<sh>StarNut Gourmet to the Rescue
<bt>The weekend before last, Ann Page, vice president of the McLean Orchestra Board of Trustees, found herself in a sticky situation. A resident of The Palladium condominium complex in McLean, Page had reserved the common room for a private reception for McLean Orchestra VIP donors. The reception was to be held after the orchestra's March 11 evening concert. However, despite the fact that she had reserved the room two months in advance, Page found out the day before the event that The Palladium was pulling the plug on her gathering. Waterford Development informed Page that she was not permitted to have such an event in the complex. Unfortunately, Page had already booked the caterer and made other various arrangements in preparation for the party. She offered to have the party without serving any liquor, and she wrote The Palladium a check for a $5,000 deposit. Still, Waterford Development did not budge. Just as Page was about to despair, the owners of StarNut Gourmet, Joe and Denise Shehadeh, came to the rescue. Joe Shehadeh stepped in and told Page that she could use his shop, which is located in The Palladium building, for the event.
"I was really happy because a lot of the people who came loved his shop," said Page. "It turned out to be a blessing in disguise."
Shehadeh even let Page use her caterer since she had already booked one for the party. No liquor was served, and beverages were provided by StarNut Gourmet.
"I got saved and it all worked out," said Page.
<sh>Keep the Box Clear Campaign
<bt>Officers from the McLean District Station and the Traffic Division have begun a traffic initiative aimed at encouraging drivers not to “block the box” at intersections. An electronic message board will be posted for several weeks at designated areas. It is intended to educate the public about their legal obligation to keep intersections clear of vehicles. Officers are targeting their enforcement efforts at intersections where traffic violations are most common. They are ticketing offenders at the intersections of Leesburg Pike and International Drive, Leesburg Pike and Westpark Drive, Dolley Madison Boulevard and Old Dominion Drive, and Chain Bridge Road and Old Courthouse Road. Enforcement will continue through April 3.
<sh>Art with Flowers Hosts Charitable Event
<bt>On Thursday, April 6, from 5-9 p.m., Art with Flowers boutique will host a cocktail reception at its Tysons Galleria location to help raise funds for the McLean Citizens Foundation, which supports many non-profit endeavors in the McLean community. The foundation funds educational, civic, cultural, environmental and social services projects. In recent years, it has supported Clemyjontri Park, the McLean Volunteer Fire Dept., McLean Project for the Arts, Churchill Road Elementary School and Langley High School, to name a few recipients. Art with Flowers offers fragrances, skin care products, home accessories, aromatherapy and floral arrangements. Refreshments will be catered by the Ritz Carlton hotel. Art with Flowers is on the third level of the Galleria. Reservations are appreciated but not required. Call 703-903-6837.
<sh>Walt Lawrence Photography Exhibit
<bt>Local Great Falls photographer Walt Lawrence will be presenting his first solo exhibition at the Great Falls Library throughout the month of April. The exhibition will feature approximately 30 landscape, landmark and wildlife images from his "Images of Great Falls" and "Images of the Outer Banks" collections. The public is invited to come to the library at any time to view the exhibition. In addition, "Meet the Artist" receptions will be held on Saturday, April 8 and Saturday, April 15, from 1-4 p.m.
<sh>Call to Artists
<bt>Howard Alan Events and the Alexandria Convention and Visitor's Bureau are placing a call to artists who are seeking to display their artwork in the fourth annual Alexandria Festival of the Arts, taking place on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 9 and 10. The show takes place along King Street and ends at the Torpedo Factory Art Center on the Potomac River. There is no limit to how many shows an artist can apply to/participate in. Contact Howard Alan Events at 954-472-3755 or visit www.artfestival.com, or contact the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association at 703-838-4200.