Vagabender

So you's cut the FL out the US cake? Ain't no thang. Franchise city has particularly less going for it as it becomes ever more yuppified as I realized returning to me hometown this weekend.

So, here's a short guide to my other recent flava: it is as Henri Mattise says, how you say--"the shit!"

1) NoVA (Alexandria and Arlington are Metro DC). Suburbs close to the city, but not right in the old anus! Good eats: Pho Kim, vietnamese restaurant in Alexandria (Franconia Road)/Rose Hill section. Sells Bubble Tea! Yum. And, cheap, healthy eats! Motsi (?) on Telegraph Rd. in Alexandria (Austrian dining!).

2) Happy hour! $1 Beer, z-grade movies, and darts/pool/air hockey -- Tuesdays at Dr. Dremos in Clarendon (Arlington). (See the website). Georgetown Billiards offers the same liesure activities plus fooseball and pac man/galaga minus cheap beer and z-grade movie specials. Nice on late weekday nights because fewer kids from the Georgetown undergrad crowd. (Georgetown/NW DC area). Bottomless Bloody Mary Brunch - Georgetown waterfront on Sundays. Reasonably priced breakfast menu to boot! Champagne brunch (with an Irish breakfast menu) at Murphy's Pub in Old Town!

3) Midnight bowling - Strike! (Bethesda. See the website). Bowling specials - Alexandria (bowl on Sundays all you can for $9 bucks a pop after 9PM).

4) Museums: Frank Lloyd Wright House on Richmond Highway (Alexandria). Smithsonia selections (Hirshorn is superb! and Nat'l. Museum of the American Indian is new and right near sunflower gardens, squash gardens, chili peppers and unwacky tabbacky!). Baltimore Museum of Art (near Johns Hopkins U, fantastic collection! with awesome new exhibit). Afro-American Heritage Museums (near Howard U/NW DC area). Corcoran (not free, but nice art gallery with some photojournalist exhibits in the past). National Gallery (on the mall) shows free films. See Modern/East Wing for the schedule.

5) Indie/college life towns - Woodly Park, Cleveland Park, Dupont Circle (after 12 PM), Adams Morgan (great selection of bars and international eats). All on the red-line in DC.

6) Movies - Free movies: Dr. Dremo's (Tuesdays). National Gallery. Screen on the Green (park films on the mall shown on specific nights--but be warned of the damn DC humidity--it's deadly). Indie: E Street Cinema and Arlington Cinema Drafthouse (poor food).

7) Beer/Liquor selection galore - Total Wine and Beverage (Springfield and Alexandria locations).

8) Free skate parks (around R street in NW DC, on Telegraph Rd. in Alexandria).

9) Shows: see Washington City Paper (on-line) for full selection of local events/items. 9:30 Club has good pic of indie shows. Stop by Smash! on M Street (Georgetown) for more info. Black Cat and Fur are other popular pics. The bookstore near the Dupont Circle metro station is open past midnight. Has live music, restaurant, bar, and what else? books!

Cool video stores - Hollywood Video at the Tenleytown stop has an excellent selection of cults and rarities.

10) Universities - Georgetown, George Washington (Foggy Bottom metro area), American University (Tenelytown), University of DC (Van Ness), Howard, Catholic U (Brookland), George Mason (Fairfax), Marymount (Falls Church), and Galludett. University of MD (College Park, green line) has small pick of eats/events/bars. College life is more plentiful because it's a bigger campus. Usually has weekend events.

11) See the George Washington Masonic Temple (or at least view the lot--can visit the building before 5PM on weekdays). Get good view of Old Town (Alexandria).

12) Washington National Cathedral - the violation of the 1st Amendment is at least a cool building. Can view for free, get top floor view of DC. Located near Friendship Heights.

13) Embassies in Fox Chase, Foxhall, and Teneleytown areas. The Japanese embassy is particularly cool!

14) Monster oriental buffet (though slightly pricey) in Springfield. Backlick Road behind the big shopping center just follow signs to I-95. Located near an Afghani and Mexican restaurant. Real Greek food - Mediterranean Cafe (Alexandria on Franconia road in shopping center w/7-11 and Wachovia Bank).

15) Nice views: check out the Patomac or rent a boat (boathouse is underneath the overpass on the backlots of M Street). Follows M Street and up around Foxchase, etc. northern locations.

16) Watergate Hotels (East and West buildings)(heading down M street past the Georgetown section going east).

17) When in Cleveland Park, check out the corner starbucks. Cool, friendly Romanian group of friends frequent the area. Made it a neighborhood hangout.

18) 50s revival - Silver Diner (an Alexandria/Springfield/Alrington chain of 50s themed diners).

So you's cut the FL out the US cake? Ain't no thang. Franchise city has particularly less going for it as it becomes ever more yuppified as I realized returning to me hometown this weekend.

So, here's a short guide to my other recent flava: it is as Henri Mattise says, how you say--"the shit!"

1) NoVA (Alexandria and Arlington are Metro DC). Suburbs close to the city, but not right in the old anus! Good eats: Pho Kim, vietnamese restaurant in Alexandria (Franconia Road)/Rose Hill section. Sells Bubble Tea! Yum. And, cheap, healthy eats! Motsi (?) on Telegraph Rd. in Alexandria (Austrian dining!).

2) Happy hour! $1 Beer, z-grade movies, and darts/pool/air hockey -- Tuesdays at Dr. Dremos in Clarendon (Arlington). (See the website). Georgetown Billiards offers the same liesure activities plus fooseball and pac man/galaga minus cheap beer and z-grade movie specials. Nice on late weekday nights because fewer kids from the Georgetown undergrad crowd. (Georgetown/NW DC area). Bottomless Bloody Mary Brunch - Georgetown waterfront on Sundays. Reasonably priced breakfast menu to boot! Champagne brunch (with an Irish breakfast menu) at Murphy's Pub in Old Town!

3) Midnight bowling - Strike! (Bethesda. See the website). Bowling specials - Alexandria (bowl on Sundays all you can for $9 bucks a pop after 9PM).

4) Museums: Frank Lloyd Wright House on Richmond Highway (Alexandria). Smithsonia selections (Hirshorn is superb! and Nat'l. Museum of the American Indian is new and right near sunflower gardens, squash gardens, chili peppers and unwacky tabbacky!). Baltimore Museum of Art (near Johns Hopkins U, fantastic collection! with awesome new exhibit). Afro-American Heritage Museums (near Howard U/NW DC area). Corcoran (not free, but nice art gallery with some photojournalist exhibits in the past). National Gallery (on the mall) shows free films. See Modern/East Wing for the schedule.

5) Indie/college life towns - Woodly Park, Cleveland Park, Dupont Circle (after 12 PM), Adams Morgan (great selection of bars and international eats). All on the red-line in DC.

6) Movies - Free movies: Dr. Dremo's (Tuesdays). National Gallery. Screen on the Green (park films on the mall shown on specific nights--but be warned of the damn DC humidity--it's deadly). Indie: E Street Cinema and Arlington Cinema Drafthouse (poor food).

7) Beer/Liquor selection galore - Total Wine and Beverage (Springfield and Alexandria locations).

8) Free skate parks (around R street in NW DC, on Telegraph Rd. in Alexandria).

9) Shows: see Washington City Paper (on-line) for full selection of local events/items. 9:30 Club has good pic of indie shows. Stop by Smash! on M Street (Georgetown) for more info. Black Cat and Fur are other popular pics. The bookstore near the Dupont Circle metro station is open past midnight. Has live music, restaurant, bar, and what else? books!

Cool video stores - Hollywood Video at the Tenleytown stop has an excellent selection of cults and rarities.

10) Universities - Georgetown, George Washington (Foggy Bottom metro area), American University (Tenelytown), University of DC (Van Ness), Howard, Catholic U (Brookland), George Mason (Fairfax), Marymount (Falls Church), and Galludett. University of MD (College Park, green line) has small pick of eats/events/bars. College life is more plentiful because it's a bigger campus. Usually has weekend events.

11) See the George Washington Masonic Temple (or at least view the lot--can visit the building before 5PM on weekdays). Get good view of Old Town (Alexandria).

12) Washington National Cathedral - the violation of the 1st Amendment is at least a cool building. Can view for free, get top floor view of DC. Located near Friendship Heights.

13) Embassies in Fox Chase, Foxhall, and Teneleytown areas. The Japanese embassy is particularly cool!

14) Monster oriental buffet (though slightly pricey) in Springfield. Backlick Road behind the big shopping center just follow signs to I-95. Located near an Afghani and Mexican restaurant. Real Greek food - Mediterranean Cafe (Alexandria on Franconia road in shopping center w/7-11 and Wachovia Bank).

15) Nice views: check out the Patomac or rent a boat (boathouse is underneath the overpass on the backlots of M Street). Follows M Street and up around Foxchase, etc. northern locations.

16) Watergate Hotels (East and West buildings)(heading down M street past the Georgetown section going east).

17) When in Cleveland Park, check out the corner starbucks. Cool, friendly Romanian group of friends frequent the area. Made it a neighborhood hangout.

18) 50s revival - Silver Diner (an Alexandria/Springfield/Alrington chain of 50s themed diners).

Anony mouse has certainly given you guys enough suggestions to keep you busy. Unfortunately neither Patti nor I can be your daytime tour guides here in Washington (and we wouldn't want to be during your nutsy nighttime antics). Patti gets her broken leg stitches out today..and a cast change.. then wearing her new cast for a least 7 more weeks.
So, I guess I better take a couple hours later today and clean up her studio for you three to toss your stinky, muck-ridden selves into.

-wildbill and the pioneer princess :-)