Travel Leftovers: DC & NYC

I've been back in CT from my travels down south for about a week now, but I still wanted to write about a few things. While in D.C. I visited the Folger Shakespeare Library, which I would recommend solely because of it's gift shop (but, it has other cool stuff too). I picked up these awesome postcards (see above) that were copied from flyers made during the Bard's time. They had one for every play, so I chose a few of my favorites. All in all, it's a great place to pick up a unique gift for the unemployed English major in your life.

While I was in NYC there were three things I wanted to do (apart from hanging out with people in my age group) : get my hair cut, get it colored, and try crack pie. I got the first two done, but crack pie will have to wait for another visit. Crack pie is, of course, a dessert made at milk bar, which is a part of momofuku, a very important NYC restaurant group. However. I first heard about crack pie from Anderson Cooper. Granted, he was co-hosting Regis and Kelly at the time, but still. He was talking to me. Anyways, Anderson said it was so deliciously addictive--hence the name. I suppose it's just as well since it's got a boatload of calories and, at $5 a slice, a habit I can't really support right now.

I still needed by sweet fix though. As fate would have it, my aunt and uncle live across the street from La Bergamote, which is in their words the best French bakery/cafe in the city. And, since they both lived in Paris, they would know.

I'll take one of each, please

Clearly, I had a wicked hard time deciding, but after a brief flirtation with the mousse noisette flavored with hazelnut, I chose the pascaline, a hazelnut AND pistachio mousse cake--because why settle for one nut mousse when you can have two?


It may not have been crack pie, but it was definitely addictive.

How Many Cities Can I Go To In February?

DC: Check
NYC: Check
Hartford: Check
Boston: Next week
Portland, ME: ?

I think I'm on my way to a new personal record!

Postcard From The District: Eastern Market

My love of food markets is well documented on this blog so when I read about D.C.'s Eastern Market naturally, it topped my To-Do list. Unlike Boston's market scene, this one is mostly indoors, with a Sunday flea market to boot, and operates everyday except Mondays. Sadly, I couldn't make it to the flea market but even late on a Wednesday afternoon it's still a fun place to visit. As my friend Elizabeth, who spent a summer in D.C., put it "It's the only thing remotely bordering on 'hipster cool' in this town." Remotely hipster cool? I'm there!


All in all, it reminded me a bit of Spitalfields Market in London--except not as trendy or big. Ok, maybe it was just the indoor-ness that connected the two. I really wanted to eat at Market Lunch, a counter-top lunch spot inside, but it's only opened until 3 pm. Apparently they have fabulous blueberry buckwheat pancakes called Bluebacks. The vendors are all pretty friendly too, which helps to give it a nice neighborhood-y vibe. The guy I bought potatoes from gave me a free banana! Granted, he said it was for the baby, but still. It's the thought that counts.

D.C. Still To-Do List

It's brilliantly sunny outside with temps in the high 40s, which is practically shorts weather in New England. But, I have a sore throat, am super congested, and got about five hours sleep last night :( Perhaps I'll rally after the baby wakes up from her nap and hit up some sites. I have 2 1/2 days left in D.C. and still want to do the following things:

Library of Congress
Lincoln Memorial
Market Lunch at Eastern Market
The Smithsonian

Will I make it or will time. Run. Out?

Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion...

Postcard From The District: Lost On The Hill

I'm working on a post about Eastern Market but in the meantime here's one about another cafe I went to, Peregrine Espresso right near by. I'll admit, I was tempted at first to go into Le Pain Quotidien next door but decided to support a local business owner instead. Thank GOD I did because look how pretty they made my latte!

Also, they had cookie sandwiches. Mine was sugar cookie with seeded raspberry jam--because seedless jam is for losers.

Then I got completely lost while walking home thanks to the whole 'let's have different streets with the same name' thing D.C. has going on. Granted, there are far worse places to spend a sunny afternoon than Capitol Hill and I managed to see some very lovely row houses, but man that baby got pretty heavy after the second hour. Eventually, I made it home but I doubt my back will ever be the same.

A Street in SE when I needed to be in NE


It's easy for row houses to get monotonous, but I love how unique each house is.

Postcard From The District: Coffee Break

Well, I made it outside today. Bonus points for taking the baby with me. I kept things local since it wasn't very nice out. Also, I'm still getting used to the baby-carrier thingy. After doing a little research on Yelp, I decided to check out Sidamo Coffee and Tea which supposedly has the best coffee in D.C. Generally, I'm more of a tea aficionado. But I can still appreciate a good brew. It isn't on the greatest of streets, but the area is going through a regeneration of sorts. Besides, who's gonna mess with this?:

...No one. That's who.

Sidamo offers organic fair trade, shade-grown Ethiopian coffee, as well as a variety of teas, and roasts its' beans daily. The owners themselves are from Ethiopia and have gone to great lengths to give the coffeehouse it's own unique vibe. They also offer a traditional Ethiopian Coffee ceremony on Sundays that is free for customers.

coffee menu and tea selection

I had a cafe au lait and while the coffee certainly had a kick, it wasn't bitter at all. It had a nice, smooth taste. Normally, when I get the similar Cafe Misto from Starbucks the coffee is more than a little acidic and sometimes burnt-tasting. So, for around the same price as Starbucks you can get a much better tasting drink, while supporting a locally-owned business in an up and coming neighborhood.

P.S.
They also have really good chocolate chip cookies.

Ms. Sullivan Goes To Washington

Most of my time will involve some variation of this

As I mentioned a few posts ago, I was laid off from one of my teaching jobs back in December. As disheartening as this was for me, my newly unemployed status was a boon to my aunt and uncle. They desperately needed someone to help care for their 5 month old baby girl while my aunt sang in an opera in Washington D.C. My uncle couldn't go because of his singing gig in NYC, so they made me an offer I couldn't refuse: two weeks in D.C., all expenses paid, in exchange for nanny duties.

So, here I am in Washington D.C. for the next two weeks. We're staying in a cute little garden apartment on Capitol Hill within walking distance of a number of sites. That being said, between the exhaustion from traveling yesterday, the never-ending snow, and my nanny duties, I have yet to leave the house. However, I've done some research and have a whole list of things I want to do. I haven't been to D.C. since a seventh grade field trip, so there's a lot to revisit (Lincoln Memorial) but also discover (Library of Congress!!!) Uh oh...sounds like someone's up from their afternoon nap. More later!

Postcard From Amtrak: New Haven > NYC

"I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train"~Oscar Wilde

Ah, the train. There is no more sophisticated way to travel. So smooth, so quiet, so much room! As cousin Katie said, “Oh Emily, it’s going to change your life.”

I’ll admit. Taking the bus back to Boston is gonna be a tough one.

Tea, chocolate, and two seats to myself.

Taking the train from New Haven to NYC is always an experience. Filled with business men who never turn their phones off and negotiate deals between Bridgeport and Stamford. The closer we get to the city, the more frequent the phone calls, the more forceful the voices.

It’s a bit of a trip to admire the view of southern Connecticut, which has always felt like another country to me, or, at the very least, like something out of a movie. Oh. Right. This is what most people think Connecticut is like.

There’ll be another train ride tomorrow---which I assume will be filled with politicos instead of stockbrokers. Two weeks in the country's capitol? Yes, please!