Six Degrees of Separation

If you talk to someone long enough you may find a connection. When we first moved to Capitol Hill fourteen years ago, we found out a Florida high school classmate of mine was friends with one of Senator Enzi’s kids. Senator Enzi lived down the street from us. When I worked at the Library of Congress someone there was friends with one of my Iranian niece’s uncles who lived in California. We found out about it when they were all visiting together in Italy and asked if they knew anyone who worked at the Library. Another colleague at the Library was connected to the Chinese President via his wife’s mother - who was best friends with the president’s sister. This time, we were riding on the elevator of our condo and we saw a familiar face - he happened to be the owner of the Mclean Family Restaurant that we have been going to every Saturday for the last many years. He happened to be moving in to our building this month. Upon further investigation, he happens to be the uncle of Pete Sampras. So it’s a small world if you look hard enough. You never know who you might run in to - and it may come full circle. (Photos taken from the internet)

Metro Ride to Capitol South

It was an experiment. The weather was cool enough, school has started, and the tourist season has slowed down. So we decided it was time to take the metro from McLean to Capitol South. We haven’t taken the train since we moved in April. The idea was to see the Iranian photography exhibit at the Sackler Gallery. My husband loves the metro, I hate it. Rather than take the bus to the station this time, we drove to the car park and then walked over to the station. We try to do things after and before rush hour so we left the house around ten. The actual ride on metro took about thirty five minutes once we got on it. But the time to get to the station, wait for the train, get on the train, and do it all over again takes twice as much time or more. It’s not my cup of tea but on the rare occasion it’s okay. I much prefer the overground rather than the underground routes. The next time we will probably take the bus since we get picked up right in front of the house. And, if we couldn’t drive a car we could still get around. The other excursion we planned was the safari park in Virginia - a three hour drive. That would have been more fun and is something to look forward to. 

First Walk in the New Neighborhood

It’s been about two weeks since our last morning walk. We moved from DC to Virginia about ten days ago and have finally settled down enough to begin our familiar routine. We are just ten miles away from Capitol Hill, but our neighborhood is so very different - in a good way! So this morning we decided to try the north route that brings us to a small park with a walking path. It reminded us of a tiny version of Grant Park in Milwaukee on Lake Michigan. Since it’s still spring the flowering trees looked lovely. What we immediately noticed that anyone we passed by enthusiastically exchanged greetings or waved - so very different than the “cold” DC personalities and much more like what we were used to in the friendly Midwest. The trail took us in to a residential neighborhood and we were able to stay on a sidewalk all the way back home. So many new areas don’t believe in sidewalks. Then we walked around our building where there are a few exercise machines on the trail, but there is also a fitness room in the building that we need to learn more about. We are still trying to figure out all the entrances and exits of our new building and each day becomes a little more familiar. So far so good - the neighborhood and the routine. 

Turkey Buzzards in McLean

Every Saturday we go for brunch at McLean Family Restaurant followed by grocery shopping at the Safeway across the street or the Harris Teeter further down the road. It’s not uncommon to find deer along the roadway that have been struck by cars. That was quite common in the Midwest. In fact, it almost happened to me once coming home from work. It does take your breath away. And there are specific spots along the GW Parkway that we always see the deer feeding and always pay close attention to their whereabouts. So yesterday we saw a flock of turkey buzzards sitting along the median in the road. And that means only one thing. Because it wasn’t in full view, it looked like they were just hanging around, until we made a u turn and saw what was really on their minds. What was left of the deer carcas was just the head and a few bones. It must have been there for awhile. And up in the trees were three sentries keeping watch above on the action below. We have seen these huge birds many times - once sitting around a fence in Charlottesville and up on the chimneys in McLean. It is a rather disgusting sight to come upon this feast, but when you read about these buzzards you do learn to appreciate them. It’s a gross job but somebody’s got to do it. 

Pulcinella Ristorante in McLean

On Old Dominion Drive in McLean, Virginia is Pulcinella Ristorante. We are always on the lookout for a reasonably decent Italian place because we love pizza and all things pasta. In Milwaukee we always went to Palermo Villa. In fact we had a surprise fiftieth birthday party for my husband there all those years ago! There are several italian restaurants on Capitol Hill, but they are typically needlessly expensive, and sometimes we prefer taking the short drive to McLean along the George Washington Parkway. We noticed the place several times when we drive that way, which is quite often. We go to McLean Family Restauarnt every Saturday for brunch. So we finally tried it out the other day and liked it. It's obviously been around for quite some time. The decor shows it. But the wait staff and food was worth having again. We took home some of the lasagna and chicken Parmesan, and a half loaf of delicious bread was thrown in. We will go back and try the pizza. So glad we found it! 

Amoo's Persian Fusion Middle Eastern Restaurant

Reza's was our favorite Persian restaurant in Chicago. Since we moved to DC, we love Moby Dick for take out and Yekta in Rockville for finer dining. We happened upon another place called Amoo's in McLean. It's located in a strip mall with tight parking. All the reviews were good, citing the authentic nature of the cuisine. We usually go for dinner rather than lunch, but since they do not serve alcohol at Amoo's, lunch was a better idea. So we ordered our usual eggplant appetizer, and soup, and bread, and salad, and yogurt. By the time the kabobs came, we were already full. But they served us two chicken kabobs rather than one chicken and one koubideh (spiced ground meat skewer). So we asked for another kabob to take home, along with everything else we didn't eat. The food was quite good, and it lasted for two more meals. What we didn't like was the decor - there were pictures of the Shah hanging all over the place. I much prefer the miniature paintings and the colorful middle eastern tile work, and photos and wall hangings of the so many interesting and scenic places in Iran. We wondered if we would go back again? We are still deciding. 

McLean and Tysons Keep Growing

We haven't been to McLean/Tysons for awhile - not since the Silver metro line opened several weeks ago. We like going to lunch at Cafe Deluxe because it is connected to under cover parking and is the perfect place to go in bad weather. The weather was not an issue this day, but the parking is still a nice option compared to most streets in DC. I'm sure it was our imagination, the time of day, and day of the week - but the traffic seemed to be less congested than usual. The building cranes seemed to have popped up in every direction. The new apartment and business tower that is alongside the freeway still has a way to go. All I know is I wouldn't want to live here, but it's nice to know it's only about a twenty minute drive from Capitol Hill. My husband has been suggesting he may be in need of some new pants, but wasn't in the mood to explore the options at Tysons Galleria after lunch. That place reminds us of Northbrook Court in Oakbrook Illinois - a shopping area we liked to go for more unusual items and an excuse to head to downtown Chicago for dinner. These little excursions remind us that it is too soon to give up our car because we still like to drive around a bit, and I don't like taking metro. But at least we only have one car to think about here. And that makes a big difference for a lot of reasons. 

McLean Barber Shop

I don't know the verdict yet, but will find out soon. Since we moved to DC, my husband has tried several barber shops. In Milwaukee, he went to Joe's place for most of the thirty years we lived there. At the first place in DC, he came home with lopsided sideburns. At the second place, the barber was probably near 80 years old, didn't wear glasses, and my husband came home with a few nicks and cuts. Then he went to a more "upscale" place.  The haircut was nice, but they went out of business. Then he tried a place in Alexandria. One girl was quite good - but he rarely got her. The other girl was terrible and he came home looking worse than when he went. So today he is trying something new at a place right next to where we have breakfast every Saturday. The reviews are good, and the person who owns it may even share the same name as his. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Let's hope it works out this time. It's only a twenty minute drive on the GW Parkway. I can't believe there isn't a decent place nearer to where we live. We just haven't found it. 

The Not So Golden Arches

All around Washington are bridges that have a similar style. It is probably not that much different in other places, but I don't remember seeing these arches in Milwaukee. As usual we went for breakfast at our favorite place in McLean - McLean Family Restaurant. The drive there takes us along the George Washington Parkway. At any time of year it is a beautiful path, and more particularly at this time of year when the leaves shine against the bright blue sky backdrop. Passing through Arlington, Georgetown, Spout Run on the way over and then back through Independence Avenue on the way home, one passes under several arched bridges. I wanted to take an even further ride out towards Mount Vernon where there are more of these architectural gems along the way,  it we opted rather to get home and take a brisk walk around the Captiol Building. As for those other Golden Arches, I like those just as much. And when people say they prefer not to go to Macs, I don't believe a word of it. 

The Silver Line

We haven't been to one of our favorite lunch spots for awhile so we headed out to McLean/Tysons Corners to have lunch at Cafe Deluxe near Crate and Barrel. It gets really busy and very noisy after twelve noon so we like to get there before that time. Since we were in this neighborhood last the new silver line metro opened. We've been watching the construction over the last several years. I am not a fan of metro, even though the silver line passes right by our house at Capitol South two blocks away. Maybe it was just my imagination or the time of the day, but the traffic seemed less congested along the Dolly Madison Parkway to our destination riding alongside the tracks. It looks as though there is still a lot of digging going on for perhaps more parking spaces near the stations. I know a few people at work who prefer to still drive in because there is no place to park the car, and not easy to cross the busy traffic lanes on foot. At the Tysons station is a new office and apartment building that look almost done. Off in the distance are more cranes and more construction. Maybe one of these days we will try the silver line to Tysons? If it were up to my husband we would. Wonder what the fare is from here to there....I'm thinking the car will do just fine.