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.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Thursday, March 1, 2007
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!
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.
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.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Moonshadow moonshadow
Saturday's lunar eclipse will be visible in DC at moonrise.
See http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/OH/OH2007.html#2007Mar03T
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.
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!)
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!)
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
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.
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.
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