Washington DC

Soldiers of Clay

Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor The famous terra cotta warriors of ancient China are on the last leg of their US tour, at the National Geographic Museum. Three pieces of advice about this incredibly popular exhibition: (1) Go, (2) Get the audio tour, and (3) Do not expect it to be the same as visiting the actual archaeological site. Wherever these 2,000-year-old archers, generals, charioteers, and soldiers are on display, they draw record crowds. So put your game face on, and try to visit on a weekday if you can. The $5 audio tour is worth it if only so you don't have to compete for space in front of the wall text. It also frees up all your eye energy to focus on the wonders in front of you. And finally, this exhibition includes only 15 life-size figures, roughly 1% of all those that have been excavated, and probably 0.0025% of all that are in existence. You will not be gazing into a pit tomb of endless faces, poised for attack. So take the opportunity to look closely at these men, their facial features, body types, headdresses, and clothing--and the differences between them--as well as the architectural details from the emperor's palace and Qin Dynasty currency and weapons. This exhibition is not about scale, but I did get the opportunity to look these soldiers right in the eye, only a few inches away. Just imagining 6,000 more of him was enough for now.

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Events • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

Beer-topia

Bread & Brew wears many hats. In addition to the obvious, they also self-identify as catering, cafe, cocktails, and coffeehouse. Oh, and it's certifiably "green." All together, this means local, fresh, and organic ingredients. It means homemade food--from meats roasted in-house to muffins, cupcakes, and cookies baked daily to homemade soups. It means biodegradable plates, utensils, and cups. It means organic espresso with a fresh pastry. It means wood-burning brick-oven pizza, and plenty of vegetarian/vegan options. And finally, it means craft cocktails and beers. All without the white tablecloth, in a casual and friendly atmosphere. They open for breakfast, continue through lunch and dinner, and in the after hours you can knock back drinks in the basement bar. And for all you beer nerds out there, the draft list currently includes Arrogant Bastard, Brooklyn Lager, Victory Fest Bier, Allagash White, Bells Double Cream Stout, Brew Free or Die IPA, and Sierra Anniversary. It's almost like you can't have bad taste at Bread & Brew. Excellent choice!

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Restaurants • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

Nicely Done Parks & Rec

There are only two official dog parks in DC. So what qualifies as a "dog park" in my part of town is a clearing in Rock Creek Park. And in the neighborhood next to mine, any patch of grass over one square foot is urinated and shat on by every four-legged creature in 2009. So imagine my surprise then, when I stumbled upon a DC public park full of happy pups romping around, off-leash, and on actual grass. Like, the full, soft, green, living kind. Those Kalorama Heights purebreds really have it good. And then I started to examine the rest of this alleged DC public park... It's teeming with hydrangeas and daffodils and half a dozen other varieties of blooming plants, has a play area for children, has tennis courts, offers plenty of unoccupied park benches (some which form a circle and perfect gathering place), has pretty picnicking areas, is shady, smells good, and is clean... What is this place?! No offense, DC Parks & Recreation, but how did Mitchell Park end up so freakin' lovely? For anyone not from Kalorama, I recommend coming here on a Sunday, strolling by some embassies, some multi-million-dollar homes, up/down the Spanish Steps, and pretending you're on vacation.

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Playgrounds • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

Hit the Hard Stuff

It's true that sushi restaurants in the District are a dime a dozen. What makes Nooshi stand out among the rest are their happy hours--excuse me, I mean their "Crazy Hours." The name is apt--Nooshi offers one of the longest happy hours in the district (3-7 pm, Monday-Saturday) and features a long list of signature drinks. Normally priced between $7 and $8, everything on the menu is half off during Crazy Hour. I personally favor their stylish sake cocktails, including one particular libation combining the traditional Japanese beverage with limoncello, a lemon liqueur native to Southern Italy. For what you pay, these drinks pack quite the punch...and by that, I mean they're strong! I was feeling warm and bubbly after only one drink. The food at Nooshi is also good, but nothing to write home about. Go for the drinks--and if need be, order a sushi roll or two for a snack.

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Restaurants • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

Shhhhh...It's a PostSecret

While I can't be 100%, I'm pretty sure PostSecret is the best collaborative art project taking place in Germantown, Maryland. (Is that a backhanded compliment? Perhaps my Gaithersburg hometown pride is taking on an ugly, passive-aggressive form.) For those that don't know, PostSecret is a mail art project started by Frank Warren five years ago, in which people anonymously mail their secrets on postcards to his suburban home. Through the project's blog and print publications, the project has gained international fame--though it comes from inside our commuter belt. Sometimes senders just scribble out words, but most are decorated and creatively illustrated. The secrets range from horrific to hilarious, some repeated so many times by so many different strangers that it's mind-boggling, others that are so brutally honest I've unwillingly realized that I too share their secrets. In celebration of the fifth publication of PostSecret postcards--Confessions on Life, Death, & God--Hillyer Art Space is hosting an exhibition of the same name. What you will find is a collection of 4 x 6" objects so honest, creative, hilarious, dark, and perversely fascinating...and way better than a Facebook update. Hurray for anonymity!

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Art Galleries • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

#1 Cakes of Cup

I recently sat down with Penny Karas, owner and executive pastry chef of Hello Cupcake. Penny and her team of chefs take cupcakes seriously, and they have to competition is steep. As Penny was quick to tell me, the quality of her cakes is what sets Hello Cupcake apart. A team of pastry chefs is constantly at work perfecting old recipes (their chocolate cake is in the process of being revamped, "too inconsistent," says Penny) and creating new, sometimes offbeat ones (such as a cinnamon-chocolate cake with chili-infused chocolate ganache). Hello Cupcake also features a vegan and gluten free menu. Just because something is gluten free doesn't mean it has to taste bad, she stressed. "At the end of the day, the product has to taste good." Before I left, I grabbed a Peanut Butter Blossom, the shop's most popular flavor. It’s made with chocolate cake topped with a peanut butter frosting and a chocolate kiss. The frosting, while rich (and abundant!) was smooth and mild. It had a hint of peanut flavor that didn't smack you in the face, and the cake itself was deliciously moist. Overall, I'd say Hello Cupcake now ranks as my favorite cupcakery in DC.

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Shopping • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

Funky Fresh Fruit

This Sunday, check out the FRESHFARM Market in Dupont Circle. It's a year-round farmer's market, and they have everything from cheese to produce to flowers. I first visited the market on a gorgeous sunny Sunday in the fall. The produce was beautiful; we all know how hard it is to find farm fresh vegetables in the middle of a grimy city. Also, I'm a personal fan of free samples, and there were an abundance of tasty niblets to tease the palate (and your wallet; it's hard to leave without buying lots of stuff). My favorite vendor was Blue Ridge Dairy, which offered samples of their homemade cheese. Simply to die for.

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Landmarks • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

$5 Martinis With Attitude

Circle Bistro serves modern American fare in a stylish, yet casual environment. Though portions are small (eat a small salad before you leave home!), they're packed with flavor. I enjoyed pumpkin ravioli as my appetizer and seared scallops as my entree. On a previous visit, I went to Circle Bistro for their $5 martini happy hour. The drinks were out of this world, but the service left something to be desired. Though the waitstaff was pleasant during my dining experience, the bartender who took my order was rude and unpleasant. Even worse, when I ordered a second drink, the woman neglected to add any alcohol to my drink. I had asked for a rum and diet coke, and she apparently didn't approve of my choice.

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Restaurants • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

Sweet Style

At 18, you decorated your freshman dorm room with Brittney Spears posters and Hello Kitty calendars. At 21, you moved into your 1st apartment, littering it with poorly built neon IKEA tabletops, a wooden futon and pink faux bear skin rugs. Finally, at 25, you're ready for the next step up. You can abandon the glitter lampshades and the paisley couch cover. It's time to grow up but you refuse to abandon your unique decorating taste. Introducing RCKNDY (pronounced Rock Candy) a home decor store filled distinctive furnishings and creative collections. You can furnish your entire condo with modern luxuries, like a stunning Balsa Silkscreen or gorgeous bedspread from Lugano, Switzerland. The decorating possibilities are endless. Plus, you'll feel like an adult at the cash register, some of the price points are steep but worthwhile. You'll surpass the tasteless style choices of your youth and you can finally host Karaoke night at your place. Sweet.

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Shopping • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

NFT DC Party: March 27

The Obama parties have slowly died down, the economy is reeling its ugly head, and spring still feels like it will never come, so now more than ever, we all need an excuse to drink some beer and have a good time. Well, don't fret because that's where NFT comes in. We're keeping the DC party spirit moving onward and upward, so mark down these details. This Friday night (March 27) at 6 pm Not For Tourists is throwing a big time bash at Local 16 ( 1602 U St NW) with some major perks:

1. Free 2009 NFT Washington DC Guidebooks
2. Free Booze
3. A raffle for free tickets to the fabulous musical Chicago

And in case you needed any other excuse to show up, we'll have a bunch of NFT celebrities (translation: writers, mapmakers, marketers) on hand from all around The District and from NFT world headquarters in New York.

So tell all your friends and email this to a billion people. This is going to be one heck of a way to start your weekend.

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Nightlife , Restaurants • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

New Radar

A bit off the beaten track, but a favored Dupont establishment since...er...1987, Skewers is the place to get your Mediterranean fix in a presentable way. Although there are other nearby places with cheaper fares, Skewers offers high quality kebabs/sandwiches/entrees/salads in a nice setting. Their lunch salads are varied and huge. And the more-expensive-but-totally-worth-it lunch combinations give you the option of choosing two delicious sides (although I was a bit disappointed that I had too much baba gannouj and hummus and too little pita)! Don't worry--for those of you who like to eat meat off of sticks, Skewers luckily lives up to its name, and there are tons of options. But if you're looking for really classy, Skewers isn't really your place either: Saturday is belly-dancing night. (Note: if you happen to find yourself in the 17th Street area and you're not feeling the Mediterranean thing, downstairs (and co-establishment) Cafe Luna offers pizza and more "American" fare.)

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Restaurants • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

New House on the Block

The new kid in town is trying very hard to not only fit in with its Dupont Circle neighbors, but also to quickly become the coolest kid on the block. Located in the former Childe Harold spot, Darlington House seems faced with an identity crisis: nice upstairs restaurant (apparently...though I didn't get a chance to snoop) versus laid-back bar (called the Cantina Pub) on the first level. The bar had a friendly vibe and filled up quickly during happy hour time, but apparently everyone was there only for its half-rustic/half-stylish ambience, because there essentially was NO HAPPY HOUR--unless $4 Millers, $4 house wines, and $6+ cocktails count as deals. All other draft beers crossed the $6 threshold--even at 5:30 pm! So, in my opinion, D.H. is off to a rad start (I dig the fake moose heads), but if he doesn't "cool down" a bit, the popular kids are going to start chillin' at other bars.

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Restaurants • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

Close to Heaven

You sure as hell better serve good pizza if your pizza joint has a version of the word "paradise" in its name. Luckily for Pizzeria Paradiso, their grub comes pretty darn-tootin' close to heaven. The large pies are generally big enough for two and many come heaped with vegetables and other yummy delights. And the larger (and better) Georgetown branch has its own basement beer bar, the cleverly named Birreria Paradiso, which changes its extensive beer list so often that you should come with a pen and pad to write any particularly tasty microbrews down. Reviews of Pizzeria Paradiso list it as a cheap place to go: well, don't be fooled. It's not. But relatively speaking, it's not expensive for DC either, and the prices are no reason not to check it out. Its founders say they take particular pride in their pizza crusts...which, when dipped in a peppery olive oil mixture...is enough to forget that you probably came for the stuff atop the pizza pies...and then paired with a delicious Ayinger Doppelbock or a Stone Arrogant Bastard… its almost like...forget it. Enough talk. I'm outta here and off to paradise.

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Restaurants • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

Happy Hour For Penny-Pinchers

The Grillfish sign is so big and so bright that it practically commands those "no frills" diners and cautious seafood eaters to stay away. So I did. But when the rumor of a cheap and "really, really good" happy hour at Grillfish recently wafted in my direction, I decided not to judge the book by its cover and finally "go fishing." Grillfish's happy hour takes place during the week from 4-7 (and 5-7 on the weekends) and its deals are really, really good--both in quality and price. The ginger calamari I ordered was delicious... and plentiful, even though I ordered a small. And there is also plenty for the fish-adverse: fried artichokes, Portobello fries, grilled beef satay, hummus plates, etc. Sure, it's still kinda swanky, and sure, you're relegated to sitting at the bar, but, with all appetizers, all draft beer and some cocktails at half price, this place is great for a downtown DC happy hour alternative. Also, be sure to notice the massive candles above the bar covered in wax drippings. Really, really neat.

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Restaurants • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

Fighting for Tea Club

In my constant quest for funky independent coffee shops, I came upon Soho Tea and Coffee. Located in some personality-less building with a personality-less sign, I set myself up for disappointment. Ha! One should never judge on appearances. Soho patron rule #1: byol (laptop). Everyone here is plugged in. Soho patron rule #2: you must have a tolerance for--no, have a very strong liking for 80s music: it is always playing and always extremely loud. Soho patron rule #3: have cash on hand; they don't accept credit cards. Soho patron rule #4: you have to ask the cashier for the bathroom key: it's not a good idea to knock the door down. Also, if you decide you can't hack the funkiness and dance party vibe, but you want to try the (so-so(ho)) coffee: to-go iced coffee comes in red solo cups...which may cause your boss may to raise an eyebrow if you bring it back to the office.

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Coffee • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

Thairiffic

Beyond the 19th Street scaffolding lies some pretty nice restaurants--and Mai Thai is one of them. Mai Thai is quite swanky, but it is shockingly affordable. And also shockingly empty for a Saturday night--perhaps due to the outside "Big Dig"? But what was the highlight of the night? Why, a Mai Thai, of course! Complete with mini umbrella. Luckily, the actual drink didn't put the restaurant’s name to shame. The biggest downside? Despite how delicious the food and drinks were (and believe me; they were delicious), watching a bunch of fat rats run amok in the construction mess outside while I was eating kind of ruined my appetite. But the awesome chocolate mints I grabbed on my way out the door did help sweeten the rat deal a bit. And the couple Mai Thais I drank made the situation quite humorous.

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Restaurants • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

Babel No More!

Many people may not realize that, nestled between a few popular restaurants and bars in the heart of Dupont, there is a large, cultural learning center where people walk around speaking in tongues other than English! The International Language Institute (ILI) caters to any person who wants to learn a new language--at an individual, semi-intensive, or at an intensive level. And yes, ILI even caters to the "tourist" (who is probably not reading this NFT post) interested in brushing up his or her English skills in-between trips to the many Smithsonians. The language courses are held during the day and during the evening (perfect for busy folks), they exist for multiple skill levels, and they are taught by native speakers. ILI says its prices are "competitive" (whatever that means), but overall, the people at ILI are friendly, flexible and geared towards people learning a new language--for whatever the reason. And the best part is that after class ends, there are many a bar and restaurant in the nearby area to practice how to say "Where's the toilet?" in Farsi over a pint with a new friend.

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Schools • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

House of (Pleasure and) Pain

Got the travel bug, but high flight prices got you down? Then visit The Russia House to get transported to an oasis of vodka and old-world Eastern regality without the freezing temperatures and political tensions--and all without leaving Connecticut Avenue! The minor-keyed music and somber decor at The Russia House add to the authentic Russian vibe, and the mahogany-colored wooden walls and faded, dark drapes help patrons envision a time when cigar and cigarette smoke filled the air--a time before DC's no-smoking ban. At $7.50 per martini during Happy Hour, the specials are a bit pricey, but you won't be disappointed by the quality. Featuring nearly a hundred different types of vodka, I was impressed that my Russian server, "Natasha or Natalia" (her joke, not mine), walked me through the savory, sweet, bitter and traditional vodka options as well as how the tastes differed by country. Try the six-shot special: the shots are bigger than usual and come in a fancy canister, complete with fruit and olives. And fur hats are optional.

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Nightlife • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

Goodbye Self-Respect (J/K)

Hello Cupcake is the latest cupcake establishment to hit DC and has found a home in Dupont Circle. Their strategy seems pretty simple: get a lot of classic and weird cupcake types on display and make them yummy and pretty. The cupcake menu changes daily, but the "peppermint penny" and "peanut butter blossom" ones I've tried so far have both catered to this "yummy and pretty" principle. Unfortunately, at $3 for one smallish cupcake, my visits will have to be limited (although the cupcakes are tax free for some reason). Actually, on Hello Cupcake's website, they advertise their cupcake specials as "$12 for four and $18 per half dozen," which, for the mathematically challenged, still comes out to be $3 a cupcake and does not seem to be a great deal. Huh. Also, I heard that their simple, pink and brown marketing and design scheme seems to quite shockingly mirror that of West Coast cupcake chain "Sprinkles." Interesting. But until Sprinkles comes to DC, I may still have to occasionally visit Hello Cupcake to figure out how some of the creatively-named, "you tart!" and "pick-me-up" cupcakes taste.

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Shopping • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan

Bright, Euro and Corporate

I usually do not like to visit chain stores, but after a friend boldly stated that Illy coffee "is the best coffee in the world" I thought it my duty to finally visit the newish West End shop. And disappointed was I not. Illy, the Italian coffee superstar, is truly about quality. Even though the whipped-iced Freddo is probably my personal favorite, each hot coffee that I have had here is smooth, rich and delicious. Illy also cares about the presentation of its drinks: it is worth getting a fancy latte or cappuccino just for the cool foam designs that they make. And the fact that each employee seems to speak in some type of funky European accent only adds to my illusion that you are in some upscale European café. As for the ambience, it is clean, bright, full of Euro-looking businessmen types, and small. So small in fact, that you may only have space to drink your coffee in the adjacent Renaissance Hotel. But try to resist the temptation to bop along with the pulsating Euro beats because the baristas may figure out that you are an American and not some international dignitary.

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Coffee • Dupont Circle / Adams Morgan