Shopping in Georgetown

This time of year M Street can be quite ghoulish...

Cherry Blossoms

It's officially the first day of Spring! And... today marks the start of the National Cherry Blossom Festival!

The trees were a gift from Japan to the U.S. over 100 years ago and still continue to grace us with their beauty and symbolism. The first trees were planted in Washington along the tidal basin, where the Jefferson memorial now sits.

It was a gift that keeps on giving, each and every year.

 Now the cherry blossoms have spread and can be found throughout the city of Washington.

A Booth made for Two

It's been cold and snowy on the East Coast.

If you're in DC, it's the perfect time to snuggle up in the Martin's two-seater.

Salted Caramels at Dean & Deluca

Okay, we all love the salted caramel trend that hit the nation a few years ago, but have you tried the salted caramels at Dean & Deluca yet?! They are truly out of this world.

Check out Bon Appetit's December 2013 Bourbon-Sea Salt Caramel recipe. My friend made some and they are divine.

S'mores Happy Hour in DC

At the Ritz Carlton hotel in Georgetown of Washington, DC, they host an extra happy hour in the main lobby starting at 6:30 pm.

In the wintertime, they serve complimentary s'mores by the fireside.

And come summertime...

 they serve a delicious s'more smoothie!

ENJOY!

The US Open "serving up bagels"

Nothing beats a New York bagel.  They say it's in the water, and it truly has to be. Really any New York bagel beats every other bagel, but my favorite in the Big Apple is Ess-A-Bagel.

Finagle a Bagel in Boston does run a close second, and in DC, I like to hit up Bagels, Etc in Dupont Circle, pretty legit.

But what cracks me up these days are the Announcers at the US Open calling out Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray, just to name a few, for "Serving up bagels" meaning a scoreless set for their opponent, 6-0.

Classic New York.

The Lobster Pot at Tackle Box

Hey Washingtonians - looking for an East Coast quality yet casual seafood shanty? Have you tried Tackle Box? The picnic tables and decor are quite fun, and the clam strips are pretty legit. Get your fish grilled or fried, simplicity at its finest.

The clam chowder is not too thick, not too thin, but just the right consistency and flavor.

Really cool... you can get a Lobster Pot to go! They will put it all together for you - clams, mussels, chorizo, corn, potatoes, seaweed, spices, and of course, lobster - and then you take 'er home to get to cookin'. Just add a bottle of cheap white vino and presto - fresh lobster in the comfort of your own home.

Even cooler, the pot can then be turned into whatever planter your heart may desire. Nothing wrong with planting your Kale or Collard Greens to be available for the year round. Reduce, reuse, recycle...

A DC Wedding, 5 Years Ago Today

We were married on June 7, 2008, five years ago from today, at Grace Church in Georgetown, Washington, DC. I can still remember it as if it were yesterday...

 I absolutely adored my Monique Lhuillier dress. 

My sisters had made three appointments to go dress shopping for the weekend, Mom and Grandma included. In the weeks prior I had been surfing magazines and kept tagging the same dress in five different magazines. We arrived at the first dress shop, I showed the attendant the dress that I had clipped from the magazine, she brought it out, I tried it on, and that was it. "Don't you want to try on any others?" My mom asked. They brought out two more dresses, and I obligingly tried them on, but it was the first dress that made my face light up. We cancelled the other two appointments and got an early lunch with some champagne to celebrate.

The men wore Morning Suits with tails and Ascot ties. Thank you to Anthony's Tuxedos for making the men look so handsome!

Flowers were arranged by Rance Goff at Ultraviolet.

He had such a vision for the entire affair, and even drew the seating diagram for the reception. I'd almost consider his helpfulness more equivalent to that of a wedding planner, with artistic vision.

Iwo Jima, Arlington National Cemetery

On this Memorial Day, we remember... Raising the Flag at Iwo Jima:

JFK and Jackie's House

When you go to Hollywood, you get a map of the home of the stars and tour around Beverly Hills at the lifestyles of the rich and famous.  Well, when tourists come to Georgetown, DC, they are also map in hand, but instead of seeking the home of multiple celebrities, they have the multiple homes of one particularly star couple:  John and Jackie Kennedy. 

The Kennedys lived 9 different homes over their 15-year span in Georgetown, with each home befitting the time period of their busy and high-profile lives.  Here is the self-guided tour.  And if you really want to do it right, stop by for brunch or a brew at one of the Kennedy's favorite old stomping grounds.

We used to live next door to one of the famous Kennedy houses and one of my favorite moments, that made me smile upon each recurrence, was watching the tourists try to decipher exactly which house was that of Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy. 

The houses below are right next door to one another, and have caused many tilted head looks of contemplation.  Which one do you think would be the Kennedy home?

Click on "Read more" for the SPOILER ALERT:

Inauguration of the POTUS

It comes around every 4 years, and oh what a time it is.  Inauguration Day, or weekend for that matter, never fails to excite the city of Washington, and those that travel in from near or far.

It starts off with all of the balls, both official and unofficial. 

The city is decorated everywhere with red, white, and blue.
  

And of course the National Mall sports plenty of patriotic pride.

Cold Irony at its Best

With today's snowfall in the Nation's capitol, I am reminded of the 2009-2010 Snowmageddon that struck DC not just once (December 2009), but twice (February 2010).  It was a great opportunity for picture taking, which I did plenty of, thanks to work being cancelled.  Everyone felt like a kid again.  It was wonderful.

Here's a sign we came across during the storm, that just cracked me up with its irony:

Note: The Sign reads: "The Deck is Hot" despite the icicles depicting otherwise.

Sterling & Burke

A great shop in Georgetown - Sterling & Burke

 

 

Stearling & Burke has been around in the DC metro area for over 25 years, operating out of a warehouse in the Maryland suburbs. Then, in the beginning of 2011 they decided to hit the streets and bring us retail. And we are so pleased they did. Now you can pop into the store and browse different collectibles - don't be shy about heading upstairs, too.  They carry many well-known British brands, like Penhaligon's and Halcyon, and J.W. Hulme's fine leather.  Go ahead, give it a browse, you'll find it delightful.



Stachowski Market, it's what's for Dinner

We are fast approaching my favorite holiday of the year - Thanksgiving!  I love this holiday for many reasons: first, we take a moment to be thankful, appreciate our beginnings, gather around with our loved ones, but most importantly, we eat, and eat, and eat.  Now is the time of year where all I can do is think about food!

So, with that in mind, the question bears... have you been over to Stachowski Market yet?

Behind the Butcher's counter, you are brightly greeted by the Owner/Chef/Butcher himself, Jamie Stachowski, what a character.  Not only has Jamie gained experience as a chef at some of DC's hot dining spots, but he has become vastly popular at the local farmers markets for his sausages and charcuterie. Truly unique and one-of-a-kind.

Yes, Stachowski's is primarily a butcher shop.  They focus on local, fresh meats, all of top quality, but it doesn't stop there. They also carry local produce, seasonally of course, and other fine products, like fresh baked bread, the basket stamped with a sign proudly displaying the bread's nearby origins. Jamie gives credit where credit is due, but most the credit should go directly to him. Check out the freezer with plenty of pates, galantines, and mouses to choose from.  "We're not a restaurant," he says, "But we like to make stuff." So humble.

National Archives

The other day I found myself doing my civic duty (doesn't that sound more pleasant than the cringe-worthy call of jury duty? It's all about perspective, people.), which meant I found myself downtown. It was beautiful weather, so for my lunch break, it seemed only fitting to stroll the National Mall.    

  

I've always marveled at the architecture of the National Archives.  It's a perfect box.  I refer to it as the present. Couldn't you just tie a bow around it?  Well, it was about time that I made my way inside.

The National Archives is home to some of the most sacred founding documents, like the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence, made famous in movies with history buffs trying to steal these treasured pieces. But what really grabs the attention of an onlooker, or namely me, is the copy of the Magna Carta, perfectly on display.  Cool, right?

Streetcar Tracks in Georgetown

I think we can all agree that the reconstruction of the Georgetown streetcar tracks makes it much easier to drive over, but is it as pretty as it was before?  The jury is still out on that one...

Aesthetic Appeal vs. Functionality

OLD vs. NEW

Vino Volo

If you like to travel or have been in and out of airports in the past couple of years, you may have noticed a new hot spot has popped up.  Since our families are located across the country, we do fly frequently, and find Vino Volo to be a great escape in an otherwise escape-proof atmosphere (let's face it, once you pass through security, there's no turning back!). 

Airports are insanity - lots of people rushing around, announcements over head, the stress associated with flying, etc. When you pop inside a Vino Volo, it feels almost like you've stepped into another world. The uncomfortable steel benches are replaced with cozy leather chairs. The overhead announcements are replaced with jazzy music. There are delicious tasting tapas, instead of the fast food frenzy, and a friendly glass of wine is always on its way (they'll even package up some bottles for you to take aboard your flight, which does help calm the nerves).

Last time we were passing time on a layover, we heard that they were thinking about expanding "outside the box". Literally. And so I was not completely surprised when I was walking down the street the other day and saw that they are indeed expanding outside of airport limits.

It's Officially Fall

While many go by Labor Day marking the end of the Summer, technically the almanac marks September 22nd as the first official day of Fall, which makes it my favorite day of the year for two reasons.

I love the Fall.  I love the crisp mornings with that slight coolness to the air that wakes you up and opens your eyes, even before that cup of caffeine.  I love the warmth that comes throughout the day, sans the humidity, making it the perfect weather to take a walk.  Then the colder air creeps back in later in the day for a snuggle up in the evenings.  It's heaven on earth, divine.