tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44411062490844437662024-03-05T03:19:26.967-08:00The District DarlingTales from a Southern BelleAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-7067694495078666972016-04-03T12:58:00.001-07:002016-04-03T12:58:41.465-07:00UpdatesSo, where have I been? I can tell you that I have been on the polar opposite side of my status per my last post. I have been moving at a constant and not sitting still for a second. This year kicked off with a bang and has flown by at record speed. Here's a quick and dirty update:<br />
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<b>January:</b><br />
One word. <i>Snow.</i> Lots and lots of snow.<br />
There was also a classy tea for the DC AOII Alumnae group at the historic Hillwood Estates and a birthday celebration Caps game in there (still have no idea what the rules are of hockey, but it was fun nonetheless).<br />
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<b>February:</b></div>
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The Sweethearts and Patriots, benefitting the DC Metro USO, kicked off the month. Then, there was an impromptu weekend trip to Charlottesville, VA for wine tastings, good food, a David Ramirez concert, and a Talking Heads documentary. At the end of the month my dad and Prissy came to visit which brought along my first visit to the Pentagon, lots of Egyptian cooking, and a swing dance. </div>
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<b>March:</b><br />
Travel. Reykjavik, London and Paris in one big 10 day adventure. More to come on that.<br />
Kick off for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Man of the Year campaign in support of my friend, and Man of the Year Campaign candidate, Carl. More to come on that as well.<br />
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<b>Regarding my last post:</b><br />
So, where am I on those New Year's resolutions?<br />
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1).<i> Read More</i>: I'm currently on my 13th book of the year and I have joined a book club. Once I started making a habit of reading rather than spending my free time staring off into space, I went back into my buried in a book 24/7 book-nerd self and I LOVE IT.<br />
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2). <i>Learn Calligraphy</i>: April 17th marks the day that I take an all day crash course on pointed pen calligraphy.<br />
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3). <i>Make Physical Exercise a Habit:</i> Although this past month has been a little weird thanks to travel and then getting back into the routine of not traveling, I still have stayed committed to my weekly workout challenges and have even made a pledge with my mother so that I have accountability. Lets be honest though, she's totally kicking my butt with our workout challenges.<br />
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4). <i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial; line-height: 20.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Answer to Leadership Opportunities in the Church: </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial; line-height: 20.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">I kid you not, less than a week after I wrote my previous post (wrote, not published), John and I were approached by our former small group leaders and asked if we would like to step up to lead this semester's small group. So, we did and couldn't be happier with that decision. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial; line-height: 20.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">So, there you go. There's a quick and dirty round up of what's been happening in the life of the District Darling. There will be more to come on our travel adventures, but until then cheers to another fabulous week in the District! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-46328437460416207802016-04-03T09:36:00.000-07:002016-04-03T09:44:40.027-07:00New YearSo, this is the new year (cue Death Cab for Cutie song, circa 2003). I must say ,there isn't that much to update the world on regarding the life of the Lyles and you know what, I'm ok with that. I actually feel accomplished in the fact that I have been intentionally restful, present, and not overbooked for the past few weeks. While the month of December was fun, it was also jam packed with appointments, parties, dinners, and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Don't get me wrong- <i>I loved Christmas</i> and all of the joy that it brings, but I love stopping to enjoy the season in all its glory too. So, the week of Christmas I scheduled my self to be not-scheduled. I literally came home to do nothing each night, aside from baking the occasional sugary treat or binge watching my ever growing collection of holiday films. It was magical. After that week of intentional introverted stillness, I have decided that while I still love to be the social butterfly of the town- I also benefit from deliberate rest and want to continue that in the new year. I also made a few other New Year resolutions. I hope that by sharing them and by writing them down here, it makes it more concrete for me and will serve as a visual reminder to stay on track. Some of them are kooky, some of them have been trialed and have honestly failed in the past, but I'm going to give them all my darndest this year. This year, I also decided that I needed to be more conscious and calculated when it came to my resolutions. So, every single resolution has a <i>why </i>behind it. I also wanted to ensure that my goals included a relational one (what good is an accomplishment if you can't share it with your neighbor?), a spiritual growth component and a challenge for my intellect and physical being (what sort of a new year's resolution list is complete without some sort of physical goal? Am I right?).<br />
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<i><b>Resolutions</b>: aka Intentional and Deliberate Plans to Challenge Myself to an Adventure</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
-<i>Read More:</i> <u>Why?</u>: As long as I'm living, I should be learning. I also feel that since I spend countless hours on the Metro going to and from work and everywhere in between, I should spend the time usefully. So far I have read 4 books, joined a book club for accountability, and have started to beef up my Amazon wish list (recommendations welcome).<br />
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-<i>Learn Calligraphy</i>: <u>Why? </u>Call me an old Southern Belle, but the lost art of regular correspondence is one that I cherish. I also feel like I need to touch base with my artsy roots and challenge myself to learn a new craft. Plus, the bonus is that I know that I can regularly share the fruits of my learned labor with others.<br />
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<i>-Make Physical Exercise a Habit:</i> <u>Why?</u> I'm officially in my late 20's and that metabolism doesn't get any faster with age. I also allow money to flow out of my account and straight to the neighborhood gym each month. So, I'm basically throwing money down the drain and doing nothing good for myself by not going.<br />
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<i>-Answer to Leadership Opportunities in the Church: </i><u>Why?</u> When we were in Birmingham, John and I had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of a church plant. Through that experience, we had possibilities to serve in the church (being a greeter, playing with the band). So, when we moved here and started going to a larger church- we still longed to play more of a role in the church.<br />
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Cheers to striving for an intentional adventure and another wonderful week in the District.<br />
<br />
<br />
"So everybody put your best suit or dress on<br />
Let's make believe that we are wealthy for just this once<br />
Lighting firecrackers off on the front lawn<br />
As thirty dialogs bleed into one<br />
<br />
I wish the world was flat like the old days<br />
Then i could travel just by folding a map<br />
No more airplanes, or speed trains, or freeways<br />
There'd be no distance that could hold us back."<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-42027117544206912662015-12-15T07:08:00.002-08:002015-12-15T07:08:15.481-08:00Tis the SeasonSo, thanks to the holiday season John and I have been on the go non-stop for the past 2 weeks. That also means, that there's a lot to catch you up on. Lets start from the beginning.<br />
<br />
John and I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Renwick Gallery Gala celebrating the opening of the gallery following an extensive period of renovation. While we sipped on drinks from a Prosecco bar, ate fabulous food and watched magic shows and acrobatic acts, we also got to have a first look at the opening exhibit, "Wonder".<br />
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At the end of last month, I was fortunate enough to play a small role in the annual V.A. Ladies' Night Out event along with fellow D.A.R. members. I had the super fun job of ensuring that all of the lady veterans felt glam for the evening by distributing Mardi Gras beads and costume jewelry.<br />
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Then, it was onward to sweet home Alabama for Thanksgiving in Montgomery. While there we enjoyed sweet tea, BBQ, family and Alabama football. We also got to kick of the holiday season by watching "A Christmas Carol" at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. What more do you need?<br />
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One of my favorite things to do is to trim the tree and decorate every inch of our tiny abode. This year, we invited the Browns over to enjoy some Ho Ho Punch (champagne, strawberries, and ginger ale), homemade sweets, and to hang ornaments. We even threw in some festive dreidel (I learned to play with my friend Devorah, who celebrates Hanukkah and wanted to share the tradition with our friends).<br />
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The next morning we awoke bright and early so that we could march with D.A.R. in the annual Alexandria Scottish Walk Christmas Parade. The ladies were kind enough to let tartan clad John march along with us and pass out candy to the younger parade observers. Afterwards, we looked around the Arlington Christmas Market before catching a train home.<br />
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That evening we attended our first Christmas party hosted by our friends, Katie and Kris. They went all out and had the most festive decor and food, including the fabulous homemade tacky sweater cookies photographed below.<br />
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After attending Oktoberfest at the historic Heurich House in Dupont Circle this fall, we won two tickets to the Heurich House Chriskindlmarkt. So, we cashed in our tickets and made a Sunday afternoon of eating traditional German foods and perusing stalls full of local artisans and their work.<br />
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Monday marked the start of my first book club adventure. I've never been a part of such a club, but look forward to burying my nose in our first book, <u>Girl on a Train </u>to kick off the new year.<br />
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On Tuesday, we dressed up and attended the D.A.R. Manor House Chapter Christmas party at the American Dental Association.<br />
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Wednesday was the National D.A.R. Open House. The building itself is beautiful on any day, but especially so when it's decorated with Christmas decor. Afterwards, we walked a few blocks down for a festive night cap at Off the Record at the Hay Adams.<br />
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Thursday was an event that I had been looking forward to for a while, the DCSSAR. holiday dinner. It was held at the beautiful Capitol Hill Club on Capitol Hill. I just love any excuse to get dressed up (and to see John get spiffied up in a tuxedo).<br />
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Friday, we attended our first ever Hannukah party. There was dreidel spinning, latke making, and menorah lighting to be had.<br />
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Saturday morning came very early, but we crawled out of bed before the sun had risen and took the crowded train ride to Arlington National Cemetery. It was all worth it for the honor of laying wreaths on graves in the cemetery. It was a part of the Wreaths Across America event which celebrates the lives of those of have served our country by allowing the public to remember their service while laying wreaths on gravestones in the cemetery.<br />
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That evening, we had none one, but two Christmas parties. The first was to celebrate our friend Skye's birthday. She went all out and had a Pinterest worthy party complete with a stunning dessert table, DIY photo booth, fire pit (with S'mores, of course), hot cocoa bar, and a spread of food fit for a king. She also requested that in lieu of gifts, that people take the opportunity to give back by donating to Toys for Tots (how sweet is that?). After we had our fill of hot cocoa and fun, we went across town to my friend Hannah Beth's for a tacky Christmas party. She had the most delicious homemade punch and finger foods that were all family recipes.<br />
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After a week plus of holiday parties and festivities, Sunday equaled rest and relaxation. After copious amounts of napping, I did muster up the energy to have an evening of holiday baking with John while watching White Christmas before turning in the for the night. This week is filled with more parties, volunteering and Christmas fun. While exhausting, tis the season and it only comes once a year. So, cheers to another week of happy exhaustion in the District!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-76173139721171605452015-11-17T20:24:00.004-08:002015-11-17T20:29:47.490-08:00Girls' Weekend in CharlottesvilleThe weekend before last, my childhood best friend, Elizabeth, flew in from the Windy City to spend a girls' weekend in VA with me. I absolutely love Charlottesville and wanted to share my love of the city by sharing some of my favorite gems while discovering a few new ones with my friend. After picking her up from DCA (and making a mandatory road trip dinner stop at Chik-fil-a), we celebrated making it to Charlottesville with a late night stop to MAS Tapas. We toasted to the weekend with a glass of prosecco and some delicious desserts. Then, it was onward to check into our cozy AirBnB.<br />
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The next morning we awoke to warm cinnamon sugar doughnuts, fruit, and coffee on the porch area of our AirBnB. Aside from being the coziest little suite, it was that much better that the owners also owned an organic doughnut shop.<br />
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After breakfast, we headed into town for a self guided tour of UVA. Sadly, the historic Rotunda was closed for renovation but I did get to show Elizabeth the rest of the picturesque and historic campus.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.kluge-ruhe.org/">Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Museum </a>was next on the list. It wasn't my first trip to the museum and it most definitely won't be my last. The Aboriginal style of art is one of my favorites because of the colors and strong symbolism that each stroke represents.<br />
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Lunchtime was spent at Feast! for some one-of-a-kind scrumptious soups and sandwiches. The restaurant is housed in a quaint grocery filled with local produce and wines. After shopping around there and picking up a cookie to go from the neighboring <a href="http://albemarlebakingco.com/">Albemarle Baking Company</a>, we walked a few blocks up to explore the historic pedestrian mall.<br />
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It was then onward (and upward) to the tip top of Carter Mountain for a trip to the Carter Mountain Orchard and Bold Rock cidery. The rain was just letting up when we arrived and the view from atop the mountain was stunning, especially when coupled with apple cider doughnuts, apple cider, and a shared flight of Bold Rock apple cider. Did I mention that we had a lot of apples?<br />
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Blenheim Vineyards was next on the agenda. I had been before, but you can never go to Dave Matthew's vineyard too many times- am I right? </div>
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Later in the evening, we treated ourselves to a fancy dinner at Ivy Inn Restaurant. The restaurant is housed in a delightful old Southern home and the menu is filled with home cooked and seasonal fare such as the blackberry marinated grilled quail that I chose to eat .<br />
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The next day we awoke bright and early, packed our bags, and drove to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. The home has been well preserved over the years and is full of American artifacts and handiwork.<br />
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After walking around the Monticello home and grounds for a few hours, we worked up an appetite. So, we drove to the nearby Salt Artisan Market for some gourmet sandwiches. The restaurant is actually housed in an old fashioned gas station which made for quite the unique ambiance.<br />
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For our final stop, we went to Pippin Hill Vineyards. The winery is in a barn-like structure that's perched atop a hill, offering amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.<br />
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Then, sadly- it was time to say our goodbyes and drive back to DCA so that Elizabeth could head back to Chicago. Cheers to long friendships, the Virginia countryside and a fabulous weekend NOT in the District!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-83350771285689151992015-11-13T19:25:00.002-08:002015-11-13T20:02:44.752-08:00Tricks, Treats, and TeaOne of my favorite holidays is Halloween because I consider it the kicking off point to my favorite season of the year--the magnificent holiday trifecta (+ New Year's if I'm feeling extra festive). So, what better way to celebrate Halloween than at a Pinterest worthy dinner party? Our friends, the Amundsens, did just that and were kind enough to include us for their Halloween Eve dinner party. There were themed drinks and food galore and Skye went above and beyond to make sure that the whole house was decorated from floor to ceiling. John and I decided to go as a pun by being "pigs in a blanket" which proved to be comfy and witty. Henry even got in on the fun (well, he didn't really have "fun" per say, but he looked cute) and was the most dapper penguin that ever was.<br />
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On the actual day of Halloween, John and I went on a tour of The <a href="http://woodrowwilsonhouse.org/">Woodrow Wilson House</a>. We had purchased a Groupon for it earlier in the season and decided that it would be a wonderful laid back task to do on a crisp fall day. The home is in the same fashion as when Wilson lived there as his family resided there and preserved it for years after his death. </div>
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That evening, we let the laid back theme continue by staying in, cooking a fabulous Italian meal (complete with my first try at an antipasto plate), and watching a scary movie on Netflix. Maybe it's me getting older, but I thought that it made for a marvelous Halloween.<br />
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The next day, I had the wonderful opportunity to tour the historic<a href="http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org/"> Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens</a> in Northwest D.C. with the Daughters of the American Revolution. The elaborate home and grounds once belonged to the sole heiress of the Post Foods corporation, Marjorie Merriweather Post. At one point in time, Post was the wealthiest woman in America and it definitely showed via the exquisite and rare pieces of art and decor that are still present in her home. My favorite piece that I saw during the tour was a hair dressing chair that once belonged to Marie Antoinette! I truly felt as if I had been teleported to Europe and the English tea party that I partook in after the tour was the icing on the cake. </div>
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I just love finding new places in the District, weather that be a home decorated with Presidential artifacts, French antiques, or Pinterest worthy Halloween decor. Cheers to good friends, good finds and to another fabulous week in the District!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-28791519040107518422015-11-06T16:35:00.000-08:002015-11-06T16:35:28.402-08:00It's Fall Y'all For the past two years John and I have marked the start of the Autumn season by driving into Northern Virginia to pick apples. In the South, we have plenty of peaches, but apples are a rarity in the Southern heat. So, last year marked the first time that we had stepped foot in an apple orchard let alone picked them. I fell in love at first pick though and couldn't wait to go again this year.<br />
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While we went to the same town in Virginia as we did last year, we tried out a new orchard- Stribling Orchard. The orchard has been around for 6 generations and for 200 years. <br />
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While it was considered pretty late in the apple picking season, there were still a good variety left to choose from including York, Granny Smith, Stayman, and Rome.<br />
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After we did all of our pickin', we enjoyed a picnic on the tables overlooking the grounds. Hello, caramel apples and hot apple cider!<br />
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Then, John decided to go on a spontaneous adventure to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. Even though West Virginia lies close to D.C., it was the only state on the Eastern side of the country that we had not been to. So, while we had a rental car at our disposal, we went for it!<br />
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Harper's Ferry is a very historical town and is actually part of a national park. It also lies adjacent to a plethora of hiking trails, including the famous Appalachian Trail which we took a small hike on.<br />
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After our outdoor adventure extravaganza, we headed back into the city for a change of scenery. John had surprised me earlier with two tickets to see "Beautiful: A Carole King Musical" at the Kennedy Center. Our tickets were spot on in the orchestra level, just a handful of rows away from the stage. The play was amazing and had us up on our feet singing by the end.<br />
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It's not every day that you get the chance to travel across 3 states and a District, pick apples off of a 200 year old tree, hike the A.T., and see a Broadway musical. Cheers to a wonderful day and cheers to many more in the District!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-38704861562230869992015-11-04T19:17:00.005-08:002015-11-04T19:17:40.023-08:00The Grand Finale After sleeping in a bit and putting on our Roll Tide gear, we hit the cobblestone streets for some window shopping before going to lunch at Prestige Patisserie. We feasted on an array of sugary pastries coupled with a steaming cup of hot cocoa. We were definitely not short on energy after that breakfast.<br />
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We then walked practically next door to the Church of Our Lady where we had a rare opportunity to get an up close look at Michelangelo's Madonna and Child.<br />
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John then arranged a self guided walking tour around the city that included seeing the last standing windmills on the outskirts of town.<br />
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After all of that walking, we decided to have a few brews at the only microbrewery in Bruges, De Halve Man (Half Moon) Brewery. Cheers!<br />
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Dinner that night was one that I had looked forward to for a long time. Pomperlut is a small locally owned restaurant with decor that is very much reminiscent of a Hogwarts common room. We feasted on things such as scallops, grouper, and mushroom risotto-all of which were superb.<br />
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We then took a moonlit stroll (with John trying a famed Cuban cigar in the process) around the canals and historic city squares before calling it a night.<br />
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*Just call him James Dean<br />
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The next day we woke up, said our goodbyes to the beautiful city of Bruges, and headed back to Amsterdam via train. While there we loaded up on one more round of frites at Vlaams Frites during the afternoon and then tried out The Pancake House for dinner. Frites and pancakes are definitely winners in our book if you can't tell.<br />
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Then we took a walk by the Royal Palace before heading back to our hotel room (which happened to be behind a hidden book case).<br />
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We had so much fun and I am still craving the sights of the canals, windmills, and historic cathedrals along with the chocolate, pancakes, and hot frites. We truly had an amazing time and it will be a trip that I will always cherish.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-7784949006410056902015-11-02T18:36:00.006-08:002015-11-02T18:36:48.953-08:00A Bruges Fairytale Upon waking up in Brussels, we found that the train strike was very real and there were no trains going into or out of the city. We then attempted to rent a rental car but every single company didn't have a single car left thanks to the sudden influx of customers. We searched for bus routes, but there were none to be found. So, we ended up having to take a taxi for the 1 hour car ride to Bruges (& I may or may not have pulled out a white lie sob story about how it was our honeymoon in order to wheel and deal for a taxi).<br />
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As soon as we drove into the old town Bruges area, it literally felt as if a knight and princess could have appropriately come out of any alleyway. The city is a rare preserved medieval gem in northern Belgium and filled with more history than you can shake a stick at. After checking in at our dreamy AirBnB, which sat atop a historical row house, we had soup at Soup (fitting name) before climbing the 185 spiraling and steep stairs of the Belfry. The Belfy tower dates back to 1240 and offers breathtaking views (quite literally after all of the stair climbing) of the city square.<br />
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We then wandered around the nearby Burq square where we oohed and ahhed at the elaborate autumn themed displays in the many gourmet chocolatier windows.One of our favorite chocolate stops was the Chocolate Line where we indulged in exquisite chocolates including ones filled with Cuban tobacco and others with hazelnut praline and raspberry jam.<br />
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4.1 Perform a GIS analysis of bacterial infection </div>
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and resistance trends of </div>
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community acquired serious bacterial infections pre</div>
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senting to the hospital on the </div>
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CNMC population </div>
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It was then onward to the Basillica of the Holy Blood, a church who claims to have a vial containing a cloth with the blood of Jesus on it. While we didn't actually pay to get an up close to look at the vial, we did see if from a close distance and got to see the elaborately ornate church.<br />
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Next on the list was a walk to the Minnewater, which translates to "Lovers Lake". Aside the lake lies the Begijnhof, an area much like the one in Amsterdam intended for pious women. After some hot chocolate, we strolled through Astrid Park before going home to rest for a short while before dinner.<br />
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For dinner we went to the Bistro Dan Huzaar where we had a decadent meal filled with Belgian specialities such as Flemish rabbit stew and pork cheek with Belgian beer and cherries. We topped it off with a Bruges Swan-but don't worry it wasn't an actual swan, but one made of pastry and swimming in a lake of chocolate.<br />
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Even though our day started out in a little bit of a frenzy, Bruges made all of that stress seem like a very distant memory. If you have the chance, don't think- just go, because it is absolutely stunning.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RfyHDMfvv1w/VjbTh2-7zGI/AAAAAAAAF9k/GvvuYizOCRQ/s1600/GOPR0553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="477" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RfyHDMfvv1w/VjbTh2-7zGI/AAAAAAAAF9k/GvvuYizOCRQ/s640/GOPR0553.JPG" width="640" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-25382745169946273582015-10-27T06:05:00.002-07:002015-10-27T06:05:50.657-07:00Mussels in Brussels After an amazing stay in Amsterdam, we packed up and boarded a train bound for Brussels, Belgium. The train ride itself was a treat and allowed us to the see the beautiful Dutch and Belgian landscapes.<br />
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After our journey, we dropped off our bags at our AirBnB and went into town for lunch at <a href="http://www.fork-bxl.be/">Fork</a>, a farm to table restaurant and picnic supply store. We filled up on quiche, sandwiches, salad and the most amazing homemade bread before taking a walk around the Grand Place.<br />
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It was then onward to scout out the famous Mannequin de Pis statue which is just that, a statue of a boy peeing. It was covered with tourists, but we managed to squeeze in for a few pics.<br />
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You can't go to Belgium without eating a waffle. So, we stopped into the Waffle Factory for a Nutella and Speculoos covered delight. </div>
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With some time left to spare before dinner, we kept up our habit of touring local parks and went to the Parc de Cinquantenaire. The leaves were just too pretty not to play in.<br />
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Aside from waffles, when in Belgium you must eat mussels. Mussels in Brussels (with cheesy bibs), right? We had some of the tastiest around at <a href="http://www.lechoudebruxelles.be/">Chou De Bruxelles</a> on the outskirts of town. I'm so glad that I made reservations months in advance, because we were told that they were completely booked for the evening!<br />
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Although we saw the Grand Place during the day, we knew that we wanted to come back and see it at night. I'm glad that we did too because it was that much more stunning. We also wondered around the small streets behind it and found the Eglise de Sabon, one of the oldest churches in the area.<br />
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It was then onward to Goupil de Fol, a cozy, romantic, and eccentric bar that serves fruit flavored wine. We split two, cherry and hazelnut. We then meandered a little ways up the street to grab a seat at the famous Delirium Bar where I enjoyed a delicious cherry beer. The Belgium people love their cherries and I'm not going to complain about it!<br />
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Then, we went to the train station to pre-purchase our train tickets to Bruges. However, upon arriving- we heard grumblings that there was a strike about to occur that would impact all trains coming into or going out of Brussels. After a lot of confusion and conversations in broken English, we headed home and hoped for better news in the morning.<br />
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On that note, there will be more to come...</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-16046820673080225472015-10-25T11:50:00.004-07:002015-10-25T11:50:55.759-07:00Amsterdam Part 3After starting our day with another delicious breakfast on the houseboat, we took off on our bikes towards the swanky and hip Jordaan district. We had originally planned to tour the historical Anne Frank Huis, but after looking at the line that went out the door, around the corner, and down 2 blocks- we turned our eyes to the towering steeple of the <a href="http://www.westerkerk.nl/">Westerkerk</a> (West Church). After peeping our heads in the church doors, we noted that they offered a tour and decided to sign up. We ended up climbing 185 teeny tiny steps up to the top of the church steeple where we were rewarded with a breath taking view of the city.<br />
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The Jordaan district is filled with historic and beautiful homes and sits adjacent to the boutique lined Nine Streets area. So, after walking in and out of vintage shops,swanky clothing stores, and grabbing coffee at <a href="http://screamingbeans.nl/">Screaming Beans</a> (named one of the top coffee shops in the world, per <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/yezminvillarreal/coffeeshops-you-need-to-see-before-you-die?utm_term=40pe1id&sub=3381279_3333281">Buzzfeed</a>), we were ready for lunch. We set our signs on <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g188590-d1319323-Reviews-Eetcafe_Singel_404-Amsterdam_North_Holland_Province.html">Singel 404</a>, a gourmet sandwich shop with chairs that are right along the water, After a very light lunch, we walked down the street for chocolates at <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g188590-d1078772-Reviews-Chocolaterie_Pompadour-Amsterdam_North_Holland_Province.html">Chocolaterie Pompadour</a> where we grabbed some chocolates for the road.<br />
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Then, it was time to return our bikes across town. After more walking, we had a indulgent snack of frites and another stuffed cookie from <a href="http://www.vanstapele.com/">Van Stapele</a> while a passing shower went over the city. Once the rain turned into a manageable sprinkling, we walked to the oldest standing home in the city- which is a part of the <a href="http://www.begijnhofamsterdam.nl/home-en">Begijnhof</a>. The Begijnhof is actually a group of homes that was founded by a group of women around 1150 who wanted to live in religious community with one another. Although the group of homes is literally in the middle of the city, it provides a quiet and peaceful escape.<br />
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While still walking around the city, we chose to explore Westerpark in the upper northwest portion of the city. We had already seen Oosterpark the day before and had ridden through the famous Vondelpark. So, it was the only one left on the list. You guys, it was nothing short of magical. There were literally fields of bunnies and swans and it was filled with pretty lakes and streams.<br />
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After walking around and playing with the wildlife in the park, we started the long stroll to <a href="http://www.winkel43.nl/">Winkel 43</a> for a snack filled dinner. The restaurant is raved about to have the best Dutch apple pie. So, we knew that we had to try it. Since we had snacked all day, we decided why not just split a slice for our dinner. While the pie was good, I'm not going to lie...John's homemade apple pie is better.<br />
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Then it was onward to Grand Central Station to pre-purchase our tickets for Brussels. Tales from our Belgium adventures to come!!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-18923325287346178482015-10-23T17:17:00.000-07:002015-10-23T17:17:03.994-07:00Amsterdam Continued<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
One of the many perks of staying in our AirBnB houseboat was that breakfast was included and not just any breakfast, but a full Dutch continental spread. Every morning, we heard a friendly "breakfast is ready" call from outside of our door and were greeted with a beautiful tray full of fresh breads, jams, yogurt, fruits, hard boiled eggs, sliced meats and cheese. In addition, we always had access to the cutest Nespresso maker and an assortment of tea. We always ate at the small round table at the foot of our bed, with the sliding large glass doors open so that we could see the waterfront. If only we could start our day like that every day, right?</div>
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One of my favorite things to do during fall is to just be outside and look at the varying colors of the fall foilage. So, before we headed into town for the day, we took a side trip on our bikes to the nearby Oosterpark to do just that. The park, while small, has enclaves of varying landscape around each corner and was quite picturesque as a result.<br />
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Then, it was on our way to the historical and acclaimed <a href="https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/">Rijksmusuem</a>, a national museum dedicated to arts and history. The museum itself is housed in a magnificent architectural work of art and is filled with astounding paintings and portraits by the likes of Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Vermeer.<br />
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Lunch time meant a trip to the <a href="http://www.upstairspannenkoeken.nl/">Upstairs Pannenkoeken </a>(Upstairs Pancake House). We first saw the restaurant on an episode of No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain and since we are such Bordain groupies, we knew that we had to go. The restaurant is very small, four tables at most, and sits atop a serious flight of stairs that are at a 90* angle from the street. John and I split 2, one sweet (pear, eggnog, chocolate, and cream) and one savory (bacon, cheese, pineapple). Aside from John taking a tumble inside of the restaurant(and having to crawl around on the floor and cling to a strangers hand in order to get his grounding), our lunch was perfect.<br />
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Despite the fall temperatures, we decided to walk around the famous Bloemenmarkt to look at the rows of tulip vendors. I will say that it was pretty touristy and definitely not something that was high on our favorites list. So, after quickly strolling through, we hopped on our bikes and went across town to a local favorite- the Albert Cuypmarkt. The market is a mix of a flea market and farmers market and is where we had our first stroopwafel, a sugar dusted waffle made of two thin layers and filled with caramel. They quickly became one of John's favorite snacks.<br />
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One of the many perks of staying on our specific houseboat was that it was located to Amsterdam's leading organic microbrewery, Brouwerij 't IJ which also happens to be housed in Amsterdam's only windmill. So, after a long bike ride across the city, we enjoyed a late afternoon brew beneath the windmill.<br />
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While I took charge of most of the itinerary for the trip, John researched and made a reservation long before we arrived for Tuesday evening's dinner at Marius. The quaint restaurant serves a limited menu that changes daily based on what's available at the local market. The menu itself is even handwritten. We loved everything that we tasted and particularly enjoyed the tussengerecht (pike like fish over potatoes and vegetables). After dinner, we walked around the city with a pitstop to check out the Amsterdam Public Library that towers over the city for a quick peep at the city scape.<br />
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It was another lovely day in Amsterdam and we found ourselves falling more in love with the people, the culture and the food. Stay tuned for more adventures!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-85845534285195787032015-10-17T11:39:00.000-07:002015-10-17T11:39:51.967-07:00The Lyles Have Landed: AmsterdamGreetings from Miami, where I am currently on business in order to attend a course. This trip has been all work and very little play thus far, but honestly- I'm ok with that because I'm still recovering from a most excellent European excursion. The week before last John and I boarded a plan set for Amsterdam, Netherlands. Neither of us had been, but we fell in love with the thought of the country after having attended the EU Open House in D.C. this past May. We used a now frills airline to make our trip more affordable, but that equated to no food and no entertainment for the entirety of the journey over the Atlantic. We compensated by sleeping, playing paper, rock, scissors and other child like travel boredom games in order to pass the time. All was more than well though because when we finally landed, we were greeted with a beautiful and sunny day.<br />
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We decided to stay in Air BnBs for the entirety of our European travels. Our first accommodation was aboard a houseboat in the southeastern portion of Amsterdam. Our room overlooked the beautiful duck filled canal and offered a tranquil escape from the bustling city that lied just a few streets over.<br />
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After checking in, we set off for a quick lunch at <a href="http://vleminckxdesausmeester.nl/">Vlaams Friteshaus Vlemicks</a> for some fresh out of the frier frites (Dutch mayo and Indonesian peanut sauce for me, curry and ketchup for John) followed by a fresh (errrr...more like raw BUT delicious) herring sandwich from <a href="http://www.frens-haring.nl/">Frens Haringhandel</a>. Both quick eats were amazing, flavorful and wonderfully Dutch.<br />
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We decided the best way to get around the city during our stay was the Amsterdam way...by bikes, of course! So, after picking up our rentals from Mike's Bikes we biked on over to the renowned <a href="http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en">Van Gogh Museum</a>. I have always admired the artist and been fascinated by both his work and tales of his life. So, having the opportunity to attend the museum was high on my bucket list, hence it was our first stop!<br />
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After filling our eyes with beautiful art at the museum, our growling stomachs alerted us that we needed to fill our bellies. So, we set out on a journey to find <a href="http://vanstapele.com/eng.php">Van Stapele </a>cookie maker for an afternoon pick me up. The cookie shop only sells one thing (aside from glasses of milk and tea) and that one thing is a divine white chocolate filled rich chocolate Valrhona cookie. The cookies are made fresh daily and once they run out, the shop closes its doors. So, I was elated that we were able to grab a few before taking a short walk around the Canal Ring.<br />
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Months before we made our trip, I made reservations for the Indonesian restaurant, <a href="http://www.restaurantblauw.nl/">Blauw</a>. The Netherlands and Indonesia share strong ties, largely due in part to the Dutch's enslavery and ownership of the country over the course of hundreds of years. Despite Indonesia's independence from the Netherlands in the 1900s, Indonesian cultural components still lie entwined with the Dutch. After doing a little culinary research, I knew before we walked into the restaurant that we must order a Rijsttafel which translates to "rice table". The dish actually consists of many side dishes (up to 40 is not an unusual amount). Ours consisted of things such as, but not limited to: goat satay, sweet soy pork, vegetables with peanut sauce, fried banana and rice. The dishes literally took up the entirety of the table and ended up being quite the experience to eat. Then, after pushing through lack of sleep and the work of eating so much delicious food, we were on our bikes and headed back to our sweet little houseboat.<br />
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Per usual, in typical Mary-Katherine fashion, we hit the ground sprinting but I wouldn't have had it any other way. When I travel, I enjoy diving in head first and soaking up everything that a city has to offer. So, I look forward to sharing more of our adventures with you over the course of the next few days!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-37910836395293838872015-08-26T20:31:00.000-07:002015-08-26T20:31:20.260-07:00Cemetery Goats and Amish CountryA few weeks ago, John and I took advantage of the long summer days by taking a bike ride all over the District. John met me at my office after I completed my Saturday shift and we rode to the <a href="http://www.myfranciscan.org/">Franciscan Monastery</a> nearby. We made a gourmet lunch the evening before complete with Italian pressed sandwiches, veggies and hummus, salt and cracked pepper chips, and old fashioned dirt pudding served in Mason Jars. We spread out our feast in the middle of the garden area and fueled up before heading to our next destination.<br />
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As the title of this post suggests, our next stop included goats and a cemetery. Yes, you read that correctly. The <a href="http://www.congressionalcemetery.org/">Congressional Cemetery</a> in SE D.C. brings a herd of goats to groom the lawn ever so often and we were pumped to have the chance to see them at work. Unfortunately, the goats aren't grazing aside tombstones as we originally thought, but rather feast on the grass along the outskirts of the grounds. Goats in a cemetery in any aspect is still a hoot to watch though! Plus, we took a self guided tour of the cemetery and found some prominent leaders, inventors, and trailblazers of the nation during our stroll.<br />
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The following weekend- it was off to Amish country with our dear friends, the Browns. We rented a sweet little town-home through AirBnB in the quaint and historic town of Lancaster, PA. The first night we had an impromptu belated birthday party for Laura complete with sparklers and homemade sprinkle birthday cake.<br />
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Saturday morning consisted of an early morning wake up and a homemade breakfast. I contributed Cinnamon Raisin French Toast while the Browns prepared bacon, goat cheese scrambled eggs and mimosas. Yum! After we were all well fed, we took a trip to the <a href="http://www.centralmarketlancaster.com/">Lancaster Central Market</a>. The building where the market is housed is just as the name suggests and in the center of the town. Scents of spices, sounds of Amish folk speaking in German, and big barrels of freshly picked vegetables filled the market.<br />
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Then, it was onward to a touristy- but necessary part of our trip-- a trip to a working Amish farm and wood-shop. As we waited around for our horse-drawn buggy, we took a side trip to <a href="http://birdinhandfarmersmarket.com/">Bird-In-Hand</a>, PA to take a peep at their farmer's market. While there, we scored some delicious honey before heading back to the farm. After riding around in the buggy, touring the farm, and oohing and ahhing at furniture in the wood-shop- we headed back towards Lancaster for lunch at the charming <a href="http://www.rachelscreperie.com/">Rachel's Creperie.</a> John and I went halfsies on a crepe and salad pairing and then split a decadent Nutella and peanut butter crepe for dessert.<br />
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Lancaster was surprisingly vibrant and had quite the art and local business scene. We spent the rest of the afternoon bopping around from shop to shop including,but not limited to <a href="http://www.miseenplacekitchenstore.com/">Mise en Place</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SophieStargazerBoutique">Sophie Stargazer</a>. Then, it was time for homemade pizza and brews at <a href="http://beerfridgelancaster.com/">The Fridge</a> where the storefront selling craft beer doubles as a cozy cafe.<br />
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Maybe it's morbid of me, but historical places draw me to the macabre side of things. Historic cemeteries and an occasional ghost tale and I'm sold. Lancaster is one of the oldest cities in the country and played an integral part in the formation of the U.S. as we know it. James Buchanan, the only bachelor president, hales from the area and Milton Hershey, founder of Hershey Chocolate Company, got his start in the town. So, when you paired that strong history with an evening ghost tour, I was in heaven. We had so much fun walking around while listening to historical recounts of the city's history with a few ghoulish details.<br />
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The next morning we had a delightful breakfast at On Orange downtown that included warm Swedish pancakes with maple syrup and stewed apples. Oh, my! Then we were Baltimore bound for an afternoon Orioles baseball game at Camden Yards. Before heading to the game, we made a pit stop in the small town of Ellicot City where locally owned boutiques and eateries line the winding downtown Main Street. I swear that it felt as if I had been teleported back in time to a mountain side town in rural Western North Carolina rather than a unincorporated community on the outskirts of Baltimore. It's a must see if you're in the area and totally worth the 20 or so minute detour outside of Baltimore proper. <br />
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It was our first time at Camden Yards and lucky for us, our nosebleed seats shaded us from the summer heat while providing us with a panoramic view of the iconic field. We left before the final inning, but the experience we had while there was a wonderful and a laid back way to end a most perfect weekend.<br />
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One of the many things that I have enjoyed most about living in this part of the country is the opportunities that we have had to explore the surrounding areas. It's fantastic and surreal to know that within one hour from a city so full of power and fast paced business that there are rolling landscapes full of hardworking farmers, families, and a slower pace of life. Heck, even within the city limits there are sanctuaries and escapes (goats may or may not be included). Cheers to a wonderful city and cheers to another fabulous week in the District!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-5445659480822423102015-08-05T19:12:00.000-07:002015-08-09T17:50:17.044-07:00Birthday SkylinesI've turned a whole year older since my last post. While I wasn't initially that excited about this year's celebration (since it doesn't bring any privileges or milestones), it turned out to be one of my favorite ones yet.<br>
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Thanks to friends and family, I was pretty spoiled throughout the duration of last week. Between cards sent in the mail, birthday parties at work, and random surprises- it made the week special. John even surprised me for lunch at work on Friday and brought along some tasty cupcakes from Baked and Wired.<br>
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Friday evening, I boarded a plane for my main gift- a weekend getaway to Chicago to see one of its newest residents, my life long best friend Elizabeth. John knew that he would be working night shift all weekend and didn't want me to spend the weekend alone- so, a plane ticket it was! My plane didn't arrive until late on Friday, but Elizabeth greeted me by taking me atop the John Hancock building for a birthday drink at the <a href="http://www.signatureroom.com/TheSignatureLounge">Signature Lounge</a>. The lounge offers stellar views of the skyline and has some pretty awesome drinks to top it off.<br>
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The next morning, we awoke bright and early in order to have coffee at <a href="http://www.thewormhole.us/">The Wormhole</a> and doughnuts at <a href="https://www.goglazed.com/">Glazed and Infused</a> before strolling in and out of the boutiques of Wicker Park.<br>
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After walking around for a few hours, we had a most fabulous lunch at <a href="http://www.birchwoodkitchen.com/">Birchwood Kitchen</a>. I chose to have the brie sandwich with apricots, black pepper honey, lemony arugula, and proscuitto on a baguette. <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.1200008392334px;">I would have never thought to put honey on a savory sandwich, but it totally made it. </span><br>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;">Then, it was onward to the </span><a href="http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/thorne" style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;">Art Institute of Chicago</a><span style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;">. I had been before, but the Thorne Rooms (68 miniature sized fully furnished rooms spanning many decades and cultures)never cease to amaze me nor does the hefty collection of famous, well-known art. </span></span><br>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;">For dinner we went to </span><a href="http://littlegoatchicago.com/" style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;">Little Goat</a><span style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;">, the little sister of the buzzing Girl and the Goat. While the food wasn't terrible, it wasn't superb either. So, Elizabeth and I agreed that it was overrated. It's fine though, because we made up for the mediocrity by going to the absolutely awesome Eataly for after dinner coffee and sweets. John and I love the NYC location and I was happy to find that the Chicago location didn't disappoint. I particularly enjoyed the Nutella bar where I indulged in a Nutella smothered piece of brioche. </span></span><br>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;">Later that evening, we went to the Angus and Julia Stone late night Lollapalooza after show at </span><a href="http://jamusa.com/park-west/" style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;">Park West.</a><span style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;"> The Australian based brother and sister duo are one of my favorite acts and I was so happy to have the opportunity to see them again, even though it was super late for this old bird. </span></span><br>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;">The next morning, despite having stayed out for the concert until the wee hours of the morning, we arose early again. <a href="http://www.wildberrycafe.com/">Wildberry Cafe</a> was on the agenda for brunch and I'm so happy that we stuck to our guns despite the jaw dropping long lines. The food was phenomenal-especially the berry bliss pancakes (vanilla anglaise, blackberry coulis, berry mascarpone, and fresh berries). </span></span><br>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;">The restaurant was conveniently located across the street from Millennium Park. So, after filling up on good brunch food, we walked around to take touristy but mandatory pictures of the Bean and the Crown Fountain. </span></span><br>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;">Then, it was time to board the "L' and head outside of the city center to see the White Sox take on the Yankees. While we didn't stay for the entirety of the game, we did have fun while there!</span></span><br>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;">We may not have eaten pizza, but we did partake in two other Chicago staples: </span><a href="http://www.portillos.com/" style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;">Portillo's</a><span style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;"> hot-dogs and <a href="http://www.garrettpopcorn.com/">Garrett's Popcorn</a>. I'm already having withdrawals and dreaming about the savory-sweet delight of Garrett's blend of cheddar and caramel popcorns. </span></span><br>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;">For my final hoorah we went to the top of the <a href="http://willis%20tower/">Willis Tower</a> to take in the sunset over the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. It was breathtaking. </span></span><br>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;">All in all, this past week and weekend were awesome. It never ceases to amaze me just how wonderful my friends and family are. They definitely make this old bird feel special. Cheers to another fabulous week in the District! </span></span><br>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 21.1200008392334px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UOOqU-9q7as/VcF7QoZpJCI/AAAAAAAAFC8/SYae4PfRcIY/s1600/GOPR0134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="477" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UOOqU-9q7as/VcF7QoZpJCI/AAAAAAAAFC8/SYae4PfRcIY/s640/GOPR0134.jpg" width="640"></a></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-53727584084979395732015-07-27T18:21:00.000-07:002015-07-27T18:27:58.831-07:00Glamping on the Eastern Shore <span style="font-family: inherit;">My sweet John finished step 3 of 4 of his medical boards this past Friday. The test is pretty grueling and so after all was said and done- he needed some much needed relaxation. Therefore, we rented a car and hit the road to the eastern shore of Virginia for a glamping (glamorized camping) adventure! Our site was actually an emergency storm shelter turned private room with futon bed and seating area that sat underneath a weeping willow aside a field. It still didn't have air conditioning nor running water, but it was insulated and on the property of a beautiful bed and breakfast. The bed and breakfast was also a working farm and was across the road from a fully operating vineyard and winery. Oh, and did I mention that it was a hop, skip and jump from the seashore? It was love at first sight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When we arrived on Friday, we ("we" as in John, HENRY and myself)settled in by playing board and card games by lantern light before calling it an evening. The next morning, we woke up bright and early to get a bite to eat and home brewed coffee at Machipongo Trading Company before heading to the dog friendly beach at <a href="http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/kiptopeke.shtml#general_information">Kiptopeke State Park</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After walking along the seashore and letting Henry take a dip, we headed inland to Cape Charles. The town looks to be straight out of a novel with its tree lined streets, historic homes and dune lined seashore. We had a delicious bowl of crab bisque along with a crab cake sandwich(you can never have too much crab)at <a href="http://www.kellysgingernutpub.com/home.aspx">Kelly's Gingernut Pub</a> before walking in and out of the funky boutiques of downtown. Before leaving, we stopped in for a cup of famous home made ice cream at <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g57567-d3372923-Reviews-Brown_Dog_Ice_Cream-Cape_Charles_Virginia.html">Brown Dog Ice Cream</a>. The Brown Dog chocolate ice cream is a must try!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We then found ourselves at a local secret, <a href="http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/natural_area_preserves/savage.shtml">Savage Neck Natural Area Preserve.</a> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The 298-acre preserve contains outstanding Chesapeake Bay beach, dune, and maritime forest communities, and migratory songbird habitat. It was so strange walking from pine tree filled pathways, by willowed ponds, through dunes and ending up on the beach all in a mile's walk. It was simply stunning.</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">That evening, we made our way back to Cape Charles for dinner time oysters on the half shell and crab cakes at <a href="http://www.shantyseafood.com/1000/Page.aspx">The Shanty</a>. The restaurant overlooks the water and marina area, therefore providing quite the romantic set up. Afterwards, w</span><span style="background-color: white;">e made it home just in time to catch the sunset over the farmland and vineyards before making s'mores over the campfire. What a perfect day. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">The next morning we packed up our things and went across the street to enjoy a wine tasting at <a href="https://www.chathamvineyards.net/">Chatham Vineyards</a> before heading north on the shore to <a href="http://www.chincoteague.com/">Chincoteague Island</a>. The island is famous for the wild horses that roam the seashore. So, we were excited to hike around the area and try to catch a glimpse. While we didn't see any (so sad), we did get to see some beautiful landscapes along our hike through the national wildlife refuge. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">Before leaving town, we had a picnic on the banks of </span><a href="http://seastarcafeci.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;">Sea Star Cafe</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"> followed by ice cream at </span><a href="http://islandcreamery.net/" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;">Island Creamery</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"> (rated #1 ice cream parlor in the nation by Trip Advisor and rightfully so). </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">This weekend was much needed and much loved. While I enjoy being in the center of the hustle and bustle of the city, it is nice to have a getaway to a new place every now and then; especially when done with the ones whom you love the most. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-9423106580358780592015-07-15T19:55:00.003-07:002015-07-16T13:36:56.090-07:00Girl's Trip to the NEThis past holiday weekend, my friend Hannah Beth and I loaded up her car and drove to Groton, CT for a sorority sister weekend get-away. We stayed with our friend Laura in her beautiful historic home along with three more of our friends (Meagan, Emily, Christina) who made the trip up from down South. The six of us used to live together in the Alpha Omicron Pi house while were at The University of Alabama, but have since spread out and journeyed down various paths. So, it was such a treat to get back together and pick up where we left off. <br>
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Some of the highlights of the weekend included:<br>
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A day trip to the Connecticut seashore for surf, sand, and quality girl time. We even braved it enough to swim out alongside some adventurous pre-teens and jump off a floating diving platform! After all of that adventure, we figured that we had earned ourselves a homemade doughnut from <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/flanders-donut-bagel-and-bake-shop-east-lyme">Flanders</a>--which was a great decision (bonus points for them being patriotic).<br>
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Lobster Rolls and shrimp-roasted corn chowder at <a href="http://abbottslobster.com/">Abbott's Lobster in the Rough</a>. We feasted on a picnic table (elaborately decorated by Laura-aka Martha Stewart) while we sipped BYOB wine and watched the sun set over the waterfront.<br>
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We took a little late night excursion around the American Revolutionary <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Griswold">Fort Griswold</a> while watching fireworks (and maybe telling a few ghost stories) from the river bank.<br>
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An all day 4th of July fiesta at the home of one of Laura's friends in Rhode Island. It may have sprinkled on and off, but we didn't let that ruin our bonfire, sparkler extravaganza, and back porch chats.<br>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura, Emily and I took up the 154+ step challenge to the top of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Griswold">Groton Monument</a>, <span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">a granite monument</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> dedicated to the defenders who fell during the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Groton_Heights" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-decoration: none;" title="Battle of Groton Heights">Battle of Groton Heights</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> on September 6, 1781. Hello, leg workout!</span></span><br>
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We had a fabulous brunch at <a href="http://www.engineroomct.com/">Engine Room</a> in Mystic, CT (where Mystic Pizza is based) and wandered around the scenic docks before heading out for a day trip to Newport.<br>
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While in Newport, we walked the entirety of the <a href="http://www.cliffwalk.com/">Cliff Walk</a> while oohing and ahhing at the seaside Vanderbilt mansions and picturesque seascapes.<br>
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Afterwards, we meandered around the quaint ocean side town before boarding a Rum Runner cruise to see the lighthouses, sailboats, and seaside mansions and cottages at sunset.<br>
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Then, it was off to dinner at <a href="https://www.blackpearlnewport.com/">Black Pearl </a>where I had some of their famous New England clam chowder. I was already falling in love with the New England town, but the chowder sealed the deal.<br>
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The next day, it was time to pack up and say our farewells. We had our last meal at <a href="http://thespiceclubct.com/">The Spice Club</a> for some tasty Thai and then it was on our way home.<br>
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In between all of our excursions, there were lots of belly laughs, face masks, Sex and the City watch parties, and general catch-up girl-time. I am so thankful to not only have had made and lived with such great friends in college, but to have continued that friendship long after graduation. While I am a bit sad about the weekend coming to a close, I'm already counting down the days 'til next year's reunion!<br>
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<br>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-5462646721132067312015-06-29T04:53:00.001-07:002015-06-29T04:53:28.893-07:00Playing CatchupYes, it has officially been over a month since my last post. Oops!! Here's an attempt to catch the world up on the life and times of The District Darling:<br />
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John and I went to <a href="http://www.heurichhouse.org/participate/history-hops">History and Hops</a> at the historic <a href="http://www.heurichhouse.org/">Heurich House</a> in the heart of Dupont Circle. The home once belonged to one of D.C.'s first brewmasters and is now a historic landmark. The event featured local brewers from <a href="http://www.oldbusthead.com/">Old Bust Head Brewery</a> in Warrenton, VA. We got to meet the brewers, taste their brews, and get a tour of the historic home. Afterwards, we discovered one of my new D.C. favorites-<a href="http://starnoldsmusselbar.com/"> St. Arnold's</a>, Belgium fare and bar. As if I couldn't get any more excited about our upcoming Netherlands/Belgium trip, St. Arnold's mussels and frites made me even more so.<br />
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John and I went on a long afternoon bike ride and trekked around <a href="http://www.nps.gov/this/index.htm">Teddy Roosevelt Island</a>. It was hard to believe that we were only a hop, skip, and a jump away from the interstate and the hustle and the bustle of the city when looking at the picturesque naturescapes that the park offered.<br />
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John and I took another long bike ride adventure to grab famous mozzarella sticks and sandwiches from <a href="https://plus.google.com/101060907980695143613/about?gl=us&hl=en">Tune Inn Cafe</a> in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The dive was featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and definitely lived up to its reputation.<br />
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We made it to New Belgium's <a href="http://www.newbelgium.com/events/tour-de-fat/washington.aspx">Tour de Fat</a> festival for our second year in a row. The festival features New Belgium limited edition brews, carnival events and contests, and celebrates all things bicycle related.<br />
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I finally tried <a href="http://www.icecreamjubilee.com/">Ice Cream Jubilee</a> in the Navy Yard neighborhood. It was recently ranked as one of the top ice cream locations in the U.S. by <a href="http://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/best-ice-cream-shops-in-america">Thrillist</a>, and reasonably so. Their flavors were unique (e.g. Thai Iced Tea, Snickers Snickerdoodle, Blueberry Pie) , fresh, and absolutely perfect on a hot summer's day.<br />
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We tried Dominican cuisine at <a href="http://www.loshermanosdominicanrestaurant.com/">Los Hermanos</a> in Columbia Heights. The food was no fuss, flavorful and set up like a Dominican lunchroom style buffet. I'm all about trying new cultural cuisines and going to this place proved yet again that D.C. is the perfect place to do so.<br />
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I made a mid-week trip to one of my favorite cities, Charlottesville, VA to see one of my favorite bands, The Decemberists. The show was awesome and I was thrilled to check it off of my concert bucketlist.<br />
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We went on a double date to the Nats vs. Cubs game with my friend Ashley. Not only did the Nats win, but John and I scored free Chik-fil-a as a result,<br />
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Later that week, I celebrated my friend Ashley's birthday by going to the Nelly,TLC, New Kids on the Block Concert at the Verizon Center (thanks to our friend Skye for scoring us tickets). Hello, blast from the past!<br />
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Last week, I spent the week at my favorite place on Earth-<a href="http://sumatanga.org/">Camp Sumatanga</a>. It was my second year directing and I could not have asked for a better week. My co-deans, Andrew and Winston, were the best and the campers and counselors were just as great.<br />
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Before I left Alabama, I had dinner with friends and family at <a href="http://www.meltbham.com/">MELT</a>. The grilled cheese hot spot was a food truck when I lived in the area, but has since opened a storefront in Avondale. I also made a pitstop by Pepper Place Saturday market and Saw's BBQ before boarding a plane for D.C.<br />
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John was off this past week and we have taken advantage of his time away from work by hitting up the Nats vs.Braves and hosting his parents this weekend. While the Lyles were in town, we showed them some of our favorite places like Jazz in the Gardens and 2Amy's, while also discovering some new ones like the historic <a href="http://www.fordstheatre.org/splash">Fords Theatre</a>.<br />
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It seems like yesterday that I was trekking through snow in a down filled parka and snow boots and now it's almost July! We have officially been in D.C. for over a year and it's finally starting to set in that this is home for us and not just a lengthy vacation. John made it through his first year of residency and I could not be more proud. We've made new friends, found new favorite places, and are still enjoying exploring and discovering this city together each day. Cheers to another fabulous week in the District!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-41585039982435720312015-05-20T19:31:00.001-07:002015-05-20T19:31:45.289-07:00Europe Trips and Family VisitsLast week, John and I took a swing at trying soul food in D.C. As born and bred Southerners, we have been hesitant to try Southern food outside of the deep South but we were pleasantly surprised with <a href="http://www.oohhsnaahhs.com/menu">Oohs and Aahs</a> on U Street. The dive received praise on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and reasonably so because it was so good. Thanks to an online deal, we had a feast including (but not limited to) grits, mac and cheese, and fried chicken wings. I also had a big glass of sweet tea to wash it all down. Yum!<br />
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That weekend, the doors of the European Union embassies opened their doors to the public. Luckily, John was off and able to join me for the event for the second year in a row. We visited embassies that we weren't able to get to during last year's event. While we saw a lot, we still have some more left to see next year. This year we visited: Poland, Spain, Malta, Austria, Slovakia, Netherlands (our favorite and one of the reasons behind our upcoming trip to Amsterdam!), Hungary, and Czech Republic.<br />
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That Sunday, my coworker Devorah and I had a small bridal shower for our fellow outpatient therapist, Kim. We held it on my rooftop and thank goodness, the rain held off long enough for us to have our tea and sweets with the bride to be!<br />
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This past week weekend, John's brother Trey came to town for a conference and to visit us! We pretty much spent the weekend giving Trey a gastro tour of the city and showing him all of our favorite places to wine and dine. On Friday, we started off at Truckeroo where we had two of our absolute favorite food truck fares- Korean fried chicken from <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/korean-bbq-taco-box-washington">KBBQ Taco Box</a> and ice cream cookie sandwiches from <a href="http://www.captaincookiedc.com/">Captain Cookie and the Milkman</a>. Afterwards, we walked over to <a href="http://www.bluejacketdc.com/">BlueJacket </a>brewery, a local brewery, to have a nightcap before turning it in for the evening.<br />
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On Saturday, we met Trey close to the convention center for lunch sandwiches at <a href="http://sundevich.com/">Sundevich</a>, located in a Shaw alleyway. Then we strolled over to Dacha beer garden where we sat on umbrella covered benches and sipped German beers. It truly felt like a perfect summer afternoon.<br />
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Then, we were on our way to the one Smithsonian Museum that yours truly had yet to visit- The National Gallery of Art. I don't know why it took me so long to visit, but considering how much love I love art museums- it's rather strange that it did. While there, we peeped in at the only da Vinci in the Americas and the LED filled light tunnel designed by Leo Villareal. After walking around the National Mall, we sauntered over to <a href="http://daikaya.com/">Daikaya</a> for an early dinner in order to beat the lines (that usually go out the door) and to have some delicious Ramen!<br />
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Sunday, John and I met up with Trey for our final meal together at <a href="http://www.dgsdelicatessen.com/">DGS</a>. John and I frequent the Dupont Jewish delicatessen pretty frequently but it was our first taste of their brunch including the tasty Challah French toast.<br />
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After we parted ways with Trey, John and I spent the afternoon window shopping in Old Town Alexandria which included a stop into the Torpedo Art Gallery to see the light filled studios of local art.<br />
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It's starting to feel like summer and I couldn't be happier. While I love the change in the seasons, I have been longing for the dog days of summer for a few weeks- along with all of the fun activities in the city that comes with the new season. Cheers to another fabulous week in the District!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-49944666588071394212015-05-06T06:21:00.001-07:002015-05-06T06:21:52.755-07:00Day Trips to Foreign Lands & Grasshopper TacosSometimes you need an impromptu date night during the week . So, that's just what John and I did last Tuesday night when we made the trek to Van Ness for dinner at <a href="http://www.cometpingpong.com/">Comet Ping Pong</a>. The pizza joint has been featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and was one of the first places that we ate at in D.C. They serve up some tasty pizza and sides and have rows of ping pong tables in the back to pass the time while you're waiting. PS They have a deal on Living Social right now!<br />
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Last Friday night, we celebrated my friend Ashley's birthday a little early on a rooftop over peanut butter pie. There's no better way to kick off the weekend than with a celebration, especially one on a D.C. rooftop. Am I right?<br />
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Saturday morning, I woke up bright and early to attend the annual <a href="http://www.culturaltourismdc.org/portal/passport-dc1">Embassy Open House Day</a>. A large majority of the embassies open their doors to the public to share their culture, food and the interior of their embassy with the public. I'm proud to say that my friend Cristi, her roommate Becky, and I covered 19 out of 40, plus I covered two additional ones after we departed. So, quite a feat and a lot of walking! Here's the official list of the ones that I covered: Bahamas, Libya, Morocco, League of Arab States, Ivory Coast, Indonesia, Kenya, Guatemala, Haiti, Brazil, Bolivia, Azerbaijan, Ghana, Nigeria, Ghana, Pakistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Columbia, Ethiopia and Bahrain. Here are some highlights from the day:<br />
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Morocco:</div>
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Hammering Gold Inlay </div>
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Beautiful handmade Guatemalan crafts</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you Ivory Cost for feeding me so well!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">When you're in the Bahamas, dress like it!</span></td></tr>
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Bolivian music and dance</div>
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That evening, John met up with me (a little late thanks to some hospital duties, but there nonetheless) at <a href="http://www.oyamel.com/">Oyamel</a> for a date night dinner. The Jose Andres restaurant located in the heart of Chinatown boasts some of the best and most authentic Mexican fare around. We started off with some refreshing margaritas (mine featured orange infused tequila, grapefruit bitters, fresh lime & soda water), then had their famous guac made right at the table, feasted on some delicious small plates and finished it with a Chapulines taco---aka the grasshopper taco. That's right we ate the legendary Oaxacan speciality of sauteed grasshoppers, shallots, tequila and guacamole and it was surprisingly wonderful.<br />
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We couldn't end the evening with grasshoppers, even though they were surprisingly appetizing. So, we walked next door to <a href="http://pitangogelato.com/">Pitango Gelato</a> and shared a triple scoop of matcha green tea, cinnamon, and Sicilian almond. Perfection.<br />
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On Sunday, for the first time in a long time, John was off. So, we spent the day taking it easy. Thank you Lord for off days! Plus, after a day full of non stop eating and non stop walking- I needed a break myself. Well, we did manage to scurry on over to a newly found neighborhood gold mind- <a href="http://www.bethesdabagels.com/">Bethesda Bagel</a>. We literally live a hop, skip and a jump away from the booming Dupont bagel shop and could have kicked ourselves for not going sooner. Hello, everything whole wheat bagel with bacon, egg and cheese--> Totally worth all of the uber healthy eats that we eat during the week.<br />
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On Tuesday, we had the rare and wonderful opportunity to see one of our favorite musicians, Sufjan Stevens, in concert. We were absolutely over the moon when we scored tickets a few months ago and had been waiting for...well, years to see him live. The concert was held at the <a href="http://www.dar.org/">D.A.R.</a> music hall which was a spectacle in itself.<br />
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Cheers to ping pong, birthdays, foreign lands, grasshoppers, gelato and good music &&& cheers to another fabulous week in the District!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-45751805454671086322015-04-29T19:14:00.002-07:002015-04-29T19:14:43.665-07:00Sweet Hikes This past Friday John and I went to the kick off of this years season of <a href="http://zombiecoffeeanddonuts.com/menu/">Truckeroo</a>. The monthly food truck rally quickly became one of our favorite events last summer. So, we were thrilled for the start of this years season. While the lines were long, per usual, the food was worth it...also, per usual. We split the Korean Fried Chicken from Korean BBQ Taco Box and a BBQ sampler plate from <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/bbq-bus-silver-spring">BBQ Bu</a>s. Maybe it's because we are Southern born and bred from the land of BBQ, but BBQ Bus was "ok", but not to our standards. K BBQ on the other hand was absolutely amazing and full of flavor. Check out their menu here and reviews <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/korean-bbq-taco-box-washington">here</a>.<br />
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Afterwards, John and I had got a hankering for a late night sweet. So, we tried out the newly opened <a href="http://zombiecoffeeanddonuts.com/menu/">Zombie Doughnuts and Coffee</a> located in the heart of Columbia Heights. The place bakes up cake doughnuts and then allows the customer to customize the doughnut by choosing from a variety of toppings ranging from frosting to sprinkles to bacon. It was a fun experience and while the doughnuts were good, they weren't groundbreaking and definitely something that you could make at home.<br />
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The next day we decided to hike off all of the goodies that we ate on Friday night by traipsing across the city (13.2 miles to be exact). We started off the morning in NW D.C. by hiking the serene and peaceful <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/bbq-bus-silver-spring">Glover Archibold Trail</a>. It was our first time trekking through the area and I was amazed at just how quickly we were able to go from urban to woodlands.<br />
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We then went to the Beauvoir National Cathedral Elementary School. Why, you ask? Well, because it boasts one of the best playgrounds (cool for adults and kids alike). Tuition at the school runs about $30K a year, but there's no charge to climb, explore, and ride the zip line at the playground open to the public on the weekends during select hours.<br />
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Afterwards, we went next door and toured the interior of the <a href="http://www.cathedral.org/">National Cathedral</a>, including the view from the observation deck. The Cathedral was built via private funds starting in 1906 and now ranks among the top 10 largest Cathedrals in the world.<br />
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We then walked over to Adams Morgan by way of Rock Creek Park for a late lunch at Open City Diner. The diner is owned by the Tryst group, who also own one of our favorite cafes-their namesake, Tryst. We went 50/50 on their brioche French toast and their Open City Burger, both of which were superb, followed up by Tryst cappuccino. While it was a lot of food, it was a perfect refuel after a day of hiking.<br />
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When you've already walked over 10 miles, what's a few more? That was our mindset when we took off to Georgetown following our lunch. We originally headed that way to pick up Henry's food, but found ourselves in the middle of a Parisian sidewalk fare with Georgetown vendors lining the sidewalks. After looking around for a bit, we gave into our guilty pleasure--ice cream at <a href="http://thomassweet.com/">Thomas Sweet</a>. Coffee Oreo flavored ice cream? I think I will.<br />
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That evening we went to NE D.C. for game night at our friends Abbie and Aaron's. We played Ticket to Ride, which was super fun but thanks to my physical exhaustion- my cognitive abilities were slacking and I powered through probably one of my worst board game performances ever. It was fun regardless though!<br />
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Sunday consisted of more walking while John was at work, but this time with my friend Hannah Beth. We took a sunset walk through Dupont and Kalorama while we went real estate window shopping.<br />
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Although my legs are still close to numb, the weekend adventures were worth it! Cheers to another fabulous week in the District!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-53124188388174531292015-04-21T20:16:00.002-07:002015-04-21T20:18:45.621-07:00The Home FrontSo, now since I have caught everyone up on our Ireland and NYC adventures, here's a quick recap of what's been going-on on the home front over the past few weeks.<br />
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It's officially spring in the District. The cherry blossoms have come and gone, but the tourists are here to stay. Since it's our first spring here, we have been tourists in our own city and joined in on all of the spring festivities including the Cherry Blossom Kite Festival. It was SUPER windy and chilly, but the kites were a sight to see-especially the professional grade ones.<br />
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Our friend Stacy moved back to Wisconsin (boo) to pursue a dream job, but before she left- we celebrated her at <a href="http://www.latascausa.com/">La Tasca</a>. The Chinatown restaurant and bar is known for its various types of sangria, which are mixed daily and housed in large glass jars. I enjoyed trying a few (including the namesake, La Tasca, which had sliced apples, red wine and cinnamon) and taking a few bites of their tres de leche cake for a sweet after dinner treat.<br />
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Afterwards, we went to <a href="http://live.thehamiltondc.com/">Hamilton Live!</a> to see Horse Feathers. I had been to the venue before but it had been months and it was my first seated show. John and I scored seats up in the balcony which offered an excellent birds eye view.<br />
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That Friday we had a special dinner at <a href="http://www.rosesluxury.com/">Rose's Luxury</a>. The restaurant doesn't take reservations. So, the line forms early and is super long...like an hour and a half wait outside on the street long, BUT it's worth it!! The menu changes frequently based on what's in season and available but there wasn't a single thing (drinks included) that we had that wasn't superb. We both agreed that it was probably one of the best dinners that we have ever had and hands down some of the best service. It's a must try dining experience.<br />
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Afterwards we went to a huge art show opening at <a href="http://www.blindwhino.org/">Blind Whino</a> called Cherry Blast. It was full of art from local artists, live screen printing, and a live D.J. So much stinkin' fun. Oh, and did I mention that Blind Whino is housed in a painted church?<br />
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The cherry blossom extravaganza continued the next day when I watched Blossoms and Baseball at Nats Park with our small group while John was at work. The Nats suffered a nasty loss to the Yankees (I blame it on the super winds that were blowing through the park that day), but there's no such thing as a bad day at the baseball park. Later that evening, I met back up with my small group and some more friends to catch the Cherry Blossoms Fireworks Show at the SW Waterfront. Beautiful!<br />
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The next week, my friend Ashley's entire family came in for the Easter holiday weekend. Since John had to work for the majority of the weekend, they adopted me as a Kenyon for the weekend and invited us to dinner on Friday night and then invited me for Easter brunch on Sunday. I've got good friends, this I know.<br />
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A few weeks ago one of my favorites, Gregory Alan Isakov played a sold out show at the <a href="http://www.930.com/">9:30 Club</a>. John and I watched him at Workplay last year-but it most definitely wasn't a sold out show. So, it was fun to see just how much he's grown (while I secretly muttered under my breath that I knew him before he was a big shot (:).<br />
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It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of deal websites. Groupon, Living Social, Travel Zoo...I like them all. So, a few weeks ago John and I found a Groupon for a restaurant located a few blocks from us that had good reviews- <a href="http://www.nagerestaurant.com/">Nage</a>. I was surprised to find that it was practically a part of the Dupont Marriott, but hey- the food was pretty good and especially for the price. </div>
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Afterwards, we walked over to nearby 14th street and wandered into <a href="http://www.bakehousedc.com/">BakeHouse </a>where we had a delicious homemade whoopie pie. My only regret is that I didn't know go into the quaint bakery sooner. On second thought, maybe that's a good thing...for my hips at least. </div>
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We then randomly went to the <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-gibson-washington">Gibson Speakeasy</a>, located just a few blocks away. While the drinks aren't cheap, they are inventive and some of the best in the District. Plus, you can never go wrong by going to a speakeasy on a date night.<br />
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The next day we went to SE for a roof birthday party to celebrate our friend Caitlin. It was a bit windy, but the hot grill and blue skies made it feel like we had stepped into June.<br />
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That evening, we went for a romantic river boat cruise on the Potomac to get a peak at the cherry blossoms. We went just as the sun was setting which made it all the better.<br />
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The next day, the cherry blossom celebration continued as we battled the crowds to find a picnic spot at the Tidal Basin. There were THOUSANDS of people, heck-probably hundreds of thousands of people, but the blooms were stunning in the spring sunshine.<br />
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The next evening, we couldn't stay away from the blossoms. So, we took a huge walking tour of the city (~8 miles to be exact) for a look before the rain took the pretty blooms away. We started by walking to <a href="https://plus.google.com/114285348440183520605/about?gl=us&hl=en">Love and Faith Community Cafe</a> for some liquid nitrogen ice cream. Yes, you read that right. Liquid nitrogen+kitchenaid mixer= some outstanding oreo and pb ice cream. Then, we walked around Meridian Hill Park at sunset before going to the Tidal Basin for one final look at the blossoms. Luckily, by going at night the majority of the tourists were gone and we were able to walk around at our leisure.<br />
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Last Friday night John and I went to one of our favorite date night locations, Nats Stadium where we watched the Nats get a W over the Phillies. Woo hoo!<br />
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The next morning we had brunch with the Browns at Meridian Hill Park. The park is just beautiful and there's nothing like eating outdoors with friend with a follow up game of frisbee.<br />
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That evening, while John was at work- my friend Ashley and I grilled out and then went to the Gibson. So, more yummy outdoor eating and speakeasy drinks for me! The following day, I woke up bright and early and hiked the rocky Billy Goat Trail with my adventurous friend, Devorah. The trail usually takes 2-3 hours, but we hiked it in an hour and a half. It was quite a work out and more of a climb than a hike, but the views were killer and worth the hard work.<br />
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That afternoon, me and some of the girls made a day trip into VA for a wine tasting at <a href="http://goombawine.com/">Quattro Goomba </a>winery. The winery is also a brewery and a pizzeria. How cool is that? After we fueled up on pizza and wine, we went back to the city-making a pit stop at <a href="http://www.nicecreamfactory.com/">Nicecream Factory</a> in Clarendon where they too make delicious ice cream with liquid nitrogen.<br />
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It's been a busy few weeks full of spring adventures and outings. Cheers to many more and another fabulous week in the District!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-10656124249008947102015-04-08T07:32:00.000-07:002015-04-08T07:32:04.434-07:00The Lyles' NYC+Dublin Adventure: Day 5Morning Americano coffee and a slice of orange cardamon cake with fresh whipped creme at <a href="https://www.3fe.com/">3fe</a>. I found 3fe on a <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/yezminvillarreal/coffeeshops-you-need-to-see-before-you-die#.txErMpRvV">Buzzfeed article </a>where it was listed as one of the best coffeehouses in the world. It lives up to the hype.<br />
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Shopping near Grafton Street where I picked up my souvenirs- a bright mango rain coat and a Claddagh ring.<br />
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Tour of <a href="https://www.tcd.ie/">Trinity College</a> guided by a second year student. We finished off the tour by taking a look at the Book of Kells. The book is over 1,000 years old and contains lavishly decorated copies (written in Latin) of the four Gospels. We also took a walk through the expansive Old Library where the books are arranged by size rather than author or genre.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of Arnold Pomodoro's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphere_Within_Sphere">Sphere Within a Sphere</a> sculptures. There are many scattered around the world, including one right here in D.C. </span></td></tr>
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Lunch at <a href="http://www.thefarmfood.ie/">Farm</a> where the food was super fresh. We especially loved the steak sandwich.<br />
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More shopping on Grafton where John snagged a fancy new pair of leather lace up boots.<br />
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<a href="http://www.murphysicecream.ie/">Murphy's Ice Cream</a> round 2- salt and rum raisin.<br />
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Boarded the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) to Howth. As soon as our feet hit the ground, we started our hike towards The Summit and then continued on to Bailey's Lighthouse at the cliffs. Google Maps was not cooperating. So, we ended up venturing along the cliffs for about 5 miles before calling it a day, wandering away from the trail and walking through a swanky neighborhood to get back to the town.<br />
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After the hike, we had worked up an appetite. So, we ducked into a local pub called <a href="http://www.abbeytavern.ie/">Abbey's Tavern </a>for dinner. We had Fisherman's Pie (think Shepherd's pie but with seafood-delish), fish and chips and a glass of Guinness (<-- my new beer of choice).<br />
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We then walked along the docks to the Howth Lighthouse as the sun was setting. Beautiful!<br />
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Fun fact: In Ireland (and supposedly, all of Europe), you have to request to have your dinner check unlike in the USA where the wait staff bring it to you shortly after you finish eating. I really like the EU way. It lets you focus more on the experience of dining rather than rushing to the next thing.<br />
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DART back to Dublin. Then, get ready--<a href="http://www.murphysicecream.ie/">Murphy's</a> round 3- browned butter and chocolate chip. We got called out for going 2x in one day, but we felt like we had to get one final taste of the best ice cream in the world before leaving town.<br />
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Goodnight.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-79245000133530171862015-04-05T16:29:00.002-07:002015-04-05T16:32:03.034-07:00The Lyles' NYC/Dublin Adventure: Day 4Slept in. This is usually a no-no on a Lyles' vacation, but we had to beat the jet lag.<br />
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After a morning walk along the Liffey, it was time for brunch at <a href="http://www.elephantandcastle.ie/">Elephant and Castle</a> in the Temple Bar area. Strangely enough, we had some of the best wings ever there. They were perfectly crisp and delicious.<br />
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We then accidentally marched right in the middle of a HUGE protest against Dublin's new law causing residents to pay more for their water.<br />
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-Short walk over to <a href="http://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/index.aspx">Saint Patrick's Cathedral</a> with a stop in between into a local art shop. We found an awesome print there by a local artist of some colorful Irish doors. Guided tour of Saint Patrick's Cathedral. It's hard to believe just how well the beautiful place has weathered the test of time.</div>
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<a href="http://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/Index.aspx">Guinness Factory</a> tour. I had my first Guinness (yes, ever) atop the Gravity Bar that overlooked the city and surrounding areas including the Wicklow Mountains- Guinness' water source.<br />
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Dinner at the <a href="http://boxtyhouse.ie/">Boxty House</a> where we went all out on the Irish food- Irish beef stew, Irish soda bread, corned beef Boxty and Bailey's Irish Cream cheesecake for dessert. How very Irish of us.<br />
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Side note: while we were enjoying a beautiful and sunny day out, it was snowing back in D.C.</div>
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After walking alongside the Liffey, we went to Dublin's oldest pub-The <a href="http://www.brazenhead.com/">Brazenhead</a> for a night cap of my new favorite- Guinness. The Brazenhead has been on the same site since the late 12th century. </div>
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Random learned fact: wait 2 minutes, after your Guinness is poured before drinking it. </div>
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We stopped by <a href="http://www.cafeenseine.ie/">Cafe en Seine</a> on Dawson St. on the way home but the swanky faux Parisian scene just wasn't for us. So, we quickly skipped right out of the door almost as soon as we waltzed in. </div>
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Murphy's craving struck again, but they were closed. So, it's bed time for the Lyles. </div>
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Goodnight, Dublin! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-54306229417024131682015-03-30T16:15:00.000-07:002015-03-30T16:43:56.737-07:00The Lyles' Adventure: NYC+Dublin: Day 3Ireland, we have arrived!!<br>
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Red eye flight=super tired. </div>
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After dropping our bags at our hotel, it was time for brunch at <a href="http://www.queenoftarts.ie/">Queen of Tarts</a> (homemade raspberry scone, a pot of tea, and an Irish breakfast to share). </div>
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Where are the street signs?? This is not America. No internet on our phones? We resort to using paper fold out maps. </div>
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<a href="http://www.museum.ie/en/homepage.aspx">National Museum of Ireland: Architecture</a>. There was an exhibit that included recovered mummified corpses that were found in peat fields-grotesque! I'll spare you the pictures, but I did take a few. </div>
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Only in Ireland would there be a <a href="http://www.dublincastle.ie/">castle </a>in the middle of town. It wasn't just any castle either, but a dreamy one with lots of green grass, walkways, beautiful iron gates and blooming flowers.<br>
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We then took a self guided tour of another downtown treasure, <a href="http://christchurchcathedral.ie/">Christ Church Cathedral</a>. We timed it just right too because the church's youth choir was putting on a show when we walked in.<br>
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After a few more hours or so walking downtown, including walking through the bustling Temple Bar, gritty Henry Street, and high end Grafton Street, we took a local's advice and went to <a href="http://www.rusticstone.ie/">Rustic Stone </a>for dinner. We split the Irish lamb burger and fish in a bag (yes, it was just that- a tasty local catch cooked alongside an array of vegetables...in a bag). </div>
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After walking around and eating such a hearty meal, I felt my engine slow down. So, we went to <a href="https://accentslounge.wordpress.com/">Accent Coffee and Tea Lounge</a> for some tea and coffee. It wasn't the best, but not the worst, and caffeine is caffeine. </div>
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A cup of tea didn't cut for us. I was in need of sugar. So, we went a few stores down where we had some of the best ice cream, possibly in the world, at <a href="http://www.murphysicecream.ie/flavours.html">Murphy's</a>. The owners are a pair of brothers from NYC (we had the pleasure of meeting one of them) who decided to travel to the land of their father, settle and vow to make the best ice cream around. They succeeded. We had sea salt (made from freshly harvested sea salt from Dingle, Ireland) and cookies. It had just the amount of natural sweetness and was made with Irish cow's milk. We were hooked at first bite.<br>
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Even after the caffeine and sugar, having only 1/24 hours of sleep started kicking in. So, we walked along the Liffey to our hotel. Beautiful!<br>
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After recharging at the hotel for a short bit, we decided that we were up for a late night stroll around the town. I'm pretty sure that we walked from one side of the city to the other and all areas in between. I actually know that we did because my pedometer reported that we walked 15.5 miles over the course of the day! After reading that amount of steps, we treated ourselves by stopping into the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g186605-d669325-Reviews-The_Ferryman-Dublin_County_Dublin.html">Ferryman </a>pub and ordering two local McGargle's.<br>
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Goodnight, Dublin!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441106249084443766.post-67683293913978706442015-03-28T08:36:00.000-07:002015-03-28T08:36:13.128-07:00The Lyles' Adventure: NYC+Dublin: Day 2Continued ramblings from my travel journal:<br />
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Breakfast at <a href="http://www.absolutebagels.com/">Absolute Bagels</a>. Whole wheat everything with veggie cream cheese. A must try, </div>
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Took a peek inside <a href="http://www.stjohndivine.org/">Saint John the Divine</a> and outside in the garden areas which are some of the most serene places in NYC, in my opinion. </div>
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We found a Banksy (outside of Zabar's) on our walk to the museum!</div>
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<a href="http://www.amnh.org/">American Museum of Natural History </a> + The Hayden Planetarium. Even though we were surrounded by a billion children, the show and the museum were so cool for adults and kids alike. </div>
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Lunch at the <a href="http://www.hummusplace.com/">Hummus Place</a>. Slow service, but pretty tasty- especially the grape leaves in mint sauce. </div>
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<a href="http://www.levainbakery.com/">Levain Bakery</a> round #2 for a chocolate/peanut butter cookie and a chocolate chip walnut cookie. Both were warm, gooey and amazing but the double chocolate one still takes #1. </div>
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Walk around Central Park West (Strawberry Fields, Sheep's Meadow)+a quick walk by John Lennon's old apartment building, Dakota Building. Rumor has it that Yoko Ono still resides there. </div>
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Headed to JFK by way of 3 trains (subway, LIRR, AirTran). Whew, what a journey. </div>
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After an airport dinner at Pizzo and Vino (which was surprisingly good), we were IRELAND BOUND!</div>
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The flight was long, but all of the goodies, snacks, and movies that were provided along the way made it rather enjoyable. </div>
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Not much sleep at all. </div>
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To be continued...</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049258009615937192noreply@blogger.com0