1. Rudi went to the garden for me today to harvest before the temperature drops tomorrow. I’m hopeful my peppers might survive, but I knew the bush of the basil I’d left behind last weekend would not.
2. Despite not getting up at the crack of dawn, Rudi and I both managed to track down free reusable holiday cups at a national purveyor of hot beverages’ one-day promo event.
3. After several unsuccessful shopping trips attempting to boost my cooler weather professional wardrobe, I found several items at TJ Maxx that I think will now allow me to get through an entire week without stressing about outfits.
How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?
Category: three beautiful things. There is/are Comments Off on harvest, red cups, and new clothes.
I had a day this morning at work. I decided midday that getting out of the office and going outside was key to turning things around. I took my sandwich to a nearby park and tried to read away my frustration, but it wasn’t working. Then some guy sat down nearby and started watching videos on his phone. Fair enough, but it was definitely not going to help me shake off the morning’s frustrations.
But, I thought, some music might help.
My go-to Google Play channel came through with this early Kelly Clarkson hit, which, played at full-blast on my headphones, started the reboot:
Adele was also a good choice from the streaming service, but then I opted to switch to YouTube to pull up two songs from my personal dance party playlist (since I didn’t have my iPod with me): “Accidentally in Love” and “The World Ain’t Slowing Down.”
And that was what it took. Upbeat music at warning-level volume and — ultimately — dancing my way back to the office in the autumn sunshine.
After spending some time at the garden Sunday afternoon, I biked over to upper Georgetown to take care of some errands, with the hopes that Fresh Baguette might be a destination for coffeeneuring.
It was and they had a full selection of tasty things to try, including their namesake item — freshly baked baguettes, which are produced every two hours. While I did buy and tear into a baguette before I left, I also opted for a hot cocoa and pumpkin croissant. Look how pretty that croissant is.
As this was the first day of the return to Standard Time, sunset came awfully early, so I opted to eat at one of their handful of tables, rather than taking my snack outside. As Fresh Baguette doesn’t have any outdoor seating, I would have had to walk over to the nearby rec center, so it seemed reasonable to stay.
Everything I had was delicious.
Because this is in Georgetown, bike parking is horrible. There are definitely no racks outside and even skinny street signs are decidedly lacking in the immediate vicinity. There is bike parking at Safeway up a block, and also probably at the rec center, and back down a block at the library. And there’s a Cabi rack another block past Safeway, so that’s not an unreasonable walk for those of us who use that option.
I consumed my tasty treat, walked over to do my grocery shopping, and then took bike share home, arriving back in Dupont by 6, but still totally in the dark.
Ride #3: Saturday, Nov. 2, afternoon
Northside Social Coffee & Wine (3211 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA)
Saturday after the parade concluded, I hopped on metro out to Arlington’s Virginia Square stop to pick up a book for my new book club (my friend has DCPL’s copy out). Seeing as how it was lovely out, I decided to check out what my local options were for coffeeneuring. I noticed that Northside Social Coffee & Wine was down the road back toward D.C. and decided to head there.
What a pleasant place!
While the second floor is a wine bar, the first floor is dedicated to a bustling coffeehouse, with two rooms of tables. There is also a patio, which is covered by a heated tent outdoors in the cooler months.
I opted for a masala chai and what they called an apple pop tart, but which was made with puff pastry, rather than shortbread. Both were delicious. Because it was sunny and warm, I found the single table outside of the tent that was located in the sun and sat there listening to a guitarist they’d brought in for their Day of the Dead celebration, knitting, and reading.
There is a bikeshare station right outside, and many racks, so they clearly welcome cyclists.
I biked home through Clarendon, Court House, Rosslyn, and Georgetown, and up the Rock Creek Parkway multi-use path, arriving home just before sunset.
I’m so glad I stopped, and I’ll consider returning anytime I’m at the Central Library.
Total mileage: 4.66 miles
Category: dc life,sports. There is/are Comments Off on coffeeneuring 2019 #3: northside social coffee & wine.
