National Shrine and National Cathedral

I'm continuing to knock things off my list of places I want to go before leaving DC. Last week I headed to Catholic University to see the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and though there were high school students milling about, waiting to graduate inside, I was able to still walk around the grounds and inside the shrine. Though I've been to lots of churches in Europe (including Westminster Abbey in London and St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican) I'm not sure I've ever been so blown away by the art and architecture — especially since the Shrine has been just three Metro stops from my house for the last three years. The photos I took inside didn't come out especially well, but nearly every inch is covered with shiny mosaics, stained glass, and gold, gold, gold.

After that I took the train to Tenleytown, and walked down Wisconsin Avenue to the National Cathedral, which for some reason I thought you couldn't just visit. You can —the Cathedral is absolutely enormous, and is really new. The foundation stone wasn't laid until 1907, and construction was interrupted during the wars. But while the Shrine is stunningly beautiful, the Cathedral comes off as more imposing. There's some beautiful design to be sure, but the hand-stitched seat cushions are more kitschy Americana than anything else. That said, the outside is impressive, the view from the top lovely (click to enlarge the photo and you'll see the Washington Monument and Capitol Building, and the little Bishop's Garden in back (designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.) was pretty.

Touring the Capitol

When you live in a city like D.C., going to tourist sites doesn't happen very often. I usually depend on visitors to see the non-arty Smithsonians or the monuments. On my parents' visit a few days ago we went two places I hadn't been before — the White House and the Capitol. While I couldn't bring a camera into the White House, the rooms we saw were beautiful, and the views from the White House windows are amazing.

Then we went to the Hill, where we walked around by the Capitol and Library of Congress, before deciding to tour the Capitol. That was also beautiful.

Other visit highlights included dinner at Café Atlantico (delicious skirt steak and jerk chicken, and those conch fritters I love) and a visit to the National Geographic Museum, where we saw the very cool Polar Obsession show, and the last weekend of the Jouberts' photographs.

Cleaning day at the Library of Congress fountain.

The dome inside the Capitol building.

Looking down the mall from the Capitol.

The front of the Capitol building.

Lincoln's Cottage

Over Labor Day, I hopped on a bus down the street from my house, rode it for 10 minutes, and was spit out at the base of the Soldier's Home, where President Lincoln's Cottage is located. Despite asking everyone I know to go with me, no one took me up on it, and you all missed out. But since the Cottage is open year round, you can go back and learn lots of really cool things about our 16th President. Lincoln spent three summers, or a quarter of his presidency, residing there with his wife and son, and he did substantial work on the Emancipation Proclamation while in residence.

The house is sparsely furnished (you weren't supposed to take any pictures inside the house) since the National Trust for Historic Preservation, who recently gave the house a $15 million renovation, didn't want to furnish it with inauthentic items. But the interior is still beautiful, from the doors that open out onto a porch, to the windows. The first floor is also painted various shades of pink and peach, which matches how it was painted when Lincoln lived there.

The Cottage web site talks about how they want people to leave with a better understanding of Lincoln, and they use the house and activities that took place there to do it. You do, and you also learn a lot about what D.C. was like during the Civil War. I think this is one of those off the beaten path things everyone should go to.

Visit their web site for more information.

Labor Day weekend in the District, in photos

Lemon scone and lemon curd, Saturday morning, 8:30 a.m.

Mt. Pleasant Farmers Market, Saturday, 9:30 a.m.

 Faces in a church in Mt. Pleasant, Saturday, 10 a.m.

Taqueria Distrito Federal with Zack, Saturday, 2 p.m.

Lincoln's Summer Cottage, Sunday afternoon, 2 p.m.

Kayaking on the Potomac River, Monday, 11 a.m.

D.C. Scavenger Hunt List

Since a lot of people find my blog while looking for helping compiling a list for a D.C. scavenger hunt, I've decided to post the list we used for S.'s birthday. Keep in mind that lots of these are personalized for the birthday girl, so swap out some of these for things/places/people that mean something to the participants. And some are really straightforward, while others definitely require some thought/googling on an iPhone.

1 A sign that says Metro Center - 5 points
2 Supreme Court - 5 points
3 With tourists in matching shirts, 5 points each
4 Someone wearing apparel from S.'s alma mater (HINT: GO HEELS!) – 20 points
5 The point where the four quadrants in DC originate - 25 points
6 Drinking a pitcher of sangria at Jaleo - 20 points
7 In an elevator - 5 points
8 Eating salty oat cookies at Teaism - 5 points
9 With 3 tourists doing "Charlie's Angels" in front of the Spy Museum - 25 points
10 The butcher's case at Eastern Market - 15 points
11 With Concepcion Picciotto – 25 points
12 Riding a pig or hippo statue - 15 points
13 With an employee of Ben's Chili bowl - 15 points
14 With a registered lobbyist - 10 points
15 Wearing matching shirts at Filene's Basement - 10 points
16 A tourist with a fanny pack - 25 points
17 The lobby that 'lobbying' comes from (The Willard) - 20 points
18 With a uniformed MPD officer - 25 points
19 On Einstein's lap - 15 points
20 With two tourists giving the peace sign at the Lincoln Memorial - 25 points
21 A team member drinking S.'s favorite beer – 20 points
22 DC War Veterans Memorial - 25 points
23 With a street sign of a state where S. has lived – 20 points
24 A bust of JFK - 15 points
25 At a swimming pool - 10 points
26 With a Monet - 15 points
27 A zipcar – 5 points
28 Sitting in a zipcar – 25 points
29 Eating ice cream at Larry's Homemade - 15 points
30 At the Spanish steps - 10 points
31 With C-3PO - 15 points
32 Embassy of the Ivory Coast - 20 points
33 Statue of Ghandi - 5 points
34 Francis Scott Key memorial - 30 points
35 Thurston Hall - 30 points
36 Your entire team JUMPING in the air simultaneously – 30 points
37 George Mason memorial - 20 points
38 In the FDR Memorial's "bread line" - 20 points
39 Eating a cupcake at the Love Cafe - 10 points
40 The rooftop of the tallest residential apartment building in DC (the Cairo) - 15 points
41 With a uniformed USPS worker - 30 points
42 Caps fan – 10 points
43 Playing skee ball - 15 points
44 Person reading on the metro – 10 points
45 Starbucks – 5 points each
46 FBI building – 5 points
47 Ford's Theatre – 5 points
48 Food vendor – 5 points
49 A political shirt – 5 points
50 The Newseum – 5 points
51 Showing off your smooth dance moves at Wonderland - 25 points
52 Kicking over the Washington monument – 10 points
53 A patriotic tourist – 10 points
54 Friendship archway in Chinatown – 5 points
55 With an octopus at the national aquarium – 15 points
56 Giving a peace sign in front of the Pandas at the National Zoo – 80 points
57 Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers – 40 points
58 Street musician playing a sax – 10 points
59 With someone wearing an "I heart DC" shirt/hat – 20 points
60 Eating fried pickles - 15 points
61 U.S. Senator – 150 points
62 The Arlington Home - 5 points
63 Eternal Flame – 40 points
64 12 hands on one flag pole – 10 points
65 Declaration of Independence – 5 points
66 Magna Carta – 5 points
67 The spaceship challenger memorial – 5 points

I Do Solemnly Swear: Photographs of the 2009 Presidential Inauguration

Anyone who lives in D.C. has pictures from Obama's inauguration (mine are of Rufus Wainwright and ice sculptures), but to see how professional and other amateur photogs captured the event, head to the National Museum of American History, where I Do Solemnly Swear: Photographs of the 2009 Presidential Inauguration goes on view today.

Look for color and black-and-white photographs, two photographic slide shows and four murals, which will be on display through July 12.

President Obama takes the Oath of Office, January 20, 2009, by Karen Ballard

Cherry Blossoms

A Response to Mr. Obama's Declaration that D.C. Needs Some "flinty Chicago toughness"

Today, when most area schools were closed for the second straight day, the President said, according to the Washington Post, that "We're going to have to apply some flinty Chicago toughness to this town. I'm saying that when it comes to the weather, folks in Washington don't seem to be able to handle things." The schools, he asked, closed "Because of what? Some ice?"

I am in complete agreement with the President, as I am also from a state that receives more than one or two snowfalls a year. I also find the overreacting ridiculous — I had graduate classes canceled when there was no snow or ice on the ground and none falling from the sky, and my friends get off work or get to leave early with just the rumor of snow — but the city needs to step up and teach people how to deal with winter weather.

The sidewalks may be fine downtown, but they are a mess in the rest of the city. I can't even tell you how many times I almost fell this morning. During last year's ice storm I had a bruise that ran across my entire lower back due to falling on icy sidewalks. It isn't that difficult to brush the snow away (and I say brush, because we had maybe 1 inch on my front steps yesterday when I cleared them off), and throw down some salt or sand.

Perhaps the President should offer some suggestions to District residents for dealing with this winter weather, instead of mocking. If people could clear sidewalks and roadways quickly, the entire city would not need to shut down at the drop of a flake.

The Post has a video of Obama discussing the snow.

Extremely Hungary Festival

A year-long, two-city celebration of Hungary, Extremely Hungary, started this weekend with events in New York. The other city is Washington, and there are several upcoming events of note.

On February 8, Beáta Palya, right, performs at The Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center. Her music is described as a fusion of traditional Hungarian folk, jazz, gypsy, Indian, and Persian.

In March, Picturing Progress: Hungarian Women Photographers 1910-1946 runs at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

In May, Bronze from the Museum of Fine Arts Budapest opens at the National Gallery of Art.

There are also film festivals and other exhibits, so visit their web site for more events.

Photo by Gail Roberts.

Inauguration Day

It was a crazy four days or so in the nation's capital, and here's the last bit of what I did this weekend.



The scene down on E Street before the sun came up. We were among those who, due to bad advice and poor organization, didn't get onto the mall to see the inauguration. Instead we went to...



Ben's Chili Bowl! or, rather, Ben's Next Door, where we brought in burgers and cheese fries to eat while watching the inauguration on TV. See below...



This was my first time here, and it's such a cool space. Though with the crowds that have been showing up at Ben's after Obama's visit, it may be awhile before I go back. Luckily, it wasn't too crowded on Tuesday.



After napping off Ben's and my early rising (4:50 a.m.), it was off to the Equality Ball at the Mayflower Hotel. Though covering it for work, it was an absolute blast. Here's Rufus Wainwright, who I've seen in concert multiple times.

I don't have many other pictures from the ball, but you can go read my recap of the event, and then go watch a video we made (and which will answer everyone's questions about what I wore.) It was a fun few days, but it will be kind of nice to return to less crowded metros and fewer confused tourists.

Sunday's Inaugural Concert

The Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool. The red screens were broadcasting the concert.

The Washington Monument and the crowds.

I wasn't close enough to take good photos of the stage, so here's screen.

The White House as everyone left the mall.

The crowds on the way out.

The concert was great fun, and I'm glad I didn't flee town as I originally intended. So far the city hasn't been as chaotic as expected, (though I'll reassess that statement after tomorrow's inauguration), and there's an excitement in the air that has been unlike anything else.

Downtown Inaugural Preparations

My office is one block from Pennsylvania Avenue and this week has been a flurry of activity to get the parade route ready for Tuesday. These shots illustrate basically what the whole downtown Washington area looks like — lots of bleachers, flags and portable bathrooms all over the place.

"You picked a president, now pick your discount!" Inauguration Week Sale @ Junction

Junction, the awesome vintage and resale boutique on U St., is holding a special sale to commemorate the inauguration. At checkout customers will draw from the discount "ballot box" and receive 15% to 40% off their entire purchase.

The store has a newly expanded children's section and also dresses if procrastinators still need ball-wear.

Inauguration week hours of operation are Friday and Saturday, 12-7 p.m., Sunday, 12-6 p.m. and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 3-7 p.m. Junction is located at 1510 U St., NW.

D.C. Restaurants in the Spotlight

All eyes are on Washington this week, and the dining scene is no exception. The New York Times has two articles today about D.C.'s restaurants — one on the growth of restaurants in formerly less desirable areas of the city, and the other on whether Obama can lend some glitter to local restaurants, simply by dining out.

• Chefs Settle Down in ‘the Real D.C.’

• Rearranging the Tables in Washington: Can Obama’s Coattails Reach to Restaurants?

Obama at Ben's Chili Bowl

Yesterday Barack Obama ate at Ben's Chili Bowl (where he now eats free, along with Bill Cosby). The Reliable Source has the story, and today I received this amazing press release, in response.

National Hot Dog & Sausage Council Says President-Elect Obama's Historic Trip to Famous DC Hot Dog Restaurant Reflects Excellent and All-American Taste in Cuisine

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- President-Elect Barack Obama's visit to the DC landmark Ben's Chili Bowl for a half-smoke yesterday reflects his excellent and all-American taste in cuisine.

According to National Hot Dog & Sausage Council President Janet M. Riley, "His stop yesterday shows that while the most sophisticated chefs in America may be vying for his palate, American hot dogs and sausages were the 'wieners' this weekend in Washington."

As a result of the stop, the Council is optimistic about hot dog and sausages' potential places on the White House menu. "Hot dogs have a rich and bi-partisan history at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue," Riley said. President Franklin D. Roosevelt served hot dogs to King George VI in 1939. Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush also served them.

Because President-elect Obama seemed confused about the half-smoke on the menu at Ben's Chili Bowl, the Council offers a clarification about this local DC delicacy. A half-smoke is a sausage that is similar to a hot dog but is larger in size, contains more coarsely ground meat and is slightly spicier.

Given Obama's Chicago home, the Council is optimistic that he will adhere to one of the Councils' -- and the Windy City's -- cardinal etiquette rules: no ketchup on hot dog after the age of 18. Under Council rules, First Children Malia and Sasha are exempt from the ketchup restriction -- at least for a few more years.

For more hot dog and sausage facts and figures -- including the Council's highly rated hot dog etiquette video -- visit www.hot-dog.org or www.YouTube.com/hotdogcouncil.

Red Door Spa at the Willard Hotel

Last week I was lucky enough to head to the new Red Door Spa at the Willard InterContinental Washington to have a stress melter ritual.

A atress melter ritual is as follows: a special integration of calming services begins with a skin-softening, olive oil body exfoliation, followed by a nurturing aromatic body wrap and scalp massage. An aroma-balancing massage is the final step of this stress-melting treatment.

Or, two hours spent in a semi-conscious state in which every stress I ever had melted away. The exfoliation portion was amazing, and that was followed by the most amazing shower ever (side jets mean hair doesn't get wet. Someone make this available for everyday showers, please.) I had most been looking forward to the massage (especially since the last time I went to the spa, for the media opening, the masseuse told me I had to get back there immediately because the amount of stress in my back was ridiculous), but by that point I was already totally relaxed. Just like after Savasana, I wish yoga studios let you take a nap, I was ready to fall asleep after my treatment.

I had gone to the Red Door Spa in Chevy Chase previously, but I love this new space — the staff are really sweet, there's a great outdoor patio area (for spring and summer treatments), and it's a half-block from my office.

D.C. Scavenger Hunt

A good friend turned 27 recently, and to celebrate, some of her extremely clever friends put together a D.C. Scavenger Hunt. The list had 65 items, ranging from visits to Ford's Theatre and the Lincoln Memorial to trying on matching shirts in Filene's Basement and downing a pitcher of sangria at Jaleo.

Each team had to take a photo of the item, and each was worth a certain number of points. Aside from being numbingly freezing, it was a fantastic idea and would be a great way to introduce people to the city. It's also a way for longterm, jaded residents to realize that we actually live in a really cool place, and it's something I want to repeat — only when it's a little bit warmer. Below, a sampling of my team's photos.

The birthday girl (the "R"), loves NPR, so the NPR building was the first item we knocked off the list. Yours truly is the "P".

We had to do a "team jumping shot" that we nailed on the first try.

I kicked over the Washington Monument.

Where I've Been

It's been extremely busy around here lately, and there are no signs of slowing down before October comes. Here's a recap of things I've seen/done over the past week.

* PS 7's Fall Menu
I sampled chef Peter Smith's new dishes last week, and they are delicious. Especially the short ribs studded with foie gras and folded into puff pastry.

* Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power at the Corcoran
This is just exceptional. I'm smitten with the photograph of Katharine Graham in the hallway, in which she's one portrait in a line of men. And the photos that check in with people affiliated with JFK's presidency 30 years later is pretty great too. A must see.

*CommonWealth
I had been looking forward to this British restaurant opening for awhile, and it's worth the wait. I'll have a review up on the Blade site later this week.

* George de Forest Brush at the National Gallery of Art
I'll post the link to my DCist review when it's up.

* Christenberry at Hemphill Fine Arts
I first fell for William Christenberry's work when he had a show about 2 years ago at the American Art Museum. I think I saw it five times, and continue to love his work, particularly his photographs of old Southern buildings and houses.

* Zaytinya's Greek Modern Festival Dinner
The dishes were hit or miss, but the fig soup, with fresh figs blended with sherry, simple syrup and lemon juice was impeccable. And the feta ice cream served with eggplant was unexpected but wonderful.

* In Afghanistan at the Touchstone Gallery
I've been interested in Afghanistan lately, especially after the show at the National Gallery earlier this year, and the wonderful party I went to at the Embassy of Afghanistan. The photos here are alternately stunning and heartbreaking, but it's so important that Americans see these images, particularly because of the tenuous relationship we share with the country.

* Here
That's all I can say.

Hello Cupcake!

Good news: Hello Cupcake! will be opening on August 25 in Dupont Circle.

I woke up with a craving for Georgetown Cupcake this morning, so hopefully I can hold off a week before storming Hello Cupcake!

Their menu looks pretty amazing, and there will be cupcake decorating classes, which I think sound really fun.

New Columbia Heights Wine Bar

A new wine bar will be opening around October 1 at 11th and Lamont. It will be going into the abandoned 11th St. Deli. And Columbia Heights always needs new restaurants. Sounds great, right?

Wrong, apparently. The Columbia Heights listserv is abuzz with complaints about noise and trash, but this is my favorite comment:

"An upscale drunk is still a drunk, no matter how a person words it. And that's exactly what will be seen there, inebriated wine tasters."

Are the sort of people who go taste wine the same sort who drink too much and cause a ruckus? I didn't think so.