I'm Back!

So I apologize for not updating this thing in over a week. But, on the bright side, I am now employed! I am truly going to be, Sarah in the city from now on. That being said, let the blogging recommence!

June 19th: Today we went to a local food festival in Reston. There were local vendors, and it was a great opportunity to sample some of Reston's local fare. All in all, we got to eat Italian, hand-rolled sushi, chicken wings, and much more for about 20 bucks. It was really a neat experience, and I highly recommend that anyone in the area come out next year.

June 20th: Today we caught a Nats game- and I thought that, in the spirit of blogging, I'd list a few tips that I've found helpful when going out to local sporting events.

Water: Hydrate, hydrate,hydrate! Even if you think its a total pain to lug around, bring a bottled water just in case. If not- you'll be paying 4 bucks a bottle when you get to the stadiums.

Towels: Sometimes the seats are scorching hot- like today. Be sure and bring something with you to cover the seat. I was scorched today when I forgot my own towel!

Food: Atleast for the Nats stadium, you can bring in your own food to the games. My boyfriend and I have a tradition of bringing subway subs, but really anything except alcohol is allowed. It's much cheaper than eating the greasy stuff at the games, which can get pretty pricy. Still- there's no beating a stadium bratwurst for sure.

Allright well I hope that makes up for my lack of willpower over the past few days. Coming up in the next few blogs- apartment hunting and going out on a budget!

-SIC

Taxi Services

OK- today's blog is going to be short, because I am super sleepy and don't really have any epiphanies as to what to write today. So...

A few blogs ago, I said that the metrorails system was a great way to travel, if not a complete ripoff at the same time. Here's another fun metro fact: Did you know that there are taxi services that park right outside of most metro stops? It's true! Okay, I know that was lame...but I really have been sitting around looking at want ads all day and eating 3 berry pie. I promise I'm trying to find employment so that I can write about exciting things.

Goodnight,
SIC

Berries and Baseball

Hey urbanites,

So...I've decided that to keep myself sane, the weekend blogs will be posted on Sunday evenings. After all, how can I write about living in the DC area unless I actually LIVE?

That being said, here's the skinny on my weekend in the DC met. area:

June 5th:

So, some of you may be wondering what I ended up doing with all of those berries that I gathered from Butler's last weekend.

Well, I decided that when life refuses to give you rhubarb, you make- 3 BERRY PIE!

I have to say, that this pie was fabulous. I don't know if it was the day of being a couch potato, or just the Summer heat, but sitting down with a bowl of fruit and pie crust was exactly what the doctor ordered. Now, I know what you're saying. Man...I wish I had pie. Well, you can't have my pie, as it has been devoured, but you can have ...the recipe!

Here you go urbanites, your own 3 berry pie recipe:

ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cups frozen blueberries

2 cups raspberries

1 cup strawberries

1 cup sugar (white)

3 Tbs. Corn starch

The process:

1) Stir together corn starch and sugar until blended evenly.

2) Combine the fruit with the corn starch/sugar, making sure that everything is coated evenly..

3) Put fruit in 9" pie crust.

4) Bake on 375 degrees for 50 minutes...it's as simple as pie!

I let this set for a few hours in the fridge before digging in. However, if you're really desperate for some warm pie, go ahead and serve once baked...I won't tell ;)


June 6th:

Did you know that, despite DC's ecclectic and urban feel, it still boasts some great sporting events? The Nationals, heck even the Orioles, have some great games with some even greater ticket prices. This month alone, I am going to two games- one of which was 15 bucks a ticket. Buy yourself a beer and a hotdog and you couldn't ask for more!

This weekend I took full advantage of the area's great sports program, and watched a game at a "single a" stadium. This is a great opportunity to get great seats for cheapo prices. OK- I didn't have to pay anything for the specific game I saw today, as I had a family member playing an "all star" team game. However, it's still tons of fun regardless of where/when you see a local game. Plus, as I said, cheap seats! I got to sit in the first row, for about 8 bucks.

Well...back to the grind tomorrow. Ciao and happy city-dwelling!

-SIC

SmartTrip trips up...but smartly?

Hey you guys,

So todays blog is going to be about a DC tradition that brings joy and sorrow to many. Yes, I'm talking about the Metro. If you have ever lived, or even traveled, in DC you've probably ridden on these orangey brown wonders and though to yourself...I paid 10 bucks roundtrip for THIS?

Now, to be fair, DC Metro is amazing in many respects. For anxious drivers like me, it allows me to get in and out of the city with my sanity in tact. Also, it is way cleaner and in better condition than the New York subway, which has recently been a marketing point of the Metrorail system.

Still, there is no denying that Metro has seen better days. The screeching of metal upon metal and the faded seat covers are a constant reminder of the 1970s and the groovy dreams that accompanied Metro's introduction to the DC area.

However, that's not what I really want to talk about today. I'd like to talk, briefly, about the more subtle aspects of the metrorail system.

1) Escalators- did you know that there's an unspoken creed that those who want to stand while the escalator goes up will move to the right, and those who want to walk up/down will move to the left? I've seen many an unsuspecting tourist get caught in this trap, only to have icy cold stares and rolling eyes shot their way.

2) "Doors Closing"- for many people that's a suggestion. I've seen some ninja tactics used to try and squeeze onto the car at the last minute. Seriously, if you taped people leaping into the subway during the final bell toll, and cut that all together, I bet you'd have an awesome movie. Hmm...perhaps a blog idea?

3) Silence- another kind of eerie thing about the Metro, that I always pick up on, is how quiet it is. For a car packed with 100 people at times, you'd think that there would be conversations going left and right. However, it seems in many ways that the Metro car is a neutral space, a place for the urbanite to reflect upon the day. And, while there may be a few scattered conversations, they are rarely a racous or joyful event. Usually just co-workers complaining about the day.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, are a few observations about the Metro. It certainly is a strange place, and I'm sure it will be a major theme for me once I start work. Now- off to enjoy another great DC Saturday!

I Ate Peter Rabbit!

Okay so, as promised this blog is about the restaurant Equinox on Connecticut Avenue. After enduring a long two hours of my brother's high school graduation, this restaurant was a much needed reprieve.

For information/reservations go to:

http://www.equinoxrestaurant.com/

I definitely recommend this place for lunch outings. I think it could get a little expensive if you were treating a large party to dinner.

As is the case with many of these hip "p.c cooking" places, Equinox boasts being "one of the sustainable and seasonal food movement". This translates to smaller portions, packed with flavor. Aka...do not go there looking to gorge yourself. This is a place where quality, not quantity, is valued.

That being said, I felt that the salad portion was ridiculous. I ordered what was described, as "beets, salmon and cooked spinach served with a horseradish dressing and garlic breadsticks. I was presented with three beet quarters, a few sprigs of greens, and 3 rolls of lox, for about 12 dollars. It was, however, delicious and I made up for the small size by treating myself to some home-made raisin bread that adorned the table.

I paired my salad with a garlic soup with rabbit confit. This was by far my favorite part off the meal. The soup was green, vibrant and delicious. It reminded me of everything I love about spring and cooking.

I also had a bite of what my Mom ordered, gnocchi with a truffle and morel sauce. Let it be said that anything with morels is going to be delicious. I wish in many ways that I had ordered this dish. It was hearty, and had so many different flavors incorporated into it.

All in all, the restaurant was really a nice place to relax. It was very casual and elegant at the same time. I did not feel self conscious or suffocated by waitresses, which you find at many of these "high-class" restaurants. It really was just a fun, open and fresh place to eat.


mmm...now I'm hungry. It may not be five-star, but there are pudding cups in the fridge!

Muchos Besos,

SIC

Pomp and Circumstance vs. Awkward Reminiscing

Today was an early morning for me, as I caught the metro with the family to attend my brother's high school graduation. Riding on the metro, with my ipod drowning out the murmurings of the train conductor, I thought back on my own High School career... and how happy I am that it has been over for four years. I was never one of those kids who really felt that High School was my time to shine. I just never could get into an institution that would mark down my papers for using purple pen instead of blue. I happen to like multi-colored pens, and none of my bosses have ever mentioned having a problem with it. Call me a rebel...

In all seriousness, regardless of where you grow up, much of high school is pretty standard. You've got your terrible lunch food, your standardized tests, eccentric/burnt-out teachers, and your obligatory pep rallies. Add a pinch of self-doubt and you've got the recipe for an awkward four year experience, where you make friends with a few and forget about many. However, in the spirit of graduation and blogging, I thought I'd share with you some highlights of my high school experience. Names and locations are anonymous so that I can still Facebook these people in good conscience ;)


1) I remember a rather awkward situation with this guy in my ceramics class. He once wrote his number down on a piece of clay, handed it to me in the middle of class, and returned to his seat without a word. Much to his surprise, I was not wooed. Eventually, the art teacher had to call his mother, after he put what can only be described as a "sexually interpretive" piece of artwork on my shelf. I never could look at clay the same way again...or him for that matter.

2) I took a trip to Disney World with my school choir. We sold candy bars to try and fund raise. I think I ended up paying myself back for a lot of the candy...they should have known better than to leave me with a suitcase full of chocolate bars! Regardless, it was awesome, and I still look back on that experience with fondness. I got to sing Pocahontas and go down splash mountain in a day...what more can a 15 year old ask for?

3) Prom... I ate vegan food. It was awkward. There were waffles at post-prom. But, I LOVED my dress!

So yes, those are the first three memories that come to mind when I think back on high school. By the end of high school...I had a pink dress, butterfly clips in my hair..and a stomach full of waffles.

Having recently graduated myself, I can honestly say that I really felt like I accomplished something when I completed college. By that time, I had traveled/lived in foreign countries. I had worked and lived on my own pretty much year-round since my freshman year. I really grew, and became a much more worldly person. So, the moral of this story is: for those of you who are not saddened to leave your high school behind, welcome to the rest of your lives!

On a sidenote- tomorrow I am going to do a more in depth review of the restaurant that we went to today, called Equinox. It was fabulous, and definitely deserves a spot of its own- so stay tuned!

Day 2/3 -Strawberry and Coffee Fields Forever

OK- last night was a late night, so the blog is going to be twofold.

These past two days have been a little bit of town, and a little bit of country for me.

May 31st:

Although much of the DC Met. area is burgeoning with urban activity, there are some reminders of its not too distant agricultural past. This memorial day I decided to head over to Butlers Orchard in Germantown, Maryland. For anyone in the area who is looking for great produce and fun in the sun, look no further! Butlers is one of my favorite places to go for home-grown produce, and has been a great place to reconnect with the area's country roots for 60 years. Indeed, I have many fond memories of picking pumpkins and cutting down Christmas trees on this huge property throughout my childhood.

If you're going to head out there- a few recommendations:

1) Pick your own berries: Be sure to check the website before coming out to do this:

http://www.butlersorchard.com/

While Butler's usually has pick your own produce up until September, the harvest varies from week to week. This is a great way to spend some time out in the sun with friends. That being said, come early, and be prepared to scrounge around in the dirt a bit. We got there around 1 p.m, and the pickings were definitely slim at that point. Plus, it was extremely hot, and being the urban wimp that I am, I found it hard to stick it out for very long and recommend atleast a hat and a bottle of water.

2) The country store- don't forget to roam around the country store after hauling in your harvest. They have alot of great goodies that you don't find anywhere else, including furniture, cooking/jamming supplies and homemade jams. I caved and got a strawberry slushie, made with Butler's very own berries. Really a great treat!

All in all- it was a great haul. I got about 4 pounds of strawberries and a slushie for 10 bucks. Definitely beats whole foods, and the quality (I can attest to) is really superior to the frankenfruit that you find in most stores. Now I just have to figure out what to do with all of my berries! I wanted to make a pie, but rhubarb is out of season :( boo...

Then it was back to work...which brings me to ...June 1st:

Rabbit rabbit! Say it for goodluck at the beginning of every month! Today was one of those mundane kind of urban days. You know, the kind where you can barely get out of bed and crawl through traffic? I was surprised though, 10 miles in 20 mins. , I'm a speed demon! Not too much to really report on...I think there's an old fashioned trolley permanently parked at the BM station near my house. Maybe they're protesting the oil spill? I heard rumors of an trolley system being reinstated ( I believe there was one in Rockville in the 40's or 50's?). If this is true, I'm scared. I have enough to distract me when I'm behind the wheel...add in bright colors and a old timey nostalgia and I'm toast.

Allright, time to go grill something and find a netflix movie to view! This is SIC signing out.

- SIC