DameEdna

According to the Cork Bar website (www.corkdc.com) they will be closed Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. No amateur night for them? Or are their staff members going to provide amateurs to other establishments?

Why not whine to Ferhat? I'm sure he would enjoy that. He would know if anyone does.

To Eartha Kitt. Sometimes a woman's voice can have the most unexpected effects on a young boy's physiological processes.

Starbucks ... Pentagon Row. Ordinary coffee was ... ordinary. A group of chatting women turned out to be enjoying a visit and coffee while kids zoomed in circles, ice skating. Customers, not that many, no glitterati, or even many in prime demographic (under 30). I was happy, but how can Starbucks survive like this?

ML has a fine collection of kibbitzers ... not that he ever seems to listen to their good ideas. I would call some of his schemes hare-brained, but rabbit is rarely on his menu. The necessary business numbers are, magically, unexplainably, usually there somewhere. I will wait and see.

Interesting that the 'Mardi Gras Method' is proposed ... party up to the big day, then leftover revelers will be given the "I told you I love you, now get out" treatment. Forced to listen to random readings from Newt Gingrich's novel 1945, then put on a bus to Woodbridge. Urban Nob may come across as a jaded Washington insider, but we all know that he is planning to party like a minor party functionary liberal Democrat from Lubbock, Texas, with tickets to the 'Boots and Black Tie Ball' (they have been exiled National Harbor in PG, but whatever). The idea of Washingtonians playing Mardi Gras by exposing themselves and throwing cheap trinkets to anyone who will watch ... just not right. Adams-Morgan plans to sell millions of slices of 'Super Slice' pizza, mostly to people who couldn't get into Ben's Chili Bowl for a half-smoke. And several supertankers worth of crappy beer. Party on, Garth.

Not worrying about turkey ... I have leftover chicken liver pate with Port and figs to consider.

Some people have their own ideas about how to run a business. Theyare going to do what they want, no matter what advice (or criticism) they get. I say: screw 'em.

OMG. Next I will be hearing that bitter tears add a little je ne sais quoi to those glasses of Bordeaux.

1933 ... repeal of Prohibition, economy gloomy, great hats. 2008 ... return of the cocktail, economy gloomy, And will we now again have great hats?

A virtual event ... yes, communicate collectively, say, online, but everyone stays home, then reporting "ummmm!!!". I know some of you like nothing better than a bit of faux pho from the crockpot, whilst lounging around in your flannel jammies. A few of you (and you know who you are) even like to nibble pizza at home whilst nude. That's right, stark, raving "don't drop that pepperoni on me!" nekkid! That's fine. Just report that tasty yum. Now switch on that webcam. Let's see that pie.

It is the White House sommelier who has had the loneliest job in Washington. The cry of "bottoms up!" has not been heard at the Executive Mansion since Jeff Gannon lost his White House press credentials.

Is this a way of coping with the dreaded word 'stale'?(edited to add: I think (based on no real facts) that what used to be considered a good crunchy crust is now considered a defective product.)

Some people consider the politics before making their dining decisions, some don't.According to Washington folklore, the arrival of airline flights from certain southern points at RR National Airport are announced by the packages labelled "Maurices" in the baggage claim area.

A little drool ... ummm ... send pics.

Chocolate Chocolate is moving from L Street and Conn. Ave. to 1130 Conn. Ave. (just up the street) sometime in October. More space, more goodies. click Chocolate Chocolate is important to women with a chocolate jones, and husbands who have been very, very, bad, indeed.

Ellwood Thompson's Natural Market has signed a lease for a new store at 14th Street and Irving. Rumors about this have been drifting around for a long time, so I will believe it when I see it. The DC city council is involved, with tax breaks for the new store. The ETNM web site has more.

If the "R" is Rockville (my guess) look down the list of threads ...

I thought a stripper shot was consumed using the anatomy of your favorite stripper as a drinking vessel. I imagine that our own Il Duce would approve.

"That famous food critic, Don Rockwell is here!" "Which one is he?" "The putz with the cork in his month" "Pretend you don't notice!"

"About the placenta, is it fresh?" Hey, if it is good enough for Tom Cruise ...

Administrator, please move to 'drinks' thread.(what next, a discussion on the joys of "decanting"? (see Urban Dictionary). No thank you. And no pictures, either.)

Chalking up the cue for another year ... Happy Birthday, Starfish! (only how many days late? Some. A few. Not that many)

At the risk of drifting into barroom theory (ideas and opinions based on few, if any, facts), the farmer's market is a minor rebuke to the modern supermarket. When frozen orange juice concentrate was introduced in 1946, and sold in the supermarket, it was an amazing marvel. I wasn't there, but "people who know" assure me this true. When the supermarket started to sell those three rubber balls in a plastic container and labeled them "tomatoes", I think we reached the nadir. Now I go to the farmer's market looking for ... what? something more real, more tasty? When I buy a juicy, tasty peach, I am happy. A tasteless plum ... what an inexperienced, knowledge deficient shopper I am. It is just a different kind of shopping experience, with it's own pitfalls and rewards. When I bought asparagus at a farmer's market and thought " the stuff from the supermarket was better", I kept that thought to myself. Now, the farmer's market is a great new thing. Next year it will be something else. And there will be more for me.