Terra Cotta Warriors at the National Geographic Museum

In 1998 I was lucky enough to travel throughout China with my family. As avid readers know by now, my mother is Chinese and her parents made it a point of rounding up all the kids and grandkids to show them the "old country." That was the first time I saw the Terra Cotta Warriors. It took 12 years before I saw them again.

Growing up as bi-racial or "hapa" (a Hawaiian word that literally means half, and usually refers to Asian and Caucasian mixed kids), I've always been aware of my unique heritage. In some ways, it has been a source of strength in that I've been able to pick the best of both backgrounds. On the other hand, it was sometimes difficult to fit in, since I wasn't white enough for some groups or Asian/minority enough for others.

But like so many other childhood circumstances, being hapa was all I knew, and I didn't realize until I was older how unique and special it was. For example, did you know that it wasn't until 1967 that interracial couples could marry in Virginia (that's only 6 years before my parents married)? It's true, look it up (Loving vs. Virginia). Worse still, just last year a Louisiana justice of the peace refused to marry an interracial couple stating, "I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way." It certainly is an interesting counterpoint to a country with a biracial President and many other public figures of mixed heritage... but I'm getting off topic.

The point of all this is that as a newly married couple, J and I have tried to take an active role in blending both of our backgrounds, racial and otherwise. By embracing our heritage, we learn about who we all are and possibly, who we are going to be.

With that in mind, we made a point of checking out the National Geographic Museum's exhibit on the Terra Cotta Warriors. For a little background, the warriors were created by China's first emperor over 2000 years ago as part of his burial complex, but it was only discovered in the late-1970's. This exhibit is on loan from China, and has been traveling the States for the last couple of years. It is a tough ticket to get, but if you're willing to go during the daytime, you'll have a shot of seeing it before it leaves DC at the end of March.

The exhibit is small but extremely well done. 1 hour is recommended, but slow reading aside, I could have spent a lot more time there. We opted for the audio tour, but the text at the exhibit is just as thorough.

Time is spent winding through various artifacts that help tell the story of the life and death of Qin Shihuangdi before you get to the warriors themselves. As a product of American public schools, we seem to be experts on European culture and events, but often don't get to learn about Eastern history. This made both the historical and warrior sections of the exhibit very worthwhile.

Having seen the real thing on the outskirts of Xi'an, I'd recommend that you spend the $12 and go to NatGeo before trekking to the other side of the world just yet. Other than the sheer size and magnificence of the actual site, I found the more intimate setting far more engaging. There, you're under a massive tent (think of one of those huge wedding tents, only if it covered several football fields), and look down into a partially dug out pit of mostly broken warriors. The scope is tremendous but I felt very removed from it all. Instead, being able to walk completely around some of the best preserved warriors, look in their eyes, and study particular aspects of their artistry, allowed me to appreciate the details.

The other thing I liked was the more modern, and probably more Western approach that was taken in educating visitors. Other than the sometimes Beijing-worthy crowds, I can't say enough good things about it all.

So in the end, I was able to learn a little bit more about China's history and about my own history. What's more, being able to share that with J and reconnect with those fond memories of my grandparents, was invaluable.

J Says

One of my favorite photos from B's China trip is a shot of his grandparents posing with the terra cotta warriors (and imitating their stoic faces) in the gift shop in Xi'an. That picture sparked my interest in the warriors. We even have small two terra cotta warrior replicas in our bedroom. I was thrilled to get to see them up close in DC.

As I struggled through the crowds in the first room, I began to wonder if these old clay dudes were worth the trouble. Luckily, the crowds thinned out and I let the audio tour sweep me away to China, and into the life story of this wacky emperor. Like B said, it was neat to get to see them up close where you could really see the intricate details and craftsmanship. If you don't have the time or money to go to China, hurry up and get on over to 17th Street before the warriors waddle on to their next destination.

Masa 14

We finally made it out to try DC's newest restaurant hotspot: Masa 14. Chefs Richard Sandoval (Zengo) and Kaz Okochi (Kaz Sushi Bistro) decided that DC needed another small plates restaurant and opened up this hip Latin-Asian eatery on the trendy 14th street corridor. The interior is industrial chic with a 65 foot bar (one of the longest in DC). Though I hear it is very crowded (and very loud) in the evenings, we sampled Masa 14 during brunch, and it featured a much more laid back vibe.

After starting the morning off with a Masa Mimosa (champagne + mango +blood orange = yum!) our waiter recommended that we order 2-3 small plates per person. We started with the pan dulce (french toast with ancho whipped cream and roasted pineapple syrup). It had an interesting set of flavors, but was a bit citrus-heavy for my taste. Probably perfect for those who don't like their french toast to be cloyingly sweet.

The highlight of our brunch was the serrano ham flatbread with goat cheese, cantaloupe, arugula, truffle, and lime. I could've eaten a whole pizza worth of this awesome flavor combination. The cool melon mixed with the salty ham and creamy goat cheese was close to perfection.

Next were the chilaquiles - a mexican egg/tortilla dish that I'm normally a big fan of. I thought Masa's version fell flat in the flavor department. It wasn't that the flavor was bad, but it was so one dimensional that the dish just felt like green mush after a few bites. A dash of hot sauce could've taken it to a different level.

Capping off the Latin-Asian brunch tour was the yucca brisket hash (smoked brisket, carmelized onions, poblano chiles, poached egg, and chipotle hollandaise). It was tasty, but not particularly memorable.

Since we brunched with a group of neighbors, we got to see lots of the dishes on the menu and sampled some of the tasty yucca fries and wok-fried home fries. I also thought the service was attentive for having a large group, but as the restaurant began to fill up, the dishes arrived in a more and more sporadic manner (sometimes with long gaps in between).

Overall, we had a very nice brunch at Masa 14. I wasn't blown away, but there were enough high points that revealed the restaurant's promise. Once some of the hype dies down, I'd like to check out their dinner offerings. I think the menu offers an interesting blend of Latin and Asian flavors (a la Zengo - see post here) that helps it stand out somewhat from the small plates restaurants that seem to be a dime a dozen in DC.

Second Thoughts From B

J, as usual, did a nice job of hitting the highs (flatbread) and lows (pan dulce), as well as the overall feel of Masa 14. I would add that the flatbread was topped with arugula, which combined with tart lime juice, was very reminiscent of 2 Amy's mixed greens salad (see post here). This is a very good thing, especially when paired with the other flavor profiles that J described above.

And to be clear, the pan dulce was by no means a failed dish. Several others at our table seemed to enjoy it, but for my palate, it missed the mark. Some people love fruit flavored liqueurs, and for those people, this might be a great dish. I'm just not a huge fan of the slightly sweet yet somewhat bitter taste. No, this is not alcoholic french toast, but this is the only way I can describe the orange-tasting whipped cream.

We've had multiple, very good experiences with both Zengo and Kaz Sushi Bistro... the parent restaurants of Masa 14, if you will. Unfortunately, their lovechild has yet to distinguish himself (at least in my mind) from any other the other new, chic, fusion, small plates eateries in downtown. This is a great thing for DC residents; so many worthwhile options. However, I think this theme is somewhat played out and wish a few other niches could be filled before we see more of the same.

To put it another way, as proud parents, I wouldn't begrudge Richard and Kaz from slapping a "My child is an honors student at..." bumpersticker on their car. On the other hand, I wouldn't fault anyone who responded, "Who cares? So is mine."

Oohhs & Aahhs

I had a dream about macaroni and cheese and it was magnificent. Before you think I'm weird, let me tell you what inspired this dream; Oohhs & Aahhs Soul Food Restaurant on U Street.

It was a Saturday night and we were in search of a new place to try. We didn't want to change out of our weekend jeans uniform, so B pulled up the Washingtonian's Cheap Eats page. After some debate (and ranking, and voting... B is an engineer) we decided to check out the soul food at Oohhs & Aahhs.

This place is the antithesis of fancy with mismatched tables and chairs, giraffe statues, and a TV with horrible reception. Somewhere behind that blizzard on the TV screen is the UCLA vs. Washington basketball game. If you saw the game, you'd realize we were lucky to have terrible reception.

Anyway, back to the dream. I read that the mac & cheese at Oohhs & Aahhs was the stuff of legend, so I had to order it to see if it was hype-worthy. Holy crap this mac & cheese is worthy of its own army of hype men (waving towels and all)! It was so cheesy that you could twirl the cheese strings around your fork, pasta style. The best part? It wasn't trying to be fancy. I've had truffle mac & cheese and lobster mac & cheese and mac & cheese with 45 different gourmet cheeses, and I have never liked it more than the Kraft blue box. The thing that made Oohhs & Aahhs' mac & cheese shine was its simplicity. They managed to pack so much flavor into their mac without using too many ingredients. However, I don't think I want to know what ingredients they used. All I know is that it was amazing and caused me to dream that I was floating on a cloud of mac & cheese.

Though the mac & cheese was the star, I also really liked the chicken wings. Chicken wings can be annoying when they are all bone and no meat, but these babies were plump and meaty. You get two side dishes with your order and I also had some tasty cornbread, but would probably try the greens or sweet potatoes next time to add some different color to the plate.

B ordered the fried chicken breast and let's just say that my wings kicked the crap out of his breasts. Go with the wings. Also, they forgot the gravy for his rice n' gravy, so we didn't get the full side dish experience.

Before you go running off to U Street with visions of mac & cheese dancing in your head, stop by the ATM because Oohhs & Aahhs is cash only. It is also not dirt cheap; we spent over $30 for two dinners and two drinks (but the portions were so large I took some home for lunch the next day). Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to daydream about mac & cheese.

Second Thoughts from B

Anyone remember the Barenaked Ladies? They had a few hits in the mid-90's and have achieved cult status in Canada. They're also hilarious and wonderfully entertaining live. So what does a pudgy group of Canadians have to do with soul food in DC? Bear with me, I'll get there. I promise.

The highlight of any Barenaked Ladies concert is the song, "If I Had a Million Dollars." It is this goofy song about all the things they would buy with, you guessed it, a million dollars. Ultimately it's a song about wanting love, but in between all the other desires in life (house, car, a monkey, etc.) they mention mac & cheese, or "Kraft Dinner" if you're from the great white north. (Ah hah! The connection... finally.)

The song goes like this:
If I had a million dollars
We wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner
But we would eat Kraft Dinner
Of course we would, we’d just eat more

Like our Canadian friends, J and I love our mac & cheese, and given the choice that great riches could provide, we still prefer that familiar favorite from our childhoods. So when we place the "best ever" title on Oohhs & Aahhs' mac & cheese and place it above Kraft's version, that's saying something.

So have you picked up this not so subtle hint yet? The mac & cheese is good. Go get some. I could easily end there but it wouldn't do justice to J's wings. Second only to those found in Puerto Rican winter baseball stadiums which I'm convinced are laced with crack, these are pretty tremendous in their own right. The problem is that they'll always play second fiddle to the mac & cheese in my book. But oohh what a combo they make. Trust us on that and stay away from the chicken breast.

Wintergreen Resort

When we got married, B and I decided to split the special occasion planning duties: B plans our anniversary (August) and I take care of Valentine's Day. This year, I wanted to plan a weekend getaway that wouldn't break the bank. I decided on a ski weekend but had no idea where to go since we had never skiied on the East Coast before. After a lot of internet searching and conferring with friends, I decided on Wintergreen Resort in Virginia.

Wintergreen is normally a 3 hour drive from DC (it took us 4 hours on the Friday after the Snowpocalypse). It is a pleasant trip without the scary, windy roads (I'm looking at you Snow Summit) that I'm used to facing on the way to a ski resort. Also, if you've never been to Monticello, it is worth a stop on the way to or from Wintergreen.

The accommodations at Wintergreen range from a hotel-style lodge to 7 bedroom homes for rent. I chose a one bedroom condo with ski slope access for less than $150 per night on a holiday weekend. It featured a fireplace and a full sized kitchen, and best yet, was about 100 yards from a ski run.

The check-in and ski rental process were efficiently run and we didn't wait in lines (even on a Friday night of a holiday weekend). We were glad to be able to rent the equipment the night we arrived so that we could hit the slopes early in the morning from our condo. Parking was also hassle-free and they offer a shuttle service in case you don't want to drive around the resort.

Prior to the trip, I booked dinner reservations at the Copper Mine Bistro, and they were helpful and very accommodating when I wanted to change the reservation day and time. We were seated next to a roaring fireplace and enjoyed a reasonably-priced prime rib dinner on Valentine's eve.
The highlight of the trip was definitely The Plunge tubing park (pictured above). Tubing at 40+mph with no walk to the top of the hill (thanks to a moving walkway) is my idea of a great time. I don't think I stopped smiling the entire 2 hours we tubed. Make your reservations online in advance because the tubing sessions can sell out on the weekends.

Overall, we had a blast at Wintergreen and it was so convenient. I think it'd make a great place for a low-key family reunion. If you're not into the snow thing, they offer golf, swimming, tennis, and hiking during the rest of the year. Next time, I want to check out the Wintergarden Spa and perhaps try zooming down the hill on the zipline.

Have you been to Wintergreen? If not, where do you ski near DC?

Second Thoughts from B

First off, I know what all you guys are saying, "Your wife plans Valentine's Day for you?!?!" Yeah, she's that cool. And really, it makes sense. Neither Valentine's Day nor an anniversary is gender specific, yet somehow tradition has made it a guy's responsibility to treat the ladies. Well, we live in an equal opportunity gift giving household, and she is just as happy to give as I am to receive. But it does put the pressure on me for August...

But back on topic: Wintergreen. I think the whole weekend can be summed up by J's comment that tubing was the highlight of the trip. This is half because it was far more fun than we could possibly describe, and half because the skiing is adequate at best.

Even with historically good snowfall, I wouldn't recommend Wintergreen as a ski-only destination. There are only 5 lifts of which 3 are worthwhile, and the runs are rather short. Granted, I'm spoiled having cut my skiing teeth at Mammoth, Lake Tahoe, as well as in Utah and Colorado.

However, as a winter activity center, Wintergreen is fantastic. Walking to the slopes takes most of the hassle out of skiing (now if they could only make ski boots warm and comfortable). The food at Copper Mine was surprisingly good and reasonably priced. The condo was such a bargain and the equipment rental operation was smooth. Topping that off with the fantastically fun tubing made for a great weekend.