georgetown flea market December 12, 2011

Happy Monday–only 11 days until I board a plane to go home for Christmas!!  Can’t wait to see my parents, my kitty, Caitlin, and my humongous collection of stuffed animals and American Girl Doll accessories.

This past Sunday, fellow Pleasantonian and my neighbor Rachel and I went to the Georgetown flea market to scout out vintage goodies and potential Christmas gifts.  I had been wanting to visit the flea market for a while, but in true female fashion, didn’t want to go by myself (at least for the first time!).  Rachel is just about done with her finals, so she took the morning off from studying and we drove down Wisconsin to check it out.

First things first–we found FREE parking right across the street!!  What?!?!?!  I literally didn’t know that this city had an inch of parking that didn’t cost you $45 to use!  It was a Christmas miracle!

Secondly, the flea market was awesome.  I like Eastern Market as much as the next preppy-but-likes-to-think-they’re-unique-and-buys-secondhand-items-on-a-very-rare-occasion girl, but sometimes it’s a little too artsy and antiquey for me.  I much prefer junky and unrefined, because it’s so much cheaper and also easier to put your own personality into it.

I didn’t see anything that I had to have, but Rachel found a vintage print for her kitchen and a cool book for her mom.  Here are some pictures–

There were TONS of beautiful old Christmas ornaments, and the boxes they were kept in reminded me of the ornaments on our tree at home.  They even looked like the orbs that my parents got when they were in Germany–super sparkly and delicate.

This is the new background for my phone!  I don’t think anything says Christmas like a big box of shiny ornaments.  My favorite one was the solid teal one right in the middle; it looked like something straight off an Anthropologie tree.

We found a teensy table piled high with breads from a little farm out on the Eastern Shore.  The guy was really friendly, and told me all about his baking techniques, his dreams for his farm, his love life, his daughter’s volleyball games, the gloves he wants for Christmas, and the new tiles he’s installing in his bathroom.  Way too much information, yes, but his breads were DELICIOUS.  Since I was stuck there in a 35 minute, one-sided conversation, I took advantage of the opportunity and scarfed down the equivalent of two loaves of his amazing Blue Cheese Walnut bread.  He also had a really dark German rye bread that my dad would have died for; unfortunately, he doesn’t have a physical shop, instead choosing to only come to the flea market on Sundays, so I won’t be able to bring any home next week.

I found these adorable little bud vases, which I thought would be perfect for the top of a dresser, maybe to hold makeup brushes. 

I also found this little plate? statue? of everyone’s best bud Mao, tucked casually between a vase and a salt shaker.  I could just imagine sneaking it onto my sister’s nightstand while she was sleeping–imagine waking up next to this guy watching over you!  (P.S. Happy 22nd Birthday, Lisa!  I promise I won’t actually do this to you.) 

This amazing frame was something that I actually DID really want, but unfortunately it wasn’t for sale.  Some lucky guy had just bought it, and when he saw me with my hands all over it, he freaked out a little and ran away with it.  It was huge–almost as tall as me, and would have looked amazing unframed on this one wall I have that’s the size of a football field.  I’ve been looking for something to put on it for over a year now, and am slightly heartbroken that I couldn’t take this frame home with me.

There were tons of creepy hands all over the place, but I could get better costume jewelry from my Grandma any day of the week. 

Isn’t this old flask really pretty?? I bet it holds way more than present day flasks do, but I also bet that it wouldn’t fit into any of my boots or the waistband of my jeans. 

Rachel and I both thought that this old collection of crystal glasses was beautiful, but neither of us really had an occasion to use them.  I felt like chugging the gas stations finest $4.99 bottle of wine out of these highballs would be criminal, so I left them for a more cultured customer.

Um, gross, right?  I saw a bunch of kiddies clustered around a table piled high with frames, and the last thing I expected to find in those frames were creepy crawly bugs.  Dead, preserved insects make me kind of squirmy inside, so even the pretty butterflies he had out didn’t appeal to me.  The children, however, thought the giant scorpion was great, and a girl next to me ended up buying one for her environmental scientist sister. 

Oh yeah, I wasn’t quite done–here’s a tarantula, no big deal.  Yum. 

This nutcracker cutie caught my eye, how festive is he?!  I looked in the back for the little thing to make his mouth open, and surprise–

–he was a beir stein!!  AMAZING.  I literally think there would be nothing better in the entire world than seeing my dad drink eggnog out of this guy on Christmas morning while we opened presents–imagine all the photo opportunities!  Unfortunately, I had no clue if this was good quality or not; I know my dad would not want to include this in his stein collection unless it was actually German.  The painting looked less than professional, and the sweet lady was asking a little bit more than I would have paid for it.  But Dad, if you would like to unwrap this on Christmas, let me know and I’ll go back next weekend and try and get it!  (Other opinions on getting this for Dad are welcome.)

I also found this adorable mini set of mid-century style furniture; I know there’s currently a world-wide obsession with couture dollhouses, and this set would be unreal in a doll’s office area. 

rachel & me

Rachel and I of course took the obligatory we-were-here photo as we left, and I actually think it turned out really cute.  I got a great deal on my J.Crew heart sweater (and I had a gift card!), and I can’t wait to wear it every single day from now until Christmas.  It’s the perfect holiday sweater!  Also, guys, Mrs. Obama wore it in a pink/orange color to a basketball game a few weeks ago which practically makes us best friends.   

Have a great week!!

bobby’s burger palace August 30, 2011

Happy Tuesday, Bloggies!  After weathering Hurricane Irene without a single problem, I am looking forward to a long swim tonight and a fun-filled Labor Day weekend.  Can you believe summer is almost over?!  There was a teensy chill in the air this morning on my walk to the metro, and it made me soooo anxious to splurge on new fall clothes.  Another sure sign that summer is waning–my local bar has now switched their Sam Adams seasonal ale from Summer to Oktoberfest.  Wahhh.

Anyways, work friends and I tried a new restaurant last night– Bobby’s Burger Palace.  Following our celebuchef stalking trend (think: Spike Mendelsohn), we were anxious to visit the recently opened Burger Palace in hopes of sighting Bobby Flay himself.  It opened its doors two weeks ago, and has recieved largely positive reviews so far, so we thought it would be great inspiration to get us through a grumpy Monday.

The restaurant is an extremely casual place, with a super funky, seventies-ish decor.  You order at a register, and then the burger comes straight to you in a matter of minutes.  There’s a really cool long, curved “bar” area that faces the kitchen, which is where we sat.  (We also saw tons of loners at the bar, so if you were ever craving one of Bobby’s burgers but had no one accompanying you, you would be in good company at this “bar.”)

The other seating option is large, communal tables, which is also a cool idea to me.  Because honestly, what else are you there to do besides wolf down a humongous burger?  You don’t need your own private table in a secluded corner to do that.

The menu is limited.  Bobby offers about 10 burgers, all with regional influences.  He has one meatless salad, but zero other veggie options (besides fries).  That seemed a little callous to me–vegetarians are people too!  I didn’t even see a little asterisk saying that any burger could be substituted with a veggie patty.  Hmpf.  Anyways, with the mindset of “Go big or go home!” Lis, Michelle, and I all went for it.  Lis ordered the classic burger–but “Crunchified:” Bobby Flay’s signature addition to burgers. 

That mystery layer is potato chips–an artery clogger if I ever saw one! Yum.  (Also, please note the lamest little leaf of lettuce a poor burger has ever seen.)

I went for the Dallas burger: bbq sauce and coleslaw. 

Michelle attacked a Philadelphia burger: grilled onions and peppers, smothered in Provolone.

Lis even managed to fit her burger monstrosity into her mouth!!  I call that talent.

1,000 calories later, the three of us had empty plates and bulging bellies.  Almost ashamedly, Lis and I decided that we liked Spike’s burgers better.  My Dallas burger was good, but didn’t have a crunch element that I was looking for.  Lis said that the potato chips on her burger didn’t add anything to the taste, and that the whole thing was a little underdressed.  Michelle, having never been to Spike’s, was perfectly happy with her Philly burger. 

Bobby’s is undoubtedly a good deal.  There’s no denying that the meat on the burgers is delicious–and there’s a LOT of it.  Also, beers are only $3.50–WHAT?!  So I got a burger and an Anchor Steam for 12 bucks, which is really hard to beat in this city.  That being said, however, Bobby’s didn’t blow us away.  While Bobby seems like less of a butt nugget than Spike, the flavor in Spike’s burgers is just remarkable.  So, glad we tried the Burger Palace, but we’re not itching to go back. 

lis, michelle, me

 

seacrets August 24, 2011

I know I’m a few days late here, bloggies, but I hope everyone had a great weekend!!  I had a whimsical three-day weekend, beginning with a visit from old Pleasanton Seahawk friend Matt on Friday and ending with a scary summer thunderstorm on Sunday.  In between, however, I went to a new bar in Ocean City that is now one of my very favorite places on Earth.  (Other favorite places on Earth include Jim’s Country Restaurant in Pleasanton, Bergdorf Goodman’s in NYC, and the Lawn at UVa.)  Colleen is spending this entire week at her beach house before heading to a wedding this weekend, so some of her high school friends and I decided to drive up to Bethany to see her–and, more importantly, to visit Seacrets. 

We had been hearing tales about Seacrets from friends in all walks of life, and decided we had to experience it ourselves.  We weren’t sure what to expect, and even had to emergency dial a few of those friends to get more information, but Seacrets did NOT disappoint.  We arrived late in the afternoon, paid a measly $5 cover (by the way, the cover goes up a dollar every hour after 5 pm), and walked into a sandy, palm-tree-filled oasis. 

I felt like the only thing missing was a rail track with coconut-shaped cars to take us around the gigantic place and offer informational tidbits on what was what.  Seacrets could LITERALLY be a ride in any trendy theme park. 

While the tables in the water looked appealing, we decided to forgo them when we saw a drunk man with a huge bandage on his foot who said he stepped on a broken bottle in the sand.  They sure make for a great picture, though!

Seacrets is hard to describe.  It is a huge place, with sandy paths running through it and at least four stages occupied by bands.  There is a “Nite Club” with dancing and confetti falling from the ceiling, as well as a restaurant with stunning views of the bay.  The signature drink is a “Pain In De Ass,” which consists of a pina colada swirled with run runner.  YUM. 

jen r, meghan, me-- and lots of Pain In De Asses me & colleenme & colleen

me & colleen

 

me, jen r, meghan

jen r, colleen, me, meghan

Seacrets really was the best place ever.  It was so much more than just a bar–is was a whole experience.  We were sad that Colleen wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t stay evey long, but now we have an excuse to go back soon.  If you ever find yourself in the Ocean City area, you NEED to check out Seacrets.  (Note: adults and babies are welcome!  Not only did we see couples with infants, but also couples in their eighties dancing the night away.  Seacrets does not judge.)  I ended up not staying very long to tan on Sunday, and I still felt that my drive and quick visit was well worth it.

A DC earthquake post is coming soon!

artwork with instagram August 17, 2011

Have you heard of the iPhone app Instagram?  I was perusing my Facebook newsfeed the other day, and stumbled upon a few mobile uploads that had really cool effects.  I scoured the persons profile, and learned that they were using an app called Instagram to touch up the pictures.  I immediately went onto the app store and downloaded it (for free!), and started snapping away. 

Instagram is phenomenal.  It takes super average objects and pictures and makes them interesting, funky, and just really cool.  I busily go photographed random things, and now have a mini collection of professional-looking artwork. 

my thermos

My kate spade thermos, which is obviously adorable to begin with, looks totally abstract and modern when transformed by Instagram.

metro station

The architecture of the DC metro stations has always been super retro and funky to me, but becomes frame-worthy in this photo.

Even my DIY chevron wall art (which, as we all know, is fabulous on its own) looks extra stunning with this cool effect.

My favorite feature of the app is that you can use a photo you took 8 months ago and completely transform it.  I went back into my phone’s archives and found a stunning picture of the Venus de Milo I took while in the Louvre last summer, and the outcome made me appreciate the photo all over again.

(Wouldn’t this look stunning in an antiquey gold frame?  I die.)

I totally revamped another old picture I found from when I was roadtripping down to LA last summer, and the sun was just rising over the hills as I climbed 580.  (You can just barely see the wind turbines on the right side.)  This is the new background on my phone–I love it.

I also took a semi-average picture of me and Les from that same LA roadtrip and Instagram made it vintage and full of memories.

les & me

This was when we were at Venice Beach–you can see the boardwalk tiny in the background.

If you have an iPhone or Apple computer, I highly recommend you get this free (!!!!) app.  It made me look at old things in a completely new light, and re-appreciate them in a way I never had before.

indulging my desire to live the trendy life June 15, 2011

Surprise!  Yesterday was my 23rd (!!!) birthday, and, in the magic that only birthdays bring, it was a most fabulous evening.  As it was a Tuesday, and all my BFFs are working ladies, we really couldn’t get too crazy.  So, I instead used my birthday as an excuse to sample one of the trendiest, most talked-about restaurants in the DC area: Rasika.  It’s a modern Indian establishment in charming Penn quarter, and has recieved many honors and praise in the few years it’s been open.  I had heard from a few coworkers that it took two plus weeks to get a reservation, and that the food was phenomenal, and the little elitist in me immediately needed to go. 

This was my first birthday as a real adult.  Last year, I was a college graduate, but I was coaching a summer league swim team, so my evil children all brought me balloons and cookies and espresso shots, so I felt more spoiled than I ever had in college.  (Their ulterior motive in hoping for an easier practice did nothing to dampen my sugar-induced high spirits.)  Yesterday, however, was literally a normal day: I got on the metro train and the other passengers were as bland as usual; my scheduled meetings went on exactly as planned; the sun wasn’t even shining for my lunch break.  I am not trying to whine and complain about how little attention I got on my birthday–I am merely noting the novelty of celebrating a birthday in the working world.  I feel as if a chapter in my book of birthdays has closed; a page has turned on the outrageous parties, songs and gifts, and a new phase has started fresh with classy dinners, “Happy Birthday” emails, and small tokens of friendship. 

I had a 6:15 reservation, so we donned our very best (our only?) day-to-night outfits and went there straight from work.  We had time for a quick drink at next door Oyamel (reminder to eat here in the future!  Awesome atmosphere.) before being seated at Rasika. 

The decor inside is sleek and very contemporary.  It reminded me of a really good movie soundtrack–it fits in with the film (or restaurant) so well that it augments the experience without you even noticing.  We were in a small secluded room that was bare of all decorations, but was great for a group of 23 year old girls who were getting drunk and loud from a nice sparkling rose. 

We started with their signature appetizer Palak Chaat, which even tentative Melissa enjoyed.  It was lightly fried spinach with all kinds of other things we couldn’t pronounce mixed in, and was airy and so melt-in-your-mouth delicious that I could have easily finished it entirely on my own. 

(I apologize for the lack of planning; all I had was my iPhone and a forgetfulness to document the meal.)

For our entrees, Michelle, Lis, and Melissa all got the Chicken Tikka Marsala, Allison got the Chicken Biryani, and I got the Andhra Vegetable Curry.  We discovered too late that barely any rice came with the dishes, so if you are a big rice-lover, definitely order extra (at $3 a bowl).  We got two naan, one regular and one garlic. 

Thoughts?  The marsala was delicious, if a little heavier and headier than I was expecting.

Allison’s biryani was by far the most unusual dish, as it came in a little pot with a seal of puff pastry keeping the steam inside.  The rice was infused with saffron, which was quite a treat for us, since it is generally out of our price range. 

Last but not least, my vegetable curry was good.  To be honest, if I’m going to order a vegetable dish as a main dish, I’d hope that the veggies would be substantial and delicious.  The ones I got, however, were just small carrots, a few pea pods, and some bay leaves.  I was really looking for some cauliflower or broccili, maybe some eggplant, or even just big hunks of carrots instead of dainty slivers.  That just might be my opinion though. 

Since I was celebrating a birthday, they brought me a festive dessert, with two little sugary cakes and a scoop of either saffron or pistacio ice cream (this was a point of contention between us).  The dessert was delicious and a literally and figuratively sweet way to finish off our dinner.

We packed up our stuff and made our way to Iron Horse, a funky bar by the Verizon Center that had a happy hour until 8.  I bought us all a thank-you round of beers, and we enjoyed an additional hour  arguing about who deserved to win American Idol.  It was an outstanding evening, one that did not try to be anything other than a very low-key birthday celebration and a gathering of friends.

michelle, allison, & lis

So what did we think of Rasika?  We loved the food, and the whole experience was great.  For the price and hassle of getting a reservation, however, we felt that we probably wouldn’t go back unless it was a very special occasion.  We’ve checked it off our DC to-do lists, and while it was a great night, we’re already looking ahead to the next thing.  (Friday night jazz at the sculpture garden?  Or perhaps a walking tour of DC’s haunted houses?)  Anyways, I had a great 23rd birthday, and am so thankful to have made such great new friends in just the few months I’ve been here.

me & melissa

a perfect day at the zoo May 30, 2011

Happy Memorial Day!  Hope you’re busy getting tan and fat off grill food in hot and humid DC this weekend.

I just bade farewell to my younger sister, Lisa, who drove in from Ohio State for the long weekend.  After getting a little lost (495 is so confusing!), she made it to my apartment on Friday night, just in time to pay Spike Mendelsohn’s burger joint a quick visit.  On Saturday, after squeezing in a few episodes of best-show-ever Arrested Development, we meandered down to the National Zoo.

Bloggies, there are two reasons the National Zoo is one of the best attractions in the DC metro area:

1. It’s F-R-E-E.  And what does my family like more than free anything?  Nothing.

2. When the stars align, you can literally have the best zoo experience possible.  This is what happened to me and Lisa.

For whatever reason, the Smithsonian Gods were smiling down on us, most likely in the form of Simba’s dad in The Lion King, and they made magic happen for us at each exhibit we went to.  First, we went to the sloth bears, where we actually didn’t see any animals.  (The magic in this is that sloth bears are actually really ugly, so we didn’t know that we didn’t really want to see them.  The Smithsonian/Mufasa Gods saved us.)  Then we went to the panda exhibit, where I’ve always had bad luck spotting one of the bears.  Good thing we saw…. a tail.

Disappointed, we turned to leave, when all of a sudden we saw one of the big guys come barreling out of a secret hiding place, happy as could be.

He was only out for a few seconds–just long enough for him to see all the sticky, screaming children and for me to snap my photo.  He disappeared, and I waved my camera in petty triumph over all the other unfortunate tourists.  I figured they had it coming for their blatant disregard for the unspoken Metro rules.

Thrilled with our luck, but acknowledging that we probably wouldn’t have such an experience again, we set off for the cat exhibit.  We got to the daddy lion cage, and found him snoozing on a rock, looking like a big tan blob.  We stood there for a minute, and then a miracle: the clouds parted, the sun beamed a ray of light down onto the lion, and he lifted his head and roared.  AHHHH.

He was stunning, and his roar must have been a straight sign from Smithsonian/Mufasa Gods that Lisa and I were the days’ Chosen Visitors.  We felt so privileged.

We moved next door to the mama lions, who had their sweet cubs out for naptime.

As we walked around the exhibit, a few of the cubs woke up and started roughhousing with each other.  (They reminded Lisa and I of how our brain-damaged cat, Licorice, would play with himself before he reached his current geriatric state.)  The lioness sat serenely above them, knowing that with one swipe of her paw, she could get the little rascals back in line.  They must have been behaving, however, because after growing tired of an energetic hide-and-seek/pounce combo game, the cubs curled up once again and went back to sleep.

Moving on to the last of the cat exhibits, we got up close and personal with Mr. Tiger.  Just as we were coming around the corner to his cage, he popped up (like he had been waiting for us!), bounded down to the water, then walked with purpose to a spot right in front of us.

The minute we walked away, he went straight back into his little cave, leaving us to marvel at yet again how lucky we were.

Last but not least, we ventured into the invertebrate house to oogle the octopus.  We were there just in time for the feeding, where we got to see the normally red creature turn pale in anticipation of his dinner.  While we were crowded by tourists we obviously had never heard the term “personal space,” we had a pretty good view of the octopus (and a stranger).

Aren’t sea creatures just incredibly interesting?  I used to want to be a deep sea diver so I could see all the bizarre animals that live underwater.

Having exhausted all the zoo activities and our leg muscles, Lisa and I headed back home.  We dropped to our knees at the exit to offer a quick prayer of thanks to Mufasa for the incredible visit we had (don’t worry–we didn’t actually do this) before scooting across the street to the new frozen yogurt place (opinion: better than Yogiberry in Cleveland Park, nowhere near as good as Yogafina in downtown Pleasanton).

I can’t speak for my sister, but I know that that was one of the best zoo trips I’ve ever had.  I am obviously a huge proponent of the National Zoo, and encourage any tourist or resident to pay it a visit.  I can’t wait to go back for Zoo Lights this winter!

 

Do you like the zoo?  Which zoo is your favorite?

After Saturday, I would say the DC zoo is the best in the world.  But I also went to the San Diego zoo when I was a wee child, which is supposed to be phenomenal, so maybe that really was my favorite and I just can’t remember anything.  

room, a novel May 16, 2011

Happy Monday!

I apologize for my lengthy absence from the Blogosphere, but I have been struggling with a mild case of writer’s block.  I try to fill UrbanLoving with nuggets from my life that are actually unusual or interesting, rather than rambling accounts of my somewhat mundane life.  While these last few weeks have been undoubtedly fun, there has been little out of the ordinary to inspire me to resume my seat at the keyboard.

The most interesting experience I’ve had recently has actually been in the form of a book.  Just yesterday, I finished reading a novel called Room, written by Emma Donoghue, an intriguing look at what life would be like if your world was limited to an 11 by 11 foot space. 

Room tells the haunting story of a young mother and her 5 year old son who are imprisoned in a tiny cell.  What makes the book so unusual is that is told through the eyes of Jack, the son, in his 5 year old voice and undeveloped perceptions.  The reader never quite has complete understanding of what is going on, and has to do some critical thinking to read between the lines of what Jack sees in his world.  Born in Room, Jack knows nothing besides the objects within and the routine his Ma has established for them.  By capitalizing the names of the objects—Bed, Rug, Meltedy Fork—we understand that to Jack, who has no real companions, these things are his friends as much as his mother is.  While it may seem strange to us, it is perfectly normal (and really the only thing he knows) to Jack, which is part of his sweetness and allure.

The best part of the book is when Jack makes it outside (spoiler alert!!  Sorry.) and is overwhelmed by the new world.  Having never seen stairs, and thus unsure how to navigate them, Jack throws a tantrum and has to slide down them on his bottom.  Can you imagine not knowing how to get down a flight of stairs?  What an unusual idea.

Room is a stunning, emotional book that is gripping in its humanity.  The bond between Jack and his mother is intense, almost uncomfortable, but beautifully illustrated by Donoghue.  I absolutely recommend this book; it was the most interesting thing that I’ve done (read) in a few weeks.  (And those few weeks include a visit to my sister, a birthday celebration, and a trip to a local flea market.)

spike’s good stuff eatery April 17, 2011

Yesterday evening, I met with my friend Darren, a fellow d-grouper on Virginia’s swim team.  In town with his family for a quick vacation, he suggested dinner together before he left.  I was racking my brain for a suitable place (cheap-ish, non-romantic, quiet enough to talk, metro-accessible, representative of DC), when I landed upon a genius idea: Good Stuff Eatery!

Good Stuff Eatery is a specialty burger joint just south of the Capitol, owned and chefed by Spike Mendelsohn, the attractive and cocky contestant on Top Chef season 4.  (I think he also came back for the most recent All-Star season, but I’m not 100% sure.)

I had heard good things about his restaurant, and he’s a trendy and famous guy, so I figured it would be a cool place to take someone who has never really explored DC.  Good Stuff Eatery is in a really cute area, on a narrow, tree-lined street with those adorable row-houses that DC is famous for, only a few blocks from the Library of Congress.  I liked the feel of the restaurant–bare bones, no pretentious decor or menus, just a man’s man kind of place (which, in my opinion, is exactly how a burger restaurant should be).  The line was a few people long, but it moved quickly.  The menu did not have a lot of choices, which I honestly LOVED.  I hate that our society feels the need to complicate our lives with 15 variations of one product–do I want scented laundry detergent or non?  Blue detergent or clear?  Energy-saving or delayed scent release?  For athletes or babies?  SO MANY CHOICES!!!!  Anyways, Good Stuff had only your basic burgers: chicken breast, steak burger, turkey burger, bacon burger, portobello mushroom.  As I have descended into 95% vegetarianism, I went with the one (only one!!  So simple.) non-meat option.  I also opted for one of the sinful-sounding milkshakes–which cost only a dollar less than the burgers–choosing the Milky Way Malt.  Fries did not come with the burger, but since I got the shake, I skipped the fries, so unfortunately I cannot report back on them.

My shake was good–very creamy and thick.  It didn’t taste a lot like Milky Way or a malt, but I couldn’t complain too much.  It was one of those shakes that is so think you’re straining to suck it out of the straw, so when yoiu finally get some all the up into your mouth, it’s like a reward for your cheek muscles.

My burger was completely underwhelming.  The bun was crumpled and cold, and the lettuce was small and wilted.  The portobello did not make for the most attractive looking “burger,” but my phone is also not the best photographer.  When I bit into it, the tastes were all there, and the mushroom had actually been fried, giving it a nice crunchy texture on the outside.

There were a number of “special sauces” to choose from too, which were mostly just flavored mayos.  I chose a chipotle mayo and a sriracha mayo, and when I added them to my burger, it was like fireworks in my mouth.  They provided some added spice that was missing from the burger, and added some depth to the whole thing.  Cute little cups were provided to hold the sauces, so I could dip my burger instead of making a mess by slathering it on.

Darren had the steakhouse burger, and he seemed to enjoy it.  (He’s a bottomless pit for food, though, so sometimes it’s hard to judge.)  We both agreed that they were not the BEST burgers we’ve ever had, but they were definitely delicious.  Spike’s other restaurant, Pizza My Heart, is right next door to Good Stuff, so that’s next on my list of places to check out.  I would recommend Good Stuff, because it’s a down to earth, straightforward restaurant, with good burgers, a nice view, and a neat history.

After dinner, Darren and I met up with Lis and her boyfriend Adam, where the two boys proceeded to drone on and on about their motorcycles.  Bored, Lis and I tried to piece together our Wednesday night (the kickball extravaganza), discuss new clothes we wanted, and make plans for the upcoming week.

I hope everyone has had a great weekend!  Happy spring and GO CAPS!!

a long-awaited day at the newseum February 7, 2011

Remember that one Sunday when I was supposed to go to the Newseum?!  Remember when I ended up doing absolutely NOTHING instead??  Well, I was determined to not let that unproductive-ness happen again so soon, so I put on some comfortable shoes, packed a bag of snacks, and headed to the Newseum for Attempt #2.

An imposing, mostly glass building, the Newseum is conveniently located on the corner of Pennsylvania & Constitution, lending itself to stunning views of the Capitol.  (It is also very visible from the steps of the Capitol–a metaphor for the role of media in the US government, perhaps??)  (Another fun fact: the filming of Transformers 3 occurred right in front of the Newseum, so if you watch the movie, be on the lookout for an action scene in front of a huge glass building next to the Canadian embassy.  You heard it here first, my friends.)  Unfortunately, I picked a rainy, gray day to visit the Newseum, so my view was not as great as it could have been.

Admission to the Newseum is a pricey $21.95, but in my opinion, completely worth it.  What kind of things can you expect to see??

• The biggest section of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany.

Being the Germa-Nerd that I am, I thought this was really cool.  It’s neat to see the contrast between the West side of the wall and the East.  There’s also an actual guard tower that was a part of the wall which you can walk into and check out.  The wall and the tower left me pondering two things: how on EARTH did they get a huge tower into the building; and also, didn’t the wall come down while most of the media was looking the other way?  Nevertheless, the Berlin Wall exhibit is very well done, and an impressive display of recent history.

• A selection of athlete photographs from Sports Illustrated.

I thought this exhibit was okay.  I wandered around until I found the token Michael Phelps picture, but for someone who has seen him swim a hundred times, it didn’t portray him in any unusual or unexpected light.

• A hip-shakin’, pelvis-thrustin’  Elvis exhibit!

This was the King of all exhibits!  (Ha.)  No but seriously, the Newseum does a great job illustrating the impact of Elvis on the media, and in return, the impact of the media on Elvis’ life and career.  They had some totally random Elvis artifacts–his American Express card; a police receipt for the extra security personnel employed around the hospital during Lisa Marie Presley’s birth–but they were all interesting.

• A 9/11 tribute.

This is all that remains of the flag pole on one of the Twin Towers.

This is obviously a very moving exhibit, made even more difficult by a video in a dark room recounting the experiences of journalists around the towers.  Looking at the twisted, mangled heap of metal, it’s hard to not think about what happened to those who couldn’t make it out.  Behind the pole is a wall covered with the front pages of newspapers published around the world on September 12.

Perhaps not the most eloquent of headlines, but one expects nothing less from the San Francisco Examiner.

• A gallery of the Pulitzer Prize winning photographs from 1946 to today.

Did you know that a picture of Rowdy Gaines won a Pulitzer??  (Swim community- represent!)  This exhibit was fabulous.  There are so many stunning, sad pictures, with really interesting, explanatory blurbs accompanying them.  Unfortunately, the gallery is awkwardly set up, with narrow aisles and low ceilings.  It was easily the most crowded exhibit in the Newseum, and seemed to have more strollers and screaming toddlers than a Toys R Us.  I wish they had a photo book of all the pictures available in the gift shop, so that I could have taken it home and enjoyed them from the comfort of my couch.

 

I really enjoyed my time at the Newseum.  While it takes an unashamedly firm position that the media does nothing but good, and that most positive events in history have occurred thanks to the press, the Newseum does a good job of highlighting the symbiotic relationship between journalism and the world on which it reports.  I easily spent 5 hours wandering around, and could have come back the next day.  (Tickets are good for two days!)  I think that if you are in DC for more than three days, the Newseum is a must-see.

 

What is the best museum you’ve ever been to?

I would say this is a toss-up between the Louvre and the Met.  The Louvre wins for best museum setting (it’s in a palace!), and the Met wins for the most old Egyptian artifacts.  Sometimes I just wish museums weren’t so big–I get tired and grumpy before I can see everything in them!

a crumb-y surprise February 6, 2011

Look what I found!!

A Crumbs Bake Shop!!!  Right in Clarendon!  Yummmmmm.

I wandered here with Michelle, and I ate my breakfast, lunch, and probably an extra 400 calories for dinner in one sitting.

I first had a Crumb’s cupcake when I was visiting Caitlin in New York City for Thanksgiving.  We had a really gross breakfast one morning (think of a pureed beet smoothie), and we felt that the only way to remedy the situation would be to overdose on sugar.  I had a Salted Caramel cupcake that was salty (obviously) and overwhelmingly sweet, with a runny, oozing, delicious caramel filling.  It was a perfect last meal in New York.

Although I am quickly tiring of the cupcake fad sweeping our nation, I have paid due diligence to the cupcakeries here in DC.  I found Georgetown Cupcake\’s peanut butter cupcake mediocre, and recently went to CakeLove (subject of the TLC show Sugar Rush) to see how they measured up.  I started with a salted caramel cupcake:

…and ended with a lot of left over buttercream frosting.

When CakeLove says their frosting is made with butter and cream, they mean it.  I felt like I was eating a stick of butter–I could feel my arteries building up with plaque with every bite I took.  The cake part was also dry and really crumbly, and the only caramel flavor was the drizzle on top.  Overall, I was disappointed with CakeLove, especially for a cupcakery who has bragging rights to it’s own tv show.

So after being let down by two separate bakeries, I was at the end of my proverbial cupcake rope.  When I saw Crumbs today, I was so overjoyed I dragged Michelle in and promptly bought, um, three cupcakes.

Clockwise from the top left, I got a vanilla Valentine’s one for coworker Suzannah (who suffered through the CakeLove experience with me), a chocolate-hazelnut wonder, and a peanut butter masterpiece.  I chose to eat the peanut butter one in the store, and it had a decadent cream cheese peanut butter filling inside that melt in my mouth.

The cake was soft and really moist, and there was just the right amount of frosting where I could enjoy it without feeling overwhelmed.  The little peanut butter chips around the edge provided a nice crunchy texture that worked well when combined with the cake and filling together.  Michelle and I devoured our cupcakes so quickly that the couple at the table next to us kept scooting their chairs backwards as to avoid the spray of crumbs coming from our mouths.

I am utterly content with my belly full of cupcake, and the good news is that I still have another one waiting for me in my fridge!!  Breakfast tomorrow?  I think yes.

I give Crumbs Bake Shop 2 thumbs up, plus all my toes.  I was completely impressed for a second time today, and seriously think you need to go check it out.  Definitely don’t ask me to pick something up for you, however, because I will eat it faster than you could believe.

 

What is your favorite kind of cupcake?  Do you have a special cupcakery that you frequent?

I love all things caramel, and the salted caramel cupcake at Crumbs has to be my all time favorite.  (Men, watch out!!  You have been replaced.)  I will now be at Crumbs most weekends, getting my supply for the week.