Kennedy Center- Millennium Stage

M: Jonathan Frederick Kennedy was a good president. So they named a center after him, the Kennedy Center. Located in the heart of DC, the Kennedy Center is a  venue for a variety of concerts and shows. We were able to go to one on the 40th anniversary of their Millenium Stage program featuring OK Go and Pomplamoose.
R: The Millenium Stage at Kennedy Center hosts a free show/performance everyday at 6:00 PM (no tickets required). The one we happened to go to was one of their bigger shows commemorating the anniversary of the program. It really is an awesome program, giving everyone a chance to experience the arts in such an incredible venue at no charge!
M: So this would be a nice place for a date/ couples outing. The rooftop terrace has a great view of DC from all sides, the bottom terrace is nice to relax at before a show, and the inside is somewhat fancy. They do have a happy hour for the show but it’s not that great. There is a restaurant also but reviews say the food is not that great and it was overpriced so we didn’t go to it.

R: It was a fun night, although OK Go is not our usual sort of music, nor is Pomplamoose, I think we would both say we enjoyed the overall experience. Also, if you go to the website, you can see the full schedule for upcoming performances daily. The styles vary from Afro-Brazilian, to classical, all the way to Bollywood.

http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/

Tryst Coffeehouse-Bar-Lounge

R: I think the concept that Tryst has got going on is really unique. It’s a coffee shop, bar, good brunch spot, all in one. It's a little bit of everything all wrapped up into one package. You may see people with laptops discussing a business deal, or a group of friends getting a few drinks and a bite before they head out. 

M:  Yeah, this place is nice for any time of the week. Go out for drinks on a weekend, grab some coffee on a weekday, or the other way around. The atmosphere is very relaxing. There are all different kinds of couches and tables set up for different areas and groups. It somehow feels like you’re hanging out at home with friends but then you look outside and you see the busy chaotic streets of Adams Morgan.

R: I’m a big coffee fan, so I think this place may be one of my new favorites. Sometimes on a Friday or Saturday night I want to go out, but may not feel like drinking. At Tryst, I can go out with my friends, they can all do their thing, and if I’m in the mood for a cappuccino instead of a glass of wine, I still have that option. Also speaking of coffee, I used to work at Starbucks and one of the main goals that Starbucks strives to achieve is to become the "third place." For those who are not familiar with this term, "third place" refers to the social setting you frequent most, other than your home, or work. It is also the home of community life, creativity, and interaction . I think Tryst has found the secret to this concept and masters it. 

M: Tryst has also mastered their music, since I'm a big fan of EDM (electronic/ dance music). I'm not saying it's clubby with thump thump music but it has the right tune to get you ready for the night.  I don’t have anything against the usual coffee shop music, it’s just not my cup of tea (no pun intended). So get a small group together and have some shots. Of espresso. Or tequila. Or whatever you prefer.

http://www.trystdc.com/

Roti

M: I am glad I found this place near my office. It’s a fast casual place like Chipotle but with a Mediterranean menu. It came from Chicago and this was the only location in DC for a while, but now there are two more locations (and two currently being built to open within the next few months).

R: Mo had been raving about this place. He had gone with his coworkers and was dying to take me. I came up from school one weekend last year, which means I took a two and half hour train, took metro couple stations over, and walked about 10 minutes all to have some Roti, oops I mean see Mo, and it was worth it.

M: So the environment is very similar but instead of adding guacamole, you add hummus and baba ganoush. You can get sandwiches (like burritos) or just a rice dish (like burrito bowls). By the way If you get here past 11:50 during lunchtime, you can expect the line to be out the door.

R: Best part is, it’s all really healthy. All the ingredients are super fresh and delicious. Feta, Black olives, taboulleh, tahini, hummus, cous cous, spinach, etc.

M: The only downside to Roti is that they’re only open weekdays until 5 pm. If there was one in Northern VA, it would probably make a ton of money on the weekends. Anyone want to start a new partnership?

http://roti.com/http://roti.com/

Tidal Basin Paddle Boats

R: I had heard about people going paddle boating in the Jefferson Memorial Tidal Basin and wanted to go for a while, but always dismissed Mo when he suggested it because I thought it would take too much time/ be too expensive/ or be too complicated. One day he convinced me go and give it a try. Let me just say it was super easy, cheap and really fun! If you’ve never gone, I’d say its totally worth it.  

M: The only problem is that on really nice days it may be hard to find parking nearby, since the lot is not that big. There are plenty of boats to rent and it’s pretty cheap, $12 for a two person boat and $20 for a four person boat (which comes with a canopy for the sun) for a two hour rental. The area you can paddle in is pretty vast. Bring a camera and you can get some nice shots of the Jefferson Memorial, other monuments and planes landing at DCA.

R: Also don’t worry its pretty easy to paddle and most people can do it, its basically like biking sitting down. The only advice I’d give is don’t paddle super fast in the beginning cause you’ll tire out quick and  it’ll be dreadful getting back to shore in the end.  

M: This is one of the classic DC recreational activities. You always see paddle boats when driving down the side of the Potomac. Also if you want to be just as cool as us, make sure when you’re pulling into the dock at the end, to turn that shit around and back into the spot.

http://www.tidalbasinpaddleboats.com/

Ozio

M: O-ziiii-ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
R: I like the crowd, I like the feel, I like the music, I like the signature tree that’s on the wall on the top level ( and want one for my room), and I LOVE this rooftop.

M: And I love you.
R: Haha thanks, me too. Back to what I was saying, this was one of my favorite and unique rooftop bar experiences in DC so far. Its huge so there’s enough space to walk around, pretty ambiance, more than one bar so it doesn’t take overly long to get a drink and A/C (which is perfect for humid summer nights in DC). The rooftop is even retractable.
M: I was surprised with how big the place was. We’ve been to Eden but the rooftop area there is pretty small and its surrounded on both sides by tall buildings. Getting to the rooftop was like a little maze. Different staircases, different floors. There are four different floors to party on including a smoking floor. Make sure you’re on the guestlist so you can get access to the rooftop. You can do this by signing up on the website or through their Facebook page.

http://oziodc.com/ 

El Chalan

M: I heard about this place through my brother-in-law. He’s been coming here for over ten years. It’s his favorite Peruvian restaurant and after going here twice I can see why.
R: So when most people think of Peruvian food, they think of Peruvian chicken that you can get at Super Pollo and what not. It was a nice change to go to a sit down restaurant and be able to order traditional Peruvian dishes other than charbroiled chicken.

M: Super Pollo chicken is the bomb diggity but I agree. I’ve gotten the Llomo Saltado and Seafood Paella here, both of which are very flavorful and popular. With every meal, you need to make sure you order a Pisco Sour. I’ve ordered this drink at many different places and it’s one of my favorites. Nice lemon-y taste and topped off with frothy egg whites and sugar. May sound disgusting but it’s kind of like a drink with a top off of meringue. Pretty delicious. 
R: Be warned, there’s raw egg whites in the drink, so if that’s a problem for you like it was for one of our friends, don’t get it. For newcomers, I think a really safe and yummy choice is definitely the lomo saltado, once you’ve tried different things or feel more adventurous you can go for things like the seafood paella.
M: This place is only a few blocks from my office, so if you ever want to go, give me a call and treat me to dinner :)

http://www.elchalandc.com/

Crepe Amour

M: I’ve been wanting to go here for a few months now because I read about this place having one of the most innovative ideas of the century: Mac N’ Cheese Crepe. Sadly to say, when we went I was not able to order this because my female partner here was craving sweet stuff.

R: Well, my male partner was welcome to order his own crepe, but unfortunately, his stomach is not large enough to accommodate a whole crepe all on its own and needed my help.

M: Your face is not large enough to accommodate a whole crepe. PLEASE continue.
R: Oh okay okay, anywaysss.... we ended up getting the Fraise Amour. It had nutella and strawberries inside. Absolutely delish. I loved it. Also, prices weren’t too bad either. Menu had both sweet and savory options, so you could go here for lunch if you wanted and get a crepe with chicken as well.
M: So we walked here all the way from McFaddens for a snack and it was worth it. Before this, I would have said that all crepe places are the same to me. But for some reason the ingredients seemed rich and this place does try a lot of new concepts (hint: get the mac n cheese crepe, which is their most popular late night item). Also, if you rather have a more sit-down feel, head on upstairs where there is more restaurant style seating.
R: The crepes are made to order, so you see the whole process from start to finish. I like the idea of the place, cool modern decor, if you’re out in Georgetown, go in for a late night snack on Friday and Saturday!!

http://www.crepeamour.com/

Rock It Grill

M: There’s been plenty of nights where we don’t want to go out to DC and make a big effort but also don’t want to stay in and just watch a movie. Fortunately, I’ve been to this place and figured it to be something we can always fall back on. No need to get all dressed up, just be casual and head on down to Old Town Alexandria.
R: So as he was saying Rock It Grill is located in Alexandria and is a karaoke bar. At first I wasn’t too excited about the idea, but let me just say after going, if you are one of the many young people in the noVA area tired of grimey DC clubs, or too tired of the same old college crowd at bars in Clarendon, this is definitely a refreshing change. I wore jeans and a old navy tank top and I fit in just fine. People were there not to impress, but to let loose and have a fun time.
M: Yeah so this isn’t the kind of place to go pick up hot chicks or guys. There’s usually decent looking guys I’d say, but every time I’ve been I think I’ve only seen two girls that I would actually hit on (if I was single). At first I thought this was a low-quality trashy bar, but after going back a few times I realized that the people who come here just want to have fun and not worry about looking like douches.
R: No matter if they’re bad or good, its a win - win situation watching people on stage sing. You’re either laughing your butt off at them, or you’re enjoying their surprisingly good singing skills. Also, if you’re the adventurous type, you yourself may want to sign up for the stage. Overall go with a group of friends, drink some beers, and make one of them sing so you can all laugh and take pictures.

YogiBerry

R: Not the biggest fan of frozen yogurt personally, but the toppings here are super fresh and yummy. Also, they have just about everything you’d think of. I think next time, I’ll just get a spoonful of frozen yogurt, and fill the rest of my cup with the delicious toppings.
M: So I like the concept of this place a lot. It’s all self serve. You pick how much ice cream and/ or toppings you want. You can mix flavors and do whatever you want. So like Raha said, just come get a cupful of toppings and no ice cream. Also, unlike other places, you don’t get charged by each type of topping. What if you only want one gummy bear? or a whole pile of oreo crumbs rather than just a few pieces? You do what you want.
R: It’s super clean and the whole look of the place is very modern and colorful. I love the ambience. It’s located in Shirlington near all the restaurants. Great way to top off your night with a healthy desert.  
M: So yeah, after you go to GUAPOS (wink wink), head over next door to this place to finish off your night. Lots of different froyo flavors, including mango and taro. Lots of different toppings, from fruits (ewww) to crushed candies.
R: Just so you know, once you fill your cup with everything you want, you place it on the scale, and the price is .49 cents/ ounce.
M: So if fruit costs more in grocery stores, just come get a cup of that stuff here. You can also have your ice cream and toppings be made into a shake for $1.00 more.
R: We’ve also tried a few other places, frozen yogurt places in the mall with fresh toppings, and Red Mango in Clarendon, but this place has the best tasting so far, and kudos to them for a very unique concept.

Malibu Grill

M: Meat, meat, and more meat. My friends all know I don’t eat fruits and vegetables. I’m a carnivore/ “meatetarian”. So the concept of a Brazilian steakhouse which is just a buffet of meat after meat is like heaven to me.
R: I used to go here since I was a kid with family. It’s pretty good. Like Mo said, if you like meat, come hungry and you’ll leave happy. You have a wooden block on your table that is red on one side and green on the other. Flip it to green to signal the waiters to bring around different cuts of meat. Red tells them you’re done.
M: So they have tons of different cuts if beef. Sirloin, top sirloin, salted. They also have good chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, and sausage. It just keeps coming and coming and coming.
R: So lunch here is $12.95 and dinner is around $20.00. $12.95 is a great deal for the amount of food you get. But I don’t think the quality here is that great so I don’t think it’s worth the dinner price. My parents recently went to Fogo de Chao in DC, which is a top of the line Brazilian steakhouse with the same concept as Malibu. They said the food was great! Butttttttt... that comes at a much a higher price. The price range there is between $40 and $50 per person. There’s also Chima, which is another brazilian steakhouse in the area which is in Tysons. Chima's prices fall somewhere in between Fogo and Malibu.
M: I would definitely go to Fogo de Chao or Chima for special occasions. They are definitely awesome. But this place is good for a casual bite. The food is actually good.
R: Good, just not the best.
M: Just make sure you come with an empty stomach and have nothing to do afterwards. Food coma is a definite.