Glen's Garden Market, Washington DC

There's never a dull moment in Dupont Circle, not even while you're shopping for broccoli, thanks to a new locally sourced grocery store, Glen's Garden Market, where you can drink a regionally-made pint of beer or glass of wine as you shop...

This isn't a typical market... don't come here to buy toilet paper.  This is the place you rush to immediately after you've told your new love 'I want to cook for you tonight' in a real Humphrey Bogart sort of way.

The sandwich counter has made to order items like bison pastrami, roast turkey with spicy pepper jam, veggie banh mi, and many house-made meats like pistachio mortadella, smoked picante salami and head cheese.  Plenty of salads that are elegant (red beet, goat cheese frisee and fried shallot salad) or good old country (deviled eggs) are offered.

Photo by: Jeff Martin 

The coffee bar features Shenandoah Joe Coffee Roasters from Charlottesville, VA.  They'll blend, roast, grind and package the perfect flavor for you.  Or, just hang out and enjoy a fresh cup, again, made just for you.

All store items are from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed focusing on locally grown and environmentally sustainable foods.  These artisans are from Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York and DC.

House-made creations include salads, stocks, sauces, pizzas, soups and other goodies that you can pass off as your own, if you dare.

The store was constructed with sustainable building materials, do not offer plastic bags upon check-out, only reusable bags from recycled content, and manage a complete composting process.

Glen's Garden market is open from 8am until 10pm, seven days a week.

Glen's Garden Market
2001 S St NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-588-5698
Glen's Official Website

Mom's Bar, West Los Angeles

photo courtesy of Mom's Bar

MOM'S BAR

Head over to Mom's for the best desert, a Mom's Apple Pie Martini.  It's not just for chicks.  But, if you're craving a more 'manly' experience, then pop outside to one of the food trucks (on a fixed schedule) for some great grub, bring it back inside and pound a PBR while you challenge your buddy to a Ms. Packman game.

FREE National Park Days in 2011

photo by Liz Stuckey

FREE ENTRANCE DAYS in our National Parks

America's Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better with several fee-free days at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees.*

"First Fridays" at the LA Natural History Museum

photo by www.poketo.com

Rock out with the Dinosaurs!
This Friday night, January 7th, get down to the Los Angeles Natural History Museum to shake that tail feather inside the African Mammal Hall with live music, incredible DJs or just wander through the exhibits.

Kick off LA Arts Month - Wednesday, Jan. 5 at Noon - FREE

image courtesy of www.laartsmonth.org

Free lunchtime performance on the Music Center Plaza by David Hidalgo and Louie Perez of Los Lobos to kick off LA Arts Month on Jan. 5, 2011

61 New Year's Eve Parties in Los Angeles

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Below is a list of New Years Eve Events in Los Angeles

Have a safe New Year!

5 Los Angeles Hot Spots to Celebrate New Year's Eve

Photo by Will Pearson

Los Angeles has a lot to offer for celebrating New Year's Eve, and listed below are five options.  Some are appropriate for the family and some not.  Listed below are: The Edison in downtown, Universal City Walk in North Hollywood, The Pike in Long Beach, Cleopatra's Ball at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood and Ice Skating in Woodland Hills.

Lucky Devils, Hollywood

I generally try to avoid this section of Hollywood like the plague.  Parking is generally a nightmare, everyone looks like they need to be washed with a high pressure hose, but the Lucky 7 Happy Hour at Lucky Devils (Weekdays 3p-7p) is well worth the trek to Hollywierd.  It's located at 6613 Hollywood, between Whitley & Cherokee.

Food Truck Mania

Buttermilk Truck's Chicken & Waffles

There's a valid reason why the Nouveau Food Truck craze in America is out of control:  It's an adventure just to find the truck you seek, and when you find it, you're blown away by the menue, the competition is fierce, the food is remarkable and inventive, and we foodies are always looking for something to brag about:  WE FOUND THE FOOD TRUCK, and YES, it ROCKED!  I'll give you their links.
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Fall in DC - Beautiful Colors and Great Events!

Fall is my favorite season, partly because I grew up in Los Angeles where very few trees change color and the seasons all gradually smush into each other without any obvious changes, and also because when I finally did visit the east coast in the fall, I fell in love with the smells, colors, and yes, even their crazy fall weather.
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Lobster Festival in Long Beach, CA

LOBSTER FEST !  -  I am a HUGE fan of seafood festivals!  Great music, awesome people, you're near the ocean, and incredible seafood that is submerged in butter!  How can you go wrong?
Friday night, September 10th, they have three awesome tribute bands to: The Doors, Cream, and Scorpion! Nice mix, if I say so myself.  Saturday, they have a great Blues Bayoo band, and so much more.  Read on for more info...
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5 Best BBQ Joints in Los Angeles!

Dr. Hogly Wogly's BBQ

Crave Meat? I've picked out my top five favorite barbeque joints in Los Angeles.  My personal favorite, Dr. Hogly Wogly's, I've been going to for over 30 years, whewww I'm getting old, and the other's are simply the best that I have found in my search for really good food in Los Angeles.  If you're craving good BBQ, start with these five suggestions.  You will NOT be disappointed!
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Best of LA by Metro with coffee for $.09! (Stop #2 of 8)

Stop number 2 on this Los Angeles Metro Tour is Union Station.  We will explore the city's beautiful 1930's train station, walk across the street to the historic Olvera Street and Avila Adobe, and offer great dining options including the best churros in the city (I'm NOT kidding) and get brainwashed by Phillipe's Famous French Dip Sandwiches (the best in LA since 1908!), stop by a historic Catholic Church and see an exhibit at the Chinese American Museum.
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Best of LA's Chinatown by Metro (Stop #1 of 8)

(Metro Stop #1 of 8)  This guide will take you thru the best of Los Angeles' Chinatown and is the first of 8 guides that will explore the neighborhoods surrounding Metro stops in the Downtown LA area.  We'll visit Old Chinatown Plaza with its famous wishing well, the Empress Pavillion for dim sum, the Bamboo Lane Gallery and of course, shopping.
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Washington DC in one day?

The easiest ways to get around DC is by foot, the metro, or the Circular bus that offers several routes throughout the city. This walking tour will start at the US Capitol Building and continue thru several points of interest along the National Mall and continue thru various national memorials. Suggestions on where to rest and eat will be given along the tour. 
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Ride on a Historic Boat Pulled by Mules!

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Potomac, Maryland, offers historic boat rides for only $5. Two mules pulled our authentic boat, the Charles Mercer, up the canal and thru one of the newly restored locks at Potomac Falls Park, in Potomac, MD.  It was so much fun!
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See Hollywood by Metro and Foot!

WALKING TOUR OF HOLLYWOOD BLVD.

The cheapest and most hassle-free way to see Hollywood is by foot and using the Metro (Subway) system.

PARKING: I suggest parking at the Universal Station for free (located at Lankershim Bl. & Universal Terrace Pky., North Hollywood 91608) and taking the subway just one stop to the Hollywood and Highland station OR park at the Hollywood & Highland complex (only $2 for 4 hours with validation, or $10 for the day). 
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Great Lodges in Yosemite National Park

WAWONA LODGE

This Yosemite Guide will give you three hotels ranging between peaceful (Wawona), luxurious (the Ahwahnee) and rustic (Curry Village).
If you are looking for total silence & guaranteed relaxation in one of the most beautiful places in the United States, Wawona is the right choice for you.
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Great Coffee Spots in Los Feliz, Los Angeles, CA

The "Thing To Do" in Los Feliz and Silverlake is People Watch.  This blog offers three great coffee spots and cafes that are just perfect!  Little Dom's, The Mustard Seed Cafe, and the Alcove.  Great food, wonderful staff and a lot to see!
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My Travel Map

1. Venice, Italy
2. Ayutthaya, Thailand
3. Bangkok, Thailand
4. Pompeii, Italy
5. Olympic National Park, WA, USA
6. Alexandria, VA, USA
7. Nantucket, MA, USA
8. Beijing, China
9. Paris, France
10. Florence, Italy

• Create your own travel map or travel blog
• Vacation rentals at TripAdvisor

Great Spots on the Makah Indian Reservation

The Makah Indian Reservation is located in the most northwestern part of Washington state.  I will talk about hiking to the most north-western part in the continental US, a great place to camp and the best sunset in Washington state.
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The Best Sweets in Savannah, Georgia

I'm pretty sure that Savannah's Waterfront is where Willy Wonka was inspired to become the confectioner king.  I'll stop by River Street Sweets and the Savannah Candy Shop.
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Three Great People Watching Parks in Manhattan

WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK

This park, located in the heart of Greenwich Village and NYU, has any number of activities going on at all hours of the day. Sunbathers, street performers, authors, musicians, families, and tourists, all doing who knows what! It's fun to bring a snack, find a bench, sit back and just watch New York City happen in front of you!
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The Best of Charlottesville, VA

Charlottesville was my favorite destination during my recent 7-day road trip between Florida and Virginia.  I walked thru the downtown shopping center in a rain storm, spent a day at Monticello and had the best dinner ever at the historic Michie Tavern.
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Annual Dungenous Crab Festival in Port Angeles, WA

I really enjoyed the Dungeness Crab Festival this past October in Port Angeles, Washington.  It is held every year during the second weekend in October on the Port Angeles pier and offers amazing seafood, a crab tank derby, local artists and shopping. 
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