
After a number of good times and good eats in Milwaukee, we headed further East to enjoy all (or a lot) that D.C. had to offer. I had to attend a conference but then had some free time so Matt and I could play tourist. We saw the sights and enjoyed some great meals and nightlife.




Highlights included catching up with old friends, Ethiopian food at Meskerem and drinks and live jazz at the Eighteenth St. Lounge. The link provided here is kind of funny b/c the place is hard to find, but let us in and we weren’t looking particularly “cool” or “sexy”. Really it seemed like a place that just about anyone would enjoy.
From D.C. we rented a car and drove up to spend a couple of days in NY. There we got to catch up with more friends, one of whom provided us with a lovely walking tour of the lower East Side.
On said walking tour, we hit up the very large and very cool Pearl River Market, and the smaller, but also very cool “summer bookstore” at the offices of Visionaire Magazine. It was pretty much like an elementary school book fair with a whold bunch of obscure art and design books. Matt got a beautiful surfing book and I got a collection of interviews and little art pieces that are apparently called “multiples”. Anyway, it’s by Matt Keegan and it’s fun.
We also got to stop by a famous punk rock club…so that Matt could take a picture of the outside.

Eating on the day of the walking tour included a snack at Bread in Nolita, which had fabulous panini sandwiches, and dinner at Number-One Chinese Restaurant.
Day two in New York was a day of total indulgence. Thanks to an entirely too-generous 1st anniversary present from Nicole, we were able to enjoy a delicious lunch at Payard. Everything, from the setting, to the glass of champagne, to the cheese souffle appetizer and pastries for dessert, was absolutely perfect. From there we moved on to see a matinee of Spamalot on Broadway. Both Daivd Hyde Pierce, and Tim Curry performed and it was wonderful.
We rounded out the evening with dinner at Otto, Mario Batali’s pizzeria. We had three divine pizzas, a pepperoni with 3 different kinds all made in-house. One with arugula and aged procuitto, and (my favorite) clam. The clams had to be shelled, so it was a little work, but even Matt (who is not a clam fan) had to admit that it was pretty darn good.
After New York, we made a brief stop back in D.C., where we actually got to attend a sort of book reading by Bob Edwards (formerly of NPR) at a great book store called Politics and Prose.
Then, before heading back home, we had a quick trip to Portland, OR, for a family wedding and more great food. The reception was catered (I think) by a place called Salvador Molly’s and everything was fabulous.
All in all, a completely satisfying, and delicious vacation.