Nation's Capital pt. 4

What could compare to the festivities of last week? After all it WAS Fourth of July weekend. Perhaps, it was time to take a breather. You know, turn the fans on hi, grab a Schlitz with some bug spray and kick of those ratty shoes (be sure to put them outside because I know you haven’t been wearing socks) and just have a relaxing weekend of public radio, humidity and no showers. While that isn’t quite the way things went down, this week was a bit slower. Maybe it was because beer outweighed aqua on the alcohol to H20 ratio. Damn dehydration. Your guide to the fantastic and sometimes horribly depressing world of D.C. as selected by yours truly continues:

Plus

+Big Bear Café. This coffee shop sits in a strange location. It’s mostly a residential area. Admittedly, it i also right on the border of some serious gentrification. However, the coffee was actually really good and I heard the food is grub. Plus, they were blasting M.I.A. the whole time.

+ Making friends that you don’t work with or already knew before moving to D.C. I heard this was a good thing so I actually tried it. Working out so far.

+ When your smart, creative and intelligent friends visit from the West Coast and you can go drinking on Monday with them and talk about all the strangeness that is the East Coast. (Diana, Nick…) Always a plus!

+ The second burrito I had in D.C. was a breakfast burrito from a small Latin restaurant next to Casa Blanca’s downtown. Really cheap, filling and delicious.

+ L’Enfant. This is a French restaurant on 18^th and U st. It only serves dinner and alcohol during the week but on the weekends it opens early and serves up a breakfast/lunch menu that is delicious and well-priced. In addition, the service was amazing. While the cuisine and décor is quasi-french, it still is well worth it. Finally, they serve fruit with their plates! I know this sounds strange but most places here don’t offer fruit as a free side with your breakfast meal here. I find this strange. I will definitely return.

+3 dollar, 32 oz. beers from the food mall. (good call A...) Yep. They give them to you in plastic cups with a cover and a straw. You can also walk right out of the mall with them without anyone stopping you.

Minus

- George Washington University undergrad. Its bad enough you go to the most expensive school in the country. Try a little harder to not be a spoiled snob. Sure, you getting a better education than me but you work at the front desk of the student housing…over the summer. You’re essentially a secretary for the school. How cool is that? Nope.

- The first burrito I had in Washington D.C. was for lunch during our national student journalism conference. I threw it up 10 minutes later. Rad. Don’t eat California Tortilla. It’s a glorified Taco Bell. You’re better off going to Chipotle…and no…McDonalds doesn’t own them. Read up kid.

- Local bands. Nothing against the kids but the scene isn’t really showing me anything impressive so far. I’ll keep looking…I know its out there.

- People who are drunk talking about politics. Really? Really? I mean we all live walking distance from the white house practically. Senators cut in line at the local deli. People hand us political propaganda when we walk out of the metro. Half the people you know work on the hill or go to the hill or call people on the hill on a regular basis. Do we really need to talk about politics when we are drunk. Can we not just drink beer and put on a good record. Oh you don’t own a record? Then put on your Ipod for god sake. Lets dance and spill grape juice all over the floor. Lets shake our ass and do our best air-guitar impression. (Bobby…) Lets blow up rubber balloons until we turn blue. Lets NOT talk about politics when we drink. Please? Please…no…I don’t want to talk about the latest poll…no I didn’t read that new article in the Post…shut up. nonononononononononononononononono…nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! no no no blah blah blah. I can’t hear you!

Equal.

You don’t get any equals. I was too opinionated to feel neutral this week.

(Image: Don't Block the Box signs are all over D.C. Even the street signs are trying not the playa-hate.)