Lately: Around Town

Recently I tried out one new and two new to me places around town. 

On one of the only warmish and dry days we've had this spring I met up with some friends at Dacha Beer Garden in Shaw. Its not much more than some picnic tables on a corner lot, but there was a line when I arrived. They serve a variety of German and Craft beer in a variety of glasses, including das boot. Even though it was crowded it was a friendly crowd and the line for beer and porta potties wasn't too bad. They don't serve food, but allow you to bring it in if you want. All in all its a nice place to enjoy a beer outdoors.

mural at Dacha.

Not too far from my apartment, but tucked away on a side street is TCB aka The Coffee Bar. I went with a friend on a Sunday morning. They have limited food, which included an everything bagel and cream cheese. Along with my bagel I got a latte. I was impressed with the latte art and thought the ingenuity of writing my order on the porcelain cup deserved a photo. It was a busy shop, but there were several seating options and we had no trouble finding a space to enjoy our morning. 

When you bring up pizza in DC (which I do a lot) someone always mentions 2Amy's. And until this week I always had to sadly admit I had never been. Its in Cleveland Park about a mile from the closest metro, so not the most convenient spot, but I took a bus and was there within a half hour. We went early expecting a wait and not wanting to miss the movie we had planned for later, but after getting there super early and getting a drink elsewhere we ended up not putting our name down till 5:20. By 5:20 they had a half hour wait. So just remember to plan wisely. 

when you walk in you are immediately greeted with pizza

For some variety my friend and I swapped half a pie. We got a certified Neapolitan style Margherita and a house specialty meat and peppers pie. The Margherita was amazing. The cheese was just amazingly flavorful. The other pizza was good too, but not crazy good. 

Hey, its pizza!

SUP with you?

I run by and walk by and drive by the Potomac several times each week, but before last month I'd never  been on the Potomac. You see the fancy boats docked at the Georgetown waterfront and think that boarding one of those will never be a possibility, but a short walk down the waterfront and you can get your own vessel for the Potomac for $20. 

I went with some coworkers right after work on a Tuesday afternoon. We just walked up, signed a waiver, surrendered an ID, picked out a life jacket and jumped on the river. I was the only one in my group that had paddle boarded before so they gave us a 30 second overview and pushed us off. Paddling with the current and mini waves was more challenging than when I SUP'd in a pond, but it wasn't hard to adjust and tool around the river.

We spent about an hour and a half on the river* before we were ready for some burgers and beer at the Georgetown legendary college bar, Tombs.

*out of the five of us only one guy spent anytime IN the river.

The rest of Phoenix

My friend picked up me up at the resort and we cruised down to downtown Scottsdale. I hadn't realized that Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe were all part of the same metro/valley area, but alas they are.

We parked and walked around a bit. There were a lot of jewelry stores and they were all having sales (or fake sales) and they all had jewelry made by Navajos. One store tried to sell Kandyce a seed beaded necklace for $1,200... I did purchase a simple turquoise (Navajo made) necklace from one of the stores, but only spent $30.

The weather was again gorgeous.

Scottsdale

We had a late lunch at In-N-Out burger. It was my first time. The burger and milkshake was delicious. I didn't really care for the fries, but I ate most of them anyway.

dining outside

My tour continued around ASU's campus in Tempe and then downtown Phoenix and then we had a chill evening meeting up with some other friends.

Monday morning we headed back to Tempe to run along lake Tempe. Its a manmade lake with a great multipurpose trail along the side. It was a great way to get 4 miles in and enjoy running in shorts one last time.

Then it was time to head back to the airport. Kandyce suggested I grab lunch at Sauce before I hit security. It was delicious. The crust was very cracker like.

i'm on a fungi kick

Tubing on the Shenandoah River

A few weeks ago my friend Liz and I headed an hour or so out of the city to float down the Shenandoah River. We had originally signed up to go with our alumni group, but the day before the trip they emailed that it was cancelled, with out a very good explanation. We decided to go ahead and go. I reserved a zip car and we rounded up three more people to go with us.

We had a good time and the river water was mostly deep enough for a relaxing ride. And best part? Afterwards we stopped for ice cream at a local walk up soft serve stand.

Me & Liz (I borrowed her Carolina shorts, which should not be considered an endorsement)

stretching, flexing, and ready to float

on the river... I accidentally grabbed a kid sized tube

Watermelon house

There is a giant watermelon in the hood.

Livingston, MT

We drove over to Livingston, MT one afternoon. Livingston was much more Cowboy than Bozeman, in all the right ways. Livingston also had ton of historic buildings and signs, which made it fun to just walk around and admire. 

We also stopped in the Murray Bar to try the much talked about Huckleberry Vodka (with soda) and then had dinner at Mark's In and Out, where our shakes and burgers were delivered by girl on roller-skates. 

 

Hyalite Canyon

A few miles outside of Bozeman is Hyalite Canyon. We drove up and did a few hikes. The area was beautiful and thankfully we didn't run into any bears or moose (the locals said the moose are meaner than the bears).

Matt reflecting at Hyalite Reservoir

the water was very clear and chilly

We drove up the mountain from the reservoir and had a lot of good views along the way.

The first hike we did was up to the Grotto, which was along a river and through the river at one point (which was awesome).

I look slightly pained here... I think the sun was bright

the Grotto

Ohhh

Ahhhh

The second hike we did was to Crescent Lake. Crescent Lake was a little lackluster, but the hike took us around a good chunk of the reservoir too.

this picture just doesn't look real

Crescent lake...

on the trail... getting warm

vintage style

In and around Bozeman, Montana

My good friend Matt is spending a few weeks in Montana this summer. He invited all of us to go visit and I waffled over the decision for awhile, but as July 4th approached I was in need of a little getaway so I took him up on his offer.

Turns out Montana is pretty gorgeous and I took a lot of pictures. Bozeman is also full of athletic/attractive people and we took to follow their lead and my trip was full of bicycling, running, hiking, some yoga along with enjoying some local brews.

First I'll share some photos in and around Bozeman.

when I arrived Matt had a beard... sadly it didn't last through the next day

we hiked up Peets hill, which is in Bozeman 

on top

the Montana State "M"

pizza at the farmer's market

Walt Whitman on the Montana State campus

macaroni at Montana State

cycling

wild joe's coffeespot

caboose

checking out the train tracks

cowboy

testing beer at the Bozone Brewery

moscow mule at Bozeman Ale Works

eating Huckleberry ice-cream

music on main

bouldering at Glen Lake Park