Photo Journal: An Outsider's Insider's Tour of Washington DC

When I think DC, I think mammoth tusks and the Hope Diamond, the Austrian crystal chandelier at the Kennedy Center's Opera House, the marble pillars of the Lincoln Memorial, and my out-of-town great aunt standing under the two-inch overhang of a hot dog stand during one of those sudden Chesapeake downpours.

But this February, a lovely friend (and DC native) gave my mom and me such a unique experience in the city and its surrounding areas that I realized that I had never really been to DC. Our trek felt like a Travel Channel episode with distinct and personal experiences around each corner, including beautiful Oxon Hill Farm, the Frederick Douglass House, the eclectic & historic Eastern Market, and the delicious Founding Farmers. 

Enjoy the photologue! 

Oxon Hill Farm

Iconic porch at the farmhouse.

Rural landscape

Drowsy cow.

Pastoral

Collage

Frederick Douglass's house on a hill overlooking DC. A much-coveted location, the famous abolitionist lecturer bought this house while U.S. Grand Marshall and Ambassador to Haiti.

Death mask

Elegant living room. The man had impeccable taste.

Bust of Frederick Douglass

The majority of furnishings in the house are original. My friend, who is a professional researcher on African American history, remembers seeing a photo of Frederick Douglass with this same checker board.

Travelling trunk. Look for the name.

Fabulous landmark: the giant Chair.

DC Rowhouses. Sigh.

Huh?
Actually, this would be perfect for a scavenger hunt: "Green-eyed monster."

Entering the Eastern Market. Open every Sunday.

Bustling flea market + antiques and hand crafts.

Old cash register at one of the stands. 
And finally, someone who knows how to hang a horseshoe so the luck doesn't fall out.

Thomas Calomiris & Son's.
And mysterious number 4, as in.... four daughters? Fourth generation? Four calling birds?

Eliza Doolittle...

Functional Decor at Founding Farmers

Tea at Founding Farmers. Love the one-person teapot by ForLife.

Rotisserie chicken & red potatoes. Perfection... and gluten free.

Shrimp and Grits (not gluten-free). My mom loved this dish.

Rotisserie chicken, this time with classic collared greens.

View of the U.S. Capitol.

How to Have a Smashing Crepes Party

So, in my last post, I had sketched my experiences with fiddling around with crepes - or, as one of my more French-savvy friends pronounces it, "cleps." It turns out that my crepe-frying beginner's luck was put to good use at the party, for which my friend Sarah wisely quadrupled her crepe recipe!

We had already pillaged the local grocery purveyors (Messrs. Safeway, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's) for a variety of sweet and savory toppings:

• Strawberries
• Raspberries and blackberries
• Sliced mango
• Strawberry Chobani yogurt
• Melted Ghirardelli chocolate
• Chocolate chips
• Sprinkles
• Mango slices
• Bananas
• Nutella (divine with sliced bananas!)
• Gluten-free granola from Trader Joe's
• Ham
• Goat cheese from Whole Foods
• Goat cheese and herb spread
• Cava's red pepper and hummus spread

Wow, a lot more sweet than savory. What a horrible problem. :) Interestingly, our guests devoured the strawberries faster than any of the other toppings!

The Crepe Bar

Berries and Chocolate Crepe

The decor for the party was simple but elegant, inspired by Anthropologie's eclectic style and the crisp spring weather. Thanks to Whole Foods' floral department, fresh sprigs of purple-blue snapdragons and tufts of fun green bushy stuff made a nice bouquet for the side table. 

Construction Site

Riviera Blue Splash

I stuck small white and blue flowering "mini-bushes," technically Riviera Blue Splash from Homestead Gardens into various small glazed pots and even a large empty lantern, scattered an array of battery-powered votives in an army of miniature lanterns around the dining room, and added a few semi-tarnished silver pieces for extra character. My friend (whom the party was honoring) smuggled back a centerpiece from a wedding she'd attended the day before, and voile! Gardeny-springy-bohemian-decor! 

Decor on the Side Table

I deliberately omitted all pink from the decorations, since it was after all a co-ed party. It's not my favorite color, anyway. But at the same time, the guest of honor was a girl (still is), so why not keep it feminine?

Centerpiece and Garland

The mademoiselles