K Street Kate’s Interview On Adapting To DC


Kate Michael moved to Washington from Atlanta looking for chance, and after working as a staffer on Capitol Hill she became Miss District of Columbia 2006. Branching out from the blog she launched during her beauty queen reign, she started an online socialite persona from scratch as K Street Kate and now sits on the Speaker's Committee of the National Press Club while popping up at the town's charity balls, nonprofit fundraisers and fashion shows. Michael shared her experience on making your own luck in the nation's capital.

When you came here, what made DC appeal to you more as a city than Atlanta?

My family has lived in the suburbs of Atlanta since 1996, but while I've always loved getting lost with the Peachtree Streets, I knew Atlanta wasn't for me. DC's power - and not only in a political sense - is invigorating. This is a place where you can actually make your plans happen and have the time of your life doing it! And you meet so many interesting and interested people along the way. Both cities can boast unbelievable opportunities and international flair, but DC's unique neighborhoods and cultural contributions really made me want to call it home.

After that experience do you have any advice for people who come here for work to settle in and meet people?


This is one of the most social cities on the planet - there is no plea for not taking advantage! One of the easiest ways to meet people is to get concerned with any of the many local charities, unique interest groups or state societies. A general bond makes first introductions even easier.

Washington has great opportunities for the Web and promotions. How did you go about creating your own brand?

That question will take more than a few sentences to answer! K Street Kate has grown over the last four-plus years because I and my team have been a reliable and trusted source for the best of the city's lifestyle news.

How do you manage the pace of a city where people try to plan everything and there are so many event nights?

Not everyone can do what I do, and as a businesswoman, I'm grateful for that! Hopefully it keeps you reading kstreetkate.net! But honestly, I have a passion for recognizing and sharing all of the most magnificent things happening around us here in the District. I just can't get enough!

Any advice on how to balance personal and professional socializing?

I see no need to discriminate! I say: Live your life as if you're some day running for office, and your fans and friends will forever respect you.



K Street Kate Named "Social Butterfly"


It was a powerful good time at Mighty Pint as Kate Michael, DC’s own K Street Kate, celebrated the Washington Post announcement of K Street Kate being named DC's favorite "Social Butterfly" and Glamour Magazine naming K Street Kate a magazine "Glambassador.” Michael, a former Miss DC in 2006 hosts her blog as well as the online lifestyle magazine and talk show, The District Dish.

A packed house braved somewhat icy circumstances to dance the night away to the tunes of everything from Madonna to Lady Gaga to Journey and Depeche Mode amidst the signature tater tots and pint sized beverages. Svedka Vodka’s Bot video booth was on site, total with neon colored wigs, sequined glasses and other accessories to capture visitors in full robotic mode on film.

Among the celebrants were photographers Vithaya Phongsavan and Daniel Swartz, fellow bloggers Stef Woods and Kelly Collis, Art Soiree’s Sandro Keresa, Michael Clements of GenkiMedia, and legal eagle Matt Schwartz.

K Street Kate's Celebration At Writing Group Re-Launch


Washington Writing Group, LLC (WWG) celebrated its first anniversary and re-launch. Bianca Grimaldi, WWG President and Founder, welcomed clients, close friends, and relations to the celebration at trendy Co Co Sala in DC’s Penn Quarter. Kate was also present in the celebration.

While sipping on a specialty cocktail entitled “Writer’s Block”, guests dined on delicious Louisiana crab cakes, truffled mac ‘n’ cheese tarts, beet and goat cheese lollipops, and chicken tandoori sliders.

K Street Kate's Holiday Shopping Party

Kate and Perri help themselves to several holiday treats

4th Anniversary Celebration Of K Street Kate


Blogger Kate Michael celebrated four years of her victorious D.C. lifestyle blog "K Street Kate" with an extraordinary party at Luxxery med-spa on Wisconsin Avenue in Northwest D.C.


"Real Housewives of D.C." stars Lynda Erkeletian and Ebong Eka dropped in, as did Juleanna Glover, Yemeni Ambassador Abdulwahab Al-Hajjri, Stephanie Green, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar's (D-Minn) recently departed communications director, Erikka Knuti.

K Street Kate's Visit For The Launch Of Sofitel Properties


It was a day in Casablanca at the Sofitel in Lafayette Square as guests gathered at the hotel’s Ici Urban Bistro to enjoy the flavors of Morocco in honor of the launch of two of seven new Sofitel properties in Morocco Casablanca and Essaouria, in 2011.

Sofitel D.C. General Manager Pierre-Louis Renou hosted media mavens Stephanie Green, Pamela's Punch’s Pamela Sorenson, K Street Kate's Kate Michael, Matthew Dornic of Fishbowl. The dynamic duo of Nikki Schwab and Katy Adams of the Examiner’s Yeas and Nays, DC Magazine publisher Peter Abrahams, and Capitol File’s Sarah Schaeffer were along with the group.

A Moroccan Week menu, formed by visiting chefs from Marrakech, Fes and Rabat and featuring authentic delights like meat briouats, an assortment of traditional Moroccan salads, and seven vegetable couscous with lamb and tfaya will be accessible at Sofitel’s Ici Urban Bistro from September 25-October 3.


Fashion for Autism



On Friday, September 24, the glitz and glamour of New York Fashion Week comes to the City Tavern Club in Georgetown as designer

Former Miss D.C. Kate Michael, Edwing D’Angelo’s preview s his newest fashion collection. Also on hand will be internationally acclaimed Juilliard concert pianist Edvinas Minkstimas, fashion photographer Viktorija Juodenaite, Miss D.C. 2010 Stephanie Williams, celebrity stylist Erwin Gomez, and Miss Peru, just to name a few.

Many prominent members of the Georgetown business community have donated their time and effort to produce this amazing evening of style and grace, including Janine Schoonover (Serendipity3), Rokas Beresniovas (Wells Fargo), Katy Adams (The Washington Examiner), Marilyn Thompson (WASH-FM), Jenny Zin (Betsey Johnson), H.E. W.Nelson Lewis (Rolling Stone Magazine), Christopher Swann (Thomson Reuters), and Melanie Zipperer (World Bank) and many others.

Support a worthy cause and enjoy one of the highlights of the early fall social calendar in Washington D.C.!

Many More Years For K Street Kate


It was a little of K Street Tuesday evening, but just as full of go nonetheless as Kate Michael celebrated the fourth anniversary of her blog “K Street Kate” at Luxxery Express on Wisconsin Avenue.

The ex- Miss D.C. and current host of The District Dish celebrated in style with wines and champagne from CPC Cellars, cocktails made with Absolute Vodka and Smartwater for a little hydration, along with a guest list that included Real Housewives of DC cast member Lynda Erkiletian with beau Ebong Eka, Alan Popovsky, owner of Hudson restaurant, Reese Gardner, partner in the after party locale, Mighty Pint and Mel Davis of Citronelle.

After the ‘official’ celebration, party-goers moved the festivities to The Mighty Pint where its soon-to-be renowned potato ‘tots’ were emphasize of the evening along with, what else. Pints of beer and cocktail concoctions set to a backdrop of 80’s tunes.

Congratulations Kate—as you enter your second term!

Marzee Boutique’s Fashion Dresses Hosted by K Street Kate

Marzee Boutique will officially introduce its fabulous clothes and upscale atmosphere with a day long grand opening event, hosted by K Street Kate, Kate Michael.

Specializing in both independent and international designers, the specialty retailer prides itself on scouring the world's hottest fashion magazines, runway shows, and showroom floors in order to obtain the latest apparel and accessories for its customers. Indeed, browsing the racks of clothing at the store today turned-up precious few "big names" which is exactly as the owners intended. Branding takes a definitive backseat to individuality at Marzee.


Marzee Boutique,was established online in 2007, opened its first brick and mortar location in Georgetown this spring. Attendees will celebrate and indulge in high fashion, delicious treats and chilled champagne. There will be hourly drawings for gifts and additional savings and mini style sessions provided by Marzee Boutique’s fashion experts.

Kstreet Kate Michael at Washington

Kstreet Kate Michael participated in Khalil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Awards at the Renaissance Hotel.

On April 22, night at washington everybody joined at the Arab American Institute as it hosted its 12th annual Khalil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Awards at the Renaissance Hotel. The awards honor those who enhance the lives of Arab Americans and promote peaceful coexistence in all walks of life.

Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley received the Award for Individual Achievement for convening the first US-Arab Cities Forum with Chicago’s sister cities.

The party also helped to raise $10,000 for next month’s Avon Walk, with every dollar going to breast cancer awareness and early detection programs.

Kate’s Leisure Time Favorite Places

Kate love’s wandering around Georgetown and watching all of the tourist’s places and she also loves just sitting at Dean and Deluca and having a chai latte and just hanging out. She loves the 14th street corridor very much. Now a day’s Kate used go there at least four days a week for shopping or eating, and at night too. Kate Michael actually has not been to Gibson, but it is on her list. Kate’s favorite places changes depending on her mood, and her favorite place right now is a tossup between 14th street and Georgetown.


Kate was just filming a documentary for the BBC, and they wanted her to take them to places that people don’t know. So she took them to some amusing places and parks, because a lot of people don’t know that DC has more green space than any other metropolitan city in the United States. Meridian Hill Park at 16th Street is an incredible place according to Kate, you can do anything there. On Sunday afternoons, you can see great drum circle, and you can enjoy everything going on.

Kate Michael At Beauty and The Blog Party


Chevy Chase’s Neiman Marcus for its Beauty and The Blog party was held to preview the newest products for spring before Neiman’s big beauty event starting today. Here, Genie Saleh, Brotman Winter Fried’s Whitney Stringer, and K Street Kate’s Kate Michael showing off some goodies they received.

Kate Michael's Disney days


In 2006, Kate Michael started a blog to chronicle her yearlong reign as Miss DC, but when the gig was up, she wanted to keep blogging. She asked her readers to come up with a new name and, drawing on a Washington Post article titled “Rename K Street to Kate Street,” they offered “From K Street to Kate Street.”

Kate liked the idea but shortened the name to K Street Kate. “K Street is a recognizable street all over the world, and it has a variety of restaurants, boutiques, and nightlife that showcase the city’s sophistication,” she says. “That’s what my blog is about quintessential DC. I like to think I’m quintessential DC as well.”

Raised in New Orleans and Atlanta, Kate moved to DC when she was 21. She started competing in pageants a year later as an effort to win scholarship money for graduate school at Johns Hopkins. “I also missed the stage,” she says.

Kate has always been a performer. One of her favorite jobs: dancing in the Christmas show at Disney World. She performed a ballet solo in front of 50,000 spectators five times a day.


Kate’s Disney days are behind her, but she keeps herself busy hosting a talk show, working as a program analyst for the DC Department of Employment Services, modeling, and promoting literacy efforts. We caught up with the Foggy Bottom pageant queen to quiz her on pageant life, Washington socialites, and more.

Favorites of Kstreet Kate


Number of pageant crowns:
Kate: “Two local crowns (Miss Thunder Road and Miss Gwinnett County, both from local pageants in Georgia) and one state crown (Miss District of Columbia).”

Where Miss District of Columbia crown was kept:
Kate: “In a wooden box on a shelf in my condo. Before I moved, I used to keep it under my bed.”

Three things that happen behind the scenes at the Miss America pageant that people would be surprised to learn:
Kate:
“The girls get dressed in a tent behind the auditorium. Everyone teases their hair—even the ones that look normal on stage. There’s a lot of sharing of ‘butt glue,’ adhesive to keep clothes in place, because no one wants to be showing their ‘cheeks’ on the stage. And breast-enhancement cups come in several shapes and even more sizes.”

Three things people would be surprised to learn about kstreet Kate:

Kate: “I have five jobs: DC government employee, owner of Consignment Cocktails, talk-show host, writer, and model. The only TV I own is the same set I’ve had (with an inset VCR!) since I was 12. It’s a 12-incher! I can bake, but I can’t cook at all, so I’d rather live on cupcakes and brownies.”

Adrian Fenty or Barack Obama?
Kate: “Obama. In The Hill’s Most Beautiful on the Hill contest in 2006, Barack came in second . . . right behind me. So, I think it’d only be right to pass him my crown.”

What Kate would do for the talent competition other than dance?
Kate: “Um . . . finish a crossword puzzle? I’m kidding—I’m bad at those, so it’s a good thing I can dance.”

Three ways Kate working to improve literacy for Washington students:
Kate: “I continue to work with First Book and the Heart of America Foundation to help build libraries in underserved areas, give children their first books for home libraries, and serve as a reading mentor for children in elementary and middle schools. I have volunteered for the National Book Festival for the past four years, helping librarians from across the country in the festival’s Pavilion of States. But it’s not just about the kids, and it’s not just about reading books. I’m involved in efforts with the Junior League to promote adult literacy and financial and nutritional literacy as well.”
Favorite local charity:
Kate: “There are too many. But currently, Heart of America.”

Where to go to spot Washington socialites:
Kate: “When I’m not out at events, my favorite place to relax and enjoy being social is L2 in Georgetown.”

Favorite place to shop:
Kate: “Lately, I love Reiss, We One You Two, Club Monaco, Cusp, and shopping online at Gilt Group.”

Where Kate go to get away from the spotlight:
Kate: “I recently took a relaxing trip to the Eastern Shore to spend the weekend in a quiet bed-and-breakfast. Otherwise, I might go visit my parents in Atlanta.”

Favorite local blog besides of Kate:
Kate: “No fair! Too hard! I love reading about where to go on Pamela’s Punch or what to wear on the Glamazon Diaries or Project Beltway. A Not So Capitol Idea always gives me something to think about, and Ask Miss A keeps it real.”

Driving Force Behind The District Dish web TV Show of KStreet Kate

K Street Kate started producing The District Dish one year ago, to allow DC personalities to tell their story firsthand. The city’s local lifestyle scene was bursting with art, music, charity events, new businesses and social activities, but there was no video outlet for that information to be shared.

With each new episode (shown on local Comcast stations as well as online) we learn about the rich culture of the Nation’s Capital and why DC isn’t just a political power spot, but a place where people actually live, work and play.“One of my favorites of the past year has been Septime Webre, Artistic Director of the Washington Ballet. Watching Janina Gavankar, formerly on The L Word, give Ebong an improv acting lesson was pretty funny, too, and ribbing Michael Wilbon on air for not being a Redskins fan would have to be on my highlight reel!” Says Kate.

Kate Personal Note

“I would say that marketers have seen the value in using my social and conversational media platforms as tools to spread their message. While I take pride in being a new media pioneer, I still value the traditional separation between media and promotions and firmly place myself in the media bracket.” Says KStreet Kate

K Street Kate, the online magazine, originally began as a blog of my experiences as Miss District of Columbia 2006. After my year of service, my readers asked me to continue telling them of the hot spots, cool people and must not miss events happening around the city. I even had them vote on the name! K Street Kate was chosen for several reasons, the most important being that K Street is the most widely recognized street in the District (an ode to our hyper-local attitude for coverage), and had all of the aspects of DC lifestyle about which I was writing (restaurants, nightlife, politics, fashion, etc.). The site is quintessential DC, as are my interests, so I became K Street Kate.I’ve always been active on the social and charitable scene in the District, but my efforts in community reporting really put me at the heart of the biggest and best events the city has to offer. But where so many copycat sites are about aggregation, we pride ourselves on being a filter. Our readers have come to know that K Street Kate gives them the complete and candid scoop, allowing them to ‘Be in the Know and Know where to Be’ with quick, easy, and personality-filled posts.