Feature Articles – Print and Digital
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Feature Articles – Print and Digital
Falls Church News-Press: Stylish Patina’s Small Biz Fall Market Is a Huge Success
It felt more like early winter than autumn on Saturday, October 17, when Stylish Patina launched its inaugural Small Biz Fall Market but the mild chill in the air didn’t dampen anyone’s enthusiasm for the eclectic gathering of artisans.
More than 25 vendors took part in the outdoor event, blanketing the front lawn and back lot of the fashionable retail boutique run by real estate agent Kelly Thompson in its new address at 301 Park Avenue. The sheer range of offerings was impressive, from jewelry to candles to antiques to sweets and even modern art. It was a unique opportunity to browse so many local businesses all in one place on one day.
“There isn’t anything quite like this in Falls Church or Arlington,” Kelly said of the market, “and with our space just down the street from the Saturday farmers market, it made so much sense … It gives small businesses real exposure to our neighbors, and it gives our neighbors an easy, fun way to shop local.”
(Click link above for full article)
Falls Church News-Press, Teddy Bear Reporter: Teddy Bear Clinic at Inova
(This article is written from the POV of a teddy bear, Stuffie Bowker.)
I’ve never been to a hospital before, so I was a little curious (and maybe even a little nervous) to attend the Teddy Bear Clinic held at Inova’s L. J. Murphy Children’s Hospital in Falls Church last Sunday. As it turns out, I needn’t have been nervous, but my curiosity certainly paid off when I met several wonderful healthcare specialists who helped make my visit painless and informative.
The hospital is part of the larger Inova Fairfax Medical Campus located at 3300 Gallows Road. The Teddy Bear Clinic has been held at Inova’s nearby children’s hospital in Loudoun for several years and this is the second time it’s been held in the Falls Church location.
Even before I arrived, I had some idea what to expect with my check-up, thanks to the advice of Susan Jarosz, a Pediatric Critical Care Transport Nurse at the hospital. According to Susan, the event would be “staffed with Inova Team Members across multiple campuses that have graciously volunteered their time.” The volunteers included nurses, child life specialists, respiratory therapists, physicians, radiology technicians, physical therapists, paramedics, and more.
(Click link for full article)
Silent Films Stun at Cinecon Film Festival (The Tolucan Times, Los Angeles)
Imagine a movie where nobody swears, where sound and color constitute special effects, and one well-choreographed kiss makes for a steamy love scene. Think you need a time machine to find that movie? Think again.
Cinecon’s 42nd annual classic film festival lights up the silver screen this Labor Day weekend at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Presented by the Society for Cinephiles, Cinecon revels in the obscure. This year you can catch a silent version of the musical “Chicago” or Harold Lloyd before his glasses character in the “Peculiar Patients’ Pranks.”
“We try to show incredibly rare movies that can’t be seen anywhere else,” says Michael Schlesinger, a Cinecon veteran who coordinates the festival’s schedule. “Certainly your only chance to see it in a theatre.”
The appeal of these long-ago movies goes beyond the story on screen. Many films reveal future celebrities in bit parts, and an ordinary location shot can become a historical tour — witness Catalina Island circa 1922 in “Beyond The Rocks.” At Cinecon, what’s lurking in the background can often be just as exciting as what’s dancing in the spotlight. “There’s always that extra layer of subtext,” Schlesinger adds.
This year’s line-up showcases some of the A-list from the silent era — Gloria Swanson, Constance Talmadge and Rudolph Valentino. Notable celebrities from the “talkies” include John Wayne, Ozzie Nelson and Jimmy Durante. Noir queen Colleen Gray is scheduled to make an appearance, as well as matinee idol Tab Hunter.
Cinecon screens Thursday August 31 through Monday, September 4 at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood. Schedule is subject to change, so please visit www.cinecon.org.
Interview with Celebrity Baker Jane Lockhart (Valley Scene Magazine, Los Angeles)
Ask dessert maven Jane Lockhart the secret ingredient for success and she’ll say without hesitation, “fortitude.”
The lady should know. With her recent expansion into PC Greens in Malibu, Sweet Lady Jane Bakery is a success story with a celebrity client list that would make Sumner Redstone happy. Her cakes have satisfied the likes of Barbra Streisand and Renee Zellweger. Jennifer Lopez was so impressed she covertly hired Jane to create her (third but who’s counting?) wedding cake. And you’ll find celebrity backers Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen on the long list of admirers, though contrary to Internet rumors the twins do not have menu input.
But it’s something more organic than old fashioned monkey grease that keeps this bakery on everyone’s A-list.
“I think it’s the quality of our product and the variety of our product and the artistic nature,” Jane says. “We use the finest ingredients.”
Those ingredients combine for desserts that not only taste heavenly but also carry Jane’s unique artistic signature. Her Blackout Espresso Fudge Cake with its inventive splotches of colored icing look like something out of a Joan Miro exhibition. It’s almost too beautiful to eat.
Along with custom catering, the bakery’s menu offers a wide selection. Jane herself has a hard time choosing a favorite. “If I was gonna sit down with one thing…” she says and then goes on to name three: peanut butter chocolate mousse, linzer cookies and lemon meringue.
Despite the all-natural ingredients, Jane has been known to hide junk food in her kitchen. Well, just that once. “McDonald’s had asked us to do a giant Big Mac. Three feet across and three feet high.” And there was no filler in that burger, Styrofoam or otherwise. “Pure cake. All cake.”
Jane’s advice for entrepreneurs? “You have to stick with something,” she says. “You have to work very hard. Persevere cause things don’t come easy.”
Her expert advice for dieters? “Eat small portions and treat yourself once a week. And of course a little exercise doesn’t hurt.”
A power walk over to Sweet Lady Jane Bakery might just be your best bet.
Digital Content – Real Estate – Website Copy (KB Home)
KB Home Digital Copy – State Profiles
Welcome to California:
The state’s motto, “Eureka,” says it all – whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it in California.
The most populous state in the country is also the third largest in land mass. And while California may be best known for its laid-back Hollywood vibe, it also includes a diverse array of cultures. From beach towns to deserts, and majestic mountains to the tech jungle of Silicon Valley, California embraces every type of vibe you could imagine. The Golden State is also known for its eco-friendly attitude and a landscape dotted with solar power plants and wind farms. Famous landmarks here include the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, and the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego. This state covers a lot of ground, literally and figuratively, and it might just be the perfect place to build your dream home.
Blogs – Healthcare / Finance / Real Estate
Healthcare – “Walking Pneumonia: Cute Name, Real Illness (morefocus.com)
The first time I heard the term, “Walking Pneumonia” I thought it sounded like the kind of illness that would befall a cartoon character. After all, pneumonia is a serious ailment. How could someone so easily walk around with the condition?
Walking pneumonia actually has a more technical name. It is called Mycoplasma Pneumonia and while that title sounds a whole lot scarier, it is considered a mild version of the lung ailment. Even without treatment, Walking Pneumonia will generally not require hospitalization. It is spread through coughing and sneezing and symptoms don’t usually appear until one to four weeks after exposure. Some of the early symptoms include:
Chills
Fever
Headache
Sore throat
But just because Walking Pneumonia doesn’t pack the lethal punch of other pneumonias, it is still an illness that deserves close attention. A lowered immune system can not only affect your ability to keep up with your normal routine, it can leave you susceptible to catching other, and more serious, ailments.
So whenever I’m feeling under the weather, I trek on over to my doctor’s office and let the professionals decide the severity of my condition. After all, self-misdiagnosing any sort of ailment is only a laughing matter if you’re a cartoon character.
Finance (partial sample) (KB Home)
Lenders and Brokers and Builders, Oh My! –
A Glossary of Terms for Homebuyers
Appraisal A home appraisal is performed by a certified professional who determines the monetary value of your home, land and any other permanent structures on the property. Your lender will base the amount of your home loan on this determination. An appraiser is not the same thing as an inspector. Though they will make note of any major defects with the home, the appraiser is there only to value the house and property.
APR (annual percentage rate) The APR is the total rate of interest that a mortgage lender applies to the home loan. The APR includes the interest rate that’s applied to the principal amount of the loan, mortgage broker fees, discount points and some closing costs. You can use this rate to compare potential lenders’ offers to determine the full cost of buying a home. You can use the interest rate (see below) to determine your monthly payment.
ARM (Adjusted-rate mortgage) An ARM is a type of mortgage where the interest rate is usually stable for the first few years of a loan (determined at signing) and then calculated based on a variable interest rate index and the lender’s margin. Initially, ARMs are generally lower than a fixed rate but once it’s subject to variability, your monthly payments will no longer be stable and could go up significantly.
Balloon Mortgage This type of mortgage has a fixed interest rate for a specified number of years culminating in one final large payment. These loans are short term, usually five, seven or ten years.
Product Descriptions – Cinecon Film Festival (Hollywood, CA)
PHIL FOR SHORT
(World-Peerless, 1919)
Dir: Oscar Apfel; Cast: Evelyn Greeley, Charles Walcott.
Part of the Fort Lee, New Jersey film boom in the early 1900s, World Pictures at one point distributed the product of Peerless, Shubert and Lewis Selznick’s Equitable Pictures. The ‘Phil’ in this World-Peerless release is no guy but gal Evelyn Greeley as Damophilia (hence Phil) Illington, the tomboy daughter of doting professor Charles Walcott. Devastated by her father’s unexpected death, Phil flees an unfortunate proposal by the town’s aged banker and winds up as an assistant at a local university. There she falls for a heartbroken Greek professor determined never to trust the opposite sex again. Good thing Phil has that masculine nickname and a penchant for dressing in boy’s clothes. A twin brother alias gets Phil and suitor into a whole lot of mixed-up fun.
Social Media – YouTube / Twitter / Instagram
YouTube Captions (KB Home)
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Twitter and Instagram Posts (KB Home)
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