Categories: Food

All My Old D.C. Haunts–and a Giveaway!

After seven years of living in D.C. overweight, I obviously accumulated quite a few favorite restaurants, and this weekend, I got to play food/drink tour guide to my friends.

Well, okay.

Friday night, as I posted yesterday, we went to Sette Osteria for some carb-y goodness.

Saturday, after the race, we rested for quite a while before venturing back out for food. Once we finally left the hotel, we were STARVING. We started walking towards Dupont Circle without much a plan–our plan was basically to eat wherever we could find that wasn’t a sloppy St. Patrick’s Day mess.

The first place we ran into was the Front Page, site of many Thirsty Thursday nights of $10 buckets of Coronas in college. It was packed. We started walking down Connecticut, and the first place I recognized was the Big Hunt, one of my favorite dive bars…and also the site of a lot of trouble when I lived in D.C. (Sensing a theme here?) I told the girls it was fun and that we’d be able to sit on a patio, and they were sold.

I mean, a tiki bar? How could you not love it?

The prices, especially for decent craft beer, were also pretty good!

I can’t remember if I’ve ever eaten there or not, so I couldn’t really vouch for the food, but figured bar food couldn’t be too bad. Yes, I gave up French fries for Lent, but I was still seriously craving salt at this point.

After a few beers, we headed to Continental in Rosslyn for Gretchen’s meetup, my old after-work spot. (I used to work in Rosslyn.)

I LOVE Jess’ sign! I saw her out on the course twice because of it!

I also saw Emily, and barely recognized her because she was not sweaty at the time. It’s a good thing she had a drink in hand or I might not have recognized her.

And finally met Meg! I love this smartypants’ blog because she talks about the intersection of fitness and social media, two of my favorite things. She also got an awesome PR out there–on her second half ever!

After hanging out with lots of awesome bloggers, a group of us went over to ANOTHER one of my favorite D.C. haunts, Lauriol Plaza.

THE MARGARITAS WERE GREEN!

Pro tip #1: The wait for a table is always long, but worth it. Drink margaritas; the time will go faster.

Prop tip #2: Drink your margaritas while waiting by the third-floor bar, which is always much less crowded than the first-floor bar.

Ashley and Caitiln and I split an order of fajitas for two and then went back to the hotel and collapsed into happy margarita, fajita and half-marathon-induced comas.

Before we left yesterday, we went for brunch at Kramerbooks. It’s a little overpriced, and a little D.C.-cliche, but it was still tasty. I got the whole-grain waffles because the plate came with a little of everything I wanted–waffles, eggs and turkey sausage.

Remember when I reviewed the Technogel pillow?

Well, I have one Technogel pillow to give away to one of you! (A $150 value!)(U.S. readers only, I’m sorry.)

You can choose from:

  • Deluxe
  • Anatomic (that’s what I have)
  • Contour
  • Travel

How to enter?

Just leave a comment telling me which pillow you’d pick, and what’s part of your nighttime routine to ensure a good night’s sleep.

ALSO!

I’m participating in a Twitter chat tonight at 9pm EST to discuss the health benefits of sleep. Follow hashtag #technogel and tweet along for more chances to win a pillow!

I will choose a winner tomorrow, March 20, after 9PM.

Theodora Blanchfield

View Comments

  • I would choose the Delux! This is an amazing giveaway:) I try to have some hot tea and read before bed.

  • I would choose the Deluxe as well.

    Before bed, I like to take a hot bubble bath and then read in the bath and when I get to bed until I fall asleep.

  • OMG that guac pic makes me with I stayed ... although I totally forgot that I gave chips up for lent. Oops. I blame the tequila.
    As for pillows, I would like the contour. Perhaps it will take the massive kinks out of my necks that are there from lifting 30 lb children. ha.

  • Ohh! I would love the Deluxe! I don't really have much of a routine these days other than a little personal hygiene first! =)
    Sounds like you had a great weekend! =)

  • I would pick the Anatomical. I always try to reads little before bed. It helps me relax and ease into sleep.

  • This is such an incredible giveaway. I suffer from migraine headaches and have been looking for a pillow that would decrease the amount of pressure on my neck when I sleep so I can wake up more rested.

    I think I would like the deluxe pillow.

    My bedtime routine is pretty simple - I curl up in bed with my two dogs and read a good book until my eyelids get heavy.

  • I have really bad sleeping habits. I've been trying to sleep more regularly for longer periods of time. I turn off the TV earlier and that seems to do the trick.

    I think the Anatomic pillow would work for me. :)

  • I'd love a deluxe pillow! I don't really have a nighttime ritual other than brusing my teeth and sipping water before bed. I'm trying to reintroduce reading before sleep because I think it helps me relax.

  • I loved reading this! I moved away from DC about 8 months ago, and this was a flash-back through some of my old favorite places as well! Especially Lauriol Plaza. I consider myself something of a margarita connoseuir (which may just be a nice way of saying "alcoholic"), and their margaritas are to die for. In the categories of "best frozen marg" and "best marg to get you nice and drunk" I have to give Lauriol first place.

    Regarding sleep. My night-time routine actually involves pillows! A few years ago I was having trouble sleeping, always tossing and turning. A friend of mine recommended trying a body pillow and I love it! At first I thought the idea was a little creepy- you're essentially playing big spoon to a inanimate object. But it helps me fall asleep quickly because it gives me a comfortable place to rest my arms and legs. I guess that's worth spooning for. I'm always trying to find a perfect pillow for my head as well, so I'd love to give the technogel a shot. (I'd chose the Deluxe!)

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Theodora Blanchfield
Tags: giveaway

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