On the Town

First week back and I already got to cross more items off my DC bucket list :) After 10 gloriously chill days at home (see last week's blog) and 12 grueling hours of traveling, I arrived back on the East Coast on Jan 1. Mike was so sweet to pick me up from the airport and took me on a double date with one of his best college buddies to go see Zoolights at the the National Zoo!

Live and illuminated animals - it was freezing, festive, and fun. We got to go on the last day it was on display!

After a mercifully short work week, Mike surprised me after work with a red velvet cupcake (I had a hard day) and took me to Ben's Chili Bowl, a historic eatery where lots of famous African Americans have visited - just my kinda place...Mike knows I have a thing for Black culture/history :)

The walls are covered with pics of famous people who have been there, like Tyrese, Gregory Hines, Bill Cosby, President Obama, and many more...

I got the chili cheeseburger - just mild enough for me to start training my tongue to accept spicy food!

Mike enjoyed his chili hot dog and chili fries

Saturday was a full day "On the Town" (also one of my favorite musicals), though it started with grocery shopping at Great Wall, an Asian supermarket in Falls Church, VA. Mike and I stocked up on some of our favorite Chinese edibles, such as zongzi, shrimp meatballs, pickled mustard greens, and bean sprouts. I'm trying the scallion buns for the first time (always gotta try something new)!

There's also a deli/bakery there...

...where we got lunch. Mine: ma po tofu, baby bok choy, and (new) pork meatballs.

Then we rode the Metro to the National Geographic Museum.

We enjoyed learning in the new Birds of Paradise exhibit (such exquisite creatures!) and exhibit about Muslim inventions during the Dark Ages.

There was this crazy thing called an elephant clock - I'm not exactly sure how it worked...

Then on to another culinary adventure at this Indian place located in a Dutch-style townhouse...oh I love multicultural DC

We decided it would be best to go for the buffet :) I love how colorful Indian food is!

...and spicy!! Even Mike was sweating, and he loves spicy. This was my first plate...

Mike ordered some tasty samosas (buried under the chickpeas)

Good thing they had phenomenoal naan to help soak up the heat.

Then we tried the only dessert they had - a thin pasta in sweet cream soup. It was actually quite delicious!

After scarfing down dinner, we rushed over to the Kennedy Center to meet up with Mike's roommate Joe and his date for a free jazz concert by the Greg Harrison band. I was really afraid it would be "bad" jazz. I'm more of a traditionalist - none of the new age stuff with weird instruments for me. I was so deliriously delighted (and relieved) when I found out their sound was warm and soulful, with a pretty good repertoire of jazz standards. We only caught the last 20 minutes; if only I weren't such a slow eater :/

Great jazz + a kiss = happiness

2013...so far, so good