goodeats

I believe all locations have the thin form to fill out. I recall doing so in Taiwan locations, too. I believe the servers just need to punch it in the computer, instead of them marking + punching it in.

I like the Upton Hill batting cage, but I've only been there once and it's seasonal, of course, since it's outdoors. I've been meaning to check out the StrikeZone academy one of these days. There are also a few out in the Dulles cooridor...

For anyone working in the Chinatown area, Reren Lamen has temporarily popped-up in the old Mehak restaurant. I think another ramen place will be there eventually.

Friends own the Chromatic Dragon, a gamer-pub there, and apparently rent out rooms. But I haven't had a chance to visit them and find out how to rent a room with them or the cost. But if you are interested in something other than a hotel, and more along the lines of a themed b&b experience, then you might want to contact them... --- Residence Inn, Historic District (reedm)

The horchata was so refreshing! We went Friday night and ordered a few tacos, the pork & tomatillo tamale, a side order of cod, and hush puppies. Hush puppies definitely hit the spot, although if you order this, you might not have room for the flautas. The pork taco was really good, and the fish and hush puppies not heavily-sitting, but I found the tamale only so-so. I'm not sure if I expected more flavor, or just hyped up my expectations? But that horchata....

I've always been a fan of Monk's Cafe. I think I saw a few DDD places that looked good: Percy Street BBQ and South Philadelphia Tap Room.

I can check the FoodStar in Arlington tonight.

We missed each other by a day! I didn't have the same experience as your first time, kt, as my shoyu ramen broth lacked depth AND was salty. The uni waffle was good, but I haven't seen anything like it in Japan. I did find my uni finishing a little fishy, which I disliked. But it was the better dish between the shoyu ramen and the waffle. If you do have a chance to visit a Hello Kitty Cafe in Japan, I highly recommend it for afternoon tea/coffee time, as the desserts and coffee was all kitty motif, which was fun. It's okay if your cousin hasn't mastered chopsticks; plenty of restaurants provide silverware if needed. Plus, if she wants to try, plenty of restaurants had kid-friendly-practice chopsticks, iirc. Something like a tonkatsu don is more fun using a spoon than chopsticks. I think little man was automatically provided kid-sized chopsticks or a fork at some of the restaurants. Have fun!!!

Could you be a bit more specific on what you ordered so we know what you considered were the 3 O's? (Guess too bad that it wasn't a good O?) This would help members figure out which dishes to avoid if one of us decides to dine here. Thanks.

Apparently, they will be at Wegman's, too. Here is a list.

Watched it the night after news of Alan Rickman's death was announced, solely to hear him say, "By Grabthar's hammer, by the suns of Warvan, you shall be avenged!" So good. Also realized that a very young Justin Long made his debut here. This movie and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are my two favorite movies that feature Missi Pyle. For those who haven't watched yet, Alan Rickman is quite a good King in his last feature, A Little Chaos.

For those who frequented the butcher shop at Westover Market, you may be happy to know that Cody is the smiling butcher behind the counter at this butcher shop. He was always friendly and helpful at Westover, so it was nice to see him again when I popped in quickly to the shop last night.

Am not sure what has happened, but this location closed. A new bakery will open soon. I cannot recall the new name. Bangkok 54 is no longer carrying their breads, but Good Fortune supermarket in FC is now.

Not for much longer....

Yes, usually napa cabbage is used in Shanghai Rice Cakes. Traditionally made with pork, though.

^ Say hi next time ()Y Most folks in front of me opted to go for a walk during the hour-long wait, with the hostess saying they would receive a text when it was their turn to be seated.

Just came back from a friend's wedding in Jacksonville. I enjoyed the warm weather, beaches, and paddleboarding very much. While I was there, I visited the following places. Jacksonville Mojo no. 4 BBQ (Avondale): One of the recommended places from internet research. It is in a cute, quaint part of town that reminds me a bit of Annapolis, but with palm trees. Because I stopped here for lunch and had to drive after, I couldn't try the whiskey selections. I had the two meat combo ($13, selections were NC pulled pork and dry-rub ribs), with the sweet potato mash (contains pecans) and collard greens. While the flavors in the barbecue were alright (the smokiness was there, but it lacked some depth for me), I enjoyed the sides much, much more. Thank goodness my hotel room had a fridge, as these heated up well for next day's lunch. Sweet Baking Theory Co. (Riverside): I opted to stop by here for dessert, although, to be honest, I really couldn't eat another thing. So, thank goodness they had a mini sea salt caramel brownie for around $1.25. They are mostly gluten free. The brownie was extremely tasty. Urban Coffee (Orange Park): This local coffeehouse serves Counter Culture coffee, which was a nice alternative to the drive-thru Starbucks I saw. A solid soy latte started off my day nicely. There are also sandwiches and an assortment of desserts to choose from, making this a nice local hangout. Hawaiian Ice (Atlantic Beach): After a morning out at Dutton Island Reserve, it was nice to start the afternoon with some shaved ice at Ohana. A local, small eatery that serves lunch, as well as various Hawaiian syrup-combinations of ice or with ice cream, this place felt very warm and inviting. Hawkers Asian Street Fare (Riverside): My last night in Jacksonville led me here, after much random driving around. The decor was warm and inviting with its old-fashioned-styled light bulbs that are the rage, with wood-paneling. The beer selection is pretty awesome, with a good range of local and foreign brews. The lovely bar server was very willing to make combos, such as what's known as a Killer Duke (A locally brewed Bold City's Duke brown ale + Killer Whale cream ale), or combining the Green Rock Count Shakla (chocolate stout) with the McKenzie (NY-based cider) Wild Cherry for a black forest cake-type of drink. It was a nice way to end the trip here. St. Augustine Ice Plant Bar: Attached to the St. Augustine Distillery, if you visit, you really should make it a 2-fer, meaning, take in a distillery tour, followed by dinner at the restaurant. I opted to stand at the bar (it was standing room only that night at both of their bar stations). Very, very solid cocktail program, and I can only attest to the dessert. It was a great way to end my first night. The Hyppo (Old St. Augustine District): Local artisanal popsicle chain, featuring flavors similar to those found at Pleasant Pops here. The espresso horchata hit the spot after a few drinks, but the price for it ($3.50) was a bit wounding. The Chocolate Turtle (Old St. Augustine District): Equally wounding were the prices here for cake slices and other desserts. A slice of salted caramel chocolate cake set me back $7.20, but it was a big as those found at Silver Diner and the like. Took a few days to finish this moist, but really sweet cake, so the cost then was not so bad. The locals seem to like it, hanging out here after their nightly stroll with their families.

I forgot--other places where I had fun at a bday party are: 1. I think Fort Myer or Fort Belvoir Bowling centers are pretty fun for parties. You don't have to be military to book a party at the bowling centers, as they are open to the public. You do have to go through a car and ID check. The alley is clean and the kids have fun bumper bowling while the adults have fun bowling (automated bumpers) along too. The food is alright and they serve a few beers, if any adult is interested. 2. Ice skating parties were fun too. The kids had a lesson included with the birthday package and then the adults can skate along too.

I really think, if you guys even have a small yard, is that the best solution is probably to rent a moon bounce for the yard, have the kids run around and provide your own spread + alcohol. The best birthday parties I've been to are along those lines, as the adults chill either in or outside house, the food is enjoyable and atmosphere relaxed. Cons that I've found at venues are they are often too loud, kids run amok without supervision, and hard to think or converse. DCUrbanMom forum usually has some good ideas and here is one on 5th bday party and moon bounce rental ideas. Although there is no mention of alcohol, little man did attend a fun (and loud) party at BounceU once. Cabin John park, I think, permits alcohol with a permit. Not sure how that works, but it is a fun place to host a party, if the miniature train is running. The playgrounds are super fun there, too. Hope this helps.

By now, I've worked through "House" or "Breakfast blends" of Metropolis, Dark Matter, and Bridgeport beans. I've really enjoyed the current Dark Matter blend, ad.mich, but I think I would really like to drink Bridgeport every day, if I could. I still have a bag of Two Brothers (http://www.twobrotherscoffeeroasters.com) to work through, though. I'm feeling incredibly proud of my hometown right now, given its coffee, beer, baseball, and liquor scene right now. I've started on a bottle of Blaum Bros.'s knotter finished bourbon whiskey (http://www.blaumbros.com/) and it's quite smooth with a nice finish. I'm pretty happy, stocked with Koval, Few, and this brand at home.

Inconceivable! ;-) Billy Elliott, starring Jamie Bell, was better than I expected it to be. I forgot to add Newsies! to the list. Christian Bale. I like the stage musical scored soundtrack a bit better in this case, though.

Well, if you find yourself in Bloomsbury late one afternoon, please do stop by Bea's of Bloomsbury for a snack or afternoon tea service, if possible. They are one of few places that is has late tea service (they close at 7pm on Saturdays), and their full afternoon tea service is quite reasonable for English tea at 24.50 pounds per person. Bibimbap and I, on a late whim, managed to squeeze in a reservation here one Saturday afternoon at 5:30pm. The tea tray was more than plentiful, with extras that became our breakfast the next morning. We liked that their scones were buttery, the cakes were light and moist (even the next day), and the service was super friendly.

This place is on the north end of Rockville, in the same plaza as Asia Taste, btw. ETA: It's in the College Plaza Shopping Center.

It is indeed very good! Thanks, Mark!

I finally had some punch milk or wow milk but not at KF tea. It is essential just sweetened whole milk with bubbles. While it was good, I definitely don't recommend this for those who are lactose-intolerant or sensitive. The norm in Taiwan milk tea places is to specify level of ice and sweetness desired when you order, btw.