October 25, 2008 In Uncategorized

Truffles and cocktails? -Oh yeah.

I went to Aurora for lunch with an old friend this week. Here’s a new look for Richmond, VA. (Thank you, thank you!) This place looks like the type of spot you’d find in a real city. A place where a bunch of girlfriends can get gussied up at night to go out for a cocktail when they are sick of packing themselves into the otherwise smoky dive bar. No offense dive bar-it’s just nice to see a funky clean and trendy little joint that’s new in town that we might actually be able to wear heels to.

Sure, my lunch left a lot to be desired, but other diners looked like they were drooling over their choices, so I’ll just try something different next time. Plus, there was a bonus:
The pastry chef dropped by our table with complimentary yellow cupcakes that had a thick chocolate frosting. (Um-are you a mind-reader Mr. Pastry?) -Thanks! I promptly ordered an espresso to dip the cupcake in. YUM.
Cupcakes you ask? Yes, at this part bakery/espresso bar, restaurant, venue/event space- there are two enormous pastry cases that line the front wall with all delectable goodies that anyone could drool over. Great spot to grab a box of treats for a party or gift. 
Wow. Open, bright place with huge windows, good service, and where you can get a chocolate such and such with a nighttime cocktail? 
Check please! I’m in.

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October 17, 2008 In Uncategorized

DC on a dime

Here’s an idea that we tried this summer; Don’t make plans or reservations. Show up in whatever city you want to check out (we chose DC this time) -grab a hotel room and restaurant hop. Pony up to the bar to eat and drink instead of getting a table. You can check out more than one spot, save your on your wallet and maybe even get to talk to some interesting strangers. 

Here’s where we stayed and what we checked out on our weekend. All for 200 bucks including hotel. 

*Holiday Inn Capital; We got our room walk up, day of. This one is a great location, walking distance from everything below. 

*Jazz In The Garden; FREE jazz and people watching in the sculpture gallery at the National Gallery. Spring for the pitcher of sangria they serve out of enormous garbage barrels.

*Jaleo; Jam-packed Tapas joint. Great appetizers and sparkling wine. This place looked like it gets packed every night. 
*The Source; (Wolfgang Puck’s spot) Uber trendy and a bit more of a pish posh crowd. They give you a glass of $13 sparkling for free on your b-day. Between that, a yummy appetizer, and high-fiving some well-dressed bar flies when Michael Phelps won one of his many gold medals that night (Olympics were on TV)-this spot ended up a fabulously pleasant surprise all around. (The bathrooms are incredible too. They didn’t even skimp on where you pee:)
*Ellas; Wood-fired pizza. We had a de-lish tomato basil pie and friendly service.
Good, fun times for a super deal. Can’t beat that with a stick!
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October 16, 2008 In Uncategorized

Front Porch Cafe’

This morning I met a friend at the Front Porch Cafe‘, a mom and pop local fave at MP 6 in Outer Banks, NC. They had plenty of fresh baked pastries and that unmistakable air of grunge, disorganized and chill coffee house. This was a perfect spot to sit outside on warm NC fall day in a big rustic wooden chair sipping a dark roast.

Forget Starbucks for a day and stop by this spot next time you’re at the beach.

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