such as Chanel,
Fendi, Dior, Chloe, and Barney’s
Annie Creamcheese Locations: www.anniecreamcheese.com
Washington, DC
Georgetown
3279 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 298-5555
Hours of Operation: Monday to Saturday: 11am to 8pm
Sunday: 12pm to 6pm
then this is definitely the place to
splurge. Annie Creamcheese truly
offers a wide variety of vintage, as
well as contemporary clothing at its
best.
The owners, Gaurett Bauman
and Annie Lee, who are also hus-
band and wife (and also a match-
mate in Fashionista Heaven) humbly
started their brand in the fall of
2001, which soon led to the opening
of the first brick and mortar store in
Arlington, Virginia in April 2004. Fast
forward six years later, and Annie
Creamcheese has officially been
certified as The Number One Trendy
Vintage Store in the metropolitan
area!
Other than the explosion of col-
ors and fabrics, some may consider
the best part of this unique Can-
dyland to be that anyone who is a
true fashion collector can schedule
an appointment to sell their vintage
pieces to the shop. This is not only
a great way to find a true, vintage
piece, but also a great way to
make space in your closet for more
accessories. This boutique is not
only for fashion lovers, but celebri-
ties frequent both the Georgetown
Hours of Operation: Sunday-Thursday: 10am-11pm
location, as well as the one in Las
Vegas, Nevada. The boutique has
managed to capture the attention
of celebrities such as Katie Holmes,
the Grammy-nominated Rock
group, Paramore, Nicole Richie,
Jessica Alba, Reality-TV star Whitney
Port, Andrew Dice Clay, and the-
ever-so-stylish Victoria Beckham, just
to name a bunch.
With such a wide variety in
designer offerings and prices there
is guaranteed to be something
appealing for every woman who
wants to make a bold statement.
Annie Creamcheese has truly
graced Georgetown with its pres-
ence, adding a unique, funky feel
of designer, contemporary vintage
wears. So even though our Na-
tion’s Capitol didn’t win the Fash-
ionista Pageant like cities such as
New York and L.A. did, it damn sure
came cutting close by holding the
Runner’s-Up title with this bad-ass
boutique. So if you haven’t already
done so, go see what all the fuss is
about. Go indulge yourself in the
ultimate vintage shopping excursion
which is Annie Creamcheese.
Las Vegas, Nevada
The Shoppes at the Palazzo
3327 Las Vegas Blvd South #2924
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 452-9600
Friday-Saturday: 10am-Midnight
Dollhouse 29
 DH
Features

Chic Simpli
Contemporary Fashion at its best
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MICHAEL PHILLIPS
STYLED BY JEAN HILPERT

GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER : TORI MARTIN

HAIR STYLIST : BRANDI CAMPBELL
MUA : AWMNA RANA

Dollhouse 30
icity

On Dana S.
Blouse: Dainty June “Liat Blouse” in red
Pants: Tule cargo Pants in grey
Earrings: Red Hue Boutique
Bracelets: Her own
Shoes: Valentino Patent Leather
 On Ashley P. (Right)
Dress: Red Hue “Saturday”
Tights: Macy’s. Aqua Blue.
Headband: Celina Lopez

Opposite page:
Blouse: Dainty June “Liat Blouse”
in mustard.
Skirt: Red Hue “Layered skirt” in
olive green.
Bracelet: Her own.
Boots: Wet Seal

Dollhouse 32
On Dana S:
Sweater: Red Hue white cotton sweater vest.
Shorts: Red Hue shorts in black.
Belt: Her own.
Necklace: Forever 21
Ring: Her own.
Shoes: Wet Seal red peep toe pumps
Dollhouse 35
 DH
Fashion

Downtown
Crush’n
A Trendsetting, Love Triangle

PHOTOGRAPHED BY MICHAEL PHILLIPS

STYLED BY JEAN HILPERT

Dollhouse 36
GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER : TORI MARTIN
HAIR STYLIST : BRANDI CAMPBELL
MUA : JASMINE REESE
Dollhouse 38
On Alan M:
Shirt: Red Hue Plaid shirt
for Men.
Sweater: Cloth Logic
Cardigan for Men.
Jeans: H&M
Shoes:

On Sogdiana:
Chain: Red Hue gold chain
Ring: Forever 21
Pearl Earrings: Her own
Shirt: Dainty June Anchor
T-shirt.
Jeans:
Shoes: Enigma black
high heels
Dollhouse 40
Opposite Page

On Awmna
Earrings: Macy’s.
Shirt:Red Hue Military
Shirt.
Jeans:

On Alan
Shirt: Red Hue
Radial T-Shirt
Jeans: Forever 21

Present Page

On Sogdiana
Bracelet: Nordstroms
Red Bangle: Red Hue
Shirt: Fawn Chain
T-shirt
Jeans:
Shoes: Enighma Black
High Heels
Dollhouse 42
Dollhouse 44
On Awmna (Far Left)

Blouse: Gentle Fawn white zipper

T-shirt.
Leggings: Gentle Fawn
Necklace: Forever 21
Shoes: Nine West
 DH
Entertainment
Wining and Dining in the District
Words by Zena Polin
T
op Chef’s Spike Mendelsohn may be
better known than Joe Schmo’s Tim Walsh.
However, Spike’s Good Stuff Eatery doesn’t
compare to Walsh’s Town Hall, a relaxed,
neighborhood tavern that’s busy seven
days a week from happy hour until closing (and for
weekend brunches, too.)
At 8 p.m. on Thursday night, Town Hall is already
busy. Thursday is, after all, the unofficial start to
the weekend in D.C., and Town Hall is a favorite
place for women who use it as a launching pad
for a night in Georgetown. At first glance, Town
Hall seems a bit too casual, but don’t let that fool
you. The food is delicious, the staff friendly, and the
wine list solid – with enough by the glass and by the
bottle choices to please even the toughest critic.
Walsh, a former owner of T.S. Muttley’s in Adams
Dollhouse 50
Morgan, also knows how to make a perfect dirty
martini. If you’re starting out at Town Hall and have
plans for a long night ahead, choose something
light, for example the brie, mussels or tuna tartar.
But if you’re looking for something with a bit more
substance, go for the grilled cheese and tomato
soup, wings or a quesadilla.
Since Town Hall is in Glover Park, less than a
mile away from Georgetown on Wisconsin Avenue,
it’s also a gathering place for post-barhopping.
Stop by after a night on the town, and saddle up
to the bar to order one of Executive Chef Paul’s
Last Temptation’s: a brownie, crème brulee, or
some warm crumble with vanilla ice cream. They
all match perfectly with a glass of wine or an after-
dinner drink. Let Walsh suggest a fun one for
www.dollhousedmv.com

Tuna Shot for the Open Table
you. The midnight to last call crowd likes to make
friends, with women looking for someone to buy
them a drink and men quite happily fulfilling that
role.
On a cold, Friday afternoon, the “The wine
premier spot to enjoy happy hour sommelier helps
is the Georgetown Waterfront, also you choose the
known as The Washington Harbor, right glass or
at 3000 K Street, NW. While the bottle, not over
service at Tony and Joe’s and Nick’s or underselling,
Riverside Grille won’t be the best but figuring out
and the drinks served in plastic cups what you’d like
will be pricey, there is still nothing with a few simple
like sitting outside and enjoying the questions.”
winter’s brisk along with some good
brewsky.
Agraria, also on the DC Waterfront, has an
ample patio and a beautiful dining room with large
windows. It’s owned by the North Dakota Farmer’s
Union and is an ideal choice for a date. If you are
out with a group, then take a walk to Bangkok Joe’s,
which also has a patio and is busy all day and into
the night when the cravings for their pomegranate
martinis and squash dumplings set in. Dinner is
served until 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
O
n the same note, the ultimate
Georgetown dining experience
welcomes you to Bourbon Steak
Restaurant. This is not your father’s
steakhouse. Michael Mina’s gem
opened in December 2008 after the Four Seasons
completed an impressive renovation. The stuffy and
dull Garden Terrace Lounge has been transformed
into an exciting and dynamic bar and restaurant. It
was filled to capacity during Inauguration back in
2009, and the buzz still hasn’t worn off yet.
Start the evening at the bar. It doesn’t matter
if you’re there for a date, with a girlfriend or even
alone; the bartenders know how to treat you right.
All the cocktails are made with freshly squeezed
juice and mouth-burning booze. But as much fun as
the bar is, ask to be seated in the main dining room
for dinner. The wine sommelier helps you choose
the right glass or bottle, not over or underselling,
but figuring out what you’d like with a
few simple questions. While some bottles
can hit the stratosphere, when it comes
to pricing, affordable and lovely ones are
available for under $50 (not bad, huh?).
What makes the restaurant special
are all the extras: a trio of duck fat fries
with individual dips, rolls with truffle
butter, and an amuse bouche (an hors
d’oeuvre chosen by the chef). Order your
main course before you sample these
delicacies, otherwise you might not want to go
for the more robust food, such as the lamb, duck,
or pork belly. For a real treat, and a diet blower,
accompany your dinner with a side dish of truffled
Mac and Cheese.
As stuffed as you are at the end of the meal, and
as amazing as the desserts are, you may only have
room for a glass of bubbly. Then let the waiter know
Cote du Beouf
 DH
Entertainment

who come to see the owner, Matt Touhey. He grew

Jonah Crab Beignets
you’d like to move back to the bar, and he’ll prepare
a cocktail table for you, where you can sit
and people watch or mingle until last call.
After a Friday night dinner at Bourbon Steak, the
only option for Saturday is to burn some calories and
go out dancing. Club Lima and Hudson, both in
downtown D.C., are popular choices. They turn from
mild mannered restaurants into late night clubs. Lima,
at 1401 K Street, NW, is open seven nights a week until
2 a.m. and has House Nights on Saturday. Come with
a group and prepare to mingle; it’ll be hard to stay
off the dance floor. Hudson Restaurant and Lounge
at 2030 M Street, NW, which welcomed US Airways
pilot Captain “Sully” Sullenberger on inauguration
weekend, usually has a DJ until 2 a.m. on Saturdays
and keeps a late night menu going until 1:00 a.m.
up in Washington and worked at I Ricci, American
Café and other restaurants before buying the
place where he learned to bartend. In addition to 3
to 7 p.m. happy hour with drinks and food specials,
Monday is Burger Night and attracts the most single
men. Wednesday is half price wine night, and Friday
and Saturday nights are known for bringing in both
sexes from happy hour until last call. During football
season, Sunday afternoons get particularly lively
when the bar area fills with orders of spicy wings,
crispy calamari and cold beer.
The weekend is almost over, but not quite. When
brunch is done, walk over to Bethesda Lane and
the nearby streets to shop in Ginger, Little Shoebox
and Luna. By the time the sun sets and Desperate
Housewives is on, you’ll be comfy and cozy back
home and lounging in front of the TV, ready to plan
next weekend’s fun. Until then, enjoy!

T
he weekend isn’t over on Sunday, so hop on
the metro’s red line or drive up to Parker’s
Classic American on Bethesda Avenue in
Bethesda, MD. Grab a seat at the bar and
a free newspaper, or if it’s a nice day lounge
on the front patio. The fun part of brunch is the make-
it-yourself Bloody Mary bar with spicy sauces from all
over the world. If you danced off those Friday night
calories on Saturday, then you can justify the Eggs
Louis, a Southern breakfast or the Biscuits and Gravy.
Otherwise, make it light with an egg white omelet
and a mimosa.
Parker’s is a cozy place filled with lots of regulars Classic Gibson with House Pickled Onion

Dollhouse 52 www.dollhousedmv.com
 O
DH
Love, Lust, & the In-Between
the
Inside,
looking
L
ooking in the mirror, you
can’t help but to be-
come smitten with your
own reflection. You are
dressed to the “T” in that
cute, black mini-dress
that accentuates your divalicious
curves. Your nails and hair are per-
fect, to say the least. Your make-
up; likened to the work of true art
and beauty. You are anxiously
waiting at home for that signature
knock your beau always does to
announce his arrival.
It is a Friday night, and after
a long and draining workweek,
you are more than ready to paint
the town red with some romantic
frolicking. Your palms are sweat-
ing in anticipation. Your knees
are practically knocking as you
wait for your night of exquisite
social bliss to begin. Your beau
knocks. You jump to your feet,
open your front door, swing your
body into his arms, and suddenly
realize that you knocked out of his
hands, frighteningly, a Blockbuster
DVD and a box of pizza. Are we
staying in again? You can hear
yourself shrieking inside your mind
as you reluctantly kick off your
heels, and the sad reality is, that
you are, yet again, right.
So, what is a party girl to
do when her boyfriend is a home-
body? The first step is considering
if the relationship is worth holding
Dollhouse 56
N
UT
onto. Compatibility is key. If the
guy is the modern day ‘Renais-
sance Man’ (i.e. great charmer,
great lover, great listener, great
body, you see my point) who is
sporting an anti-social flaw, then
see if it’s worth overlooking.
But before you make any hasty
moves, think long and hard about
your decision to settle. Are you re-
ally ready to trade in your dancing
stilettos for comfy bunny slippers?
If so, then keep playing your posi-
tion. This will give your man brag-
ging rights to all his friends, claim-
ing that he was the one worth
“changing for.”
On the other hand, if you’re not
willing to do a total military style-
about face, then write a thorough
description of your ‘Inside looking
Out’ problem to him. Sometimes
communication face to face can
be intimidating, but by writing out
a list, you express your true feelings
without any holds-bars. Instead
of sealing off the list in a coward-
ly, envelope fashion, get up the
nerve to actually sit face-to-face
and discuss the issue at hand.
“Most likely, the guy doesn’t
know that the female dislikes stay-
ing in, much less understand how
important her feelings are on the
matter,” says Charmaine Saun-
ders, host of Australian Body Talk
Column and founder/columnist of
www.femail.com.au . Also, take
words by Matia Johnson
this opportunity to make a mental
note on what he likes and things
that interest him. Hopefully, he will
take this as a cue to step out of
the box.
The key is to start off small by
making a compromise; a truce if
you will. Go out for pizza instead
of calling in for delivery, or even
catch a movie instead of taking
that frequent trip to your local
video rental. Meeting each other
halfway is the goal you want to
reach for and most importantly,
brings back communication to
your lovenest, since your wires
were so far crossed before.
Remember, a man needs to
have the capacity to transform
and grow with you. Diana Kirsch-
ner PhD, author of “Love in 90
Days” explains, “If he’s not willing
to expand his interests to mesh
with yours, you’re going to out-
pace him.” Thus, if the relationship
is worth investing both time and
attention, then these steps should
work. But if not, then slide back on
those sexy Manolo Blahniks, hit the
nearest hottest spot, and shake it
like it ain’t nobody’s business.
You can’t really keep a party
girl down, can you? And who
knows…maybe while you’re out
doing what you do best, you’ll find
the real Mr. Right anyway!
 DH
Love, Lust, & the In-Betweeen
Breaking Up is Hard to
Do. . . .
So Make it Easier
words by Amber Hurwitz
reaking up is hard, but keep-
B
ing dark is hateful,” sang David
Bowie in 1973. Losing a loved one
will always be difficult- whether if
you’re the Dumpee or the Dumper.
Whatever the circumstances lead-
ing to parting ways, accepting loss is hard.
Once it becomes clear that the relationship
is over there are some things you might con-
sider doing and not doing in order to protect
yourself from further breakage.
Some of the following tips should help you
Dollhouse 58
come out of your break up feeling slightly
better rather than worse.
First things first, De-program your ex’s number
from your cell phone. Sounds kind of harsh
but it must be done. Even if you don’t con-
sider yourself prone to spontaneous emo-
tional calling or drunk-dialing, delete it! If you
don’t it’s like walking around with a loaded
gun. In a fit of sentimental longing or loneli-
ness you will reach for the trigger. You can
also try tricking yourself into being supported
www.dollhousedmv.com
by programming your best girl-friend’s number
under your ex’s contact information!
Social Networking sites are a minefield of rela-
tionship reminders. De-friend your ex, disable
updates from them or avoid these sites like the
plague until you feel able to handle the most
distressing of hypothetical situations being
flashed before your eyes without warning. Your
curiosity is nothing compared to how unsettled
you will feel after you read his wall. Abstain!
If you have access to his e-mail account, do
not even go there. You wouldn’t want him
reading your e-mails and violating your trust. If
you do read it you are sure to find something
traumatizing. You will leave his e-mail account
feeling upset and unsatisfied. Resist the urge!
Allow yourself an allotted amount of time to
be in your feelings so that you can appropri-
ately mourn. This stage is necessary. Fully feel-
ing all of the emotions you’re going through
will allow you to get past them. Give yourself
the privilege of justified moping for a while, but
try to set a time limit. Remember that you will
feel pain. At first you will be lonely and that
is absolutely normal. You’re going to be okay
and you are lovable! If you’ve been through
this before, remember that it only gets better
with time.
Try to keep in mind that your relationship is a
reflection of yourself. Remember the positive
aspects of it, what you’ve learned, and how
it has made you stronger. Make a list of the
positive and negative aspects of the relation-
ship to help you sort your feelings. Focus on the
ways you’ve grown and the wisdom you have
gained on your path as an individual.
Try to cut down on your daydreaming and stay
busy. Fantasizing about the what-ifs, why’s and
how’s is the road to self-torment. When you
find your mind continuously drifting to thoughts
of him, imagine a red stop sign blocking you
from going in that direction.
Focus on what makes you feel happy. Explore
new ways to be self-fulfilled. Just as the sea-
sons change, life comes in seasons too.
Instead of asking yourself “What’s wrong with
me?” ask “What season is this in my life?”
Relationship Fact #1: “In it to Lose it”
A lot of couples stay in bad relation-
ships because they are afraid to see
what else is out there. The calm of the
familiar is safer than the fear of the un-
known.
Feeling angry and bitter isn’t going to bring
back the happiness you once shared. Get
your frustrations out onto paper so that you
can rid yourself of negative energy. Write a
letter expressing how you feel. Put the letter in
a drawer instead of sending it. In a few months
when you read it you can use it as a litmus test
to see how far you have come. Remember,
you have to truly take the time you need to
recover properly. Don’t ever rush it.
Be gentle with yourself. If you’re feeling emo-
tionally fragile, acknowledge it and surround
yourself with people you genuinely trust. It’s im-
portant to remain social. If you can, schedule
an appointment for a massage or a manicure
so that you get in some human touch-time.
Hugs from family and friends are always good!
If you have the resources, plan a get-away.
Physically getting out of your present environ-
ment will help you recalibrate and look at
things from a new perspective. Taking a trip to
a different city or going on an adventure will
help you get out of your own head. Do some-
thing you’ve always wanted to do but you’ve
never had the time for. Try something which
excites and empowers you.
Being in a relationship requires time and effort.
Enjoy the time you now have and concen-
trate on yourself. Appreciate and learn about
yourself. Be glad that you have the freedom
and the power to choose who you spend
your time with and who you are in a relation-
ship with. Make the choice to spend time with
people who energize you rather than deplete
you.
Make yourself feel beautiful, happy and loved
and you will be. Start a new work-out rou-
tine. Go jogging to release your aggression.
Nothing kick-starts a fitness plan like harness-
ing pent up frustrations! Get your beauty rest.
Give yourself a facial. Take bubble baths.
These are all great choices on how to make
yourself better, since it’s all about you now.
Listening to music forces you to feel and will
put you in a new state of mind. Blast your fa-
vorite albums and enjoy them. Dancing helps
too! It’s hard to feel bad while you’re dancing
and letting loose.
Mark a date on the calendar. One of the
biggest pitfalls of breaking up is winding up in
the pseudo-relationship-friend phase. Once
you break up, avoid the painful limbo situa-
tion by being as clear cut and decisive about
what you want as possible. Discontinue giving
yourself to a situation that is not redeeming for
you.
Relationship Fact #2: “Laugh Now, Cry
Later”
After being dumped, most people experience
denial. When the truth surfaces, that’s when
the tears (along with the Emotional Roller
Coaster) begins.
If you do talk to your ex, keep things light and
free of blame. Focus on the positive things
you’ve done for yourself and for one another.
Avoid rehashing why you broke up. This will
get you nowhere. Let him know what you are
grateful to him for. Listing things that you are
grateful for will make you feel better about
www.dollhousedmv.com
Relationship Fact #3: “Accessories Only
Please”
A relationship should be an accessory to your
already fulfilled life. Never depend on a sig-
nificant other to come in and turn your world
upside down.
the time you spent together. It may help him
get through the loss of you too!
If your situation is dire, set a goal of a few
weeks or months to have absolutely no con-
tact with your ex. It will feel drastic, but all you
have to do is continue to exist and the date
you marked will arrive sooner than you think.
Sometimes it is necessary to simply pretend
that person doesn’t exist. Feel empowered by
what you’ve accomplished without a man in
your life. A love-junky in withdrawal is truly the
least attractive state you could ever be in.
What would you do with your time if you knew
that you wouldn’t be in another relationship
for the next few years? Survey says: Do every-
thing you would want to do with your life, and
then some!
Adoring and loving yourself first invites others
to do the same. Ask yourself if you are actu-
ally treating yourself the way you’d like to be
treated. Remember, loving and peaceful
break-ups are possible. When you truly love
someone you can let them go. Open your
eyes to the excitement of the present!
Dollhouse 61
 A Classic Piece:
DH
Fashion

TRIBUTE to
the LBD
W h en in d o u b t, . . . . . L B D it o u t!!
With some outfits you just can't go wrong.
Designer: Diane Von Furstenberg
The little black dress, affectionately
Price: $620 dubbed “LBD,” is proudly one of those.
Hands down the most essential outfit in
Website: www.matchesfashion.com
every woman’s wardrobe, it's versatile,
classy, and chic. It’s like the perfect cherry
on top of a fabulously fashionable cake,
and here are the reasons why:

Designer: Karen Millen Ruffle Prom Dress
1. It’s simple.
2. You can accessorize it any way you
want to. Style it up, or style it down, what-
ever fits your personality.
3. It flatters all body shapes and sizes.

Price: $210 The key to making this a memorable piece

Website: www.karenmillen.com is to recognize your body shape and
keep that in mind. WARNING: Try to steer
away from baby doll and minidresses, be-
cause the cut isn’t always adaptable as a
clean, timeless cut. Here are some versa-
tile ways on how to style the LBD up a bit:

While you’re doing your 9-5


Dress Design: Preen Line Jenny stretch-
cotton mini dress
Price: $530
Website: www.net-a-porter.com
Pullovers: The LBD looks great with a
cropped blazer, and a cashmere car-
digan also gives it a soft, feminne touch.

Note: Strands of pearls transforms elegance
to the look. Think Fashion Icon, Coco Chanel.
While your running the town

If you’re daring enough, you can wear
the LBD on its own, but if the night calls for
chill, rock it with a mini poncho or bolero.
While you’re just keeping it casual
Drape it with a cream or charcoal gray tur-
tleneck or fitted, cropped sweater, or add
a leather belt to the mix.

Dollhouse 66
 DH
Features
Interview
G
elila Sisay really knows how to roll
with the punches. She is driving
the 22 miles from Woodbridge,
Virginia to our Nation’s capitol,
just to meet at Gallery Place,
Chinatown. She is determined
to make it, disregarding the fact that she almost
forgot her demo CD, had been waiting in traf-
fic for 40 minutes, and accidentally rode up on
an “unrecognizable object” which made her
back tire begin to leak out air. On our way to
the gas station in DC, 7th and Park Ave, I find
myself taken aback by her calm and collective
composure, despite the day’s earlier fiascoes.
Instead of begging for an Oscar, crying “woe is
me,” or playing the Damsel in Distress role, she is
being proactive. So how does she manage to
overcome the stress and keep a smile on that
pretty face all at once, you might ask?
“I’m a strong person. I’ve been through a
Dollhouse 68
Local Stars
in
the Area
lot and I’m sure there is more to come, but I’m
going to keep progressing,” she says. Originally
born in Ethiopia, Sisay came to the U.S. as a little
“youngun,” as she affectionately puts it, with
her mother, father, and two younger brothers.
Currently residing in Woodbridge, she reps that
VA part of the DMV.
20-year-old Ethiopian native, who is stoi-
cally shy and quiet in person, makes up for it
through song. With an intricate taste for music,
she embodies the genre of R&B into her mind,
heart, and soul. Using music as the ultimate out-
let gives her the ability to share her life’s strug-
gles of hardship and heartbreak. But please,
don’t let those big, doe eyes fool you. She’s not
quite your girl next door, but the “around the
way girl” title seems to fit her much better. Wise
beyond her years, Sisay proves to be a sea-
soned veteran after all, undoubtedly someone
to watch out for in the music industry.
www.dollhousedmv.com
 DH
Features
Interview
Words by Matia Johnson
DM: How old were you when you came to the
states?
GS: I was four.
DM: Were you a shy kid?
GS: Not at all. I was a tomboy. I did a lot of inter-
acting.
DM: Was it hard for you to learn English?
GS: No, because I came so young. I still speak my
native language {Amaharic} though.
DM: What was it like for you growing up?
GS: Growing up, I was very socially active in
school. I’ve always played basketball as a “youn-
gun,” because my brothers were very athletic. I
was very heavily influenced by sports, and talent
shows.
DM: Do you have any nicknames?
GS: My family and friends call me ‘Lila.’
Dollhouse 70
DM: That’s cute. So how old were you when you
first discovered your passion for music?
GS: I started in Kindergarten.
DM: Kindergarten?
GS: Yes, Kindergarten {Laughs}. My mom real-
ized I could sing. She used to sing too when I was
younger at our church {Ethiopian Orthodox}.
DM: What about the rest of your family? Does any-
one else sing?
GS: My older brother sings. He is my big influence.
DM: Who is a major source of musical inspiration for
you?
GS: Beyonce, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, just to name
a few.
DM: Would you consider them your heroes?
GS: No {laughs, more heartily this time}, not heroes.
DM: So who is your hero then?
GS: My mother. I love how focused she is with her
priorities. She has her mindset in the right place.
DM: Would you consider yourself a strong person
too?
GS: I think I am, yes. We {my family} went through
a lot of financial struggles growing up.
DM: You’ve got the right mindset to make it, es-
pecially in an industry so hardcore. Name three
things you absolutely wouldn’t do to get to the
top.
GS: I absolutely wouldn’t sell my body to get what
I want. I wouldn’t pay a large amount of money
out to never see it again, or not know where it’s
going, and I wouldn’t date a famous producer just
to get to the top. It’s not worth it.
DM: Ok, sounds fair enough. Name three things
you absolutely would do to get to the top.
GS: I would never give up, continue to work hard,
and always stay positive.
DM: So you know with success comes the haters
www.dollhousedmv.com
out there. How would you overcome jealousy?
GS: You can always tell who is real and who is not.
You can always spot the haters. I don’t let it get to
me though. I just ignore it.
DM: Could you say you have a large friend/fan
base?
GS: Very much so. I have my two best friends, Car-
isa Carper, and Nina Getachew. They’re my loves.
DM: What about a significant other? Are you cur-
rently single or hitched?
GS: I really don’t have time to do the meet and
greet and the whole nine. It’s complicated
{laughs}! You know how guys are. They think you’re
together when you’re really not. I guess right now, I
do have a boyfriend though.
DM: What kind of characteristics do you normally
look for in a man?
GS: He has to be strong in religion, like I am. That’s a
plus. He has to be physically attractive, but maybe
that shouldn’t count.
DM: It should, go on.
GS: Well educated, and he has to know where he’s
going in life.
DM: What about a tall, dark and handsome?
GS: I’m more into light skinned dudes.
DM: Oh, so you like the “pretty boys?”
GS: Just as long as they’re not prettier than me! I
also have my own little thing for a darker tone every
now and then.
DM: Would you consider yourself to be a club kid?
GS: Not really. I only go out when it somebody’s
birthday, but when I do, it’s usually Love or Fur {two
of DC’s busiest hot spots}. I can’t do it every week-
end because I only have my weekends for music.
Monday through Friday’s I work at a daycare (Chil-
dren’s Learning Center in Woodbridge, VA) as a
school teacher, while going to school full time.
DM: You’re very busy. What are you currently work-
ing on with your music?
GS: Developing more songs. Every time I put down
a couple of songs, I always want to put down more!
DM: Do you have a producer, or are you riding
solo?
GS: My producer’s name is Mal (a.k.a. Mal Williams)
and he has his own recording label, I-M {Indepen-
dent Marketing} Entertainment.
DM: Do you normally write your own songs?
GS: I normally recite everything, but it’s so much
that I have to keep track of it in notebooks.
DM: So you have your own diary of music like Alicia
Keys?
GS: Something like that.
DM: If you weren’t a singer, what else could you see
yourself doing?
GS: Right now I’m in school, but my major is unde-
cided. I just can’t make my mind up, but if I had to
pick something, I’d say a Fashion Designer. I love
clothes.
DM: If you had your pick tomorrow, what label
would you like to sign with?
GS: Bad Boy definitely. It’s legendary because of
B.I.G. {Notorious B.I.G.} and Faith Evans.
DM: If you were going to give advice to someone
out there trying to make it into this industry, what
would you say to them?
GS: Reach for the stars. If you don’t make it today,
and if you quit, you’ll never know if you would have
made it tomorrow.
To keep tabs on lovely Gelila’s progress towards the
music industry, check for her at www.iamlila.com. For
more info on IM Entertainment and their marketing
hustle, visit www.imlegacy.com.
 Disclaimer/Terms of Use

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Dollhouse 76 www.dollhousedmv.com