In the June 2013 Issue
Up-Scale Perks
On World's Top Airlines, Sky's the Limit for Luxury
by Stephanie Kanowitz
They say it's the journey, not the destination. But when the journey involves air travel, those long security lines, layovers and delays sure make the destination look good. To make voyages more enjoyable — perhaps even relaxing — especially for first- and business-class passengers, many international airlines are offering amenities on par with those at five-star hotels.
"As an international airline, we put careful consideration into services which make our flights enjoyable for all guests across all cabins, particularly on the long-haul routes," said Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer at Etihad Airways, the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates.
From fine dining and onboard sommeliers to private suites and massage chairs, here's a look at what paying premium prices buys you in the air.
Moving with the Times
D.C. Streetcars Resurrect Bygone Era of Transportation
by Martin Austermuhle
For a century streetcars crisscrossed Washington, D.C., ferrying residents, visitors and commuters from as far away as Cabin John, Md., and parts of Virginia to locations in Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Mount Pleasant, Capitol Hill, and the Navy Yard. By the time World War I began, more than 200 miles of streetcar tracks existed in the region, with 100 of those in D.C. alone.
But by 1963, that extensive network ceased to exist. Pressured by the ever-expanding use of the personal automobile and largely replaced by the more cost-effective public bus, the D.C. Board of Commissioners and Congress opted to tear up its tracks and sell off its streetcars. To date, the only reminder that streetcars ever ran in D.C. are small segments of rail tracks maintained for posterity's sake along two residential roads in Georgetown.
Now, though, D.C. officials are looking back as a means to move forward.
In the December 2012 Issue
Season for Sharing
'Tis Time to Give and Receive With Style and Creativity
by Stephanie Kanowitz
The Washington area is more than a nexus of politics and government. In recent years, it's become a haven for fine retailers and restaurants. It's a center of culture, education and entertainment. It's also home to some of the fittest, most health-conscious people in the country, attracting occasional thrill-seekers and exercise-devotees alike. In short, it has personality and style — and plenty of gifts to match both.
Each year, to ease some of the stress of the gift-searching season, we scour the region for ideas that appeal to all tastes and budgets, from a $15 towel, to an almost six-figure futuristic jetpack, to a down-to-earth shopping trip with one of D.C.'s top interior designers. They all add up to some happy, healthy holiday-sharing in the nation's capital.
In the September 2012 Issue
Beauty Unbound
Trendsetting Transplants Help Washingtonians Put Best Face Forward
by Stephanie Kanowitz
Beauty is like a fingerprint. Each person's is unique. So too is the way people see and practice it, providing plenty of clients for a multibillion-dollar industry here in the United States. But beauty isn't just an American obsession. To get a sense of how it is viewed and applied in other parts of the world, we spoke to five Washington professionals who received their training abroad.
In the June 2012 Issue
Extreme Mall Makeover
White Flint Redevelopment Aims To Bring European Style to Suburbia
by Veronika Oleksyn
The Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. Madrid's Plaza de Santa Ana. The Piazza Navona in Rome.
Not really what comes to mind when you think of American shopping centers.
But if all goes according to plan, Maryland's White Flint Mall, an aging concrete complex off congested Rockville Pike, could soon resemble these European landmarks. At least a little.
A sweeping redevelopment proposal for the 34-year-old institution envisions a mix of stores, residences, outdoor cafés and even a promenade in place of a strip of sidewalk where pedestrians currently fear being run over.
In the December 2011 Issue
The Perfect Present
Gift-Giving Made Easy With The Diplomat's 2011 Guide
by Stephanie Kanowitz
Photo: Fotolia
The countdown to Christmas morning and first night of Hanukkah is officially on. If you're still on the hunt for the ideal gift for your friends and family, we've got some ideas, from sweet cupcakes to a decadent $43,400 bracelet.
This year's gift guide is a little different from those of years past, though. Reflecting the eclectic shopping options in a city as diverse as Washington, more than half of the goods come from local, non-chain retailers, and not all big-ticket items are wildly out of reach, a nod to the continuing worldwide economic slump. So happy holidays — and even happier shopping.
In the December 2011 Issue
Seasonal Stress
To Melt Away Holiday Tension, Treat Yourself to a Spa Treatment
by Stephanie Kanowitz
Photo: Nectar Skin Bar
The Thanksgiving leftovers may finally be finished, but the anticipation of the holiday season is just getting started. Traditionally a time of comfort and joy, all the stress associated with party hopping and pleasing family and friends can take a toll. If worrying about finding the perfect gift or the perfect outfit to bid 2011 adieu has you feeling more Grinchy than cheery, local spas and salons have just the pick-me-up you need to re-energize this holiday season.
Last Edited on June 3, 2013
