I have been meaning to go to Wolf Trap for a few years, but it took a Friday night Gipsy Kings show to finally get me there. Even though the show did not start until 8pm, I am glad I went with some Wolf Trap regulars, otherwise I would have had no clue how early you had to get there to get a decent space on the lawn to be able to spread out and picnic.
We decided to use the public transportation option, which was a good idea considering 66W traffic Friday post-work. We took the orange line to West Falls Church, where there is a shuttle running between the metro station and Wolf Trap ($3 roundtrip ticket). We arrived to Wolf Trap around 6:15, about 15 minutes before the gates open. Huge crowds gather at the gates jockeying for a good position once they open. At 6:30, the gates were open, and everyone scurried towards the lawn to throw down some blankets. We spread out and enjoyed a feast of cold chicken, salad, fruit, sangria, and wine, all while sitting outside enjoying a fantastically mild August evening. As the sun went down, the Gipsey Kings took the stage, where we spent the next two hours drinking sangria under the stars and dancing to Bamboleo.
For the reasonable price of a $25 lawn ticket, Wolf Trap provided a great venue for a summer night.
Wolf Trap
www.wolftrap.org
Monday, August 18, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Veritas
Sometimes a Monday just leads to a night of cocktailing. Especially when a Monday involves glorious weather, rooftop sushi at Perry’s, and a night dedicated to Washington's own cocktail. After trying a traditional Gin Rickey and the crowd (and judges) favorite, the Black Pepper Gin Rickey, R.P. and I decided it was just not yet time to call it a night.
One of the best options for Monday night drinks is ½ price wine night at Veritas. Only a selected number of wines are available, and these wines tend to be $50+, but this provides a good chance to try a more expensive bottle than you normally would for less than $30. We paired the wine with a cheese plate, and while the cheeses were fantastic, they desperately need to change the bread that is served to accompany the cheese. It reminded me of cheap Harris Teeter French bread, which took away the delicious flavor of the cheese.
A bottle of wine and a plate of cheese was the perfect nightcap.
Veritas
2031 Florida Avenue NW202.265.6270
www.veritasdc.com
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Jazz in the Garden
Sometimes, even after living in DC for a combined total of almost five years, this City can still surprise me. Last Friday, S.C. and I decided to meet some friends at Jazz in the Garden before heading to Penn Quarter for dinner. Held every Friday from the end of May through October 3rd, this is an event I had been trying to go to for some time. What I wasn't expecting was this amazing little urban enclave where one could sit and drink sangria, lay on the grass, and enjoy some nice background music while chatting with friends.
Located at the National Mall on 7th and Constitution, the Sculpture Garden is just one short block from the Metro. Entering the Garden though, surrounded by art, trees, flowers and green grass, you feel totally transported. When we arrived on Friday around 7pm, the Garden was already packed. The crowd ranged from young professionals, to families with small children, to college kids, all there to relax with some good food and drink. There is a "rule" about not bringing your own alcohol, but almost everyone there had their own bottle of wine, and no one seemed to be hiding it. For those who do not like to bend the rules, they sell pitchers of sangria, as well as mixed drinks and food.
Since we arrived late, we only had enough time to grab a pitcher of sangria and listen to about 30 minutes of jazz, but I am all set to go back, this time at 5pm when the show begins, armed with a giant blanket, a bottle of wine, and a cheese spread of Cowgirl Creamery.
http://www.nga.gov/programs/jazz/
Located at the National Mall on 7th and Constitution, the Sculpture Garden is just one short block from the Metro. Entering the Garden though, surrounded by art, trees, flowers and green grass, you feel totally transported. When we arrived on Friday around 7pm, the Garden was already packed. The crowd ranged from young professionals, to families with small children, to college kids, all there to relax with some good food and drink. There is a "rule" about not bringing your own alcohol, but almost everyone there had their own bottle of wine, and no one seemed to be hiding it. For those who do not like to bend the rules, they sell pitchers of sangria, as well as mixed drinks and food.
Since we arrived late, we only had enough time to grab a pitcher of sangria and listen to about 30 minutes of jazz, but I am all set to go back, this time at 5pm when the show begins, armed with a giant blanket, a bottle of wine, and a cheese spread of Cowgirl Creamery.
http://www.nga.gov/programs/jazz/
Friday, August 1, 2008
Discounted Tickets for the Shakespeare Theater Company
As I am now officially in my late 20's, there are certain times I feel just plain old. Happy hour on Capital Hill? I look like a grandma. Pizza Mart in Adams Morgan? Bring me my walker. But at least the good ol' folks at the Shakespeare Theater Company still consider my youthfulness, because every Tuesday starting at 10 a.m., the Shakespeare Theatre Company releases 20 pairs of $10 tickets to the Company productions taking place through the following Sunday to patrons ages 35 and younger. So this Tuesday, at exactly 10 a.m., I called up the Company box office and scored two $10 tickets to the current production, The Imaginary Invalid.
After a quick sushi happy hour dinner at Oya (which made me realize again how much I love that place), we headed over to the Lansburgh Theater at 7th and E for an 8 p.m. production. The theater itself is great; I do not think there is a bad seat in the house. Our seats were great, and were quite a bargain considering they are usually $60 seats.
The Imaginary Invalid ends tomorrow, but the season continues in September with Romeo and Juliet. Discounted tickets will be sold in person at the Sidney Harman Hall Box Office (610 F St. NW) as well as via phone at 202.547.1122.
www.shakespearetheater.org
After a quick sushi happy hour dinner at Oya (which made me realize again how much I love that place), we headed over to the Lansburgh Theater at 7th and E for an 8 p.m. production. The theater itself is great; I do not think there is a bad seat in the house. Our seats were great, and were quite a bargain considering they are usually $60 seats.
The Imaginary Invalid ends tomorrow, but the season continues in September with Romeo and Juliet. Discounted tickets will be sold in person at the Sidney Harman Hall Box Office (610 F St. NW) as well as via phone at 202.547.1122.
www.shakespearetheater.org
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Shepherdstown, W.Va
With the price of gas, and in turn the price of plane tickets, skyrocketing, all around us we are hearing the term "staycations." Whether this means taking advantage of cheap summer hotel rates and becoming a tourist in DC for the weekend, or taking a weekend trip that only involves a short drive, staycations seem to be all the rage.
We decided to jump on the staycations bandwagon last weekend and head to Shepherdstown, W. Va with a group of friends to the Contemporary American Theater Festival. Held July 9th-August 3rd, the Festival offers five plays by American playwrights in rotating repertory. While the play left little impression on me (though the acting was fabulous), the town of Shepherdstown fulfilled every desire for a weekend in small town America.
We started the weekend with a little hike in Harpers Ferry, where a short 25 minute walk/hike leads you to breathtaking views that leave all thoughts of Washington DC behind. A short drive later, we were walking down the main street (German Street) of Shepherdstown, which though only three blocks long, is the quintessential "main street" that you are searching for in a country weekend. With no chain retail in sight, this small main street managed to include everything you would need in a weekend- a tea house, a gourmet grocery, a wine tasting room, a bakery with fresh homemade pies, a handful of gourmet restaurants, a wine bar, a farmer's market, and the list goes on.
Though there are a number of small B&Bs, we stayed at the Bavarian Inn, which must be one of the more "unique" places I have stayed in the area. Overlooking the Potomac River, the Inn is modeled after a German chalet, and though it is a bit dated, it is a fantastic replica of a chalet in any small German village. If I had to do it again, I would stay there in a heartbeat.
The highlight of the trip was dinner at the Press Room. It was perfectly gourmet casual. The chef used farm-fresh ingredients, the atmosphere was light, yet classy, and the wine list varied, yet well-priced. I started with a roasted fig filled with Gorgonzola cheese in a balsamic glaze and finished with seared scallops over a mushroom risotto. Both dishes were light and fresh, but innovative enough where it made me wonder what secret ingredient I was not able to pick out.
Following the play, we headed to 3 Onions Restaurant, which bills itself as a martini bar. I was surprised though to be much more impressed with their wine list when I had a Coppola Claret for $6.50 per glass. 3 Onions really was to place to be; We spent the night talking with friends and mingling with the cast.
Shepherdstown far exceeded my expectations. We stayed for one night, which was enough time to really relax and get the country flavor. The area is prime for hiking and water sports, providing a perfect afternoon activity. All this for an hour drive from DC.
The Bavarian Inn
164 Shepherd Grade Road
www.bavarianinnwv.com
3 Onions Restaurant
117 E. German Street
www.threeonions.com
The Press Room
129 W German Street
We decided to jump on the staycations bandwagon last weekend and head to Shepherdstown, W. Va with a group of friends to the Contemporary American Theater Festival. Held July 9th-August 3rd, the Festival offers five plays by American playwrights in rotating repertory. While the play left little impression on me (though the acting was fabulous), the town of Shepherdstown fulfilled every desire for a weekend in small town America.
We started the weekend with a little hike in Harpers Ferry, where a short 25 minute walk/hike leads you to breathtaking views that leave all thoughts of Washington DC behind. A short drive later, we were walking down the main street (German Street) of Shepherdstown, which though only three blocks long, is the quintessential "main street" that you are searching for in a country weekend. With no chain retail in sight, this small main street managed to include everything you would need in a weekend- a tea house, a gourmet grocery, a wine tasting room, a bakery with fresh homemade pies, a handful of gourmet restaurants, a wine bar, a farmer's market, and the list goes on.
Though there are a number of small B&Bs, we stayed at the Bavarian Inn, which must be one of the more "unique" places I have stayed in the area. Overlooking the Potomac River, the Inn is modeled after a German chalet, and though it is a bit dated, it is a fantastic replica of a chalet in any small German village. If I had to do it again, I would stay there in a heartbeat.
The highlight of the trip was dinner at the Press Room. It was perfectly gourmet casual. The chef used farm-fresh ingredients, the atmosphere was light, yet classy, and the wine list varied, yet well-priced. I started with a roasted fig filled with Gorgonzola cheese in a balsamic glaze and finished with seared scallops over a mushroom risotto. Both dishes were light and fresh, but innovative enough where it made me wonder what secret ingredient I was not able to pick out.
Following the play, we headed to 3 Onions Restaurant, which bills itself as a martini bar. I was surprised though to be much more impressed with their wine list when I had a Coppola Claret for $6.50 per glass. 3 Onions really was to place to be; We spent the night talking with friends and mingling with the cast.
Shepherdstown far exceeded my expectations. We stayed for one night, which was enough time to really relax and get the country flavor. The area is prime for hiking and water sports, providing a perfect afternoon activity. All this for an hour drive from DC.
The Bavarian Inn
164 Shepherd Grade Road
www.bavarianinnwv.com
3 Onions Restaurant
117 E. German Street
www.threeonions.com
The Press Room
129 W German Street
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Landmark E Street Cinema
As the rest of Washington DC watched the Dark Knight at the City's various multiplexes last weekend, we sat in a small theater at Landmark E Street Cinema enjoying the Russian epic, Mongol. This Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film illustrates the life of the legendary Genghis Khan, with cinematography that was breathtaking.
Located near Metro Center, this convenient movie house plays primarily foreign and independent films, which is a nice change from some of the mass produced garbage playing at AMC and Regal. Though some of the theaters at Landmark E Street Cinema are strangely configured, this is a warm and cozy cinema that is perfect for date night or a solo Sunday afternoon movie. Added bonus is that in addition to the traditional movie snacks, the cinema also sells beer and wine.
So grab some dinner at nearby Asia Nine, Cafe du Parc, Cafe Atlantico, or one of the many other convenient Penn Quarter eateries, and head over the Landmark E Street to indulge in one of France's latest flicks.
Landmark E Street Cinema
555 11th Street NW
(202) 452-7672
http://www.landmarktheatres.com/market/WashingtonDC/EStreetCinema.htm
Located near Metro Center, this convenient movie house plays primarily foreign and independent films, which is a nice change from some of the mass produced garbage playing at AMC and Regal. Though some of the theaters at Landmark E Street Cinema are strangely configured, this is a warm and cozy cinema that is perfect for date night or a solo Sunday afternoon movie. Added bonus is that in addition to the traditional movie snacks, the cinema also sells beer and wine.
So grab some dinner at nearby Asia Nine, Cafe du Parc, Cafe Atlantico, or one of the many other convenient Penn Quarter eateries, and head over the Landmark E Street to indulge in one of France's latest flicks.
Landmark E Street Cinema
555 11th Street NW
(202) 452-7672
http://www.landmarktheatres.com/market/WashingtonDC/EStreetCinema.htm
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Nando's
From all the buzz about Nando's opening the first United States location in DC, it was apparent that this international chain had a true cult following. With the first Nando's opening in South Africa in 1987, and now operating in 34 countries on five continents, it seems that anyone who has spent some time living in another country has fond memories of this flame-grilled chicken spot. What makes this chicken unique is the peri-peri seasoning, which is an African chili spice discovered by the Portuguese back in the day. Considering Nando's boasts that their chickens are fresh and never frozen, marinated for 24 hours in all natural peri-peri sauce, and grilled to order over an open flame to reduce fat content, I was sold on giving this place a try.
S.C. and I headed to Penn Quarter on Friday post-work to try some peri-peri chicken. Reading some reviews before we went, I learned that there is a specific system for seating. However, when we walked in, it was total chaos. You see, you are supposed to check in with the hostess, who will give you a table and a number. You memorize the number and go to the counter to place your order, providing the cashier with your table number. You then wait about ten minutes and the food is brought to your table. In reality, the whole system is completely inefficient and flawed, especially when you have a hostess who is nowhere in sight and actually seems annoyed to even be there. Considering no hostess was standing at the stand (which isn't even a stand but just a small table), almost everyone walked straight to the counter to order, and were sent back to wait in line for a table. However, there is no room to wait, causing you to stand there awkwardly with nowhere to go. There were about six empty tables, but yet still a 10 minute wait. There are no signs telling you that you must check in with the hostess for a table, and considering the set-up is so casual, it seems intuitive to just grab a table on your own. There are also no menus at the counter, so you better have every aspect of your order memorized.
Despite the inefficiencies, the food was actually fantastic. They have a number of sandwiches and salads, but I stuck to the star of the show and ordered 1/4 chicken with one side. You also have your choice of spiciness, in which I opted for medium and it had a nice kick and flavor. My breast of chicken was so juicy and flavorful, and my side of butternut squash, corn, and cranberries in peri-peri sauce was spicy and sweet and the perfect accompaniment. The level of quality was a huge step above somewhere like Boston Market or Chicken Out (and they serve wine!!).
Hopefully they will improve the seating policies, because the chicken was fabulous and something I am eager to have again. When they open their second DC location soon in Dupont South, you better believe this will be a stop on my rotation
Nando's Peri-Peri
819 7th Street, NW
www.nandosperiperi.com
S.C. and I headed to Penn Quarter on Friday post-work to try some peri-peri chicken. Reading some reviews before we went, I learned that there is a specific system for seating. However, when we walked in, it was total chaos. You see, you are supposed to check in with the hostess, who will give you a table and a number. You memorize the number and go to the counter to place your order, providing the cashier with your table number. You then wait about ten minutes and the food is brought to your table. In reality, the whole system is completely inefficient and flawed, especially when you have a hostess who is nowhere in sight and actually seems annoyed to even be there. Considering no hostess was standing at the stand (which isn't even a stand but just a small table), almost everyone walked straight to the counter to order, and were sent back to wait in line for a table. However, there is no room to wait, causing you to stand there awkwardly with nowhere to go. There were about six empty tables, but yet still a 10 minute wait. There are no signs telling you that you must check in with the hostess for a table, and considering the set-up is so casual, it seems intuitive to just grab a table on your own. There are also no menus at the counter, so you better have every aspect of your order memorized.
Despite the inefficiencies, the food was actually fantastic. They have a number of sandwiches and salads, but I stuck to the star of the show and ordered 1/4 chicken with one side. You also have your choice of spiciness, in which I opted for medium and it had a nice kick and flavor. My breast of chicken was so juicy and flavorful, and my side of butternut squash, corn, and cranberries in peri-peri sauce was spicy and sweet and the perfect accompaniment. The level of quality was a huge step above somewhere like Boston Market or Chicken Out (and they serve wine!!).
Hopefully they will improve the seating policies, because the chicken was fabulous and something I am eager to have again. When they open their second DC location soon in Dupont South, you better believe this will be a stop on my rotation
Nando's Peri-Peri
819 7th Street, NW
www.nandosperiperi.com
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