Another Face of D.C.: Eastern Market

The first feeling came to my mind about D.C. is that it was such a western political city, with those white giant government buildings designed in the style of Ancient Greek and those high heels walking on a super fast pace every morning. However, right in the Northeast corner of the Capital Hill, there is a place that is just so unfitted in such a political and formal environment what so ever. It is a farmer market, called Eastern Market, where various food, fruits and crafts are gathered by the local farmers and merchants. Many of them are very special stuffs that originally come from the Non-west. When I first got there, it suddenly reminded me of the market that is filled with the cheapest clothes and accessories in my hometown in China. I was so amazed that how such rural market could have a replication in the Capital of the United States. The Eastern Market reveals another face of D.C. that has not been seen by many people, which is its diversity against its stereotypical fast-paced life, formality and fractious zealotry.

Today was one of my last three days in D.C., and I went to the Eastern Market for my last time. I was thinking about my hometown while walking around that place, including the very similar market I mentioned. However, this time’s feeling was so different from the first time visiting here. Eastern Market appeared to be so special that could no longer resemble my hometown market, and I eventually figured out the real difference is the fact that this distinctive little market is located in a large environment into which it does not inherently fit. This is the charm about Washington D.C. After exploring the city for the past weeks, it seems to me what have always been going on in the city are the dynamic struggles among the diverse elements. Some people struggle for their interests, some for their career ladders, and some for culture and identity just as the distinctiveness of the Eastern Market. Hopefully, I will come back here again someday to fit in an environment that does not seem to be fit in our first glance with my own distinctiveness.

Top Ten

As I put the final touches on my research paper and prepare to head back to Ohio, I can't help but reflect on a great quarter. I have had an incredible experience in Washington, DC this summer. This will undoubtedly be a summer I will never forget. I have learned more than I could have imagined, seen more than I had even hoped for, and met more incredible people here than I thought was possible. That is why I am wrapping up my summer with a top ten for the Washington Academic Internship Program, Summer of 2011.

10. The Congressional. Not one room is the same as another. A great location with a bit of personality. I will miss my small apartment.

9. The security guard at the Hall of States. Quite possibly one of the happiest people on earth. Being greeted by his radiant smile every Friday morning was a great start to my day. Stay classy my man.

8. Studying at the Library of Congress. Probably one of the neatest experiences of the summer. Merely sitting in the main reading room is an experience in itself.

7. Fourth of July. My family was in town. As usual, when trying to coordinate a family vacation, it was hectic and slightly stressful, but at the end of the night it was a successful birthday celebration for the greatest country on earth.

6. Seersucker suits. Need I say more?

5. Friday morning breakfast. Eating breakfast with my roommate, Steven, every Friday morning as we prepped for class. Well, except for that one Friday... oops.

4. The Metro. Love it. Hate it. I experienced both of these feelings towards this method of public transportation this summer. I will miss it, except for the smell.

3. The CIA. I will assume everyone is a spy until you prove otherwise. This was an incredible trip that made me want to be in the CIA. Although now I am quite paranoid about my daily interactions.

2. Orange juice on Saturday.

1. Gabrielle Giffords. I witnessed a moment in history as I sat in the gallery to see the debt ceiling pass. This brave congresswomen made her inspirational entrance to the House floor to cast her vote. I joined the entire room for multiple standing ovations.

So long DC. It's been a fun ride. I'm sure I'll be back for more. Ken and Mike - hold down the fort after I leave.

JF

The Most Important Meal of the Day...

My mother has always taught me that it's important to treat yourself nicely and reward yourself after hard work. With that in my mind, I knew I'd have to find something fun to do during my last week here in DC after working for 9 weeks, taking class, and writing a research paper. My very first day of work, as I was walking to the office, I passed the Sofitel Hotel. I immediately was captivated by the very fancy breakfast that they were serving at the hotel's restaurant, ici Bistro. As I have passed by the hotel and restaurant everyday to and from work, it didn't take me long to decide that breakfast there would be my treat to myself for a summer of hard work.

I convinced one of my fellow John Glenn-ers to splurge and spend the money on a super fancy breakfast. We made reservations last week and have been waiting in anticipation for the day of our elegant breakfast to finally arrive. And oh, it did not disappoint.

We arrived and were ushered to very comfortable chairs outside on the patio. They served us our coffee in a french press and orange juice in a wine glass. They also brought a basket of croissants and other breads to eat with our plates of scrambled eggs. All the staff was very friendly and all had French accents, though I forgot to ask where each of them was from. Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and my favorite type of food, this was an excellent way to start off my second to last day of my internship.

Even though I cringed when the bill came, as I have cringed a lot this summer when I realized how much I owed different establishments around the city, I didn't regret the decision to eat there. It was just the relaxing time that I needed to get me through my last week. It really made me stop and think about how much I've enjoyed my time here this summer, how much I've learned and how much I appreciate all the wonderful people I have met, both in the program and at my work. While the breakfast only lasted about an hour, this whole summer has been awesome and I know I'll continue to appreciate the opportunity I had here for a long time to come.

Two Tasty Restaurants

In spite of the humid weather, summer life in DC was fun and pleasing. Being able to stay here for about two months, I gradually grew into a proud tour guide of this great city. When my friend Tyche visited me last weekend, I took her to all my favorite places in DC. Other than the famous museums and monuments, we also had a little food tasting tour around DC.

The first stop we made was We The Pizza on Penn Avenue. The place was not quite big and was crowed with local professionals, as well as tourists. There were eleven different kinds of fresh-baked pizza, along with chicken wings, side dishes and delicious flavored soda. I ordered my all-time-favorite BBQ pork pizza with crispy onions as topping. Tyche however, as a big fan of spicy food, got the spicy Mexican pie with chicken, peppers and tasty homemade spicy source on the top. The environment at We The Pizza was delightful and casual: there were interns from the Hill in their business suits chatting with each other, on the other end of the room there were also tourist families in their “I LOVE DC” t-shirts.

Another special place we tried was Korean restaurant Mandu on K Street. Earlier this summer, I went to Mandu with my office at their DuPont Circle location, as a farewell lunch for our Korean colleague, who was leaving during that week. The meaning of Mandu was dumplings in Korean, which was also the restaurant’s logo. Their decoration was unique and modern - light green wallpaper with traditional Korean cranes decor fly across the ceiling. According to my Korean coworkers, their food was also quite authentic. Their Korean brunch special during weekends was definitely worth trying.

- T.H.

China TOWN!

There have been talks about people going out or "packing" Friday after our send off event. Last weekend (which has been my only Friday in DC), me and a few others went and wandered around China Town. It was a great time. There was any and everything there for anyone: Japanese Bars, Chinese Bars, Irish Bars, and even dancing (ask Alexa). Even though some bailed, it was a good time had by all (and mostly me in the end). Keep this in mind for your last weekend in DC. It's not everyday one can go play in China Town in a major capitol, let alone DC. We all know you can't do it in cbus, so why not?

CBB

One of Our First...A Must Last!

On one of our very first trips, we went to the Pentagon. It was definitely a great tour. Getting to see and hear the history of the building and what the do is something most people don't get to do! The best part by far was the 9/11 Memorial. Upon leaving, it was suggested by Dr. K to go check it out at night to get the full experience. He was right! The memorial at night has an entirely different feel for it.

There is no one around at night, its quite and almost serene. Looking, walking, and just sitting there are night gives you a since of sadness while at the same time a since of pride. The people that lost their lives on that fateful day are American Heros and should be treated as such. Whether you are the patriotic type or not, this is def. a must see at night for all. With only two, maybe three more nights left in the city, the 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon should be at the top of your list.

I know a lot of you like to walk/run at night to see the different memorials...you would almost be stupid not to go check this out at night! Who knows the next time you'll get the chance, or if you ever will again.

CBB

The Home Run Stretch

With only a few days left before the end of my quarter here in Washington, I still have a lot to do. There’s the standard packing up all my worldly belongings that are here and cleaning the apartment that occurs at the end of any time abroad. There is also the standard end of the quarter shuffle--finishing projects, papers, and paperwork. Unlike other quarters, I also have to wrap things up at my internship, and that may not be by the end of the quarter.

At my internship, my to do list has slowly been whittled down to two major projects: first, the creation of a foreign lobbyist database; second, I am writing a long piece for out blog.

I have been a part of the development process of the database from the beginning. I gathered the data, and after it was roughly transformed into a database, I have gone through identifying and fixing problems in the database. I know I won’t be able to fully finish editing and correcting the foreign lobbyist database, but I have been able to diagnose many of the problems in the database, fix a lion share of those problems, and detail how the diagnosing and fixing process should occur so that it can be replicated.

My second project, the long piece, for the blog won’t be done before the quarter ends. As a result, I will have to “write from beyond the grave”, as the communications department says.

KMS

Meeting THE Wolf

As I watched President Obama's interview in Iowa with Wolf Blitzer it made me realize that I never shared my story of meeting THE Wolf Blitzer when I toured CNN. A couple of weeks ago I was granted a tour of CNN's DC Bureau. A former Ohio State graduate, who is currently the political director for CNN in Washington, told me when we met last fall to send him an email when I was in town and he would gladly show me around the building. I contacted him after I was settled in DC and we eventually set up a date to meet at his office.

I arrived after a long day of work at the CNN office, which is tucked away behind Union Station. I met Steve in the lobby and we went up to the main offices where many of the CNN political stories are born. The building, as a whole, was very nice, but the CNN offices were much more impressive in comparison. The entire office had been under renovation and parts still were, but most of the projects were complete.

The first level we stopped at held many of the policy analysts and journalists that are working around the clock to stay on top of all the big stories in an attempt to break the next big one. The floor was designed with clusters of desks and monitors together based on what area in Washington they focused on. There was a team for the White House, another for Congress, and even one for campaign politics.

The office was full of flat screen TVs and Apple computer monitors with CNN programs playing or pictures of the building renovations cycling on a slide show. There were even pictures of the day that the building lost power minutes before Wolf Blitzer was about to begin his show. They quickly made some last minute adjustments and shot the show outside by sunlight.

After meeting a few young journalists Steve and I headed upstairs to see a couple of the studios. We slipped into a silent studio that is the set for John King USA and The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer. It was clear that the crew was getting ready for the next show. As I looked around what was a much smaller studio than I had imagined the door that I had just entered through opened behind me. I turned around to see Wolf Blitzer smile at me and stride by me onto the set.

Steve was nice enough to introduce me to the one of the most recognizable political talk show hosts in the country. I traded small talk about Ohio State with Mr. Blitzer for a minute and then posed for a photo op on the studio floor with Wolf in the background. It was an incredible experience--one that I will never forget.

Unfortunately, I still do not have the photo in my possession. I am waiting for Steve to email it to me. Considering what the summer has been like for Washington politics and those attempting to cover all of the hoopla, I'll give him some time.

JF

Novels, Cultures, Opinions

As a last blog post, I recommend to current, past and future Glenn fellows interested in learning about cultures to read the following novels. This blog post idea came to me while I read Samuel P. Huntingotn’s The Clash of Civilizations? (1993). Though, I must clarify that I do not agree with his argument that the only cause of conflict among people is cultural. Having said that, I will go through parts of the article as my ideas came to me:

“The interactions between peoples of different civilizations are increasing…” This is where my first thought occurred; I agree. Since there is an increase in globalization, more people should be aware and knowledgeable about other cultures and ideas.

“An Ibo may be… an Owerri Ibo or and Onitsha Ibo in what is the Eastern region of Nigeria. In Lagos, he is simply an Ibo. In London, he is a Nigerian. In New York, he is African”. A well-known Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe, writes about cultural clashes in his novel, Things Fall Apart. His follow up novel is No Longer at Ease, where the main character experiences cross-cultural pressures.

“…the carnage in Bosnia and Sarajevo”. Slavenka Drakulic keeps true to this carnage in her novel S. A Novel about the Balkans. She focuses the story on a woman and what she goes through, being a woman, during the horrors of war. Needless to say, this was a very desensitizing book. She has also written other novels such as, Café Europa and They Wouldn’t Hurt a Fly about the Balkan culture and the Balkan war criminals, respectively.

“Modern democratic government originated in the West. When it has developed in non-Western societies it has usually been the product of Western colonialism or imposition”. This idea is explored in William Easterly’s The White Man’s Burden. He argues that the West must take responsibility of the negative consequences that have occurred from the West’s help in poor developing countries.

“Mexico has stopped defining itself by it opposition to the United States and it instead attempting to imitate the United States and joining the North American Trade Area”. There have always been migrations from Mexico to the United States. Now it has become a much more sensitive issue with so many deaths being reported. Luis Alberto Urrea follows 26 men that attempted to cross the U.S./Mexico border in his novel, The Devil’s Highway.

Finally, the article mentions Confucian-Islamic ideas. Snowflower and the Secret Fan novel by Lisa See goes into the old tradition of foot binding in China. The other is A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini that follows the life of two Afghan women.

All these novels, fiction or nonfiction, are a great way to inform you about different cultures and opinions. I encourage you to pick one up and immerse yourself in a story and culture.

CFC

Traveling Underground

When I took the metro in DC for the first time, I was quite amazed by the Metro station decoration. The style was full of grey color with a heavy exposure of concrete squares all the way up to the ceiling. I’ve been to many other cities with metro transportation; their metro stations usually have their own personality. No matter it was a traditional underground train station, or a modern palace with colorful decoration, none of them were quite like the giant “tunnel” here in DC. My friend Singmi, who came to Unite States from India for the very first time told me that DC Metro was “way too dark”, which was a little scary for her.

Adapted from late 20th century modern architecture, DC Metro was famous for its unique ceiling design. Architect Harry Weese was the master behind scene and the Metro was the one of the most famous representative for brutalism architecture style.

All in all, DC Metro is definitely the magic chain that connects different part of the city. It is quite convenient to get around by Metro - as long as it’s on time. The summer delay of Metro seems like inevitable due to heat of the track. Sometime trains need to “take a break” before operating again to prevent potential “blackouts”. However, I am still very grateful for the great metro system here, especially during peak hours.

- T.H.

Mr. Redd Goes to Washington

As a way to reflect on all that I've learned this summer, I watched the seminal Jimmy Stewart classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington on Sunday night (available here for the time being). As typical of most Stewart films, a folksy underdog uses good ole fashioned American grit and determination to overcome the corrupt and powerful men in charge.

Jimmy Stewart's character Jefferson Smith is an idealistic boy scout leader and thus an unlikely appointment to the U.S. Senate after his predecessor's unexpected death. His fellow Senator and the Governor that appointed him are apart of the same political machine, and both pressure him to follow their explicit directions on how he should vote. Smith quickly sees that he must choose between re-election or upholding his high moral standard. In a critical moment, he opposes a key piece of legislation proposed by the villainous Senator. The film culminates in one of the most memorable scenes in all of film: Senator Smith filibusters for a then unprecedented 24 hours straight (Sen. Strom Thurmond broke this record with his attempt to halt the Civil Rights Act of 1957 - yikes). In the end, good prevails, the political machine is taken down, and American ideals are displayed for the world to see.

The tale of Mr. Smith is heartwarming and inspiring, if a bit cheesy on occasion. It remains one of the most important movies ever made, especially for its critical timing. When the movie first came out in 1939, it was banned in Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, Fascist Italy and a handful of other non-democratic nations because it showed how a representative democracy can work for its citizens. I cannot help but imagine the response to such a film nowadays. Certainly the public has become far too cyncial of the Federal Government to believe that such a pleasant story could emanate from one of the chambers of Congress.

Some of the lessons I've taken from my time in DC deal with the nature of contemporary American politics - hyperpartisanship, an inability to compromise, never ending campaigning and fundraising, and the painful inefficiencies of bureaucracy. It's incredibly easy to become disenfranchised with a system that leaves so much to be desired.

My spirit is not yet broken, however. I remain optimistic about the role that I and the other Glenn Fellows might play in restoring some sanity to the government one day. A great CNN article published last week predicts that it will take a millenial to end the political gridlock plaguing the government. My generation's open-mindedness and creativity might be just the trick to fixing a fractured system.

Many would justifiably argue that it's a lost cause. In reply, I turn to our fictional friend Senator Jefferson Smith who once stated, "Lost causes are the only causes worth fighting for."

Steven

National Cathedral

Having been in Washington for about two months now, I’m certainly used to the feeling of the white, marble city. At least in our neighborhood, walking around Capitol Hill on a sunny day can be blinding if you don’t have sunglasses handy. In addition, I’ve gotten used to the concrete city feeling of downtown. Little patches of nature scattered throughout, such as McPherson Square or Lower Senate Park, are nice reminders of the green space we left behind when we signed up for a summer in DC. All in all, however, walking around DC has a pretty familiar feel to it now, and I’m seldom surprised when I enter a new part of town, landscape or scenery-wise.

There are two major exceptions that I’ve encountered and enjoyed greatly so far. The first, the National Zoo. I went looking for pandas, and certainly was not disappointed on that front. I also found, however, an ENORMOUS area of DC that was both hilly and almost entirely green. Being used to so much pure city, it was a nice break to be able to walk around and feel like I was at any other zoo, anywhere else in the country.

The second, the National Cathedral. Driving along with George Washington Memorial Parkway, the Cathedral can be seen peeking out from above Georgetown. Up close, it’s a gigantic surprise that just kind of hits you. It’s one of those rare instances where you turn a corner, and BAM, there it is.

And boy, it is gorgeous! I went inside and took an impromptu tour, and was amazed and awed to see such an impressive structure right outside of the city. It was like walking through Notre Dame de Paris; the same set up, just an ocean apart. Built within the past century, it’s pretty cool to see American attempts at replicating buildings that are centuries old everywhere else in the world. One major difference? The Cathedral is almost completely clean on the outside. Also, it’s odd to see almost all the writing both inside and out in English, as opposed to French or Latin (most of the churches I’ve been to, at least, have been in France, thus the reason I found this surprising).

One downside is that the National Cathedral is pretty far away. However, if you all have time when parents or friends are picking you up to head home, I’d recommend driving out to see it; it’ll be worth it, I guarantee!

LZ

Great Food, Great History

One of my favorite places I’ve eaten all summer has been Martin’s Tavern in Georgetown. It’s a famous hotspot; a Washington establishment, some might say.

Martin’s has been a favorite restaurant for a handful of Presidents, and as a result of it being so popular, it has been visited by every sitting President from Harry Truman to George W. Bush. President Obama, if you’re reading this, I highly recommend visiting Martin’s; not only to keep the tradition going, but also so you can order the eggs benedict (pretty fabulous).

Not only was the food at Martin’s great, but the place is ripe with history. Being a gathering place for so many famous people, many of the booths in the restaurant have earned their own special classifications. The booth next to the one my mom, sister and I ate in was the booth where JFK apparently proposed to Jackie (that’s my favorite story, as most people who know me will be able to attest to the fact that I’m obsessed with the Kennedy family). Another booth a few down was apparently JFK’s favorite; he lived in Georgetown while he was a Senator, and he went to Mass at the church right down the street from Martin’s. Harry Truman and his wife have their own famous booth, where they would frequently meet for dinner when he was a Senator and she was a student at GWU. Nixon and LBJ both had their own booths, and according to Martin’s, apparently Soviet spies would camp out and eavesdrop on all the famous and important people who would come to dine there.

What a cool place. What great food. If there’s one spot I’d recommend everyone checking out before we all make our way back to Columbus for the school year, it’s definitely Martin’s Tavern.

Here’s their website in case you wanted to know more!! And definitely let me know if you'd like to go.
http://www.martins-tavern.com/


LZ

Reflection at the Monuments

The themes of several of the last blog posts have centered around appreciating the many monuments and museums of DC. As time runs out on our quarter, a number of my classmates and I have tried and squeeze in as much as possible. None of us could have anticipated how quickly the summer would roll by, and as a result we've had a lot of catching up to do in regards to essential Washington landmarks.

A few fellows and I decided to make good use of our second to last Friday of the quarter, and so we walked over to the FDR and Jefferson memorials. FDR's amazing use of waterfalls and Jefferson's placement overlooking the tidal basin make these my favorite of the DC memorials. There is no better place to think quietly or reflect with friends than in the presence of a gorgeous marble statue of one of the greatest thinkers of all time. Add in the moonlight that slightly illuminates the serene waters of the basin, and it's easy to see why it's among the best spots in DC.

Next week, the area around the tidal basin will be home to what will likely be another powerful memorial. Forty-eight years after the famous "I Have a Dream Speech," the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial will open to the public. Though the opening ceremony (featuring President Obama, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder among others) is not until August 28th, the memorial is open to the public on August 22nd. The memorial cost an estimated $120 million and has some amazing design features which can be seen on the official website. Because I'll be working an extra week after the program is over, I'm looking forward to being among the first to see it. I trust that it will make my favorite stretch of memorials all the more moving.

Steven

Museum Tour in D.C.

There is no doubt that D.C. is the paradise of museum lovers. People can find museums in quite different areas like the air and space, history, arts, journalism, spy, portraits, and science. I love visiting museums because they are places where you can learn a lot by experiencing yourself. It feels real and touched when I’m seeing those pictures, documents, videos, models and statues. At some point, I feel like I were a witness and seeing everything unfold in front of me.

Since my friend Tyche who is staying in D.C. with me this weekend also likes museum, I brought her to my three favorite ones:The Holocaust Memorial Museum, The National Gallery of Art, and The Newseum.

The Holocaust Memorial Museum locates on the 14th and 15th street which was established in 1993 in order to show its audience a living memorial to the Holocaust. It gathered thousands of photos and documents about the Holocaust spreading on two floors. The interior design of the whole museum is imitating the Nazi concentration Camp in World War II which make people feel very heavyhearted. The exhibition of the first floor varies by different themes and the second floor is the fixed exhibition within several films and many precious documents, pictures and things left from the Holocaust. It explained the historical background and reasons why and how the tragedy happened. What impressed me most are those photos of how Nazi did to Jewish people in their concentration camp. Nearly six million of Jewish were killed in from 1933-1945 including one and half million of children. Their cruel behaviors created a huge damage to other races of people which would never be forgiven.

Our next stop was The Newseum which was really an interesting name. The Newseum was filled with millions of information since very long time ago in United States Journalism history. In Newseum, people could access to see the developments of journalism, there were also stunning photos from Pulitzer Prize. We experienced the 4D movie which told us three journalism stories throughout history. The most touching part is the section of 9/11. There was a short film about the responses of some journalism witnesses of 9/11, they shared their heart-broken stories of 9/11. One could also have hands-on experience in Newseum and be a part of the news team.

Eventually we went to the National Gallery of Art which located right across the street of Newseum. Due to the short time we had, we only visited a small part of the West Building.

I have always built many images in my mind whenever I visit a museum. The exhibitions tell stories and I’m willing to be the listener. Sometimes it is amazing to me that I can find many things happening in those art pieces so similar to real life. Other times I can even experience other’s suffering with anger and sorrow. Museums are the bridges that connect reality and history.

- T.H.

Monuments in the Moonlight and Rivalry Love

It's been a major theme since I've gotten to DC--you know, the whole everyone-hating-Ohio-State thing, but after the Five Stages of Grief, I've been able to accept that I go to a controversial school (and that everyone else is just jealous). On my first day at Citizens for Global Solutions, the staff took all of the interns out to lunch. We all introduced ourselves with the typical elevator speech. Upon meeting Carly from Michigan, there was, of course, the initial horror that strikes the heart of any loyal OSU or Michigan student, but being the grown, mature, educated women that we are, we quickly became friends and were able to overlook the century long rivalry.

Since then, we have become the best of friends. We've given each other career, traveling, school, and boy advice. This Wednesday night, confronted with the fact that she would soon be leaving DC to head back to school, Carly and I decided to have a delicious soul food dinner at Oohh's and Aahh's and tour the monuments at night. It turns out that it was a lovely DC evening, not oppressively hot and even a little breezy, and there's no better time to see the monuments than when they're lit up in the darkness.

It was incredible to see how vacant the streets were -- even at the White House! Only about 30 people stood in front of the gates and admired the relatively quaint home of the President (considering the grandiose structures of other nations). After the White House, we strolled past the Washington Monument on our way to the greatest view of all: the Jefferson Memorial. Walking along the winding paths that hug the tidal basin, I was in awe of the remarkable structure and its brilliant glow spilling over the water.

After a summer of living the life of a true DC resident, it was time that I had a touristy evening, and I was quickly reminded of why people travel from so far to see the beauty of the city. While I have my complaints about the weather and the divisive politics, it has truly been an amazing experience and I've grown to love DC like a home. Also, I suppose that in a city that is defined by the divisions in politics, even a Buckeye and a Wolverine can become great friends.

SF

Summer Treat

Growing up in a city with extremely humid weather during the summer, it still surprises me that summer has always been my favorite season. For me, there is no better time of year that has the perfect combination of sunshine, ice cream. and fun!

One of the best summer surprise D.C. has given to me is the popularity of frozen yogurt. As one of the hottest-growing franchising chains, frozen yogurt has opened a whole new world for yogurt and ice cream lovers. D.C. has a large variety of frozen yogurt brands, especially in recent years, the popularity of this healthy dairy product has exploded.

My first taste of frozen yogurt in DC was at SweetGreen near Capitol Hill, a healthy, organic diner that offers salad, warps, and most importantly, frozen yogurt. It was a nice walk from Congressional, our apartment, the neighborhood was filled with beautifully organized gardens and friendly residents. After a nice walk, SweetGreen was the perfect place to have some refreshment. Their frozen yogurt not only came with the original tart flavor, but also fresh-cut fruits and toppings.

As for my personal favorite place, it has to be the Fro.Zen.Yo. I was skeptical and curious when the first time I walked into Fro.Zen.Yo - there were about eight machines that looked like McDonald’s milkshake maker, two flavors for each. Turned our Fro.Zen.Yo was a self-serve frozen yogurt place. For me this was definitely one of the best summer surprises, the happiness as a little kid in a candy store came back to me again when I was in Fro.Zen.Yo. I tried all the crazy flavors such as cheesecake, which is also my favorite, and strawberry-kiwi (non dairy) with fun toppings and delicious syrups. After I filled my cup with all the summer tasty treat, I placed my yogurt on a scale and paid by ounce. The trick I learned later from a frozen yogurt expert was to put toppings on the bottom first, then yogurt. And then more toppings, more yogurt. In this way one could maximize their yogurt flavor and topping choices with beautiful layers, just like a parfait.

Speaking of frozen yogurt, my best friend is in town this weekend. I am definitely taking her to the two places and getting some summer treat. Delicious!

- T.H.

Music...Sweet Music

I Love Music & Therefore...I'm Broke

On our first ever meeting back in April, I mentioned that I am a fan of music. Music is one of those things that can bring all kinds of people together. No matter your belief in this, or that, music is something from the heart (most of the time) and is something that somehow you can usually tie it to your own personal experience.

There are all kinds of music venues all over the DC area and I highly suggest everyone at least see one show, big or small, while in the city. It'll be an experience you may never forget. Ask Sara or Alexa, both of which ventured to the 930 Club with me here in DC. During both shows, we saw or met people that you would never expect to see at the given concert. Sarah and I met a woman that lost half of her arm and was working for the VA to help veterans returning from the Middle East. She was having a blast! It just goes to show, that music can touch us in a way that nothing else can. Alexa and I didn't "met" anyone so to say, but we did realize that sometimes you must carry your girlfriend's purse, even if you have your own, and yours is bigger than hers...

http://redpalacedc.com/events/

http://www.930.com/concerts/

http://www.dcjazz.com/

Those are all links for music in and around the city. Anything from country to alternative, and rap to jazz. Surely you can find something that interests you.

The Eels - 930 club

The Red Palace Cat, he was there when they bought the place, and refused to leave...he know sleeps at the bar

I Love U Street

Last week, a few of us Glenn Fellows had our first experience on U Street. This part of a town has a very different feel to it than many of the other areas we had visited in DC. We first stopped into an adorable little hole-in-the-wall soul food restaurant, called Oohhs & Aahhs, for dinner. We were surprised when we entered to see dozens of pictures on the wall, each one depicting a celebrity enjoying the food at what we had thought was just your average tiny restaurant. We would soon learn that, although the restaurant was indeed tiny, it was far from average.
Our wonderful waitress allowed us to sample ALL of the side dishes (All of which are vegetarian, by the way) before selecting our meals. We first thought this was merely a sweet gesture, but we soon learned that it was the world's best business tactic. Every single dish was so delicious that it made deciding on just three a nearly impossible task! We each finally decided on our meal choices, and stuffed ourselves silly on the incredible food.
After dinner, we could not quite remember why we had wanted to go dancing, but we decided to attempt to do so anyway. So, we stumbled down the street, fighting our food comas with every bit of strength we had, in search of a dance club. U Street, however, is not populated by the normal dance clubs one sees around the rest of DC. In fact, we could not find a single club that played the music we were expecting. Luckily, we ended up somewhere even better! We somehow discovered a Reggae Club, which provided an unforgettable experience on which I have been missing out for the past 22 years. The DJs spoke with Jamaican accents so thick that no one had any idea what was being said, and the club patrons, many of whom were clearly regulars, swayed to the rhythm of reggae music in perfect synchronization. We danced and laughed the night away, as we learned that hip hop is definitely not the only music that makes for a great club experience.
U Street definitely makes for a unique and wonderful adventure, full of new and exciting experiences. The most important lesson of U Street, though: do not attempt to eat delicious soul food and then go out dancing. You will be overcome with a strong urge to hibernate instead.

RC