From Italian to Mexican to Japanese

June 11, 2007 by 1 Comment

Washington, D.C.

Had a chance to check out some new restaurants in the District this weekend. Here are some thoughts:

Vapiano: This chain out of Germany just opened its first place in the city at 1800 M Street. Essentially, it’s an Italian cafeteria hybrid that looks like an Ikea showroom. There are various stations set up around the perimeter, where you pick up made-to-order pizza, pasta, salad, drinks or dessert and then swipe an electronic card you’re given upon entering. When it’s time to go, take your card to the cashier and pony up (makes eating out in groups pretty painless).

The food was good, my salad with turkey breast was fresh — with meat cooked at the time of preparation — although the drinks seem overpriced ($3 for an iced-tea). And employees seem to be handling the massive downtown lunch mob scene with varying degrees. After stubbing a toe on a counter, one was heard saying: “That’s it. I’m quitting.”

Zengo: I’m a big fan of Mexican and Japanese fare — but usually not during the same meal — although dinner at this Gallery Place hotspot has made me a believer in Latin-Asian fusion. We started out with some great drinks, like the Mojito de Mango, with Parrot Bay mango run, fresh mango and mint and the Caipirinha, a biting mix of samba cachaca, lime and brown sugar. With a group of 7 and a great booth, we then went to town and ordered a bunch of fantastic appetizers for the table.

Highlights including the thai chicken empanadas, won ton tacos (with charred ahi tuna, sushi rice, pickled ginger and mango salsa) and the pork-shoulder rice noodles in hot & sour sauce. My buddy said that his lobster roll (cream cheese, pickled red onion, cucumber, habanero chive aioli and truffle oil) might be the best sushi roll he ever had. And if that’s not a compliment, I don’t know what is.

Filed Under: grub

Ride the Chinatown bus at your own risk

June 8, 2007 by 1 Comment

Washington, D.C.

For those heading to New York for the weekend — and also watching their wallets — the “Chinatown bus” is often a tempting option, with roundtrip service starting at around $35. And there’s plenty of options to choose from: Apex, New Century Travel & Vamoose, are just three of many.

But as New York points out this week, these low fares might come at a cost. Like, your life. Let’s take a closer look at the history of Fung Wah, the first “Chinatown bus” operator that offers $25 Boston-New York trips:

  • August 2005: Bus catches fire en route to New York; 45 passengers evacuated before flames engulf bus.
  • August-September 2006: A Pittsburgh-New York bus crashes; 5 hospitalized. Thirty-four are injured when another bus flips over in Massachusetts.
  • May 2007: Chinatown-bound bus crashes in Pennsylvania; two killed, 32 injured.

As this WaPo story reports, many D.C.-based operators have become skillful at hiding their safety records. Which might be a good idea, considering the number of accidents they’ve been involved in across the East Coast the last 2 years.

Senator Chuck Schumer has pushed for legislation to create national safety standards – but, unfortunately, interest in its passage only arises following accidents.

Until then, I’m sticking with Amtrak.

Filed Under: dc, safety

The D.C. bubble

June 8, 2007 by Leave a Comment

Washington, D.C.

There’s been a lot of talk as of late about the U.S. housing bubble. Nationwide, the trends don’t look all that great. According to the Times, “existing and new home sales declined sharply in the first quarter of this year and permits for future construction in April were down 28 percent from their year-ago levels.”

It’s a bleak picture — but one whose brunt force is being felt in recently overbuilt areas, like Las Vegas, Florida and Kazakstan (blame Borat!). But, as the Times points out in an op-ed, there are other regions, like the NY-metro area, where the “boom of the last few years will simply fizzle out into an extended period of flat or slowly rising home prices and sales.”

But what about here in the nation’s capital?

May’s condo housing report is out. And it shows inventory down 12.8% and contracts up 15.7%. The median price is essentially holding steady, down less than $5,000 to $350k.

Does this make it a seller’s or buyer’s market? It seems that currently the area’s housing market is in something of a holding pattern — and only time will really tell how things pan out here.

Filed Under: dc, real estate

Magic in the hood

June 8, 2007 by Leave a Comment

Washington, D.C.

My apartment is across the street from the landmark Washington Hilton, better known as the Hinckley Hilton, after the assassination attempt of President Reagan that took place there in 1981. My parents have stayed there while in town and while it’s centrally located, the hotel can feel somewhat dated. The rooms are tiny, restaurants pretty mediocre and the whole experience a little blah – especially when compared with the boutique options springing up around Dupont Circle.

Now, news that Earvin “Magic” Johnson has joined forces with others to purchase the hotel for $290 million. And the joint venture has pledged to invest $100 million to upgrade the hotel. Expect updated rooms, renovations to the gym and pool areas, a new spa, construction of a coffee bar and possibly a new upscale restaurant.

No word on the regulation-sized basketball court.

Filed Under: dupont, real estate

The biggest burger in the world

June 7, 2007 by 1 Comment

Washington, D.C.

Although it won’t be official for another couple of weeks, it’s safe to say that summer and grill season has arrived in the District. I’ve already talked about hotdogs. Now, let’s turn our attention to burgers.

There’s only one place to go when you’re really feeling the need for ground chuck: Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub. It’s out in Clearfield, Pa. For the competitive eater — amateur or pro — this hole in the wall is a dream, offering several different challenges:

  • Beer Barrel Belly Buster: It’s 10.5 pounds of ground beef, 25 slices of cheese, a head of lettuce, three tomatoes, two onions, a cup-and-a-half each of mayonnaise, relish, ketchup, mustard and banana peppers sandwiched in a gigantic bun. “It’s like trying to eat half a cow,” says one local resident.
  • Beer Barrel Belly Bruiser: The Buster too easy? Move onto the Bruiser, two 25 pounds beef patties, 4 pounds of cheese, five heads of lettuce, a couple of onion, a cup of peppers, a jar of relish, smothered with loads of ketchup, mustard and mayo. It stands 34 inches tall and takes 4 hours to cook. It’ll set you and 50 of your friends back $179.
  • Beer Barrel Main Event Charity Burger: This thing is just a monster, weighing in at 123 pounds (80 of which are beef). Counting calories? “If you were worried about calories you would be at home eating Kellogg’s,” says the owner. The beast costs $379 — almost as much as the triple bypass surgery you’ll require.

If quantity isn’t your thing, you can still get your burger on this summer. There’s “Baseball’s Best Burger,” available at the Gateway Grizzlies stadium in St. Louis. It’s a hamburger patty, topped with sharp cheddar cheese and two slices of bacon — all between a sliced Krispy Kreme Original Glazed doughnut. And, for those not ready to leave the District, there’s this list of the best burgers.

Hungry yet?

Filed Under: grub, travel

EXCLUSIVE: The official Party DC response

June 6, 2007 by 1 Comment

Washington, D.C.

So, unless you’re new here, you know that recently I’ve been harping on Party DC.

I’ve never been completely thrilled with the level of service and professionalism that they’ve exhibited at their events – and this weekend’s Wine Festival trip was a prime example, when buses didn’t leave until an hour after their scheduled departure and a complete lack of organization left hundreds of paying customers aimlessly wandering Arlington.

Responding to that specific issue, Patrick Barton, Party DC’s president, e-mailed me last night. In part, he said, “It takes a while to load several hundred people on buses trying to load coolers, making sure they get on the same bus w/ all their friends, making sure all buses are completely full, people running on/off the bus after they have already sat down because they forgot something or rather use the restroom at the restaurant (even though they are restrooms on the bus), etc.”

He also responded to my concern that the company’s chaperones are allowed to drink during events, often leading to confusing and conflicting directions at day’s end. “Though our staff members are allowed to partake in the social aspects of our events, they know they are to maintain and keep up certain professionalism,” he said.

Barton says these aren’t “excuses” but “issues that we run in to on our end that exacerbate the situation.”

I’m appreciative of the time Barton took to get in touch with me directly – although I’m still not sure he adequately addressed some of the bigger issues raised (like, for example, oversold trips). But his taking the time to reach out to me is certainly a step in the right direction.

What’d you think?

Read his complete (and long) e-mail after the jump. [Read more…]

Filed Under: dc, events

Who said our generation was apathetic?

June 5, 2007 by Leave a Comment

Washington, D.C.

Surprise, surprise: It didn’t take much to find others disappointed and done with Party DC. A quick round-up of comments reveals:

  • “yeah. I agree. total crap.”
  • “I’ve never participated in a boycott before, but this one is as good as any.”
  • “An hour of someone’s package in my grill is unacceptable, but I only boycott French Products. Is Party DC French?”
  • “they are AWFUL. reminds me of a shitty spring break travel group. avoid at all cost”

Any other haters out there with us?

Filed Under: events, gen y, rants

In pursuit of the $21 hotdog

June 5, 2007 by 1 Comment

Washington, D.C.

When it comes to late night eats in Adams Morgan, I’ve been a fan of M’Dawg Haute Dogs on 18th Street since it opened a couple of months ago. Sure, it’s a part of the “Starbucking” of the hot dog and its prices can give you sticker shock, but the gourmet toppings bar is sick and the delicious spicy cheese & chili is self-serve. Plus, I’m soon going to get one of their infamous $20 (plus $1 for toppings) Kobe beef dogs — “the Bentley of Dawgs” — for free!

Wait, how you ask?

Simple, I’ve been using one of M’Dwag’s frequent buyer Kibble Cards (“Collect 8 GET 1 FREE”). After dragging many friends and co-workers there, I’m finally eligible for my free dog — and, thankfully, the Kibble Card doesn’t list any restrictions. So, next time I’m feeling a hot dog, I’ll head over to 18th, order my Kobe beef, load it up with some delicious toppings, like their harissa remoulade, and then hand over my card to pay.

We’ll see what they say.

Filed Under: dc, grub

My biggest fan

June 5, 2007 by Leave a Comment

My brother just sent me this screenshot from Facebook. Apparently, my book’s cover made it into one of his friend’s photo albums, appropriately titled: “Why’d you have to be so cute?”

Here’s the comment exchange:
My brother: “ahah my brother wrote that”
Big time fan: “seriously?? wow its such a good book. im serious ive read it like 988234776 times. thats crazy”

Yes, indeed, studies have shown that the more you read Untangling the Ivy League, the better your chance of acceptance.

Don’t have a copy yet? What could you possibly be waiting for? Buy it today.

Filed Under: untangling ivy

Boycott Party DC

June 4, 2007 by 5 Comments

Washington, D.C.

We couldn’t have asked for better weather at this weekend’s Vintage Virginia Wine Festival. And between the 85 degree temperature, live music, free food samples and mediocre (yet copious) amount of vino, Saturday was pretty great.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of Party DC, the event planning company that organized our bus transportation to and from Bull Run. If you’re a young professional here in the nation’s capital, chances are good that you’ve been on one of Party DC’s trips – or at least heard of them.

I’ve been on several, to fall and spring Gold Cup and the Wine Festival (twice). But to be honest, I’ve never been happy (or even remotely satisfied) with Party DC’s level of service or professionalism – in fact, no one I’ve spoken to has.

Here are Five Reasons That Party DC is Awful:

  • Terrible website. It’s slow, crashes browsers and is impossible to navigate. Worst of all, it makes purchasing tickets a pain. Forget about trying to find or view event photos.
  • Scaled pricing. Yeah, it’s common with other event tickets, but Party DC doesn’t tell you the exact dates of when prices will increase – or what they will increase to. What ensues? An unnecessary guessing game intended solely to pad their bottom line.
  • Oversold trips. A completely unacceptable practice. At spring Gold Cup this year, many full-paying customers were forced to stand on the hour trip out to the Plains, Virginia.
  • No pre-trip orientation or organization. Time and time again (this past weekend being a prime example), Party DC employees have offered no direction to the hundreds of customers arriving at the Front Page. This inevitably results in a huge backlog and massive confusion when attempting to load buses. And Party DC buses leaving on time? Laughable.
  • Drunk chaperones. Party DC “hires” people to staff buses, but these same people are allowed to drink and do what they want at the event. You can imagine what kind of leadership and organization this inspires — especially at the end of the day.

It’s no surprise then: Party DC events are consistently a screwy mess. So, from this point on, I’ll be boycotting their equally screwy trips.
Who’s with me?

Filed Under: dc, events, rants
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