(July 14, 2009) - How was your July 4? Did you enjoy fireworks at the National Harbor? Or perhaps you grilled in your backyard while picking at crabs from the wharf? If you were like me you enjoyed Independence Day on a rooftop, partying the night away.
Still, if you were "American Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino, then you were performing in the opening week of the hit musical The Color Purple. The premiere show opened to a packed house at the Kennedy Center and concluded with a long standing ovation. Fantasia has been seen celebrating around town at many of our favorite hot spots including Lux Lounge, where she was seen partying with WPGC radio personality Big Tigger.
Other musicians were in town including Baltimore native, Mario ,who performed his hit single "Break Up" in Club 24. Also, one half of rap duo The Clipse, Pusha T, was seen at Lux Lounge’s pre-Independence Day party. Even Raven Symone performed several songs at Six Flags America in Largo.
Many local athletes celebrated the Fourth of July in the District as well. Washington Wizard's Andray Blatche and the San Francisco 49ers’ Vernon Davis were seen partying inside of Josephine Lounge over the holiday. Caron Butler enjoyed Stir Lounge on the Fourth of July along with Darnell Dockett of the Arizona Cardinals. Even the Grizzlie's Steve Francis hosted a holiday party at Layla Lounge.
Football players and basketball players weren't the only athletes in the District recently. Golf professional Tiger Woods hosted his annual congressional golf tournament, beating out competitors to take home the win. Venus Williams, in town for the Washington Kastles tennis tournament, was seen chilling inside Stir Lounge last Sunday night. Then, the tennis star paid a visit to U Street's D’Brows Salon on July 6 with her entourage for massages, manicures and pedicures.
The longest standing reality television show, “The Real World,” has come to D.C. Cast members were seen last week walking to their new home in Northwest and the D.C. paparazzi have already snapped some shots of them. A couple of cast mates were seen partying in Public Bar and Current this past weekend. And while some D.C. natives are happy they are here, others are already annoyed with the cameras.
This weekend there are plenty of great events in the District and beyond to enjoy. On July 18, the first African-American owned veterinary hospital in Alexandria, Paws, Purrs & Exotics Animal Hospital (133 South Peyton Street, Alexandria, Va.) will open to the public. Dr. Nia Perkins will host “A Day in the Park,” an open house from noon to 6:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. It features doggy fashion shows, giveaways, dog and cat adoptions through the Washington Humane Society’s Adoption-Mobile, balloons and face painting for the kids and lots of other family fun.
For more information on events like these, visit www.thefabempire.com.
Stay Fab!
Joi-Marie McKenzie is the editor-in-chief of the fabempire.com.