diff --git a/daemon/face/face.cpp b/daemon/face/face.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1aa5184
--- /dev/null
+++ b/daemon/face/face.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+/* -*- Mode:C++; c-file-style:"gnu"; indent-tabs-mode:nil; -*- */
+/**
+ * Copyright (C) 2014 Named Data Networking Project
+ * See COPYING for copyright and distribution information.
+ */
+
+#include "face.hpp"
+
+namespace ndn {
+
+Face::Face(FaceId id)
+  : m_id(id)
+{
+}
+
+Face::~Face()
+{
+}
+
+bool
+Face::isUp() const
+{
+  return true;
+}
+
+void
+Face::setDescription(const std::string& description)
+{
+  m_description = description;
+}
+
+const std::string&
+Face::getDescription() const
+{
+  return m_description;
+}
+
+bool
+Face::isMultiAccess() const
+{
+  return false;
+}
+
+bool
+Face::isLocalControlHeaderEnabled() const
+{
+  // TODO add local control header functionality
+  return false;
+}
+
+
+} //namespace ndn
diff --git a/daemon/face/face.hpp b/daemon/face/face.hpp
index 0a758b3..abcb3ab 100644
--- a/daemon/face/face.hpp
+++ b/daemon/face/face.hpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #define NFD_FACE_FACE_H
 
 #include "common.hpp"
+#include "util/event-emitter.hpp"
 
 namespace ndn {
 
@@ -21,6 +22,62 @@
  */
 class Face : noncopyable
 {
+public:
+  Face(FaceId id);
+  
+  virtual
+  ~Face();
+
+  /// fires when an Interest is received
+  EventEmitter<const Interest&> onReceiveInterest;
+  
+  /// fires when a Data is received
+  EventEmitter<const Data&> onReceiveData;
+  
+  /// send an Interest
+  virtual void
+  sendInterest(const Interest &interest) =0;
+  
+  /// send a Data
+  virtual void
+  sendData(const Data &data) =0;
+  
+  /** \brief Get whether underlying communicate is up
+   *  In this base class this property is always true.
+   */
+  virtual bool
+  isUp() const;
+  
+  /** \brief Set the description
+   *  This is typically invoked by mgmt on set description command
+   */
+  virtual void
+  setDescription(const std::string& description);
+  
+  /// Get the description
+  virtual const std::string&
+  getDescription() const;
+  
+  /** \brief Get whether packets sent this Face may reach multiple peers
+   *  In this base class this property is always false.
+   */
+  virtual bool
+  isMultiAccess() const;
+  
+  /// Get whether the face has opted in for local control header
+  virtual bool
+  isLocalControlHeaderEnabled() const;
+
+protected:
+  // void
+  // receiveInterest();
+
+  // void
+  // receiveData();
+  
+private:
+  FaceId m_id;
+  std::string m_description;
 };
 
 } // namespace ndn
diff --git a/tests/face/face.cpp b/tests/face/face.cpp
index 93a78ec..b453110 100644
--- a/tests/face/face.cpp
+++ b/tests/face/face.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,31 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE(FaceFace)
 
-// no unit test here: this ensures face.hpp can compile on its own
+class FaceTestFace : public Face
+{
+public:
+  FaceTestFace()
+    : Face(1)
+  {
+  }
+  
+  virtual void
+  sendInterest(const Interest &interest)
+  {
+  }
+  
+  virtual void
+  sendData(const Data &data)
+  {
+  }
+};
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(Description)
+{
+  FaceTestFace face;
+  face.setDescription("3pFsKrvWr");
+  BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(face.getDescription(), "3pFsKrvWr");
+}
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE_END()