DC: City Life (Almost) Persuaded

Reasons I love cities:
1) Food. Everywhere. And it's delicious.
2) Public transportation and the ability to walk everywhere.
3) Culture.
4) Fashion. Style. Business Attire.

I love it all.

So Washington D.C. is great. The history of the city, the monuments, memorials, and museums are all so moving and fantastic. This was my second trip to D.C. During the first trip, ten years ago, I was able to visit all of the main monuments and exhibits. This trip was meant for exploring, spending time with friends and family, and most importantly: eating.

Day One:
D.C. has a matrix of great running and biking trails. I hit the trail right across from my hotel that ran along the Potomac. It was a beautiful morning and along the way I ran into the St. Patrick's Day Half Marathon. Even though I was missing the annual Run For the Luck of It 5k with my friends back in Missoula, this view made up for it:

After the run, my mom and I made our way downtown. Accidentally getting off on the wrong Metro stop, we decided to swing by the White House. Eventually we made our way to the beautiful National Botanical Gardens.

Later that night, I was lucky enough to be able to meet up with one of my best friends from college, Katie. After a reunion of IPA's and Irish car bombs to celebrate us and an early St. Patty's Day, it was like we had never been apart.

Day 2:
Mom and I decided to journey across the bridge into Georgetown for breakfast. I highly recommend Kafe Leopold to anyone traveling to the D.C. area. My mom loves to make macarons, the French style colored cookies. The bakery they are normally sold at was closed and we were redirected to the most adorable tea house, Lady Camellia. Delicious (and inexpensive) macarons in a one-room restaurant that made me feel like I was in Alice and Wonderland.

That night we had reservations at Zaytinya in Chinatown. I had been waiting to visit this restaurant for years. Zaytinya is a tapas restaurant with Turkish, Lebanese, and Greek influences. I was prepared to gorge myself. I was hooked from the moment the server handed me the menu.

My mom and I ordered the following to share:
Drinks:
3 PM in Istanbul (Lemon lavender mint tea infused vodka, rhubarb liqueur, vanilla syrup,
lime juice, grapefruit juice)
Appetizer:
Butternut Squash Hummus
Main Course:
Roasted Asparagus with pine nuts and chives
Crispy Brussels Sprouts in a garlic yogurt
Sauteed Shrimp with dill, mustard, and lemon juice
Salmon with cilantro, pine nuts, and ginger sauce
Dessert
Zeus Nightcap - a vodka drink with apricots
Turkish Coffee - my first time, wish included!
Greek Yogurt and Apricots - muscat soaked apricots, vanilla yogurt cream, apricot sorbet, and pistachio powder.
I sacrificed my lactose intolerance for this dessert. It was divine. Simple and delicious.

The main event of the trip was to attend and awards ceremony for my dad. He was receiving a high honor award and I was thrilled that he wanted to include us. After the ceremony was rescheduled due to weather (the federal government in the city apparently doesn't handle a few inches of snow with plowed roads as well as we do in Montana), we were finally able to give recognition to my dad and his colleagues for all of their great work.

The trip was fantastic. Every time I travel to the East Coast, I get a breath of fresh (city) air. I like to take in the culture, people, and adventure cities have to offer. I love fresh seafood, boat shoes, and watching the Georgetown rowing team do time trials in the Potomac. After five days it was time to return to the mountains. Spring is just around the corner but ski season isn't over just yet... Until next time.