tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968109092262315190Thu, 28 May 2026 19:46:30 +0000sotdCoffee Shops in DCTakoma ParkBig Bear CafeIndependent Coffee HouseJulian CasablancasVegetarian Dining in DCjay-zquick dinner14th Street RestaurantsAnacostiaCoffee ShopCollege PerkColumbia HeightsDCDC BrunchEzra Klein's favorite DC restaurantsHippies in DCItalian Restaurant DCMarks KitchenMetroNudePhishRadioheadSkinsStreet Cars in DCTakomaThe StrokesVideo AmericainWard 8 Street Caralicia keysmt. pleasantnew yorkwashington dc19601st mariner arena2 amy's3G7-1194th Aero SquadronAFI SilverAWESOMEAdam ElliotAdams Morgan Restaurant DC restaurantAn EducationAngelica KitchenApple Cinnamon CakeApple TorteArt and SoulAvedaAveda Student InstituteBBCBaked ApplesBalsamic tomato sauceBangkok 54BarBarry HumphriesBelgian DCBen StillerBibianaBloomingdaleBrightwood BistroCSACarey MulliganChuck NorrisCoffeeCollege ParkCollege Park AirportColumbia Heights CoffeeColumbia Heights RestaurantColumbia Heights RestaurantsDC Coffee ShopDC MusicDC RestaurantDC ThaiDC cocktailsDDOTDDOT Street carsDel RayDelisDog Days are OverDomkuDouble-ChurnEckingtonEden CenterEdy'sEggplantEggplant LasagnaEnglandEspressoEvergladesFAILFall CookingFall DesertFlager CountyFlorence and the MachineFt. Lauderdale RestaurantGarlic BreadGood Stuff EateryGreenbergGreensboroGreta GerwigGrouponH Street NEHIppies in PG countyHammam DCHampden BaltimoreHarry SavidesHaydeesHippies at the University of MarylandHotel JurmalaHyattsvilleImogen HeapIndependent Vegetarian Restaurant DCJustin Jones and the DRiving RainLandmark Bethesda RowLissieLocal NativesLogan CircleLogan Circle CoffeeLykke LiMST3KMad MenMargot at the WeddingMarion BarryMary MaxMeridian PintMiami RestaurantMid-City CaffeMiddle Eastern CuisineMurray HeadNixonlandNoah BaumbachNorth CarolinaOld Bay MayonaisePalm CoastPentagon CityPeter SaarsgardPhilip Seymour HoffmanPizzaPolicy DCRasikaRatatatRatatouilleRay's Hell BurgerRestuarant WeekRhode Island RedsRonald Reagan Building Farmers MarketRoscoe's NeopolitanSOTD dum dum girlsScandinave SpaSecond SeriesSilversun PickupsSimmer SauceSixth and ISleigh Bells "Ring Ring"Song of the DaySouth FloridaSovaSpa Culture DCSpinach Punjab Simmer SauceSt. Elmos Coffee PubStevie WonderStill PointStreet CarStrogaTakoma Park GrafitiTapas DCTennisThaiThai XingThai foodThe BFThe Delta ForceThe Golden WestThe Junior League BandThe Kids Are All RightThe PassengerThe Savory CafeThe Squid and the WhaleThe Thin Green LineToni ColletteTop Chef DCTrader Joe'sTrystTynan CoffeeUdupi PalaceVegetarian LasangaVegetarian RecipeVegetarian Restaurant NYCVideoVietnamWMATAWanderlustWashington Jewish Film FestivalWashington Sports ClubWhite House Farmers MarketWinston-SalemYogaYoga DCadvertisingarsenio hallask me anythingbalsamic vinegarbalsamic vinegar marinarabaltimorebartenderbicycleblockbusterblu-raybuscarottscathy laniercentralclairecommutecookingcoverscult of personalitycvsdanny boyledinner partydon't panicdvdempire state of mindfoggy bottomfree radicalsgreen lineh marthall oateshalloweenhollywoodhome made marinaraiPhonein living colouritalianjaleojehlan stewartjim grahamkanye westkomilasagnamaintenanceman-crushmass transitmemphis bleekmetsmichael farishmichael jacksonmidnightmsgmuriel bowsern.e.r.d.nat osbornnetflixoffice boredomoffice suppliespetworth shootingpharrell williamsphiladelphiaphilliesphrazes for the youngpokerprofessional sportspublic transitquick saucerentalrookerysafeway shootingshe's goneshea stadiumstreetcarstreetcarstavaresthe blueprint 3the smithsthrillertomato saucetomatoestweeter centerurban safewayward 1ward 2ward 4ward 6washington dc crimeworld seriesyankeesyellow lineyours aloneAdventure Creature, Mt. PleasantThe Whimsical Musings on the Adventures and Lifestyle of an Extremely Adventurous Local Girl Living in Our Nation's Capitolnoreply@blogger.com (The Kleiner & The Kleinette)Blogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968109092262315190.post-1212760415208312710Sat, 05 Mar 2011 19:31:00 +00002011-03-05T14:31:20.377-05:00Columbia Heights RestaurantsEzra Klein's favorite DC restaurantsMeridian PintBrooklyn in the DC Heights - Meridian Pint<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though I live less than 5 blocks west of the burgeoning hip strip of 11<sup>th</sup> Street NW, the main place that I frequent there is the delectable, but, busy, Red Rocks Pizza. When a close friend of mine moved back from California and wanted to get dinner <i>in</i> Columbia Heights, I thought about my go-to’s and then decided to branch out and try the year old<a href="; <b>Meridian Pint</b></a> at 3400 11<sup>th</sup> St NW. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Before I visited, I knew that Meridian Pint would have a long beer list, that it had tables with built in taps and that it had a souped-up bar menu. What I didn’t know, is that the long draft beer list was compiled of delicious, herbaceous, diverse local and domestic brews from as close as Baltimore to California in addition to a page long list of 750 ML special beers for sharing. I also didn’t know that the menu was so vegetarian and vegan friendly, indeed there were the requisite hamburgers with foodie toppings, but also dishes featuring ginger-soy tofu, grilled polenta and walnut lentil salad with roasted pepper sauce and grilled fennel! Mains also included tasty looking braised beef ribs served with mac-n-cheese, grilled trout and steak. We tried an out of this world starter – roasted sweet potatoes. They served them quartered, seemingly grilled and broiled at the same time with amazing caramelized edges. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The atmosphere reminded me of a bar in Brooklyn, dark wood, low lights, upbeat indie music, and beer signs on the wall. The layout was friendly for all kinds of gatherings – booths for intimate conversations, tables that can accommodate groups of all kinds, including those with kids, a long bar for a casual night and a party friendly downstairs with tables with built in beer taps, pool tables and another long bar. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’m sorry that it took me so long to visit and so pleased to have a vegetarian friendly local pub to bring friends. Next up on 11<sup>th</sup> Street NW – Room 11 and Bloom Bars.</span></div>2011/03/brooklyn-in-dc-heights-meridian-pint.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Kleiner & The Kleinette)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968109092262315190.post-4145772269991933239Sat, 26 Feb 2011 13:30:00 +00002011-02-26T08:30:51.583-05:00DelisEvergladesFt. Lauderdale RestaurantMiami RestaurantSouth FloridaPalm Trees and Exploration in South Florida<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Like many in Northern Climes, I made what has become an<b> annual expedition to the South of Florida.</b> In the past, I’ve mostly spent time north of Ft. Lauderdale, 5 miles or so inland of Route 1 and bored, aside from expeditions to what could be called a landmark of East Coast American Jewish Culture, the <a href=" Flea Market</a>. This trip was different. The first few days consisted of visits with various family and rambling around Boca Raton and its environs (which were warm and full of sun and palm trees – thus great). The second few days centered on exploring Miami, the Everglades and Ft. Lauderdale (by the sea). My goal with the review below is to provide a quick guide to some of the fun things we stumbled upon to do in the South of Florida. I’ll start with the favorites. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Miami, oh, Miami</b> – how my northern heart loves you with your pulsing mix of cultures, bright pastel buildings, art deco, delis, <b><a href=" Ocho</a>,</b> art, jungly trees and gorgeous Coconut Grove. Last visit in December 09, we visited the more eastern bit of Calle Ocho near <a href=" Park</b></a> for a coffee, a walk and an attempt to visit the<b> <a href=" of Pigs Museum and Library</a> </b>(which was closed). This time, we found ourselves on the more Western edge of Calle Ocho, closer to Coral Gables. We wanted to sample a Cuban dinner (not so easy to find in Maryland and Long Island) and settled on deciding between to kitschy, classic Cuban eateries, <a href=" Caretta</b></a> and <a href="; Both had hundreds of reviews on yelp (more on that) describing the fare, at atmosphere and the service. At the end, the eating decision came down to the architecture of the restaurant, La Caretta had a big wooden wheel with bright yellow lights, it just looked cool so we went in. I had Riopas Viejas made with beef (a sort of tomato, peppery stewed beef dish) served with sweet plantains (my favorites), white rice and black beans. He had Riopas Fritatas which was basically the same sides served with braised, then fried with onions beef. We started the meal with Yucca Fries and a green aioli and buttered, toasted garlic bread. The meal cost about $30 including tip and was fabulous! We made our way from Calle Ocho to South Beach (can’t resist Art Deco) for fabled ice cream and sorbet at <a href=" Frieze</b></a>, off a side road near the Lincoln Road Outdoor Mall (which is really a scene!). The Frieze had incredible Sorbets, with flavors ranging from Champagne to Tamarind to Coconut and Mango. Feeling in the mood for something Thai inspired, I tried coconut and mango sorbets. WOW! Bright popping flavors, really special desert. Watch out though, the fruit sorbets can get a little sweet.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We also had the surprise opportunity to go to the St. Stephens and <a href=" Grove Art Festivals</b></a>. After a breakfast of New York Bagels and Nova Spread at Ft. Lauderdale’s <a href=" Deli</b></a>, which made me wonder why you can get such good New York style bagels in Ft. Lauderdale and not DC if the theory that the NY water is what makes them special. Coconut Grove, settled through waves of immigration starting in 1925, is a precious village, now annexed by Miami and home to some of its major tourist attractions such as the <a href=" Vizcaya</a> (still haven’t visited), lots of open air cafes and a bohemian air. The Coconut Grove Art Festival is a real treat. For $10, you can walk through hundreds of white tented artist pavilions to view unique, creative pieces in a variety of mediums including metal work (robot art?), photography, oil and jewelry. There are cooking demonstrations, live music and a mix of festival and local food options. To explore the area more, we decided to leave the festival for lunch and visit the Last Carrot, a hippy vegetarian hold out from the 70s. The Last Carrot’s simple menu is extremely healthy and very delicious. On offer are sandwiches with tuna, baked spicy tofu, avocado, hummus and salads, freshly squeezed vegetable juices and fresh fruit smoothies rounded out by deserts (some vegan). The main seating is a bar where you watch the staff prepare your food. We absolutely loved it and recommend it to anyone seeking a refreshing healthy (non bank breaking) lunch in the grove.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><a href=" Everglades</a></b>: Coming down to S. Florida a few times a year nearly my whole life and not visiting the Everglades is a scandal. On the drive down from Boca Raton, we read the Wikipedia entry about them (how’s that for modern tourism) learning how they were seen an environment to be conquered by the exploring Europeans and how that very conquering distorted the ecosystems. The way they were described, as a 60 mile wide and 120 mile long river swamp at the very southern trip of the United States made us feel as though we were venturing to the end of the earth. As we passed through Miami and Homestead into Florida City, we had a sense that we normally don’t have in coastal areas that we were hovering on a wild edge that divided the U.S. and the Caribbean. It was interesting. If you make your way down to the Edward Coe Entrance, near Homestead, you must stop at Robert is Here, a Florida City landmark. <a href=" is Here</b></a> is a farmers market with a bounty of fresh fruit and vegetables, a milkshake shack and a zoo with turtles, donkeys, an ostrich and goats all in one. They make an amazing Strawberry Key Lime Milkshake and fresh salsa and guacamole. We picked up a bag of tortilla chips, milkshakes and guac and called it lunch. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Once you enter the everglades from the Coe entrance, it is 38 miles to the Flamingo Visitors center, a bright pink 50s style building on the true southernmost Atlantic tip of the United States. It’s host to a restaurant, park ranger talks, campgrounds and picnic area. Be sure to plan your trip in advance as there are talks and tours all day that you won’t want to miss (such as the one to an old cold war missile site, that we did miss). Along the 38 mile route there are numerous scenic overlooks where you can park and visit ponds, walk through bogs on board walks, see lakes, hike and start a boat trip. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Random Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton and Del Ray Tips</b>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In lieu of giving a play by play for these areas, I will make a few suggestions:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In <b>Ft. Lauderdale</b>, you might want to drive to Las Olas Blvd and take a peek around the shops. A healthy and delicious breakfast overlooking the water and completely reasonable non-tourist rates can be found at <a href=". Barts Coffee Shop</a> ($7 for fresh fruit, yogurt, granola). In this area you will see the real Ft. Lauderdale bling of mansions and yachts on the intercoastal. Off the beaten path on Commercial Blvd, you can find <a href=" German Restaurant</a> with a salad bar and tasty German classics sauerbraten, wiener schnitzel, spatzle and red cabbage with friendly service and an authentic German restaurant space. <a href=" New York Deli</a>, is just that, a tasty, cheap New York deli with counter service and serve yourself coffee. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In <b>Boca Raton</b>, don’t miss Mizner Park near the Boca Raton Museum of Art. There are outdoor concerts, a beautiful fountain anchored park, an assortment of pretty upscale restaurants and a tasty S. Florida chain serve yourself frozen yogurt joint – <a href=" Leaf</a>. Great for a nice meal with family on the beaten path. <a href="; in near by Royal Palm Plaza also serves up delicious Asian Fusion food. Its popular, you will need a reservation.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Del Ray</b> – the main strip on Atlantic Avenue is full of unique restaurants, ice cream, frozen yogurt and lively young nightlife . Visit this trip on a weekend night and be prepared for a VERY lively scene. I haven’t tried it, but 32 East was recommended to me there.</span></div>2011/02/palm-trees-and-exploration-in-south.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Kleiner & The Kleinette)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968109092262315190.post-214913239847876619Sat, 19 Feb 2011 13:14:00 +00002011-02-19T08:14:12.014-05:00Art and SoulDC BrunchTop Chef DCFollowing a Top Chef Master's Trail - Brunch at Art & Soul<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
A recent weekend of much brunching included a visit to the <a href=" & Sou</b>l</a>, suggested after a friend watched this WETA <a href=" long documentary</b></a> of Washington metropolitan area breakfast restaurants. Located in the<b> <a href=" Liaison Hotel</a></b>, not far from Union Station, Art & Soul, a southern influenced restaurant has a chic, polished atmosphere. Chef-owner of Art & Soul, Art Smith, has served as personal chef to Oprah, and to former Florida governors Bob Graham and Jeb Bush. *For fans of Top Chef, Art Smith participated in <b><a href=" Chef Masters</a>.</b> The décor of his restaurant is a mix of red and black and the walls have large modern red and black portraits. There are four-top and two-top tables and a row of cosy white leather cube like booths along the wall with room for three people. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The menu tracks chef-owner Art Smith’s specialty in southern cooking with one special flare, not seen often on southern menus, a health section (only at breakfast). You can expect to see staples of southern brunch, such as Chicken and Waffles, served classically with chicken gravy or kicked up with a maple syrup. There are omelet and frittata options served with mixed vegetables and goat cheese, delicious sounding lemon yogurt pancakes and smoke salmon hoe-cakes on the menu. The “Art Start” menu includes quinoa granola, oatmeal, a breakfast bar and an egg white omelet with cucumber tomato salsa and avocado cream. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At the start of the meal, you are presented with a warm basket of freshly baked cinnamon biscuits with a drizzle of white icing. I ordered the egg white omelet with salsa and avocado cream. This was my first (in now what might be a long line) of egg white omlets. The eggs were fluffy and flavorful and the fresh salsa was delicious. My fellow brunchers ordered the chicken and waffles (with classic chicken gravy, as recommended by the server) and the Chesapeake Benedict. Both loved the flavors of their dishes and agreed that Art & Soul is worth a revisit.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>My tips</b> – make a reservation if you are going after 11:00 AM as this is when the restaurant appears to start reaching capacity for Sunday brunch. As for the “Art Start” menu at brunch, while its online for breakfast, they apparently don’t offer it unless you request it for brunch. </span></div>2011/02/following-top-chef-masters-trail-brunch.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Kleiner & The Kleinette)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968109092262315190.post-2448926243354320042Sun, 13 Feb 2011 14:01:00 +00002011-02-13T09:04:26.962-05:00DC BrunchDomkuDomku – Polish/Swedish/Danish Morning Joy?<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yesterday I was treated to a birthday brunch at<b> <a href="; by some of my close friends. Though I’ve had brunch at Domku four times, I have yet to review it. Domku is a Polish-Swedish restaurant, which is a both unexpected and expected combination. There is little geographic reason for there not to be more connected cuisine between Scandinavia and Poland/Baltic areas of Europe. In the 1300 and 1400’s Polish cities were closely linked to Scandinavian cities in the trading union known as the <a href=" League</b></a>. While the <a href=" Empire</b></a> that lasted from about 1600-1700 mostly focused its power in Scandinavia and the Baltics, its hard to imagine how Polish cuisine could not be impacted from its strong neighbors influence to the North and East. If you travel in the Baltics, especially Estonia where nationalism is strongly felt, you will often seen references to the Hanseatic Lague and its history in the region. The reason for that is the same reason that we often do not see Eastern European and Scandinavian cooking linked today – the Eastern Bloc and Soviet Union has severed our mental notion of the connection of Eastern and Western Europe and these countries are keen to let us know that they are European – not "Eastern European" or "Former Soviet Bloc" countries. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Enough history for this morning, Domku does a really nice job of melding the cuisine of the “East” with that of the “North.” Their menu includes Borschts (more typical of Ukraine, Russia and the Baltics) and lots of dishes featuring smoked salmon. Trendy foods make their way into the menu such as Israeli salad. Norway is represented through large flat Norweigian Pancakes served with toppings such as tomatoes, mushrooms and gouda cheese or cardamom scented waffles. Salads and other dishes with herrings and beets also dot the menu. A major plus of the Domku menu is its either intentional or unintentional emphasis on healthy food and portions. In the evening (and at brunch, if its your thing) cocktails are served. I’m always especially to have one made with Zabrowka Vodka. They also have a large selection of Aquavit’s, flavored with herbs and spices – great for a night without a car.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My favorite part about Domku is the atmosphere. The walls have quirky (Polish maybe?) art and hanging lights. There are a variety of types of places to sit – bar, vintage couches, old wooden tables. I love quirky put together places – and this is one of them. </span></div>2011/02/domku-polishswedishdanish-morning-joy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Kleiner & The Kleinette)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968109092262315190.post-1420494384294658888Sun, 13 Feb 2011 13:36:00 +00002011-02-13T08:38:14.697-05:00coversSOTD dum dum girlsthe smithsSOTD - There is a light that never goes out | Dum Dum Girls<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Its my opinion that its not really worth covering a song for a studio album, unless you are doing something really different or unique with it. A good recent example of this is "<a href="; <b>Sign</b></a>" covered by<a href="; <b>Local Natives</b></a> on their album Gorilla Manor. While you can find traces of the original (notably lyrics) it is a different song than the original. There are a few bands and songs that probably shouldn't be covered. In my eyes, The Smiths, are just one of those bands. Listening to XMU's Download 15 last night, I was therefore surprised to hear Indie girl band darlings the Dum Dum Girls covering The Smiths "There is a Light that Never Goes Out." This is one of my very favorite Smiths songs, so I'm probably a little over protective of it (much like, "<a href=", Please Let Me Get What I Wan</b>t</a>" covered by She and Him). The main change that the Dum Dum Girls made to this song was electrifying it, and using woman's vocals. I'd be psyched to hear this version as an encore at a show, but, on an album? Not enough change for me to justify it. Smith's fans..... agree or disagree?</span><br />
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</div>2011/02/sotd-there-is-light-that-never-goes-out.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Kleiner & The Kleinette)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968109092262315190.post-8702248952704426908Sat, 12 Feb 2011 15:20:00 +00002011-02-12T10:20:05.809-05:00Adams Morgan Restaurant DC restaurantLittle Fountain Café: Europe (Kind Of) in Adams Morgan<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though we usually go out on Friday night only when we are traveling – last night was the expiration of a Groupon for <a href=" Fountain Café</b></a>, so we made an exception and took a walk to 18<sup>th</sup> Street to visit this basement spot. I think I put off using the Groupon for the precise reason that the café was in the basement, which is a shame, because the basement space is cozy, warm and a little oasis from both the hustle of 18<sup>th</sup> Street and Washington, D.C. in general. The walls are white, with funky paintings of women and other subjects and dark wood panels through the ceiling and walls. I felt transported to Europe. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now to the menu, it is a simple menu with about eight appetizers such as mussels, soup, dips, green salads and an onion torte. The entrée menu included duck breast, steak, roast chicken, trout, scallops, eggplant pasta, and gnocchi. The pasta dishes and some of the more simple appetizers are available in a prix-fix menu ($24.95) with desert. With a groupon, this deal was not available. Warm bread is served with a garlicky, spiced butter. Our service was very slow, but very nice. We spent more than an hour and a half at Little Fountain total. I had the Brook Trout that was very lightly breaded and pan sautéed, served with a plain orzo pasta, tomatoes and snow peas. It had a tangy lemon wine sauce with capers mixed in. I’m trying to eat much more healthfully than usual, so this was a tasty and good option for achieving my goals. As the duck was already sold out at 7 PM, he had roast chicken with potatoes gratin and steamed broccoli. I tried the gratin and the chicken. The gratin was tasty, made with extremely thin cut potatoes, however the chicken was pretty average breast meat baked with spicy rubbed on the skin.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All and all, the atmosphere was really charming, but the food was not outstanding for the price. For a $18-25 price point, I can think of many places that serve something more special and outstanding and as some have <a href=";, without the groupon, I would have felt ripped off. If you have family visiting you in DC or want a quiet place for a long chat or intimate night – the atmosphere might outweigh the food, it really was great.</span></div>2011/02/little-fountain-cafe-europe-kind-of-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Kleiner & The Kleinette)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968109092262315190.post-2173082981233862687Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:16:00 +00002011-02-09T17:20:24.197-05:00sotdTennisSOTD: Camp Dory by Tennis<div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It might be sunnny, but its cold and the winds are blowing so hard that my hair is constantly in front of my face. Welcome to the end of a Washington, DC winter. I heard this song by "Tennis" in the car this weekend and my first thought was about the band name (not great in my opinion), but, I kept the song on because the vocalist has this sort of sort yet fifties style voice that really pops. Since then, I've been listening over and over to the album and especially this song, Cape Dory. Tennis created this album to illustrate their experiences sailing. I love the images of exploring the coast in the dark and laying on sand with shells. I especially like it knowing that the songs are the expressions of impressions from a long sailing trip up and down the East Coast of the United States.<br />
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NPR has a great <a href="; about the couple and their trip.</div><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="; title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>2011/02/sotd-camp-dory-by-tennis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Kleiner & The Kleinette)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968109092262315190.post-366439334470411000Mon, 07 Feb 2011 04:38:00 +00002011-02-06T23:38:50.702-05:0014th Street RestaurantsBarBelgian DCH Street NEH Street NE<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After a period of indecisiveness over evening activities and a quick stop at Home Rule to assess new kitchen gear (and to purchase a pastry cutter, some plastic squeeze bottles and a double jigger), we eventually decided to finally visit<a href="; <b>Granville Moore</b></a> together. I knew that there would be a line, and at 6.45 PM, I expected a one-hour wait, but due to being extremely popular and extremely gorgeous space (at least in my humble, euro-tinged opinion), when we arrived, we were asked to leave our number and wait a couple of hours. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">No problem – H Street NE, the “newest” (well about 3.5 years and running) nightlife/colonization-style gentrification district, has tons of options for places to get a small plate and a couple of drinks. <b><a href=" Rice</a> </b>next door (and prolific offerer of Living Social and Groupons) had a one-hour wait. With more Groupons in hand, we instead made our way to the <a href=" Street Country Club</b> </a>to spend our wait. We were noshy, so I had the St. Norita Margarita (tequila, st. germain elderflower blossom liqueur and a splash of cava and lime juice) and he had a Smuttynose IPA. We also shared the queso cheese-topped guacamole and a Napolito salad (supposedly with grilled cactus). Guac was great – I would not recommend the salad. There were about 7 tiny slivers of “cactus” which were kind of tough and salty. We also played a round of mini golf in a precious course that details D.C. life, including meter maids, the beltway mixing bowl, U Street and the Washington Monument. After about 1 hour and 40 minutes, Granville Moore’s called. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We were offered what we consider one of the top tables - a little wooden one by the window, perfect for bar watching and street watching (which apparently even at 9 PM can be pretty interesting over there). Granville Moore’s is a dark row house converted into a restaurant. There are about 8 tables and a bar downstairs, and roughly the same upstairs. The walls and ceiling are dark wood and it really does feel like a Belgian pub (minus the long beer list, as a former resident of Belgium, I feel obligated to point out that Belgian Bars never have 5-10 page menus outlining all of the tiny breweries throughout the country with flavor descriptions). ALSO- fruit beers and lambics, my favorites are CHEAP. And they always serve<a href="; <b>Jupiler</b></a> (not the highest quality but about the same as the much-touted Stella Artois). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Moving along from the atmosphere, which did include a jukebox specializing in 60’s psychedelic rock and Motown, Granville Moore has a simple menu. There is a list of appetizers, but most are full of pork* and are not moules/frites so I don’t really bother with them. They have burgers too, but I don’t understand that either - why have those when you can have moules frites!? Moules frites, served in enormous white bowls, come piping hot and steamed in a variety of mixtures from the classic marinere in white wine, cream and herbs to “Diablo” in tomatoes, shallots and chilies, to the “wilder” with mushrooms and the bleu (with bleu cheese and white wine that can be made without the pork belly). Fries are offered in large and small (I’d go small for two people and large for more) with sauces (as they would be in Belgium, except there you could even have up to 20 to choose from, in a restaurant it would probably be only mayonnaise and ketchup). Of the long list of beers, we tried the Corsondonk, Maredsous and the Petrus Blonde. YUM! Ask your server to help you choose, they know the menu and delight in making recommendations.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While the two-hour wait was long, it was really fun to be at Granville Moore on a Saturday night. The atmosphere is buzzing with great food and fun music. If you are not out to get drunk and stay out until dawn, try to get to H Street around 7PM or earlier as the restaurants are tiny and all have multi-hour waits (most take reservations, but not Granville Moore). At 7PM, the H Street Country Club is really pleasant, people are there, but no long lines or craziness; by 11 PM, you will wait in line outside. If you turn up somewhere like Granville Moore much later than 8.15/8.30 you may not be able to even put your name on the list for a table as the kitchen will close by the time you’re seated. That said, fun times! Where do you like to go on H Street? My next place to try is <a href=" class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Just a note for readers, I don’t eat pork and try not to mix red meat and milk to respect - to a degree - Jewish dietary restrictions. FYI, my rabbi gave me permission to treat mussels as vegetables for the evening. J</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>2011/02/h-street-ne.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Kleiner & The Kleinette)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968109092262315190.post-5609907713934212931Sun, 06 Feb 2011 14:40:00 +00002011-02-06T09:41:28.990-05:00DCLykke LiSOTD - I Follow Rivers | Lykke Li<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Good morning Washington, DC. I first heard "I Follow Rivers" by Swedish artist <a href=" Li</a> on XM radio on Monday. Since then, the addicting drum sequence and syncopated lyrics have been playing in my head. The album comes out in a month - so enjoy this until then.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="; title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>2011/02/sotd-i-follow-rivers-lykke-li.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Kleiner & The Kleinette)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968109092262315190.post-4364250655450089710Sat, 05 Feb 2011 17:54:00 +00002011-02-05T12:54:33.336-05:00Song of the DaySOTD- Tame Impala - Its not Meant to BePsychedelic Saturday - here is your Australian song of the day by Perth based band Tame Impala. Kind of creepy how John Lennon came back to life to sing the vocals.... <br />
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Just hanging out at home looking at a solid white-gray sky and listening to music on this do-nothing Shabbat.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="; title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>2011/02/sotd-tame-impala-its-not-meant-to-be.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Kleiner & The Kleinette)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968109092262315190.post-7357290362403588818Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:51:00 +00002011-02-02T14:51:40.570-05:00Funxion – Healthy Week Day City Lunch<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--> <m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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