Fall Faves

I have really been slacking lately on blogs (sorry about that). There is so much to tell....so many great places in DC around this time of year.

A couple of weekends ago, was my boyfriend's birthday. I wanted to get him away but was short on cash so I gave him a STAY-CATION. Genius, right?

We stayed two nights at the Hotel Rouge in Dupont Circle. It was perfect! Very swanky decor and excellent service. Our room was cute and breakfast was included. I cannot rave enough about it.

Fight breast cancer today

Join the National Breast Cancer on Lee National Denim Day. It is as easy as donating $5 and wearing jeans!

Oktoberfest

My two favorite things- beer and fall. So excited! Join me this Saturday in Shirlington to celebrate our German heritage. Thirty microbreweries + 4 oz samples = happiness.

Hard Times

My first experience at Hard Times was less than desirable (small restaurant in Rockville), but I have grown to love the Clarendon location. They just built a huge second story for games. My boyfriend is a huge fan! The prices are great, the food is good and crowd is always rowdy. This is definitely going on my best place to watch the football list.

Street Festival

Join me this Saturday in Clarendon. Free....festival....say no more.

Nationals

My organization gave each of us free tickets to last nights game against the Dodgers. I am not a huge baseball fan, but who doesn't enjoy being outside and drinking a beer. I was excited to hang out with coworkers and watch a good game. It turns out that many people decided to skip the game (maybe it was the 40% chance of rain factor) so I didn't really get to mingle with new faces. Plus, the Nats are not the best team in the world...apparently. At the bottom of the 5th, we were 8-2 and decided to call it a night. I have decided that it is only fun to watch team that are outstanding. That makes sense because I loved WVU football and basketball when I was in school; Colts games growing up; and several NFL teams now. Overall, I would say that a Nats game has its pros and cons. The food is way too expensive, but good. And the seats were free!

Movies in Crystal City

Free movies across from the Crystal City metro stop. Tonight Batman Begins is playing. On September 21st is The Dark Knight. Bring a blanket and a picnic. Show starts at dark.

Nats Stadium @ 7PM for a free opera! I will let you know how it is.

Fall Festival in Falls Church

Join the festivities at the Falls Church Festival on Saturday. Plenty of activities for the kids and food/wine for the adults.

Rosslyn Jazz Fest

Check out the jazz festival in Rosslyn tomorrow. Free is always good! See you there.

Jazz in the Sculpture Garden

If the rain clears, tonight is the last night of jazz in the sculpture garden. Maybe they will give us a rain date?

Blues Festival on Saturday

Don't miss the free all day Blues Festival this Saturday. If I were in town, this is where I would be.

Outdoor 80s Fest

Relax outdoors on Friday night - Ferris Bueller's Day Off is playing at the I love the 80s Festival in Rosslyn. The screening is just two blocks from the Rosslyn Metro and parking is available across the street from Gateway Park at the Atlantic Parking Garage for $3 at 1901 and 1911 N. Ft. Myer Drive after 6 pm.

Beer

This is for you Eric. There are many arguably good places to have a beer in this town and I certainly have not discovered all of them. The breweries that I have been to include Rock Bottom, Gordon Biersch and Capitol City.

Rock Bottom in Ballston has a great atmosphere for watching a football game or hanging out with friends on the weekend. The food is decent with more options than the typical bar. I suggest the Radio Tower Red. Join the Mug Club to receive glasses, t-shirts and other prizes. Every Tuesday is trivia night (kinda nerdy, but really fun).

Capitol City in Shirlington is my pick if you want to sit outside and enjoy a refreshment. Their Amber Waves is my favorite red beer. The food is not so great. I took a couple of out of towners to the place last weekend and they were impressed. It is more about the beer and the atmosphere here. Check out Ocktober Fest on October 3rd- 30+ breweries, German food and band.

Gordon Biersch in Rockville or Tysons Corner has good food and beer. It has more of a restaurant feel which I find kind of boring. Try the Marzen.

Prost!

Me Gusta

If I had to rate my top cuisines it would probably go like this- 1. Mexican 2. Japonese 3. Indian. I never tire of salsa, guacamole, black beans...While at WVU, a Qdoba was built. R and I were repeat customers. There is just something special about making your own burrito. Since I moved to DC, I have tried a few other Mexican 'fast food' places. Near my work there is a Chipotle. It is not as good to me as Qdoba. The salsa is not as hot and the beans have more seasonings. California Tortilla in Clarendon does not hit the spot. I found the food to be blah. Moe's is near our house. I do love the salsa bar and that they greet you at the door with a loud "Welcome to Moe's". So the bottom line is that Qdoba rules and Moe's is a close second as far as fast burritos go.

Hello Cupcake

Free cupcakes at the Dupont location tomorrow, August 25th.

Restaurant Week

Try all the hip new restaurants this week! Oh the possibilities. Make reservations early!!

Best Lists

Everywhere I look there is a 'best list'. We in DC have best outdoor patio, best romantic restaurant, best lounge, best coffee joint, etc. I would like to keep adding to your personal best lists.

This morning R and I headed to the DMV at 7am(no, that is definitely not on any list with the word best in it). After we got that out of the way, to cheer me up, we headed to Busboys and Poets. I love the atmosphere and the food there! The Bloody Mary's are off the wall. The coffee is delicious. I don't think you can really go wrong here. Being a vegetarian who likes to eat organic and as healthy as possible, I am always happy with the selection. I would have to add Busboys and Poets to the best healthy food and best brunch lists. I haven't been at night yet to check out the music and bar scene.

Entertain Me

I was flipping channels the other night when I stumbled upon America's Got Talent. Sharon Osbourne said that she is a judge for the show because she wants to be entertained. Isn't that the same for all of us? After a long day of work, I need some pick me up TV shows or a good movie. Lately, I have become addicted to So You Think You Can Dance. Don't miss tonight's show!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4tuxWjqmeU

Tweet Tweet

I would not say I am extremely clever when it comes to new technology. I love blogging simply because it allows me to have a voice. Sometimes I feel lost in this big world and this is a place where someone hears me. Though I don't quite have a nation or following, but I think that comes with time.

"But words are things, and a small drop of ink,Falling, like dew, upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think." Lord Byron


I made the next step with my blog last night. I was so proud of myself that I had to show my boyfriend the side by side comparison of my blog, my new facebook blog profile and my new twitter profile. This is just the start to my writing.

Java high

I like to think that I am a connoisseur of many things- coffee being one. DC is letting me down. Why do I only have the choice of having caribou or starbucks? Ridiculous! So far I have found a few alternatives to keep me satisfied.

Perigrine espresso is my favorite. It is near Eastern Market- my weekend spot. They have many coffees to choose from. They use a method that I have not seen where they place the coffee in a filter and pour hot water over and let drip into mug. I also recommend the soy latte. Grab a coffee and sit outside this cute cafe.

I work near Farragut Square so the coffee options are not vast. If I am in need of a jolt, I usually walk over to Pret. I am always a fan of no perservatives, organic, fresh food. Their coffee is delicious!

Viva en Mexico

What a fabulous vacation- seriously the best timing for our week long stay in Akumal, Mexico (1 1/2 hours south of Cancun). I don't think I have ever been so relaxed. This was my first vacation alone with Ryan as well. Sure we have been to Spain, Italy, Dominican Republic, Hawaii, etc etc but always with other people. It is nice to know that we have a blast together.

I strongly recommend http://www.applevacations.com for everyone. They have such deals on all inclusive vacations. A representative is at every hotel to ensure that you are treated well. Apple also has great excursions for fishing, snorkeling, boating, whatever. I could not have been happier.

If you are in Riviera Maya, Mexico make sure to check out the Grand Oasis. The service was fantastic. It was a beautiful setting with the reef right off the shore. This resort is for those people who do not need royal treatment, just the bliss of sitting by the shore.

The classics

To spice up my life, I have decided to watch all the classic movies. Time Magazine has a good list as well as the New York Times. There is nothing better on a rainy day than cozing up on the couch. I am finding that after a difficult day at work, this also helps me unwind and forget about my issues for a while. So the following are reviews of the flicks I have seen in the last couple of weeks. A great place to find these types of movies is the library. TCM also plays plenty of classics.



All the President's Men:



This is one of the best movies I have seen about journalism. Made in the 1970's, it portrays the Watergate scandal in the perspective of two Washington Post reporters. The collaboration of Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford and Richard Nixon, in the most scandalous political tale of our time, Watergate. I highly recommend it. B+



Adaptation:



It is truly a bizzare and surreal experience. I have many friends who would find the genius in this movie, but I was not impressed. It is definately original, clever, experiemental and a movie that will leave some still perplexed with its mysteries. C



American Graffiti:

Love this 70s movie about cars, chasing girls and teen drama. It makes me wish I were able to live through a simpler time. A-

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof:

Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman at their sexiest. A truly enjoyable show. It starts a little slow so give it a chance. A

Oh the drama

Here's my list of TV shows currently on my tivo:

1. Medium
2. CSI (love this show)
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. The Mentalist
5. Lie to Me
6. Desperate Housewives
7. Castle
8. Law & Order SVU
9. American Idol (hooked on this season)
10. Cold Case
11. Private Practice
12. Gossip Girl (guilty pleasure)

And a list of movies you must see (just off the top of my head):

1. X Men: Wolverine
2. Tommy Boy
3. Elizabeth
4. Slumdog Millionaire
5. Gandhi
6. Momma Mia

The craziness that is my life

So, I had quite a strange weekend. My co-worker and I headed out for happy hour on Friday. Clarendon Grill has $1.75 bottles and, as it turns out, kick ass bands. What was supposed to be a couple of drinks turned into an all night affair. I made new friends, rocked out to oldies and danced my pants off. I noticed that I was acting a bit odd towards the end of the evening. I was overly sassy to my boyfriend and started to feel light headed. Feeling woozy is part of my routine- having blood sugar issues will do that to you. Only one other time in my life (roughly five years ago) have I blacked out. This happened after a couple of hours of rollerblading in the blazing hot heat of a Floridian summer. I had my blood sugar tested and discovered that I have hypoglycemia. The doctors suggested staying away from sugar and eating regularly, focusing on getting protein. Now, I am always snacking and have protein bars on me at all times. So, I was extremely surprised when I began to blackout again on Friday night. It started to get a little dark, I was dizzy and it felt like I needed to pop my ears. I grabbed onto my boyfriend's arm and he led me out the door. It was all a blur after that. Apparently I passed out for a few minutes and 911 was called. I woke up to my boyfriend's worried face as he was supporting my head. Everyone surrounding me thought I was just some drunk girl. The fact is that I had 2 beers that night. Feeling embarrassed, confused and scared Ryan loaded me into the car.

Nothing Better Than a Good Story

I love to read.

This may be a little bit of an understatement. Today, for instance, I finished Beautiful Boy by David Sheff. It is a heartfelt story of a father whose son is an addict. I was so into the book emotionally that I could barely function when I arrived at work. My co-workers were asking me 'what's wrong'. This world is what is wrong...not exactly, but I could feel the pain after finishing this one. Oh, woe is me.

Anyway, I am making another list (one of my favorite past times). Below is the list of books I am determined to read in the next month or two.

1. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

2. Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson

3. The Host by Stephanie Meyer

4. The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan

5. Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead

6. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

Becoming a Fan

Up until now I have been solely a football fan. My stepfather played in college and briefly in the pros, so growing up football was always on. I played powder puff in high school. My boyfriend is a huge Redskins fan! They are growing on me, but I still root for the Colts. I am also proud to say that I have won fantasy football the past three years (much to my guy friends dismay).

One of my friends love the Caps. I had the chance to go to 4 games this year and it is fantastic! Live sports is where its at. Make sure to cheer them on tomorrow in game 7 against the Penguins. Union Jacks in Ballston is where I will be....mechanical bull and drink specials, count me in.

Hiking it Home

It has been a hectic couple of weeks. I had a conference for work, then went to see my family this past weekend in Fairfield, CT. Fairfield is a quaint town on the beach, about an hour north of NYC. It is the type of place where kids still ride their bicycles to school and the neighboors all know eachother. Although it is not ideal for someone in their early 20s, I can see myself in a similar situation once I have kids. My little sister, who just turned 8, is experiencing what I would consider a perfect childhood.

Oddly enough, I missed old DC. The people are just different here...they are concerned with politics and are generally passionate about things outside their family life. Of all the places I have been so far in life, DC feels like home.

The trip up north can be a bit of a downer. I have driven, flown, taken the train, etc. This time I decided to chance taking a bus. I felt like saving a little money and it paid off. If you feel like taking a trip up to New York, I strongly recommend Bolt Bus. It was only $15 and took 4 hours!

Weekend Jig

Twins Jazz on U Street is a great start to an evening. We listened to an upbeat trio- sax, bass and piano. Since I had not been there before, I didn't realize the prices. It is a 2 drink minimum (no problem) and $15 cover. I would suggest Twins for a relaxed night out, maybe bringing a group or family members who would appreciate it. Come before 10 because it fills up quickly.

http://www.twinsjazz.com/index.htm

Local 16 was a hot spot Saturday night. It was wonderful to be outside on the rooftop deck. Everyone had the same idea since it was beautiful. Here is a tip for you: head to the back of the roof- you don't have to crowd around the entrance. Also, this is a good spot to pick up some cuties (not that I was looking).

http://www.localsixteen.com/

Since Local 16 decided to kick everyone out before 1, we headed over to Chi Cha Lounge. My friend had been there the previous weekend so the bouncers recognized her. We ended up getting a prime table in the back. I love the decor here....red walls and black rod iron. The orange peach hookah was yummy!

http://www.latinconcepts.com/chi-cha

Never Never Land

While the weather in Dc is warmer than the past month, it is still not the perfect spring temperatures that I need. I have been researching vacations for a good week. Here is what I can suggest to you: http://www.shermanstravel.com/ http://www.travelocity.com/
http://www.cruises.com/
http://www.beachvacations.com/

These are cheap travel recommendations, so those of you who have the cash for a dream vacation- I envy you. Jamaica, Puerto Vallarta, Costa Rica, Cancun, and Dominican Republic are the best destinations for the best price....try around $500 for an all inclusive 4 night stay. Sign me up!

Mondays happen

While getting my daily dose of crack (espresso) at Caribou, I noticed the writing on the barista's tshirt. It read "Mondays happen". That gave me a new perspective on today. Even though it may be a crappy rainy day, why can't I make the most of it? This line of thought is exactly why my co-workers tease me with the saying 'unicorns and rainbows'. Well, you only live once, right? Might as well live in the present. Today I will get everything off my to do list for work, pay my bills, research a vacation and make a kick butt dinner. What will you do?

Rather be Drinking a Beer

Today I will be reviewing my two favorite breweries- Rock Bottom & Capitol City.

Rock Bottom: http://www.rockbottom.com/

Located in Ballston, inside the mall. This restaurant has good food and great beer! I can't find much to complain about here. While most breweries have 'bar food', Rock Bottom has an upscale feel to the classics like Mac & Cheese and Mahi Tacos. They may not have the best happy hour specials around, but this place is always fun. Try the Radiotower Red or El Jefe Hefeweizen. If you go on Fridays, it is $5 for a 22oz mug with free refills.

Capitol City: http://www.capcitybrew.com/

Located in Shirlington. $5 appetizers until 7pm is hard to beat. I also thoroughly enjoy the Amber Waves beer. This is a great spot for a low key evening especially when it is nice enough to sit out on the patio. Don't expect much from the food though- the Porter Cheese Pretzel and Barbecue Nachos aren't bad.

EGGS- Plastic of course

If you are like me, Easter is about spending time with family- Easter eggs and brunch too. Here is a link to some great restaurants in the area.
http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?pid=228&m=9

Also, there are quite a few events that should be fun for kids of all ages. Who doesn't like finding candy in an egg hunt?

Eggstravaganza at Tudor Place April 11, 2009, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Egg hunt, egg roll contest and many more exciting games. Decorate your own eggs and even make a basket! Make sure to bring a basket, spoon, and one hard-boiled egg per child. Admission: Member Children: $7, Nonmember Children: $10, Adult Chaperone: $3.

Gadsby's Tavern Museum Easter Egg Hunt for History April 11, 2009, 11:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. 138 N. Royal Street Alexandria, Virginia (703) 838-4242. Bring your own Easter basket and help find the Tavernkeeper's Easter eggs while learning about Alexandria history. Reservations are required and specific tour times apply. The cost is $5 per adult and $3 per child ages 2 to 17.

Easter Egg Hunt at Ida Lee Park April 4, 2009, from 1 - 4 p.m.
Rt. 15/North King Street. Leesburg, Virginia (703) 777-1368. Leesburg Parks and Recreation Egg hunt with more than 15,000 eggs throughout Ida Lee Park. For ages 7 and under. Separate hunts for each age group. Other activities include a moon bounce, jumbo slide, fire truck train, and balloon artists. Admission is $6 per child in advance and $8 at the gate.

Easter Egg Hunts at Reston Zoo April 18-19, 2009. 9 a.m - 4 p.m.
1228 Hunter Mill Rd., Vienna, Virginia (703)757-6222. Visit this small family friendly zoo and enjoy an Easter egg hunt with pony rides, raffle tickets, candy, face painting, etc.

Meadowside Nature Center's Annual Easter Egg Hunt April 10, 2009, 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, Maryland (301) 924-4141. Search for eggs through meadows and woods, decorate the eggs and visit with a rabbit and learn some bunny facts. Bring your own basket. Admission: $5 per child. Reservations required.

Georgetown

Georgetown is my ideal weekend day destination to walk around, window shop and grab a coffee. I was not expecting to make a night of it on Friday. We started out at Science Club which is a nice whole in the wall with decent happy hour specials. Farmers Table was our destination for dinner, but there was an hour and a half wait so I will have to let you know about it at a later date. I already love the concept....organic, local, etc. Anyway, we ended up eating at Pizzeria Paradiso http://www.eatyourpizza.com/. I recommend the Bosco & the Weihenstephan Weissbier. Yum!

Cold Weather = Movies

Duplicity

Think Pepsi versus Coke for this corporate spy game movie. Julia Roberts is smashing and Clive Owen is HOT. If seeing these two interact was not enough to provoke you to see the movie, add the top secret spy action. Everyone will aspire to be an undercover agent after they see this. Bottom line- if you are in the mood for a movie that is unpredictible, this is great. A

Watchmen

Most of my girl friends disliked this super hero movie because it was not what they were expecting. I tried to tell them it is based on a graphic novel. For those of you who have not read the book, this is a pretty good film. I enjoyed the fact it is set in an alternate 1980's America with a superman who has incredible abilities and keeps the Soviets at bay. B+

I Love You Man

Paul Rudd and Jason Segel are hilarious! Please go see this for a good laugh. A-



Taken

I was slightly shocked by the story- a teenager travels to Europe, gets kidnapped and ends up in the underground sex trafficking circle. The story seemed realistic, which made me uneasy. It will be difficult to travel by myself or with girlfriends out of the country. My boyfriend, on the other hand, loved the action of the lead character Liam Neeson fighting for his daughters life. C-

Kungfu Panda

Jack Black brings his wit and comedy that works in pretty much all departments. It is the best movie Dreamworks had made since Shrek. This is one to buy. A+


He's Just Not That Into You

Honestly, I saw this because of all the big names. I was not expecting much, but there was a level of sophistication in the relationships that I certainly appreciated. It had a lot of humor, heart and great one liners. B-

Slumdog Millionare

This film is beautiful...my favorite one this year. A+


Twilight

The books are much better than the movie, but it is nice to put faces to the characters. I really do not suggest seeing this unless you are interested in reading the books first. D

Ode to Cherry Blossoms

Beautiful time to be in DC. It doesn't matter if you have lived here your whole life or you're just in for the weekend, cherry blossom season is gorgeous. If you mind the crowds, head away from the mall. Almost every street in the city has cherry blossom trees. I do suggest riding into the city instead of driving or taking the metro. Below are some links to the bike trails.

http://bikewashington.org/

http://www.commuterpage.com/biketrails.htm http://dc.about.com/od/bicycling/a/Bestbiketrails.htm

Pocketful of Sunshine

On this rainy DC morning, all that can make me happy is colorful raincoats. Enjoy!

Adventure comes on Tuesdays

Last night was a breath of fresh air- not the usual work until 6, get home by 7, fix dinner, do laundry, feed the cat, empty the dishwasher routine. Instead I went out on the town...Chevy's for dinner, then Clyde's for drinks. Please go out and buy some Pacifico and a lime if you have not tried this delicious Mexican refreshment. Even though we are trying to watch our spending, it was fun to splurge on a night out. Clyde's, in Alexandria, is hidden amongst large corporate buildings. Once inside, the bartenders memorize your drink and the smooth mahogoney of the wrap around bar soothes the soul.

City by the Bay

Annapolis, Maryland



Wonderful for a weekend trip since it is about an hour away from the city. This is what my weekend looked like:



1. Going downtown to stroll along the coblestone streets



2. Having a Painkiller at Pusser's



3. Eating gellato while watching the yahts roll into Ego Alley



4. Loungeing in the club chairs at The Charthouse. I recommend the oysters, calamari and lava cake.



5. Bar crawl for a friends 21st



The Boatyard- very laidback, good start to the evening



The Rockfish- alway live music



McGarvey's- typical old bar



Ramshead- try the Tavern Ale or the Copperhead