Namaste, Friends

So, last week consisted of two things and a lot of them. Work and yoga. I have become completely addicted to practicing yoga as much as I can throughout the week and have found that it really grounds and balances my life. Plus, it helps that my studio is literally less than a minute away from our house.

At the end of the week, my best friend Elizabeth and her boyfriend, Collin, came into town. We started our D.C. adventures by spending Friday evening exploring Georgetown and eating dinner at the acclaimed Pizza Paradiso. The pizza was fresh out of the oven and most definitely homemade with the freshest of ingredients. They also allow you to order 1/2 pizza one flavor and the other 1/2 another. So, since it was our first time- we took advantage of the 1/2 and 1/2 offer and chose the Quattro Formaggi (gorgonzola, pecorino, fontina, mozzarella, minced garlic and parsley) and the Napoletana (Paradiso tomato, basil, anchovies, capers and mozzarella). Both of the pizzas were tasty but the Quattro Formaggi, or four cheese, was my favorite. That paired with a Dogfish Head Namaste beer, made for a lovely summer's eve meal.

Afterwards, we walked down to the Key Bridge waterfront area. From there, we rented four single sit-in kayaks (with a deal I snagged off of Groupon) and paddled down the Potomac with the sunset as our background. It was such a stunning way to see the Capital and a fun way to get a workout.

After all of that paddling and sight seeing, we put our paddles up and wondered towards Baked and Wired. It's a must for all, D.C. residents and visitors alike. John and I have been 3 times since we've been here and haven't been disappointed yet (knock on wood). This past time we opted for a classic German chocolate cupcake (or cakecup as they call them) and boy was it wonderful!

Thanks to the added sugar fuel, we mustered enough energy up to hop on a bus , go across town and start our night time monuments tour. We didn't take a formal tour, but rather walked around following the signs and Google maps. John and I walked around to see the Thomas Jefferson Memorial during our trip to D.C. last fall and loved the way that it looked at night. However, back in November, the cold winter air deterred us from looking at any of the other monuments. So, we were happy to go back. We saw the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and Thomas Jefferson Memorial. All of them were stunning and even more beautiful with the night sky as a backdrop.

Saturday morning we woke up bright and early and headed to Eastern Market, specifically Market Lunch, for brunch. It's become a staple of ours for when friends and family visit. This time we chose to have the blue bucks (blueberry buckwheat pancakes, only available on weekends) and the Brick- a breakfast sandwich that includes potatoes, sausage, egg, and cheese on freshly baked bread.

After that we were on our way to take a quick tour through some of the Smithsonian museums. We chose to visit the Museum of American History, Museum of Natural History, and the Air and Space Museum. All of them were amazing and it was such a good way to spend an afternoon in the District.

My favorite gem in the Museum of Natural History

For lunch, we stopped by Burger Tap & Shake in Foggy Bottom. John and I went the week before last and knew after the first bite, that we would have to take Elizabeth and Collin when they came. The burgers are hot off the grill and topped with some of the most inventive and hearty ingredients around.

After lunch, John and I split ways with Collin and Elizabeth and went back towards Dupont Circle for the Pride Parade. We had the honor of marching with the United Methodist Church of the D.C. area, particularly our new church- Foundry UMC. The turnout was phenomenal and it was so much fun to march through the streets surrounded by such joy and love.

That evening, we joined back up with Collin and Elizabeth to enjoy a night out at Old Ebbitt Grill, one of the oldest restaurants in D.C. It's been frequented by presidents, movie stars, ambassadors and the like over the years and has quite a reputation for being one of the best restaurants in town. The ambiance was so stately and romantic and the food superb. John and I split the crab and artichoke dip as an appetizer and the Wild Alaskan Salmon. Yum!

When we got home, we still wanted to show Elizabeth and Collin the Adams Morgan neighborhood of town. So, we took a walk over to Tryst coffee for a late evening cup. Needless to say, we were stuffed but the experience of eating, drinking, and just enjoying one another's company was well worth it.

The next day, we woke up and did our usual Sunday morning routine- Dupont Farmer's Market, church and brunch. We chose to dine at Logan Tavern and weren't disappointed. I will say that the Bloody Mary's were a little heavier on the horseradish than I prefer, but the food made up for it. Plus, the sandwiches are huge and enough to split.

After our meal, we said our farewells and Elizabeth and Collin made their way from D.C. back to Atlanta. In the meantime, John and I caught a little shuteye before heading over to the Lincoln Theatre to see Andrew Bird and the Hands of Glory, featuring Tift Merrit. The show was very different from Bird's usual whistling, violin playing, indie rock style and much more alt country. It was actually his first proper show with the Hands of Glory backing. So, we were happy to be present and on the fifth row to enjoy it.

It was a whirlwind of a weekend and one to go down in the books. Even though Monday morning came too soon and I couldn't quit pressing snooze,  the times shared made memories that will last forever. Plus, the fatigue is nothing that a little Monday night yoga can't help. Namaste, friends! Hope you have a lovely week.