FINALLY!! After 6 years on my DC-to-do-list, I can cross off visiting the U.S. Supreme Court! Well, actually, the item on my list was a little more ambitious than just visiting the U.S. Supreme Court. I wanted to sit through an oral argument. And that's not exactly what I did this week, but close enough. Thanks to a former colleague, I sat through a lecture on property rights in the progressive era, organized by the U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society and hosted by Justice Samuel Alito. The lecture itself was waaaay over my head, I have no legal background whatsoever, but the reception afterwards, in one of the court's stunning conference rooms, was right up my alley! I mean, of course ...
Better know the district
Crossing Off Bad Saint From My DC-To-Do-List
When I added Bad Saint to my 2016 DC-To-Do list in early January the tiny Filipino eatery in Columbia Heights was already quite the popular destination for local foodies. Grabbing a seat at the tiny 25-seats restaurant required a some advance planning (or luck!) since it has a strict no reservations policy. Then came national recognition. In September, Bon Appétit magazine gave Bad Saint the # 2 spot on its Hot 10 list of best new restaurants in America. Michelin inspectors took notice as well and a few weeks ago included Bad Saint in its Bib Gourmand list of worthy yet affordable restaurants in DC's very first edition of the guide (you can see a full list here). Not the greatest timing to ...
Celebrating DC’s First Michelin Guide at the French Ambassador’s Residence
Being invited to the French Ambassador's Residence is always a treat... I've only been there a few times in my 13 years in Washington and I'm always elated when I have the chance to attend an event there. Last night was no exception, if anything it was more special than ever as Washington's top toques gathered to celebrate the release of the District's very first Michelin Guide. So. Many. Chefs. In addition to the 11 chefs who were awarded coveted stars in the red guide, representatives from the restaurants who were awarded Bib Gourmand last week as well as from those who were listed in the book were present. Who was left in DC's kitchens last night? A lot of sous-chefs in charge ...
Premières Visites du Nouveau Musée d’Histoire & Culture Afro-Américaine
Ça y est! Le tout nouveau Musée National de l’Histoire et de la Culture Afro-Américaine (l'acronyme c'est NMAAHC en anglais) a ouvert ses portes au public samedi dernier à Washington. Et il les a ouvertes en grande pompe et circonstance, avec l'ancien président George W. Bush, Barack et Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey et plein d'autres célébrités ainsi que deux jours de fête et de concerts sur le National Mall. L'inauguration du NMAAHC c'est l'événement culturel de l'année ici... les billets d'entrée (qui sont gratuits d'ailleurs, comme ceux pour tous les musées nationaux gérés par l'Institution Smithsonian) se sont arrachés comme des petits pains en ligne. Il faut maintenant quasiment ...
Le Monde calls DC the “new empire of cool”
Every year, some 1.6 million French tourists visit the United States. Most start in New York and visit Los Angeles, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. Some may venture out to Florida, especially if they have kids, New Orleans, Boston and Philadelphia. Washington, DC doesn't get a ton of love though that might all change thanks to a recent article in Le Monde, one of France's leading newspaper. The article, published in the travel section of M Le Mag, gushes over the District, going as far as labeling it the "new empire of cool." So what makes DC so cool now? In a nutshell: a restaurant scene worthy of getting its own Michelin guide, gentrification and the Obamas. "With its institutional, ...
Happy Watermelon Day!
Rather than give you a French inspired recipe using summer's most refreshing fruit, pastèque, I give you one of the most colourful house in Washington, DC and one of my favourite piece of street art in the city: the Watermelon house!! The row house is located at 1112 Q Street near Logan Circle. Its exposed side has been painted in pink and green to resemble a has a watermelon slice, complete with seeds. Story has it all started with a bad paint job and since everything I know about Logan Circle's famed Watermelon House I know from this Washington Post article, you can read all about it there too. Oh, and if you really want some recipes, I do have two super refreshing ones for you right ...
Pokéball Doughnut – Gotta Eat ‘Em All !
Have you been roaming the streets of Washington searching for Pikachu? I returned from Paris to find that Pokémon Go had taken the United States by storm (and of course promptly downloaded the app as well). Over the past week, small business owners and restaurants around the city have been trying to cash in on the popular augmented reality game, advertising their status as Poké Stops, enticing shoppers and dinners by setting up lures and, of course, coming up with pokemon inspired drinks and food. Duffy's Irish Pub near U Street has been particularly keen on all fronts offering Pokémangorita, lures, free wifi and phone chargers. Meanwhile, ever one to give into fads, I made my way to ...
New Chinese Zodiac Sign Crosswalk in Chinatown
What's your Chinese Zodiac sign? I'm a goat, personally, and loved spotting my sign's symbol at the intersection of 7th and H streets NW in Chinatown. Six years ago, that busy intersection got a little more interesting when it became a "barnes dance" crosswalk (also known as pedestrian scramble) meaning people could cross it in every direction, including diagonally, at the same time. Now the diagonal section of the crosswalk was just enhanced by a permanent two-dimensional artwork featuring colourful dragons -- Chinese dragons of course, because the city tries *very* hard to give its Chinatown a semblance of Chinese identity ;-) The installation was done by Alternative Paving ...
Pow! Wow! D.C. – Murals in Progress in NoMa
Famed Los Angeles-based French street artist Mr. Brainwash recently painted an awesome mural on the wall of Union Market (read more about it here) and was quoted saying that he'd be back in the District because “Washington, D.C. needs it,” having so many “blank walls that could have messages for people to see life more beautifully.” Well, right now, a couple of blank walls in NoMa are getting some graffiti love as part of Pow! Wow! DC, a week long art festival. Most of the murals are still works in progress at this time, and Thursday night, I joined a (rather large) group of street art loving peeps for a walking tour of the neighbourhood led by local artist Kelly Towles who's been ...
Postcard from the District: Mr Brainwash Mural at Union Market
You know the first lady is pretty cool when you find out about new murals from her instagram feed ;-) Michelle Obama marked International Women's Day and the first anniversary of Let Girls Learn, a U.S. government initiative aimed at educating girls around the world, at Union Market. She was joined by famed Los Angeles-based French street artist Mr. Brainwash, who had been commissioned by The Girls Lounge to do a mural on the theme of women education. The murals are full of colorful hearts, similar to the bleeding hearts/love wall graffiti by James Goldcrown, portraits (including renderings of Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein) and inspiring slogans like "Life Is Beautiful," ...
