TwoDC Turns Five

It has been five years since J and I started TwoDC.  That's a long time.  It's longer than most of us spend in high school or college.  It's longer than a Presidential term.  And in this case, it has outlasted our time on the East Coast.  We've often written about our California roots.  And now we're writing about our return home.

This is easily the hardest post I've had to write.  It was difficult to leave Washington but returning to California was made easy by focusing on our exciting future.  This post forces me to look back at all we left behind and close the door on some of the best times of our life.

We've settled into a new home, a new job (for B) and a new understanding of the meaning of cold winter weather (50s and a light drizzle).  However, I've not settled with the fact that DC is not part of my daily life any more.  I miss the sparkling white marble of the monuments.  I miss being surrounded by passionate people who hope to change the world.  I miss the convenience of the Express and Metro (yeah, I said it).  I miss standing on the Mall and feeling big and small at the same time.  I miss the community of Ultimate frisbee.  I miss the snow (but not the humidity).  I miss the view from our condo that overlooked a bustling, dynamic and diverse city.  I miss the access to the rest of the East Coast and to Europe.  I miss being able to walk to anything and everything.  I miss the friends we made that became our second family.  And I miss exploring DC and writing about it in this blog.

This makes blog post number 415.  Looking at the backlog of half-written posts, it is clear that the end is near.  Perhaps that's why it has taken me so long to respond to J's reminders that I owe her some Second Thoughts on our last few posts.  I've not been a good writing partner lately.  Maybe it is because I don't want it to end.  More likely, I just don't have the words to do justice to the town, to the experience, to the time of my life that was so memorable.  

Art is littered with this very problem.  People infinitely more talented have struggled to capture the idea of transitioning from one stage of life to the next.  I've sat here for the last half hour thinking of what song lyric, Shakespearean sonnet, movie quote, classical painting or trite cliche would best sum up my feelings, but there are none.  Our time in DC was our time.  It was wonderfully unique and a real blessing to be able to share with you.  So I guess the only thing left to say is thank you.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

J Says

Hello? Anyone out there? With the demise of Google Reader and a 6 month lapse in posts, I'm fairly sure I'm writing to my parents and perhaps one PR rep who will undoubtedly email us the same press release 6 times (oh the restaurant is creating a special day-after-Presidents-Day menu? You don't say...).

As B mentioned, we live in California now.  After homesickness crept into about 397 of our 415 posts, we realized that we needed to be closer to our families.  But, as I type this, my eyes are welling with tears as I think about the family we left behind in DC.  When we arrived in DC in 2007, we were newlyweds with a brand new condo, new jobs, no friends in town and no clue where to get a good meal.  In 2013, when we pulled out of the driveway to begin the long journey West, we were driving away from an incredible network of friends and a booming restaurant scene that we'd lived and breathed for 5 years (back to the days when 14th street was the sketchy street you walked down to get to Whole Foods).  There's no way to sum up what this city and this blog has meant to us.

When we moved, the number one question our friends asked was "Are you going to start a new blog?"  The answer came swiftly and succinctly: NO.  It's pretty obvious that food blogging has peaked and is on the downward slope.  Some may say that's a blessing, while others (looking to procrastinate at work) are wondering how the heck they're going to get through the day without an amateur recap of the latest pork belly dish. With the rise of Instagram and Twitter, there's little room on the interwebs for rambling essays like we're fond of writing.  Also, to be perfectly honest, blogging is a hell of a lot of work.  We're thrilled we kept it going for 4.5 years and are so grateful to have this scrapbook of our time in DC (and we plan to turn it into an actual memory book - not for sale unless there's some editor out there who is really desperate for content).  There will be no TwoCA and B and J are exiting the blogging business as soon as we give you the last couple posts we swore for months were coming.

Thank you for reading and for commenting. Thank you for emailing us and telling us what you liked and what you didn't like.  Thank you for inviting us to restaurant openings when we had no business being in the same room as actual honest to goodness food critics.  Thanks for all the free booze and that one time you gave us free lobster... that was rad.  Please email us to keep in touch and follow along on Twitter as we see how long it takes for us to lose all of our followers now that our tweets concern mainly UCLA, national parks and California transit issues.  My favorite part of this blog was interacting with our readers and I hope that doesn't end.  We're a great source for (out of date) recommendations on where you should take your parents when they come visit you in DC.  Until we meet again DC,  J

TwoDC Turns Four!

Four years ago today, we started chronicling our adventures in DC.  We had no idea that our little journal would turn into a blog with over 400 posts covering our lives in DC from A (Acadiana) to Z (zpizza).  In fact, we've written about at least one restaurant from every letter of the alphabet except X.  2013 will be the year we complete the alphabet!

On 2/10/2009, DC was welcoming a brand new President to town.  On 2/10/2013, DC has the same President but an entirely new crop of restaurants to dazzle him with.  New restaurants are popping up so fast, we can't come close to keeping track.  4 years ago we never would have thought that H Street NE and the 14th Street Corridor would be the hot places in town to slurp a bowl of noodles or eat a toffee bacon donut.

We are thrilled you've joined us for every up and down over the past 1,460 days.  Without readers like you, we'd just be writing to our parents.  It kind of bewilders us that anybody except our parents is even out there.  Hello not-our-parents-readers and hello to our parents too.  Here's to more adventures in DC (culinary and otherwise)!

Second Thoughts From B

4 years is a long time to do anything.  Seems like we should be graduating with a degree by now.  I guess that is one of the great things about this city that we call home.  After 4 years of exploration, there is still so much for us to see and do.  Glad to have everyone along for the ride!

Cooking Class at Sur La Table, Practiced at DC Central Kitchen

With all the restaurants we go to, you might be surprised to learn that we eat at home a lot and love to cook.  When it comes to cooking, it hasn't been all smooth sailing for me.  I grew up as a picky eater who preferred dumping Ranch dressing on my food to trying new things.  Until we moved to DC, my idea of cooking was pouring something frozen from Trader Joe's into a wok (confession: I still love TJ's frozen food!), heating it up, and putting it on a plate.  I was completely petrified of fresh vegetables and anything that wasn't pre-cut.  I didn't even know how to hold a knife, much less julienne something.

I watched my mother-in-law cook amazing meals and bake tons of desserts and just sort of froze at the thought of being compared to her.  When your husband grows up with homemade everything, you want to homemake nothing.  But, as my interest in food increased, I started to realize that a part of me secretly wanted to be a good home cook.

I adopted Julia Child's "don't be afraid" motto, put on an Iron Chef apron, and started to experiment.  I started really slowly with recipes from Real Simple that I would not alter even when B commented that the dish was under-seasoned and needed salt.  "It's not in the recipe!" I would say.  I eventually became brave enough to start adding my own seasoning and going off the script if I didn't have all of the ingredients that Real Simple told me I needed.  I finally began to shed my Real Simple crutch and tackled more challenging recipes.  While there were a few miscues here and there (and maybe some tears), I began to grow more confident with each meal. 

Despite my growing confidence, I still found myself hacking the crap out of vegetables because I didn't know the first thing about how to properly use a knife.  I decided to go to the pros and signed us up for a knife skills intro class at Sur La Table in Pentagon Row.  Our very friendly (and not at all scary) instructor M.J. taught us a ton of useful tips from proper knife holding, to how to attack tough items (pineapple, tomatoes, squash, etc.), to how to care for your knives.

Ready to put our new skillz to the test, we signed up (through One Brick) to volunteer at the D.C. Central Kitchen.  The DCCK deserves its own post on the amazing things it is doing to feed D.C.'s hungry masses and give people job skills to enable them to work in the culinary field.  It's a magical place and we were happy to get to spend a morning there.

They put us right to work peeling and chopping a giant vat of onions.  B and I teamed up (he peeled while I chopped, then we switched) and flew through about 200 pounds of onions in a few hours.  We were a lean, mean onion cutting machine!  With each onion I grew a little bit more confident and a little faster.  By the time we walked out the DCCK doors (with a pair of matching blisters), I was ready to jump back in my kitchen and cook up a storm.

I'm no Julia Child, but thanks to Sur La Table and DCCK, I'm a small step closer to being the confident cook I hope to be.

Second Thoughts from B

I hate to admit it but I was spoiled growing up... at least when it comes to food. Every meal was made from scratch, from the french toast in the morning to the lemon tart at night.  I grew up thinking that everyone was as skilled in the kitchen as my mother.  Fortunately, not everyone loves cooking as much as she does, so when it came to finding a sous chef, I was the only choice (let's just say my father has been blessed with skills that don't involve the kitchen).  The result is that I enjoy cooking and am comfortable doing so.  I wouldn't go so far to say that I have any talent for it, but I can follow a recipe.

When J and I first started dating, I always felt that I had cooking as a way to impress her.  Now, however, I have to admit that her abilities have exceeded mine.  It is humbling, but also wonderful to see her confidence grow.  Cooking is a regular part of our lives and we've had great fun learning together (for more on cooking classes, see here and here).  It has gotten to the point that I think it is fair to say that an enjoyable Sunday afternoon for us involves several hours in the kitchen together.

About once a month, this Sunday cooking session involves me making a huge vat of pasta sauce.  Since I'm my mother's son, I'm proud to say that it is completely from scratch which means a lot of time chopping garlic, onions, carrots, celery, etc.  Needless to say, taking the time to learn proper technique and getting the chance to practice has saved me a lot of time.  That we were able to feed some people at the same time is a pretty awesome bonus.

Learning how to chop a vegetable might not be as glamorous as taking a pie making class, but there's nothing better for accelerating your abilities in the kitchen.  Sur La Table is a great place to start but as anyone will tell you, practice makes perfect.  It may feel weird at first and result in a blister or two, but trust me, it'll be worth it.  So instead of buying 100 pounds of onions and making your home stink for a week, run down to DCCK and do some good for the community... just make sure to bring a Bandaid or two.

TwoDC Turns Three!

Happy 3rd Blogoversary to us! For 3 years we've been writing about our exploration of this wonderful, dynamic, and world-class city. We're happy to report that we've discovered exceptional food and culture that we'd label as simply the best. Not just the best of DC (which you can read about in this 2009 post), but the best we've ever had. So as a special birthday gift, here's a list of our favorite things in the whole wide world that just happen to be in DC.

B's Favorites

Peking Duck: I've had it in Chinatowns up and down California and in China itself, but I don't remember ever liking it as much as when we had it at Mark's Duck House.

Fried Shrimp: Tacklebox has elevated this Sizzler staple to fine dining.

Grits: Best grits ever were with jalapeno cheese at a friend's friend's friend's (not a typo) house in Atlanta. Best in a restaurant (both with shrimp) were found at Firefly and Art and Soul.

Burger: It doesn't get better than the New Jack Zing at Ray's Hell Burger. Not opinion. Fact.

Beet Salad: Canned beets made me think I hated beets. Hook made me love them.

Fish Tacos: Surfside not only brings San Diego east, it may have also bested the original.

Public Transportation: Being an LA kid, the Metro system, despite its flaws, is still a wonder. Twice a day I get to sit back and read the newspaper. That's how I see my commute. People like to complain about 10 minute single tracking delays. Try a commute that takes 2 hours in stop and go traffic over the course of 7 miles. Been there, done that. Just ask my therapist.

Free Stuff: Where else in the world can you do so much and spend so little? Museums filled with iconic art and historic artifacts... free. Monuments to great leaders or fallen heroes... free. Architectural wonders that are home to the debates and decisions that govern the country, and often times, the world... free. Lectures, tours, concerts, games, and even a couple of famous pandas... free.

J's Favorites

Mac n Cheese: I am a blue box girl through and through but Oohhs & Aahhs' mac n' cheese is the only stuff I've liked more than the classic.

Risotto Balls: I tried them in three different cities in Italy, and I still like Taylor Gourmet's risotto balls best.

French Fries: My all time favorite were McDonald's fries dipped in sweet and sour sauce. Brasserie Beck's frites dipped in curry mayo are a more respectable version of this guilty pleasure.

Fried Chicken: My Dad's Uncle Boyd makes the best fried chicken, but Kerrigan's Corner Deli (an unassuming looking gas station) is giving him a run for his money.

Recreational Activity: Flying trapeze at TSNY DC. Sure you can fly through the air in other cities, but the friends I've made make the DC location number one in my heart.

Noodles: Though the spicy noodle soup we ate for breakfast at our hotel in Cambodia still calls out to me, the classic ramen at Toki Underground just makes me giddy.

Walkable City: We've explored many of the world's cities on foot but we still love walking through DC. Walking to work, to the gym, to dinner, to a concert . . . I absolutely love it.

We have a blast sharing our DC adventures with you. Our tag line has always been "A new couple exploring a new city." We aren't exactly a new couple anymore (we've been married for 1637 days which is 22.74 Kim Kardashian marriages!) and DC isn't exactly a new city to us now (5 years in this transient town practically qualifies us for native status).

However, the tag line reminds us to keep looking at this city and each other with fresh eyes. Also, "A somewhat older couple exploring a city they've lived in for 5 years" just doesn't have as nice of a ring to it.

We look forward to another year of food, fun, and exploration. We love hearing your suggestions, so please, keep them coming! It reminds us that there are people out there who actually read this thing.

We're off to follow B's best advice: "Be a tourist in your hometown."

Happy 2012

Happy New Year from the Eternal City!

May 2012 bring health and happiness to you and your loved ones.

TwoDC 2.0

Welcome to the newly redesigned TwoDC! We hope you like our new look.

With tummies full of sushi from Momoyama, we put on our best tourist hats (not pictured) and went on our own little photo safari by the Capitol and Tidal Basin. What an amazingly beautiful city we live in! We're never disappointed whenever we set aside a little time on a warm evening to just take it all in. By the way, if you're reading through Google Reader and have no idea what we're talking about, click on through and check us out.

In addition to prettying things up, we've added six new pages:

• About Us
• Best of D.C.
• Food for Two
• Fun for Two
• Life as Two
• Two Do List

Hopefully you'll find these pages to be useful compilations of our posts. All 201 of our restaurant reviews are now in one easy-to-navigate place. If you are new to town or have family visiting, click over to the Best of D.C. or Fun for Two pages for some ideas of how to best enjoy our Nation's Capital.

As always, we'd love to hear what you think. Thanks for reading!

Our Valentine's Day Tradition at McDonald's

Happy belated Valentine's Day to everyone!

For those of you who follow us on Twitter, I feel like we owe you a bit of an explanation. We've talked about our splitting of duties (one plans Valentine's Day and the other plans our Anniversary), but not our McDonald's tradition. "Wait B, hold up. You're telling me that you eat out at so many places in DC that you have a blog about it, but for Valentine's Day you go to McDonalds?" Yes. And we have been for years.

When J and I first met, she hadn't had much luck with boyfriends and Valentine's Day. Unfortunately, my first opportunity to impress was thwarted by a friend from eastern Europe who had decided to pay me a visit. While I redeemed myself with a trip to Santa Barbara in the days after, our first Valentine's Day included a third wheel at a burger joint in Hollywood.

Still, her low point came courtesy of an ex-boyfriend who "took" her to McDonald's, but asked her to pay. Not surprisingly, and luckily for me, this relationship didn't last... though we do pay homage to this ridiculous idea of romance by recreating it every year.

It is fun to have a tradition that doesn't involve fighting the crowds for the last reservation at the popular hot spot in town. In fact, it is quite the contrary. We've got the place to ourselves. It is just us, Ronald, and a few oddballs that share our love of fat, salt, and fried (insert whatever word you'd use to describe their "meat").

Both J and I grew up adoring Happy Meals, but not surprisingly, we've since traded the Hamburgler and Grimace for innovative chefs and fresh foods. That's not to say we don't love the occasional chicken mcnugget. In fact, we crave them... making our Valentine's Day meal a real treat that we look forward to months in advance.

That's our story and we're sticking to it. For the record, we do celebrate Valentine's Day in a more traditional manner on another day. Getting a reservation on the 13th or 15th is a breeze and sometimes we take advantage of the long President's Day weekend (like going to Paris!!!). But on the 14th, it is Mickey D's all the way.

A few random thoughts about Valentine's Day while we're on the subject.

• Valentine's Day is a contrived and corporate idea. At the same time, it is a good excuse to do something nice for your beloved. You can't argue with that.


• The most backwards thing about Valentine's Day is that guys are made to feel obligated to buy cards, flowers, chocolate, and jewelry for their ladies. If the day is about romance and love, why is that a one way street?


• It's the thought that counts. Really. We go to McDonald's and for us, that is romantic.


• Celebrating love doesn't have to be serious and formal. Again, our Valentine's Day often involves a ball pit and a clown.


• Even if you don't agree, if something is important to your significant other, it needs to be important to you. I'm still learning this one...


• Finally, to quote the immortal Andre 3000, we should all strive to make "every day the 14th."
  

J Says

WHEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!! Pardon me, I'm still completely giddy that B surprised me with a trip to Paris this weekend. Sorry ladies and gentlemen, he's taken. Now I get to come up with an equally awesome surprise for our anniversary in August. I have 6 months and 3 days to figure this out.

As excited as I am for Paris, I still love that we have our simple, silly McDonald's tradition. We both squealed with excitement as we tasted our first McNugget in many months. We might lose readers over this post, but this is who we are and what we do as a couple. We try not to take ourselves too seriously and to always, no matter what life throws at us, keep a sense of humor.

While the Golden Arches represent a lot of really terrible things, there is no denying that they have also hosted some incredible memories. From our Valentine's Day tradition to the time that we drove (with my awesome dad and friends) from LA to El Paso for a UCLA football bowl game and stopped at McDonald's to brush our teeth. We'll never forget the cashier who, upon seeing our UCLA shirts, said "I know what UCLA means! It means U Can't Locate Anything!" You just can't manufacture memories like this.

So, while you might think Valentine's Day is completely lame, see how much fun you can make it if you step back and inject a little (or a lot) of silly into it.

TwoDC Turns Two!

Two years ago today we started out on a journey to record our lives in DC and, just maybe, provide a couple of helpful tips to those who were new to DC like we were. After two years of posting, we've noticed some themes:

1. We like to eat out. We've written about roughly 180 restaurants ranging from a gas station serving amazing fried chicken to the genius of Jose Andres' MiniBar.


2. B likes to order lamb. I stopped counting at 16 posts.


3. We have amazing friends. Budak, Matt, Alix, Victoria and many others have tolerated our photo taking and have joined us on our quest to find the next great meal.


4. We love each other. After hundreds of posts, we're still giddy about sharing our next adventure together.


5. We love DC. This blog has helped us discover so many amazing places and faces in DC. DC might not be where we grew up, but it's home now. (Parents in CA: stop crying, this is not our way of announcing that we're staying here forever).

We hope that if we keep writing, you'll keep reading. We'd love to know what you like and what you don't like about TwoDC and we'll promise to keep trying new places, trying to take better pictures, and trying to come up with new ways to describe a lamb dish. We also promise never to use the words "resto" or "ressie" or to call ourselves foodies or foodists. We've got a lot to see and eat in Year 3, let's go!

Second Thoughts From B

Happy blogoversary to us indeed. It is amazing how much this blog has given us over the last two years. While we hope to have shined a spotlight on many of the things that make DC such a wonderful place to work and live, the process has allowed us to truly embrace the idea of "being tourists in our hometown." By actively seeking out new experiences, we've stumbled across countless hidden gems that are ignored by life-long residents.

So, when J and I were brainstorming about how to best celebrate our second full year as cyberexplorers of the Nation's Capital, we turned to Ben's Chili Bowl. Clearly there is nothing hidden about this local culinary gem. But it is where a tourist would go, and they do have really tasty cake!

As I sat in Ben's back room with a hand covered in their famous chili, I encouraged J to jump right in (to the chili cheese fries that she loves so much) and get her fingers dirty. This has been our mantra throughout our time in DC and we hope we have inspired others to do the same. This is a rich city that is completely unique to any other place in the world. And like the bottom of Ben's red plastic baskets, you'll almost always be rewarded for digging a little deeper.

Happy 9.02.10

I'll admit it, this post is a bit of a stretch for a DC blog, but we had to pay homage to the one and only*, Beverly Hills, 90210 on the one and only 9.02.10. Then again, maybe it isn't as big of a stretch as you might think. After all, Brandon Walsh left Southern California for a job in DC. Doesn't that sound familiar?

*Just like all of the re-creations that tainted the legacy of great movies (see: Kid, The Karate), the new 90210 doesn't exist in my world.

People talk about "soulmates." You know, like David and Donna. Other, more cynical but perhaps more realistic people like Dylan might preach about finding someone who can tolerate the skeletons in your closet. The happy medium, of course, would be celebrating - rather than hiding - each other's idiosyncrasies, and I'd like to think that is what J and I do. The most obvious example would be our borderline unhealthy devotion to our alma mater. The less apparent, but no less important, would be our love of Beverly Hills, 90210.

Before meeting each other, we both loved the show, not as a beautiful gem of television artistry, but for what it was at the time. If I have to explain this to you, then you might as well skip the rest of this post and read about our latest culinary adventure...

The fact is that much of our early relationship was built on days that began with homemade waffles and 90210 reruns. And while our time with the class of W Bev Hi 93 isn't as extensive as it used to be, we aren't ashamed to admit that we dream of someday buying the Walsh house or opening a Peach Pit. Would you expect anything else out of the couple who incorporated a 90210 credit reel tribute into their wedding slideshow and seriously considered the Bel Age Hotel (site of the infamous West Bev "Donna Martin Graduates" prom) as a wedding location?

The advent of 9.02.10 made us think about where the gang would be today. They might look old (remember, they looked middle-aged during their junior year of high school), but they would all be in their late 30's and we'd argue (or dream) that they'd be in Washington, DC.

What? They'd all leave LA? Yes, we think they would. Consider that valedictorian Andrea shunned Yale, troublemaker Steve avoided jail, and youngster David graduated a year early so that the gang could all attend California University together. So is it so far-fetched that everyone would have followed Brandon to DC just to stay together? We think not.

This is how we see it playing out: Clearly, Brandon would have learned the political machine through his time in the press and channeled his experience with the late Josh Richland to challenge Henry Waxman (representing Beverly Hills) for the Democratic nomination in the House. Riding the wave of anti "inside the Beltway" sentiment and with the shrewd campaigning of Andrea Zuckerman-Vasquez, Brandon's chances look good. However, his connection to noted lobbyist and political fundraiser, Steve Sanders (currently undergoing an ethics violation probe), is causing concern. There are also rumblings that his relationship with Andrea is not completely platonic, which doesn't sit well with her reconciled husband Jesse - now at the DOJ - or their teenage daughter Hannah.

Meanwhile, Brandon's twin sister Brenda is also in the news. After two failed marriages and an acting career that never took off, she is leveraging her new marriage (and new-found fortune and status) to former fiance Stuart Carson into a spot on the Real Housewives of DC. Spicing up an otherwise dull season, Dylan McKay enters the picture when he comes to town to launch his latest investment; a non-profit organization located in Dupont that rescues kidnapped children called "Saving Erica," which of course, is run by Kelly Taylor with assistance (and drama) provided by Valerie Malone and detective Jonesey.

David and Donna would have also made the move to DC. After taking off in LA, the Donna Martin Originals brand has expanded to include "Now Wear This, Too" in Georgetown. As her business continues to grow (mostly from disgruntled Georgetown Cupcake customers realizing the cupcakes are not worth the wait), Donna is helping to replace the whale belts and pastel popped collars that are all too prevalent in the city. David, on the other hand, struggled to find his place and bounced around several nightclubs, using what was left of his one hit wonder fame from the song "Precious." However, opportunity struck with the rise of Barack Obama. Always one to be on the forefront of technology, David's social media presence was a key to the election, which led to a position as the White House's unofficial social media czar. Currently, David is again feuding with Ray Pruit, both professionally and personally. Ray is now heavily involved with the Tea Party and trying to patch things up with Donna.

Finally, Jim - now a senior adviser to Timothy Geithner - and Cindy have returned from Hong Kong and purchased a charming home in Chevy Chase, which is visited far too often by the gang. Nat also made the move East after the original Peach Pit went belly up due to its entire clientele relocating to DC. He and Willie are now serving up Megaburgers at his new location in the up and coming H Street NE corridor, which he hopes will soon be reviewed by the local blog, TwoDC.

Meet Finnegan

Today we'd like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the third member of our family (ThreeDC?): Finnegan. When you live in a downtown highrise condo and work long hours, having a dog just isn't practical. I'm uber allergic to cats, won't get anywhere near reptiles (even in Petco), and outgrew my hamster phase about the same time I realized Jordan Knight of NKOTB wasn't actually dreamy. So, to fill my pet desire, B got me a betta fish friend named Finnegan.

Finnegan lives in a very posh Crate and Barrel bowl. When we first got him, the bowl was clear and when placed on a black shelf, we couldn't see him! So, B put his art skills to work and painted the back of the bowl so Finnegan's true beauty could be seen by all. When the water level is right, it's fun to watch him swim over the top of the doughnut hole.

Now I'm sure you're probably thinking that this is just a stupid $4 betta fish. You're also probably thinking that B and J ran out of post topics. Ok give us a break, we've been out of town! BUT, I'll have you know that Finnegan is the craziest, hungriest fish you'll ever meet. He goes nuts when his food is in sight and if he had his way, he'd eat an entire container of food in one sitting. A fish after my own heart.

Here he is showing off his best side:

If you're in the market for a pet, I highly recommend these lovely little fish. Every one of them deserves to be rescued from pet store plastic bowl hell and given a loving home. Do your part, rescue a beta today!

PS: RIP to my sister's betta Bluey Fish. You fought a good fight, even after all of your fins had fallen off. You will be missed.

Second Thoughts from B

This special insight into our lives has been brought to you by the letter F... as in, Finnegan is our Friendly Fish that we are Finally Featuring to Fill this space while we Find more Fine dining and Fun activities in our Favorite city.

Seriously though, there's no better urban pet than a Betta. Talk about no effort... All you need is a container, some food, and some water treatment chemical. Total package, less than $10. They are beautiful and active, and despite their delicate appearance, are very robust. Unlike many fish, they can tolerate a reasonably large range in temperature, don't require frequent water changes or regular feeding schedules, and in the wild, close relatives have been known to crawl across land or up trees (look it up!).

Sure you can't pet them or take them for walks but you also don't have to clean up after them, which is a big plus in my book. And if you could see how much fun one of us has talking to her fish, you'd see why we consider Finny a part of the family.

Whole Foods Market - Friendship Heights

We were lucky enough to join in on the Blogger Sneak Peek of the new Whole Foods Market in Friendship Heights one day before its public unveiling. This sparkling new store is located just off the Friendship Heights Metro stop making it convenient for all of you Red Liners out there.

If you're like us and are used to shopping at DC's P Street Whole Foods, the first thing you'll notice about Friendship Heights is that it is BIG. Lots of space in the aisles and plenty of room to maneuver.

Immediately upon entering, you'll see the coffee bar that opens at 6:00 a.m. daily for your very early morning coffee and breakfast needs. If you happen to crave gelato and fancy house-made popsicles for breakfast, you're in luck. I'm happy to report that I was able to refrain from breaking into the gelato case... at least on this visit.

We're told the coffee bar will also serve up hearty oatmeal with a variety of toppings. I don't know about you, but I can eat oatmeal every day of the week.

Have a recipe that calls for a hard-to-find nut? They've got you covered with bins and bins of nuts and even a make-your-own nut butter station. Would it be bad form to stick my mouth under the chocolate chip peanut butter machine?

The produce department was fully stocked with beautifully stacked fruit. Jill, our enthusiastic tour guide, explained the Whole Foods "Whole Trade" program that ensures that suppliers meet tough standards regarding working and environmental conditions.
We drooled over the specialty department which featured everything from cheese from around the world to chutney made by a local Virginia family.
Unique to this store is a specialty salt bar where you can fill your own bag with fancy salts that promise to liven up even the most ordinary dish.
Also in the specialty department is a fresh pasta station serving family-owned Severino Pasta. That is Pete Severino telling us about the yummy pasta and sauce combos that will be available.


In the prepared foods section, I was excited to learn that they have implemented a $7.99 flat rate box that you can stuff to the brim (as long as it closes). Gone are the days of spending $15 on the salad bar because you have a fondness for the heavy items such as quinoa (speaking from personal experience here). Woo hoo!

One department that I often overlook is the Whole Body section. After seeing the locally-made soaps and huge variety of natural body products, I'm tempted to start purchasing my bath products here.
Like yogurt? This was the most comprehensive selection of yogurt I have ever seen. Forget that HFCS crap. This is the real deal.
In the meat department we learned about the new Whole Foods meat rating system that grades suppliers on the way that they treat the animals. A "1" means the animals are not kept in crates and a "5" means they live in luxury penthouses with limo service. Or something like that.
In the seafood market we learned how service-oriented this department is. Only cooking for one? Ask the fish monger to cut you a 4 oz piece of fish. They'll cut it any way you want it and every purchase comes with a free marinade. They've also partnered with the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Blue Ocean Institute to develop a color coded system to ensure that you know that the seafood you are buying is sustainable.

For me, the highlight of the tour was the bakery section. Not only did we get to taste selections from the bulk candy bar and freshly baked brioche, we got to marvel at the gorgeous cakes and baked goods.
Loved the quote on the sign in the bakery that reads: "Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate."

And the best for last . . . the Friendship Heights store has implemented a "New York style" checkout system where one line feeds into a bunch of registers and computer screens tell you which register is ready for you. If you shop at the Trader Joe's in Foggy Bottom, you've probably realized that this way of checking out is light years better than the individual lines you find at most stores. No more picking the longest line!

Getting to chat with the Whole Foods staff gave me a new appreciation for the company and their commitment to selling high quality food. While Friendship Heights is a bit of a trek for every day grocery needs (which you can read about here), I would love to stop in and visit (and get some chocolate chip peanut butter and popsicles) when we're in the neighborhood.

Second Thoughts from B

If you couldn't tell by now, J drank from the Whole Foods Kool Aid and liked it... the local and organic Kool Aid, that is.

It was like being a kid in a candy, er, grocery store. A really beautiful facility which was smartly presented to us. Still, in the long run, what did I learn? Not much more than what I already knew... Whole Foods serves great products in a great environment. They emphasize local and organic foods along with customer service. And of course, you pay a premium for the pleasure of avoiding Giant. Basically, they are the Nordstrom of grocery stores (that's high praise coming from me).

So will the experience change behavior? Maybe. I'm now far more aware of the services that Whole Foods offers and convinced that the Friendship Heights location is a jewel among their stores. Would I make a point to drive 30 minutes when I have another store within walking distance? Perhaps no. Would I plan a shopping trip to coincide with another venture out to Friendship Heights? Absolutely.

Two DC is now on Twitter

Sorry for the gap in posts but we've been working on our latest project. As you may have noticed, Two DC is now on Twitter! We hope you'll follow us as we report on events that we're looking forward to, places we're returning to, new blog posts, and all the wonderful excitement of DC in 140 characters or less.

POM Wonderful

When B and I started TwoDC just over a year ago, we never imagined that this blog would bring us much in the way of cool opportunities. We figured that we would post some pictures of our adventures in DC and hope that our parents would remember to read it.

I've been a devoted follower of a number of healthy living blogs (see list on the right) and was always a bit envious when the bloggers would receive product samples in the mail. Imagine my delight when a PR person from POM Wonderful offered to send us some pomegranate juice to try!

Now I guess you're probably wondering how pomegranate juice fits into the TwoDC theme. Well, this blog is a space for us to share our life in DC and a big part of our life is one that you don't often read about: what we eat when we're not eating out. Though it might seem like we eat out every day, we actually spend a fair amount of our time cooking meals, packing lunches, and trying our best to incorporate healthy foods into our diet. In the last year I've transformed my diet by eliminating most uber-processed foods and high fructose corn syrup. I've been attempting to stick to the "eat real food" mantra as best I can, and I've never felt better. It just so happens that pomegranate juice fits rather nicely into TwoDC - the home edition.

Our package of POM Wonderful arrived containing 8 adorable little bottles of 100% pomegranate juice and a letter explaining the health benefits and antioxidant power of the pomegranate. I once read an article in an airplane magazine that told the story of POM Wonderful's founders, and their quest to find a somewhat economical way to juice such a funky fruit. I was also fascinated by their determination to create a distinct "double bulb" packaging design after countless packaging producers told them that a stacked pomegranate design was too difficult to mass produce.

While I don't know if POM Wonderful is the medical miracle that some claim, I do think it is a tasty way to get a dose of antioxidants. Pomegranate juice can be very tart (think cranberry juice) so it might not appeal to everyone. For those that don't like the juice plain, the people at POM Wonderful have developed a comprehensive website with a huge collection of recipes featuring the juice or the pomegranate itself.

One thing that scares a lot of people (including me) away from POM Wonderful products is the price. I think the steep cost is likely due to the fact that it can't be cheap to juice a pomegranate and POM Wonderful doesn't use inexpensive fillers such as grape juice. While it is a bit pricey to become an every day staple in our house, I am likely to pick up a bottle or two from time to time. Plus, it's hard to resist those cute bottles....

Second Thoughts from B

Coming to DC has been a wonderful adventure for both of us, and becoming TwoDC was another step in that journey. We've alluded to it before but let me further the point; starting the blog has been one of the best things that we could have done as a new couple in a new city.

At a time when the city was a dauntingly large and foreign place, we stumbled across a way to connect with it. But at the same time, we connected with each other by sharing in this creative outlet. The blog has become a central force in our lives in Washington, and really, in our life together.

So what a bonus that people - perfect strangers and companies alike - care about what we have to say! Cynics might say that we are just being bought or used by "the man" to perpetuate a marketing campaign through social media. For the price of a pizza, Domino's got us to encourage readers to give their new recipe a shot (see post here). And now, in exchange for a case of POM, we're telling you about the wonders of pomegranate juice.

Some offers and products are better than others. Granted. But doesn't the effort alone say something fundamental about a company that is nimble enough to adapt to new ways to market their products? I would argue that this out of the box innovative thinking is not exclusive to the marketing department. Instead, it is likely to be present in all aspects of the company, which makes it reasonable to assume it is reflected in the products that we consume.

Of course, there is no free lunch and it is no mystery why we're being sent these products. It is all part of the new, and ever evolving, marketing shift that has come with the web. And we're happy to be a part of it. Not because we get free stuff (well, maybe a little), but because this is who we are, and consequently, what our blog is about. This is our life in DC.

The Gift of Dough

So what does an "old married couple" get each other for birthdays and holidays? It may sound boring at first glance, but the answer for us is: a bread machine. Anyone reading probably has the same reaction that a friend of ours had, saying in his most sarcastic voice, "A bread machine? How romantic..."

But the nice thing about being old and married is that you know the person really well, and I knew that J would love making and eating fresh bread (as would I). However, her love affair with "zojirushi" is far more intense than I could have even imagined.

Almost every household eats bread and almost everyone loves fresh bread. So why don't more people make it at home? Most would respond by saying it is too hard or that the bread goes bad too fast. Both valid concerns and both alleviated by the Zojirushi Home Bakery Mini Breadmaker. Easy is an understatement and as far as quality, we've loved every loaf. But the big selling point is the size. The entire device is about as big as a bread box and produces a mini, 1 lb. loaf which is perfect for two people. That's 4-5 sandwiches worth for you scoring at home.

And speaking of bread boxes, we'd highly recommend getting an OXO Pop container for your bread. The loaf may be small and go fast, but it still doesn't have any preservatives. We've found that you can store a loaf in there for over a week without it going bad ... but it is usually gone a lot faster than that.

J Says

I have a new best friend and his name is Zojirushi. When Zojirushi first came into my life, I was somewhat worried that he'd be a loner among the kitchen appliances and might not see the light of day very often. However, after making one loaf, I was hooked. There is something both relaxing and awesome about dumping ingredients into a pan, pressing a button, and having a perfect loaf of bread magically appear a few hours later. It really is that easy. I also like that you are in complete control over what goes in your bread: no preservatives and no chemicals you can't pronounce.

As you can see from the photo above, Zojirushi is good for more than just loaves of bread. You can use the "dough setting" course to make brioche (pictured), pretzels, pizza dough, and even cookie dough. If you tire of bread, the machine can be used to make jam and cakes. The possibilities are endless.

A word of warning: baking bread (and enjoying the amazing smell that fills your house) can be addicting. Before you go online to order your Zojirushi, you might want to stop into your local gym and get a membership!

TwoDC Turns One!

Happy Blogoversary to us! One year ago today we threw caution (and dietary common sense) to the wind and embarked on a great blog adventure. Along the way we've picked up a steady group of readers that, amazingly, includes people that aren't related to us! To celebrate our first year, we wanted to take a look back at where we started and where we've been.

The Beginning

TwoDC was born from a love of eating and a desire to explore our new city. I wanted to write a food blog but feared that I wouldn't have time to keep it up because I work too much. B suggested that we enter blogland together and focus on all of our adventures as a couple in DC. We decided to try it out and see if we liked it, and TwoDC was born.

Our first post was on February 10, 2009, an awesome day (and the birthday of my sister and two great friends). Since then, we've posted 146 times and what an adventure it has been! We've seen and eaten some amazing things, were quoted in the Washington Post Express, and are the number 2 D.C. blog on UrbanSpoon.

"If you keep your eyes open enough, oh, the stuff you will learn! The most wonderful stuff!" Dr. Seuss

Our Two Do list keeps on growing but before we move forward we wanted to share some of our favorite stats from Year 1 (special thanks to Google Analytics):

• We've explored over 100 different restaurants (and thanks to exercise, we can proudly say that we haven't gained a pound)

• TwoDC has been visited by readers from 93 different countries and every U.S. state except Montana (where's the love, Montana?) We're most popular in DC and the surrounding area (VA, MD), but also get a lot of love from CA, NY, and TX.

• Had approximately 16,500 hits (not including the sneaky readers using Google Reader)
  

• The most popular posts: L'Academie de Cuisine - Couples Cooking Class, Market Lunch at Eastern Market, The Great DC Cupcake Taste Test

• Most common search terms leading people to TwoDC: "Larry's Ice Cream DC," "Couples Cooking Classes DC," "Full Kee," "Teaism DC"
  

• People most disappointed to end up on TwoDC (a.k.a. quirky search terms that led people to our blog):

"why should I do with two second engagement rings?"
"what can empanada helps us in our daily living"
"the weather here is icy but i fancy something spicy..let it snow"
"the 'men who built the stonewalls' feature in caramel wafers what feature in willy wonka"
"mr. nathanson, do you like guacamole?"
"lychee nut scrooge mcduck"
"how to cook the budak dish of korean"
"hot japanese sexy"
"fun 4 two gouda"
"free blog comments posting in djibouti"
"double wide homes"
"cut i ride my bicycle in great swamp"

We hope you've enjoyed following our adventures during the year and we welcome your suggestions for where we should go next! I want to give a special shoutout to our most loyal commenters: Budak (and his many alter egos), Alix, Karena, and blunoz. Your encouragement reminds us that people actually read this thing. Thank you!

Second Thoughts From B

Blogging has been a wonderful new hobby for the two of us. We knew it would be a fun and creative outlet that would help our non-DC friends and family up-to-date with our lives out East. But what we didn't realize was how much it has helped us adjust from reluctant California transplants into people who couldn't be more proud of our new home. Seeking out DC's highlights and hidden gems has been a blessing for our relationship with each other and with the city. We eagerly look forward to year two of TwoDC and hope you'll join us for the ride.

Can you hear me now? Cell Phones in the District

Anyone who knows me would tell you that this post rings of irony. Despite being the right demographic and a scientist to boot, I was one of the last people that I know to get a cell phone. Being that I was a poor student for so long, as well as being thrifty (some would call it cheap), independent (some would call it stubborn), and reliably punctual, it wasn't until 2006 (when I moved to D.C.) that I got a cell phone.

As I told J after our purchase of matching Droids, in terms of cell phones, over the course of just 3 years, I've gone from the outhouse, to the poor house, to the penthouse. But still, I'm far from an expert. I haven't tested 100 phones and each carrier, so I'm not going to get into a long review. Instead, here are a few things we've learned along the way that anyone in D.C. should know the next time they are thinking about renewing their contract.

We were in the market for our first smartphones after carrying regular cell phones for the last few years. Everything seemed to boil down to the iPhone (through AT&T) and the Droid (through Verizon). After doing extensive reading on the internet (it is what I do... after all, it's what all those years in school taught me) and after playing with both devices thanks to our techie friends and family (I almost wrote that we played with our friends' units), we determined that it was mostly a draw between the two.

So then it came down to carrier. Most people will tell you that Verizon is the industry standard. AT&T loyalists would counter that the difference isn't noticeable in major markets like D.C. But here's the kicker that any Washingtonian should know. If you use Metro, Verizon is king and will continue to be in the near future.

Why? Because Verizon is the only carrier that will allow you to get service throughout the entire Metro system. Even though this monopoly is fading, it is still critical to your next cell phone decision. This past October, Metro expanded service to all major carriers (Sprint Nextel, AT&T, and T-Mobile) in 20 of the most popular underground stations. However, it will be another year (and knowing Metro, probably more) before the other 27 underground stations install service. Tunnels aren't planned on being finished until late-2012. Read more here.

In other words, over the course of any new two-year contract, Verizon is the only carrier that will work in all stations and all tunnels (albeit spotty at times). For someone who spends at least 5 days a week on Metro going to and from work, you don't have to be cell phone expert to make this decision.

J Says

I'm so excited to finally ditch my giant work-issued Blackberry in favor of the sleek new Droid. I really wanted an iPhone but I was worried about the service problems I'd heard about with AT&T. The decision to stay with Verizon was made for us when my iPhone-toting parents stayed with us for Thanksgiving and couldn't make or receive calls consistently in our condo.

Once we decided to go with the Droid, we opted to go into the Verizon store (Union Station) to complete the upgrade. Save yourself a headache (and some seriously tired feet from standing around forever in a store with no chairs) and just buy the thing online. Our salesman was friendly enough but he wasn't particularly quick, and at times we felt like we were buying a car as he went to "check with his manager" about every discount or rebate we asked about.

Speaking of discounts . . . make sure you check with the carrier to see if your workplace has worked out a special deal. My law firm had negotiated a discount on the voice and data plans with Verizon, and many firms and the federal government have similar discounts. It never hurts to ask!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...

If you're from the Midwest, or the Northeast, or really, anywhere that gets weather, prepare for a good laugh at our expense. However, if you're a recent D.C. transplant and this is the first time snow has come to you as opposed to you going to the snow, listen up.

It has been beaten to death on this blog that we're Southern California kids through and through. And while D.C. and L.A. have many differences, we've found the transition to be much easier than expected. But the one thing that still makes us feel like fish out of water is the weather.

Consider this: Not only had we never experienced a "white Christmas," we'd never really gone through a cold Christmas until we moved here. Most people understand that a house might be cold when you wake up to see if Santa came. But have you ever had to open a window to warm up the house on Christmas day? That is our "normal," so you can imagine how we might react to snow.

Three things about weather and us. First, our wardrobes were sorely insufficient. Believe it or not, the only weather related decision you need to make in SoCal is if you need a hoodie or not. Not surprisingly, we quickly learned that this was not the case here.

Second, we are paralyzingly awestruck by weather. If it is even threatening to rain hard, much less snowing, our eyes are glued to the nearest window or monitoring the forecast feverishly. This is one of my favorite things about our new home; being able to revel in the childish wonderment of weather, be it the changing of the seasons or beautifully falling snow.

Finally, we were just ignorant to anything but a light drizzle. You know the radar maps that use a color code to show the intensity of precipitation? You probably could have convinced us that weather systems were only shown in light green. White, purple, and red storms just don't exist where we come from. It has been eye opening to say the least. Thunder, lightning, hail, sleet, freezing rain . . . all new to our world. In fact, I had to get an explanation from a friend in Colorado when I first saw "wintry mix" on the forecast. Now I'm hearing "thundering snow." What the hell is that?

By now you're either laughing at our stupidity or nodding in agreement, depending on where you grew up. For those in the latter group, here's what you can do.

1. Dress the part. If a cold day in your mind means the 50's, don't go out thinking you can tackle a real winter with your old wardrobe. Get a good long coat. Get some boots that are waterproof. Get a real umbrella, not something you pick up at CVS and will break almost immediately. And for those icy walks to work, look into YakTrax.
2. Pay attention. The weather report on the local news was always an invitation to do something else. Not anymore. Make it part of your routine to glance at the weather daily. We went so far as to get a weather clock for our bathroom from Brookstone so we'll never be caught unprepared in a storm again . . . we hope.

With a couple of simple adjustments, we are no longer afraid or inconvenienced by the weather here, and can now enjoy it. Maybe after a few more seasons of thunderstorms and snow we won't be captivated as we are now, but until then, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"

J Says

Like B said, I'm completely awestruck by the weather in D.C. Whenever there is a big summer thunderstorm or a few flakes of snow, there's no chance I'm getting any work done because I'm glued to the window.

As I type, I'm filled with excitement for the pending snowstorm. I'm sure that living with a lot of snow would get old (driving in it, trudging through it, etc.) but I'm excited for one really big storm.

Also, I have to echo what B wrote about dressing for the weather. I still don't have all of the right clothes for winter but I'm getting there. This winter, you're likely to see me bundled up like the kids in A Christmas Story. Just don't knock me over!

Family Time for All - Wii

When I was little, I bought an original 8-bit Nintendo, and like many people of my generation, Mario became a significant part of my world. While it was always a mainstay at birthday parties and late night sleepovers, it never seemed to cross the generational divide. Sure, my parents, grandparents, and babysitters were all gracious enough to get whupped by a 5th grader at the latest digital adventure, but in retrospect, I'd hardly call it quality time.

Fast forward 20 years to a point where video games had gone the way of baseball cards, Legos, and Thundercats. The graphics and player controls had evolved, but so had I. No longer could I up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, select, start with the best of them. Worse yet, it could be said that I had become "too old" for modern day video games (reminiscing about controllers with only 2 buttons clued me in). Until the Wii.

As we described earlier, J and I hosted Thanksgiving in D.C. this year (see post here). Clearly, there is no shortage of sights to see in this city (read our favorites here), but when weary feet and stormy weather pushed the party indoors, what was this merged, multi-generational family to do? In the past, family board games would rule. Pictionary, Mah Jong, Cranium, and Trivial Pursuit are all favorites. But this year it was The Beatles Rock Band on Wii. Over the course of a few days, the parts of John, Paul, George, and Ringo were played by people as young as 11 and as old as... well... old enough to appreciate the game's Ed Sullivan sound clips.

My point is that a product that once divided generations has now found a form that unites them. And in this holiday season, when we think about gift giving and quality family time, I feel like I must say thanks to the Beatles and especially to Nintendo for enhancing our Thanksgiving. It's good to have you back in my life!

J Says

I am a really terrible drummer. Once I start getting my hands to sense the rhythm, I have to add in the kick drum and then it all falls apart. Silly kick drum.

Even though I'm a really bad drummer, I have a blast playing Beatles Rock Band. During Thanksgiving week, we shared a ton of laughs while attempting to play along with hits such as "Eight Days a Week" and "Ticket to Ride." Even if you have no musical talent, you can have fun drumming, strumming, or even just humming along.

We're a really, really good Pictionary team (I correctly guessed "radiation" after B drew one squiggly line) but since you can only play Pictionary with a group, we needed a new game. The Wii has been a great addition to our household. We have a blast trying to beat each other's records on the Wii Fit. I can't beat B in ski jumping but he can't touch me in soccer ball heading.

Whether you're home alone or entertaining a crowd, the Wii can lead to some hilarious antics. Just watch out for that kick drum.

Hosting Thanksgiving (with an assist from Zola Wine & Kitchen)

As a new couple in a new city, the holiday season is a busy time to say the least. In addition to the cross-country travel and family commitments that other people must deal with, new couples need to balance old and new family traditions within a new family dynamic. After all, the marriage of two people is seldom the union of just two people; it is the blending of two families.

For us, it has been about as easy as anyone could hope for, but that doesn't mean there aren't challenges. Fortunately, everyone gets along, which is the most important thing. But beyond that, 3,000 miles, varying work schedules, and other factors necessitate months of planning.

In order to unite our two families in one location and lessen our own time in busy airports, J and I have managed to host one holiday in DC each of the last three years. We've found this newly emerging tradition challenging, but also immensely worthwhile.

Now that Thanksgiving is over and we can sit back and enjoy the peaceful satisfaction of a job well done, we've come to realize that the third time is truly the charm. We've become decent tour guides and passable chefs, but more generally, we've become a great team. And that's a good thing, because for the two weeks prior to our parents' arrival, J was in Anchorage for work. This made it necessary to plan the meal via email and call in some reinforcements.

When J told me that she ordered an oven-ready turkey from Zola Wine & Kitchen, I was worried that it wouldn't be worth the cost. After all, why pay for something we can do ourselves? But after being able to serve the best Thanksgiving turkey that I've ever tasted, I can say without reservation that it was worth every penny. But don't take my word for it, just listen to J.


J Says

A week and a half before our families were to arrive for Thanksgiving, I was sitting in an Anchorage, Alaska office building learning that my trip was being extended by another week. This meant that I would be arriving home less than one day before our parents arrived. I knew then that my grand plans for Thanksgiving dinner were going to have to change, and I needed a way to make things easier.

Coincidentally, at the same time, a co-worker of mine sent around an email saying that Zola Wine & Kitchen was selling oven-ready turkeys (as well as prepared turkeys and all of the trimmings). The menu promised that it would be herb-seasoned and ready to stick in the oven. Based on my past positive wine purchasing and cooking class experiences at Zola Wine & Kitchen, I didn't hesitate to place my turkey order.

After a phone call and a few emails with the manager, my order was confirmed and I scheduled the pickup for the day before Thanksgiving. On that day, they had my turkey ready to go and even brought it out to the car for me.

Since this wasn't the cheapest turkey option ($79 plus tax), I was a bit worried that it wouldn't be worth the cost. My worry was completely erased as we began to carve the perfectly-browned bird and juices poured from every inch, accompanied by a wonderful herb scent that filled the kitchen. It was the juiciest and most flavorful turkey I've ever had. It also couldn't have been easier. It was cleaned, stuffed with herbs (even under the skin with butter), placed in a disposable roasting pan, and packaged with cooking instructions (lots of basting).

On this Thanksgiving, we give thanks to Zola Wine & Kitchen for saving the day and allowing us to spend time with family instead of stressing in the kitchen.

P.S. Even the leftover turkey is excellent!!!

In Sickness and in Health

With flu season kicking into high gear (and with B home on the couch), we thought it might be helpful to share our experience with health care in the District. When we moved from LA to DC two years ago, I got sick almost every month. It was a scary thing being in a new city and not knowing where to go to get medical help when I needed it. Sure, I know how to go on my insurance company's website and find a local provider but that didn't help me much when the average wait time for an appointment was 2 months. When I inconveniently came down with bronchitis on Christmas eve or tonsillitis at midnight, I needed some alternatives:

Arlington Urgent Care

It goes without saying that if you're really ill, don't mess around and head straight to the ER. DC has lots of hospitals within easy access. When you're not "ER sick" but still need to see someone, urgent care is the answer. Try googling "urgent care Washington, DC" and see if you can find a 24-hour option in the District. When I couldn't, I turned to Arlington Urgent Care.

It's not the fanciest place but they are open 'round the clock and I haven't waited longer than 20 minutes to see a doctor. They can write you that prescription that will get you through the night and will refer you to a specialist if needed. They also take many kinds of insurance so it shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg to get help.

Farragut Medical and Travel Care

If your illness is of the 10am to 5:00pm (Monday -Friday) variety, Farragut Medical and Travel Care is a great downtown DC option that is Metro accessible. I got a flu shot there and was in and out in 10 minutes. They also offer the Gardasil vaccine if you haven't gotten it yet (note that this is a 3 shot series so you'll have to make return trips). If you're headed on an exotic vacation and need vaccines, you can easily head here during your lunch break.

Northwest Nurse Practitioner Associates

When it came time for my yearly checkup and I couldn't get an appointment with a primary care physician, I found NNPA and was able to get an appointment within days. It is located on Connecticut Avenue directly across from the National Zoo and their early morning appointments are great for those with busy work schedules. I saw Erin Bagshaw several times and was incredibly impressed by her warm bedside manner and thoroughness. They also offer travel vaccines and are a "certified Yellow Fever center" if that's important to you. The drawback? They don't take insurance so you're left paying the full amount and trying to get reimbursed by your carrier. While it's a terrific option for last-minute appointments, it can get pricey to use for your regular medical care.

Here's to hoping you never have to visit any of these places. I'm going to go wash my hands and take some Emergen-C now...

Second Thoughts from B

Irony (n): a blog post entitled "in sickness and in health" written when B is the one sprawled out on the bed, while moaning and thankful if he can keep down a small sip of water and a Saltine cracker.

I guess this is karma's way of telling me I should stop teasing J and calling her a "sickly kid." In all seriousness, its been years since I've been sick and I'm much more accustomed to being the doctor than the patient. But while doing my best impression of a quarantined and emaciated Howard Hughes (to be clear I have the flu and not the crazy bug, even if the imagery is similar), it struck me how much a change of coasts can really change your life. It isn't surprising that a move like that involves major life changes but sometimes the smaller, less dramatic changes are equally challenging.

When you leave for college (or even more so, when you stay close), frequent trips home and campus facilities can suffice for medical/dental/eye exams. But when you move to a new city and lack the network of family and friends that can point you in the right direction, sometimes trial and error is the best you can do. Take for example our experience with the DC Dental Spa. Sure, we should have known just by the name but because it was close, had convenient hours, and took our insurance, we gave it a try. In the 3 times I've been, I would estimate that I spend 45-60 minutes in the waiting room (keep in mind I have an appointment) and about 15-20 minutes in the chair. Somehow all the Reba reruns in the waiting room don't make this a good use of my time. Compare that to my dentist back home that had been cleaning my teeth since birth and took personal pride in them. Let's just say this isn't the type of experience I'm accustomed to...

So I'd love to end this post with some sage wisdom and expert referrals but the fact of the matter is, we're still looking (and accepting recommendations). The one thing I will say is to start your search early because you don't want to be hunting while you're hurting. Oh, and another piece of advice. Don't get the flu. It sucks for you and for the people around you... and results in health care-related blog posts instead of a review of the U2 concert that we had to skip because I got sick.