Easter Weekend 2013

Easter weekend was lovely. We had not the greatest weather, but we had a great time. Lots of food--salmon and seabass, crabcakes, lunch at Brasserie Beck, burgers at Big Board, brunch at La Grenier, and spaghetti for dinner on Sunday. And we saw a play at the Ford Theater, on the same Holy Saturday that President Lincoln died. Hello Dolly actually had its official opening performance on Saturday night.

We also had plenty of time for Apples to Apples and Taboo, though that last game became a bit rowdy. And time for conversation, too. We also had time for a very long Easter mass service at St. Joseph's.

And we also saw some great Michigan wins. Just in time for Cincinnati!

These weekends are so fleeting, and it's a little crazy that mom and dad only left 24 hours ago. Car shopping is another post, of course. But these are times to remember, they will not last forever...

Weekend with the In-Laws

We enjoyed a very busy weekend with family. It was much needed.

Thursday we headed out to our favorite restaurant, the Atlas Room, which once again did not disappoint.  We shared these delicious slices of lamb bacon, along with the dark meat chicken flatbread and lamb, along with the pumpkin cake.  And cocktails, of course, including my clover club.

Friday we ventured out to Virginia wine country, starting with a pit stop at the Dogfish Head Brewery for a terrific flounder sandwich. We went to Rappahannock, and we most enjoyed the Viognier and the Cabernet Franc.  They then recommended we head over to Chester Gap which had an amazing view of the Shenandoah Valley.

The highlights Saturday were lots and lots of mussels at Brasserie Beck, dinner at  Philomena's, and then Les Miserables. The Kennedy Center is always awesome to go to. I largely agree with the reviews that the show itself was a bit frantic and rushed, particularly in the beginning.  The sets were amazing, and almost film-like, particularly when Jean Valjean is in the tunnels.  The leads were great, although it was the Javert understudy who was featured. Reviewing the story synopsis beforehand was helpful, although in general I thought the play was clear and you could hear the lyrics--luckily the orchestra didn't drown out the (very loud) performers.

I was grateful for the long weekend, the time with family and my  husband, the chance to get away from everything when the next few weeks will be hectic. And soon it will be Thanksgiving!!

Another Good One

It was another pretty good weekend. We went to Belga with Moira on Friday night. I had mussels, which made me very happy. It was a pricey meal, but worth it to sit outside on an only 90ish degree day (opposed to the 93 degrees now at 8pm).

Saturday we watched the US go down to Ghana, again. Ugh. Then we caught up on shopping at Nordstrom's before going to the Arena Stage at Crystal City for R. Buckminster Fuller. He was this sort of brilliant, eccentric, inventor/physicist/architect/philosopher/writer who lived an interesting life through the first 80% of the twentieth century. The actor was amazing, remembering over two hours of dialogue. Wow. I am not sure what one thought in particular I came away with, but I remember thinking of It's a Wonderful Life...how one person can make a different, one person affects everyone, and never be a passive thinker or doer when so much is yet to be done.

Hopefully, I'll catch up with Angela before we leave for St. Lucia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hamlet

On Friday night, we went to see Hamlet at the Folger Shakespeare Library. It was actually my first time at the Library, though I've passed it often. It was a great show--Shakespeare done in 1950s attire, which made for some incredibly costumes.

The Washington Post gave it a lousy review. Yes, while the set was Ikea white bland, I thought the actors were energized and engaging, and they gave life to some of the witty phrases and memorable lines of the play.

Granted, the play itself may have been greater than the sum of its parts. But we enjoyed it.