The Reinvention of Me: What Comes Next

I get a lot of questions about where to go do/see things, or eat/drink in DC.  After much thought, I’m giving you my list, compiled through decades of living here (and a well-known liking for trying new places), of things to do/see in this post, followed by another post on eating/drinking establishments.  A lot of these are also really great date ideas too!

Disclaimer: I’m not a well-known tour guide, which means a lot of things that some may find “fun” or “usual”  or even “touristy” may not be in here.  I will also try to update this as much as I can with new and interesting things.

Things to Do:

• Dumbarton Oaks – during all seasons – it is outdoors though.  Check out my review of it here. (DC)
• Take a ride on the carousel on the National Mall. (DC)
• See a matinee at Ford’s Theater and then tour the house across the street where Lincoln died. (Need a quick bite? Head to Bistro d’OC, across the street.) (DC)
• National Cathedral and Bishop’s Garden.  The gardens are like walking through a hidden maze.  (Hint: great spots in there for proposing.) (DC)
• Spring Gold Cup/Polo Matches – Although far, it’s such a fun place to gather, celebrate, sip wine and be in the company of fun people (Middleburg, VA)
• Paradise Springs Winery - The only winery in Fairfax County.  They have award-winning wines, free wi-fi, a fireplace for the winter and during the spring/summer – live bands and places to picnic! (Clifton, VA)
• Take a walk around the monuments at night – especially with the cherry blossoms in bloom. (DC)
• Shop at the Eastern Market… for dinner.  They have the freshest meats, fruits, vegetables, cheeses and other things to make an amazing meal. (DC)
• Roam around Glen Echo Park – it’s like time stood still. (Virginia)
• Mount Vernon – Just a quick ride down the Parkway or a more calming ride on one of their ferries, to get there.  Their restaurant is also fantastic! (Virginia)
• Take in dinner and a show at Birchmere.  A lot of famous acts got their start here!) (Alexandria, VA)
• SAX Restaurant offers a burlesque show and dinner (DC)
• If it’s snowing so much things are closed?  Hop on the metro and walk around the monuments – it’s breathtaking.  (Note: If the snow is bad, only underground service is available.)
• Torpedo Factory – Follow that with dinner at the Chart House (Alexandria, VA)
• Woody’s Miniature Golf – if Disney could have a miniature golf course, I suspect it would be a lot like this. (Reston, VA)
• Take a walk/run around the paths of Roosevelt Island (DC)
• Walk around the Historic Town of Vienna – plenty of things to see, do, eat and drink. (Vienna, VA)
• Tour of O Street Mansion (DC)

Idea: Have a museum scavenger hunt on a rainy day.  Pick artifacts throughout one or two museums with clues to find them. See example here.

• American History Museum – by far one of my favorites, as much of it is post-1800s artifacts
• Freer Gallery of Art – Not many museums move (and reconstruct) someone’s entire dining room.
• Botanical Gardens – Walking through there is like walking the entire earth in a few hours
• National Gallery of Art – They have a theater in the basement and sometimes, live orchestras play to the screen

Many people ask me, not just about places to go in DC, but also where to eat, drink and have a good time.  Here is my list of some of my favorite places all around the Virginia and DC areas.  Note that I’ve marked where there are gluten-free menus by using “GF” as the code, as well as where a restaurant is a great brunch spot.

(Note: If it seems something is missing that is popular, it means I probably haven’t been there… yet.  However, this will continue to be updated over time.)

Best Spots in Virginia

• Chart House (Alexandria, seafood and steaks) – outdoor area
• Cava Mezze (Clarendon, Greek small plates) – outdoor area
• Circa (Clarendon, American, great brunch) – outdoor area
• Eventide (Clarendon, Upscale American) – rooftop area
• Whitlow’s (Clarendon, Recommended for brunch only) – rooftop and outdoor areas
• Liberty Tavern (Clarendon, American, great brunch)
• Northside Social (Clarendon, coffee, wine bar, GF) – outdoor area
• Trummers (Clifton, American) – great after a day of wine tasting at Paradise Springs
• Tallula (Arlington, American, great brunch) – 1920s feel
• Ray’s the Steaks (Courthouse, Steaks) – Note that they do not have a full bar – just beer and wine
• Fireworks (Courthouse, pizza, GF)
• 2941 (Falls Church, upscale French)
• Lightfoot (Leesburg, Steak, American) – hint, it is in an old bank with the vault still attached!
• Il Fornaio (Reston, Italian, GF) – AMAZING gluten-free pasta
• Chef Geoff’s (Tysons, American, GF)
• Michel (Tysons, Upscale French)
• Chima (Tysons, Brazilian Steakhouse) – outdoor bar area
• Wildfire (Tysons, American, GF)
• Red Mango (Vienna, frozen yogurt) – I’ve never had any frozen yogurt better
• Skorpios Maggios Grill (Vienna, Greek)
• Bonaroti (Vienna, Italian)
• Wu’s Garden (Vienna, Chinese) – I recommend their burrito-sized egg rolls
• Bazin (Vienna, Upscale American)
• Sakura (Vienna, Japanese Steakhouse)
• Caffe Amouri (Vienna, coffee shop)

80′s Throwbacks

• Marco Polo (Vienna, American)
• Da Domenico (Vienna, Italian)
• Clydes (Vienna, American)
• Amphora (Vienna, Greek, American) – Still open 24 hours a day!

Best Spots in DC

• Napoleon Cafe (Adams Morgan, French) – Great night scene
• Bistro Bis (Capitol Hill, French)
• Nando’s Peri Peri (China Town/Gallery Place, Portuguese)
• Zola (China Town/Gallery Place, upscale American)
• ACKC (DuPont, chocolate, wine, coffee)
• Zorba’s Cafe (DuPont, Greek) – outdoor area
• Irish Whiskey (DuPont, whiskey/beer) Offer authentic Irish whiskeys and beers that can’t be found anywhere else
• Mighty Pint (DuPont, dive bar, bar food) Can you say TATER TOTS?!
• Fogo de Chao (Federal Triangle, Brazilian steakhouse)
• Dolcezza Gelato (Georgetown, Argentinian gelato) – a great treat after walking the Dumbarton Oaks grounds
• Bistro Francais (Georgetown, French) Open 24 hours
• L2 (Georgetown, members only, great bar)
• Kafe Leopold (Georgetown, European fare)
• Cafe Bonaparte (Georgetown, French, great brunch)
• Mie N Yu (Georgetown, Moroccan, GF)
• Bourbon Steak (Georgetown – Four Seasons, steak, American) – great place to spot celebs
• Peacock Cafe (Georgetown, American, great brunch) – outdoor area
• Cafe Milano (Georgetown, Italian) – great place to spot celebs
• Neyla (Georgetown, Mediterranean) – outdoor area
• Mr. Smith’s (Georgetown, bar) – sing-a-along to a live pianist
• Smith Point (Georgetown, bar) – a place to be seen

• Marcel’s (French-Belgian) Great pre- or post-Kennedy Center performance; has a car that will pick you up and take you to the restaurant
• Lincoln (Seasonal small plates) Can you guess how many pennies are in the floor?
• Old Ebbit Grill (American) Open late
• Dirty Martini (American)
• Corduroy (Upscale fare) Check out some of the art galleries nearby
• Beacon Bar and Grill (great brunch)
• Georgia Browns (southern, great jazz brunch)
• Cactus Cantina (mexican) – outdoor area, close to National Cathedral for a beautiful walk on the grounds
• J&G Steakhouse (W Hotel, Steaks) – outdoor area, request the wine cellar in the basement
• Blue Duck Tavern (Hyatt Hotel, American) – the duck fat fries are the best!
• Round Robin Bar (The Willard Hotel, scotch bar) – great place to run into the most senior of politicians
• Lauriol Plaza (Mexican)
• Fiola (Italian)

This past Saturday, I did something I rarely ever do, unless it’s attached to an event: I went to a club.  My friends and I ended up at a (relatively) new place called Opera Ultra Lounge that offers a different layout than most clubs: a two-tiered arc of table service, with a large dance floor in the middle, as well as a large bar.  The DJ was great, as well as the bartenders.  But to me, that’s half the atmosphere – the other half are the clientele.

Call me snobby or down right spoiled BUT when I go to a club that almost exclusively banks on bottle service, it would be implied that they are looking for clientele who have (and are willing) to spend the money.  This usually translates into a “client litmus test” of purchasing bottle service for a night, to see if this demands a repeat appearance.   They aren’t there to judge the space that is offered but instead, who else is in the club.  Attractive, well-dressed individuals equal repeat visits.  If you are going to drop the cash, you want the club to be packed with people who are on-par with the atmosphere you are seeking.  It’s that simple.

So what went wrong?  Picture the middle-aged, overweight white male in sagging “dad jeans”, a v-neck blue shirt and high tops.  Or, picture the “touristy”-looking female in mid-thigh jean shorts, unwashed hair and baggy tee.  Or, to further this, picture the group of people that dressed for work.  These are just a few examples of “clientele” that should have not been allowed in.  Why?  Because in a competitive market of attracting the bigger spenders, letting in anybody and everybody never bodes well.

Yes, I believe everybody deserves to have a good time but on a Saturday night, put some effort into your appearance, especially if it’s a night on the town.  It’s a win-win for clubs (higher grossing revenue and better reputation) and clientele (better atmosphere).

Below are some snapshots of “do’s” and “dont’s” I’ve taken at some of the clubs I’ve been to.

DON’T: Although the pic below was snapped at J6 in San Diego, this is NOT acceptable club attire for a mainstream club. I suspect there are a few “culprits” running around DC, wearing similar outfits. Suggestion: If you’re going to wear the red pants, choose a black chiffon blouse with some longer necklaces (although I’d highly suggest NOT wearing shiny red pants).

DO:  Glam up your look with evening makeup. (Pic snapped at Opera Ultra Lounge)

DON’T: Wear touristy/work attire. Longer shorts and a tank top with a clutch might be okay for an early dinner after work but not for a club.   Suggestion: In her case, it should be shorter shorts that lifts, as opposed to flattens and widens her back side.  She also didn’t have on any necklaces or other embellishments to help dress it up.  (Pic snapped at Opera Ultra Lounge)

DO: Dress sexy – it’s okay to be bold, so long as it’s classy. These ladies hit the right note. (Pic snapped at Opera Ultra Lounge)

If you are not the type to feel comfortable dressing up, find ways to work with the wardrobe you have.  Black is always a safe choice, as are accessories.  Not sure how to pair what you have together?  Here are some tips:

- Shorts: Dress them up with a blouse, high heels and a funky earrings.  Make sure they are the appropriate length and that they are flattering to your figure.  For fall, I suggest wool but definitely NOT jean material.  Flat front shorts are best – no belts!  If you’re self-conscious about your legs, pair them with black leggings and high heels.  Heels elongate the leg.

- Pants: I’d highly suggest NOT wearing pants to a club (if you’re a female) however if you do, dark skinny jeans/pants with a funky top is best and of course, the higher the heel, the better.  Skinny jeans/pants are NOT spandex – it’s not a gym.

- Skirts: These are the next best bet to dresses.  Make sure the skirt is going-out appropriate.  Tighter or shorter skirts with embellishments are fine  – skirts you would wear to work or maxi skirts are not.  Uncomfortable showing that much leg?  Pair with black leggings or funky tights and high heels. Note: I’ve seen this happen – white tights at night are NOT acceptable

- Shoes: Not comfortable wearing heels?  Try kitten heels.  NEVER wear flip flops, open sandals or tennis shoes.  Two reasons on the open toe/exposed foot: 1) People spill 2) People break things.  Although most clubs use plastic instead, some still do not.  As for the tennis shoes, unless you’re practicing for Dirty Dancing, it’s never acceptable attire and most clubs never allow them anyway.

- Tops: Cotton tank tops, short/long-sleeved tees tend to create an unflattering look, unless paired with a jacket.  Stick with blouses or funky evening tops. If you go with a sheer blouse, it’s okay to not wear a camisole – ivory is best paired with a black bra and it’s okay for a night out!  Too much?  Try pairing a more simple, flattering top with chunky or long necklaces.

- Dresses: It’s a fail safe.  It requires no effort to put together an outfit.  With that being said, day/work dresses are not acceptable.

Some of you might disagree with this post.  Some of you might applaud.  I do believe a woman should feel comfortable/confident in what she is wearing but I also believe that certain places require certain attire – laziness wears well on no one.

This past Saturday, I attended a small soiree, introducing new shoppers to the upscale, second-hand store in Falls Church, called New to You Boutique.  Put on by Ashley Arias and her wonderful team, shoppers sipped champagne while they checked out the latest finds from labels like Prada (see below), Christian Louboutin, Dior, Chanel and more.  If you’re looking for another second-hand boutique to try (with ample parking), they can be found at: http://newtoyou.net/.

Stunning Prada brocade 60's-inspired coat in a size L. $230

Myself with Ashley Aria, trying on another brocade coat stunner. Size M $200.

In our quest to do new and interesting things in DC, my friend and I were able to nab a couple of spots at the ever popular Art Jamz.  For those of you who have never heard of it, Michael Clements, founder of this great experience, began this venture last year as an answer to creating a unique experience in an otherwise routine town, filled with the usual options for evening activities.

Admittedly, it took me a long time to be able to attend one of these sessions and I’m glad I finally got the chance.  In addition, we couldn’t have been in a better location – the American Art Museum’s Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard.  This indoor atrium with an outdoor feel has bands that play in the evening with a bar and a cafe available.  Luckily, we were able to listen to some great jazz as we painted.

How it Works

Start by getting your tickets.  Go to http://www.artjamzdc.com.  On the right side of the home page are the available dates and venues. Click on the one you want and it will take you to the eventbrite page.  Note that included in this price are the canvas, all the paint, paint brushes, the easel and everything else you need to create your masterpiece.

On the day of, make sure to have your ticket in hand and once inside, grab a canvas and pick your space!  Unsure of what to paint?  Sketch it out!  They have pencils available for you to use and trust me, it’s a lot easier than trying to paint over something when you want to switch direction.  Then, when you’re satisfied with your sketch, start painting away!

One of the Best Experiences in DC!

We had an amazing time.  For the next two hours, we painted away to live music.  It’s amazing how focused one becomes and how relaxing it actually is.  If you have time, walk around and see what others are painting – it’s amazing how talented some are!  Below are what myself and my friend created.

Mine is the view I hope to have from my new home in San Diego and JM's is of what the universe looks like from a black hole. Image Courtsey of Michael Clements

A Couple of Things to Note

1. Make sure you wear clothing that you don’t care about.  We didn’t get any paint on anything, other than our fingers, but we made sure to wear things that we’d be comfortable getting messy in.  My advice: Wear nothing expensive.

2. Take two hours and leave the third hour to let the painting dry.  It comes home with you right after the session. 

3. They can do group sessions and fundraisers!

4. It’s addicting – once you’ve done it, you’ll want to do it again

So I kind of like history and I kind of like beautiful gardens – a lot.  In fact, I’m convinced I should be living in a chateau in England somewhere with hidden gardens, mazes, etc. all over the property.  Alas, the closest thing to me having been there was reading a book… until a few weeks ago.

Having lived in this great city most of my life, I had never heard of Dumbarton Oaks until a year ago today, when someone special told me about them.  Yet, it took us a year for me to finally see them… and then see them AGAIN with my mother two weeks later.  These gardens aren’t just a nice nature walk.  They provide you different adventures and experiences throughout.  They give you a sense of history that extends well beyond the years they have been in existence.  Below is a brief history, taken from the site:

“In 1920, the Blisses purchased the Georgetown property that they named Dumbarton Oaks. Their redesign of the house and the creation of gardens—directed by landscape designer Beatrix Farrand—made Dumbarton Oaks one of the outstanding residences of Washington. In 1940, the Blisses offered Harvard University the gift of Dumbarton Oaks, with its grounds, buildings, library, and art collections. Robert Bliss died in 1962, and Mildred Bliss died in 1969.”  To get the full history of the house go here and to get the full history of the Blisses go here.  For a history of the gardens, go here (then click on the Garden Collections menu to read about some of the more notable things you see).

These gardens seem much older than when they were realized and definitely have more of a European feel.  While walking through them, you can picture yourself sitting under the beech tree, reading a book or walking to the Lover’s Pool to steal a kiss.  It answers the question of what people did before technology – they appreciated beauty.  Below are some of the highlights from my experience there.

If there is anything at all that makes one of my guy friends amazing, it’s his never-ending stream of creativity.  This past weekend, he organized another Museum Scavenger hunt, proving once again that every time I think I have seen everything in D.C., I have not.

It started with the Freer Gallery of Art.  My first clue was a Peacock.  As we begin to walk the halls, I start to notice that the museum wasn’t built just to hold art, it was DESIGNED to house SPECIFIC art – all of it having an Asian influence.  Not too long after entering and I stumbled upon the first clue – The Peacock Room.  The story behind this room is incredible:

“The Peacock Room was originally designed by architect Thomas Jeckyll for British shipping magnate Frederick Leyland, who wanted a place to showcase his blue-and-white Chinese porcelain collection in his London home. When American expatriate artist James McNeill Whistler redecorated the room in 1876 and 1877 as a “harmony in blue and gold,” he was inspired by the delicate patterns and vivid colors of the Chinese porcelains. Their slick surfaces, however, did not appeal to Freer, who favored complex surface textures and subtly toned glazes. After he purchased the Peacock Room and moved it from London to his mansion in Detroit in 1904, Freer filled the shelves with pots he had acquired from Egypt, Iran, Japan, China, and Korea. The current presentation of works is based on photographs taken in Freer’s Detroit residence in 1908.”

As we come to find out from a curator, this room was reconstructed in this museum with 27 crate shipments.  She said everything had been restored, right down to the final detail, except for the backside of the shutters, which are a completely different color – she said the contrast is amazing.

From this clue, I was told to find the largest Buddah.  Since there is a STRONG Asian influence throughout the two museums, any one of them could have been the largest.  It turns out, it was sitting on the Sackler side and wasn’t actually sitting.  In a dark room, full of Buddahs and other figures, there were three large LCD panels, displaying an excavation site, along with a rendering of how the room was mapped out.  It was then I decided I wanted three LCD panels, at 120 inches each, to watch TV.

My picture I wasn't supposed to take that led me to Buddah

My final clue in this museum: Words over Water.  In a four-story exhibit, what look like monkeys out of a barrel, are wrought iron links that hook up to the skylight and tower downward, over a fountain.  At first glance, they look like Chinese characters.  Instead, they are indeed monkeys that have been shaped to form words in 21 different languages, including: Chinese, English and Hebrew.

We continued to walk the halls to see what else these galleries had to offer (including some very odd work by Henrique Oliviera) but were quickly onto our next destination before making a stop.  After our stop at the French Gardens and to head into the Castle Building for a bit of cool air (and to check out Jackie O’s replica jewelry and sunglasses collection for sale), we headed out to do something I have always wanted to do – ride the carousel.  See, I’ve passed by the Carousel in the middle of the mall many times but have never actually taken a ride.  On a beautiful day like the one we had, I couldn’t pass it up.  What I could pass up – how fast this Carousel was actually going.  See the video here:

Post ride, we stopped by the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden to take a break in the shade and enjoy the fountain that seems to take you away from the middle of the city – many forget that there are still places in DC with this much beauty.  Soon, we were off to our next destination – the Botanical Gardens.  To get there, we walked around the Hirshhorn Museum – definitely an odd place.  Although we didn’t go in, the mind-altering two-story sculptures outside said enough.

Finally.  After many blocks, we make it to a place I’ve heard so much about but have never been in.  As we enter, I’m not quite sure what to expect.  Soon, I felt like I landed in a different world – a whole globe, contained under one glass building.  It’s a place I want to visit again – a place that stories could be inspired from a prize-winning photography is born.  It was a great way to end a great day.  See the pictures below.

Giant Kimodo Dragon

Last Saturday, I took some time off from working to enjoy one of my favorite childhood past times – the Washington National Zoo.  I used to LOVE the zoo.  Every year my mom would take my sisters and I, over our summer vacation, to see our favorite animals: the pandas, the lions, the tigers, the sea otters, etc.  It would be the one day we could talk my mom into a lunch of hot dogs, burgers, fries and snow cones.  And, if we were good, we’d also get a stuffed animal.  We’d come home exhausted and sweaty, curled up with our new toy.

The last time I went to the zoo was in 1998 and it hadn’t changed a bit.  This time, 13 years later, I left there disappointed.  Apparently, the zoo is under construction for the next 2-3 years.  The tigers and lions were there but there were absolutely no bears – anywhere.  Also there: the pandas, the silverbacks and the elephants but also gone: the sea otters, giraffes (which I hear are gone for good), the bat house (which I admittedly liked), the koalas and most of the monkeys, as well as many other animals.

I’m hoping that by 2013, when the construction is slated to be completely finished, it will present a zoo that exceeds expectations and wows those little kids enough to enjoy the same memories I had all those years (ahem decades) ago.

See the history of the zoo here.

A Meerkat

Silverback

Baby Silverback

Bored lion cubs

Could it be the royal wedding influence or that spring was truly in the air?  A sea of toppers, hats, seersucker, bow ties and spring dresses flooded the grounds of Great Meadows in Middleburg, VA, to celebrate the 89th Annual Spring Gold Cup.  In previous years, a small percentage of women wore more formal attire, opting for more summery dresses than full-on horse race garb, which brought alive the spirit of this event.

Also noticed, an uptick in the grandeur of the parties, many of which now had catered/staffed tailgate spaces, proving that this event is still one of the most favored events of the DC area.

This year I decided to actually wear a hat.  It was a Christine A. Moore hat that I picked up from Key West Mad Hatters in Key West, FL last March.  The dress (as surprising as this is) was from H&M for $50.  My rationality: If I’m going to wear white, the dress better be inexpensive, especially if it is going to get ruined.

Shout outs go to: My dad and his wife for hosting, my step-uncle-in-law, Joe Warren and Lara Herger for their hospitality, Christina Mohr, Kirk Wiles, Kate Michaels, Scott Margeneau, John-Michael Scott, Ray Regan, Paul Barbieri and Brittny McKinney.

Almost three weeks ago, the cherry blossoms bloomed in our Nation’s Capital in brilliant shades of white and pink.  They lined the streets, parks and even the monuments, providing us with an annual reminder of how grateful we are to the Japanese for this beautiful gift.  People come from all over the world come to see these trees against the backdrop of blue sky and white monuments, hoping to snap a memorable pic or two.

Being a DC area resident, I am ashamed to admit that I had never in my life toured these beautiful blossoms during the day… or even at night.  It is usually cold, rainy and windy, not providing the best of circumstances for the blossoms to stick around long.  This year, the city (and I) got lucky.

Three Fridays ago, I was invited to not just tour the cherry blossoms, but to tour them at night.  It doesn’t sound like much but when it includes visiting two memorials I have never been to: The Jefferson Memorial and The Roosevelt Memorial, much less to a memorial at night, it provided the perfect “something-Nichole-can-scratch-off-her-bucket-list” activity.

To see the Jefferson Memorial lit up, surrounded by cherry blossoms, is in and of itself peaceful – not a large crowd of people in sight and it’s calmly quiet.  But, to be able to step out onto the stairs that over look the Potomac and view the other monuments, is unforgettable.   It’s an activity I highly recommend you do at least once.