There are lots of shows, parties, and food events this week. Check it out, Bitches.
All Week: Go Veg
Follow in my animal-loving footsteps and celebrate DC Meat-Free Week! There are restaurant events all week long (details, here). Thursday, DC food trucks—Eat Wonky, Sweet Flow,Pie Truck, Fojol Brothers, PORC Mobile, and DC Slices—are offering dollar discounts on all their veggie fare.
Monday: See
We just love some Woolly Mammoth (the theater, not the animal … actually, I’m pretty sure the animal was cool, too). The Penn Quarter theater’s newest play, Oedipus el Rey, an adaptation of the original tragedy, opens tonight. Tickets, $30.
Tuesday: Rock
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training hosts a night of Rock’N’Roll at Whitlows on Wilson. Live music, complimentary apps, and an info session on Team in Training, which can teach pretty much anyone how to run a marathon or half marathon. 6:30-9:30 p.m. 2854 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, V.A.
Wednesday: Dress for Success
The Business Center at Flashpoint and Deb Sivigny, a costume designer who also works for Stacy London’s Style for Hire, host a workshop, Dress for Success: The Art of Dressing for Auditions and Interviews. Learn how to dress for interviews and auditions, and how to pick clothing that complements your body type. 6-8 p.m, The Studio Theater, 1835 14th St. N.W., Washington D.C.
Thursday: Binge
Yipee! The International Food and Wine Festival is finally here—I’ve been waiting for another excuse to overeat and drink excessively. The event starts Thursday and culminates in the Grand Tasting Event this weekend. Details and tickets, here. Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, D.C.
Photo credit: Wine & Food Festival
Friday: Party
One of the best galas of the year, SOME (So Others Might Eat) Jr. Gala takes place this Friday. Drink and dance the night away with young professionals while supporting a meaningful cause. Tickets, $85 for a single, $170 for couples, cover unlimited drinks, hors d’ouevres and live tunes from the Blue Tips Rhythm Review. February 11, 8 p.m. to midnight at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
Saturday: Run
Get your skivvies out! This Saturday is the only time you’ll be able to run through the Capitol in your underwear, courtesy of Cupid’s Undie Run, which benefits the Children’s Tumor Foundation. The race itself is sold out, but you can watch us from the side of the race route, along Pennsylvania Avenue and in front of the Capitol. We’ll be running in it (look for our “Bitches” undies!).
Sunday: Kiss For Your Burger
Bring your Valentine to Z Burger on Sunday or Monday, kiss at the counter, get a free heart-shaped burger. Yes, you get to make out in public, then eat free beef. Z Burger, 4321 Wisconsin Ave . N.W. Sunday, open-close, Monday, open-4 p.m.
I live in Pentagon City. Well, I take that back. I pass out in Pentagon City. I actually spend most of my life in the District. As such, I never, ever venture to Clarendon or Ballston, because doing so would require switching Metro trains (the horror). And if I’m going to be taking two Metro trains somewhere, it’s going to be somewhere in the city.
But that anti-Orange-line tune of mine has been changing recently with the discovery of some mighty fantastic food over yonder. The thought of Ray’s Hellburger, for instance, has actually motivated me enough to hunt for my long-lost car, dig it out from whatever snow or months’ worth of leaves it’s under, and drive it to my Virginia neighbors.
And then, through a fluke girls’ dinner with no set plans or reservations (and someone else was driving), I discovered Rustico in Ballston. And I was in love. It’s not that it was super posh or gourmet. No, Rustico is actually quite a laid back joint. It’s just that every dish was perfection. The service was fantastic. The wine was delicious. There wasn’t a hitch to the entire meal. It was one of the best dining experiences I have had in the last year. But in Ballston? Mmkay.
So when the restaurant announced that it was serving brunch last month, I nearly wept. Could it be anything like that dinner that I now-constantly fantasize about? And when is the next possible Brunch O’Clock that I can get myself over there? Not even their Alexandria location serves brunch. This is gonna be great!
Turns out, it’s not your typical brunch. But that sort of creativity was to be expected (required, even) from chef Steve Mannino. For starters, there isn’t a brunch cocktail menu. It’s a full bar, so you can get your mimosas or Marys if you please, but the focus in this Belgian joint is on the beer, of course. Their beer menu has some 400 brews, curated by the great Greg Engert. The selection rivals some of the largest wine menus I’ve seen in restaurants. It’s truly impressive.
The brunch menu isn’t that big. There are starters, main dishes, salads, and of course, their hearth-fired artisan pizzas with a big selection of toppings … But it’s a solid, if small, selection that’s completely thought out. One thing to note is this is definitely not the place for a vegetarian brunch. There are only one or two options, and most of our veggimen went for the meat dishes sans the meat.
We started with Mama Mannino’s doughnuts (how can you not?). They arrived still warm, tasting of gorgeous ricotta, and doused in powdered sugar. They were small donut puffs, but so tasty for their size. Definitely the perfect appetizer, if you like to start with something sweet.
Another winner from the starter menu was the smoked salmon tart, topped with spicy cabbage slaw, crème fraiche, and crispy capers. Really, it’s not a tart at all; it’s a smoked salmon pizza—a misrepresentation from the description on the menu. The “tart” was versatile: it could be someone’s sole brunch dish, or a starter to share. It was light and healthy, but still tasty and rich. It’s also very pretty, to boot.
From the brunch options, it was unanimously agreed that the favorite dish was the brisket beef hash. Topped with an egg, sunny side up, and with black pepper biscuits on the side, the hash was set atop a bed of home fries. The meat was tender and full of flavor. It was simple, but delicious. Totally a winter brunch dish.
The truffled couscous carbonara was also a winner. The dish came with bacon and ham bits mixed in with other seasonings, and a poached egg floating in the middle. The couscous had a lovely, delicate mix of spices. It seemed odd to eat couscous with a breakfast spin—a poached egg in the middle, no less—but it worked. The enormous breakfast pizza was also great. Classic country breakfast, topped with sausage, potatoes, peppers, onions, cheese, two eggs, and bacon. Too huge for just one person.
From there, the dishes went downhill a smidge. The croissant sandwich was just okay. A bit too greasy, it came with bacon, egg, lettuce, cheddar cheese and breakfast potatoes on the side, though we ordered it without the bacon (why don’t more places offer turkey bacon?). Missing the bacon probably took away that much-needed salty touch. The egg was oddly not scrambled, which made it a bit hard to eat.
The eggs Benedict comes with Virginia ham, spinach, crab hollandaise, and breakfast potatoes. We ordered it without the ham (yet another veggiman at the table), and the verdict was, “meh.” We’ve had better Bennys. But, we’re Bitches.
The service was excellent. Our waitress was spunky and quick and finished our thoughts before we even expressed what we needed. I had the same experience at dinner. Each server knew the menu inside out and was able to recommend appropriate dishes, beer, and wine. We were a bit late (per usual), and the lovely hostess had no problem bumping our rezzie another half-hour, and then still seating us as soon as we arrived, which I always appreciate.
Plus, the décor is fantastic at Rustico. It wasn’t too loud at brunch, and there’s plenty of seating. Brunch was almost as great as my foodie-orgasmic dinner there. But it was brunch, which is always better than dinner, of course.
The Bitches say: A. Delicious food, great service, comforting setting. Turns out you don’t need the bells and whistles.
Rustico
4075 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22203
(571) 384-1820
It’s your worst brunch nightmare. You’re enjoying a lovely Sunday mid-morning tête-à-tête in a fabulous restaurant. The ambiance is great; your hangover is just starting to subside. And then … someone starts jackhammering into the sidewalk outside the window where you’re sitting.
This was the scene a few Sundays ago at Brasserie Beck. We were just getting into the brunch—the service swift, the seafood fresh, the mimosas flowing. And then that jackhammer came boring into my skull.
It’s not the restaurant’s fault. Clearly, someone had instructed the construction workers not to jackhammer during business hours on that busy downtown block. And Sunday brunchtime, downtown does seem rather empty.
The apologetic servers and managers were stressing much more than we were. But still, it sadly spoiled the experience. Our seats were literally vibrating. The plates rattling. We had to raise our voices to hear one another.
Poor Brasserie Beck. I had been there for dinner before, and it was lovely. Its high ceilings, open kitchen, blue tile, and antique clocks make it feel like a bistro just outside a European train station. And the impressive Belgian beer list and raw bar matches that atmosphere. But, perhaps the construction was clouding my thoughts, because, sadly, brunch didn’t live up to that fabulous dinner.
First of all, the brunch menu is tiny: only four dishes to choose from, along with just a few sides and cocktails. If you want anything other than eggs or waffles, you have to venture to the much-larger lunch menu, which some of our Bitches reluctantly did that day.
Cori Sue had the classic moules frites (read: mussels and fries) in a white wine, garlic, and parsley sauce. The enormous serving of mussels came served in the traditional way—in an enormous pot that is dramatically opened to steam and scent. The mussels were delicious and correctly cooked, as they should be. I suppose you should expect nothing less from Robert Wiedmaier, the German chef whose specialty is “classic, whole animal butchery.” Huh?
Expectations were also high for the frites, being that it’s a specialty of most Belgian spots. These frites, however, were small, room temperature, and not as tasty as some we’ve sampled from others around town. They come with three types of mayonnaise: plain, green curry, and something else that clearly wasn’t impressive enough for me to remember what it was.
The eggs Benny, however, was by far the most interesting—and perhaps tasty—Benny I’ve had in our Brunching endeavors. The perfectly poached eggs were balanced on two crossed strips of crispy Serrano ham. That was all set upon a tasty biscuit, which was quite a nice touch. The secret ingredient here wasn’t the Hollandaise sauce (though that was mighty delicious itself), it was the goat cheese. Served on a blue plate to set it apart, and with a bit of greens on the side, the entire dish was delightfully tasty and well presented. The best I’ve had in a while, and the redeeming piece of this entire brunch.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the French toast came as three triangular slices in syrup with a sprinkle of powdered sugar – hardly a meal. When the dish was set in front of him, the beau quite rightly questioned: Where is the fourth slice? Do they throw it out? Three slices just doesn’t make sense. It wasn’t extraordinarily tasty either. And the tiny dish left him hungry.
The apple crepe, which was the brunch special that day, looked equally plain. However, when you broke it open, diced apples in rich sauce spilled out. It was an unexpected surprise, all that flavor. One of our Bitches strayed off the brunch menu and went for a croque monsieur, which looked delightfully greasy and filling, especially since it was served with more frites.
The drinks are pricey. But they do offer peach or strawberry bellinis, and something they call a crevecour, which is chamomile citrus berry aperitea with champagne, which sounds mighty tasty. The cappuccino was frothy, delicious, and big. And it came in a personal-size French press, with a sugar stirrer, which is a nice touch.
The Bitches say: B-. Small brunch menu, small portions; there’s better Belgian brunch to be found in the city. Only that fabulous eggs Benny brought it up from a C.
Brasserie Beck 1101 K St. N.W.
Washington, D.C.
(202) 408-1717
Like any good American, I love beer and pizza. Matchbox, with locations in Chinatown and Capitol Hill, is great at both—delish pizza, solid, good ol’ American cuisine, and a great beer selection. Therefore, it was easy enough to convince beau to stop by Matchbox for brunch, to stuff ourselves silly with bad-for-you food, even after doing so for five straight days over Thanksgiving. (Waistline, be damned).
At the Capitol Hill location, we were promptly greeted and shown to a table, despite the restaurant being rather packed. The ambiance was lively and light, and a charming band played Christmas carols and oldies tunes to accompany brunch. Our waiter, who was mighty handsome, was pleasant and competent, albeit rather busy.
In addition to an extensive beer selection, Matchbox has a solid list of brunch beverages, with six Bloody Mary variations and five mimosa options. I selected the Matchbox Mimosa with orange juice, champagne, Patron Citronge, orange wheel and a fresh strawberry. This concoction was festive, flavorful, and strong. (Good thing I wasn’t driving!)
We started out with an order of the cast-iron baked cinnamon rolls with cream cheese icing, a great deal for a whole pan of them for $6. However, the rolls were undercooked and mushy—they needed about five more minutes in the oven. They lacked sufficient cinnamon flavor, which may have been a result of the mushiness. The cream cheese icing was delicious, but there wasn’t enough of it. I’d rather get a roll of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls from the grocery store for $2 and do it myself.
Matchbox has lots of creative brunch options, such as a bloody mary burger, banana bread French toast, stuffed French toast, prosciutto and a gruyere waffle sandwich. Beau, always the difficult one (whoopie pies over cupcakes, lunch over brunch) ordered a vegetable pizza. He claims he was sticking to Matchbox’s signature items—beer and pizza (which turned out to be a smart decision).
The vegetable pizza was delicious—loaded with mushrooms, onions, peppers, herbs and potato crisps. I, however, would have liked to see more vegetable options—peppers and onions are just OK, and since when do potato chips count as a vegetable?
I ordered the cast iron smoked salmon and eggs, served with grilled ciabatta with garlic butter and fingerling potatoes. The waiter was happy to substitute a side salad for the fingerling potatoes (I’d been eating mashed potatoes for five days and needed something green) despite the fact that the menu said no substitutions. The side salad was delightful—just what I wanted—fluffy fresh mixed greens, caramelized onions and cherry tomatoes tossed in balsamic vinaigrette and topped with a Parmesan crisp.
Now, on to the salmon and eggs, which was actually more a smidge of salmon in a sea of eggs served sunny-side up. So many eggs, so little bread and salmon. I’m a bread fiend, and, on the menu, the warm ciabatta toasted with garlic butter sounded absolutely divine. In reality, the bread was cold, lacked garlic flavor, and there wasn’t enough of it. (And, yes, I just judged the bread).
Similarly, the smoked salmon was fresh and delicious, and it had cream cheese, onions and capers folded inside the salmon (a salmon surprise when unrolled!). I just wish there was more of it—I had about five bites of salmon+ accoutrements+bread+eggs and then all I was left with a vat of runny, slimy eggs in excess.
The bitches say: C+. Matchbox should stick to what they know—pizza, beer, and drinks. The brunch dishes we sampled, while fresh and edible, were poorly prepared. Perhaps the chef was having a bad day? I’d be willing to go back and give them another chance—as the menu had lots of options. Jazz band was a nice touch.
Bethesda Restaurant Weekis Monday July 26 to Sunday Aug. 1. Three course lunches run $12–15 and three-course dinners are $30. Restaurants include Jaleo, Redwood, Assaggi Mozzarella Bar, and more. Head to Open Table for reservations.
Brunch at Meridian Pint. Meridian Pint, the new self-serve beer spot in Columbia Heights, opens for full brunch this Sunday. Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 3400 11th St. N.W., Washington, D.C. (202) 588-1075.
Sample PORC, DC’s newest food truck. The Purveyors of Rolling Cuisine (PORC)invite you to sample their menu this Sunday. Items include: brisket sandwiches, pulled pork, BLTs, veggie burgers, and plenty of side dishes made from fresh farmer’s market ingredients. Sun., Aug. 1, 5–8:30 p.m. Duffy’s Pub, 2106 Vermont Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. (Thanks, Prince of Petworth!)
Drink
1st Annual Craft Beer Festival. All week, head to Kemble Park Tavern for complimentary beer tastings from 5 – 6:30 p.m. followed by $4 drafts of American craft beers. Another option is a special beer tasting menu for $55. 5125 MacArthur Blvd. N.W., Washington, D.C. (202) 966-5125.
Bistro Lepic Wine Tasting. Every Tuesday, charming French wine bar Bistro Lepic hosts a free wine tasting party from 6–8 p.m. Go, drink, enjoy! 1736 Wisconsin Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. (202) 333-0111.
Photo credit: tibchris
Go:
Best Buddies Charity Fashion Happy Hour. Happy hour specials – donations welcome. For more information, please visit Thurs. July 29, 5–9 p.m. Teatro Goldoni, 1909 K St. N.W., Washington D.C.
Blue Crush: A Summer Celebration to Crush Colon Cancer. Head to Adam’s Morgan for a dance party to help cure colon cancer—all proceeds benefit Chris4Life Patient, Treatment, and Care Program. Hosted by Pamela’s Punch, Stroga and featuring soul singer Deborah Bond, the City Dance Ensemble, indie rockband The Four Horseman and more. Tues., July 27, 7 – 10 p.m. 1808 Adams Mill Road N.W., Washington, D.C. Tickets, $35, online.
Broken Gulf: A Benefit for the LA Bucket Brigade. The Louisiana Bucket Brigade is a nonprofit that tracks the impact of the BP Oil Spill. Eatonville in the U-Street Corridor hosts a benefit with food, live music, and poetry readings. Sat., July 31, 4 p.m. 2121 14th St. N.W., Washington, D.C.
Corcoran Photo Safari. Are you a budding photographer? Join E. David Luria of Washington Photo Safari for a tour of the Corcoran along with photo tips. $20. Sat., July 31, 2–4:30 p.m. Corcoran Gallery of Art, 510 17th St. N.W., Washington, D.C.
Fashion Swap. Fashion Fights Poverty and Beauty 360 host a summer fashion swap, with leftover clothing donated to Goodwill of Greater Washington. RSVP to rsvp@fashionfightspoverty.org. Sat. July 31, 1–4 p.m. Beauty 360, 1350 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Washington D.C.
There I was, waiting for my fellow brunch bitch and our table, sitting upstairs in my favorite spot, Churchkey, for coffee and a “hostess cupcake”—filled with delicious house-made crème and topped with yummy frosting. Not a bad way to wait out a Sunday morning—and our table was ready in a jiffy.
Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris
We went to Birch & Barley in search of a unique menu and good beer, but decided instead on their delicious cocktails—Brunch Punch (rum, cherry herring, cointreau, pineapple juice, angostura bitters) and the strawberry Cava Mimosa.
According to the Bitches Brunch Rules, if donuts are available, donuts must be eaten. At Birch & Barley, they bring you three flavors—bittersweet chocolate, lemon-poppy glazed, and <gasp!> toffee-bacon. Yes, toffee-bacon donuts. Though this pescetarian did not sample, my co-bruncher said they were delicious and tasted of toffee with only a slight hint of bacon. The lemon-poppy glazed donuts were the best.
Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris
I had the sausage, egg & cheese biscuit (hold the sausage) on warm crème fraiche with a simple salad. The biscuit takes the cake for the best part of brunch. It was moist, delicious, amazing and—wait for it—maybe the best breakfast sandwich I’ve ever had.
Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris
The Grand Marnier French Toast with early glow strawberries, marscapone and bacon was also delectable. Birch & Barley’s food is high quality and about as delicious as it gets.
Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris
Our server was competent, attentive, and speedy—he answered our plethora of questions with a charming smile(the single bitch wouldn’t have minded snagging his digits).
The bitches say: A+. Delicious food, yummy cocktails and brews, great service. All in all a wonderful establishment.
Birch and Barley
1337 14th St. N.W.
Washington, D.C.
(202) 567-2576
Free Beer! Logan Circle favorite ChurchKey launches Schlafly Beers, a St. Louis brewery, with pours of five complimentary drafts. Mon., May 3, 6 p.m., 1337 14th St. N.W.
Five Margaritas for $5.Masa14, our favorite place for drinks in the U-Street corridor, celebrates Cinco de Mayo right! With more than 130 types of tequila, they pour five different margaritas for $5 each. Wed., May 5, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., 1825 14th St. N.W.
Eat:
$10 Bag Lunch at Oya. One of our fave sushi places, Oya in Penn Quarter—now offers brown bag lunches—sushi, seaweed salad, edamame, and dessert. Mon.-Fri., 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Oya, 777 9th St. N.W.
All You Can Eat Tacos.Glover Park’s Surfiside’s Cinco De Mayo specials include $10 for all-you-can-eat tacos, chips and salsa, as well as $20 buckets of Sol, $5 margaritas and more. Wednesday, May 5, 5-12 p.m., 2444 Wisconsin Ave.
Capital City Cheesecake Opening.This dessert locale opened May 1 in Takoma Park—and they deliver! Chocolate Red Velvet Cheesecake? We’re in. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7071 Carroll Ave., Takoma Park, M.D. (202) 821-8251.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Ceiba. Ceiba is offering $5 Mexican bar snacks (think tacos, tostadas, and ceviche) and margaritas for $5 in honor of the Mexican holiday. Sat.-Wed, May 1-5, 701 14th St. N.W.
Mondays at the St. Regis. The St. Regis Bar offers up a special menu Mondays—glass of wine, cheese, and meat for $19, plus a dessert and wine pairing “Sweet Bites” menu the rest of the week. Order from either special menu and receive a complimentary Acai of Spring cocktail. Through June 21, Mon. 5 p.m.- midnight, Tues.-Thurs. 5 p.m. to midnight, Fri. and Sat. 5 p.m.- 1 a.m., 923 16th St. N.W.
Shop:
Jewelry Sale! Five Days of Fashion takes place at Mystique Jewelers in Old Towne—sapphires, handmade chains, cameos, and other gorgeous baubles. Tues.-Sat., May 3-8, 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., 211 The Strand Waterfront, Alexandria.
Go:
2010 National Geographic Live: In the Empire of Ice.Join author Gretel Ehrlich as she discusses her circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle as written in her new book: Empire of Ice: Encounters in a Changing Landscape. Tuesday, May 4, 7:30, tickets $80, $18. National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. N.W.
2010 National Geographic Live: A Come to Cheeses Moment: Wine vs. Beer. Join beer, cheese and wine experts for a tasting of artisanal cheeses paired with special wines and beer. Thursday, May 5, 7 p.m., National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. N.W.
Party at Policy. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training hosts a CINDO DE TRI-O party (They’re triathletes, it’s Cinco de Mayo). Food, drinks, prizes. Wed., May 5, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Policy Lounge, 1904 14th St. N.W.
On our way down to Kiawah Island, S.C., this weekend, the boyfriend and I stopped for the night in Raleigh, N.C., to visit one of my best college friends. It felt great to be back in the great state of North Carolina and we were just in time for the opening of the tiki bar at Humble Pie, a charming restaurant in downtown Raleigh.
Photo credit: Humble Pie
The weather was perfect for dining on the porch (low ’70s and breezy) with lots of summer brews and a varied arrangement of tapas. Humble Pie‘s ecclectic menu consists of small plates of varrying cuisines– Asian, Italian, seafood, and more. We shared a goat cheese mushroom Napoleon, coconut shrimp with pineapple chutney, sesame seared ahi tuna, finished with chocolate cake with peanut butter ganache and complemented by lots of Carolina Pale Ales.
Up early in the morning, we stopped by another Raleigh gem, Cafe Helios, for a speedy, healthy breakfast-to-go. Cafe Helios serves delicious coffee from Counter Culture Coffee based in nearby Durham. I consider an ordinary, healthy, breakfast– coffee, yogurt and granola, whole-wheat toast and fresh-squeezed OJ– an exceptional treat when found at 7 a.m., in a rush, on a roadtrip.
Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris
Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris
Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris
For the Raleigh crowd, however, Cafe Helios is more than just a breakfast spot. The cafe serves a great beer and wine selection (they rotate beer selections regularly), and features artwork by a local artist each month. And, it appears to be the place for some epic late-night dance parties.
Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris
Next time you find yourself cruising down I-95, you’d be well-served to check out these two spots in downtown Raliegh, and head over to Cameron Village for some great shopping.
Went on an epic bike ride yesterday. The weather was perfect, the cherry blossom trees were sprouting new buds, and all seemed good in the world. There is no better way to celebrate the beginning of spring than cycling around the DC area with a huge grin plastered on my face. Really, the sight of these cherry blossom buds makes me so happy it’s retarded. My face hurts from smiling so damn much.
Photo credit: Becca Clara Love
Being as it was the first ride of the year, we decided to avoid the usual spots. With the pristine weather, there was no doubt that Rock Creek Park, the Capital Crescent Trail, and the other standard DC cycling haunts were to be insanely crowded. I didn’t want to ruin my happiness high by jostling for trail space and bumping into joggers. So instead we decided to cross the bridge and circle Northern Virginia.
Here’s a great 25- mile ride:
We started at Stadium-Armory metro, where a few friends, including Miss Cori Sue, were just completing the National Half Marathon. We cheered them on, stole some bagels from the finish line festival, and were on our merry way. First through Capitol Hill, where the Cherry Blossoms were starting to bud. Then down the south side of the mall to the Jefferson Memorial.
Across the 14th Street bridge to the Mount Vernon Trail. Watched a few planes take off from the park.
Then down Four Mile Run to Shirlington and the W&OD Trail. I had never been on the W&OD Trail before. I usually stick to the Mount Vernon trail all the way to, well, Mount Vernon. But the W&OD was a pretty ride – well shaded, and with lots of pretty creeks. Plenty of parks to stop and take a breather in. A few ancient railroad tracks here and there. We even passed some local public gardens, which people were starting to weed out of winter hibernation. This just meant more flies in my teeth from grinning like an idiot.
Photo credit: Becca Clara Love
The entire W&OD Trail goes 45 miles … all the way to the edges of the Blue Ridge. We weren’t that ambitious. We got to East Falls Church and then headed back to the Custis Trail, which dumped us into Ballston.
The Ballston, Clarendon, Courthouse area was buzzing. In fact, it was hard to maneuver around all the pedestrians and outdoor tables. We set to cruising for an outdoor brunch spot that a.) had great food and beer, and b.) we wouldn’t feel out of place in (considering our helmet hair, grease stains, and general post-ride yuckiness). The compromise? Whitlows on Wilson.
Photo credit: Becca Clara Love
Some Stevie Ray Vaughan, a few Hefeweizens and a nummy chicken salad later, and we were on our way once again, sailing downhill through Rosslyn and back onto the Mount Vernon Trail, which circled us back to the 14th Street Bridge.
