Sad Panda News

We won't have a new baby panda this year. :(

Zoo scientists have confirmed that Mei Xiang is not pregnant. After she was articifically inseminated on April 4 and 5, she experienced a pseudo, or false, pregnancy.

Before there were panda babies, there were pygmy panda babies...

Do you think pygmy pandas ate full size bamboo?

Panda Mom is Nesting!

While we all know that Tai Shan is the best panda baby ever (and no other panda baby could ever compare in my eyes), I am excited about the possibility of a little brother or sister for our little peaceful mountain.

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/default.cfm?cam=LP2

U Street Farmers Market!

I was so excited when I read that U Street was getting a Farmer's Market! I usually shop at the Giant in Columbia Heights but recently their produce has been pretty dismal. I can never find any decent lettuce and they are always out of basil by the time I get there. I do love the Dupont farmer's market, but its getting too hot to walk down there and back with a bag full of produce! The U street farmer's market starts this Saturday in front of the Reeves Center. Full details below...

Neighbors,

This is it-- just 3 more days to the opening of our own 14 & U farmers' market!

When: Saturday 10 -2
Where: The sidewalk plaza outside the Reeves Center on the northwest corner of 14th
and U Street.

What: wonderful, fresh, local:

STRAWBERRIES STRAWBERRIES STRAWBERRIES STRAWBERRIES of many varieties-- none of
those California Driscolls here!
rhubarb to cook with those strawberries -- but it will sell out quickly
Sugar snap peas - the first of the season-- come early for them.

Green garlic - spring planted to be ready for market-- makes wonderful garlic pesto
CRISP Adams County (Penn) Fuji and Gold Rush and Braeburn from storage
apple cider
honey
apple butter
apple sauce
peach jam

Collard greens (Gomen)
Kale - A mixture of Red Russian, White Kale, and Winterbor...lots of different kale textures
Chard bunches
Spicy Salad greens with lots of baby mustards, cress, etc.
Lettuce - Heads of greens and red mixes.
Minuet Chinese Cabbage --
TENDER Baby beets - Chioggia and Bull's Blood..

Radishes - pink and red and white and French
Hakurei turnips--= sweet turnips to eat raw or braise for just a few minutes

and that is just a TINY TINY TASTE of what you will find. I have taken these from this
week's harvest report from just TWO of the farmers. Lots more to discover.

Robin and Katharine

We welcome WIC and CSFP farmers market vouchers. We support and donate fresh fruits
and vegetables to Martha's Table. We are also partnering with Work and Thrive.

Metro Transit Police fight iPod theft

From the Metro Website:

Metro Transit Police fight iPod theft
iPod theft is on the rise in the Metro system, and the Metro Transit Police want it to stop. From January through April 2007, 30 iPods were stolen from Metro customers. iPod thefts totaled 34 in all of 2006, and just two in 2005. To reduce iPod theft, Metro Transit Police are targeting Metro customers using electronic devices at a crime prevention outreach session at 4 p.m. today, May 9, at the Anacostia Metrorail station.

MTPD Officers will demonstrate behavior that helps customers avoid theft and crime. Officers will remind customers to remain aware of their surroundings and use electronic devices discretely. Safe behavior includes listening to music at a low to moderate decibel level; using black headphones instead of white headphones to make them less noticeable; and holding items inside backpacks, purses or jackets instead of in hands or on laps.

The officers also will distribute crime prevention information and identification decals for portable electronics.

The identification decals can be affixed to electronics and registered in a national database. The unique identification number will make lost or stolen items easier to track or recover.

In addition to the behavior listed above, the Metro Transit Police would like to remind customers of the following safety tips when riding Metro:
• Always be alert of your surroundings and the people around you.
• Avoid talking to strangers, especially in isolated areas.
• If carrying a purse, hold it tightly, and close to your body.
• If carrying a wallet, keep it in your front pocket.
• If you notice unusual behavior, unattended packages or anything that seems suspicious, call the Metro Transit Police at 202-962-2121 or tell a Metro employee.

If it can't hide it...don't wear it!

Alright ladies...I know spring is in the air and as the weather warms up we are uber-tempted to show a little skin. But let's have some class!

I've noticed the cutout is back. You know what I'm talking about: that little missing geometric swatch of fabric from your shirt/bathing suit. I'm not sure what I think of this but after seeing a rather horrendous faux paux regarding this trend on Saturday afternoon, I feel its my responsibility to let you know what people will and will not let you get away with while sporting this trend.

Numero uno pet peeve -- if you can't hide a bra under it or go without, you probably shouldn't be wearing it. I know, I know...Carrie on Sex and the City did it all the time and with her couture no less. Well, that was a tv show that operated outside of the realm of reality. This most likely will not work for anyone not frequenting the Red Carpet. And even Carrie matched it to her outfits or went with a basic black. The girl, so unflatteringly depicted to the right (and I must thank Ryan for surreptitiously snapping this pick for me) is breaking a couple of rules. The bra doesn't even match. It was a lacy, periwinkle colored thing that stood out so obviously we were giggling about it for at least a half an hour. It didn't help that she was a little drunk and calling extra attention to herself. This shirt is the perfect candidate for the self adhesive bra. I mean, from the front she obviously needed "support" so I give her props for that. But when you only spend $14.99 on a shirt, you can spring for the $30 bra that can hide under it.

I was going to search for some good cutout options...but there aren't any really. If you wanna show some skin I suggest a halter, tube top or a strappy tank. But even with those options, if you can't go the no-bra route and you can't camouflage the thing, skip it. I don't care if its on sale or the most comfortable thing you've ever worn.

Its. Not. Attractive.

Save Eastern Market!

This Tuesday, bars across the District will be donating a portion of their proceeds to help restore Eastern Market. If this isn't a worthy cause, then I don't know what is! All of the proceeds will go to the Capitol Hill Community Foundation. Currently our old staple isn't on the list, but hopefully they will step up! Regardless, plan on heading out and drinking Tuesday, May 8th. For a list of participating bars, click here.

Screen on the Green

Every summer I plan on checking out at least one of the Screen on the Green movies and every summer something keeps me away... one summer it rained every day, another summer I was recovering from surgery or out of town. But I am determined to see at least one movie this summer!

They just released the schedule for this year (thanks DCist for the heads-up) and the line-up looks great. There is just something idyllic about seeing old classics on the National Mall - it makes you ignore the fact that you are outside in DC in August sweating!

This year the line-up is much better than last year:

Monday, July 16: Annie Hall
Monday, July 23: The Thing From Another World
Monday, July 30: Wait Until Dark
Monday, August 6:: All the King's Men
Monday, August 13: Casablanca

Keep DC short!

I think one of the reasons I love DC so much is because it doesn't feel like a big city. Much of this has to do with the fact that there are no tall buildings in District. I love the fact that from my house near U street I can look downtown and see the Washington Monument. This wouldn't happen in any other major city. The Washington Post looked into the debate of high rises in DC today. I always thought that there was some old law in DC that buildings couldn't be taller than the Washington Monument. Turns out though, that law doesn't exist. There is a height Act that Congress created, but that was in response to protesters in 1894 who were protesting the 160-ft height of the Cairo apartment building on 16th which is pretty intereting.

Developers are claiming that DC is running out of space and that soon there will be a time where DC will have to be built up to attract more businesses and lower rates. But of course the Developers would say that. However, I am pretty sure that is not what L'Efant had in mind when he planned the beautiful sprawling city. He is probably turning in his grave right about now. Could you imagine DC with skyscrapers? All of the charecter DC has would be lost. They don't even have to be that tall to be an eye sore - a perfect example would be Rosslyn!

This is sad

I've been to Eastern Market a couple of times and while I didn't fall in love with it, I understand that a lot of people in the neighborhood love it. Evidently, part of the market has burned down over the weekend. Luckily no one was hurt.

Weekend Picks Return

Friday night
Check out ArtDC - DC's first modern and contemporary art fair - apparently it will put DC on the international art scene map. It will be at the convention center through Monday. But try and head there tonight where it is free all day. Though it ends at 7! If you go this weekend (11-7 Saturday and Sunday) you'll pay $12.

Saturday
This is the last weekend for the DC International Film Festival. You can check out the schedule at FilmfestDC. The films are all over DC at different locations (mainly on Wisconsin Ave) and most films are $9. At 3pm at Busboys and Poets there will be a Directors Roundtable with free admittance.

Sudnay
Sundress Festival '07 at the Wonderland Ballroom is sure to be fun. An equal opportunity event - anyone (guys or girls) who come in sundresses gets cheap drinks ($2 off drafts, $3 rail and $6 bottles of Delirium Tremens -whatever that is). To see pictures of last years Sundress Festival, log into Myspace and click here.

Enjoy the weekend!

Beauty Night Out

So apparently, the Style and Image Network puts on a yearly Beauty Night Out which features local dc spa treatments, make-up consultations and boutique shopping. I was invited by a friend and was not sure what to expect at all. The biggest original attraction for me was that a portion of the $35 entry fee went to Dress for Success, a great Non-profit organization that provides interview suits, confidence boosts, and career development to low-income women. You were also promised a gift bag which ended up having some free hair products (for color treated hair), some crazy pomegranate and blackberry energy drink, eye renewal creme (my favorite) and a book about why we should consider getting plastic surgery earlier rather than later -- not only was it kind of annoying to be pushing surgery on 20-somethings, but really heavy to carry around all night. But the best part turned out to be a free bar with all the beer and/or martinis (or Beautinis) i could drink. The martinis were made using Pink, a new vodka infused with caffeine that was making its debut in the dc market...i have to say it wasn't half bad, though i didn't really feel "energized". the was bottle really cool, but this marketing campaign is kind of lame. but whatever, it was FREE! there wasn't much food and when it appeared it didn't last long, so i was glad i ate first.

As far as product placement, they only thing that really stood out for me was the mini-makeup consultation by PR at Partners , using their "Pretty" signature makeup brand. I felt a little like an extra in "The Mummy" when it was over, with my golden-bronzed eyes and nude lip color but got some great application tips and the look definitely grew on me. My friend went for the oh-so-popular smokey eye look, but it was really modernized using a bronze shadow for the base and navy in the crease -- a great combo for brunettes! That, i think i might have to buy.

We went on to get free hand and back massages, which were good but nothing special. This was done by a traveling day spa company (listed as a vendor on the site). I'm still figuring out how i can suggest to our management committee that we have them come do massages for our office once a month... Moroccan facials were available, but watching girls walking around with mud on their faces and their hair in shower caps was not really appealing...so we skipped that. Besides the makeup people, I can't say I'd search out any of the other spa treatment providers in the future, so its not the kind of event you'd attend to find a great spa.

All in all I'd give the general event 4 out of 5 stars, mostly because of the free booze. I was only planning to be there for a few hours and we ended up being one of last groups to leave. The vendors were all incredibly nice and as a result we bought more stuff than we had intended. However lines were really, really long and I wished I'd worn more comfortable standing shoes. I can't think of many better ways to spend $35 or my Thursday evening and I'll definitely be on the lookout for next year's event and inviting all my girlfriends.

HUGE Panda News!

We can start planning the 3rd AND 4th annual panda baby pub crawl!

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/

Prepare to see the planet as neverbefore...

So i realize that a lot of my posts of late have been sciencey and educational but for some reason I'm in to all of that right now. i could post on my horrible metro ride today and do a long rant on pole hogging (I mean seriously people - if the train is crowded, don't wrap your entire body around one pole so that nobody else can hold on!!) but instead I will tell you about the coolest thing to hit cable since... well not quite sure since but in the nonfiction category of cable, I would say this takes the cake.

I'm talking about Planet Earth on the Discovery Channel. If you have already caught on, then you know how amazing it is. It uses this new high tech camera that is attached on a helicopter which allows them to shoot up close from a mile away so they can capture amazing footage without scaring the animals. They also have cameramen who are incredibly patient. One spent 8 weeks in a camouflaged hole waiting to get a peak at the Birds of Paradise trying to mate. The males attract the females by doing a dance and showing off their colors and then if they do a good job, the female chooses them. Wish it was that easy in the real world!

The show takes you from the bottom of the ocean, to the desert, to the top of Everest and everywhere in between. Usually I would tend to get bored watching nature shows, but this one is different. I had recorded a bunch of episodes (usually Sunday nights at 8 and 9) and though tit would be something good to watch while I switched out my winter and summer clothes but I couldn't take my eyes off of it. The footage is just amazing. Truly makes you appreciate the planet and makes you really get that the world doesn't not revolve around us humans. If you have a high-def tv, watch it on Discovery HD! If not, it is still great! This coming Sunday they are doing a marathon on the Discovery Channel. Set the TiVo for it to catch up and prepare to be amazed.

Bodies: The Exhibition

I was very excited when I heard that the exhibit Bodies had come to DC. The last time I was in New York my friend wanted to go check it out down at the South Street Seaport and since most of her other friends had already seen it, I agreed to go - but I was very hesitant! Not only was I actually going to have to pay almost $30 (and coming from DC where most of the museums are free it took a lot of convincing) but the actual exhibit seemed a bit repulsive.

The exhibit is basically actual human bodies, which have been preserved and then dissected to show specific muscles, organs and systems. The thought brought me back to anatomy class in high school when we were dissecting cats and after a few days the smell became horrendous. But the exhibit turned out to be far from repulsive! In fact, it is the best exhibit I have been to. It was amazing! You can truly see everything in the body and how it works. The dissection technique is pretty cool too and how they were able to remove everything but the circulatory system still shocks me! I highly recommend this to anyone. It is well worth the trip to Rossyln and well worth the $26. You won't be sorry! It is truly fascinating and you will learn so much about your body.

The bodies were either unidentified people or were donated to science - all were acquired from a laboratory in China. But it begs the question - is this considered science?? My friend and I ended up debating this for awhile. Being put on display like this in a museum for all to see just doesn't seem like science to me. But go check it out yourself and let me know what you think!

Spring, oh Spring, Where for art thou Spring??

National Weather reports that 1 to 2 inches of snow is expected to fall late tonight into tomorrow morning. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 30's.

UGH!

fashion insult to injury

i'm sure you were all greatly relieved to hear of the release of the british sailors held captive by iran after their "apparent" invasion of iranian waters. the sailors took top press coverage on the front of at least 2 major us newspapers (the washington post and the ny times) and showed the captives smiling and waving to what is apparently a crowd in iran. one interesting point, for those with access to the hard copies, is that the post managed to crop out the 4 very surly looking sailors who belie the gracious and thankful attitude of the others waving and smiling, obviously relieved by their eminent freedom or feeling pressure to make nice with iranian officials lest they renege on their promise to release you (again).

my biggest beef with the iranian government is after all they put Faye Turney through did they really have to throw her in that chadwick-esque outfit while the men got decent (if ill-fitting) suits? i mean, its hard enough to pull off a head scarf without pairing it with a monstrous navy and red striped shirt three sizes too large. all in all i can't help but feel that iran was trying to send the statement visually that this woman had no place as a sailor with a career, but rather should be in her rightful position at home in her suburban housewife outfit (granted most housewives i know dress way better than that). i'll admit there are a few pictures of her looking more put together, but if going on the pictures alone seems too judgemental (maybe they're fashion challenged), let me reference the iranian president's own words, who "admonished london for sending a mother, Leading Seaman Faye Turney, on a dangerous mission in the persian gulf". seems to me they see women in the military as a no-no.

fashion, or at least style of dress, does matter, especially in commanding respect for a position and conveying a sense of dignity. and the fact that the iranians would deny a person that, while obviously bestowing that consideration on her peers of the opposite gender, is almost more annoying to me than their increasingly pompous and provoking propaganda of late.
and if this seems like a bit of overreaction, well, i did label this a rant :)

First Tuesday in Adams Morgan Tonight

It's First Tuesday again in Adams Morgan. Below are the specials...

New this Tuesday is Skynear Furnishings (2122 18th St NW) "30% off furniture small enough to mail and big enough for an apartment," AND 15% off all lighting!!


Food and drink for 2 for $25 (plus tax) (Offerings vary)

The Grill From Ipanema (1858 Columbia Rd NW)
Perry's Restaurant (1811 Columbia Rd NW)
Chloe (2473 18th St. NW)
Saki (2477 18th St. NW)
Bossa Bistro (2463 18th St. NW)
Left Bank (2424 18th St NW)L
a Fourchette (2429 18th St. NW)
Felix (2406 18th St NW)
Bourbon (2321 18th St. NW)
Tom Tom (2333 18th Street NW)
Spaghetti Garden (2317 18th St. NW)
Duplex Diner (2004 18th St. NW)
L'Enfant Café (2000 18th St. NW) after 8pm
El Tamarindo (1785 Florida Ave. NW)

Retail - Sales of 10% - 30% off selected items or store-wide

Fleet Feet (1841 Columbia Rd.NW)
Miss Pixie's (2473 18th St NW)
Toro Mata Art & Furnishings of Peru (2410 18th St.NW)
Kobos African Clothiers (2444 18th St. NW)
Brass Knob Architectural Antiques (2311 18th St.NW)
Shake Your Booty (2206 18th St.NW)
The District Line (2118 18th St NW)
Skynear Furnishings (2122 18th St.NW)
Meeps Vintage (2104 18th St.NW)
DeVinos (2001 18th St.NW)
Urban Escape (1781 Florida Ave.NW)
The Spa at MintFitness (1724 California St NW)

Meet John Doe

Sunday night I saw Meet John Doe at Ford's Theatre. I highly recommend it. Its a very classic Americana type play so what better place to have it's world premiere than Ford's Theatre. The musical is based off of Frank Capra's 1941 film with the same title. The story is set in the Depression (early 30s) and everyone at a newspaper was getting laid off. As retaliation, one columnist published a fake letter by a "John Doe" who said he was going to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge on Christmas Eve as a protest for the state of the society. It takes off from there and there is comedy, drama and romance. Some of the solos were a bit too long for me, especially after intermission when I was getting tired. BUT I did not fall asleep during the play and as a lot of you know that means it must be good! The Washington Post also gave it rave reviews last week. I got my tickets from Goldstar Events so the tickets were half-price and the seats were excellent.

White Wonderland

Four years ago, Southern Living had an article on the Cherry Blossoms in Kenwood, a neighborhood in Bethesda. I cut it out and put it on my list of things to do and this weekend I finally got out there. It is truly amazing! And so much better then fighting the crowds on the Mall. There are about 1,500 cherry blossom trees - much more than around the tidal basin and a fraction of the tourists. Its really just a wonderland of white. We parked the car once we got inside Kenwood and walked up and down the streets admiring the blossoms and the homes while stopping occasionally at a kid's lemonade stand for some treats.

I highly recommend trying to get out to Kenwood if you can before all of the blossoms are blown away. Use the link above for directions.

The one good thing about NOVA

So as most of you know, there isn't much I love about Northern Virginia. There is too much traffic, too many chain restaurants, too many conservatives and too many office parks and too many overpriced apartment complexes. Its not that I hate it, I just don't find many reasons to go there, let alone live there when DC is filled with so much excitement. Obviously there are exceptions... it seems the tall boys live in NOVA, if you have a lot of shopping to do Pentagon City is where it is at, and I find Del Ray adorable.

But the one place I will gladly go to any day of the week in Northern Virginia is the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. It is my heaven. After only 20 minutes of sitting in traffic on I-66 you feel like you are in the middle of the mountains, sitting on a hillside with friends, drinking wine and having cheese and crackers (or beer and chips and dip if you prefer) and watching a great performance. I love it! It even makes classical music sound exciting.

Wolf Trap has released their summer schedule and tickets go on sale this Saturday. Though - I wouldn't recommend buying tickets. Tickets are for the assigned seating at the Filene Center and you can't drink or eat in the seats - only on the hill above it and you can buy those tickets day of. But i do recommend checking out the schedule. Their schedule isn't full yet but I am excited about a few already... Jesus Christ Superstar, Camelot, The theater performances include Jesus Christ Superstar, Camelot, Natalie Cole, Bugs Bunny on Broadway, Kingston Trio, Boston Pops and the Louisiana Swamp Romp. Basically I will go to anything so if you find something that interests you let me know! I'll even volunteer to drive :)

I Found the Treasure!

A couple of co-workers as well as Mrs. McFadz mentioned that Nichoals Cage and Jon Voight are shooting the follow up to National Treasure outside the White House today. I ran outside and snapped a couple (really bad) photos of Jon Voight, the one in the brown coat, on the set with my camera phone.

Mrs. McFadz and I were with a group of friends that went to the Uptown Theater to see a preview of the first National Treasure movie and Jerry Bruckheimer was there. It's nice to see the historic based fiction genre having a renaissance although the DaVinci Code movie sucked.

Be Careful Out There

Keeping in line with Maggie's previous post, I found out that a co-worker of mine who lives near Georgia/Petworth metro was going home from the bar late Saturday night with her husband and had an altercation with a group of about 8 men. Her husband's wallet was taken from him but when he didn't have any money, he was roughed up a bit and given back his wallet. Amazingly, she thinks it's funny that they were mugged but that nothing was taken. If this happend to me and Mrs. McFadz, I'm sure I'd be angry and that she'd be shaken up.

They did file a police report although, having spent the night in the bar, they were not able to provide very good descriptions of the assailants.

Bluegrass Show Thursday

Here's a cool show to check out.

By & By Bluegrass Band
Thursday, March 29th 8:30pm
No cover!

Solly's U Street Tavern
11th and U Sts. NW (1942 11th St. NW, Washington, DC 20001)
http://www.sollystavern.com

Weekend Picks - What Not to Do

Don't try to drive, take the metro or take the bus Saturday morning. DC will be coming to a standstill for the National Marathon. Of course now instead of it being this grand patriotic and iconic marathon, it is now the Wirefly National Marathon. Seriously - does everything now days have to have a corporate name?? To find out about road closures and metro delays click here.

Don't go to Lucky Bar to watch the soccer games Saturday- it will be a $20 cover!

Don't avoid the bars just because you might not be interested in watching basketball... here is a list of tv-free bars.

Don't stay inside Sunday. While it won't be 70 degrees, it will be sunny and that's not worth missing!

But Don't go looking for the Cherry Blossoms yet. T-minus eight days until the kick-off of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Stay tuned for more details about that next week!

Exploring Antarctica

If you guys haven't checked out Washington Post's interactive section on Antarctica, make sure that you do! It is amazing! The pictures are truly breathtaking and unreal. I really thought it was just one big ice shelf but there is a desert and a volcano and the most beautiful turquoise lakes. Check it out! Just a warning though, the music can be a bit too dramatic.

Shout Out to the Secret Service!

Who knew the Secret Service patrols Adams Morgan! Last night Donnie, Adam, Mona and I learned the hard way that they do. Now, I know what you're thinking, and no, Adam wasn't arrested for flashing.

While we had been hanging out at Reef and T.S. Muttleys during an extended happy hour, someone broke into Donnie's car a few blocks away. They smashed the passenger-side window and stole an amp from the back seat. They went through the rest of the car, but nothing else was taken. We called the DC police, who told us it would be an hour before someone could come and write up a report. Lucky for us, there were a lot of friendly (and admittedly bored) Secret Service agents in the area. We flagged down Eric, pictured below, and the next thing we knew, there were five of them there, photographing the car, taking fingerprints and hanging out. Apparently the Secret Service is responsible for protecting embassies, hence the seemingly random patrol that found us sitting on the sidewalk at 11:30 pm.

According to Eric the AM does have a crime problem. Someone even mugged a French diplomat recently. So be careful out there. And say hi to your friendly neighborhood Secret Service agents. They're nice guys.

Weekend Picks: All about the green

Friday Night

Celebrate SPE (St. Patty Eve) at Fado's where they are celebrating New Year Eve style. They will be having Guinness giveaways throughout the night as well as a countdown just before midnight to get everyone geared up for the best Holiday of the year!

Saturday

There are too many bars around DC to get green beer to name so I'll just send you to this list by the Washington Post.

The mayhem will be starting early so plan accordingly!

SoberRide is back for St. Patty's Day. Between 4 p.m. March 17 and 6 a.m. March 18, you can get a free ride home from SoberRide if you dial 1-800-200-TAXI. You may have to wait for your cab, but a 30-minute wait is better than getting into a dangerous situation.

Sunday
Chances are you had a pretty crazy Saturday so I suggest laying on the couch and catching up with everyone's good friend, ti-vo. At least that's what I'll be doing!

DC Snacks

For those of you who don't subscribe to the DC Daily Candy listserv, here's a cool link from today's email. DC Snacks will deliver food, drinks and a lot of random stuff. Serioulsy, who among us has not desperately needed Solo Cups and/or Ben & Jerry's at 1 a.m.

One ugly building!

With the Metro having major issues this morning on the red line, I decided to walk to work from Chinatown instead of standing on a crowded platform for 30 minutes. I realized after I started walking that it may not have been the best idea given the amount of blisters I got gallivanting around Georgetown last night but it was still nice to be outside enjoying the weather instead of suffocating waiting for the red line.

Anyways, I've done the walk down H street before but its always been after work with co-workers heading to a happy hour in Chinatown, so I never really noticed what an eyesore the buildings on that road are! Specifically, the Government Accountability Office (GAO)... the picture does not do this building justice! I truly feel sorry for anyone who has to work there. It was built in 1951 and doesn't look like it has been renovated since.

According to its history, the GAO used to be in the old Pension building, which is now the National Building Museum - one of my favorite buildings in DC. I'm guessing they wished they stayed there. The most shocking thing to me is that in 1995 the GAO building was named to the National Register of Historic Places as a symbol of modern block-type federal office design. Modern?? I think not! That side of Chinatown is so run down and now I realize its because no one wants to build next to this ugly building. DC is filled with so many beautiful places, they really should start tearing down the eye sores before they give it a bad reputation.

its all about the silhouette, maggie...

as maggie and i hoofed it back towards the green line from happy hour thursday, we simultaneously noticed a girl with almost impossibly skinny knees. as maggie voiced this observation aloud, i immediately quipped "well, its all about the silhouette, maggie...". let me explain.

shoe trends this year are very noticeable. you have the option of poofy boots paired with the skinny pant, flats paired with the skinny pant or anything peep-toed, platform wedge and/or metallic paired with the skinny pant (obviously, the skinny pant is in). this particular woman had opted for the poofy boot option. the contrast of the pant fitted through the knee and the bulbous boot top created the illusion (or silhouette) of this girl's knee being about the size of my elbow. it is grotesquely fascinating and the trend doesn't seem to show any signs of tapering off despite the rising temperatures. the skinny knee creates the impression of skinniness overall.

in a similar vein, the pairing of a pant with a high heel shoe creates a longer leg (also making you look thinner) and a pointed toe on said shoe puts on the finishing touch, as it creates a tapering effect in the viewers vision. hence, the silhouette that your shoe creates goes a long way towards shaping an outsiders immediate impression. i learned most of this while i was watching a late night run on QVC (the home shopping network's rival).

so ladies, if you want to look like you lost 5 lbs. without actually hitting the gym or dieting, its all about the silhouette...

Have a good what?!?!

It's just a given that every region has it's own dialect and colloquialisms (yes, I spell-checked that) and with no one in D.C. being from D.C., we have a range of sayings from all over the U.S. and the rest of the world.

Now, I'm not a grammar person and usually, I don't mind these little sayings, but there is one that has really been getting on my nerves. I see the same security guard leaving work every day and he always, in a very strong African accent, happily says "Have a good one!"

Maybe it's that I feel it's impersonal and that the security guard should know me and have something more relevant to say. Maybe it's that I feel he should know whether it's morning, afternoon or night and should respond accordingly. Maybe I should spend some time at Bed, Bath and Beyond or Home Depot but I don't think I'm going to have time. One thing I do know is that the next time he says "Have a good one", I'm going to ask him "Have a good what?" and see what happens.

What nonsense sayings make your blood boil. Leave a comment and we'll discuss.

DC Police Crack Down on Driving While Talking

Taken from NBC4's website:

WASHINGTON -- District of Columbia police said they are increasingly handing out citations to people who drive while talking on a cell phone.D.C. law requires drivers who want to talk on a cell phone while driving to use a hands-free device.City officials said police issued about 8,300 tickets for talking on cell phones while driving last year. In 2005, there were about 7,500 tickets issued for the action, an increase in 2006 of about 11 percent.

Police said they are now stepping up efforts to crack down on the offense, giving $100 citations for talking while driving. Authorities said they still give warning tickets for illegal cell phone use but not always.The hands-free cell phone law has been in place in the District since late 2004.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said the key to safety is driver education and visible enforcement. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration andthe Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, nearly 80 percent ofstudied crashes are caused by driver inattention. The groups cite cellular telephone use as a common distraction.

First Tuesdays in Adams Morgan

Just like U Street's Third Thursday Shopper Social, Adams Morgan MainStreet hosts the first Tuesday Shop & Eat Special.

New this month is chic Urban Escape Salon, written up in the best magazines, which is offering 20% off of all color services. And check out the brand new store for Shake Your Booty, newly opened at 2206 18th St NW with 15% off of all the new Spring Arrival shoes, and the 18% store-wide sale at Toro Mata.

Check out the deals below...

Restaurants: Food and drink for two persons for $25 (plus tax)
The Grill From Ipanema (1858 Columbia Rd NW)
Chloe (2473 18th St. NW)
Saki (2477 18th St. NW)
Bossa Bistro (2463 18th St. NW)
Left Bank (2424 18th St NW)
La Fourchette (2429 18th St. NW)
Felix (2406 18th St NW)
Bourbon (2321 18th St. N.W.)
Tom Tom (2333 18th Street NW)
Spaghetti Garden (2317 18th St. NW)
Duplex Diner (2004 18th St. NW)
L'Enfant Café (2000 18th St. NW) after 8pm
El Tamarindo (1785 Florida Ave. NW)

Retail: Sales of 10% - 30% off selected items or store-wide
Fleet Feet (1841 Columbia Rd. NW)
Miss Pixie's (2473 18th St NW)
Toro Mata Art & Furnishings of Peru (2410 18th St. NW)
Kobos African Clothiers (2444 18th St. NW)
Brass Knob Architectural Antiques (2311 18th St. NW)
Shake Your Booty (2206 18th St. NW)
The District Line (2118 18th St NW)
Skynear Furnishings (2122 18th St. NW)
Meeps Vintage (2104 18th St. NW)
DeVinos (2001 18th St. NW)
Urban Escape (1781 Florida Ave. NW )

Weekend Picks

Saturday
Head down to our second home - the Front Page - to watch the DC Idiotarod. Registration is already closed so we will have to join in on the fun next year, but I'm sure it will be just as fun as a spectator. Teams will race around the city in decked-out shopping carts going from bar to bar all for charity.

Saturday Night
The ONLY place to be Saturday night is at the Spy Lounge. From what I understand, there are 4 fabulous people who are all celebrating their birthdays with a killer party there. Make sure to wish them a happy birthday and buy them free drinks!

Sunday
If you aren't hungover from Saturday night's birthday bash like most of us will be, then head down to the National Gallery of Art to check out the Rembrandt's Prints and Drawings Exhibition before it ends March 18th. While you are there, make sure you head to the East Building on the Concourse Level for some gelato!

Sunday Night
Another Birthday will be celebrated this weekend. Marian McPartland's 89th Birthday celebration will include a concert and special guests at the Kennedy Center. For those who don't know, Marian McPartland is a pianist who has a weekly show on NPR called Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz. Random fact: Piano Jazz is produced in Columbia, SC at ETV, which is where I also interned one summer. Half of my time during the internship was spent working on Piano Jazz so I got to edit a few of her shows.

A Hidden Gem

Yesterday I spent the day at the DC Guesthouse for our team retreat. It is a great little hidden gem two blocks from the Convention Center. While technically a B&B, they also do meetings, dinners and receptions (up to 40 people) there. It is run by four fabulous guys (at least the ones we met were great) who split up the duties based on their specialities (cooking, public relations, decor, ect.). They bought the place in the mid 90s, and lived there for awhile before moving to the back of the house and opening up the B&B. It has this great eclectic but modern look to it - definitely atypical from any B&B I've been in . The food was also amazing. For desert we had this poached pear that had been soaking for six days.

At the end of our retreat we got a tour of the place. Its very DC with all of the different culture influences. A lot of eclectic art mixed in with African pieces. I loved the green room the best. Most of the rooms have private bathrooms and all have tv/satellite and wireless Internet. I will definitely be having my parents stay here next time they come for a visit.

Anyways, next time you are in need of a place for visitors to stay, are planning a work meeting or a wedding reception - make sure to check out this place!

since when do stores have myspace pages?

welcome to the first post in the "fashionista wannabe" thread.

i don't know what happened but last weekend, while staring into my closet, all i could think was "i have absolutely nothing to wear". i couldn't decide on shoes or a shirt (thankfully i remedied my jeans crisis a month ago, when i hopped on the skinny jeans bandwagon). thus began a week long obsession with surfing the internet for deals and finally buying the grown up heels i've been craving as well as a cute new shirt from a trendy little boutique i ran across last night.

so a few weeks ago, i discovered that we had a loehmann's in friendship heights. and more exciting than that, after i signed up for my little discount card i got an email notifying me of their website. this saves me the trip of heading all the way up the redline, but really there is nothing like cruising the racks for the perfect find. they have a TON of shoes though, and if you know what brands you like, i would definitely look into that section of the site.

La'Vand, a boutique that represents itself as THE cool place to acquire your going out fashion, professes to carry a very limited number of each item (6-10) so that "only 5 other people in the area will own the same thing". more impressive was that the fashions were actually affordable...of all the clothes i tried on nothing was more than $50...they don't have sales, but hey, who cares. the sales woman picked out like 20 shirts for me saying i had to see how they looked on, and to her credit, she was right! They have a plethora of patterned prints and modern silhouettes that you can easily work into your existing wardrobe. The downsides were that a lot of the stuff was synthetic material like polyester and some shiny stuff that i typically try to avoid. and, with all the styles being from NY and LA, things ran a size smaller, which was ok in shirts but so not cool when i had to try on a pair of size 11 jeans and they fit like a glove (a really sexy glove, but still, no one wants to go from a 6-8 to an 11!). Hilariously, La'Vant has its own myspace page, which shows you its taking itself a bit too seriously. Its located in Pentagon Row, right around the corner from DSW.

btw, i just want to give a shout out to the D-S-W. i was trying to find a picture of the nicole miller shoes i bought and i can't find them on any of the major shoe websites...nada. they had at least 5 pairs of her shoes there and a decent range of sizes. i had plenty of shoes to pick from. and though my toes still are screaming for the return of my clunky clogs, these were by far the most comfortable pair of the bunch.

Moonshadow moonshadow

Saturday's lunar eclipse will be visible in DC at moonrise.

See http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/OH/OH2007.html#2007Mar03T

I wonder where liquor stands

Evidently, Wine drinkers have better health than beer drinkers. This is a classic "No Carb" diet v.s. "Portion Control" question. The article suggests that beer drinkers buy less healthy foods but I ask, when can you ever buy the equivalent of a Keg of wine? Sure, a box of wine might be similar to buying a 30 pack as far as alcohol content but a keg of beer is over 5 times that. Just about the only thing that beer drinkers have going in their favor is that with the extra volume, you've got to pee a lot more often.

If you're looking for beer and $2 Corona and Miller Lights aren't your thing, the Brickskeller is near Dupont Circle on 22nd and P and has a huge beer list (claims the world's largest), although they don't always have all of the beers and they're almost all in bottles. If draft beer is more your style, RFD, near Gallery Place/Chinatown at 7th, claims to have D.C.'s largest tap. Both bars are owned by the same company although the ambiance is completely different at each with the Brickskeller being much more of a dive bar and RFD being a pick-up joint.

I haven't been to any of the "wine bars" in the District though I hear that Mendocino near Georgetown on 29th and M and Urbana near Dupont at 21st and P are the places to be.

High-speed car chases... do the criminals ever get away?

I woke up this morning to the news covering a high speed police chase. It went just as you can imagine - car was stolen, police chased it, car crashed into several things but continued to try and outrun the cops, and of course eventually ran into a telephone poll where the police were able to apprehend him. Now, we will save the whole discussion of why the public is so obsessed with police chases for another day since I have no answer for that... but I did stay and watch it all play out, making myself late for the gym.

But it got me thinking - do the criminals ever get away? I don't understand why anyone would try and outrun a cop. It can never end good and you would inevitably end up in a lot more trouble then when you started. In Georgia, an idiot teenager decided to flee from the cops and when the cops tried to get him to pull over by tapping the bumper of his car, his car ended up rolling over several times and the teenager ending up paralyzed. Now this issue is heading for the supreme court this week to see if using "deadly force" is unconstitutional. I find it ridiculous. More than 350 people die each year as a result of a high speed chase and I'm guessing a lot of those deaths are innocent bystanders. Police should be able to do whatever necessary to get them off the road. Luckily it looks like the supreme court will be siding with the police.

Anyways - back to whether or not criminals can outrun the cops... the New Yorker gives it about a 20% chance:

The cops like to say that no one gets away, but about twenty per cent of suspects do, often because the police call off the pursuit when it starts to get too dangerous. Motorcyclists, who can go faster than cops in patrol cars, fare particularly well. But, once police helicopters are over the suspect, his escape window closes. Depending on where in the county the pursuit begins, this gives him (and, nearly all of the time, the suspect is male) about five to ten minutes to try to shake free before aerial backup arrives.

I still think its stupid.

(And yes, I know - this is definitely my most random post thus far!)

Heart Health - It's not just for Dick Cheney anymore...

In honor of something other than his heart almost killing Cheney, here are some tips for keeping your heart healthy...

Nine secrets to a healthier heart
1. Get milk
A new study sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute found that, among people who didn't eat a lot of saturated fat, those who consumed more than three daily servings of milk, yogurt, or cheese had systolic blood pressure (the top number) almost four points lower than those who ate only half a serving daily. High blood pressure can damage your arteries, increasing your risk for -- heart attacks and stroke. Researchers say low-fat dairy is the smart choice, because it's lower in saturated fat. (Health.com: Simple ways to add years to your life. )

2. Try new moves
Thirty minutes of tai chi -- a gentle Chinese martial art that includes sequences of slow, relaxing movements -- may also lower your blood pressure. In one study, after 12 weeks of tai chi, participants showed a decrease in systolic pressure of almost 16 points.

3. Go fishing
How fast your heart beats when you're at rest can be an indicator of heart attack risk. In fact, higher resting heart rates have been linked to an increased risk of sudden death. The good news is that eating fish can lower your heart rate. In a new Harvard Medical School study, people who ate five or more servings per month of fish such as tuna or salmon (baked or broiled) averaged 3.2 fewer beats per minute than those who ate less than one serving per month. Researchers credit the omega-3 fatty acids in fish, though it's not clear how they help.

4. Hit the juice
Pomegranate juice seems to stave off hardening of the arteries -- and may - even reverse it. A recent study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that pomegranate juice reduced the rate of cholesterol plaque buildup in mice by 30 percent. And heart cells treated with the juice showed a 50 percent increase in the production of nitric oxide, a substance that helps fight plaque. There are plenty of tasty ways to take your medicine: More than 130 pomegranate products were introduced in 2006.

5. Sprinkle on the soy
A daily dash of dark soy sauce (not light) in marinades, dipping sauces, salad dressing, or soups and stews can help fight heart-damaging sub-stances linked to smoking, obesity, or diabetes, according to research from the National University of Singapore. The sauce has 10 times the antioxidants in wine, which is also heart-healthy (in moderation). But watch out: Soy sauces often have a ton of salt, which can raise blood pressure. Check labels for lower-salt versions.

6. Laugh it up
Something for your funny bone: People who watched comedy films like "There's Something About Mary" had better blood flow, compared with those who watched dramas like "Saving Private Ryan," according to a study at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. Principal researcher Michael Miller, M.D., director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology, recommends 15 minutes of daily laughter.

7. Don't skimp on sleep
Women who sleep less than five hours each night have a 30 percent higher risk of heart disease than those getting eight hours, according to a study from the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Too little sleep may play havoc with your hormones, blood sugar, and blood pressure. (Health.com: Check out the latest medical breakthroughs for the heart. )

8. Breathe deeper
You can lower your blood pressure by taking 10 breaths per minute (instead of the usual 16 to 19) for 15 minutes a day over two months, studies show. Researcher David Anderson, Ph.D., a hypertension expert at the National Institute on Aging, says shallow breathing (more beats per minute) may delay your body's excretion of salt, a high-blood-pressure trigger.

9. Feel the beat
A group of University of Oxford researchers found that slow, meditative musical rhythms can lead to a healthy drop in heart rate, while faster rhythms speed up breathing and circulation. Got Sheryl Crow on your iPod? Try mixing in some smooth jazz, too.

Mastodon Does Indeed Rock

Unlike most people who listen to the genre, I was not into heavy metal as a kid. My parents kept me pretty sheltered musically, and these days I wonder if I shouldn't seek therapy for all the Neil Diamond they made me listen to. But in my mid-twenties, I've discovered metal for myself and I've learned to see it for more than loud guitars and screamed lyrics. After seeing Mastodon at the 9:30 Club last Saturday, I've learned that a metal band can possess a technical brilliance rarely seen in rock. I watched in amazement as fingers flew across the fret boards, producing sounds I didn't think were possible from a guitar. The drumming incorporated jazz elements, albeit about a hundred times faster than any jazz drummer has ever dreamed of going. There were moments I felt as though I was watching a symphony as the various elements blended into a virtuoso sound. And that sound was loud. Very, very loud. Standing in the very back of the room, I thought I would be manly and decline the earplugs my friend offered me. About three songs in I changed my mind as the double kick bass drum threatened to rip my eardrums out of my head.
I will say that Mastodon is not for everyone. But it was one of the most exhilarating shows I have seen in a while. I highly recommend checking out their new CD, Blood Mountain, as well as visiting their website (www.mastodonrocks.com).

Weather Alert

I'm sitting at my desk and the Weather Alert email from DC.gov pops up in my inbox ruining my dreams of a sunny weekend. Must they spoil a perfectly good Friday afternoon by alerting people of freezing rain for Sunday?? Though i suppose by posting this, I could be spoiling your Friday afternoon as well. So sorry!

Winter storm watch for the Metropolitan Area for late Saturday night to late Sunday night. Saturday night; Chance of freezing rain, snow and sleet after midnight. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Sunday; Freezing rain and sleet likely in the morning and then rain in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.

Weekend Picks - All about the Oscars

Use this weekend to catch up on all of the Oscar nominated films...

The National Archives is holding a an Oscar-Nominated Film Screening for films in the documentary and short film category. You can catch an Inconvenient Truth Friday at 7; My Country, My Country Saturday at 7; or the movie I HIGHLY recommend - Jesus Camp - Sunday at 4. Saturday afternoon you can catch the Live Action Short Film Nominees at noon or the Animated Short Film Nominees at 4. If you are free Sunday afternoon check out the Documentary Short Subject Nominees at noon. For the full schedule go here.

Now if you still are trying to catch up on watching all of the movies in the Best Picture category, you can spend all day AND night at a local AMC Theatre for their Best Picture Showcase. The price is $30 for all 5 nominated movies and unlimited popcorn and sodas. Unfortunately you have to go to Virginia to watch the movies. You can find more information here.

Once you are all caught up head to one of the local oscar viewing parties...

Felix's Oscar Night Party
Felix's annual party has the awards (with sound) on seven flat screen TVs, discounted drinks and a special $25 three-course menu. As always, there are cocktails named after the nominees; "Borat's Blast" (grape vodka, ginger, pear puree and honey) and the "Little Miss Sunshine" (vodka, berry liqueur and lemon topped with champagne) sound like the best bets. Bring a can of food for the Capital Area Food Bank and you'll get a free beverage; dress like a movie star and you could win $100 in the look-alike contest.

Oscar Night at LeftBank
The people who brought us the 007 party a couple months ago are back with another black tie event. The Awards Viewing Party at Leftbank starts with an open bar from 6 to 7, has all the action on two six-foot projection screens and Tiffany gift certificates for guessing the most Oscar winners correctly. There's also a cash prize for the most glamorous male and female outfits. RSVP now at oscarnightdc.com.

and the oscar goes to...

as i try my best to surf away the last 15 minutes of the work day, i ran across this site where you can pick your "lineup" for oscar winners! its like fantasy football for those of us who, well, don't watch football (or at least not enough to have favorite teams). this post can also serve as a public service announcement for those of us who *gasp* forgot the oscars were on sunday, the 25th :)

Commute? What Commute?

As has been thoroughly detailed in this space, my wife and I walk to work every day. Unfortunately, once a year, I have to go to the "home" office in Herndon, VA (out by Dulles Airport). Having no car, I am typically limited to public tranportation but fortunately, this time I am borrowing Stephanie's (you're welcome) car for the trip. I expect the drive to take approximately an hour which, compared to the two hours it would take via public transit, is managable. I can't imagine what people that live in Front Royal do when their commute is 2 hours each way!

Oh - I do have style :)

Ok - I have to amend my earlier post. Project Beltway did post my picture! :)

Apparently I have no style

Saturday night as I made my way down U Street, I was stopped by 2 girls who wanted to take a picture of my coat (the yellow one) for a new blog they have started called Project Beltway.

The site reads "I started Project Beltway because I was tired of hearing that Washingtonians have no sense of style. In a city where power dictates fashion, instead of the reverse, Project Beltway will go beyond the power suits and prove that the nation’s capital has a style as interesting as the people shaping its unique culture. What better way to play style anthropologist than through a literal and figurative snapshot of Washington residents?"

Its always nice to be complimented on my style so I agreed to the picture. I went to the site this morning only to find that I didn't make the cut. I guess I don't have style! Oh well - though i must say - my coat is much cuter then this fur jacket!

Weekend Picks

Washington Post has their Nightlife Agenda; Daily Candy has the Weekend Guide and now I give you my picks for the weekend:


Friday Night
Lejeune is playing on the mainstage at BlackCat at 9pm. $10 at the door.


Saturday Night
Jammies and Jamenson at Asylum in Adams Morgan

Now usually this is somethign I would totally be against - women in lingere pillow fighting while men swoon over them getting drunk off whiskey but now i'm just totally intriqued as to what type of women would participate in this! Check out the video on the Proffessional Pillow Fighting Leauge here.

Sunday
Chinese New Years Parade


This year will be the year 4705, the Year of the Boar. In the Chinese legend people born in the Year of the Boar are known to be pure of heart, generous and kind. Possessing inner strength and courage, they can take on any task and are driven by a passion for life. A Boar friend is one who listens, is sincere and trustworthy.

Head down to Chinatown Marching bands, lion and dragon dancers, clowns and other performers. A five-story high firecracker will be lit - whatever that means! Festivies run from 2-5pm Sunday.

Monday
What better way to spend the cold, snowy President's Day then ice skating at the National Gallery of Art's Sculpture Garden. Admission is $7 with another $3 for skate rental.

Afterwards stop by Jaleo at Gallery Place for their Paella Festival. Happy Hour from 5-6 will include free Paella samples.

Ozio Sucks!

As a follow-up to Nick's post - Ozio Sucks. As planned, we made an effort to get there this week, but 2 steps inside the door we smelled an oddly reminiscent stench from the pre-2007 DC bar scene - SMOKE. Apparently Ozio is one of the few bars in DC where you can still spark up your cancer kazoos. Of course some of you may be thanking me for pointing this out as you were looking for this last bastion of tobacco, but for most of us that's a big deal-breaker for happy hour hot spot status.

The good news is that right next door was The Daily Grille. We secured a cozy spot in the bar and discovered their $2.95 happy hour appetizer menu. Between 3-6 you get happy hour size portions of about 10 of their appetizers. We ordered a handful and they were fantastic. No drink specials, though so it's not all good. But, it's another option to consider in the rotation...

Coordinating happy hour.

For some reason, I tend to be the one who coordinates happy hour. I'm sure my unwillingness to go somewhere I don't want to contributes to my typically being HHHIC (Head Happy Hour-er In Charge) but I like to think that it's my passion and drive. Making plans for next week's happy hour before this week's happy hour ends can't hurt.

I have been wanting to go to Ozio for a few weeks now but it has never seemed to work out. Last week, after the happy hour fairy again failed to deliver my wish, I proclaimed that I was going to Ozio for happy hour if I had to go by myself. We are going to Ozio but events have transpired this week leading to quite a happy hour schedule.

As it stands now, I am heading to Ozio after work (about 5-ish) only to leave to meet former co-workers, and Kristin, at Capitol City on 11th and H street at 6. The co-workers are not a late night crowd so I expect that party to wind down no later than 8 (probably earlier) at which point, Kristin and I will head for the Front Page. Thank god for the 42 bus (up and down connecticut avenue to H street).

Rave Review: Acadiana

Nick and I enjoyed a Valentine's dinner last night at Acadiana, 901 New York Ave, NW. I'd been eying this place since it opened, but hadn't heard any reviews compelling enough to put it at the top of the list. However, when making late V-Day reservations on Monday, I didn't have many choices and decided to give it a try. That was a very good decision. Acadiana is part of the restaurant group that owns other DC favs, such as DC Coast, Tenh Penh, and Ceiba. An ode to New Orleans cuisine, Acadiana's menu features all the traditional dishes - gumbo, jambalaya risotto, BBQ Shrimp, and of course hot bisquits to start. Last night they offered a 3-course menu with quite a few options for the starter and main course. I had a hard time choosing, as they all sounded so good. I ended up going with the beet salad, BBQ Shrimp, and the Vanilla Bean and Rose Water Creme Brulee. Nick chose the chicken and sausage gumbo, Roast filet of beef with buttermilk mashed potatoes, and the espresso cake. They started us off with the most amazing bisquits - hot, buttery, and served with a cream cheese and pepper jelly spread. Divine. They they brought an amuse bouche to start, it was a crawfish wonton that was just enough spicy and piping hot. My salad was phenomenal - thinly sliced red beets, goat cheese, spiced pecans, spring greens, and a honey vinagrette. It was one of the best salads I've had in ages. Nick was also a big fan of the gumbo. Our main courses were also terrific, although mine a bit salty for my taste. Finally, my dessert was a huge serving of creme brulee with both the creamy custard and the sugar crust perfectly executed - I at it all! Nick was less excited about the espresso cake, but I had a taste and thought it was excellent - light and airy with a fragrant rasberry coulis. In a final nice touch, they sent us home with a box of truffles to enjoy later. MMMM.

For the decor, the restaurant isn't much to write about, muted tones make it look almost dingey - as if it's been around awhile and not just a year. But I did like the eclectic chandeliers and the wait staff's chef coats. Fortunately the excellent food far outweighed any cosmetic criticisms and the bar looked like a place I'd like to visit again too. The prices were also on the high end, but I we felt like it was worth it for the food. I'd definitely recommend giving Acadiana a try, especially if you like New Orleans cuisine!

seriously people, its just snow

does anyone else feel like new mayor adrian fenty totally let us down in our first major snow storm? i thought it was bad enough that i didn't see any plows out at 7am wednesday morning . I mean, i heard this snow was anticipated as of saturday -- if that's not enough warning, i don't know what is. however, with the two hour delay for the government, i was willing to cut him some slack as i was only the second person to even venture out of my neighborhood on foot. i fully expected my neighbors to fall down on the job. this is dc, so it didn't surprise me that only 2 houses had shoveled their sidewalks in a 5-block walk to the metro and that this morning all that unshoveled snow had been walked on and compressed into lumpy, icy death traps. what did surprise me was that the sidewalks that fall into the public domain were still encased in snow a full 24 hours after the initial snowfall and causing some serious pedestrian back up by the foggy bottom metro. we are talking about entire sections of sidewalk just totally abandoned by the district of columbia. its by a hospital for goodness sakes! people in wheelchairs and crutches are much more likely to be frequenting the area. and considering that this is a relatively nice part of the area that the city typically caters to pleasing, i don't even want to know what areas in ne & se dc looked like. needless to say, with the warmest year on record (or something close to it) i think the city could have brought out all the stops for our one snowstorm. for shame, fenty, for shame.

Reading the Classics

So I recently signed up with DailyLit which is a site that brings books right into your inbox in convenient small messages that take less than 5 minutes to read. I thought it sounded like a great way to read some of the classics I've always wanted to. I am starting with Marcel Proust's Swann's Way. If Steve Carell in Little Miss Sunshine can be the foremost Proust scholar in the U.S., then I certainly read a segment of it on email once a day! The only problem is that b/c it comes in short messages, it takes awhile to get through an entire novel. I finished the 2nd fragment of Swann's Way today. Only 204 more to go...

Come on snow day!!

It sounds like Tuesday or Wednesday may be our best hope for a snow day. I can't even remember the last time I stayed home for work because of the snow so I am crossing my fingers! I could use a day off to play in the snow. Who's up for finding a hill to sled down? Two high school girls were so desperate for a snow day in Ohio that they got arrested for posting a snow day on the school's website. I'm not that desperate but I would be grateful for anyone who can make a snow day happen!

Cabs and Metro

So DDOT is finally doing something right...maybe. They are making taxicab zone maps easier to read. Of course when I heard that DC has redrawn the metro maps, I assumed they actually redrew the zones to make them easier to figure out and understand... but no - they just turned the map so that north actually faced north. What a genius idea!

In other news... WMATA is finally taking note of all of us short people who ride the metro. It is about time. If I'm stuck with only the overhead bar to hang onto during the ride, i have to basically be on pointe. Hopefully not anymore!

To dog... or not to dog

They say a dog is a man's (or in my case a woman's) best friend. Which is why I bring this to my group of best friends for discussion. I want a dog. I mean, I really want a dog.

The pros/cons list:

-- What could possibly make you happier than seeing the cutest little thing alive (aside, of course, from Logan Coltrane Hayes) waiting for you when you get home? To be unselfish about it, there are a lot of really adorable, friendly dogs in shelters that need a good home. Granted my studio probably provides roughly the same amount of square footage as his/her cage in the shelter, they are in a much better environment in my apartment. Look at Leah, Sadie, and Isabella. These precious puppies deserve a better home! I can also get a puppy that is already crate trained and house broken.

-- On the nice days in DC, I'll have this constant companion to take to the National Mall or the coffee shop or just lay in Dupont Circle with. I have a doggie park less than a block away from my apartment and there are dogs all over my neighborhood that he/she can be friends with. We can go on hikes to Great Falls. I do these things anyway so it's not like this will be an inconvenience. On the other hand, on the miserably cold mornings (i.e. today) and other times when it's raining, having a dog can be a pain the butt. But it's only an hour out of my day that would really be inconvenienced by this. Correct? Oh yea, and I'm not sure if I'm allowed to have a dog in my apartment... details...

-- Dogs offer companionship, loyalty, and tons of fun. Granted they sometimes bark (I have no issue with a bark collar) and pee on the floor (so does Nick when he's drunk), but I feel like these will all just pale in comparison to the fun times!

-- Did I mention that puppies are just so darn cute??!! Which might make me want to stay home more often than not. Thursdays are sacred, of course, but I'd have to come home before happy hour and come home early to play with the little one. These are minor though, though, don't you think? I can also have someone come to my apartment and walk the dog for me if we have an event where I can't get home.

Now it's your turn. Chime in with your votes of yay and nay. Understand that this will be a community puppy and, if you so chose, will be available for play dates all the time.

It's been a long time...

Lost is finally back with a new episode tonight, but I'm not really excited about it. Maybe it's been too long since the last new episode, or maybe this season just hasn't been that interesting/suspenseful/entertaining/etc.

That doesn't mean I'm not going to watch tonight's show though. I found this season three refresher on another blog: http://buzzsugar.com/128919

Corduroy = Just OK

So I've been hearing about Corduroy for months - many DC blogs have featured it and it seems to be a restaurant week favorite. I finally had an opportunity to go there for lunch and had great expectations for the meal......I'm sad to report, I was less than thrilled. Here's why:

1) Overall ambiance - Um, it's a hotel restaurant and nothing more. There was nothing interesting about the restaurant and the only real 'touch' was the corduroy covered menu. Of course decor isn't everything, but at those prices, it's something

2) Wait staff - SUB-PAR. I really can't stand in fancy restaurants when the staff tries to be formal and just ends up being bad. It was slow, unattentive, and our server really had no interest in us what so ever. Our entree plates weren't cleared for over 15 min after we were clearly done eating. That just gets gross.

3) Food - It was just ok too. Nothing inventive - as I'd heard about - and my soup was cold and too fishy. And the worst of the worst - I found a hair in my salad.....big yuck. By that point though I didn't feel like telling the server. She just wouldn't have been helpful.

With that review, I have to say I doubt I'll be back. Aside from the good company and the chance to eat out, I think I'd rather eat my ABP Broccoli Cheddar Soup and Ciabatta roll for $4.00! Now that I've crossed that one off my list I need to find a next restaurant to try....any recommendations????

So NOT Washington

The Washington Post ran an article entitled So Washington where readers wrote in experiences that could only happen in D.C. I really liked the premise of the article but I've lived in D.C. for over 3 years and I have never experienced anything close to the stories in this column. Evidently, the Post wants everyone to think that you have to be a Policy Wonk to enjoy this city. How about including the drag queen race on 17th street or Adam's Morgan day? Nightmare on M Street? Any number of happy hours? The rest of us living here would sure appreciate a view of the city that goes beyond the Hill.

It's called a schedule

The author of this post on the D.C. Metroblogging site should stop complaining and be happy that he was on a bus in the first place. For background, the S1, S2 and S4 buses are my bus route. They travel straight down 16th street from Silver Spring to K street or the White House (my stop) and continue to either the State Department at 22nd and E or the National Mall at 10th street and Constitution.

Typically, my wife and I walk the 10 blocks to work but with the sub-zero wind chill the past few days, we've taken the bus. These buses are supposed to run on a schedule, posted at every bus stop, but some bus driver heroes speed through their route, making the schedule worthless. This causes gaps in service which produces huge delays and crowds of people. If you're not at one of the major stops like U street, 10 buses will pass by completely full, letting people off a block before the actual stop so they don't take on more passengers, and then 5 buses will arrive at the same time that are all empty.

Why can't WMATA, the Washington metro authority, do something about this? Obviously somebody there understands that a schedule is an important part of public transportation, otherwise there wouldn't be one in the first place. If drivers were told what time to be at certain stops, the schedule would work and noone would have to wait half an hour for a bus!

One amazing night

I spent last night at the Kennedy Center and it was definitely ranks up there with one of the coolest things I have done in DC. Thanks to Maggie and her co-worker with the mad connections, I was invited to the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Millennium Stage. Most of you have seen a performance at the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center, but for those who don't know about it - the Millennium Stage holds free performances every night at 6pm. Last night they celebrated 4,000 performances.

First up, a trip to the Target Lounge. Target is a huge sponsor of the Millennium Stage so they decked out a room on the terrace level of the Kennedy Center in everything Target - it was pretty crazy! They had 2 chocolate fountains, an entire table full of red and white candy with ice cream cones as plates and pomegranate champagne. It was a great start to the night.

The first performance was the National Symphony Orchestra. I have seen them play before, but not in this setting - they were pretty impressive. Oh, and the co-workers friend who got us the tickets is the President of the Kennedy Center, so we were sitting in his box... yes - very cool.

Next up, the amazing Alvin Ailey American Dance Company. Truly amazing! I could have stayed there all night watching them. Not only did we have the best seats in the house (again in the president's box) but the dancing and choreography was just amazing. The company has performances the next week at the Kennedy Center. I am definitely going back! I can't even describe it. This performance was Revelations and each dance was a story set to great gospel music. Don't take my word for how good it is though - check it out yourself here.

Finally we headed to the Opera House for a performance by Sufjan Stevens. Now at this point, it was a bit late and I still wasn't feeling well, but after running into a friend who said he waited out in the cold for 4 hours to get tickets to the show, I started getting excited. This show must be amazing. Apparently I have been hiding under a rock b/c I have never heard of Sufjan Stevens. He seems to have a cult-like following though. His music is very indie-rock and usually his performances are a bit out there. Today he was dressed in a suit and tie and not wearing butterfly wings. He was also accompanied by the Kennedy Center's Opera House Orchestra so his sound might have been a bit different. I loved most of his songs, the accompaniment and how he utilized all instruments on stage. However, I still think I was missing something. There would be times during the performance that every instrument, from the guitar and piano down to the violins and flutes, would make the worst noise it could manage to the point that I started getting a headache. It wasn't what I had anticipated from a show where people waited overnight in the cold for tickets. For the most part though, it was a great show.

The night was truly great. Box seats for amazing performances at the nation's theater. Not sure how we can top this one!

F*&%$*&ing WMATA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, I'm not an especially anxious or confrontational person, but this morning's wait for the bus on 16th Street almost drove me to my breaking point - just ask my husband, he had to witness the whole scene. We almost never ride the bus, but for the past week it's been very chilly and walking the 2 miles just hasn't seemed like a good idea. However, because the city of DC and it's transportation system is apparently unable to deal with the cold, as well, taking the bus is apparently also not a good idea. Every day we stand there waiting for one of 3 different bus lines to pick us up, but bus after bus drives by full of people - or not full of people and driving by anyways. They come 4 at a time and then none for like 15 min. This morning the second we stepped out our front door 2 buses drove by empty, I knew then we were screwed. The next 20 minutes standing out there as no fewer than 10 buses drove by, were not good. I totally freaked out.

I just can't understand why WMATA can't figure out how to run a bus system on a schedule. I mean seriously, if the bus is running ahead of schedule it sits and waits at a stop until it's time to go, not just go racing at full speed towards the next stop!!!!! How is that so hard to figure out? Then when people come for the bus that is scheduled to come, there it is waiting for you - isn't that a novel idea. And, for crying out loud, I don't care if no one pulls the "next stop" chord, if you see people waiting at a bus stop in 2 degree weather - you fricking stop the bus and pick them up! And, when you know the route is seasonal and has heavier traffic when it is cold or super hot, you add more buses to the route -right?

Pardon my venting, but it's 10 a.m., my feet are still thawing out and I can't shake my bad mood. Is transportation just generally unbearable in extreme weather or is it just me? that's my thought of the day.....

A night on the "G"-Town

My wife was having girls night at the movies and I've been sick the past few days, was getting cabin fever and decided that Georgetown would be a good outing. I realized that although I have a plaque on the wall, for drinking all of their 80+ Bourbons, I haven't been to Old Glory in quite some time. After a few phone calls, I convinced Steve and his girlfriend to meet me there for drinks and food.

As I arrived, I noticed a large table finishing dinner filled with a bunch of Georgetown undergrad girls at what must have been a 21st birthday party. A table like that always draws attention but the number of gawkers was particularly high and it took me a minute to figure out why.

One of the quirks at Old Glory is that after you've gorged yourself on BBQ and comfort food, they give you a lollipop as an after dinner treat. I'm not sure how many licks it took any of those girls to get to the center but there were at least a few guys at the bar that could have told you the exact number if you'd asked.

I found a seat at the corner of the bar, sweet!, and ordered an Evan Williams bourbon, $6.50 and well worth it, straight up. My friends were running late but I was happily occupied with the University of Maryland basketball game playing on the TV. About 15 minutes after arriving, a British gentlemen sat down next to me and asked for a menu. We chatted briefly, he was in Washington to attend a conference this week on radio or something equally forgettable, but I remember him because when it came time to order, he had no idea what any of the items on the menu were. He was especially perplexed by pulled pork and collard greens and just couldn't figure out why there were so many sauces. He eventually settled on chicken but I think it was a safe option, not because he was particularly excited about it.

After another half an hour, Steve arrived with his girlfriend, something to do with him having to wash his hair. They ordered a bunch of food, I ordered another drink and the mac and cheese side. I was surprised to find that while the side was inexpensive, $4, it was quite a large portion. I guess that's what the menu meant by "sized to share." They're not kidding.

The corner of the bar we were sitting at was close proximity to the door and every time anyone entered or exited, we'd get a blast of cold air. It got downright chilly so after finishing dinner, we decided to move on to Mr. Smith's.

I've only ever been to Mr. Smith's for happy hour, $1.50 rails and 1/2 price appetizers, or to as a casual place to start the evening. During these times, it's never very crowded and a table/bar space is usually easily accessible. Evidently, 11pm on a Saturday is a completely different scene. The bouncer wasn't letting people in the front door because he was suggesting that everyone go upstairs to "give the top bar some business" which really meant "the first floor is so crowded it's impossible to move or get to the bar anyway." Fine, we'll play your game and walk up the fire-trap stairs to the third floor.

Thankfully, the top bar was a less crowded and we were able to get seats at the bar. Unfortunately, there was a small gap between the three of us and the next group down the bar which meant that every 5 seconds, someone attempting to order a drink would try to squeeze between the two groups. Compounding the problem was the completely inept bartender who kept forgetting what people ordered and could only make one drink at a time.

We ordered drinks, a vodka tonic for Steve, two bourbon and ginger ales for his girlfriend and I and began surveying the field. The majority of the crowd seemed so young that we questioned whether the bouncer downstairs actually looked at any one's IDs.

We were openly commenting on what time mom and dad were coming to pick everyone up from the dance when a very preppy looking guy walked up to the bar and ordered 12 beers. This caught my attention, of course, so I asked him where the party was which received a perplexed look back. Our friend explained that these beers were for him and his two buddies.

It turns out his name was Chase which Steve thought was the type of credit card he had. People like Chase are fun because they bring energy to the crowd and can be convinced to do crazy things.

I present Exhibit A: There was a large group of very drunk people who kept ordering shots next to us. At one point, I think they lost track of how many drinks they'd ordered and there were 3 shots of tequila sitting on the bar for a good 15-20 minutes. I suggest to Chase that I'll drink one if he does to which Chase responds by picking up two glasses, handing me one and taking his shot without a word. I take my shot and we never discuss the event, especially when the one sober girl looks down, realizes her shots were missing and complains.

After the shots, I introduced Chase to a few random girls, a couple of which were pretty cute and actually talked to him for a while before he went back to his people and the girls went downstairs. A short time later, the girls returned and I offered to reintroduce them to Chase but they declined, strongly. I didn't understand why until I looked at Chase who had a beer in each hand and two beers stuffed into each breast pocket, one on the right, the other on the left. Stay classy Chase, stay classy.

After one more drink, it was approaching 2am and it was time to go. At some point, fairly late into the evening, I mentioned that none of us had used the restroom so we made a bet for $5 each going to the last person to go. Steve was first to go, breaking the seal almost immediately after making the bet. His girlfriend put up a strong fight but she finally fell, netting me a cool $10 which, although we talked about going to another bar, I used to take a cab home. Overall, quite a good night.