Captain White Seafood City & Jessie's Cooked Seafood

Our son had an event last night at his house that required a lot of brats and hot dogs, but also some steamed crabs. It is customary to travel to a DC establishment in SW, on the way to the Jefferson Memorial along Maine Avenue, and pick up a bushel of blue crabs from Captain White Seafood City. This place is ALWAYS busy, and it is difficult to impossible to find parking. We dropped him off to place the order, and drove around a bit, and decided to park in the tunnel. The wind was picking up and a storm was heading our way. The raindrops started, and it felt like a carnival atmosphere with the old fashioned lights and characters that crossed our path. Nevertheless, it is a treat to observe all of this, and even try a gumbo or two, as we waited for the order. It takes two to carry the filled to the brim bushel of blue crabs from the Chesapeake, and by the time we got back to the car, we had a $50.00 parking ticket on the windshield. Not to worry- they make it really easy to pay for it on line, and we were clearly in the wrong. But it is a one of a kind place in more ways than one.

There were several trucks in the lot

There is never parking & cars are constantly circling

The "stores" are on barges in the river, several feet below dry land

Bushel baskets for the crabs

They also provide seasoning salts

Take your pick- cooked or not yet cooked- male or female

Waiting to order dinner

It's like a circus

Hard at work and regularly photographed

We should know better

Yekta in Rockville Maryland

It's been three years since we went on our trip to Iran with our friends from here to visit our family and friends there. It was my second visit - the first one was in 1996. There are several Iranian restaurants in the area - in Arlington, Alexandria, and Bethesda. There is another one in Rockville by the name of Yekta. When we first moved here, we visited this place because there is also a bazaar of sorts located nearby. We heard that the restaurant was renovated, so we took a ride to check out both. Inside were the usual items my husband likes-quince, to make jelly, and a dessert made with pistachios. And of course, there is the bread! I have to say the music was not what I would listen to all day long, but it did remind me a little bit about our trip. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to come all the way here from another country, and the courage it takes to make such a life change. I'm not so sure I could do it- but my grandparents did. It was hard enough just to move from Wisconsin to Washington. And we speak the same language. So it's always nice to find a place that reminds one of their home, even if it's not quite the same thing. I'll take a Polish Pierogi and kielbasa anytime. Those sights and smells bring back a lot of memories.

On the main drag in Rockville

The "bazaar" is right next door

We know a few people by this name!

A nice little set up

A favorite beverage

We love the bread

Reminds me of all the cities we visited

I can't read it

We visited Persepolis

My husband said he had an Isfahani accent

Always a treat

Hula Girl, Cheesecake and Shawarma

Today in the Washington Post was an article about what the city plans to do about regulating all the food trucks. Apparently it is a rather new phenomenon that started in 2009. They all just started to appear. The brick and mortar restaurants are upset about the trucks parking right in front of their doors, that the food truck customers don't have to pay some sort of sales tax, and obviously the vendors take business away from the lunch crowd volume. The other issue is how does one know if safety standards are maintained - though I am not certain folks around here think of things like that. What I do know is that the vehicles circulate regularly between my work place and home, which is two blocks away. And there always seems to be a line of people looking for a change of pace from the usual fare. This week, Hula Girl returned with a new Cheesecake truck right behind it. Another new truck pulled in to the scene called Shawarma. I would never have guessed that it is Lebanese. I bet that is giving Tasty Kabob a run for it's money.

A little teriyaki steak and a cheesecake to follow

 

A nice day to stand around - right across from Tortilla Coast

DC Shawarma is a newcomer

Has a few customers too

American Girl

I always loved dolls. I had a collection of Madame Alexander foreign land dolls that was started by my mother when I was about 6 years old. I also had a Chatty Kathy, and all the Barbie stuff. But a newer phenomenon is American Girl. The company originated in Middleton, Wisconsin about 25 years ago and it is still growing strong. We visited a shop in Chicago several years ago, and a new store was just opened in Tysons, Virginia. We took a ride over last week to see what is new in the doll world. Even though it is before Thanksgiving, the place was jammed with girls of all ages- and several had their look a like doll clasped in their arms like there was no tomorrow. I really enjoy walking through these places- as I do when I'm going through an art supply place, or hardware store. Some things don't change, but the accessories and do dads do. This is a comprehensive (excessive?) enterprise- you can even make an appointment to have your doll's hair "done" at the beauty shop, or plan a birthday party or special event. There is a theme for just about anything. And you would need to have a lot of space to put all this stuff in. Grandsons have other interests, but they aren't as fun as this.

Clutching the prized possession

The displays are really pretty

Order one up to look just like you- skin tone, hair type, eye color, etc

Historical figures, and books, and.....

Soft bodied baby dolls for the younger tykes

Getting your hair done? The place is mobbed!

A couple of guys in the mix

Fairy tales and holidays

You can see the excitement on their faces

Just for fun

Glasses and all

Cupcake

Last night we were watching Mike Judge on TV in anticipation of Beavis and Butthead returning tomorrow night when the doorbell rang. In walked our son and grandson with a 6 pack of cupcakes. They had just gone out to eat and stopped off at the local cupcake shop for some dessert- and they always think of us! Of course, they would be joining us in devouring these delicious foodstuffs. I don't quite understand all the hullabaloo about cupcakes. And they were $20.00 for six of them, and weighed a ton. There are shops everywhere- one in Georgetown, 2 new ones on 8th street Barracks Row, and a cupcake truck that circles the neighborhood. Regardless of what it is, we appreciate the thought. But we did send at least one back home to Mom- so she would not feel left out. Now that is a really good reason to live close by! We certainly would not have these little perks if we still lived in Wisconsin.

Pennsylvania Avenue

There were a lot of things going on today along Pennsylvania Avenue and the Mall. And it was a beautiful day to take a walk compared to last weekend when we needed our winter coats. A Taste of DC has been going on since Friday. I think we are the only people who walked through it without even buying a lemonade. The Occupy Wall Street Protestors were occupying Freedom Square, right next to the Taste of DC. It looked like most of the action there had subsided. Yesterday the police used tear gas on the crowd over by the Air and Space Museum. On the way back, we went through the Mall, and it was clear that Fall is on the way. We walked along Constitution Avenue until reached the sculpture garden and fountains. When we got back home, I intended to whack back the garden, but I just didn't feel like it. After all, tomorrow is actually another day- it's Columbus Day, and I do have off. That is a holiday that I never had off working thirty years in health care. It is a glorious three day weekend. Maybe I could somehow work on getting those every week?

A chicken wing eating contest

Something for everyone

Up and down Pennsylvania Avenue

Feedom Square Occupy Wall Street

Packed with hungry people

Ribs and barbecue

A needed canopy form the heat!

Facing the Archives at the Sculpture Garden

Fall is here

Tasty Kabob

It was finally a beautiful day today, and the food trucks were out. Tasty Kabob has not been around the neighborhood for awhile. As you can see by the line, it looks like everyone missed it. I had noticed a few folks gathering around the truck when I walked home for lunch. But when I went back to work, it was really doing a hot business. At least this time they did not park right on front of Tortilla Coast, Bullfeathers, the Thai place and the subway shops. Or maybe even they all like to have the choices. It could get tiring eating the same thing every day. But come to think of it, I do eat the same thing every day for lunch. The difference is that it is home made and ready when I walk in the door. Couldn't have it any better. It was always a hassle to figure out what to do for lunch in an office setting. The hospitals always had cafeterias and coffee shops. But I think I like home the best.

Across from the House Office parking lot

In front of an office/residence

 

What's the appeal?