Al the Pal

I thought this was just going to be a crappy corona-birthday, but we celebrated by ordering from Claritytogo.com. It was just wonderful!  We opted for the 3 course dinner for $35 which is a great deal. The menu changes a bit day by day, but if they have halibut, I would definitely recommend it. Our fish dish included gnocchi, beets, and spinach and was delicious. Actually everything was really flavorful. They provide great dinner rolls. We received an extra birthday dessert as well. And they gave us cute little cookies which we haven't eaten yet. I'd strongly recommend as the ordering, pick up, everything was super easy. 

Next thing you're going to tell us is that you didn't like Yodels or Devil Dogs either, you commie.

I liked Zingers (the raspberry coconut snack cake.) And you are right I did not like Devil Dogs but I did like Yodels and HoHos.

We stopped by this place just to get a drink. While there we picked up a homemade "Ring Ding." Amazing! Don't know if they have this every day, but if you stop in and they do have it, better pick one up as it was delicious. It was the yummiest thing we ate in NYC during a weekend of plenty of good eating!!!! As a kid I didn't even like Ring Dings, but this thing was a winner.

I was in NYC this past weekend and had brunch at Russ and Daughter's Cafe on Saturday and at Sadelle's on Sunday. We arrived early each day to avoid a long wait. I can't totally compare as I had different dishes at each place. The lox, eggs and onions at Russ and Daughters was great and reminded me of my mom's version.  (For some reason when I make it at home it turns out yucky.) The restaurant is very retro and has booths (which I love.)  At Sadelle's I ordered house smoked salmon (I asked the waiter if he preferred the Scottish or the house smoked salmon and he said the house.) The bagel was fantastic and the smoked salmon was much better than what I get here. I thought the portions were pretty large and were more than I could fit on a bagel. You can ask for another bagel and they don't charge you! They have a bakery/to go counter where I bought a slice of babka. It was very good but not the best that I've had. (I really like Breads Bakery's babka.) In any case, I loved both places.

The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Very funny.

Due to the snowstorm, there has been an extension for RW although not all restaurants are participating in the extension. I think you can find out which restaurants are participating and for how long here: http://www.ramw.org/restaurantweek

Arielle Shoshana Scented Luxuries is a fragrance shop located in the Mosaic District at 2920 District Avenue along the street where stores have recently appeared to the left of the movie theater. The shop offers harder to find colognes, perfumes, bath products and candles. The scents are arranged by type of fragrance such as clean, floral, beachy, spicy etc. I found the layout really useful. The staff was extremely helpful - both friendly and knowledgeable, and not at all pushy. They showed me lots of samples without spraying it on me first (which I hate!) There were a few things that interested me. I found when I got home they gave me samples of the fragrances I was considering, but didn't buy. This shop is a great addition to the Mosaic District.

Alice Lieberman

If anyone is looking to adopt a cat, Homeward Trails Animal Rescue is holding a cat adoption event on Saturday, November 14 from 11 am - 3 pm. at their Kitty City facility located within Dog Paws and Cat Claws at 5818 Seminary Road in Baileys Crossroads, VA. There is a group of 6 very sweet cats. For further information and photos of most of the cats staying at Kitty City, check out this link! I'll be at the adoption open house.

We had 23 kids which is an all time record for us. Last year I think we had 2. I almost ran out of candy. Gave out Dove chocolate eye balls and Hershey miniatures.

It is tomato season, and Bread Furst has wonderful single serving tomato tarts. Earlier this summer, I had one and it was flatter more like a Ledo pizza slice (square shaped). Now the tarts are more like little pies and seem a bit more substantial. Really delicious. Lovely flakey crust, pesto and freshest tomato slices.

A Cat Adoption event this Saturday, August 29 from 11 -3 pm for Homeward Trails Animal Rescue in their Kitty City facility which is located at Dog Paws 'n Cat Claws at 5818 Seminary Road. This is convenient to Falls Church, Arlington and Alexandria, VA. Here is a link for additional information (by the way, there will be more cats than those just listed.) 

In no particular order

1. Restaurant Eve

2. 2941 (had our wedding reception there!)

3. Willow

4. PassionFish

5. Pupatella

6. Maple Avenue Restaurant

7. Rays the Steaks

8. Pizzeria Orso

9. Four Sisters

10. Rabieng

How did it go?

More importantly, would you tell us a little about Kitty City, and how can people use it in the future?

It was a bust! Only a few visitors and not a single adoption. Of course getting the address right would help!!! Homeward Trails Animal Rescue rescues animals from rural and a few urban shelters and tries to find them homes in the DC area. Most of the animals are fostered by people in this area. In many cases, these cats and dogs would otherwise be euthanized.  They have been very successful in finding homes for these animals! Kitty City is HT's halfway house for cats who are between the shelter and a foster home. We are trying to get more cats adopted straight from Kitty City. They have open house hours most Saturday's from 11 - 3 pm at Dog Paws n Cat Claws at 5818 Seminary Road in the Baileys Crossroads area.

Address is 5818 Seminary Rd!

The Karat Cakery food truck (@karatcakery) sells carrot cake, carrot cake cupcakes and ice cream with carrot cake. So if you don't like carrot cake, don't bother! If you do, however, the carrot cake cupcake with pecans is really divine. They put the cream cheese frosting on the cupcake right after you order it.

The truck was at Farragut North yesterday (Wednesday) although I don't know their schedule.

Are you looking to foster or adopt a cat? Homeward Trails Animal Rescue is holding a cat adoption event in their Kitty City facility on Saturday, August 15 from 11 am "“ 3 pm. It is located in Dog Paws "˜n Cat Claws at 5818 Seminary Road, Baileys Crossroads, VA. You can stop by and meet some wonderful kitties. Check out this link for further information:

Kitty City Open Hours Adoption Center

(The actual cats attending may change depending on who gets adopted or fostered during the week.)

I'll be there!

Alice

Al, this doesn't belong in News and Media - would you call Crumbs and Whiskers a "restaurant" or a "coffee house?"

Between the two, it is more of a coffee house. However, they didn't seem to be selling many coffees either. Its mostly a cat house (and no, not a brothel!)

Not sure where this post belongs so please move as appropriate. My nieces wanted to check this place out so we went last Sunday. As far as food offerings (the Crumb part), it is very skimpy. I think there were maybe 2 types of cookies you could order along with some coffee drinks and shakes. I ordered a shake for my niece. After about 20 minutes, they told us they ran out of one of the ingredients. It wasn't worth ordering something else since we only had about 20 minutes left on our shift. They did have many cats (the Whisker part), and it is a cute space. I think the cats are overstimulated as 2 of them swatted at me. Everyone is just all over them! The staff are very nice and really helpful. As someone who volunteers with cat rescue, I have lots of opportunities to hang out with cats for free, but my nieces really loved it and are already talking about returning.

That pimento cheese made my eyes water. My husband, who is a chili pepper head, loves it. Not your mother's pimento cheese.

I buy the pimento cheese spread almost every week. This past week's version was a little spicier than usual. I loved it, but it definitely had a kick.

Today the Gypsy Soul Farm stand was offering the pimento spread, onion dip, blackberry gazpacho, mushroom soup and oyster chowder as well as pork sandwiches and beignets. I got my usual, the pimento spread which is outrageously good.  I've had the gazpacho before which is very refreshing. One day, I hope to try the sandwiches, but usually I arrive at the market just after breakfast and just don't feel like it. This stand is a great addition to the Mosaic Farmers Market, and a great opportunity to try some of the Gypsy Soul offerings. Chef Cooper was there as usual.

This place was really hopping this Sunday morning. This was our second time at Cafe Kindred and the first since they started doing coffee drinks. They do a really good flat white. It comes on a tray with a cookie and small glass of sparkling water (I believe.) Since I've had some not so great flat whites, it is nice to find a place that can do one right. (Don't ask me what exactly a flat white is, but I know it when I taste it! My husband, the Australian, gave it a thumbs up.) We had a lemon bar and an almond apricot pastry. Both very good. Looking forward to more visits!

The Sweetbites cupcake truck people have opened a bakery/cafe in McLean recently. They serve Illy coffee and had a nice variety of baked goods. The lemon bars, pina colada cupcakes and the double chocolate chip cookies were big hits. They now serve lunch items, but we have not tried them yet.

If you find the need for a nice non buffet breakfast, I'd highly recommend Bouchon. I haven't been in a few years, but we stop their for breakfast every time we are in LV.

Gypsy Soul (the restaurant) has a stand at the Mosaic Farmers Market on Sundays. They sell mostly dips and spreads. Today they had pimento cheese spread, an onion dip, crab ramp dip, and a macaroni shrimp salad. The pimento cheese (which we bought last week) was probably the best I've had. And I've had a lot of pimento cheese in my years! Looking forward to trying the crab dip. (you can taste everything at the market. Its just my allergies are killing my taste buds when I'm outside so I can't really weigh in on the other items yet.)

We really liked The Admiral which was pretty casual. (If I remember it was like eating in a bar. We had small plates.) Also, I found Tupelo Honey really touristy and a madhouse. However, the proprietors at our B and B thought it was the best restaurant in Asheville.