Week Five: Cafe Salsa

After volunteering for my Delegate to the Virginia State House on Tuesday, I was pretty much a loser for the rest of the week--I stayed in Wednesday and Thursday and did nothing but update my blog (not that that's bad) and watch the first season of The West Wing on DVD (ok, that's pretty sad).

Friday was a different story, however. My friend Red declared that he wanted to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on Friday, and as I had told him I'd see it again because I liked it, he invited me along.

And I'm glad I went - it gave me a chance to spend another two hours ogling Gary Oldman, Daniel Radcliffe, Alan Rickman and Jason Isaacs. Red was enthused to find out that Helena Bonham-Carter was in this Harry Potter, and I was reminded yet again of how much of a British character actor nerd I am (I think only Marathoner truly understands).

After the movie, we decided to head into Old Town for dinner and found ourselves on King St. in a restaurant called Cafe Salsa. The upstairs of Cafe Salsa is more of a dance club, where they offer Salsa lessons every Tuesday, and Salsa nights with a DJ every Friday and Saturday. In fact, by the time we got there at 9:30PM, we could hear it just getting started.

The service at Cafe Salsa is friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. When I asked about the ceviches available, the waiter was able to recite the ingredients in each one. The complimentary "bread basket" is really a basket of four crackers supporting a pile of crisp fried plantain chips, with accompanying smoky red salsa and green olive tapenade. Both were excellent and, to my surprise and delight, not spicy at all.

On a whim, Red and I ordered the Empanadas Islenas--crisp-fried buttery mashed potato shells stuffed with shredded cuban beef or marinated chicken. I was in love from the very first bite. If you know me, you'll eventually hear me discuss how mashed potatoes and stewed meat were a cherished mainstay of my Mid-Western childhood. And fried mashed potatoes? With meat stewed in a tomato-based sauce in the middle? Oh my goodness. These empanadas approached nirvana for me. I think next time I go, I'll just order that as my main dish and call it a day. I really couldn't believe how very good they were!

Next up was my entree of Chuletas Borrachas, which turned out to be marinated grilled pork chops drenched in a rum-tamarind sauce, served with rice and lima beans. It was all right. I found the pork chops dry and the rum-tamarind sauce too sweet. The lima-rice combo was good, even though it had sliced cooked red bell peppers tainting it (ok, ok. I don't like cooked bell peppers - but at least I gave it a shot, right?). I still packed up the leftovers for Saturday's lunch, but to be honest it was only in the interest of making another meal out of it. Now if you get me some of those empanadas, however, I'll follow you anywhere. Those are worth the trip just by themselves.

If you go:

Cafe Salsa
808 King St.
Alexandria, VA 22314

Week Five: Cheese, Glorious Cheese!

Since I didn't have any plans for Monday after work, I decided it might be a nice day to return the library books I checked out a year ago when I actually lived in the District. They were, uh, a little overdue. By about a year.

*cough*

After that, I just wasn't ready to go home yet, and began wandering around F. St., right there between Metro Center and Gallery Place. I window shopped at H & M, peeked in at McCormick and Schmick's (but decided not to partake of their most excellent happy hour menu). Oh, and I discovered that I am considered a size Large at American Apparel. WTF?!? I'm a 0 at Ann Taylor! Boo! I shake my fist at you, American Apparel! *shakes fist!*

*stepping off soapbox*

I continued my wander down F St. NW, and discovered it: the Cowgirl Creamery Cheese shop. I went in. It smelled like cheese. How glorious.

The front part of the store is dedicated to cheese-y accouterments: artisan breads, "Cowgirl Creamery" cheese spreaders, and cheese grab-bags made up of the brand's most popular cheeses. Oh, and also jars of gourmet jam, crackers and chocolate. I carry a secret torch for good jam.

The back room is where the real goods are. A couple refrigerated self-serve cases offer pre-packaged feta, soft goat cheese, pecorino romano and ricotta., among other things. The real draw, though, is the gorgeous display of every kind of cheese I have never heard of (remember, I'm a foodie in training. I'm not there yet). Well, I've heard of manchego. To be honest, though, I was awfully wrapped up in the different kinds of butters available in the refrigerated case. I had no idea that there is such a thing called "cultured" butter, and that it is different from "regular" butter. Apparently, according to the educated staff, cultured butter has a tangier taste than regular butter. I will have to try that sometime.

I was a little too intimidated to get help from the staffed counter with the beautiful block-and-wheel-of-cheese displays, so I hemmed and hawed at the refrigerator case, finally choosing a small wedge of Pecorino Romano, a package of Camembert, and a Cowgirl Creamery cheese spreader for good measure. I also succumbed to the siren song of some blackberry preserves, which came in an octagonal jar with a little computer-printed label . These preserves are made of three ingredients: organic blackberries, pectin and sugar. I'm am giddy.

Sadly, Cowgirl Creamery was sold out of baguettes for the day, and Best Buns Bakery was closed by the time my Metro Bus meandered past it, so no baguette for me yet to go with the Camembert, but my goods are in the fridge waiting for me.

And I'm already planning my next trip to test out this new realm of cheese.


If you go:

Cowgirl Creamery
919 F St. NW
Washington, DC 20004

Week Four: Tysons Corner with the RN

A friend of mine, whom I met through CrapBastard over St. Patrick's Day, works as a nurse in the area. Every once in a while, she gets a few days off, and we get together, usually we catch dinner somewhere and chat for a few hours. Last Saturday, we decided to meet half-way between our homes at Tysons Corner, get dinner at Gordon Biersch, and see "License to Wed" at the AMC theater there, and also chat for a few hours.

Here is what I like about Tysons Corner: it's huge, and it has stores that I have never seen before. For example, I have never seen a Banana Republic store completely devoted to petites. This is like a type of heaven for me.

Here's what I don't like about Tysons Corner: it's huge, which means there are a lot of people in one place--especially on a Saturday. That means it's noisy. And incredibly dirty. If you do happen to find yourself at Tysons Corner, do yourself a favor: don't use the bathrooms. My experience in the ones I found near the food court is likely to give me nightmares.

My dinner at Gordon Biersch, however, was quite good. Our waiter was attentive, and the food was good. I had the Gorgonzola Bone-in Ribeye (a real ribeye this time) with garlic mashed potatoes and julienned yellow and green squash, and RN had the burger and fries. The Ribeye was great - and almost as good when I reheated it the next day. The potatoes and julienned squash never made it home because they were yummy.

"License to Wed" was entertaining, though I liked Harry Potter 5 better. The real treat at the AMC theater in Tysons Corner, though, is the ergonomic seats. Bar none, they are the most comfortable seats I have ever sat in at a movie theater.

We ate, we chatted, we watched a movie, window shopped, and I was home before 11. After the previous night, it was heavenly.

If you go:

Tysons Corner Center
1961 Chain Bridge Rd.
McLean, VA 22102

Gordon Biersch
7861 L Chain Bridge Rd.
McLean, VA 22102

AMC Theaters
7850 E Tysons Corner Center
McLean, VA 22102

Week Four: Bond, The Willard, and Harry Potter

Let me tell you, I am a big Harry Potter fan and have been anticipating the release of the seventh book for quite some time. In fact, I pre-ordered it a few months ago, and for me, it was late because I even waited a few weeks after it was available for pre-order (big risk taker here, I know). To be honest, though, I've never been too interested in release parties. They seemed fun, but really not my thing. I just want to get to the store, get my book, get home, and get reading. With that in mind, I've gotten my last two Harry Potter books from the Borders at 14th and F St. NW, in downtown DC. Once the working day ends and the restaurants have closed, the part of the city near the Treasury and the White House becomes relatively quiet, and since the area isn't residential, the Harry Potter party is limited to people like me, who just want to stop by, get their book, and leave. Perfect.

I had Friday (relatively) planned-- I would test out the Willard's new restaurant, Cafe du Parc. As I knew a few of the concierges back from my days in the business, I would stop by their desk and reconnect for a few minutes. And if I got bored before midnight, I might even be persuaded to head over to Gifford's for some ice cream, or the Elephant and Castle for a Harp.

I went to Cafe du Parc. The bread there is the fantastic European kind with the hard, crunchy golden exterior and soft, white interior. The service is excellent as well. If there is anything that one can count on with the Willard and all of its associate ventures, it is the service. It is quick, it is friendly, and it is knowledgeable. I am told the Four Seasons has better service, but I'm not sure how much better you can get. I have a feeling that the differences there are in the most minute of details, and I am so not the splitting-hairs type.

The entree, I think, could have been better, but let me tell you what I did like about it. If you look at the picture, you'll see some roasted garlic and grilled eggplant. I really liked those. I don't know if I've ever had roasted garlic, but I've always known that garlic has a lot of sugar in it (anyone who has cooked with garlic at all, can see that). For this reason, I have no idea why I didn't think roasted garlic would be sweet, but it is--pleasantly so. The grilled eggplant was nice, too. As soon as it hit my mouth, I felt it practically melt on my tongue, my tension melting with it.

One thing I don't like about eating in restaurants is the fact that so many of them drastically over-salt their food. Cafe du Parc does not, even though with such a mild flavor, the eggplant seems perfect for some salt--and then a little more...and some more still. Instead, they grilled the eggplant with just a little bit of olive oil, allowing the flavor to shine through. Yummy.

I'm a little conflicted about the main part of the entree- the one that looks like a ribeye steak. The genius of it is that it's not really a ribeye steak. Ok, yes, I am one of those country bumpkins that gets all excited when my food is dressed up to look like something it's not. I giggled when I realized that the part of my entree that looked like meat was actually a mixture of greens. Not sure what these mystery vegetables were, but they were tasty, as was the hard-boiled quail's egg that was supposed to be the "bone" of the "ribeye", and which I was thoroughly certain I wasn't going to like (but tried anyway, and did like). The lighter section wrapped around the veggie-quail's egg masterpiece, however, was supposed to be the veal. I say "supposed to be" because, well, there wasn't a whole lot of veal there. Just fat. And I was kind of disappointed, because I wanted the veal.

Perhaps this was planned - perhaps the chef needed to increase the fat content of the "ribeye" to keep something from getting too dry. I'm not sure, but when the waitress came over to check on me, she insisted that everything on the plate could be eaten and exhorted me to eat the "veal" that was really fat. I ate a few more bites, just to be polite but really, there are better uses for the calories...

...such as the chocolate mousse topped with fresh raspberries that I had for dessert, for example. Yum. The mousse was dense, the flavor was rich, and the raspberries were at their peak. I was a happy camper with this mousse. Sadly, it was so rich, and I was so full from my dinner, that I was only able to finish half of it (though I polished off all of the raspberries). Ah well, better luck next time.

This is where my evening went off the track I had planned for it: during my meal, unknown to me, my friend Bond called and left a message inviting me to meet up with him and one member of his merry band of cads and scoundrels at Bourbon in Glover Park. I decided then that Harry Potter would just have to wait until Saturday and headed to the concierge desk to get an exact address for Bourbon, as well as hopefully shoot the breeze with the concierge on duty.

As luck would have it, an acquaintance of mine was working the desk, and we proceeded to chat for the next 45 minutes or so about restaurants and places to live, venues, activities, mutual friends and, of course, gossip about the Washington, DC hospitality scene. My Concierge Friend not only vetted my current list of restaurants, bars and venues, but even added a few to it, for which I am grateful (though my list is now so large I am unsure that I will ever see even half the spots I have on it). We exchanged email addresses, promised to keep in touch, and I really hope we do. I loved getting his insight and would love to check out some new restaurants with him.

Bourbon was as it has always been for me - very laid back and, for the most part, uncrowded. I love that. This is not a place that I would go to wearing, say, a tank top and cut-offs, but in my Friday office casual wear (a nice pair of jeans, camisole and a blazer) I felt quite comfortable. We told stories, Bond tried to get me drunk on wine, and his cadly friend hit on the cocktail waitress. Bond and I took a cab back to his Dupont Circle condo and chatted some more before I crashed on his couch. I have a distinct feeling that Bond (being who he is) had...other plans...for us for the evening...but that's just the way the cookie crumbles.

And the next day, in the haze of a red wine hangover, I took the metro to Metro Center, got a coffee at the Caribou near there, headed over to Borders to pick up my book, and then went home. Delicious.

If you go:

Cafe du Parc
1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20004

Willard Intercontinental Washington
1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20004

Bourbon - Glover Park
2348 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20007

Week Four: My Mom Visits-- Part Two!

Monday, though I had planned to take a day off, I went into work. With The Planner not back to work yet and a fundraiser to set up (by the way-- did I mention my boss is giving me jobs other than answering the phone?!? YIPPEE!!!), I could not afford to take the day. Mom didn't mind-- she took the opportunity to explore the National Mall and the U.S Botanic Garden. We decided to meet up after my fundraiser at Union Station, and find dinner after that. Unfortunately, my fundraiser went a little late. Fortunately, I had decided to take Mom to the Dubliner for dinner, which is right across the street from Union Station.

The Dubliner is crowded, the food is...edible, and the floor in the bar area is permanently sticky. I don't care. It's a comfortable place, the service is (relatively) quick, there's live music on weekends, and it has the best bathrooms in the city (outside of the Willard). Besides, my friend Crap Bastard loves it, and I love him. So I took Mom there. I had the fish and chips because it was safe, and upon receiving them realized that I'm not all that wild about the Fish and Chips there, I only order them because they're safe. I should have ordered the Sirloin Burger. Mom went a little further out and ordered the Seared Salmon Salad, loved it, and then proceeded to finish off my Fish and Chips declaring that she is always hungry after eating "rabbit food". Mom really liked the Fish and Chips and pronounced them to be very similar to what she had while on her post-doctoral research fellowship in Kew, though she says that the chips at the Dubliner were much better than the ones she had at the pubs in England. I guess nobody really goes to Britain for the food, do they?

After the Dubliner, we planned to go home, but at the last minute, I decided to veer off 395 to the Air Force Memorial. It's the one monument I can clearly see from my apartment windows, and I thought it would be a shame if Mom didn't get to see it up close and in person. Besides, she's been to just about everything else, and I was running out of cool new places to take her. So we went. Unlike the memorials on the National Mall, the Air Force Memorial's location in Virginia ensures that there are no crowds-- except for the ones that really want to be there. It's on a peaceful ridge next to some barracks, and you wouldn't know it, but the view of downtown Washington, DC is phenomenal. You can't really see the green of the Mall, but beyond the Pentagon, which spreads out before you, is a panorama which includes the Kennedy Center, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Library of Congress, the Washington Monument, the Capitol, the White House and even the National Cathedral (among other sites). The view was worth the trip, but the Memorial itself is beautiful in its simplicity. I wasn't much of a fan when it was first constructed, but it's really grown on me.

By the by, when Mom and I entered the Memorial grounds, we noticed a sign at the entrance advertising free concerts featuring the Air Force Band every Wednesday and Friday night , right there at the Memorial. (weather permitting). Definitely something to put on my to-do list (and I do have one).

If You Go:


The Dubliner
4 F St. NW
Washington, DC 20001

The Air Force Memorial
One Air Force Memorial Drive
Arlington, VA 22211 (use the directions on the website)

Week Four: My Mom Visits!

Sunday: Exhausted from our drive on Saturday, Mom and I slept in. I missed my Sunday "long" run, but decided I needed the sleep more than the two miles. Still groggy, we unloaded the car, whereupon I discovered that instead of the new (red!) microwave and Japanese screen I had paid my mom to buy, I instead received a box of children's books and the notes from my high school Spanish class. Lovely. I have a 489 sq. ft. apartment. It's great that my mom saved this stuff, but do I look like I have space for my high school Spanish II notes? 489 sq. ft. Oi. I discovered this, shoved the boxes in my newly-discovered storage locker in the bowels of my building, and then packed up Mom in the car and took her to Shirlington. I needed coffee. And then I needed a nap.

After my coffee and a nap, Mom and I decided to go see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, at Potomac Yards. I loved it, and I personally think it's the strongest of the series. I laughed, I cried -- all the usual. ;)

After that, we picked up Mr. Planner, dropped him off at his apartment (along with the wedding gifts we'd transported for him and Mrs Planner), and headed into Old Town Alexandria for dinner at La Tasca. I don't care that it's a chain, it was yummy! Well, everything was yummy except the Paella Valenciana. That wasn't so great - the rice, chicken, seafood and sausage were no great shakes, and the peas had that "canned peas" taste to them *shudder*. But the Calamari, the Gambas al Ajillo (shrimp with garlic sauce), Tortilla Espanola (Spanish potato omelette) , Berenjenas Fritas con Queso Cabrales (fried eggplant with creamy cheese dip), and the Sangria Blanca (white sangria) were all fantastic. The thing with La Tasca is when you order the unlimited tapas, you don't get a doggie bag, so you have to stuff yourself and/or let what you can't eat go to waste--and I'm Mid-Western, so you know how much I hate wasted food! Aaaaaack!! So we stuffed ourselves. It was ridiculous. And when we couldn't possibly eat any more tapas, we ordered and shared the Flan de Huevo con Salsa de Caramelo, Pasas y Pinones (Egg Flan with Caramel Sauce, Raisins and Pine Nuts). That was just okay. There was something about the texture--you know, when you expect custard and get something slightly watery, it's...disconcerting. But the raisins and pine nuts were a nice addition to a flan which even with caramel sauce was very mild.

By the time we rolled down the street back to our car and went to Trader Joe's, I was crossing things off of my grocery list that suddenly didn't sound as exciting as they had back when I was hungry. When the penny-pinchers tell you not to go grocery shopping when you're hungry, they are NOT kidding. That had to be my cheapest grocery bill ever. Awesome.

If you go:

La Tasca
607 King St.
Alexandria, VA 22314

Why I should do blog entries as soon as I have the experience (i.e.: Week Three - Sunday)

I completely forgot to write about my experience in Adams-Morgan! The Sunday after The Planner's bachelorette party, I decided to go exploring boutiques. Specifically, I was interested in finding clothing that fit me (for more on this topic, see the entry on Lingerie Success).

Most people know Adams-Morgan as an area with a plethora of restaurants, bars and clubs (oh, and Amsterdam Falafel and the Big Slice). If you go during the day, however, you'll discover an entirely different Adams-Morgan-- one with vintage furniture and clothing shops and trendy boutiques (and Amsterdam Falafel and the Big Slice).

So--eureka--I went to Adams-Morgan during the day (there's actually PARKING!), and wandered up and down 18th St. NW, and then up and down Columbia St. NW. Found a few restaurants I'd heard about (but didn't know where they were), wandered in and out of antique shops, boutiques, and vintage clothing stores, was accosted by a saleswoman in a vintage clothing store who I suspect hadn't seen another human being in weeks, and discovered, much to my delight, Shake Your Booty.

Shake Your Booty is a trendy women's clothing and shoe store tucked into a small building between a hipster furniture store and an Ethiopian clothing boutique. The walls are painted PINK, and everything in the store has a price tag that puts it in the $30 - $60 range--perfect for someone who wants quality clothing, but doesn't want to sell their firstborn to get it. The sales staff is young, friendly, and extremely helpful - one girl took a dress off a mannequin for me to try on because she thought it would look good on me (it did, but it was one of those dresses you see on Nicole Ritchie - totally NSFW). It was here that I discovered shoes that I adored that I didn't see on everyone else. It was also at this store that I discovered a bias-cut black and white jersey dress that fit me like it was made for me (moreso than the usual bias cut jersey dress). It is gorgeous, and if I put a black camisole underneath it, I actually can wear it to work. Special bonus - unlike the ubiquitous Ann Taylor skirts, I have yet to see anyone else wearing this dress. And it was on sale - originally $60, now $40. $40 for work appropriate dress - that's well within my clothing budget for the month. I say "yes" to that.

And that was my victory in Adams-Morgan.

If you go:

Shake Your Booty
2439 18th St. NW
Washington, DC 20009

Week Three: Planner's Wedding - Part Two

Really short entry for Friday here. :) The Planner's wedding was just beautiful. She was gorgeous, the groom (a big tough guy) got teary as he said his vows, and best of all, The Planner--for whom moving around had been difficult due to recent illness--was able to walk down the aisle to meet her now-husband at the altar.

The ceremony was--and I'm not lying--15 minutes long. And then we all got crazy at the reception. It was great. I almost never have a date to weddings, so they tend to be pretty painful (all those happy couples...gag). This was one of the least painful weddings I've been to, so a big THANK YOU and a job well done goes to The Planner. :)

Saturday, my mom picked me up at Thrifty when I dropped off my rental car, stopped at The Planner's mom's house for after-wedding brunch, packed some of The Planner's gifts into our car, and started the 8-hour trek home.

The only place we stopped that is worth noting is Cabela's in Dundee, MI. At 225,000 square feet of camping, hunting, fishing and outdoor sports equipment, this place is Gander Mountain on serious steroids. No joke-- they sell cabins here. It's not a place I would plan a vacation around, but there are people who do it - I cannot even tell you how many campgrounds we passed that advertised their proximity to Cabela's. There was a outdoorsey-themed hotel across the parking lot with 3 tour buses in front of it. Bizarre. That said, if you just so happen to be on US-23 between Ann Arbor and Toledo, you will most likely pass Cabela's and wonder what it is. Go check it out. Being the proud new owner of a cast iron pan with lid and a 5-qt dutch oven (total cost - $53.00--don't I love cast iron!), I can certainly say I'm glad we stopped in.

If, For Some Reason, You Are Insane Like My Mother and Me and Decide to Drive From MI to VA in One Day:

Cabela's
110 Cabela Blvd., East
Dundee, MI 48131

Week Three: Planner's Wedding

I was up at an ungodly early time last Thursday to catch my flight to Detroit for The Planner's wedding. Lugged my two suitcases and carry-on bag to the bus stop, onto the bus, dragged them into the metro, onto the train, off the train, and finally through the airport. Can I tell you how much I hate traveling with more than a carry-on? Argh.

I got to Detroit and finally picked up my rental car. Because I wasn't sure what sizes of toiletries I could take on the plane, I decided to leave mine at home, which meant that my first stop in MI was a Meijer store.

Most people outside of the Mid-West have no idea what a Meijer store is. Most people who are from or have lived in the Mid-West can't really explain it. In the grand scheme of "get anything here" stores, Meijer is right between the cheap-ness of Wal-Mart and the hip-ness of Target. Actually, Meijer is even better than the other two, because while some Wal-Marts and Targets have supermarket/ grocery sections, most of the ones around here do not. In contrast, EVERY Meijer carries EVERYTHING. Movies, electronics, home repair, health and beauty, pharmacy, bakery, deli, lingerie, apparel, butcher shop, seafood shop, fresh vegetables, canned goods, pet supplies, garden supplies, beer, wine, liquor, EVERYTHING. If there is one thing I miss about Michigan, it is living within 45 minutes of 3 different Meijer stores. *sigh* That and Vernor's Ginger Ale...but I digress.

After I went on my Meijer run, I went searching for my hotel (because I had stupidly forgotten to print out directions before I left. *sigh*). While I was doing that, I stopped at the local Whole Foods. It was bigger than any Whole Foods I had ever seen - and that includes the one between Dupont and Logan Circles here in DC. I guess it's not surprising - Ann Arbor is and always has been one of the most hippie places on the entire planet (think Takoma Park x 10). I would know - I used to live there. In a Big-Ten college town (or any college town, for that matter), you expect to see a few people--usually grad-students--going with the William Wallace look. But in Ann Arbor, there are whole populations of folks that have adopted and kept the hippie lifestyle, many of them doing so right into their 60's. It's surreal. It also makes the GIANT Whole Foods not so surprising (though the truly hard-core abhor chain stores).

After getting lunch from the enormous selection of carry-out food at Whole Foods, I got back on the road. This time I found Weber's - our hotel in Ann Arbor. They had a room ready for me--complete with gift bag put together by The Planner and her mom. When I opened the door to my room I found a huge feather bed with matching down comforter, a chair with reading lamp, a desk, and--get this-- an iHome alarm clock where I could plug in my iPod. I have been coveting one of these for about a year. My little Nano never had it so good. :)

Weber's has a pool set in a three-story atrium, so I went there, read my book for a bit, and splashed around a little. After that, I had enough time for a nap in my cushy king-sized feather bed before it was time to go to the rehearsal dinner.

To be honest, the food at the rehearsal dinner really wasn't all that great (and gave me serious indigestion), so I'll skip that part of the evening and just say it was great to spend time with my friends. The bridesmaid gifts that The Planner put together were amazing - it was one of those times when you get stuff that you never even knew you needed (but make your life thereafter SO much more enjoyable). The Planner has a knack for such gifts. After that, it was back to the hotel for bed.


If you happen to go to Ann Arbor:

Meijer
3145 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Whole Foods
3135 Washtenaw Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Weber's Restaurant and Hotel
3050 Jackson Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Also, my biggest regret about this trip was that I never got a chance to go to Zingerman's Delicatessen. This is an Ann Arbor landmark, so if you are in the area, you really, really, really should make an effort to go--you will NOT be disappointed.

Zingerman's Delicatessen
620 Phoenix Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Week Three: Wedding Prep

On Tuesday, I dropped The Planner and the soon-to-be Mr. Planner off at the airport. While I was busy on Monday, bra shopping and getting presents, The Planner received a call from her doctor's office with her diagnosis results. It was not the diagnosis she was hoping for, so after her wedding, she'll be going to a world-renowned medical center near her parents home to a second opinion. Keep your fingers crossed for her!

After dropping The Planners off at the airport, I headed over to Buzz to eat some honey-themed sweets and attend the Justin Wilson event. Buzz is a great little neighborhood bakery with excellent espresso drinks, and a wine list that eventually I'll try out. The decorating is decidedly hipster, with the focal point being a collection of found kitchen objects mounted on the main wall. Instead of being erudite, however, the eating area in Buzz is comfortable, and the baked goods are fantastic. I'm particularly fond of the cupcakes, in which a delicate, richly flavored cake is topped with a light mousse frosting. Yum.

Wednesday was supposed to be an at-home packing day, but finishing up all the work I needed to do at the office not only kept me at work longer than I'd planned, but sucked all the will to make dinner right out of me. Enter the Carlyle Grand Cafe in Shirlington, which just so happens to be conveniently on my bus ride home. I am a HUGE fan of Best Buns Bread Company, which is owned by the same restaurant group, and which occupies the space adjacent to the Carlyle. However, it had been years since I'd last eaten at the Carlyle, and my one experience with the restaurant was on a date, during which the gentleman I was with was trying to show off and encouraged me to order the fillet mignon (which I did). The fillet was excellent, but many restaurants serve steaks, and I wanted to see what else the Carlyle could do.

I walked into the Carlyle Wednesday evening and was immediately greeted by two attractive and friendly hostesses (not surprising--Great American Restaurant Group, which owns the Carlyle, is known for great service). As it was just me, and it looked like there would be a little bit of a wait, the hostess suggested that I sit at the bar (which was moderately crowded), and even procured a seat for me. I sat down, ordered a Carlyle Pale Ale and requested a dinner menu. After much consideration, I decided to keep cost down and order an appetizer and salad. The bartender didn't even blink an eye at my frugality (which I appreciated) and sent in my order promptly. Ten minutes later, my Steamed Lobster Pot Stickers with Lobster Ginger Butter arrived at in front of me, followed a few minutes later by my small Traditional Caesar Salad. It surprised me that the uncooked Caesar salad arrived before the cooked appetizer and I realize I probably should have specified arrival time, but the arrivals didn't particularly bother me. What did bother me, however, was the small amount of spiciness that began to settle in the back of my throat and was only exacerbated by my desperate gulps of beer. Oh dear. I must confess, I am not a foodie, though I do love food. I don't enjoy terribly spicy anything, and I have no clue as to food and drink pairings. I will say this, however: I learned a lesson Wednesday night. Pair spicy(ish) foods with something OTHER than beer. In what will be my only complaint about the service at the Carlyle, I will say that in order to get anything at the busy bar, one has to be very focused on catching the eye of one of the bartenders. It took me a few minutes of trying to get a hold of one of them and ask for my Diet Coke. The Diet Coke - Lobster Pot Stickers food combination, by the way, was wonderful, and I enjoyed myself way too much. Especially after the couple sitting across the bar from me sent me a shot that tasted like apples. A nice, preppy-looking couple sending a single girl in a business suit a shot? Hmm...

Once my dinner was done, I walked over to the couple and thanked them for the drink. They invited me to sit with them for another drink, and I did, wondering if it was some sort of weird swinger thing. After awhile, though, I got the feeling that the girl was the "wingwoman" (at least, this is what I hope) - especially after she left the bar for about 20 minutes to take a phone call, leaving me alone to talk with the guy. The guy did things like try to get us to go up to some unsuspecting men at the bar and ask them if they were gay. We declined. He also had an unhealthy habit of beginning sentences with the phrase "not to be racist or anything, but..." which immediately predicated a racist statement.

For the first time in my life, I was glad to have an early flight the next morning. I used that as my excuse, left my unfinished drink, and walked the 1/2 mile home.

The dinner was good, though.

If you go:

Buzz Bakery and Cafe
901 Slaters Ln.
Alexandria, VA 22314

The Carlyle Grand Cafe
4000 S. 28th St.
Arlington, VA 22206

Week Three: Lingerie Success!

Let me be very honest here...my reason for finding an upscale lingerie shop was not just to get underwear for The Planner in honor of her upcoming wedding. No, it was more selfish than that--I desperately needed to be fitted for a bra.

Every since I began training for longer-distance races - 10Ks and longer--I've been putting in anywhere from 9 - 16 miles per week, on average. Consequently, I have shrunk - I've gone from a size 4 two years go to a size 0 now. And as far as bra size? Well, until last Monday I could only guess.

I don't mind being smaller so long as I remain healthy, but the change in size has made shopping for clothing...inconvenient at best and impossible at worst. There are now large segments of the women's clothing retail industry that have absolutely nothing for me, and with bras, the situation is dire. The ubiquitous Victoria's Secret has decided that I do not exist, and I now must either go to an independent shop or purchase my bras online (department stores supposedly have my size, but I've yet to see it). Because of the trial and error involved in finding bras, I decided to try find an independent shop. Of course, the one nearest me is no longer in business, and the one I sent Marathoner to is all the way out in Fairfax, so I decided to see if there was one closer to work -- and there was. This is how I discovered Coup de Foudre last Monday.

Coup de Foudre is a specialty lingerie store that has the same ambiance (pink carpeting, feminine wallpaper, classical music) that Victoria's Secret had before it decided to go all modern. Much, much more relaxing than Victoria's Secret - especially as there is a greater chance I'll find something that fits!

I got to the store shortly after work on Monday, and after adding my info to the guest book, I asked if I needed an appointment to be measured that day. The very French sales lady said she would be happy to measure me, led me to the dressing room, and got out her tape. I quickly learned that I was at least a band size and a cup size smaller than when I had been last measured, and that the bra I was wearing (one of my own) was most definitely the wrong size. And then the fun part began.

The door to my dressing room was soon covered in bras of every type and color: demi, full cup, balconet, silk, lace, brown, white, blue. There was even a swimsuit in the bunch that fit well, but gave me scary cleavage. I tried on everything--at least 15 bras, possibly more-- and every time I tried on a new bra, the French sales lady came in, adjusted it, inspected the fit, and told me what to look for. For all my bravado, I tend to be a very private person, so having that much scrutiny directed at my chest by a complete stranger was a little unnerving. The sales lady was very professional, however, so the discomfort was short. Through the trial and error in the dressing room, I discovered what kinds of bras worked well for me, and soon gained the ability to spot a dud the moment I put it on.

In the end, I spent an ungodly amount of money on two bras that fit like they were made for me. Oh yes, and I picked up a gift for The Planner, which was not nearly so ungodly expensive (but still very very cute!). With that, I left Coup de Foudre and headed over to Macy's to purchase The Planner's silverware from her wedding registry. A Macy's is a Macy's is a Macy's, so I'll save us all some time and say that my experience there was typical (not bad, not great).

If you go:
Coup de Foudre
1001 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (*actually at the corner of 11th and E St. NW)
Washington, DC 20004

Macy's (if you must)
1201 G. St., NW
Washington, DC 20005

Week Three: I will update my doings for last weekend soon, I promise!

But in the meantime, I wanted to put out a blurb about an info session TONIGHT at Buzz Bakery in Alexandria. Justin Wilson, Democratic candidate for Alexandria City Council will be at Buzz to talk about what his plans are if elected to the Alexandria City Council. If you are an Alexandria resident, this will provide you with a great opportunity to make sure you are heard. And it's FREE (I'm a big fan of free).

It is ALSO National Don't Step On A Bee Day (really!), which was originally created to remind people to be careful when running around barefoot. However, Buzz has taken the holiday to raise awareness of Colony Collapse Disorder, which "is decimating commercial beekeeping operations across the country". Buzz will be offering bee- and honey- themed treats in honor of the occasion.

I'm going to try to be there but can make no guarantees, as I am driving The Planner and the future Mr. Planner to the airport. That doesn't mean you shouldn't go, however!


If you go:

Buzz Bakery
901 Slaters Ln.
Alexandria, VA 22314

Week Two: The Planner's Bachelorette Party

One of the best things about being friends with The Planner is that she is awfully forgiving of others' lack of planning. Take, for instance, me-- the girl who had every intention of bringing a bachelorette party present...and didn't (whoops!) The Planner didn't mind - she was just happy I was there to help eat the massive amounts of food, and to sit by the pool and gossip. It was a great party--Maid of Honor brought penis straws and pins that said "I'm the Bride!!" or "I'm a Bridesmaid!", The Planner had enough food to overwhelm an NFL defensive line, and we had a great time sitting by the pool (and occasionally swimming). Very low key, and very Planner.

Later on, we decided to wander down the street from where The Planner lives (she's still not moving around so well), over to Mango Mike's, where we had a variety of frozen drinks-- peach margarita for The Planner, an amazing strawberry margarita for me, and a virgin pina colada served in a coconut for Maid of Honor (who is not a drinker). I also ended up having dinner - salmon served on a plank with vegetables and mashed potatoes - fantastic. Yum.

After the day in the sun, I went home for a well-deserved good night's sleep.

If you go:

Mango Mikes
4580 Duke St.
Alexandria, VA 22304

Week Two: Saturday's Lingerie Wild Goose Chase Through Old Town Alexandria

This morning, faced with the prospect of needing to get something for The Planner for bachelorette party, I set off to Old Town Alexandria in search of a particular lingerie shop. Unfortunately, the lingerie shop is no longer there (dammit), and I couldn't find anything I could use to cobble together a gift. I feel extra bad about this because I missed both bridal showers, I haven't yet gotten The Planner her wedding present - and her wedding is next week! This means an extra super-good wedding present when I go to Macy's tomorrow.

Yes, I have to go to Macy's tomorrow. Urgh.

Only for The Planner would I do this. Note: I also uttered this statement when presented with a green bridesmaid dress (she pushes my envelope, that Planner).

It's not that I've been formally boycotting department stores (ok...well...maybe a little), it's that department stores are so much less interesting than a lot of the independent stores we have here in the DC area.

That's why even though I didn't end up finding anything suitable as a gift, I enjoyed my nice little tour of King Street.

King Street is one of those areas with a TON of independently-owned stores, interspersed with places like Restoration Hardware and Books -a - Million. It's fun, and it's one of those places where the people who work there could very well be the people who own the shop, as evidenced by the signs they put on the door when the go to lunch. (See photo, left).



First up, the Alexandria Transit (or DASH) runs a bus called the Dash-About (and if you are from any state that borders Canada, you will SO want to call it the "Dash-Aboot"!!). It goes from the King Street Metro to the Alexandria Waterfront and it is FREE, so take note.

That said, I drove and found plenty of parking on one of the side streets. Note: unless it is 8AM, you do NOT want to park on King Street itself. Walk there, yes. Park there, no.

I had looked up the lingerie shop on the internet, and the website told me it was on the corner of Henry St. and King St., but it looks like it's been closed for awhile--I couldn't even find it. I even went to the Visitors Center on King St., and furtively looked up the website, and it's true-- it's gone. So my trip to Old Town looked like a bust, right?

Well maybe not-- I still went to Ten Thousand Villages and bought a cute basket that has become my "Splenda Dish" next to my coffeemaker, I stopped by Kingsbury Chocolates, two doggie bakeries (did you know you can buy "beer for dogs"??? Now I've seen everything), and an art store that was pretty much useless except for the chalkboard sign out front, which has become my mantra. Not too shabby. :)

If you go:

DASH - Alexandria Transit

Ten Thousand Villages
915 King St.
Alexandria, VA 22314

Kingsbury Chocolates
1017 King St.
Alexandria, VA 22314

1022 Toys 'N' Gifts
1022 King St.
Alexandria, VA 22314

Fetch Dog & Cat Bakery - Boutique
101A South St. Asaph St.
Alexandria, VA 22314

End of Week Two

I've decided that while it's good to get out, it's good to stay in from time to time, too. Girl's gotta do laundry, after all, which is exactly what I did on Thursday. Well, that, and I started this blog. I even watched a little TV, which I haven't done in months.

Little bit about me: I am more than a little uncomfortable with the idea of spending my life watching other people live theirs; therefore, I don't really watch a whole lot of TV. I have cable only because it is $5 more to get cable on top of internet than to get internet alone. Since I "must" have internet (or at least I think I must, heh), and cable TV might be useful (right?), I decided for the time being to pay the extra $5 per month and get it, even though I rarely watch TV. I do watch movies from time to time, though, and I have a Netflix subscription that I am pretty happy with, so maybe I contradict myself on that whole "watching people live their lives" thing. Hm.

Friday, I'd promised The Planner that I would come over and help her clean in preparation for her very low-key poolside bachelorette party on Saturday. Marathoner was going to pick up the Maid of Honor from the airport when she got in from Chicago, and then we'd all sit down for some pizza and pasta. Since The Planner, Marathoner and Maid of Honor and I had all gone to the same small college in MI, we were going to have a lot to talk about.

So I got to The Planner's apartment around 7PM to help her clean, and discovered she'd done all of it over the course of the day. Seriously, there was nothing left to do. She doesn't move fast, and she reportedly had to take several naps over the course of the day, but she had cleaned both her kitchen and guest bathroom, picked up the living room and dining room, cleaned the guest bedroom and put sheets on the bed, and even vacuumed her entire apartment. She's a Force of Nature, that Planner. So instead of cleaning, we watched TV (more TV!) and chatted merrily until Marathoner and Maid of Honor arrived, whereupon we sat down to pizza and pasta and chatted happily into the night.

It was a wonderful evening.

If You Go:

Go? Ha. I didn't go anywere! Check back tomorrow.

Week Two: The Glorious Fourth!

Wednesday, I resolved to do nothing useful or productive until 5:00PM EST, and it was everything I ever thought it would be. Truly a glorious Fourth of July. After my workout, I stopped by McDonald's and got a Bacon, Egg & Cheese sandwich with one of their crispy hash brown cakes. Heaven. I consider my workout to have been neither useful nor productive purely due to the McDonald's stop. Then I spent the rest of the day reading, napping, surfing the internet, and watching movies. It was fantastic, and totally what I needed.

THEN, at 4:30PM I started getting ready for Bargain's party (which was to start at 5PM). I'd invited Red, and since the party was really just a neat place to watch the fireworks, we figured we wouldn't need to get there until at least 6PM. It ended up working perfectly - we got there around 6:30, got some food, got some chairs by the window (which was conveniently next to the air conditioner unit), and camped out until the fireworks started at 9:10PM.

The fireworks, by the way, were amazing. Bargain lives in Pentagon City, in a corner apartment on one of the upper floors of a high rise overlooking the Pentagon and National Mall area. Sadly, I forgot my camera but here's a good pic of what they saw last year. It's pretty much the same - fireworks don't really change all that much.

Red was an absolute doll and not only drove us to the party, but brought a six pack of Sam Adams (especially great because yours truly did not do anything productive that morning, including going to the store for something to bring--whoops.--shoulda thought of that).

After the fireworks were over, Red and I walked with Marathon and Mr. Marathon back to our respective cars for the drive home. After taking a look at the traffic, though, we decided to stop and get a drink (and some fries) at Sine, an Irish Pub in Pentagon Row. By that time, the rain that had plagued us earlier had stopped, the temperature had dropped to a nice level with a cooling breeze added in for good measure, sitting outside was a pleasure.

All in all, it was a great Fourth.

If You Go:

Sine Irish Pub
1301 S. Joyce St.
Arlington, VA

Week Two: Keepin' It Real

So this week's been a bit easier - no more breakdowns, and I'm beginning to feel a bit more normal!

The Planner is at home, and we're still waiting on a diagnosis. Please keep your fingers crossed, send her good vibes, and pray to the God/god/deity/life force of your choice that we hear something good!

Techie doesn't like to talk about himself (he erroneously thinks that if he doesn't talk about it, the rest of us won't worry), but he seems to be hanging in there pretty well. Keep your fingers crossed, etc., for him, too!

On Monday, I did a little more Young Dems volunteering, making more calls to Democrats to get out the vote on July 17th. I love making calls for dems, but on Monday it got even better. :)

A little backstory here: when I lived in suburban Detroit, I worked at a dead end job for a megalomaniacal insurance agent (not kidding here). He had me make cold calls to set up appointments with our clients for him to sell them Cash Value Life Insurance policies. As you can imagine, our customers were less than enthused to be disturbed during their dinner hour by someone trying to sell them something they didn't really like to think about.

Flash forward to my volunteer nights in Alexandria, and you can imagine I was a little apprehensive upon receiving my script and phone number list. That apprehension was erased within my first few calls.

"He's a Democrat?" one voter squawked upon hearing the purpose of my call, "Well, we don't know much about him, but of course he's got both our votes - we don't vote for Republicans in this house!"

How delightful.

Even more delightful was the free pizza and drinks (love not having to spend money on dinner). And at the end of the night, everyone who stopped by to volunteer got their name put in a raffle for a free haircut from Lorraine Aprile salon in Alexandria. Guess who won? Since I already have an appointment on Sunday my hair cut and colored at PR @ Partners, I figure I'll make an appointment at Lorraine Aprile for 8 weeks from that date. If I really like it, I'll stick with them. If not, I'll go back to PR @ Partners. It's all good.

Last week, I got a call from my long lost friend Red. We met about a year and a half ago (very randomly-- "You're from Michigan?!? I am, too!"), at a house party hosted by some people I had met randomly a few weeks before. We hung out for awhile, and then lost touch. Well, I noticed last week that I had a missed call from a random Boston number (I know nobody in Boston). Come to find out, it was Red.--wandering his way back into my life. We decided to meet up Tuesday at Murky Coffee on Capitol Hill.


It was a blast. As we met up shortly after work, the shop wasn't crowded, so the barista had enough time to give us a tutorial on how to make really good coffee. This was after I mentioned to her that the Starbucks coffee I'd had the previous day had a decidedly burnt taste to it, and asked her why that might have been. I had no idea that the baristas at Murky actually grind the beans when you order, and then specially tamp them into the steel filter. Damn. That's awseome. She verbally walked us through the process and informed us that how the coffee grounds are placed in the filter has everything to do with how the end product tastes. She also told us how incredibly intense the new barista training is. You actually spend an entire day in the classroom (as in 8 hours) learning the history of coffee. You spend another 8 hours learning how to tamp the ground coffee into the filter. And then you are tested on it. If I ever have a few years during which I feel the urge to "find myself", I may very well end up "finding myself" as a barista at Murky coffee. Oh the knowledge to be had...

FYI - for those who prefer the same knowledge with less commitment, Murky also offers classes and have coffee tasting sessions (like wine tasting nights, only better!). I may fill up some schedule dates with these - think of the interesting people I'd meet!

After a few cups of coffee and delectable cupcake at Murky, we wandered our way down to Barracks Row (8th St. & I St. SE), a low key area that most people don't really know about. The "Barracks" in the name refer to the Marine Barracks. Yes, there are Marines, yes they do live there, and yes, they wear their pretty uniforms. *drool*

FYI - according to their website, they do conduct tours of the post on Wednesdays at 10:00AM, but the real draw of the Marine Barracks are their sunset parades, held every Friday during the summer at 8:45PM. The parades begin with a concert by the United States Marine Band, and from what I remember from my time as a concierge here in DC, you should either get reservations (which fill up FAST) or get there early to get an unclaimed seat.

As it was Tuesday, no parade for Red and me, but I think I'll be able to fit one in some Friday before the end of the summer. :)

Since we had gotten started so late, many of the shops were closing at about the time we got there, so we didn't get to check out Capitol Hill Bikes, for instance, which I did actually want to see (more on that later). We did, however, stop in at Homebody, which I hadn't been to since Marathoner and I explored Barracks Row together a year and a half ago. Red found it highly amusing to watch me drool over their newly-added stock of Angela Adams handbags.

After wandering around Barracks Row, Red and I decided to head over to the West Lawn of the Capitol for the dress rehearsal of the Capitol Fourth concert. If you've never seen the 4th of July fireworks on the National Mall, you probably should do it once, just to have that experience. Yes, it's one of those things. I am truly glad I did it. That said, now that I have watched the fireworks from the Mall, I have no desire to sit in the heat/ humidity and/or rain, brave the crowds, and not have access to food or bathroom for hours on end. Phooey on that. However, the dress rehearsal is much less crowded, free, and fun. Hooray. Red and I got there in time to watch the National Symphony Orchestra play the 1812 Overture as well as some Sousa marches.

Up Next: The Glorious Fourth Itself.

If You Go:

Monday: Young Dems of America

Lorraine Aprile Salon
112 S. Fayette St.
Alexandria, VA 22314

Tuesday:
Murky Coffee
600 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20003

Marine Barracks
8th St. & I St. SE
Washington, DC 20390

Homebody
715 8th St. SE
Washington, DC 20003

Angela Adams (online store)

Week One in Review: If it is outside my apartment, I am in!

To make a long story short, the week of June 25 was one tough week. I discovered that my ex-boyfriend, who I had dearly loved, had been seeing his current girlfriend for around 2 months before he and I broke up. Lovely. Then, I learned that one of my good friends (we'll call him Techie) has 3 tumors, one of which may be inoperable (and that's the one that has cancer). My best friend, The Planner, was admitted to the hospital on Monday. They still don't know what's wrong with her (though they're narrowing it down, and she's home now).

I felt like a nutcase.

My week soon became a tally of small milestones:

Monday: went to work (major accomplishment). Re-discovered nyquil as sleeping draught. Learned that The Planner was in the hospital.

Tuesday: First day without a major breakdown. Straightened my hair. Had enough energy to clean my apartment (a little) and do my laundry (lots of that). Made plans to fill up the rest of my week. Used money from my Emergency Fund to sign up for swing dancing classes.

Wednesday: Felt hungry again, momentarily, and was able to force down most of my oatmeal and drink all of my coffee. Went to the gym. Straightened my hair. Considered makeup. Actually ate a couple of tangerines. Went to counselor appointment. Was able to read two whole newspaper articles. Got everything on my to-do list done before 2:00PM (although maybe that's not a good thing). Talked to Planner, who was released from the hospital.

Continuing with the series of small milestones, I re-discovered my laugh Wednesday night at the Young Dems volunteer night for the local city council candidate. :)

Here's a picture of me volunteering. :)

Thursday, went to Bonefish Grill in Fairfax with Marathoner, who treated me because she felt like I needed a Girls' Night Out (did I look that pathetic?). In any case, Marathoner has been raving about Bonefish Grill since she moved here almost two years ago, so I was excited to try it. The pomegranate martini was fantastic (Marathoner liked her chocolate martini as well). Bonefish Grill has a system where you choose the fish and how it's cooked, and then you pick a sauce for it from a number of different options (I cannot remember all of them, but there is a menu located on their website). Marathoner ordered the Salmon with Lemon Butter sauce with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. That sounded so good I ordered the same thing. It was delicious, all of it. Even though I can't remember what vegetables we got (corn maybe?) I remember those were delicious, too. It was so fantastic I was thrilled to take the other half home for the next days lunch. Too bad I left it on the Metro.


Friday, my friend Bond took me to Mark and Orlando's, where I had the crabcake and he had the New York strip steak. He loved his steak - said that it was very difficult to get a New York strip that tender (he seemed quite surprised by it). My crabcake...ehh...I've had better. Too much filler, not enough crab. Somewhat disappointing. Also disappointing were the little mushrooms underneath the crabcake, which were too salty, and the vegetables were not memorable. The tomato - mozzarella thing thing that we started our meal with, however, was fantastic, as was the Flourless Chocolate Cake with Homemade Coconut Ice-Cream. I was going to skip dessert at the restaurant and suggest going somewhere else for dessert (not a reflection on the restaurant, just something I tend to do), but Bond had his little heart set on that Flourless Chocolate Cake, and I'm glad he talked me into it.

Saturday, Marathoner and I got to visit The Planner, who, by this time, had been out of the hospital for a few days and was stir-crazy. The Planner is not someone who lets grass grow under her feet, to put it mildly. The fact that she is now physically incapable of moving around at the rate of speed to which she is accustomed is very frustrating for her. Still, it was great to see her on Saturday, and spend some time with my girls. We went for a little walk down to a little park at the end of her street, and then back to her apartment. They still don't know what's wrong, and she's still very frightened, but she's giving it the best outlook she can right now, and I really admire her for that. She's also the friend who is getting married in two weeks, so we commented on how fortuitous it was that The Planner is such a planner - all of the preparations for her wedding are done--all she has to do is get to the venue and walk down the aisle. Thank goodness! The way The Planner sees it, her dad will walk her down the aisle, the new Mr. Planner will walk her back, and Marathoner and I (we're bridesmaids, after all) will hold her up at the reception. :)

If you go:

Gotta Swing (various Metro DC locations)

Young Democrats of America (various locations nationwide)

Bonefish Grill

13005 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy.

Fairfax, VA

Metro (all over DC)

Mark and Orlando's

2020 P St. NW

Washington, DC 20036

Welcome!

I've been wanting to do a blog like this since I moved to the DC area almost 2 1/2 years ago, but could never really get up the motivation to begin. When I was a concierge working at a luxury hotel downtown, I thought how wonderful it would be to explore my amazing new city and report my wanderings on a blog devoted to the cause. Sadly, in the hospitality industry, time is a premium commodity. While working 12-hour shifts for 9 days in a row on a regular basis, I soon came to realize that I barely had enough time to eat and (occasionally) do my laundry, so my dreams of actually exploring the city, much less writing about it, fell to the wayside.

After about 7 months at my concierge job, I was lucky enough to get a regular 9-5 position at a trade association. Suddenly, I had plenty of time to explore...but while I wrote about a few of my adventures in an online journal for my friends, I was still unmotivated to blog about it.

Then it happened: I met The Guy-- you know, the one that not only loved the fact that I wanted to play tourist in my own city, but who wanted to join me as well. We were a perfect match: our first date was a tour of Mount Vernon, and it was off to the races from there. We made a list--a huge list--of everything we hadn't yet seen but desperately wanted to, and began to work our way through it. We went to the American History Museum, Caucus Room, Embassy of Canada, Round Robin Bar, the National Arboretum , the new-and-improved Silver Spring, and on and on.

And then, for whatever reason, it stalled. Shortly after that, we broke up. I later discovered he had been seeing another girl while we were dating and had left me for her.

After suffering a massive broken heart from that news, I realized I have been spending entirely too much time in my 489 sq. ft. studio apartment. Don't get me wrong - it's a nice apartment, in a nice building, in a nice neighborhood. But it also allows for entirely too much introspection, and I recently realized if I stayed in every night and watched movies and re-runs of The West Wing, I was going to go out of my mind. Not cool.

Out I go, then, to fill up my schedule with free (or mostly free...or at least pretty cheap) adventure-- and this time, I'm actually going to write about it! Because pictures are fun, I'll try to include them where I can, I promise. Also, I'm still working out the format, so please bear with me!

Stay tuned...