We recently revealed a new spring trend for women, so now it’s time to turn our attention to menswear. We chatted with DC style and fashion expert Grant Harris, founder of image consulting company Image Granted, LLC, to find out the top five items every man must have in his closet this season.

For starters, Harris tells us that “bright and saturated colors” are in. Whether they’re on shoes or jackets, it’s all about going bold this season—and orange is one standout. “Going out calls for one special item to grab attention,” Harris adds. “The jacket, the shirt, the shoes, the cufflinks, whatever it is, one thing [should] just be the center of attention while everything else is the supporting cast.”

Take a peek at these five essential spring items for men, and then make them your own.

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Soft-wash chambray shirt, Theory ($195). Neiman Marcus, Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-966-9700

 

Canvas shorts, pumpkin, GANT RUGGER ($125). 3239 M St. NW, 202-625-1949

 

Check knit sport coat, Etro ($1,635). Neiman Marcus, Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-966-9700

 

Light red suede lace-up sneaker, Gucci ($520). 5481 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, 301-986-8902

 

Leather loafers, Versace ($825). Tysons Galleria, 2001 International Dr., McLean, 703-448-5554

 

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Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus was in DC for the second-season premiere of her show, Veep.

Standing on the carpet at the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Emmy-winning actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus smiles easily. The former Capitol File cover star traveled back to her childhood hometown of DC on April 11 to premiere the 10-episode second season of her Emmy-nominated HBO show, Veep, in which she stars as fictional vice president Selina Meyer. With her character’s political affiliation still under wraps—“we try to make it as ambiguous as possible in an effort to keep the bias out,” she notes—the second season will showcase more of Selina’s personal feelings.

“Well, you know, the emotional state is not going to be good. You can pretty much be guaranteed of that. Plenty of humiliations,” Louis-Dreyfus explains, stopping to chuckle at that revelation as MPAA chairman and chief executive officer Chris Dodd breaks out laughing behind her. “She’s going to get more influence in the White House, and then that is going to become a double-edged sword. She’ll have to deal with some foreign diplomacy problems—some of her doing,” Louis-Dreyfus says.

She’ll also be shown living in a fictionalized Washington (she reportedly had lunch with the real American VP today, April 12), and the show actually films in the area. “This second season involves some 2,500 Marylanders,” explains former senator Dodd, who calls himself a “great advocate” of the show’s local shooting base in the Columbia, MD area. “They spent about $20 million…making the economic point that it isn’t just culturally nice and fun that they’re here in the area and doing something, but a lot of hardworking people [and] small businesses benefit when they do a production like this.”

Louis-Dreyfus, for her part, is happy to be back. “It feels as though I’ve never left because we just wrapped Veep I think three weeks ago, so I’ve been in the Baltimore-DC area for months and months,” she says. “My parents live here and they’re going to be here tonight…I’m home.” See the first episode of the show’s second season this Sunday, April 14, at 10 pm ET. 

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The Kitchen designed by Jessica Parker. GTM Architects, 7735 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 240-333-2049

 

The Lower Level Dining Room designed by Scott Cooke. Scott Cooke Design, 1200 N. St. NW, 202-595-1375

 

The French Modern Bar designed by Andrea Houck. A.Houck Designs, INC., 703-237-2111

 

The Loft/Media Room designed by Jeff Akseizer and Jamie Brown. Akseizer Design Group, 1315 Powhatan St., Alexandria, 703-288-9488

 

The Library designed by David Mitchell. David Mitchell Interior Design, 1734 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-797-0780

 

The Sitting Room designed by Michael Hampton. Michael Hampton Design, 3133 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-986-2432

 

The Master Bedroom designed by Susan M. Jamieson. Bridget Beari Designs, INC., 3210 Hawthorne Ave, Richmond, 804-321-4747

 

The Teenage Boy’s Bedroom designed by Regan Billingsley. Regan Billingsley Interiors, LLC, 301-512-0547

 

Front of 2013 DC Design House designed by GTM Architects and built by Gibson Builders.

 

Back of 2013 DC Design House: 2013 DC Design House designed by GTM Architects and built by Gibson Builders.

 

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Beautiful wallpaper, plush furniture, and artistic accents make up this year’s 6th Annual DC Design House, which opens to the public this weekend (April 13). All ticket proceeds to see the $14.9 million, eight-bedroom, eight-bath home—expertly decorated by 24 area designers—benefit the Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC).

Stop by and explore the stunningly-appointed rooms and bathrooms that comprise an impressive 14,000 square feet. Home highlights include a media room, a catering kitchen on the lower level, and spacious outdoor seating areas overlooking an infinity pool. We especially love the bright sitting room, with its gorgeous lacquered wallpaper, and the decadent French modern bar, complete with a soft lighting fixture and caramel onyx countertop.

Décor featured in the home is available for purchase with 20 percent of the proceeds from items sold put toward the CNMC. Touring hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10 am-3 pm, and Saturday-Sunday, 12-5 pm until May 12. Buy tickets at dcdesignhouse.com or at the door ($25 regularly; $50 for the preview day this Saturday, April 13, 1-5 pm). 2507 Foxhall Road, NW

It’s finally warmer outside, and we are thrilled. We’re also really happy to see some of the newest peek-a-boo pieces popping up in area stores—showing just enough skin to look cute (but not classless) in conservative Washington.

From pretty pumps with see-through accents to charming dresses with sheer panels, have a look at some of our favorite spring items for Washington women.

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Floral Embroidery Dress, Karen Millen ($380). Tysons Galleria, 2001 International Dr., McLean, 703-790-3120

 

Pivichic Striped Patent Leather Pumps, Christian Louboutin ($795). Saks Fifth Avenue, Tysons Galleria, 2001 International Dr., McLean, 703-761-0700

 

Sheer Polka-Dot-Sleeve Dress, Ivory, Nha Khanh ($525). Neiman Marcus, Tysons Galleria, 2001 International Dr., McLean, 703-761-1600

 

Pacha Translucent Patent Leather Pumps, Manolo Blahnik ($645). Saks Fifth Avenue, Tysons Galleria, 2001 International Dr., McLean, 703-761-0700

 

Sheer Intarsia Top, Stella McCartney ($810). Neiman Marcus, Tysons Galleria, 2001 International Dr., McLean, 703-761-1600

 

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Joaquina Kalukango as feisty maid Camae, and Bowman Wright as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in The Mountaintop at Arena Stage’s Alley Theatre.

On the evening of April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated while standing on the balcony of his Memphis motel room. He’d been planning to lead a protest march in sympathy with local workers on strike. Instead, his life was taken.

On the 45th anniversary of his death, honor his legacy by seeing Arena Stage’s new play, The Mountaintop. If you go, you’ll see a truly human side of King (played by Bowman Wright) that exposes the fears he harbored along with his far-reaching dreams.

“Mostly it’s the exploration of vulnerability and frailties that allows this portrayal of King to become a truly humane depiction,” muses playwright-in-residence Katori Wright, who wrote the first draft in 2007 at just 26 years old—and later saw her production open on Broadway with stars Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett. “We see him jumping at the sound of thunder.… We see him being attracted to a stunning woman. We see him missing his family, trying to convince his daughter to go to sleep over the phone. We see many different shades of man, not this mythic perfect King hanging on walls next to Jesus in my grandmother’s house. We see him flesh and blood like us.”

Indeed, the play presents what could have happened on King’s last night, after he delivered his final speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.”

“Every April 4, I’m reminded…how much we all have to do to get this world to the Promised Land,” Wright reveals. “By seeing how King endured universal human struggles such as fear and frustration about his work, [audiences] will see how close to him they are. Seeing the humanity of our heroes allows us to see the humanity in ourselves.”

Buy tickets (from $40) to see this powerful production now through May 12 on arenastage.org. 1101 Sixth St., SW, 202-488-3300

Daikaya's second floor serves Japanese pub grub and similarly inspired cocktails.

If you still haven’t made it to Daikaya, the Chinatown ramen shop brought to DC in February by co-owners Daisuke Utagawa, Yama Jewayni, and executive chef Katsuya Fukushima, there’s a new reason to stop by.

Visit Daikaya to enjoy savory Sapporo-style ramen and steaming dumplings downstairs, and then move up to the establishment’s second floor to experience the newly opened izakaya, or Japanese tavern. Sitting atop the bustling ramen shop, the space serves small plates and Japanese-inspired cocktails.

Described as ”Japanese tavern pub grub” by Utagawa, patrons shouldn’t expect a sushi menu at the new hot spot. Instead, you’ll find dishes such as miso cod with carrot puree and pickled ginger; grilled Napa cabbage with apples, kewpie-yogurt, and salmon roe; and spicy cod roe spaghetti. “These two places [the ramen shop and izakaya] are the places that we’d [wanted] to go…so we created this little two-story thing, a slice of Tokyo,” says Utagawa. We also suggest trying the new venue’s Japanese whiskey, craft beers, sake, and shochu (a clear Japanese spirit similar to vodka).

And don’t be afraid to stay on the upper level for a while. “It’s a place where one hangs out for a long time. People might get off work at 5…and start eating and drinking and spend the evening,” Utagawa explains. “Upstairs is a place to hang out, eat, drink, be merry…we just want people to be happy.” 705 6th St. NW, 202-589-1600

Etihad Airways offers customizable service from trained chefs.

You can lie back and relax on your next flight to Abu Dhabi—literally. Etihad Airways, the posh national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is premiering new direct flight service to the UAE capital city from Washington Dulles International Airport. Flights arrive in Washington at 5 pm and depart Washington at 10:30 pm.

On board, Diamond First Class fliers will find comfortable, fully reclining flatbed seats; partitioned suites, turndown service, and Dupioni silk bedding; and trained chefs who can create customized in-flight meals, including some organic options. Pearl Business Class customers will also enjoy fully reclining seats along with gourmet food and wine service. (Local first-class and business-class guests also gain access to a premium lounge at Dulles airport, which allows for direct boarding to the aircraft and includes a VIP area.)

Washington is only the third U.S. city for the airliner, which has a flight network of more than 85 locations. “The [flight] schedule also allows maximum connectivity to key markets in the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council], Indian Subcontinent, and Southeast Asia,” explains Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan. “The Washington, DC, metropolitan area ranks as one of the strongest-performing economies in the country. Demand for premium cabins from the market is significantly higher than from other potential US destinations, so we forecast that our award-winning Diamond First Class and Pearl Business Class will be very popular.” Flight service officially opens on April 1; to book travel, visit etihadairways.com.

Zaytinya offers an Easter celebration that stretches for over a month and includes special fare, events, and more.

Chef José Andrés’ innovative menu just got more interesting. His Zaytinya restaurant, specializing in modern Mediterranean tapas, will celebrate Greek Easter from this Sunday, March 31 through Sunday, May 5. The menu was inspired by Greek Easter and Lenten traditions and was designed by head chef Michael Costa.

Its items include lachanosalata, “a take on the traditional shredded cabbage, and carrot salad with Brussels sprouts leaves, olive oil, lemon, and smoked walnut skordalia” and sopa me lahanikaaladoti, “a Lenten vegetable puree soup with cauliflower, rice, mushrooms, onions, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, black pepper, cumin, and tahini garnished with crispy cauliflower and black tahini,” the eatery reports.

Andrés’ Spanish food truck Pepe, famous for its sumptuous Spanish flauta sandwiches, will also partake in the festivities. During the festival, Pepe frequenters can indulge in spit-roasted lamb sandwiches, served on oven-fresh pita with tzatziki and pickled onions, for $9 each. The celebration will also feature a signature Apokreas cocktail, a Greek outdoor market April 21-22, and other special happenings.

The festival will start and close with brunch events, the first one celebrating Western Easter on March 31 and the second highlighting Greek Orthodox Easter on May 5. The prix-fixe menu will be $35 per person, with brunch items including a spit-roasted lamb shoulder. For more information on the festival, visit zaytinya.com. 701 9th St., NW, 202-638-0800

Melissa Leo and Rick Yune in Antoine Fuqua’s Olympus Has Fallen.

Capitol File recently caught up with Rick Yune, a Washington native who has appeared in films such as The Fast and the Furious and The Man with the Iron Fists, to chat about his new role in the action-packed feature, Olympus Has Fallen. Co-starring Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, and Morgan Freeman, the movie tells the story of a former Presidential guard (Butler) fighting to protect the White House as it comes under a terrorist attack. Yune plays Kang, the leader of the terrorist organization. Catch the film in theaters this Friday, March 22.

What piqued your interest in acting?
RICK YUNE: I’ve always loved movies, and when I was growing up…we would go to the theaters and learn a lot about life. Back then [from 1970 to 1990] DC was a different city; it was when Marion Barry was in office (laughs)…and it’s still a small city in many ways. The movies gave me [more] understanding.

Tell us about your character in Olympus Has Fallen.
RY: My character…I don’t know if I can say that much. He’s a soldier that is looking to right the wrongs that he saw, that he thinks have been done. What’s important for my character was a sense of doing something he believed was right.

The movie was filmed in Louisiana, but it’s supposed to be based in DC. How did it feel to be there?
RY: Louisiana was an interesting place to [film] because you’re surrounded by an area that has come back from a disaster and seeing all the people, and how they’ve adjusted, and how they’ve found themselves again. That helped out with the story. …Most of what I did was in a 20’ x 10’ room and Antoine [Fuqua, the director] helped us create the level of tension that the audience is really going to be moved by.

What should movie-goers take away from this film?
RY: My character, he has to go and do the impossible. And [Butler’s] character, who has been shunned, he’s up against great odds as well. So here are two guys who have nothing but heart and are going for nothing but the gold.

Celebrations for the National Cherry Blossom Festival run from March 20-April 14.

Every spring, a visual and natural gift is given to the public of DC as the beloved Cherry Blossom trees—gifted to America by the people of Japan in 1912—begin to flower. (This year, peak bloom along the tidal basin is March 26-30, but the festival runs from March 20-April 14.) As you take in the sights, be sure to experience the great events that the National Cherry Blossom Festival has to offer.

Pink Tie Party: Kicking off this year’s festival is the signature Pink Tie Party on Wednesday, March 20, where guests don pink apparel and raise funds to support the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s programs and efforts. From 7-11 pm, indulge in cherry blossom-themed bites and cocktails from some of the region’s top restaurants at the Renaissance Washington DC Downtown Hotel. Tickets ($200) can be purchased online. 999 9th St. NW, 202-661-7567

National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade: One of the largest springtime parades in the city takes place on Saturday, April 13 from 10 am-12 pm, rain or shine. The televised parade, stretching down Constitution Ave NW from 7th to 17th streets, will showcase lively performers, marching bands from across the country, elaborately decorated floats, and giant balloons with vibrant cherry blossom décor. Grandstand seating is available for $20 per person or enjoy the event free of charge by standing along the parade route. For tickets and information, call 800-745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival: After you’ve watched the floats roll by on April 13, head to 12th Street and Pennsylvania NW to take in a full day of Japanese culture and cuisine at the largest Japanese cultural event in the United States. Hosted by The Japan-America Society of Washington DC, the mile-long street festival will boast art exhibitions, dance and musical performances, food, and more. Purchase tickets ($5) at sakuramatsuri.org or at the festival entrance. Call 202-833-2210 for more information.

Have more time? Find additional events at nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.