Yelp

Take a look at my profile picture...I'm not a sexy man. That said, the three best-looking days of my life were probably the three days I got haircuts here. My hair is kind of a pain in the ass to cut: I either end up looking like a six-year-old boy on his first day of prep school or like one of the mushrooms in the original Super Mario Bros. When I've gone to the Grooming Lounge, I sit in the chair and say, "make me not look stupid." They go above and beyond.

As other folks have said, this is an expensive haircut. A really expensive haircut. Sure the baseline is $50, but you're going to leave a tip and you'll feel like a cheap bastard when you don't buy the products they've set aside especially for you. In fact, the reason this place gets a star knocked off isn't because of the price but because of the pressure: When you're dropping $50 on a haircut and getting a free whiskey along with the deal, you feel like they'll see right through you and know that you don't belong there if you don't tack on another $50. And now your one-hour haircut is worth four hours of work. I've been to other places like this in other major cities that charge much less and that don't have this implicit pressure hanging over you.

The other knock is that they don't allow tips on credit cards. They do have the little envelopes at the front desk to leave the folded up ten spot so you don't feel like a skeeze handing it to the girl who just cut your hair. Definitely try it once, but save for special occasions after that.

I have two words for you: LIQUID JESUS.
The 4-ounce demitasse of hot chocolate (more like melted chocolate than a drink). Will cure any ailment you have.
Except for obesity.

If you remember Chantico, the over-the-top rich chocolate drink that Starbucks introduced a few years back (why oh why did they discontinue it?!), or if you've ever had the Chocolat Africain at Angelina in Paris, you'll know what this cup of molten heaven tastes like.

Only beer connoisseurs should be allowed in the door.  When I walked in, the place smelled wonderful - faintly of smoking barbeque or baking bread, and newly chopped wood.

It's all about the beer, folks.  Dogfish Head is a regional brew; it's made in Milton, Delaware, just a stone's throw from Dewey Beach debauchery.  The irreverent  attitude is apparent in the high-alcohol beers.

Note that many regular beers are about 5% alcohol by volume.  I went last night and tried the Old Skool Barley Wine (15.05% abv) and the Indian Brown Ale (7.2% abv).  The barley wine was served in a snifter glass.  It was sweet, smoky, and had hints of dates and dried fruits.  The nose was very perfumey.  The Indian Brown Ale had a wonderful toasty flavor.  It's dark, but not too heavy.

I tasted the pizza named "Simple Inquiry," that had a thin, crispy crust, pesto, and sliced tomatoes.  It was good.

Really, it IS all about the beer.  DFH is a brewery, so the food is secondary.  I think that their beers are better than anyone else's.  The brewers take painstaking care in their craft.  They use centuries-old recipes.  They make experimental kegs with wild flavors.  Almost all are tasty.

I highly recommend and can't wait to go back!

Nationals Park is like a giant Lego set, purpose-built, erected snugly around the scripted-W grass of the outfield and the tight lines of the infield diamond.  This is not a gorgeous park.  It is very nearly industrial, but with great site-lines.  
   My seats are in the outfield in the Scoreboard pavilion, but I felt like I could call balls and strikes even from that distance ( Recall Bob Uecker's Miller Lite commercial from long ago: "He missed the tag!  He missed the tag!").  In some ways, though, the burnished concrete does recall the monuments--it isn't resplendent, gleaming marble, but the hard lines of the stadium echo the Washington Monument, the Lincoln memorial and the World War Two Memorial.
    One of the best attributes of Nationals Park is  walking up Half Street from the Navy Yard Metro stop.  You are greeted by the street-level stadium concourse, a welcome mat for baseball fanatics and casual fans alike.  There is no towering behemoth of a structure, but a beckoning concourse with a glint of green grass behind it; the promise of crisp cracks of the hometeam bats and the curly dubs exceeding expectations and maybe, just maybe, sneaking into the post-season.  
  As for the park, it doesn't exceed any expectations for beauty.  But sit and watch a game, the departing afternoon light escaping out of this sunken bowl, stadium lights chasing shadows off concrete, and you see the mathematical mind at work.  Somewhere in the catacombs of an architectural firm, a coke-bottle-lensed minion drew up one hell of a place to watch a game.

In appreciation of Ray's no-frills way of doing things...

FOOD. The hanger steak ($19.95) was excellent: perfectly seasoned, full of flavor. A dining buddy got the extra garlic (free), mushrooms ($1) and onions ($1) to top his steak, and they were all delicious and worth it. The crab bisque ($2.50 or $3.50) was to die for: creamy, huge chunks of crab. The onion soup ($?) was wonderful, but I prefer the crab bisque. The complimentary creamed spinach and mashed potatoes ($FREE!) were perfectly light, not too creamy, just the right match for the steak. Our wine, Faithful Hound ($42), was robust and complex and delicious. For dessert, the milk chocolate mousse and New York cheesecake ($?) were absolute perfection.

SERVICE. Our server was very available to us, even though it was a busy and kind of a crazy night. She was extremely friendly, and she gently offered suggestions for wine, dessert, etc. The rest of the staff was quick and efficient. A few plates were dropped, but it was handled excellently and professionally.

VALUE. We ended up paying $50 per person, including appetizers, steak, wine and desserts.

DECOR. It's a small room with white walls. Simple, stripped down.

TIPS. My biggest deterrant to trying this restaurant before last night was having to endure the wait. But we made a face-to-face reservation at 7pm on Tuesday for a party of four, and they were able to seat us at 7:30pm. The rest of our party wasn't arriving until 8pm, so that's when we made our reservation. Simple as that!

CONCLUSION. This will be my go-to steak place. No more Morton's or Ruth's!

Organic, organic everywhere! I'm house-sitting 1/2 block from the Co-Op and loving it. Produce, slices of vegan pie, buckets of tahini--what's not to love about this little store? I even browsed the selection of Crocs hanging on the wall by the checkout (shh, don't tell Kathleen M.!).

The only trouble we ran into in the Co-Op was the hummus cooler (yes, there is an entire fridge case filled with different types of hummus). Anna, overwhelmed by variety, simply could not choose a tub, and just stood there for a good 15 minutes, staring dumbly.  (we eventually settled on the hummus with dill.)

Have you always felt like the weird kid at school? Like something wasn't quite right? Like you wanted to join a traveling sideshow and do strange performances in front of strange kids just like you? Maybe you wanted to eat light bulbs, wear a skin tight bunny suit or strip while juggling fire? Well kid, there is finally a place where you can do all of these things and people will watch with awe stricken grins and clapping hands. This place is called the palace of wonders and you are called a freak. A fabulously wonderful freak!

Holy speedy waxing, Batman!  My hair was gone in less time than it usually takes to shave my legs.  Nagmeh has got mad waxing skills.  

I have gotten Brazilians at two other places for more money ($60 and $55 including tip)--both were ok, but neither was this fast (10 min!) thorough (You'll just have to take my word, but DANG, she's thorough) cheap ($45!) or painless (not that pouring hot wax on your nether regions and then ripping it out is ever painless, but it's all relative.)  My appointment was at 4:15 but she saw me at 4:10 and we were done by 4:20.  That's 10 minutes, ladies!  Not the grueling 30 minutes of other salons.  Also!  No weird on-all-fours positions.  Totally straightforward lie-on-your-back-and-coun t-the-ceiling-tiles.  Only had to readjust (and by "readjust" I mean, "move my legs") two times, which compared to other experiences, is really nice.  The waxing room is very clean, has nice music, and smells good.  You do have to undress your lower half in front of the waxer, which might make some people uncomfortable -- in other salons I've been to, she leaves while you undress, then comes in when you're already situated on the Table of Hair Removal.  Just something to consider.  

I am not sure I recommend this for new waxers for the simple reason that if you have not yet undergone the hot wax, you probably are *nervous* and want someone to talk you through it.  Nagmeh did not talk me through it.  She just ripped the hair out.  This is exactly what I want in a waxing service because hey, the faster, the better as far as that's concerned.  But if you're a newbie and would rather have someone to chit chat with and perhaps hold your hand as you feel the searing pain in your loins, either 1. say that at the beginning of your appointment ("I'm new and scared!  Yeep!") or 2. go to a different waxer or 3. suck it up.  (Believe me, the first time I did it, I needed a talking-through, so option #3 was NOT an option.)  

I brought in the 10% new customers coupon from their website but forgot to give it to them before they ran my credit card.  The manager said to bring it in next time and they would give me the discount.  Good customer service!  

Also, everyone working there looks put-together, well-groomed, and has nice hairstyles.  This may not be a deciding factor in your choice of a salon, but I think it's reassuring when the person doing your hair/nails/waxing/facials actually HAS beautiful hair/nails/skin.  Am I right?

Survival Tips for Brunch at Georgia Brown's:

1. Make a reservation for Sunday brunch at least a week in advance.  Georgia Brown's is always named on the lists of best brunches in DC so it's a popular place;
2. Do not eat or drink a lot the night before you will be dining here.  You can if you really want to, but don't say I didn't warn you if you aren't up for enjoying the full experience;
3. Dress accordingly.  I love my skinny jeans, but I'm not wearing them to brunch here.  You'll need an outfit with some wiggle room;
4. You've made it to GB's for brunch.  With respect to the drinks, go for the White Chocolate Martini with vodka and white and dark creme de cacao for $8.95.  If that's too sweet for you, the Low Country Bloody Mary should work.  As you would expect from a Southern restaurant, the iced tea is also very yummy;
5. The menu offers you Act I (the buffet); Act II (the entree); and Act III (desserts) -- all for $32.95.  Remember this is a marathon and not a sprint.  Pace yourselves and allot at least 2 hours for your meal;
6. The entrees, also known as Act II, are good.  But, ask your server for the item to-go when you are ordering.  Don't try to conquer the buffet and the entree in the same sitting.  Many have tried, but few have succeeded.  The entrees hold up well for dinner or even lunch the next day.  I like the Buttermilk Fried Chicken with greens and mashed potatoes, and the Shrimp and Grits;
7. Now, deeply exhale, shake it out and get ready for the buffet.  There are lots of items to choose from, including Eggs Benedict, Carving Stations (Ham, Roast Beef and Turkey), Battered French Toast, Fruit, Fresh Salads and Grits.  I love the grits, eggs and french toast, but have never had an item that was bad;
8. Time for dessert!  I will always gobble up the cobbler, but the pies are delicious, too.  If you have a sweet tooth, you could make a whole buffet out of just the dessert options; and
9. Whew!  Mission Accomplished!  Now, stumble back home.        

PS I've dined here for lunch and dinner and would say that GB is good for those meals, but not great.  I love the brunch here, and that meal alone gets 5 Stars.  Since the restaurant serves more than just brunch, though, I'm giving 4 Stars overall.

DC Trivia: There was a lot of press during the Clinton Administration that Georgia Brown's was one of Bill's favorite restaurants.  If it's good enough for a former President who knows Southern food, then it's worth a try, right?

I had forgotten how much I liked this place!

The friends I used to come with moved away and I guess I abandoned it too!  I rekindled my relationship back in July when I met up with a fellow Yelper for their single malt Scotch tasting night. This place rocks!  The owner, Ian was on hand to pour beers and answer questions about the scotch selections.

I love their beer selections.  They carry bottles of a Scottish ale by Belhaven called Twisted Thistle which is divine.  But alas, they almost never have it (2/3 times) when I have been here.  That's okay.  They have Belhaven Ale and Smithwicks on draft.  Boddington's is also available.

Their food is good too.  The fish and chips are cooked in soybean oil for a healthier option.  The Welsh rarebit was just okay; I make it better.  Theirs needed just a bit more Worcester sauce.  The onion tart and their grilled cheese made with Irish cheddar (Hey, isn't this suppose to be a Scottish bar?) are nice light meal options.

On a final note, they have Pub Trivia the last Tuesday of every month.  I haven't made it yet b/c of all my more important Yelp obligations (Yelp Elite Rocks!)  School's almost out, so I'm sure I'll make it to trivia one of these days.  Maybe they'll have a cold Twisted Thistle waiting for me!