The Season of Sparkle
The Season of Sparkle
DECEMBER 2025
"Glamorous Gifting: Luxe Holiday Finds, FIFA Fever, and Artful Revelations in Miami and D.C."
A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
CELEBRATING RESILIENCE AND EMBRACING MOMENTS THAT MATTER
December arrives with celebration and light, but this year has asked a lot of all of us. Many have faced uncertainty, change, and a pace that felt impossible to outrun. Which is why the real sparkle this season is not the spectacle, but the people and moments that ground us.
Let us value connection. Time with those who matter. Quiet mornings. A shared meal. Showing up for one another. Stepping offline long enough to breathe and reset.
As we close out the year, we are choosing presence, care, and the kind of joy that feels lasting. May this season bring warmth, restoration, and a renewed sense of what truly matters.
GIFT GUIDE
HOLIDAY
2025
CityCenterDC: Holiday Magic and Snow Days!
The holidays are in full sparkle at CityCenterDC, where the city’s largest holiday tree now stands as a glittering centerpiece at The Park. Guests can stroll through Palmer Alley, imagining they’re walking through their dream closet framed by twinkling lights.
To add to the magic, CityCenterDC will debut Snow Days, a playful, photo-ready “flurry” experience that brings the magic of winter to life, even when it’s not in the forecast. Now through December 21, visitors can enjoy snowfalls every weekend between 5-7 p.m—one of the most enchanting winter scenes in Washington.
This season, CityCenterDC is also a destination for exceptional gifting. From Dior’s couture beauty treasures to Tiffany’s iconic blue boxes, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Hermès, the district offers a curated world of luxury shopping in one walkable neighborhood. Whether selecting a meaningful gift, savoring a festive moment under the lights, or capturing the perfect holiday photo, CityCenterDC invites guests to celebrate the season in style.
HOLIDAY
Riggs Washington, DC:
Annual Tree Unveiling
The annual tree unveiling at Riggs Washington DC has become a hallmark of the holiday season. Each year, the hotel partners with a celebrated designer to reimagine the Christmas tree as a work of art. Past collaborations have featured feathers, crochet, and couture bows. This year, Dutch couturier David Laport brings a golden, bespoke vision to the Riggs lobby, transforming the tree into a sculptural centerpiece that blends fashion and festivity. The unveiling on December 1 marked the beginning of the hotel’s holiday season and remains one of the most anticipated celebrations in the city.
To cheers the season, Cafe Riggs created the Golden Mule-Tide (rye, turmeric-ginger syrup and ginger beer), to honor the season. There's also a selection of warm drinks like a spiked hot chocolate and a spiced apple cider.
STAY
Holidays at JW Marriott Reston Station
Virginia’s first JW Marriott has officially become the area’s new holiday headquarters. For its inaugural festive season, JW Marriott Reston Station has transformed its soaring lobby into a winter wonderland anchored by a nine-foot Gingerbread House created by executive pastry chef Claus Olsen, complete with a working train and hidden surprises for families to discover.
The celebrations continue throughout the hotel with festive dining at The Simon, from Christmas Eve prix fixe menus to a Christmas Day grazing brunch, along with spirited moments like Happy Hour with The Grinch and a family-friendly Brunch with The Grinch. Guests looking for an unforgettable seasonal escape can book the “Taste of Winter Magic” package featuring gingerbread house decorating, an in-room hot chocolate station, and the signature Family by JW camper experience.
JW Marriott Reston Station has quickly become a must-visit destination this season, bringing luxury, warmth, and a sense of wonder to the region.
FRAGRANCE
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Opens at Tysons Galleria
Just in time for the holidays, Maison Francis Kurkdjian has opened its newest boutique at Tysons Galleria, bringing one of the world’s most coveted fragrance houses to the region. Known for its modern approach to perfumery and exquisite craftsmanship, the boutique offers an immersive experience where scent becomes art. Guests can explore iconic fragrances, seasonal creations, and bespoke services, making it a destination for both meaningful gifting—and an opportunity to pick a present for yourself.
SPORTS
FOOTBALL FOR ALL: FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw
On December 5, the world will watch as the official FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw takes place in Arlington, Texas at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys and one of the largest venues ever to host the event. The draw will determine the path for the 48 qualifying teams, the largest field in World Cup history, and will set the stage for a tournament spanning the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It is the moment when anticipation becomes tangible, when global fan bases begin charting their journeys across North America, and when cities like Washington, D.C. prepare to take their place on the world stage. For sports, culture, travel, and hospitality, this draw signals the true beginning of a summer that will bring the world together.
City Spotlight
City Spotlight
ART
Basel Miami: A Milestone Moment
Miami once again becomes the global art world’s stage as Art Basel returns, bringing with it a vivid mix of contemporary art, design, and luxury. This year carries added significance with the 20th anniversary of Art Miami, a fair that helped transform the city from a seasonal escape into a true cultural capital.
Across galleries, brand activations, and waterfront installations, the energy is focused on evolution. Art is spilling beyond the fair walls into hotels, boutiques, and restaurants, blurring the lines between culture and lifestyle. It is a week that celebrates both Miami’s creative legacy and its ever-expanding influence on how the world experiences art.
DINING
Home for the Holidays: Cozy up in Naperville, Illinois
Naperville shines during the holidays with festive markets, a holiday light tour on a trolley, an ice rink, twinkling streetscapes, and more for locals and visitors alike. After taking in the celebrations, guests are invited to warm up at Ramsay’s Kitchen Naperville for a holiday meal that blends comfort and culinary flair. Whether it is a celebratory dinner or a cozy winter gathering, Ramsay’s offers an inviting space to toast the season.
WINTER WONDERLAND
The Lodge at CUT Above
Rosewood Washington, DC has transformed CUT Above into The Lodge, a luxe apres ski moment for the season. Guests are invited to escape to the rooftop for a cozy alpine experience complete with seasonal cocktails, light bites, and winter ambiance. It is the perfect destination for an intimate gathering or festive evening overlooking the lights of Georgetown.
And, for New Year’s Eve, The Lodge hosts an after-dinner dance party. Enjoy breathtaking views of the city with unlimited champagne, a classic CUT seafood tower, and curated assortments of cheese, charcuterie, and housemade churros.
Party ‘Til the End: New Year’s Eve
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Barbouzard
As the season builds toward its grand finale, all eyes turn to Barbouzard for a New Year’s Eve celebration that promises glamour, flavor, and a touch of Parisian mischief. The restaurant will host its Sparkling Soirée on December 31, inviting guests to indulge in an evening of elevated dining, festive cocktails, and dancing as the countdown to 2026 begins.
Expect Barbouzard’s signature style throughout the night, with thoughtful culinary touches, celebratory surprises, and an ambiance that feels both intimate and exuberant.
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Silver Lyan
As well known for their expertly devised cocktails as their party high jink, Silver Lyan is at it again, this time as an ode to 1970s basement parties. Silver Lyan’s secret space, Dishonesty Bar, turns into “The Rumpus Room,” an ode to letting loose, merriment—and this being from an award-winning cocktail bar—fanciful drinks.
Open through January 3, 2026, reservations are encouraged: Friday and Saturday only, 5 p.m. to midnight.
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Marcus DC
Rising star chef Anthony Jones is flexing his culinary talents with his first-ever tasting menu at Marcus DC—and a preview of new bites to come for next year. The five-course dinner is offered amongst a background of global beats and energetic set pieces from artist Derrick Adams and styled by Kamille Glenn.
THE ULTIMATE FLEX
As the year draws to a close, the ultimate flex is not another party or another post. It is going off grid, stepping back, and giving yourself the space to reset before the new year begins. There is something powerful in choosing stillness, in trading noise for quiet, and in carving out time that belongs only to you.
A walk without your phone, a book that pulls you in, a long dinner with people you love, or simply a morning spent without rushing. These are the real luxuries of the season. Presence over performance. Restoration over routine.
Before the calendar turns, we are embracing the art of disappearing for a moment, so we can return inspired, grounded, and ready for what comes next.
RECENT PRESS
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D.C.’s 2025 Eater Awards: Anthony Jones - Rising Chef
D.C.’s 2025 Eater Awards honored Anthony Jones of Marcus DC with the Rising Star Chef of the Year award for his blend of West African flavors with Mid-Atlantic seafood and comfort-food traditions. His standout dishes include crab rice with uni-béarnaise, smoked clam cacio e pepe, and Parmesan gnocchi served in a spiced mushroom broth. The award recognizes how Jones brings personal storytelling and layered technique to a menu that feels both grounded and forward-looking.
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D.C.’s 2025 Eater Awards: FISH SHOP - DESIGN OF THE YEAR
D.C.’s 2025 Eater Awards honored Fish Shop at The Wharf with the Design of the Year award for its bold, immersive approach to seafood dining. The space features woven-branch fish suspended from the ceiling, plaid tartan overhead, a bartop crafted from shattered wine bottles, recycled-plastic tables, and driftwood-and-net sculptures. A vintage porthole opens into the kitchen, where the team cures and ages whole fish from the Chesapeake Bay. The award highlights how the restaurant’s design creates a visually striking environment that elevates the entire experience.
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CUT Above – Featured in Food & Wine: Best Hot Chocolate Specials
CUT Above at the Rosewood Georgetown was featured in Food & Wine’s national roundup of the Best Hot Chocolate Specials for its elevated Hot-Chocolate Ritual. The offering includes three signature styles — The Classic, Gingerbread Bliss, and S’more the Merrier — each served with a house-made cookie crafted to complement the flavors of the drink. The feature highlights how CUT Above transforms a simple winter favorite into a refined, memorable experience that pairs rooftop ambiance with thoughtful culinary design.
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Chef Wolfgang of cafe riggs – Robb Report: How to Make Prime Rib Like a Michelin-Starred Chef
Wolfgang Birk appears in Robb Report’s “How to Make Prime Rib,” featured as a Michelin-starred chef offering expert guidance on preparing prime rib at home. The article spotlights his techniques and recipes for achieving restaurant-quality prime rib, showing how his culinary background informs a home-cooked classic. By including Wolfgang Birk, Robb Report gives weight to the piece — readers trust his method as coming from a high-end, professional kitchen background.
