Kultura

Alive & In Print

by Magda Nakassis

When I was a teenager, my friends and I would drive miles in beat-up lemons to go book and record shopping. We'd sort through dusty cardboard boxes and seek out recommendations from staff--scouring shelves for that next novel or 7". But eventually mega-chains and the Internet blew these stores out of the water, and the selection and convenience of Amazon, iTunes, and Netflix was irresistible. There was no more legwork. So imagine my surprise, my absolute delight, when an independent, second-hand ... Continue

My Brother's Place

Oh So Drunkable

by Magda Nakassis

DC is not a cheap city. Not to rent, not to buy, not for groceries, not for gas, and not for going out. People will pay $4+ for a can of processed corn that tastes like battery acid. They will also drop double digits for a hand-crafted, gourmet cocktail. And not only that--they're willing to elbow strangers to compete for space, and suck up to mean bartenders. So imagine my surprise then, when a friend and I had the distinct pleasure of drinking 8 beers in a busy (but not overcrowded) bar, serve ... Continue

The Tasting Room

Robotic Wine Sipping

by Magda Nakassis

Friendship Heights is the land of fur coats, high-end boutiques, and ladies who lunch. And Wisconsin Place--the new office / condo / retail space that replaced Hecht's--has taken the neighborhood to the next level. Its tagline is "the best of everything," and it includes a Bloomingdale's, Capital Grille, BCBG, and more. So surprise, surprise, someone decided that this luxurious upper NW hood needed a wine bar. The Tasting Room is a bite-sized oenophilic dream, and unlike others that are more for ... Continue

Z Burger

Shake-O-Rama

by Magda Nakassis

The DC burger craze might be maniacal. We've already got Five Guys, Big Buns, Hamburger Hamlet, and Elevation Burger. Then BGR, Ray's Butcher Burgers, and Good Stuff Eatery opened up. And word on the street is Michel Richard is opening up a burger joint and Fatburger is heading east. Somewhere in the mix of all that, Z Burger opened in Tenleytown. But with all this ground beef around, what separates Z Burger is its milkshakes. All 75 flavors of them--from blueberry cheesecake to maple walnut to ... Continue

Hollywood East Cafe on the Boulevard

Dumplings Afterhours

by Magda Nakassis

Hollywood East Cafe on the Boulevard is the second location of a Cantonese eatery in Wheaton. What separates the newer spot is that it stays open until 2 am on weekends (1 am on weeknights), and they serve dim sum every day of the week. In my ongoing crusade against brunch, or at least my mourning of weekend lunch, I find an appealing alternative in Sunday dim sum. It kicks the crap out of brunch, that scam of a meal where they serve you leftovers gelled together with ova. I just love pulling co ... Continue

Potomac Massage Training Institute

You Deserve a Rub

by Magda Nakassis

Touch and Go Massages are fabulous. Massages are expensive. But...we are worth it. Enter the Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI). In addition to offering classes and workshops for massage therapists, PMTI also offers appointments to the general public. The cost varies depending on the clinic (professional, graduate, or student)--but if you're willing to put yourself in the hands of a novice, literally, then you can save a pretty penny. The pros here charge $80 for an hour of hot stone mas ... Continue