Restaurant 3 Announces The First Annual 'chicks With Chips' Charitable Women's Poker Tournament And Cocktail Competition

Poker Guru Peter Martin leads a Texas Hold 'Em tournament for ladies highlighted by a cocktail competition between four of DC's hottest female mixologists

Poker loving philanthropists can put their skills to good use at 'Chicks with Chips,' a charitable women's poker tournament and cocktail competition being held on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at Restaurant 3 in Clarendon, Virginia from 2 pm to 6 pm. Tickets are priced at $65 per player and proceeds from the tournament will benefit New Endeavors by Women, a charity that helps women take control of their lives and move out of homelessness.

Participants will receive a brief tutorial by poker guru Peter Martin, before breaking up into tables to reveal their poker prowess. In addition to playing Texas Hold 'Em for a great cause, event participants will also sample signature Cointreau-based cocktails created by four of the DC area's finest mixologists, while snacking on creative hors d'oeuvres from Chef Brian Robinson of Restaurant 3.

Before the last round is played, the signature cocktails with be judged by panel of leading food and beverage media and the winning mixologist will be named 'Cocktail Queen Supreme.' The winning cocktail will be placed on Restaurant 3's menu and proceeds from the sale of the cocktail for one year will benefit New Endeavors by Women, a Washington, DC-based charity working to help homeless women take control of their lives. Participating mixologists at the event include Mia Baila of Adour, Gina Chersevani of PS 7's, Ria Freydberg of Restaurant 3, and Chantal Tsang of The Tabard Inn.

All cocktails made by the mixologists will be Cointreau-based and all players at the final table will receive a little swag from Cointreau as well as a gift certificate for a complimentary cocktail at Restaurant 3.

The judges for the cocktail competition include Nycci Nellis, publisher of The List Are You On It and host of Federal New Radio's Dishing it Out radio show; Amanda McClements, Freelance Food Writer and Author of the popular Metrocurean food blog, Julia Beizer of the Washington Post's Going Out Gurus and Natalie Bovis-Nelsen, Freelance Wine & Spirits Writer and Author of The Liquid Muse.com.

The winners of the evening will also bag some fabulous prizes such as:

1st place: $500 Amex card
2nd place: Dinner for four at Restaurant 3
3rd place: Dinner for two at Restaurant 3

For gentlemen wishing to cheer on their ladies, Classic Cigars and British Goodies of Clarendon, Virginia will be offering cigar rolling and discussion on the Patio, and Restaurant 3 will be offering Scotch tastings in the lounge.

The ticket of $65 includes the poker tournament buy-in, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.

Restaurant 3 is located at 2950 Clarendon Blvd. in Arlington, VA, across the street from the Clarendon Metro Station.

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