weezy

It's happened a few times to me when dining with another woman and we don't order alcohol. It's never happened when I've been with a man, though, and we're sticking to water or tea. And it's an obvious and instant attitude change, from helpful-charming to a near-snear.

Sal's is a great little place! Definitely stop in. A nice homey red-sauce place run by Sicilians and Mama's in the kitchen and will smack you with a spoon if you get outta line. If you want dessert and she's made turnovers, go for it! The tiramisu is brought in, but the turnovers are hers and she's rightfully proud of them.

doubled my commute time home, had to re-route twice to avoid water over roads where I've never seen it get on the roads before. But had plenty of drive time to imagine dinner and came home and made pork tenderloin medallions on a bed of garlic spinach and draped with a sauce made with mostly onions, chopped tomatoes, thyme and butter. It was a good way to end the day.

Well, there are so few that *deserve* me.... But overall he's a good Boss. Just a bit persnickety / anal at times . It makes him good at what he does, though, and I can respect that.

Okay, we have a winner! Apparently Das Bullpen is what he wants. Thank you thank you!

Actually, he's been there, so that's not it. Talking to him a couple of minutes ago, it turns out that it's a temporary, tented beer garden outside one of the gates. So now I'm really wondering what he wants me to accomplish, since he already knows where it is and that it's not a permanent, fulltime facility! Argh!

Boss is heading to the ballgame tomorrow and he's heard something about "a new bar on Half Street SE" and can't give me any more information than that, but I'm supposed to find it, map it out, etc., etc. I surmise it's in the new 55 M Street/ Half Street development, but can't pinpoint a name and specific address. Does anyone have a clue what it might be and will help a gal out? Thanks!

Joined some friends at the Cava in Clarendon last night. Between the three of us, we got the oyster skordalia, saganaki, lamb sliders, kefetede, sauteed squash, and finished with a strawberry nutella crepe. I tried the basil limeade and was quite pleased with it. The food was very good, everything prepared properly, although since we ordered everything but the desert at the same time, we were somewhat bombarded with food, as most of the plates hit the table simultaneously. The squash was basic stuff, and I would have liked a bit more skordalia with the very nice oysters. The bun on the lamb sliders was a bit dry/thick in balance to the rest of the dish. Overall, I think the kefetede was the best of the lot with the oyster skordalia a close second. The food was easily worth returning for; however, the noise leverl was atrocious. One of my dining companions was on a rant and litterally shouting f-bombs that (I guess thankfully) couldn't be heard 4 feet away. All three of us had buzzing ears and were becoming hoarse by the time we left. There's buzz, there's noise, and then there's a cacophonic din. Dinning & dining = it's doubtful I'll make a return visit unless I can do carry-out, but I doubt many of these dishes travel well..

Well, at least now we have the fun of speculating what might move into that space. I'd like to see something like Rustico there.

I'll be there and def. making lemon bars, maybe something vegetably as well. Will check to see if I'm + anyone and update as appropriate.

I had lunch with a group of friends at Brio a few weeks ago. The service was very nice, it wasn't bustling in there that day but the noise level was low enough we could converse easily enough, and the food was pleasant but not special. --- Street Kitchen (@Lf82)

strip steak with Montreal steak seasoning tossed green salad with feta and watermelon, dijon mustard & balsamic vinagrette 2008 BV Napa Valley cab half a leftover chocolate & almond croissant from Firehook for dessert

Good to know!

A concensus! Perfect. Thank you thank you. BTW, Don, I saw on the news that Va. vineyards' sales are up 11% over the past year. Let me just commend you on your prodigious efforts to fuel the local winemakers' and state's economy. I just hope you have the number to a liver specialist on speed-dial after 426000 cases.

Not too late :-) The dinner is Sunday night. I wanted to give time for ideas to come in before I went shopping. Thank you!

Having friends over for dinner. Making shrimp & spoonbread with red-eye gravy -- similar to the Epicurious recipe. The gravy has Madeira in it. . Most folks will probably choose beer for dinner, and I've got plenty of whites to choose from here at the house but am out of red wines to offer. Looking in the $15 or so price range. Suggestions appreciated!

I know the repair shop mentioned above your post is still in business. They seem to be able to take on any small appliance that comes in the door. I know that's where I would start.

Had pizza a few weeks ago and calzones last night from Sicilian Pizza just north of the corner of Columbia Pike and Walter Reed Drive in Arlington. Very good stuff. The calzones last night were artichoke spinach with feta cheese and mushrooms and fresh tomato. Good balance of flavors and textures, each one is big enough to serve two normal-hungry appetites. You'd have to be a prodigious eater to get thru a whole one alone. Served with a little cup of sauce on the side for dipping. I'm not a dipperer so can't comment on sauce quality last night, but the pizzas a few weeks ago (eggplant & olive, proscuitto ricotta & onion, artichoke & spinach) were also very good. Nice crust, good yeasty flavor with a nice chew to it. The only fault with the pizzas was the proscuitto was cut a little too thick. For dining options, there are 2 small tables and that's it. I don't know that they do their own delivery but are hooked into one of the restaurant courier delivery groups. I can't put it at the same level as Pupatella, and it's a different style of pie, but it's a good solid independent outfit and if you're in the neighborhood, well worth supporting.

Try Army surplus and REI, Hudson Outfitters, etc. for lanterns & lantern supplies.

I'll keep an eye on the track, but I'm not terribly worried about anything except a power outage at this point. I'll move the patio chairs and hammock inside and tie down the table and grill, get some buckets of water set aside for toilet flushing needs, bring the big tarp in from the shed to the basement just in case I get a broken window from a limb or something flying around. Food prep for me will be minimal -- the fridge is almost empty anyway, as is the freezer, so I'll get a bag or so of general purpose stable foods and water and call it good. The worst part will be mornings without coffee if the power blows. Maybe I should add a couple of Red Bulls to the list.

Yay! Just home to survey the earthquake results, and the china cabinet & all cookstuffs and serveware intact!

In Old Town working, started slow then really got going for 10 seconds or so after I got into a doorway. No damage, but a few file drawers slid open halfway. Another 5 seconds and things would have been falling off shelves, etc. Really nervous about what's up at the house. Can't get hold of my next-door neighbors to have them do a recon for me. Verdict: Me no likely earthquakes. I am not moving to Cali.

Thanks for posting this. I'll probably be stopping by there this weekend, as I won't be able to hit the regular FC farmer's market during market hours this week.

I've eaten several times at Overwood and never had an issue with the service. And the food is solid -- just not adventurous. I've enjoyed what I've had there. Only quibbles are that I think their chopped salads are chopped a ilttle too fine, and their BBQ sauce is not a favorite of mine -- it's not bad, just sweeter than I prefer.

Overwood is okay -- basic American, not what I would think of as a food adventure, but solid and straightforward, and they've always been good with the fryer. Sometimes they set up a table in the atrium for a large group, but I've eaten in the atrium there and it works well as long as your server is good about coming out to check regularly -- and I've never had a problem with service there.