CC

CC usually likes to get out and about as much as possible, but the very, very, very muggy summer has left him feeling most lethargic. Furthermore, the limited energy he does have has been spent on the slow process of moving into the penguins’ new abode and on the search for furniture (he loves GoodWood and had a great time checking out the antique shops in Fredericksburg). Despite the heat and moving he has, however, found the time and energy to get in some art and treats; of course the weather makes trips to Dairy Queen all that more urgent.


Last week CC went on a tour of Anderson House, home of the Society of Cincinnati. Built in the early 20th century, the ornate Beaux Arts mansion is filled with an eclectic collection of fine and decorative arts. It wasn’t CC’s first visit to Anderson House; he had been there before for the Phillips Collection Gala After-party. On that occasion, however, he had been more concerned with making certain his glass of champagne was continually full than with perusing the collection, so he appreciated the opportunity to return under more sober circumstances.


Although Saturday was without a doubt one of the nastiest days of the year (nothing like a heat index of 108), CC managed to make his way to Irvine Contemporary for the closing party of the exhibition Picture Planes: Rob Mellor and Alexa Meade & Gaia: The Urban Romantic! He watched Alexa Meade’s last on-site portrait session, socialized and kept cool with white sangria (always a good summer drink). He’s looking forward to this Saturday’s opening party for the gallery’s next show, Introductions 6, he just hopes it won’t be quite so steamy. CC's arty evening didn't end there, but before making his way to the Hamiltonian Gallery for the opening of New Now 2010, a show introducing the 2010 Hamiltonian Fellows, he stopped by ACKC for a much needed icy treat (much to his delight the shop now has a sundae bar that includes peanut butter topping).


Monday CC found himself at one of the always enjoyable Pink Line Project Salon Contras. It was a surprisingly pleasant evening, so guests sat outside as they learned about and discussed George Mason’s Container Space Project, a prototype for an off-grid mobile gallery that will remain part of the university’s School of Art, as well as container projects in Haiti. CC enjoyed the talk and checking out some of the fun new works on display in the Pink Line Project headquarters...of course now he wants more art for his new abode (although it might be more responsible to find a sofa first).

Frigid

Frigid loves to travel; his most recent trip was to Chicago (Glen Ellyn to be precise), to see a friend. Their adventures began soon after he landed at O’Hare, when his friend took him to the nearby Leaning Tower of Niles. The replica of Italy’s famous statue is around half the size of the original, and was built in 1934 as a utility tower to store water (who knew utility towers could be so classy).


They then headed to another local landmark, the McDonald’s Museum. The Museum is a replica of the first McDonald’s franchise, which opened in 1955. Sadly it was closed so he could only admire the “authentic” 1950s restaurant from the outside. There is a new McDonald’s open across the way where hungry visitors can grab a bite to eat, but Frigid had already spotted a Costco so they went there for a treat instead (frozen yogurt, of course).


His second day in Chicago revolved around numerous treats (his kind of day). Frigid’s first stop, a required one on any trip to Chicago, was El Taconazo, in the Pilsen neighborhood (he really, really misses good Mexican food in DC). He loved his tasty sope con rajas y queso, which he washed down with horchata, and couldn’t stop nibbling on the totopos and salsa (the green was his favorite). With their bellies full Frigid and his friend headed to the National Museum of Mexican Art, where they perused the exhibition Translating Revolution – US Artists Interpret Mexican Muralists, and hit the fabulous gift shop.


After getting his fill of the Mexican it was time for some Northern European. Frigid and his friend first stopped by Lincoln Square, home to Chicago’s German-American festival, for a bit of German. Frigid was not, however, too impressed; besides the large German/Eastern European grocery store there was little of note. He considered picking up some Lithuanian bubbly, as he likes to try bubbly from as many different places as possible, but decided against it upon discovering that the only options were sweet and semi-sweet.


Frigid was much more impressed with his taste of Sweden in the Andersonville neighborhood. There he perused various cute shops, checked out the yummy offerings at the farmers market, and learned all about immigration in the Swedish American Museum.


Frigid's final destination of the day was Julius Meinl, his favorite Austrian export and another required stop on any trip to Chicago. There he had yet another treat, the always divine Topfenstrudel, which he washed down with Meinl’s excellent coffee (iced due to the steamy day).


On the final day of Frigid’s visit he and his friend opted to skip the city, and instead drove to the charming town of Geneva (despite its name also home to various things Swedish, as well as some very, very friendly people).


Frigid enjoyed shopping in the cluttered antique shops and interesting furniture stores, and of course couldn’t leave without trying a treat (a white chocolate raspberry truffle cupcake - one of the tastiest he's ever had - at The Latest Crave).


He managed not to go too crazy with the shopping, but as usual it was a struggle getting his suitcase to close. It might just be time to upgrade to a bigger bag (and, of course, to plan the next trip).

Snuzzle

Snuzzle is a social guy who always does his best to find fun things to do during the long, hot and humid Washington summers, regardless of the fact that it can be incredibly hard to motivate knowing how sticky he will feel the second he leaves home. Last Wednesday evening was a busy one, starting with the Choral Arts Young Patrons Summer Soiree, held at the home of the British Deputy Chief of Mission. The atmosphere was festive, there was a performance by the Capitol Hearings, and Snuzzle bumped into various friends he hadn’t seen in a while. It was, however, very, very hot in the seemingly un-air conditioned home – Snuzzle wondered if the British government’s budget cuts include air conditioning for the country’s representatives (if the Queen is giving up some of her comforts no reason for others not to suffer). Always resourceful, he knew he’d just have to fight the heat with lots of white wine (thankfully it was not Chardonnay) and Pimm’s (always a pleasant summer drink).


Snuzzle left the party looking slightly more disheveled than when he came, and headed to the Morrison Clark Inn for a friend’s birthday drinks. The charming Victorian hotel, designated a Historical Hotel of America, was a great choice of venue (he always likes to discover new places), and one where he was able to socialize in slightly less steamy conditions.


Snuzzle’s biggest news of the week is that on Friday he became the owner of a new home - a cheery yellow Victorian house (he now has his very own turret) - something he naturally celebrated with a glass of bubbly. Snuzzle had considered celebrating further at Saturday’s Bastille Day party at the French Embassy, but decided to be responsible and instead spent his weekend doing some moving and looking for some much needed furniture. Of course this does not mean he forewent socializing and treats (he needed some motivation/reward for all of the hard work, after all).


Taking a break from the boxes he decided it was only right to get a treat in his new hood, and stopped by Pont Chaud Café and Crepes, where he tried a yummy spinach, mushroom and cheese concoction. He showed rare discipline and passed on a sweet one, motivated primarily by the fact that he had invited friends over to the new abode for drinks and snacks. His earlier discipline paid off as his guests brought cupcakes from Red Velvet Cupcakery, and he felt no guilt in sampling all of the tasty flavors (Summertime was his favorite).


The truth is that Snuzzle rarely gets sugared out, so on Sunday, after a day of more moving and more furniture shopping, he headed to Dairy Queen for a treat. He deviated slightly from the usual as it was just a banana split kind of day (of course it’s always a Dairy Queen kind of day).

Spuds

Spuds hopes that everybody (who celebrates) the Fourth of July had a fun-filled long weekend. While it is not particularly a favorite holiday of his (nothing comes close to Christmas), Spuds is happy to embrace any excuse to be festive and indulge in unhealthy food and cocktails.


Having no desire to fight the crowds that descend upon DC for the fireworks, Spuds headed to Fawn Lake for the weekend to celebrate with his family. As usual he took advantage of strip mall filled Spotsylvania County and ran errands (Walmart, Aldi, Wegmans and Costco). He also made the requisite Dairy Queen stop for a peanut butter sundae (and a bite or two of his dining companion’s banana split Blizzard).


Much of the rest of the weekend was spent lazing, baking (chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies) and indulging. The local fireworks took place on the 3rd, and the views from the dock were magnificent (as was the sunset). He ate lots of 4th of July appropriate foods like corn and watermelon, which he washed down with bubbly, his beverage of choice.


By Sunday the temperatures were soaring, making a day spent lazing outdoors infinitely less appealing. Spuds thus decided to visit the Potomac Point Winery – what better way to celebrate the 4th than with a tasting of some American wines (seven to be precise).


He can’t say he was won over by the Virginia wines, but he did enjoy Potomac Point’s port, as well as the winery’s beautiful setting.

WaddlyBelly

The hot Washington summer days leave WaddlyBelly feeling very lethargic. She finds it much harder to motivate to go out, but because she values a good social life she does her best to find the energy to leave the comforts of her home. Last Thursday, one of the steamiest days so far, was a busy one. She began the evening at the Sofitel, where the Washington Ballet’s Jeté Society was hosting a happy hour to raise funds for a Washington School of Ballet scholarship. WaddlyBelly had a grand time catching up with friends and meeting new ballet enthusiasts, and she can’t wait until the 2010-2011 season begins.


It was a very festive gathering, and she found it rather difficult to tear herself away to go to the Canadian Embassy, where The Friends of the Art Museum of the Americas was hosting a fundraiser. Highlights of this event included the Embassy’s art collection and the temporary exhibition Nipirasait: Many Voices – Inuit Prints from Cape Dorset, as well as the fantastic views from the Embassy’s rooftop terrace. WaddlyBelly also enjoyed the Canadian wine, but was not overly impressed with the grumpy bartenders and waiters (and the hors d’oeuvres they were passing). As usual, despite plans to just pop in and out, she found herself staying until the very end. She did wisely skip the after party, having had more than enough red wine and too little food for a hot (or any) day.


Saturday, after a day of running errands and a Dairy Queen run, WaddlyBelly made her way to a friend’s birthday party at HR 57. She is not really a jazz aficionado, but thought the venue was a great place for catching up with friends. Customers can bring their own snacks and drinks (the bar provides the plastic cups), and the birthday girl supplied a fine selection of wines (with tasting notes) as well as some very yummy cheeses. Yet again, WaddlyBelly stayed much later than planned, but birthdays do come just once a year!


Sunday was yet another very very hot and steamy day, and thus perfect for indoor activities. WaddlyBelly finally got to The Anacostia Community Museum to see the exhibition The African Presence in Mexico. She was happy to have made it to the museum before the show closes, as it was something she had been intending to do for months. Afterwards it was time for a quick trip into Georgetown for a tasty treat from Thomas Sweet (peanut butter frozen yogurt, of course); not that WaddlyBelly ever needs an excuse to indulge in a frozen treat, but the hot Washington summer certainly provides one.

Toby and Chessie

Although Toby and Chessie enjoy an active social life in Washington, they miss their London friends dearly, and take every possible opportunity to visit them. As with all of their trips, the agenda on their latest one included gossip sessions accompanied by treats, drinks and/or shopping (a combination of the three being ideal).


One place Toby and Chessie always try to hit is the Le Pain Quotidien on Marylebone High Street. While they can go to the Belgian chain back home this branch, the first in London, opened long before the restaurant came to Washington, and they have been meeting friends there for years. Although LPQ has many tasty offerings, they love nothing more than the Blondie spread, and they feel no shame in generously smearing it on slices of baguette.


After catching up and filling up Toby, Chessie and their friends waddled down to Selfridges, where they perused the clothing, home goods and gourmet shop, and made the somewhat disturbing discovery that Elizabeth Hurley has her own line of low calorie cereal bars. Needless to say they did not feel the urge to stock up on them.


While they often stick to their favorite haunts, Toby and Chessie were more adventurous on this trip, and ventured beyond the tried and true. One of their favorite new discoveries is Cocomaya, a lovely chocolate shop and café that also sells various odds and ends like Toby jars and vintage china. They also very much liked the Windsor Castle pub, where every nook and cranny is filled with assorted memorabilia and knickknacks, including the ceiling, which is covered in royal commemorative plates (they found the Diana and Charles divorce plate the most amusing).


Toby and Chessie also discovered that the pub is home to the Handlebar Club; while they certainly do not find mustaches even remotely attractive, they do support any group that promotes a quirky style.


The weather was lovely during their trip, providing the perfect excuse to try the gelato at Marylebone’s Cocorino, another new discovery (yogurt, banana, nocciola and pistachio were the flavors sampled). Toby and Chessie also hit one of their favorite places in London, Spitalfields Market.


They were impressed by how the area around the market keeps growing and growing, and they enjoyed checking out the additional fashion, food and vintage mini markets that have sprung up. Of course no trip to the area would be complete without stopping by the 24-hour Brick Lane Beigel Bake for bagels and challah, which they quickly devoured. They also recommend Montezuma’s for interesting chocolates, especially if you have a sweet tooth, which they naturally do.


On their last full day in England Toby and Chessie ventured out of central London, and went to Greenwich to visit a friend. It was yet another sunny day, making it perfect for a walk in the park and jumping on their friend’s trampoline (their favorite form of exercise, although they are also quite fond of hula-hooping).


As always the visit went by too quickly, and Toby and Chessie were very sad to leave. They were, however, pleasantly surprised when United upgraded them on the flight home. The skies are certainly friendlier when starting one’s journey with a glass of bubbly!

Cornelius

Cornelius is an Anglophile who loves to jet over to Merry Olde England as often as possible. While he seldom ventures out of London, on his most recent visit he took a long overdue trip to Newcastle to see a friend. Although getting there required departing from the somewhat unpleasant Kings Cross Station, the journey itself was uneventful and passed by quickly thanks to a trashy magazine, and before he knew it he had arrived in Newcastle.


Newcastle Central Station is conveniently located near some of the city’s main attractions, allowing Cornelius, who was much more interested in catching up with his friend than in sightseeing, to see landmarks such as the 12th century Castle without cutting into his gossip time. He also came across an elderly Queen Victoria in St. Nicholas Square, and not wanting to be rude took the time to say hello.


His weekend plans, not surprisingly, involved art; after a coffee Cornelius and his friend went to an opening at The Biscuit Factory, a commercial gallery that sells an assortment of ceramics, jewelry, painting, photography and other such things. He must admit he was not very impressed with what was on display, but he did very much enjoy the incredibly addictive Gougères, just one of the many treats being served. Not one to show restraint when in the face of temptation, Cornelius might just have had a few too many, something he more commonly associates with glasses of bubbly (the night was yet young, leaving plenty of time for that).


Finally managing to tear themselves away from the treats, Cornelius and his friend made their way to the Northumbrian countryside, where they would be spending the night. He took advantage of his surroundings by going on a long pre-dinner stroll, breathing in the fresh air and meeting the local residents. More importantly the exercise helped make room for his friend’s famous and also incredibly addictive savory bread pudding (cheese and leek), which they washed down with some bubbly. Perhaps not the healthiest of evenings, but Cornelius believes there is no such thing as too many cheesy carbohydrate delicacies.


The following day they headed back into Newcastle for an afternoon of shopping, followed by a drink at one of the city's many watering holes and an opening at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. Cornelius was much more impressed with its exhibitions, which currently include Cornelia Parker’s Good Sound and John Cage’s Every Day is a Good Day. He actually took time to peruse the shows (something he frequently fails to do at openings), and enjoyed the great view of the city and Gateshead Millennium Bridge.


After getting his fill of culture it was time to socialize (something he does very well). Sadly there were no tasty nibbles on offer at the BALTIC, although he did get some bubbly, which always makes him a happy penguin.


The evening ended with more wine and treats at his friend’s parents’ home. He had a lovely time and most admired their collection of Egersund puffin jugs.


He considered trying to slip one into his bag but figured he then might not be invited back again. Guess he’ll just have to keep an eye out for them on eBay!