Madhatter

Can a grimy dive bar reinvent itself into a big, bright restaurant serving good food? After one meal at the Madhatter, it appears that the answer is "Yes." The owners closed up shop on M Street and reopened this month in a large, and fancifully decorated space on Connecticut Avenue.

The Alice and Wonderland theme is carried through to every detail: from the upside down table on the ceiling to the tiny cups of apricot tea served before every meal.

We weren't expecting a lot from Madhatter, but our amazing waiter Gary and very good/very reasonably-priced food had us talking about a repeat visit before we even left the table. Gary not only had us laughing, he wasn't shy about telling us what he loved and didn't love on the menu.

Each meal at Madhatter starts with the apricot tea and some yummy cornbread.

Gary highly recommended the heart attack on a plate, err, the deep fried pork belly tossed in sweet chili garlic and ponzu sauce. This dish is a cardiologist's nightmare but a pork lover's dream come true. The sauce was sweet yet tangy and the combo with the spicy arugula made for a flavor explosion. BOOM!

When Gary described the hot dogs as "the truth" we knew we had to try them. He recommended that I try the Wonderland Dog (mac n' cheese-topped dog) and add chili on top. Well, since the fried pork belly already killed any chance of a healthy meal, I figured I might as well go all the way.

Yep, that is a chili dog with mac n' cheese in place of regular old boring cheese. All of this yummy craziness was only $7. You read that right. The $7 included that big basket of fries and the salad on the side. This is hands-down one of the best bargains in town.

For B, Gary recommended another zany hot dog. He tried the Psychedelic Dog (crushed potato chips, pineapple, and cheese). One the first try, the kitchen forgot the potato chips. Once B was about half way through his dog he realized that the crunch was missing. Gary didn't hesitate to bring out an entire new dog complete with the crunchy chip topping.

While these Alice-inspired menu items are definitely not for every day consumption, I think the Madhatter is great fun and a nice change of pace. Sometimes you just need to get out of DC and get away from the suits and seriousness. Thanks to Madhatter, there is a rabbit hole waiting for you whenever you need one.

Second Thoughts From B

Some people would call the hot dogs at Madhatter "the truth." Other people might choose to describe them as "legit." Shortly after announcing that he would shed the formal facade, Gary used both adjectives and we were thrilled that he did.

So why all this talk about Gary? It isn't that the Madhatter is only worth the trip to visit our new favorite waiter. Instead, it is that Gary personified the spirit of the place. Food and an atmosphere that is fun-loving and whimsical (I think I've now used that word in back to back posts).

And what's more fun than having a great time eating good food and doing it on the cheap? Maybe going to see the Gay Men's Choir's production of Grease afterwards, but that'll have to wait for another post.

Kite Festival

On this dreary, rainy day, please join me in welcoming Spring to our Nation's Capital. Let me even be so bold as to kiss those snow days goodbye (at least until next winter). And for those of you who haven't completely bought in to the glass half full philosophy of "April showers bring May flowers," I present to you the Kite Festival.

To the uninitiated, the Kite Festival is the highlight of the first day of Washington's famous Cherry Blossom Festival. More importantly, it is just another reminder of why we love living here.

Excuse my overuse of hyperbole, but the National Mall is one of my favorite places. Period. Now cover it in the youthful exuberance of children and child-like adults celebrating something as primal as Spring, as whimsical as homemade kites, as beautifully simple as blooming flowers... awesome. Call me a romantic, but all this makes the crowds and other minor annoyances of Spring-induced tourism almost melt away.

If the Kite Festival is a highlight of the week, then the climax is the Rokkaku Challenge. Readers of The Kite Runner may remember a competition where kite-wielding teams attempt to cut or "clobber" opposing kites. Well, this is it.

A kite competition seems like an oxymoron that would illicit more head-scratching than interest, but thanks to a Gus Johnson-esque announcer, it is a fascinating and even dramatic event. If nothing else... it is unique. Unique to our adopted home.


J Says

When I was living in California and B was living in DC, he went to the Kite Festival and took some great photos of a beautiful sky filled with colorful kites. Ever since then I have wanted to see the Festival for myself. It took four long years for me to get there, but I finally made it!

It was great to see people of all ages looking skyward as they tried to navigate their kites through the crowded skies around the Washington Monument. We saw everything from homemade paper kites to uber-professional giant spinning kites. My favorite part was the Rokkaku kite fighting competition. When I read The Kite Runner I didn't have a good feel for what it meant to cut a kite out of the sky, and it was so much fun to see it for myself and to cheer on my favorite kites. The announcer was as informative as he was enthusiastic, so I learned more than I ever needed to know about kite fighting strategy.

Though I've never been a good kite flyer (memories of kites slamming into the ground and breaking come to mind), the Kite Festival made me want to get out there and join the fun next year. I have a year to figure out how to get and keep my kite off the ground...

Eamonn's - A Dublin Chipper

I love walking down King Street in Alexandria. I like the historic buildings, twinkling lights in the trees, and fun people watching. However, I've always been underwhelmed at the quick-service restaurant options. If you don't want to sit for table service, the non-chain options are really limited. Thank you to Eamonn's for coming to our rescue one drizzly Sunday and filling this void.

Eamonn's calls itself a "Dublin Chipper" which means they serve Irish-style fish and chips. It is the brainchild of Cathal and Meshelle Armstrong whose names you might know from Restaurant Eve, The Majestic, or PX. Don't expect white tablecloths or fancy cocktails here. Eamonn's is a laid-back kind of joint. And just in case you get confused and think this is a British place, the menu reminds: "Oh by the way, this is not a British chipper, or any other chipper, this is our chipper, if yis don't like it . . . hump off." You got that?

After ordering at the tiny counter from a menu scratched out on a chalkboard, our food was delivered piping hot in brown paper bags. To go along with your cod and chips, Eamonn's offers several homemade dipping sauces (one free sauce with each order, extras are 50 cents). Though I think fried fish is heavenly with plain ketchup, we tried the hot chili sauce and it was outstanding.

The fish was fresh and flaky, and fried to a perfect crisp. The chips were thick-cut and served just as hot as the fish. I think temperature is the key to good fish and chips, and Eamonn's nailed it.

While the price is a bit steep for a piece of fried fish ($8.00 for the regular piece shown in the foreground, $5.00 for the small piece in the background), I know they aren't using cheap old whitefish here.

Eamonn's has a liquor license which means you can sip Irish beer with your fish. If you're still hungry and feeling adventurous, you can try a fried candy bar or banana to cap off your meal. After all of the fried fishy goodness, we couldn't justify another fried item, so we left and went in search of ice cream instead (see post here). But, I will definitely be back to sample the desserts. Maybe I should walk there from DC to burn off the calories...

Second Thoughts from B

Fish n Chips. Now that's a dish that I can eat anywhere, partially because it is next to impossible to mess up. Dress it up, dress it down, it doesn't matter. I love it.

I distinctly remember craving fish n chips when I was little. No surprise there, I suppose. What little kid doesn't like fried, dippable finger food? Anyway, I must have been 3 or 4 when I would request a trip to Bob's Big Boy. Now, nearly 30 years later, I'd be just as giddy behind that same fried basket of wonderful.

So what does this mean for Eamonn's? On one hand it means that I'm happy to recommend a place that makes a high quality fish n chips (although it should be noted that it didn't beat out Againn's version - see here). On the other, I might be so bold to say that I could pay half as much, get twice the food, and be almost as happy anywhere else. Maybe I have low standards, maybe I missed the boat by sticking with my beloved ketchup... All I know is that I've now got a craving.

National Portrait Gallery

Another Saturday and another Smithsonian Young Benefactors tour (see our post on our first tour of the Museum of Natural History here). This time it was the National Portrait Gallery.

The National Portrait Gallery shares space with the Smithsonian American Art Museum, but this isn't just some ordinary space. The two museums are housed in the Old Patent Office Building, which has been restored to show off many of its original 150 year old details. Of particular note is the new glass roof that encloses the center courtyard. Completed in 2007, it has received recognition by architecture critics, local museum goers, and everyone in between.

Even though the architecture alone warrants a visit, the art isn't too shabby either. Perhaps the biggest draw is display of American Presidents, where you will find everything from the portrait of George Washington that is used on the dollar bill to more abstract depictions of modern presidents.

But don't stop there. Like every other Smithsonian museum, there's always more to see. Some of the faces will be familiar, while others won't. Each face tells a story about who we are as a country.

Once upon a time, I was one of those annoying kids clogging the city streets on a tour of our Nation's Capital. I remember some monuments taking my breath away and capturing my attention while other spots elicited not much more than a yawn. The Portrait Gallery was in the latter category.

Oh, how things have changed. Part history museum, part art museum, this is probably one of our most frequent visits among all of the Smithsonian museums. It is perfect for a quick splash of culture while wandering downtown, and a great reminder of how special it is to live in this town.

J Says

I recently moved into a new office that looks directly at the Portrait Gallery and its cool, wavy atrium roof. Despite the fact that I stare at the building all day long, I'm not tired of it yet. I love to take my lunch and eat it in the atrium (yes, they have a cafe, but I think it is over-priced and mostly average food). It is one of my favorite hidden gems to show out-of-town clients and friends.

As B said, the portraits are fun to look at too. Don't miss the sports gallery tucked way up in the rafters. It took me several visits before I ever found it! The Gallery also features fun rotating exhibits. Right now you can see Elvis portraits and memorabilia on the main floor.

Don't let the name fool you. The National Portrait Gallery is more than just a collection of old faces on the wall. Pay a visit and explore for yourself, but don't forget to wave to me on your way in!