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At our house in the country, we resorted to storing all our dry goods in sealable plastic bins to keep the mice out. Since we're not there during the week, they moved right in last winter. We scoured the house and plugged any/all entry holes we could find w/ a combo of steel wool (they hate it) and "good stuff". We've also set traps to catch the few that still manage to find their way in looking for a warm spot on a cold winter day. However, the mice love an empty yet warm place, and it is a constant battle to keep them out. Keeping the dry goods in the plastic bins has at least cut them off from their food supply. The strangest thing they were eating (after all the other stuff was safely stored) was the coaster that the olive oil bottle was sitting on. Nothing like paper soaked in oil when you're starving, I guess.

FYI, info on smallish Crab Festival in St. Mary's County. It really has the feel of a county fair more than anything (a small one at that). http://www.stmaryscrabfestival.com/ ST. MARY'S COUNTY CRAB FESTIVAL Location: St. Mary's County Fairgrounds Date: 6/8/2008 Time: 11 AM - 5 PM Bring your family and friends to the 23rd Annual St. Mary’s County Crab Festival on Sunday, June 8th at the St. Mary's County Fairgrounds. In addition to hot and tasty steamed crabs, festival goers will enjoy other seafood and non-seafood items, live music, entertainment, classic cars on display, crab races, crafts, vendors, and more! (Rain or shine) Admission is $5 p/person over 12 years of age. The cost of food at the Crab Festival is separate from admission. Plenty of free parking. The St. Mary's County Fairgrounds is located in Leonardtown, MD at the intersection of MD Route 5/Point Lookout Road and Fairgrounds Road. For driving directions to the St. Mary's County Fairgrounds and more information, visit the Crab Festival website at stmaryscrabfestival.com

Another Event w/ Food in Alexandria this weekend: The City of Alexandira's Annual Arlandria-Chirilagua Festival is scheduled for Sunday, June 8, from noon to 7 p.m. at the Mt. Vernon Village Shopping Center, in the 3700 to 3800 blocks of Mt. Vernon Avenue. Admission is free, and the festival will be held rain or shine. Entertainment will include a variety of dance performances and musical groups. The festival will also feature children's activities, a community service and health fair, and displays showcasing traditional arts and crafts from South America, Bolivia, Peru, and Central America. Enchiladas, tacos, empanadas, nuegados, tamales, popusas, and other food and beverages will be available for purchase. The Mt. Vernon Village Shopping Center is served by DASH and Metrobus. For DASH schedule information, call 703.370.DASH or visit www.dashbus.com. For Metrobus schedule information, call 202.637.7000 or visit www.wmata.com. The Arlandria-Chirilagua Festival is cosponsored by the City's Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and the Tenants and Workers United Committee. For additional information, call the City's Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686.

I think everyone that visits Pompeii eats at that nasty cafeteria. We did Pompeii and hike Vesuvius the same day, which is why I think that cafeteria has cornered the tourist market with arranged tours. I've also been to the Amalfi coast, Capri and Naples (as well as Rome and Florence). I'm generally a fan of southern Italian food (v. northern). Pizza in Naples is a must. Our friend, who was living there at the time, took us to his favorite haunts, including one that served seafood direct from the Bay of Naples. Unfortunately, it has been a while, so the names of the restaurants are gone from my head. Except the English Inn in Sorrento. We had a lovely pint of beer there after our long drive down from Napoli. The Amalfi coast is beautiful. We drove down there from Naples, stopping in Vietri for a mid-morning treat of expresso and pastries (they aren't kidding about the rum in a rum bomb) and to shop for some beautiful pottery. The road winds along the coast. As we entered Sorrento, trees heavy with fresh lemons hung over the road with nets under them to catch the fruit. Limoncello is a regional drink and every establishment has its own version. Capri was wonderful as well - the Blue Grotto was worth a visit. IIRC, there is a little food stand by the ferry docks that sells some famous specialty (ie. pastries of some sort). We took a high speed ferry from Naples to get there. We took a taxi up to the place where you could grab the funnicula up to Anacapri. There's a ruin at the top (and a cafeteria of course). I remember the views and the feral cats that were very used to people. We walked down from the funnicula's base to the ferry dock, stopping at a little restaurant that seemed to have a lot of locals going in. Little did we suspect from the front what a great view they had from their back seating area - basically a porch hanging off the hill looking out over the island and water. IIRC, we liked the food as well.

Last night we walked down to the Taste of Old Town North, but it looked pretty much wrapped up by the time we got there. We headed over to A La Lucia and sat in the bar. I actually prefer the bar there for a less formal experience. The bartended took great care of us. My husband was thrilled to see fresh soft shells on the menu, made the way he loves them - sauted (not breaded and fried) with a spicy white wine sauce (never cream sauces for him). He raved about them, to the point that he recommended them to the ladies at the next table. I had the veal canneloni (light on the cheese for me), which was tasty and very rich. I think this meal put A La Lucia back on our rotation, especially now that my husband knows he can get me to walk there from about the King Street Metro. (We did cheat a bit and take the new trolley for a few blocks on the way down in order to save some time). Stopped at Vermillion for a refreshing drink on the way back. He was thrilled to find Guinness on tap and I was happy that it was served in a non-smoking location.

Last night, walking home from dinner, we stopped in at the Tiffany Tavern (Alexandria) for open mike night. Classic. Had a beer then finished our walk home.

Friday night in DC, I think most people went straight after work in whatever they were wearing. My head was a little fuzzy this morning, but we went out to dinner after the event and had wine in addition to the beer. It isn't often that I find myself eating dinner that late. Les Halles was perfect for the group we were with - we were a tad loud by then.

Me, my husband and friend will be there. Not sure what to expect, but it sounds fun. I'll let our friend take the lead since he's the expert in our group.

I try to order anything that comes with the cheddar cheese grits if they happen to be on the menu that week. I do recall that I thought the plates were rather large (especially considering the tiny size of the restaurant and some tables) We went a few weeks ago on a rainy Saturday night. My husband had osso bucco (loved it), our friend had the day boat scallops (ditto), and the other two of us had steaks (very tasty, perfectly done). I know there were mashed potatoes on my plate, but I don't recall them looking like that. I also don't recall that they were anything special. Alas, there were no cheddar cheese grits to be had that night. (I asked) Not everything they have is listed on the web page - they have some salads and sides as well. We started by splitting a salad and an order of the garlic bread. Their garlic bread is really thick cut and loaded with fresh pesto/garlic. I liked it, but our friend seemed a little afraid of the garlic quantity. The wait can be the main drawback at this place, since there are no reservations and no real place to wait except outside (and it was raining). Instead of waiting for a table, grabbing a spot at the bar works well if your party isn't too big. You can get a glass of wine at the bar to enjoy while you wait as well. In nicer weather, they have a few outdoor tables available. We'll definitely return on our next trip to Baltimore. We love the atmosphere and the food.

How about Oyamel? Not really a guy steak place, but tasty stuff right on the green line.

I haven't been in years, it is kind of touristy, but it is DC - How about the Old Ebbitt Grill? Anyone been lately who can advise? Oysters and beers at the bar perhaps? It isn't too far from the Mall.

Maybe sprinkle a little crumbled crispy bacon on top of that bloody mary?

St. Mary's county has a few on the Patuxent River and other locations. I was told that the Sea Breeze in Mechanicsville (MD) has new owers who have fixed the place up and added an outdoor bar. In a fine local tradition, it is apparently owned by the cousin of a woman who works with a friend of mine. I hope to try it out later this summer and will report back. Next door is Sand Gates, another crab/seafood house. Both were hit by hurricane Isabel and have had to bounce back after that. The Drift Inn is near there as well: http://forums.somd.com/restaurants/98372-drift-inn.html Another couple of crab places, located further south in St. Mary's are Schiebels and Courtneys: http://forums.somd.com/restaurants/73557-s...-courtneys.html http://scheibles.homestead.com/Scheibles.html Courtneys is reputed to be very "local/rustic", so you might adjust your expectations. http://somd.com/Detailed/3738.php I don't go out for crabs very often, I must admit. We usually catch our own and eat at home. (Or buy a bushel from the guy on the side of the road). Right now, there's a guy setting his line in our creek. St. Mary's Seafood restaurant listings: http://somd.com/dining/seafood/stmarys/index.php

She probably had a train. When they bustle the train, it makes the skirt look more lumpy and/or fluffy. Just what a bride wants...a bigger rear on her wedding day.

Darn. That sounds like a great tour, but I have a wedding to go to out of town. I will have to share your book and audio with my husband's uncle - he's a former member of the Cogswell Society and will love it. Thanks!

Perhaps because those who have food allergies take extrodinary measures to avoid those foods. Your first reaction isn't ususally the one that kills you. Like an allergy to bee stings, it can develop over time. Once identified, you can take precautions. I had a friend who is allergic to the additive they use to preserve just about everything. She carried an epi-pen just in case. Not a fun thing to inject yourself with epinephrine, but it beats not being able to breathe.

We're going w/ a friend who has a distributing company in NJ. Should be fun. He spends his days w/ beer and wine and knows his stuff. He always brings a case or two of something fun when he visits.

There is a ferry that runs from St. Mary's county (Pt. Lookout) for a quick day trip if you don't want to spend the night or go all the way to Crisfield to catch a ferry. Smith Island is a tiny, disappearing island with a shrinking population. They speak another language really. It is very isolated and the kids take a ferry to Crisfield to attend school. The few people that remain are dedicated to preserving their heritage. We had a very good day trip there. Got off the ferry, rented bikes to explore a bit, avoided the large restaurant (went to the little store that has a porch overlooking the marshes and had soft shell crabs and tried the cake). Not being a cake lover, I remember that it was good, but nothing that I needed to try again. http://www.smithisland.org/

Last night we met friends at Fireflies in Del Ray. We split a salad and a meat lover's pizza. The special salad was good but not great, but I think they do a quality pizza. It was particularly good last night. Nice thin crust, cooked perfectly, IMO. I love that I can walk to this place as well. It was packed last night at 6:30 - I've never been asked if I had a reservation there before - but they are starting to have music on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Kabul Kabob in Alexandria last night. The bread was amazing. The beef samosas were very good. The dipping sauces were very good. The lamb kebab was a tad tough, but had good flavor. My husband's lamb stew dish (w/ carrots etc) was better. A tad dingy, even for strip mall standards. They seemed to do more take away than actual eat in dinners. Tonight, Cafe Altantico.

Just back from my first visit to Eammon's. Pretty good stuff washed down with Guinness. I couldn't get my husband to try it before tonight (he called it "all things fried"), but now he'll go back (but get the fish sandwich w/ other non-fried sides). A minor victory for me. All thanks to St. Patrick's day and the draw of Guinness.

If you only knew the horrors of my building. I don't keep anything there overnight. A George Foreman grill would be a magnet for the godzilla-sized creatures that resemble roaches that stalk the halls in broad daylight without fear.

We walked to Fireflies in Del Ray last night. We shared the "Cheesetique" pizza for the first time. It was very tasty. I was worried that it would be too cheesey, with 4 kinds, but it was actually perfectly topped. Had the leftovers for lunch today, although the office microwave doesn't do it any good. Also shared the burger w/ fries that was good as well. They apparently have a new manager and he's adding music on Thursdays and a bar area. I think this reasonably solid neighborhood place may be trying to step up its game.

Wednesday: Barracuda on Virgin Gorda, BVIs. Great new addition to the island. My current favorite higher-end place there. There are some divey places that make great rotis though. Thursday - some little place in old San Juan. Followed by nasty airport food. Sunday - Taquerio Poblano, Del Ray Last night - Hard Times in Old Town for beer, wings and sliders w/friends

Dinner: my husband's nightmare lasagna. Very basic, but he must have added something this time. It is keeping me up late.