Babies in the District

It was a snowy and icy weeked in our nation's capital, but we were on a mission to meet our new neice once and for all. After a lovely drive through slush and pavement mist-flakes (the kind that seems to smear even more when you clean your windshield) and some groan-worthy encounters with Maryland slow-pokes who ride their brakes, we made it to Columbia Heights, a neighborhood in downtown Washington, D.C. 

Even after a foul weather roadtrip, there's nothing sweeter than cuddling up with a newborn.  That little bundle can paint a smile on your face quicker than you can say "gah gah, goo goo".  Instant love, I say.  Instant!

With a couple babies and 2 new mommies in our midst, we knew we weren't going to spend the weekend clubbing or taking shots left and right, and that was completely fine with me.  Instead, we decided to tackle the district in the 2nd best way we know how ... We'd eat our way through it.

Friday night was a blur of gastropubs, Food Network, and Travel Channel suggestions and neighborhood favorites, which blended into more of the same on Saturday. 

I went out with the guys on Friday night and the girls on Saturday night, and one thing I learned for all you single travelers out there is that if you're in the market for a significant other, go where they are. Seems obvious, I know, but the wine bars were crawling with women, and the beer pubs were overloaded with all male groups. Want a boyfriend? Skip the wine, and go get a beer! What a girlfriend? Dress up, grab a wingman and head to the wine bars.

Some notable stops on the way:

1) El Pollo Rico, Arlington, Virginia (see a clip from Anthony Bourdain's episode here):  We walked away from this place thinking, "Yep.  They did it right."  Known as the "best Peruvian chicken joint around", this cafeteria-style restaurant serves only one thing - charcoal-broiled chicken (either by the whole, or by the 1/2 chicken).  It was an inexpensive and delicious way to kickoff the food shuffle.  Highly recommended!


2) The Red Derby, Washington, D.C.:  Who doesn't love their beer in cans?  Red Derby is a hole in the wall local bar (we love those!), featuring a superior beer menu with a wide variety of microbrews and rare-finds, served up in cans with a complementary plastic cup.  That's how you know it's good!  It's a long narrow place, but perfect for a cozy game of trivial pursuit, scrabble or a modge-podge of other board games provided by the bar.  Good stuff, check it out!

3) Vinoteca, Washington, D.C.:  Perfect place for a girls night out!  Vinoteca has a great wine list, great bar service and a candlelight atmostphere perfect for deep conversation, catching up with girlfriends, or grabbing an after dinner drink on date night.  My bro- and sis-in-law had their engagement party at this location, so she was eager to share the love with us.  Crowded on a Saturday night, but a great meet-place overall!

4) Eat Bar, Arlington, Virginia:  This was such a chic stop!  Attached to Tallula Restaurant, this Gastropub had some fan favorite apps.  At Eat Bar, we loved the lamb sliders, mussels and risotto fritters.  Complete with a fab wine list, we were pleasantly surprised by the chilled out vibe, candlelit bar area and meat-themed T-shirts for sale. Would go back! 


5) Meridian Pint, Washington D.C.:  Eco-friendly and tres modern!  The guys loved the draft and cask beer selection at this place.  The service was a little lacking and the food was glorified bar food (we tried the nachos, wings and special dipping sauce, which we didn't care for), but the beer had a good range from 1st Amendment and Bell's to Dogfish and Great Lakes.  Good place for an after dinner drink!

DC never fails to impress.  And it doesn't hurt that we got to catch up with old friends, Alberto and Jen, along the way.  Thanks to Elisa, Mike and Zoe for a fabulous weekend, as always!

Coastal Ohio :: Cedar Point

Sounds exotic doesn't it?  The truth is, it's fabulous.  Plain and simple, Cedar Point is the best amusement park on the planet.  That's right, I said it. 

You pull into the parking lot, step out of the car and can already hear the screams of excitement, smell the wafting aroma of carnival foods and feel the warmth and moisture of coastal Lake Erie.  Now it officially feels like summer.

Ever since I can remember, my family and I would make the hour-long car trip to Sandusky every summer at least once.  It was a day we anxiously anticipated -- planning the perfect outfits, packing roadtrip games, stuffing our fanny-packs and breaking in our shoes in preparation of the miles we'd walk around the park.

As a kid, Cedar Point is an experience filled with "firsts" -- your first big kid ride; your first real roller coaster; your first box of authentic salt water taffy; your first live show, and the list goes on.  Before I was tall enough to ride the big rides, I distinctly remember riding the Jr. Gemini 12 times in a row -- the last time, with my hands up like a big kid.  From there, I never looked back. I'd be tall enough for the big coasters by the next summer. 

Cedar Point is a park filled with history.  I just wish I could have seen it at its earliest!

In the 1870s, you could pay local businessman, Louis Zistel, a measly 25 cents for a ride on his boat to the Sandusky peninsula, where he owned and operated a beer garden, bathhouse on the beach and dance floor.  According to old newspapers, Cedar Point "sailing and bathing parties" were all the rage back in the day.   The first coaster was built in 1892, towering at an amazing 25 feet high and reaching speeds up to 10 mph -- What a thrill!  To them, it was one of the first of its kind.  A true rarity.  From there, the park was transformed little by little into the park we know and love today.  It now boasts an incredible 17 roller coasters, and tons of other thrill rides!

We just made the trip to Cedar Point with 2 other couples and had a blast!  As adults, the park is where you'll experience a few more of life's "firsts" -- your first beer in a saloon; your first backache from a wooden coaster; your first case of whip lash -- not quite as glamourous, but still milestones nonetheless. 

You can't call yourself a thrill seeker or roller coaster lover without making the trip to Cedar Point at some time in your life.  Go now before you're too old to ride the coasters ... lest be doomed to the role of "mom or dad" who holds everyone's fanny packs, waiting for the youngsters by the ride photo stand.

If you do decide to test your thrillseeker-ness at Cedar Point, be sure that you can stay past sunset.  Some of the best views from the top of the coasters are at night.  The twinkling lights and laser show make for some awesome landscapes.  I promise you'll love it.

My personal Top 5 coasters:

1)  Millenium Force -- The line is usually long at any time of day, but I promise that the ride is worth it.  It's over 2 minutes of hills, curves, twists and speed. 

2)  Magnum -- Another steel coaster, this one is a classic.  In its day, it was the tallest/fastest coaster in the world.  Now, it's the one you can ride over and over taking silly pictures in the tunnels, since the wait is usually pretty short.

3)  Raptor -- You've gotta ride this one at night.  Your feet dangle, so take off your shoes and air out your feet!  Lots of twists, turns and upside-downs on this one.  Great!

4)  Gemini -- I'm a Gemini, so I might be biased, but this one is fun because it's differnet.  It's wooden, and runs side-by-side with another car, so you race!  The multiple quick hills will surprise you!

5)  Mean Streak -- If you asked me 5 years ago, I'd tell you I hate this ride.  It's bumpy, I'm not gonna lie, and with over 2-minutes of belly drops, it will make you wish you didn't just eat those cheese fries.  I can't stop smiling on this coaster for some reason.  Others hate it and I understand why.

There's always a new ride to try out each year, and the newest, the Maverick, does not disappoint.

Other great rides you should try:

1)  SkyHawk -- This is basically a gigantic swingset for 40 people.  It's a fan favorite, especially for kids.  Lots of belly-dropping good laughs.  Short lines. 

2)  Power Tower -- Both Up and Down are great, but Down is my personal favorite. 

Happy Coastering!

Sin City, USA

The Lights. Casinos. Porn-slappers. Resorts. Drinks. Shows. Food. Crowds. Shopping.  Add those together and you've got the recipe for stimulation overload.  "Paiiiii GOW!"

As it turns out, four days seems to be the perfect amount of time in fabulous Las Vegas.

After a layover in NYC, we time traveled via Delta Airlines and arrived at The Flamingo Las Vegas around 1pm PT on Monday.  Starving and super excited to start our vacation, we headed straight for Margaritaville, which was conveniently connected to our hotel lobby.  Our fruity frozen Margaritas were precisely what the doctor ordered after 8 hours of flight time.  The island-style Jimmy Buffet themed decor and music were the perfect way to ease ourselves into vacation mode, and the service there was fantastic! 

It was just about dusk as we headed outdoors to the Strip.  We headed north -- hitting up Paris, Bellagio and Caesar's Palace first. 

Paris is a favorite.  Just walking through the doors under the gigantic replica of the Eiffel Tower is enough to set this all-things-French-loving-gal's heart all a flutter.  It's by far the most romantic setting under a starry-lit sky on Las Vegas Boulevard.  If you think it's impressive during the day, you have to see it at night.  Someday, I hope to see the real thing in person.  For now, the replica will have to be enough.

Stepping into the casino was no disappointment either.  The ceiling is decorated and lit to look like you're walking through Paris, France in the evening.  The chandeliers, fountains, statues and music take you back in time and overseas as you walk past the dinging penny slots and poker tables galore.  One thing we noticed -- the ratio of bilingual speakers goes up considerably when you step foot into a foreign-themed casino.

Venturing across the busy street, we headed for the Bellagio.  It's daunting from afar, but even more impressive up close.  The pathways around the famous Bellagio fountains are just high enough above street level to offer a beautiful backdrop view of the Strip.  You must pause for a pic or 2, or 8!

It's truly awe-inspiring how much detail and workmanship goes into creating a hotel such as this.  While we were there, the atrium was filled with a gorgeous botanical exhibit that makes you feel like a kid again.  Giant ants, bees, lady bugs and animals made of flowers hang from the ceilings and crawl up from the ground.  Truly great.

While we were there we just had to stay for the Bellagio fountain show.  This time the choreographed water dance was to Frank Sinatra's Fly Me to the Moon.  It never fails.  I always get teary-eyed.  The next night we stopped to watch again -- standing side-by-side with an Elvis impersonator -- this time the show was to Chicago's All That Jazz.  It's a larger than life experience that sucks you in.  I would stand there all night and watch the fountains pretending to be Brad Pitt in Ocean's Eleven, if there weren't millions of other things to see and do. 

The pool at the Flamingo was a nice getaway during the day.  Just make sure you get there early to claim a good spot!  It was a little windy while we were there in April, but the sun was still plenty hot.  The only complaint we had about the pool was the trees -- too much shade.  We were sunseekers who kept having to pick up and switch chairs multiple times as the palm shadows crept over us.  The pool was a fun atmosphere -- top 40ish music hits were loud enough to cover-up the screams of kids playing in the waterfalls.

Day 2, we decided to try someplace new for dinner.  After scouring the Vegas Restaurant guide, we chose Oyster Bay Seafood & Wine Bar (located in Planet Hollywood).  Prices range between $15-30 per entree, but as long as you stick to the specials, it's a pretty good deal.  The Jambalaya was my favorite of all the pastas -- perfectly spicy and a good portion.  And the smoked salmon was flakey and tender -- lots of flavor!  We called ahead, so there was no waiting, and the service was great.  Definitely recommended. 

After dinner we headed back to the Flamingo to meet our relatives who were also in Vegas for some gambling.  Tonight was the night I was determined to play Pai Gow!  The search for a mostly-open table was on.  Flamingo was full.  Paris was full. Finally, Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon came to the rescue.  We sat at a 1/2 open $10 minimum table and placed our bets.  Immediately, we were served double drinks and the excitement began.  I was up, then down, then even, then down, then even, then down, down, down ... that's just the way Pai Gow usually goes.   I lost my $50, but the rest of us left just about even (with some free drinks and the memories, of course!) 

The next morning, we hit the breakfast buffet at The Flamingo.  Apparently if you go right at the end of breakfast, they start putting out the lunch food as well (crab legs, shrimp cocktail, roast beef!), so you can sit for a little while and have both meals for the price of the cheaper.  Niiice.  Plus, they serve cotton candy and chocolate fondue during all meals ... pie and cheesecake for breakfast?  No complaints here!

After a late night of pai gow, the pool was calling our names again.  It's tough to fall alseep with all the commotion, but we managed to get a few Zs anyway.

We gussied up and set out in the opposite direction on the Strip that evening - hitting up the Venetian, Plazzo, Wynn and Encore.  OK -- So this is the point when we realized a few things:  1) All of things resorts are amazing; 2) They all consist of the most incredible malls you've ever seen, filled with things we cannot afford to buy; 3) If I had to walk through 1 more gigantic mall in my new sandals my feet just might fall off.  

Venice was my favorite of these hotels.  I've never been to the real Venice, Italy, so I'm always overwhelmed by the gondola rides through the inside of the resort.  It's unbelievable!  The drivers (boaters?) serenade the riders as they wind through the twists and turns of the river.  The designer shops, Italian restaurants, music and street performers all play a role in setting the romantic mood of the hotel. 

After a few hours of sight-seeing, we headed back to our hotel to pack up our suitcases and spend the rest of the night gambling!  We took our seats at our favorite penny machines -- Goldfish and Mermaid -- where we sat and played, drank for free and laughed.  Ultimately losing the small amounts of money we were betting, we decided to call it quits. 

Sometimes I swear I can still hear the ringing bells of the penny slots or the ridiculously exciting "bonus" music they play when you get lucky.  They're so entertaining, you never want to stop!  But I digress...

It was time to head back to Ohio.  Thanks for a fun time, Vegas!   We had a blast, but next time I think we'll opt for the beach!

Pineapple in the Capitol

There were pineapples everywhere we went in DC and I'm not even mad about it!!!

Against all of my former grumblings and self-promises, I did it again.  I drove on the Pennsylvania turnpike.  This time it was dark, my contacts were fuzzy, one headlight was out (probably) and I was sleepy.  A whopping $15 worth of toll booth fees later, we made it to DC, and standing at the door at 1am to greet us was our lovely sister-in-law, Elisa.   

Friday morning, our hosts had to work (like normal people), but Adam and I were free to roam the District.  He decided to take a morning run to the White House (about a 1.5-mile jaunt up 16th street from Adams Morgan) and back, while I readied myself for a day of fun in the sun.  It was the perfect weather for site-seeing on foot -- about 50 degrees with sunny, clear skies. 

Armed with my leather bomber jacket and aviators, we headed out.  Our first stop was the Masonic House of the Temple described in Dan Brown's novel, The Lost Symbol.  It was on our way, so it wasn't much of a stop actually -- more of a point to it, snap a photo and keep on movin' kinda stop.

There's just something about being able to walk to the White House that just makes the United States government feel real to me.  Do you know what I mean??  I mean, you see things on TV, you read the paper, you try to stay updated with political happenings, but it's tough to do remotely.  Actually being there in the hub where it all takes place -- seeing the security officers, feeling awestruck in sight of American architecture and knowing that you are physically surrounded by International embassies, U.S. treasures in museums and the people who write and sign bills into law -- is one of the more overwhelming and humbling notions I've experienced.

It's just a house right?  Well ... not quite.  This thing is gigantic (photos just don't do it justice).  There's security everywhere and you can't get too close.  This is me reaching my hand through the bars:

There we were standing in front of Obama's house.  "OK, now what?" I asked.  Time for lunch!  We made our way down Pennsylvania Ave. and took a left at 19th.  We saw Stella Artois umbrellas in the distance and decided that's exactly where we wanted to be at 2pm on at Friday.  Elephant & Castle was calling out to us!  At this point in the day, we were starving and my Chuck Taylors weren't quite as comfortable as I thought they were.  My pub onion soup and ceasar salad were good and Adam's fish sandwich was great.  The sweet potato fries were the best thing we tried here by far -- besides the beers of course ;) 

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History was next on the list (It's free to get in!  Who knew?!).  We met E there after work, and got to see Julia Child's kitchen, the ruby slippers, Kermit, Fonzie's jacket, C3PO, part of the First Lady's exhibit (which was under construction), and lots of other fun stuff.

That night we headed to some bars ... finally ending up at Cashion's Eat Place for some "after dark" menu items - bison burger, ribeye sandwich and some hand cut fries.  The atmosphere was fun, the bartender, Krishna, was a self-proclaimed genius (knowing everything there was to know about pinneapples ... yet completely incorrect) and very entertaining, but the food was just mediocre for me.  I'd give it a 8 out of 10 for creativity.  

After a few more nightcaps, we cuddled up on our air mattress for a cozy night's sleep.  We woke up and ate what?  You guessed it, pineapples(!) and eggs.  Mike is apparently "good with a pineapple".  I'm still not quite sure I know what that means, but we sure did say it a lot.  ha.

We headed to the Capitol building -- Mike works there for a Senator and it turns out that he used to give tours when he first moved to DC.  Sooo we got a private tour of some of the "non-public" parts of the Capitol.  Pretty amazing.  The Capitol Rotunda was my favorite point of interest, mostly because it's just so damn awesome.  Just thinking about the artist, Brumidi, who hand-painted every detail and devoted the last years of his career on such an historical piece (my fave is the Apotheosis of George Washington) was freakin awesome.  Here are some pics that, once again, don't do it justice.  You have to see it for yourself!:

Hallway in the Senate Chambers -- also painted by Brumidi:

We walked through the Old Supreme Court Chamber, which was also really cool to see:

Other than the Captiol Dome itself, my second favorite part of the tour was walking down the inaugural steps.  Yep ... the actual steps the President walks down to give the inaugural speech, overlooking a crowd of thousands who are gathered in the mall:

This is a shot I took looking back up at the Capitol.  It's unbelievable when you're standing in front of it.  The detail, the precise meaning of every carving, column and opening.  This is priceless American history people! So cool.

Our next stop was Capitol City Brewing Co. where we had some lovely appetizers (soft pretzels with Jalapeno dip were great!), and some local brews.  We decided to hurry straight to the newly refurbished W Hotel for some drinks on the rooftop at POV.  It was twilight at this point, so the skyline views were breathtakingly picturesque (sorry no pics! ... camera doesn't take great photos at night through glass). 

All in all, it was a fabulous weekend in DC.  Kiiiiinda makes me want to move there, right Waskes!? 

Winter AlcohOlympics : U-S-A! U-S-A!

Well folks ... as it turns out, the Winter Olympic games in Vancouver aren't the only sporting event taking place this weekend.  No Sirree, looks like the husband and I will be roadtripping to shiney Columbus, Ohio for a night of brutal AlcohOlympic battle!  Our powerful team of four has claimed good old USA as our country of origin, and although our tolerance is much lower these days, our game experience and courage will prove superior than that of our feeble opponents.

OK, I don't know about all that ... but it will surely be an awesome night of game-playing, costume-wearing and visiting with friends we haven't seen in quite some time!  Also, Columbus probably misses us.  It's been a few months since we've been there, so we're due for a visit. 

When you're watching curling, ice dancing and skiing this weekend on ABC, you can rest assured that I'll be singing along to "I'm a Real American" and chanting "U-S-A!" in between beer chugs and ping pong ball tosses. 

Either that, or hungover from doing all of the those things ...

Maui - Here we come!

After years of dreaming about venturing to our island neighbor, Hawaii, it's finally going to come true! We booked our trip via Expedia over the weekend, planning to travel to Maui in the Spring. I couldn't be more excited!

We talked to friends who've been there and weighed our options : Hotel vs. Condo ; different islands to stay on ; City in Maui to stay in, etc. We decided to book our stay in beautiful Kihei on Maui, where we've heard has great access to several beaches, shops, restaurants and excursions. We're staying at the Maui Kamaole condos -- the photos look beautiful and the user ratings average 4.9 out of 5.0!

A luau is a "must-do" so we hear, as well as hiking up a volcano and zip-lining across the landscape. These are on our "things to do" list.

Have you ever seen 50 First Dates with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore? I love the little place they have breakfast every Sunday. I've always thought that if I went to Hawaii, I'd want to live like a local, in a condo-like environment, so I could focus more on the island itself, rather than just stay in the resort to get pampered. I want to explore!

Only a few more months and we'll get to see the island ... finally! ... We can't wait!

Aloha!