BUZZWORTHY/ It's Spring ... So it must be The Silly Season

Photo by Allison Prebe Brooks/Local Kicks Swimwear Fashion Show by Sylene of Washington included the Washington Wizards Girls Lyndsay, Lee-Ann and Alexandria.

ALEXANDRIA, VA. - In Springtime the Brits have their Polo at Windsor and their Royal Regattas at Henley. Here in DC, we have our prom for White House Correspondents and, this Friday, our Opera Ball. The Brits fondly call it "The Silly Season."
 
Silly Season last weekend kicked off at The Fairmont Washington, which hosted its seventh annual Tickled Pink fashion event, A Mother-Daughter Fashion Show and Afternoon Tea to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
 

Photo by Allison Prebe Brooks/Local Kicks Team Believe Monte Carlo Night.

Fashions were provided by The Pink Palm at Bethesda Row, a signature Lilly Pulitzer store, and the show featured local news anchors including Leslie Foster from USA, Fox 5's Laura Evans, NBC 4's Eun Yang as well as about a dozen more mother-daughter duos including yours truly and my six year old daughter, McClain Brooks.  WTOP's Man About Town Bob Madigan emceed the event.
 
Lilly Pulitzer fashions have been favored by society's resort wearing ladies since Jackie Kennedy donned a Lilly Shift in the late 60's.  
 
The iconic fashion house was founded by Lilly Pulitzer when she wanted to wear something cute that would not show spills while she made orange drinks at her drink shack in Palm Beach.  From those days the cult of Lilly was born.  
 
Women have been known to dress their daughters in coordinating mother-daughter fashions for years, and don colorful frocks at the club, pool side or while on vacay.  The Lilly craze has continued on now for 50 years as Lilly just celebrated a Jubilee Anniversary.

Women came dressed in their favorite Lilly fashions from various seasons ready to enjoy tea and runway show.  
 
Guests enjoyed teatime drinks and delectable snacks, including Fairmont teas, mimosas, kir royales, and amazing Lilly Pulitzer goodie bags.   
 
The silent auction was incredible as guests bid against one another hoping to win spectacular prizes including hotel stays at various fabulous Fairmont properties.
 
Diana Bulger of The Fairmont executed a picture-perfect event and is to be congratulated on her dedication to The Make-a-Wish Foundation and her love of all things Lilly.  
 
The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation co-hosted Team Believe Monte Carlo Night that took place at Avenel Country Club.
 
The event was one of the major fundraising activities for Team Believe! and Katie Rost, who is participating in the 2010 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's annual Man & Woman of the Year fundraising competition.  
 

Photo by Allison Prebe Brooks/Local Kicks What's not to love about face-painting, snowcones, and rides? The St. Mary's Spring Fling was just about perfect.

A fun-filled night was organized by Team Believe in a Cure for Cancer to support fashion model and CW host Katie Rost's candidacy for the LLS 2010 Woman of the Year award where candidates work tirelessly to raise the most money for the society in hopes of being named as Man or Woman of the Year.

While boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard was unable to attend due to a rumored death in the family, Katie -- wearing a gorgeous designer dress by Roberto Cavalli -- graciously served as both hostess and award nominee, welcoming visitors, posing for pictures with guests and media alike, thanking donors, and even finding the time to dance with some of the young children in attendance.
 
Katie was thrilled with the evening, "Monte Carlo Night was such a fabulous fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Thanks to all of you who came out to support.  It was an amazing night."

Also in attendance were Washington Redskins "Ring of Fame" member Brian Mitchell, event organizer, Alexandria resident, and founder of AskMissA.com, Andrea Rodgers, and many other local media personalities, philanthropists, and community leaders.

DJ Neekola kept guests both young and old toe tapping and on the dance floor while others tried their luck at the casino games of chance that had been set up for the occasion. Guests were also treated to a Sylene swimwear fashion show modeled by some of the Washington Wizard Girls, and a silent auction supported by local area businesses.  Help Katie fight cancer through Team Believe by making a donation today!
 

Photo by Allison Prebe Brooks/Local Kicks McClain Brooks climbs the rock climbing tower, one of the many activities for children to do at the Spring Fling.

Local Alexandria children and families enjoyed an annual spring-time favorite activity over the weekend - The St. Mary's Spring Fling 20th Annual Spring Fling.  
 
The morning started with the 16th Colin Casey Memorial 3K Walk/Run.  
 
After the walk, children were able to jump on moon bounces, scale rock-climbing walls, enjoy various rides, play darling carnival games, walk the cake walk, munch on snow cones or burgers, and then there were prizes and toys galore.  It truly was a blast for the young and old.  
 
Congratulations to Ruth Allen and her team of volunteers who were able to bring in more than $21,000 on Sunday. All excess money will go back to the St. Mary's HSA.  
 
"This is one of our favorite events for the community of St. Mary's parish, school, and the children of Alexandria," said St. Mary's Principal Janet Cantwell,  "We lucked out with perfect weather too for our 20th Annual Spring Fling."
 
This coming week fashion is all the Buzz for this Queen Bee...
 
We had the privilege of attending the Fashion Group International's Fall/Winter 2010 Trend Presentation at Tysons Corner at the kind invitation of Aba Kwawu and Nichole Devolites.  
 
We were thrilled to learn about trends from the runways of New York, Milan, Paris and London, and will be discussing them a little later in our season.  
 
We were also delighted to learn about the new store openings at Tysons Galleria including Anne Fontaine next month and Gucci in September.  
 
There is always so much going on at The Galleria. Keep up to date by visiting http://www.tysonsgalleria.com/events. Of note, Rachel Roy will be at Macy's May 22.
 
UPCOMING EVENTS:

The Belle Haven Women's Club will be hosting their annual women's fashion show on May 20th at Belle Haven Country Club at 6 pm.  The event includes fashions from Hysteria, Shoe Hive, J  McLaughlin and Queen Bee Designs.  Tickets for Belle Haven Residents are $50 and guests $60.  If you're interested in attending contact Denise Constandy at Constandy@cox.net

Photo by Allison Prebe Brooks/Local Kicks DC Society Grand Dames Pat Skantze, Mary Bird and Barbara McConaghy looked gorgeous at The Lilly Pulitzer Tickled Pink Fashion Show.

Meet and greet with designer Rachel Roy!  Join Macy's and Capitol File Magazine May 22 at 2 pm on the second level at Macy's for an intimate fashion afternoon showcasing the newest Rachel Rachel Roy Collection designed exclusively for Macy's. Sip on refreshments and enjoy the live DJ while mingling with other fashionistas-in-training as live mannequins model Rachel's freshest looks-just in time for the warm weather! Plus, spend $100 or more in the Rachel Rachel Roy department the afternoon of the event, and receive an exclusive Rachel Rachel Roy signature-print cosmetic bag.Click here for more information.

Couture for a Cure will make Washington, D.C. fashion history on May 25, 2010 with legendary New York fashion house DKNY presenting its Spring 2010 collection for the first time in our nation’s capital. The Second Annual Couture for a Cure Runway Show will be held at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre in DC’s vibrant Penn Quarter neighborhood from 6:30 to 10:00 pm to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
http://www.coutureforacuredc.com      

Fresh of Georgetown presents Sex and the City 2 on May 26. General Admission $55 - 6:30pm Pre Reception at Mate 3101 K Street N.W. with an Open Bar provided by Skyy Vodka VIP Admission $105 - 6:30 VIP Reception at The Ritz Carlton Georgetown - 3100 South Street. Open bar provided by Moet & Chandon and Belvedere Vodka.  VIP Swag Bags will be distributed.

Luke’s Wings is holding its first annual Casino Royale Night on May 28 from 8:00 pm – 2:00 am
Location: L2 – 3307 M Street, Washington DC (in Cady’s Alley). Attendees of the event will enjoy specialty cocktails, gourmet hors d'eourves from Leopold’s Café, a luxury raffle table, and a night of casino gambling complete with tables, games, and dealers. All proceeds go towards Luke’s Wings to purchase airplane tickets for hospitalized wounded warriors and their families.  http://www.lukeswings.org

Photo by Allison Prebe Brooks/Local Kicks NBC 4's morning anchor Eun Yang and her darling one year old daughter were two of the favorite models on the runway.

Photo by Allison Prebe Brooks/Local Kicks Washington's favorite Man About Town, WTOP's Bob Madigan, emceed the event at The Fairmont.

Photo by Allison Prebe Brooks/Local Kicks Fox 5's Laura Evans with her two daughters. Not seen is her seven week old baby boy - off in the background with Daddy.

Photo by Allison Prebe Brooks/Local Kicks Pink Palm owner Lizanne Jeveret and Tickled Pink's owner Jen Carroll.