Temporium
August 17th, 2010
We checked out Temporium on H St this past Sunday, the last day that this “pop-up”/temporary boutique was open. No purchases were made, though there were plenty of bags, shirts, belts, and unique pieces of jewelry and artwork that caught my eye, all of the items created by DC area artists. The reuse of the space was an excellent idea, so hopefully we’ll see lots more temporary places like this. No word yet on where the next Temporium space will be, but I’m hoping it will be in time for (eeek!) holiday shopping. Not that I’m ready for that yet or anything….
billboards and bright lights
March 12th, 2010
There have been several local news pieces lately about the prospect of two 40-foot electronic signs that are slated to go in at 7th and G St. in the heart of Chinatown. I’m certainly not the first to comment on this topic, but each time I read more about it, I just get more and more laughs. WTOP even asks, Is DC getting its own Times Square?” oh the horror ! Please, people. We’re talking about more signage in Chinatown, not Georgetown. It’s ridiculous for residents to complain about this… did they not have their eyes open when they moved in and signed their leases? We’re talking about the touristy entertainment district of The District. Anyone who was wanting less than LCD screens and neon lights galore should have opted to live in… well… ANY other neighborhood in DC. There is even a ridiculous Stop the Billboard campaign, which opens with these words: “…unless we stop them, these huge, moving-picture billboards will make cherished parts of our beautiful city look more like Times Square.” Chinatown is a “cherished” part of our city??? Did they forget what it was like there 15 years ago? The National Mall is cherished, Rock Creek Park is cherished, and there are 50 other areas I would call cherished before I would think of Chinatown… which, by the way, I think it could stand to be more like Times Square.
chocolate
January 7th, 2010
Last weekend when Ty and Val were visiting, we checked out the chocolate and coffee shop ACKC on 14th Street. We’d walked by there many a time, but never poked our heads in. As it turns out, it’s a cute little place owned by Rob Kingsbury (the chocolatier) and Eric Nelson (the artist). When you walk in, you are bombarded with bright colors from the artwork on the walls and tons of tiny little morsels to make you drool. The photo above is a closeup of one of the many custom tabletops painted by Eric, which are pretty much awesome.
a well worn quaker.
November 27th, 2009
quaker – blue, originally uploaded by m hoek.
Street Vendors
January 12th, 2009
Inauguration Day is 8 days away — these street vendors are going to be busy in a week!
la di da
September 19th, 2008
Just a guy with an eye patch, singing and dancing for the masses….
“Watch for Specials” on M St, NE
May 13th, 2008
I love old signs that are still around, especially funny ones. This applies to anything with “-est” statements. “Coldest beer in town!” or Danny’s Sub Shop “Greatest Hamburger in the World.” Completely unverified statements do make really great slogans. Makes you wonder, hmmm, do they really have the coldest refrigerator?
my new grocery store
May 5th, 2008
The new Harris Teeter grocery store at 17th and Kalorama just might become my new place to shop for groceries. While I didn’t really see what made the H.T. any better than Giant, as all the hype claims, I did see this sign in the store on my way out. And it’s more than Giant can boast. And so maybe this means nothing, but it also means there is a possibility of seeing Chris Cooley shopping for bread and eggs, and this is where the potential lies. go skins go.
empanar : to wrap or coat in bread
April 24th, 2008
Julia’s Empanadas is not a DC foodie secret — I think everyone has been there at least once, whether it was stumbling in after a night at the bars, or just for a quick cheap lunch.
Read the reviews and it’s hard to find a bad word about the place. There’s a whole display case of freshly-made empanadas to choose from. Little balls of dough holding all sorts of deliciousness – Matt likes the Chilean Beef ones, and the veggie ones are scrumptious too. And then there is a whole dessert empanada sector that I haven’t even tried approaching – yet.
Funny story. Or maybe you had to be there, I can’t tell. Friend of ours walked in there with us somewhat late one night, he looked at the (already sealed-up) empanada pouches and ordered one, but “hold the onions.” The guy behind the counter, who had a tattoo on his forehead, shook his head. It’s not a made-to-order place. You get what you get. And you will love it!
Also pictured on the left, The Angry Inch, a notoriously obnoxious and overcrowded bar with a smelly upstairs and usually bad DJ.
Knockoffs and Old Ladies
April 10th, 2008
Ahhhhh behold the street cart full of crap for sale : knockoff Gucci handbags, cheap plastic sunglasses, and any three white DC tee-shirts for only $10 bucks. These old ladies cannot escape the allure of a good bargain!
In my opinion, the only things worth buying from the street vendor stands are hot dogs and Gatorades.
