The ***OFFICIAL*** Washington, DC thread (1 Viewer)

[Apple Jack]

Adidas Climalite shirts help. Once this hangover recedes a bit, i'm going to spend a couple hours riding my bike up and down the river. Biggest challenge is sweat in the eyes. Otherwise, once youre wet, youre wet.

 

[Swing 51]

Tomorrow looks nasty, high is 97 but will probably feel like 110.

 

[dgreen]

So neither of you can do anything about the summer heat/humidity? Sheesh.

Come back in the Fall.

Does this Fall you speak of start in September or more like October? I will be back in September, but I fear that will just feel like extended August.

September is when it starts to improve. To me, late September and early October are perfect here.

 

[njherdfan]

Oh, and can you guys cut out the humidity the week of July 6? The whole city was built on a swamp right?

Are you looking for quick lunch spots or more involved restaurants? I worked in that area so I know most of the lunch options. None of these are really unique. My favorite is probably Nando's, but I'm obsessed with Peri Peri. Veloce is apparently the best of new wave of fast casual pizza joints (think like Chipotle, only you order a personal pizza instead of a burrito), and that's at 1848 L St. Similarly, GRK does a decent fast casual twist on gyros. You've got Chop't and Sweetgreen in the area if you're a frou frou salad guy. District Taco is a few blocks away and is a popular local Chipotle alternative.

It's not really my favorite area for dinner options, but there are some exceptions reasonably close, like Rasika West End, which is excellent Indian. You'll be close enough to Metro to hit whatever dinner options you want. I'll let nittany handle the chef driven recs.

Oh, and can you guys cut out the humidity the week of July 6? The whole city was built on a swamp right?

CF Folks is a little hole in the wall just south of DuPont on 19th and is probably my favorite casual lunch spot in the city. The Well Dressed Burrito is owned by the same people in the alley across the street is also really popular.

So neither of you can do anything about the summer heat/humidity? Sheesh.

Thanks for the reccomendations. Looking forward to working in DC for a bit. I love the vibe of the city. I'm using this first trip as a scout trip so I can plan a few things for when my wife and kid come with me in August. We've all been before but since I get a free room and per diem we are going to take advantage for one of the trips.

I would go to Founding Farmers; that's my favorite restaurant in the city.

 

[thecatch]

Maybe it's just because I've been subjected to so many lunches with law firm summer associates there, but I think Founding Farmers is supremely overrated. Some of my friends love it though, especially for brunch. YMMV.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Maybe it's just because I've been subjected to so many lunches with law firm summer associates there, but I think Founding Farmers is supremely overrated. Some of my friends love it though, especially for brunch. YMMV.

It is ... polarizing.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Adidas Climalite shirts help. Once this hangover recedes a bit, i'm going to spend a couple hours riding my bike up and down the river. Biggest challenge is sweat in the eyes. Otherwise, once youre wet, youre wet.

My secret to curing hangovers is sweating it off. 30 minutes of hell where you may or may not puke >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> laying in bed for 6-10 hours wishing for death an making promises to god you'll never keep.

 

[Apple Jack]

Adidas Climalite shirts help. Once this hangover recedes a bit, i'm going to spend a couple hours riding my bike up and down the river. Biggest challenge is sweat in the eyes. Otherwise, once youre wet, youre wet.

My secret to curing hangovers is sweating it off. 30 minutes of hell where you may or may not puke >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> laying in bed for 6-10 hours wishing for death an making promises to god you'll never keep.

yup. though i usually need an hour or two of drinking coffee before im capable of remaining upright on a bike. when i get chet money i'm cutting to the chase and just installing a steam room.

 

[skol asylum]

Yeah, it's ####### humid here.

Did you find something good for dinner last night at National Harbor? Like I said, I haven't had much luck. It's not that the places I've been to are horrible, I just think they are very meh and overpriced for what they are. It's relatively close to work, so National Harbor is a popular work lunch spot so it would be great to find something good.

Nothing spectacular food wise so far. Was late last night so we just ate at the hotel. Got going late this morning so grabbed lunch at the metro station cafe. Got back late after walking the mall and back past the White House to our shuttle at the Reagan Building so again just ate at the hotel. Big day of walking.

Library of Congress and Supreme Court tomorrow followed by Smithsonian museums.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Yeah, it's ####### humid here.

Did you find something good for dinner last night at National Harbor? Like I said, I haven't had much luck. It's not that the places I've been to are horrible, I just think they are very meh and overpriced for what they are. It's relatively close to work, so National Harbor is a popular work lunch spot so it would be great to find something good.

Nothing spectacular food wise so far. Was late last night so we just ate at the hotel. Got going late this morning so grabbed lunch at the metro station cafe. Got back late after walking the mall and back past the White House to our shuttle at the Reagan Building so again just ate at the hotel. Big day of walking.

Library of Congress and Supreme Court tomorrow followed by Smithsonian museums.

I work in this immediate area- PM if you want lunch suggestions or any other info. I'm sure you're aware that it's going to be brutally hot today, likely one of the worst days of the year. Should be pretty easy to stay inside most of the time, though. I assume you're heading to Air and Space; if possible start at the Supreme Court than do the LOC so you don't end up backtracking and being outside more than necessary. Another option is to duck into the Capitol South metro stop and then take the orange/blue two stops to L'Enfant so you can do the longest stretch aboard an air-conditioned train. On a normal day it definitely wouldn't be worth the trouble but on a day like today it might be a good call.

 

[nittanylion]

Oh, and can you guys cut out the humidity the week of July 6? The whole city was built on a swamp right?

Are you looking for quick lunch spots or more involved restaurants? I worked in that area so I know most of the lunch options. None of these are really unique. My favorite is probably Nando's, but I'm obsessed with Peri Peri. Veloce is apparently the best of new wave of fast casual pizza joints (think like Chipotle, only you order a personal pizza instead of a burrito), and that's at 1848 L St. Similarly, GRK does a decent fast casual twist on gyros. You've got Chop't and Sweetgreen in the area if you're a frou frou salad guy. District Taco is a few blocks away and is a popular local Chipotle alternative.

It's not really my favorite area for dinner options, but there are some exceptions reasonably close, like Rasika West End, which is excellent Indian. You'll be close enough to Metro to hit whatever dinner options you want. I'll let nittany handle the chef driven recs.

Oh, and can you guys cut out the humidity the week of July 6? The whole city was built on a swamp right?

CF Folks is a little hole in the wall just south of DuPont on 19th and is probably my favorite casual lunch spot in the city. The Well Dressed Burrito is owned by the same people in the alley across the street is also really popular.

So neither of you can do anything about the summer heat/humidity? Sheesh.

Thanks for the reccomendations. Looking forward to working in DC for a bit. I love the vibe of the city. I'm using this first trip as a scout trip so I can plan a few things for when my wife and kid come with me in August. We've all been before but since I get a free room and per diem we are going to take advantage for one of the trips.

I would go to Founding Farmers; that's my favorite restaurant in the city.

I'm going to try and help you find some alternatives!

 

[nittanylion]

Maybe it's just because I've been subjected to so many lunches with law firm summer associates there, but I think Founding Farmers is supremely overrated. Some of my friends love it though, especially for brunch. YMMV.

I couldn't agree with you more. Additionally, as a champion of the 'Slow Food' Movement, I can tell you for a fact that Founding Farmers, from it's inception, has painted itself as something it is very far from, and have sold a bill of goods to the sheeple dining public, about who they are and what they stand for. Oh, and all that aside, there are at least 2 dozen better brunches in and around the city.

 

[nittanylion]

National Harbor is absolutely the suck for dining options. Nando's Peri Peri is the best of a pretty awful bunch. Take the time to get out of the area. There's a post recently upthread (look for posts discussing the National Spelling Bee) that discusses National Harbor, I think.

PSA to anyone visiting DC: We have an EXCELLENT coffee culture going on in the city. There is absolutely NO REASON to buy coffee from Starbuck's or any other chain while you're in the city. Peregrine, Big Bear, Qualia, there are at least a dozen more small roasters or shops where you can get so much more bang for your coffee buck, it's absolutely silly.

 

[VA703]

Yeah, it's ####### humid here.

Did you find something good for dinner last night at National Harbor? Like I said, I haven't had much luck. It's not that the places I've been to are horrible, I just think they are very meh and overpriced for what they are. It's relatively close to work, so National Harbor is a popular work lunch spot so it would be great to find something good.

Rosa Mexicano isn't too bad

That and Kethcup are the only restaurants ive been to @ the Harbor

 

[dgreen]

aboard an air-conditioned train.

50/50 chance you spend 20 minutes trapped in the tunnel in a car with no air-conditioning.

Pro tip: If a train pulls into your station and some of the cars are packed and others are completely empty or only have a couple people in them, that's a clue on which cars have working a/c.

 

[TobiasFunke]

aboard an air-conditioned train.

50/50 chance you spend 20 minutes trapped in the tunnel in a car with no air-conditioning.

Pro tip: If a train pulls into your station and some of the cars are packed and others are completely empty or only have a couple people in them, that's a clue on which cars have working a/c.

I feel like complaints about this stuff are wildly overstated. The trains run fairly well, as does the AC. Delays of more than 2-3 minutes are rare, as are cars that don't have AC.

Now if you want to ##### about malfunctioning escalators or conductors pressing the "doors are closing" announcement before the train has even unloaded, count me in

 

[dgreen]

aboard an air-conditioned train.

50/50 chance you spend 20 minutes trapped in the tunnel in a car with no air-conditioning.

Pro tip: If a train pulls into your station and some of the cars are packed and others are completely empty or only have a couple people in them, that's a clue on which cars have working a/c.

I feel like complaints about this stuff are wildly overstated. The trains run fairly well, as does the AC. Delays of more than 2-3 minutes are rare, as are cars that don't have AC.

Now if you want to ##### about malfunctioning escalators or conductors pressing the "doors are closing" announcement before the train has even unloaded, count me in

All kidding aside, I agree. I used Metro every day for work for a couple years and rarely had significant problems. But, WMATA gets about as much bad press around here as the Redskins.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

aboard an air-conditioned train.

50/50 chance you spend 20 minutes trapped in the tunnel in a car with no air-conditioning.

Pro tip: If a train pulls into your station and some of the cars are packed and others are completely empty or only have a couple people in them, that's a clue on which cars have working a/c.

Yeah, I always choose the sweltering empty car over the crowded cool car. Heat is less annoying than people.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I will say as someone who recently (stupidly) moved out of the District to Alexandria, that the way they've cannibalized the Blue Line for the Silver Line is criminal. It's 15 minutes between trains at freakin' rush hour.

 

[dgreen]

I will say as someone who recently (stupidly) moved out of the District to Alexandria, that the way they've cannibalized the Blue Line for the Silver Line is criminal. It's 15 minutes between trains at freakin' rush hour.

Don't worry, you only have to wait about 30 more years for a separate Blue Line tunnel through downtown and then all will back to normal!

 

[Don Quixote]

I will say as someone who recently (stupidly) moved out of the District to Alexandria, that the way they've cannibalized the Blue Line for the Silver Line is criminal. It's 15 minutes between trains at freakin' rush hour.

Yeah, the blue line is pretty bad. I drive in, but the odd times that I take the metro I usually do the extra 5-10 minute walk to Gallery Place from my office to take the yellow instead.

 

[Apple Jack]

Anybody else always wondered why the roosevelt bridge is left looking so hideous in such otherwise beautiful surroundings in a tourist-heavy area?

 

[Swing 51]

aboard an air-conditioned train.

50/50 chance you spend 20 minutes trapped in the tunnel in a car with no air-conditioning.

Pro tip: If a train pulls into your station and some of the cars are packed and others are completely empty or only have a couple people in them, that's a clue on which cars have working a/c.

Now if you want to ##### about malfunctioning escalators or conductors pressing the "doors are closing" announcement before the train has even unloaded, count me in

A worker was rescued from one of the Rosslyn Metro station’s escalators early this morning.

The 23-year-old man, an employee of escalator contractor KONE, got his leg trapped between the framework of the escalator and a steel plate just before 2:00 a.m., according to Arlington County Fire Department spokeswoman Lt. Sarah Marchegiani.

She was unable to say whether the escalator was moving at the time of the incident.

Firefighters freed the man and rushed him to George Washington University Hospital with a “serious right leg injury,” Marchegiani said. The injury was not considered to be life threatening.

No additional details were immediately available.

http://www.arlnow.com/2015/06/23/workers-leg-gets-caught-in-rosslyn-metro-escalator/

 

[VA703]

didn't realize the metro ran that late

 

[skol asylum]

Tried Nandos Peri Peri. Not bad. Tapped out for the day. Too hot and humid. Smithsonians tomorrow and thursday.

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

aboard an air-conditioned train.

50/50 chance you spend 20 minutes trapped in the tunnel in a car with no air-conditioning.

Pro tip: If a train pulls into your station and some of the cars are packed and others are completely empty or only have a couple people in them, that's a clue on which cars have working a/c.

Now if you want to ##### about malfunctioning escalators or conductors pressing the "doors are closing" announcement before the train has even unloaded, count me in

A worker was rescued from one of the Rosslyn Metro station’s escalators early this morning.

The 23-year-old man, an employee of escalator contractor KONE, got his leg trapped between the framework of the escalator and a steel plate just before 2:00 a.m., according to Arlington County Fire Department spokeswoman Lt. Sarah Marchegiani.

She was unable to say whether the escalator was moving at the time of the incident.

Firefighters freed the man and rushed him to George Washington University Hospital with a “serious right leg injury,” Marchegiani said. The injury was not considered to be life threatening.

No additional details were immediately available.

http://www.arlnow.com/2015/06/23/workers-leg-gets-caught-in-rosslyn-metro-escalator/

That is about a four story escalator..is scary just getting on the thing at the top...

 

[njherdfan]

Oh, and can you guys cut out the humidity the week of July 6? The whole city was built on a swamp right?

Are you looking for quick lunch spots or more involved restaurants? I worked in that area so I know most of the lunch options. None of these are really unique. My favorite is probably Nando's, but I'm obsessed with Peri Peri. Veloce is apparently the best of new wave of fast casual pizza joints (think like Chipotle, only you order a personal pizza instead of a burrito), and that's at 1848 L St. Similarly, GRK does a decent fast casual twist on gyros. You've got Chop't and Sweetgreen in the area if you're a frou frou salad guy. District Taco is a few blocks away and is a popular local Chipotle alternative.

It's not really my favorite area for dinner options, but there are some exceptions reasonably close, like Rasika West End, which is excellent Indian. You'll be close enough to Metro to hit whatever dinner options you want. I'll let nittany handle the chef driven recs.

Oh, and can you guys cut out the humidity the week of July 6? The whole city was built on a swamp right?

CF Folks is a little hole in the wall just south of DuPont on 19th and is probably my favorite casual lunch spot in the city. The Well Dressed Burrito is owned by the same people in the alley across the street is also really popular.

So neither of you can do anything about the summer heat/humidity? Sheesh.

Thanks for the reccomendations. Looking forward to working in DC for a bit. I love the vibe of the city. I'm using this first trip as a scout trip so I can plan a few things for when my wife and kid come with me in August. We've all been before but since I get a free room and per diem we are going to take advantage for one of the trips.

I would go to Founding Farmers; that's my favorite restaurant in the city.

I'm going to try and help you find some alternatives!

That sounds awesome. I'm surprised that there are so many people in this thread who have negative views of the place.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

In truth, I've only eaten at Founding Farmers twice. Both times I had perfectly acceptable dinners, but nothing revelatory. Both times I left feeling like I probably wouldn't put up with that type of mob scene for a perfectly acceptable dinner again. With that said, I think its ridiculous to ignore the fact that Founding Farmers is ridiculously popular, which means a lot of people really enjoy the food. It's very well reviewed on Yelp considering the volume of reviews that it gets.

One of the inside baseball critiques that I sometimes hear from foodies is that while it pays lip service to sustainability, it really doesn't take much care to source locally (it is, after all, owned by the North Dakota Farmer's Union). In the NDFU's defense, their first restaurant Agraria was the first place I had a Derek Brown cocktail. So I can't hate on them too much.

 

[dgreen]

I haven't been to Founding Farmers. But, the descriptions remind me, in a way, of the Great American Restaurant chain in Northern Virginia. That's the group with Coastal Flats, Sweetwater Tavern, Carlyle Grand Cafe, etc. The food certainly isn't bad. It's, as Ramsey says of FF, perfectly acceptable. But, it's ridiculously popular. Multiple-hour waits aren't rare.

Foodies tend to really look down on these establishments and the people who eat there. And, as I've grown older and been more willing to explore various restaurants, I no longer get the mass appeal. I see no reason to wait at a decent restaurant when I can easily hit numerous places that are much better (and often cheaper) without a wait.

Super popular restaurants tend to be meh. They obviously aren't downright awful or else they wouldn't be that popular. But, they're also rarely great because, I assume, not enough people are willing to experiment different things to find what's great. The masses like what's good enough and popular.

Obviously the internet has made this much easier, though. Find a trusted source of people who know what they're talking about and follow their lead. For me, that mostly consists of hitting donrockwell.com. Don Rockwell's site has a great message board to do some research and find some gems. As I've posted before, I also check out tcedg.com for suggestions.

 

[Don Quixote]

Yeah, I've found Founding Farmer's okay, but nothing special. Not really worth the wait or coming into DC on the weekends for me. If I'm waiting and coming into DC, I'd prefer something like Ted's Bulletin.

...While on the topic of brunch/breakfast, any suggestions on places to get a quick, good bagel sandwich? I used to go a place around the corner by me, but that closed down about a year ago (not "good" but decent enough). I know a few places to get a quick biscuit sandwich by me, like Stomping Ground or Society Fair, but the snobbish New Jerseyan in me could go for a bagel from time to time. I guess I could go to some place like Einstein's or Bruegger's, but hoping for something more local (and preferably better).

 

[Swing 51]

I won't wait long at Sweetwater (or anywhere for that matter) but the one thing I really like about the Great American Restaurants is they are consistent. Maybe not consistently excellent but it is always a fine meal, seldom do they #### my order up.

Never been to Founding Farmers.

 

[Swing 51]

Also, how about this weather! Looking forward to a long run this afternoon.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Yeah, I've found Founding Farmer's okay, but nothing special. Not really worth the wait or coming into DC on the weekends for me. If I'm waiting and coming into DC, I'd prefer something like Ted's Bulletin.

...While on the topic of brunch/breakfast, any suggestions on places to get a quick, good bagel sandwich? I used to go a place around the corner by me, but that closed down about a year ago (not "good" but decent enough). I know a few places to get a quick biscuit sandwich by me, like Stomping Ground or Society Fair, but the snobbish New Jerseyan in me could go for a bagel from time to time. I guess I could go to some place like Einstein's or Bruegger's, but hoping for something more local (and preferably better).

Einstein's shouldn't be able to call those monstrosities bagels. If I remember correctly, we used to share an employer. If so, the Cafe Phillips by the old office used to do pretty passable bagel sandwiches. DCist mentions Bagels and Baguettes on Capital Hill.

 

[Don Quixote]

Yeah, I've found Founding Farmer's okay, but nothing special. Not really worth the wait or coming into DC on the weekends for me. If I'm waiting and coming into DC, I'd prefer something like Ted's Bulletin.

...While on the topic of brunch/breakfast, any suggestions on places to get a quick, good bagel sandwich? I used to go a place around the corner by me, but that closed down about a year ago (not "good" but decent enough). I know a few places to get a quick biscuit sandwich by me, like Stomping Ground or Society Fair, but the snobbish New Jerseyan in me could go for a bagel from time to time. I guess I could go to some place like Einstein's or Bruegger's, but hoping for something more local (and preferably better).

Einstein's shouldn't be able to call those monstrosities bagels. If I remember correctly, we used to share an employer. If so, the Cafe Phillips by the old office used to do pretty passable bagel sandwiches. DCist mentions Bagels and Baguettes on Capital Hill.

That Cafe Phillips shut down about two weeks after the office move. I guess our employer was keeping that location in business.

Thanks. I'll look up Bagels and Baguettes.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Yeah, I've found Founding Farmer's okay, but nothing special. Not really worth the wait or coming into DC on the weekends for me. If I'm waiting and coming into DC, I'd prefer something like Ted's Bulletin.

...While on the topic of brunch/breakfast, any suggestions on places to get a quick, good bagel sandwich? I used to go a place around the corner by me, but that closed down about a year ago (not "good" but decent enough). I know a few places to get a quick biscuit sandwich by me, like Stomping Ground or Society Fair, but the snobbish New Jerseyan in me could go for a bagel from time to time. I guess I could go to some place like Einstein's or Bruegger's, but hoping for something more local (and preferably better).

I'm from a snobby (when it comes to bagels) NY family, and I drive to Bethesda Bagels for a dozen every weekend. Everything else I've had in town is a distant second. The sandwiches are nothing special other than the bagel they come on, but as far as I'm concerned that's like 90% of what makes a good breakfast sandwich.

 

[Don Quixote]

Yeah, I've found Founding Farmer's okay, but nothing special. Not really worth the wait or coming into DC on the weekends for me. If I'm waiting and coming into DC, I'd prefer something like Ted's Bulletin.

...While on the topic of brunch/breakfast, any suggestions on places to get a quick, good bagel sandwich? I used to go a place around the corner by me, but that closed down about a year ago (not "good" but decent enough). I know a few places to get a quick biscuit sandwich by me, like Stomping Ground or Society Fair, but the snobbish New Jerseyan in me could go for a bagel from time to time. I guess I could go to some place like Einstein's or Bruegger's, but hoping for something more local (and preferably better).

I'm from a snobby (when it comes to bagels) NY family, and I drive to Bethesda Bagels for a dozen every weekend. Everything else I've had in town is a distant second. The sandwiches are nothing special other than the bagel they come on, but as far as I'm concerned that's like 90% of what makes a good breakfast sandwich.

Thanks. I was just checking out their web site and the pictures of the bagels there do look the closest to NY/NJ that I've seen. Bit of a trip from Alexandria for me, but I'm going to have to get over there.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

How does the joint at Courthouse stack up for a true bagel snob? Used to go there every weekend when I lived there. IIRC those guys are from NYC and they make their own on site.

 

[Swing 51]

How does the joint at Courthouse stack up for a true bagel snob? Used to go there every weekend when I lived there. IIRC those guys are from NYC and they make their own on site.

Brooklyn Bagel Shop? Never been but I hear they are great. Used to be a cash only joint, not sure if that changed.

 

[Apple Jack]

Fwiw, for those not aware, there is a new, bigger, Italian Store in Westover.

 

[Todd Andrews]

Yeah, I've found Founding Farmer's okay, but nothing special. Not really worth the wait or coming into DC on the weekends for me. If I'm waiting and coming into DC, I'd prefer something like Ted's Bulletin.

...While on the topic of brunch/breakfast, any suggestions on places to get a quick, good bagel sandwich? I used to go a place around the corner by me, but that closed down about a year ago (not "good" but decent enough). I know a few places to get a quick biscuit sandwich by me, like Stomping Ground or Society Fair, but the snobbish New Jerseyan in me could go for a bagel from time to time. I guess I could go to some place like Einstein's or Bruegger's, but hoping for something more local (and preferably better).

I'm from a snobby (when it comes to bagels) NY family, and I drive to Bethesda Bagels for a dozen every weekend. Everything else I've had in town is a distant second. The sandwiches are nothing special other than the bagel they come on, but as far as I'm concerned that's like 90% of what makes a good breakfast sandwich.

Izzy's on Rockville Pike has good bagels.

 

[Swing 51]

Fwiw, for those not aware, there is a new, bigger, Italian Store in Westover.

With a gelato and coffee bar too! You must be patient tho, they are still getting the hang of things and the sub makers are a bit slow. Just began taking phone orders.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Yeah, I've found Founding Farmer's okay, but nothing special. Not really worth the wait or coming into DC on the weekends for me. If I'm waiting and coming into DC, I'd prefer something like Ted's Bulletin.

...While on the topic of brunch/breakfast, any suggestions on places to get a quick, good bagel sandwich? I used to go a place around the corner by me, but that closed down about a year ago (not "good" but decent enough). I know a few places to get a quick biscuit sandwich by me, like Stomping Ground or Society Fair, but the snobbish New Jerseyan in me could go for a bagel from time to time. I guess I could go to some place like Einstein's or Bruegger's, but hoping for something more local (and preferably better).

I'm from a snobby (when it comes to bagels) NY family, and I drive to Bethesda Bagels for a dozen every weekend. Everything else I've had in town is a distant second. The sandwiches are nothing special other than the bagel they come on, but as far as I'm concerned that's like 90% of what makes a good breakfast sandwich.

Izzy's on Rockville Pike has good bagels.

Yeah I think there's a couple decent spots in the MD suburbs, because that's where the Jews are. Bethesda Bagels has a Dupont Circle location, though, which is key.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

OK, Alexandria peeps. Convince me that I haven't moved to a desolate hellscape.

As background, my wife and I lived on the top 2 floors of a 200 year old house in Georgetown. It was kind of a dump. It was kind of a minor miracle to get a hot shower. The doorknob kept coming off. The stairs were about as wide Karen Carpenter's hips so any furniture of any size at all had to be hoisted up onto the deck or the roof and brought in through a window. Which was all annoying but OK until we had little Scrappygang in February. Suddenly, the fact that overhead light sockets seemed to blow out bulbs and we'd hear buzzing in the wires and that the roof was leaking began to seem a bit more serious.

So my wife, who now admits that she wasn't thinking all that rationally, decided to move to an apartment right across the hall from her sister here in the ###-end of Alexandria (across from the EIsenhower Ave. Metro, by the PTO campus). When we add in commuting costs, we're not saving any money. But more annoyingly, there's pretty much nothing to walk to any closer than Old Town (and I'm not all that in love with King St. myself). No parks unless we schlep to the waterfront. No interesting restaurants.

So what should I definitely show her in Alexandria keeping in mind that I can drive, but that I hate any parking that's not dead simple and that I'll 4 month old with me? Something in Del Ray? Because I'm not sure how long I can just hang in the apartment while she talks about ruining our life.

 

[TobiasFunke]

OK, Alexandria peeps. Convince me that I haven't moved to a desolate hellscape.

As background, my wife and I lived on the top 2 floors of a 200 year old house in Georgetown. It was kind of a dump. It was kind of a minor miracle to get a hot shower. The doorknob kept coming off. The stairs were about as wide Karen Carpenter's hips so any furniture of any size at all had to be hoisted up onto the deck or the roof and brought in through a window. Which was all annoying but OK until we had little Scrappygang in February. Suddenly, the fact that overhead light sockets seemed to blow out bulbs and we'd hear buzzing in the wires and that the roof was leaking began to seem a bit more serious.

So my wife, who now admits that she wasn't thinking all that rationally, decided to move to an apartment right across the hall from her sister here in the ###-end of Alexandria (across from the EIsenhower Ave. Metro, by the PTO campus). When we add in commuting costs, we're not saving any money. But more annoyingly, there's pretty much nothing to walk to any closer than Old Town (and I'm not all that in love with King St. myself). No parks unless we schlep to the waterfront. No interesting restaurants.

So what should I definitely show her in Alexandria keeping in mind that I can drive, but that I hate any parking that's not dead simple and that I'll 4 month old with me? Something in Del Ray? Because I'm not sure how long I can just hang in the apartment while she talks about ruining our life.

Still renting? So you can correct this. Join us up here in paradise.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

OK, Alexandria peeps. Convince me that I haven't moved to a desolate hellscape.

As background, my wife and I lived on the top 2 floors of a 200 year old house in Georgetown. It was kind of a dump. It was kind of a minor miracle to get a hot shower. The doorknob kept coming off. The stairs were about as wide Karen Carpenter's hips so any furniture of any size at all had to be hoisted up onto the deck or the roof and brought in through a window. Which was all annoying but OK until we had little Scrappygang in February. Suddenly, the fact that overhead light sockets seemed to blow out bulbs and we'd hear buzzing in the wires and that the roof was leaking began to seem a bit more serious.

So my wife, who now admits that she wasn't thinking all that rationally, decided to move to an apartment right across the hall from her sister here in the ###-end of Alexandria (across from the EIsenhower Ave. Metro, by the PTO campus). When we add in commuting costs, we're not saving any money. But more annoyingly, there's pretty much nothing to walk to any closer than Old Town (and I'm not all that in love with King St. myself). No parks unless we schlep to the waterfront. No interesting restaurants.

So what should I definitely show her in Alexandria keeping in mind that I can drive, but that I hate any parking that's not dead simple and that I'll 4 month old with me? Something in Del Ray? Because I'm not sure how long I can just hang in the apartment while she talks about ruining our life.

Still renting? So you can correct this. Join us up here in paradise.

Have a 13 month lease. Also have no job for now and a ####load of student debt. If I can get that rectified, this has at least convinced the wife that any house we look for will be in DC.

 

[Don Quixote]

OK, Alexandria peeps. Convince me that I haven't moved to a desolate hellscape.

As background, my wife and I lived on the top 2 floors of a 200 year old house in Georgetown. It was kind of a dump. It was kind of a minor miracle to get a hot shower. The doorknob kept coming off. The stairs were about as wide Karen Carpenter's hips so any furniture of any size at all had to be hoisted up onto the deck or the roof and brought in through a window. Which was all annoying but OK until we had little Scrappygang in February. Suddenly, the fact that overhead light sockets seemed to blow out bulbs and we'd hear buzzing in the wires and that the roof was leaking began to seem a bit more serious.

So my wife, who now admits that she wasn't thinking all that rationally, decided to move to an apartment right across the hall from her sister here in the ###-end of Alexandria (across from the EIsenhower Ave. Metro, by the PTO campus). When we add in commuting costs, we're not saving any money. But more annoyingly, there's pretty much nothing to walk to any closer than Old Town (and I'm not all that in love with King St. myself). No parks unless we schlep to the waterfront. No interesting restaurants.

So what should I definitely show her in Alexandria keeping in mind that I can drive, but that I hate any parking that's not dead simple and that I'll 4 month old with me? Something in Del Ray? Because I'm not sure how long I can just hang in the apartment while she talks about ruining our life.

Yeah, Eisenhower is not the most exciting part of town. Del Ray is good -- I'd recommend the Dairy Godmother for frozen custard. Holy Cow has pretty good burgers. Del Ray Cafe for brunch. Evening Star is a pretty popular spot too -- same family of restaurants as ChurchKey. For fancier meals in Old Town, there's Restaurant Eve (the gold standard) and Vermilion.

Grape & Bean in Rosemont is a good place outside some of the more popular neighborhoods, with good wine, beer, and coffee. A little north of Old Town on Rte. 1 S is a new development, which has had some good eats move in -- Sugar Shack Donuts, Lost Dog Cafe, Bastille, and Mason Social (though I haven't been to the last two yet).

You're not far from Port City Brewing Company. TopGolf Alexandria, if you just want to take out your anger on a driver.

For other less-traveled parks, there's Fort Ward (reconstructed Civil War fort). If you bicycle, you could bicycle up to Gravelly Point or down the Potomac along the Mount Vernon Trail.

If anything you need more suggestions on, I can try to think up some more.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

the ###-end of Alexandria (across from the EIsenhower Ave. Metro, by the PTO campus). When we add in commuting costs, we're not saving any money. But more annoyingly, there's pretty much nothing to walk to any closer than Old Town (and I'm not all that in love with King St. myself). No parks unless we schlep to the waterfront. No interesting restaurants.

So what should I definitely show her in Alexandria keeping in mind that I can drive, but that I hate any parking that's not dead simple and that I'll 4 month old with me? Something in Del Ray? Because I'm not sure how long I can just hang in the apartment while she talks about ruining our life.

Sorry Scoob, you've moved into a desolate hellscape.

I lived on Harvard street right next to the Metro for four years before we moved to the wilds of Fairfax and also think King Street is a little overrated in terms of stuff to do -- especially that end of it.

If your kid will sleep in a car seat you can try Vermillion (our favorite restaurant there) or the sushi joint about two blocks up King from the Torpedo Factory. Misha's coffee is OK, but the big one in Del Ray (forget the name now) is better. Not a good bagel to be had. We used to go to happy hour at the Austin Grill a lot, but that was as much out of habit and thrift as anything else.

Del Ray is better, but also pretty small and very expensive now.

 

[Don Quixote]

the ###-end of Alexandria (across from the EIsenhower Ave. Metro, by the PTO campus). When we add in commuting costs, we're not saving any money. But more annoyingly, there's pretty much nothing to walk to any closer than Old Town (and I'm not all that in love with King St. myself). No parks unless we schlep to the waterfront. No interesting restaurants.

So what should I definitely show her in Alexandria keeping in mind that I can drive, but that I hate any parking that's not dead simple and that I'll 4 month old with me? Something in Del Ray? Because I'm not sure how long I can just hang in the apartment while she talks about ruining our life.

Sorry Scoob, you've moved into a desolate hellscape.

I lived on Harvard street right next to the Metro for four years before we moved to the wilds of Fairfax and also think King Street is a little overrated in terms of stuff to do -- especially that end of it.

If your kid will sleep in a car seat you can try Vermillion (our favorite restaurant there) or the sushi joint about two blocks up King from the Torpedo Factory. Misha's coffee is OK, but the big one in Del Ray (forget the name now) is better. Not a good bagel to be had. We used to go to happy hour at the Austin Grill a lot, but that was as much out of habit and thrift as anything else.

Del Ray is better, but also pretty small and very expensive now.

M.E. Swing's roastery is in Del Ray, if that is the one that you are referring to. I usually get my beans straight from there; I can get beans just a couple of days after roasting. They make good coffee on the premises too, but I think they only serve gluten-free pastries (a mistake to purchase that I made only once), so I don't drink there too often. Del Ray also has St. Elmo's coffee shop, which is good if just looking for a place to sit down with a cup.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

As a DC coffee nerd, I'm at least familiar with Misha's and Swing's beans. I'll probably still keep my subscription through Vigilante (BTW, anyone been to Maketto yet?). Misha's is in walking distance on days when the weather isn't totally oppressive. My wife is pushing me to just drink the coffee the building puts out downstairs. Its like she doesn't know me.

 

[Don Quixote]

As a DC coffee nerd, I'm at least familiar with Misha's and Swing's beans. I'll probably still keep my subscription through Vigilante (BTW, anyone been to Maketto yet?). Misha's is in walking distance on days when the weather isn't totally oppressive. My wife is pushing me to just drink the coffee the building puts out downstairs. Its like she doesn't know me.

If Misha's is walking distance, my preference over there is Killer ESP, which is a block away on King, and serves Stumptown Coffee and pies from Dangerously Delicious Pies (but I think we had the discussion before you aren't as much into espresso).