Finally a Free Day to Be Free!

            This is my first off day where I don’t encumbered by responsibility. I can just run errands, do laundry and enjoy a Palm steakhouse fried shrimp, French fries and coleslaw. The waiter tells me about this special because I was going to the business lunch.  I’m glad I try the special because it is filling. I have five shrimp, fries and coleslaw. I couldn’t finish all of it still I order warm doughnuts to go. These doughnuts come with whipped cream, chocolate and raspberry dipping sauces. They are sumptuous! I am still full hours later. Below are the photos:

Clockwise: Coleslaw, Shrimp Sauce, Fried Shrimp, French Fries and Tartar Sauce

Palm Restaurant Doughnut Bag

Doughnuts

Clockwise: Raspberry Dipping Sauce, Whipped Cream and Chocolate Dipping Sauce

Returning to My Old Lunch Stomping Grounds at the Downtown DC Palm Steakhouse

            I’ve returned to my old stomping grounds eating lunch at the Palm.  Working in SW instead of NW reduces how much I can frequent my old haunt. Even the maître’s mention this saying that he usually sees me for dinner; but welcomes me anyway. For lunch I order the business lunch menu (mixed green salad, Atlantic salmon [with tartar sauce], linguine marinara, and NY cheesecake). I am so full from the salad and salmon that I have the marinara and cheesecake to go. Here’s a pic:

Palm Steakhouse lunch

Never Too Far From Home

Tuesday I went to the downtown DC Barnes & Noble to pick up my book. While perusing the magazine stacks, I saw the Cleveland magazine.  I was so happy because even after working in this town for 7 years, I was still homesick. Purchasing this magazine was my way of always staying connected.

Downtown DC Nordstrom Rack Grand Opening

            I sashayed 15 minutes before the 9am grand store opening and the line snaked all the way from 18^th and L street to K street where the Bank of America branch.  Regardless of my lateness, I received the Nordstrom Rack mesh bag for being one of the first 1000 customers. Immediately I went for the Kate Spade purses.  This store had a lot of variety. I snapped up the beige big purse and red and black patent leather shoppers. I added one pair of Paige denim jeans. I was the happiest when my receipt said that I spent $528.81 but saved $584. Now that was an accomplishment! Below was my photo of my downtown DC Nordstrom Rack stash:

Paige denim jeans and three Kate Spade purses from downtown DC Nordstrom Rack

The Week That Was

It hit me like a load of bricks to learn earlier this morning that one of my grade-school friends died of hypertension and high blood pressure at age 36! This discovery has angered me so much that it has taken me some time to calm down because I almost curse! I am 35 and cannot envision myself dying over other people’s mess. All along I’m thinking that she is doing well in Los Angeles managing a fashion brand and she dies.  I’m here in DC, in the nation’s capital, and am not letting any of the stress get to me.  I thank God for friends and my mother for instilling oatmeal for breakfast for low cholesterol because I am not going to be her!

            On a much happier note, this Thursday I attended my Hiram College DC alumni chapter event at the Rayburn Office Building.  Though I arrived late I still had a seat.  The two women were very knowledgeable and motivated me to pursue my doctorate in either economics or business administration (My other grade school friend getting accepted into Harvard doctoral education program was very big, too).  The session was very informal with the panel touching upon everything.  Though I agreed with most of the stuff, I thought that the panel underestimated the anti-illegal immigration part. Illegal still meant something. If I committed a crime I would be incarcerated and a felon stripped of my voting rights.  That ain’t passing until legal and illegal immigration were separated.

            After the panel, I walked to Charlie Palmer steakhouse. Even with a blistering headache, I managed to order salmon and the best dessert I ever tasted.  Below was the sorbet and frozen custard. It was the best.  

The ride home not so much because the raggedy cabbie ran the meter up on me because I was a woman and refused a tip. I called and emailed my DC Taxi Commission complaint. I didn’t owe him anything!

Making Reality TV a Reality

             The WIFV DC reality programming event is insightful.  There are Food Network and Cooking Channel producers on the panel.  A little backstory: Food Network is the parent station. It owns the Cooking Channel which will be 3 years old this May 31^st (I still miss the Fine Living Channel). The Food Network is purely entertainment with food serving as the platform. Conversely, the Cooking Channel is the hipper station catering to 20 and 30 year olds.  In addition, the Cooking Channel has converted some webisodes (Bitchin’ Kitchen) into TV shows.  The panel admitted that Bitchin’ Kitchen is too edgy for its more mature Food Network clientele. 

            This event has taught me so much about gaining traction and creating a following.  Everyone is saying the importance of marketing your uniqueness on multiple platforms.  TV is the ‘second screen’ because a number of consumers watch their TV elsewhere besides a screen.  The problem with web content is that it is unedited and niche.  Regardless of format, having a great story is the biggest selling point.  I’ll keep working on my craft by enrolling in the Writer Center’s How to Write A Lot course in two weeks.

            There is only one downside: all of these pushy vegans!  Even when the Food Network executive tells them that vegan audience isn’t wide enough for advertising, people still keep asking about writing TV pilots.  Over 90% of the world eats meat! Next, I am so tired of these people that I run out of the meeting straight to the downtown DC Palm Steakhouse where I order the Prime Steak Burger. 

Palm Steakhouse Prime Steak Burger with Bleu Cheese and French Fries

Suck it vegans!

Seeking Decadence and Ambiance at J and G Steakhouse

Last night I decided to eat dinner at J and G Steakhouse was I needed the hipster ambiance and the W hotel didn’t disappoint.  Dressed in my Adrienne Landau mixed rabbit fur coat, Stuart Weitzman croc embossed over-the-knee boots and Ann Taylor Loft skinny jeans, I walked down 15^th street NW. Once I hit the lobby, there was a female guitarist named Heather Renee serenading in the lobby.  This was a first for me; but, maybe, it was because I probably hadn’t gone there on Friday. At least in recent memory.  I arrived to the maître d’s desk promptly at 9pm but he told me that ‘there would be a small wait because we are cleaning up tables right now’. Small my butt because I sat in the lobby watching March Madness and listening to Heather Renee until 9:27pm!  

He then got me off of the couch taking me to my table.  I was so happy that he put me near the Pennsylvania Avenue NW exit with a nice view of the Washington Monument. My server introduced himself to me.  I ordered the cheese truffled fritters because I had four entrée options in my head.  The fritters appetizers delicious! I loved their cheesiness and wolfed them all down.  Finally, I decided on the 10-ounce hanger steak.  Throughout the wait, I checked espn.com scoreboard to see how Michigan was doing. Me being an Ohio native, I had a very low opinion of ScuM; but, since they were in the same Big Ten conference I begrudgingly rooted for their advancement.  Trey Burke didn’t disappoint. He hit the game-tying shot sending the game into overtime and was the leading catalyst for the Wolverines beating the Kansas Jayhawks 87-85. Okay so with my beloved Buckeyes ScuM advanced to the Elite Eight. Immediately after the win, my steak arrived.  J and G Steakhouse had its own steak sauce which was sweeter than A1.  Nevertheless, it complemented the steak.  I ate all of the fries and nearly all of the steak before getting my waiter for dessert. I naively asked for ice cream.  I didn’t know the steakhouse made boozy ice cream laden with alcohol.  I worked on the mint and chocolate because I refused to get ‘drunk’ over some dessert!  

Below are all of my photos:

W Hotel Lobby

W Hotel Lobby Chandeliers 

W Hotel Lobby

W Hotel Lobby

10-ounce hanger steak with french fries

Cheese truffled fritters

Ice Cream with raspberries and blueberries

Back for More at the Inauguration Store!

I returned to the Obama inaugural store after my grandmother told me that she lost the Seniors for Obama button.  Luckily, I lived in DC and discovered that the store was open until 9pm.  I purchased that plus two more buttons that weren’t available during its grand opening last Friday: postal workers for Obama and bus drivers for Obama.  Tomorrow I will mail father’s and grandmother’s buttons.  They’ll receive them by Tuesday since Monday is Martin Luther King holiday.  I bet my grandmother will be happy and this time don’t lose hers!

More downtown DC inauguration store buttons.

Presidential Inauguration Committee Downtown DC Store Grand Opening

            I received a presidential inauguration committee (pic) email saying that the inauguration store opened at 1155 F street NW yesterday morning and if I arrived by 3pm I’d received a free button.  I left work at 2pm exiting the Metro Center 12 & G streets NW exit.  Big mistake because I had to go through Macy’s.  When I arrived all of the free buttons were gone!

            I perused the PIC store seeing many items unavailable online. The store carried Seniors for Obama, Veterans for Obama, Office Workers for Obama and many other buttons.  I purchased the seniors for Nana, veterans for Dad and office workers for Mommy along with four inaugural buttons.  The PIC cotton throw captivated me but it cost $165 so I’ll wait until it’s on sale.  It’ll look good on Nana. 

            Here are my grand opening photos: 

Presidential Inauguration Committee Front Door

Presidential Inauguration Committee Front Store Window

Presidential Inauguration cotton throw

Buttons I purchased at the Inauguration Store