Yekta Market and Kabobi Anniversary Dinner

Although we have been together almost forty years (!) our official twenty year anniversary was yesterday. We had a wedding day lunch at Reza's in Chicago - a place we went to almost every couple of months when we lived in Milwaukee. So we decided we should celebrate at Yekta Kabobi in Rockville. Because Persian New Year is upon us, the market was still open for business selling out on Haft-sin items. The little grass containers were sitting out front, and a haft-sin was on display at the entryway. The restaurant was really busy, and we were lucky to get a seat without reservations. After dinner we wandered about the market. Everything is so fresh - in fact the salad in the restaurant is my favorite because it is so fresh. My husband had a taste for cookies, and was also on the hunt for quince. This place reminds me of the outdoor markets in Iran and in most other places, including Eastern Market right here in the neighborhood. Obviously tea, rice, and pistachios are well stocked. It's all so very colorful and ethnic. Just as I love pierogis and all things Polish, my husband loves all things Persian. Unfortunately there is not a polish restaurant that we know of here. Milwaukee and Chicago were full of those. So Christmas is the time for Polish food and Spring is the time for Persian food. Although nothing stops us from enjoying it all any time of the year. 

Nowruz at the Freer Sackler Gallery

On the south side of the house the sun is bright and the hydrangea are starting to bud; on the north side is a pile of snow and sidewalks still covered in ice. I much prefer the former. Yesterday was finally warm enough to walk to the Freer Sackler Gallery to check out the Nowruz event. To me it represents Spring, and to my husband a lot more since he grew up with this tradition. We have gone to see it at least five times since we moved here. At first it was interesting because it was fresh and new, and our grandson was young enough to participate in the kids stuff - like story telling and face painting. Now it is just crowded, kids are screaming, and it's too hot - and we are nine years older. It is something to do, but I much prefer going to the Mall when the crowds are sparse and at my own pace. Well, this is not the time of year for that. From this point forward the city gets very congested and cherry blossoms are right around the corner. In many ways it's really nice to be able to just walk outside and take in all these sights at our leisure. We used to fly in from Milwaukee for this and other events and holidays. The birds reminded us this morning that they wanted their birdbath set up again when they started fluttering around the patio. Spring is here and I really like it. And if there is an event to celebrate it? I'm all for it regardless of the crowds.