Ovary Action

What do cupcakes, old school roller skates, and the DC Armory have in common? They are all crucial ingredients for my $12 afternoon of fun at the DC Roller Girls Roller Derby.

I was really skeptical at first. How come I've lived 26 years of life in and around the District and never once heard of the Roller Derby until the movie Whip It? Unclear. And when I did hear about the Derby, it was accompanied by a really sketch reputation (a venue for a certain type of man to ogle at scantily clad women) that certainly didn't encourage me to incorporate a visit into my weekend plans.

Then, in one of those random situations when several unrelated people mention the same thing in a short period of time (I find this often happens with Keds and Lisa Frank stickers), the Roller Derby came up in conversation multiple times. I had been spending LOTS of time within a four block radius of my apartment (which is always fabulous but was getting a bit limiting due to the snow storms earlier this month)... and when an activity that sounded fun, low-cost, metro accessible, and potentially fabulous entered the conversation over dinner at my friend Becca Y.'s house immediately following the receipt of an e-mail from my friend Miriam M. about the same topic (an outing to the DC Roller Girls Bout the next day), I knew it would be a perfect cure for my minor case of blizzard induced DuPont Circle overdose.

I ventured to the DC Armory the next day with friends Julie F., Meredith S. H., Adam G., Miriam P., Tanya P., and Becca Y. I was sort of shocked by the large crowds in the bleachers at the Armory (Also, have I ever been to the Armory before? and what happens there when the DC Roller Girls are not in town? Is it possible that I went to the circus there when only a tiny Wild and Crazy Pearlette?). Within minutes of arrival, I had spotted someone else I knew sitting in our section. That was, perhaps, the most significant lesson learned by my trip to the Derby. Here is a recap of our lessons learned:

Lots of people you NEVER think you'll see at a Roller Derby actually LOVE the Roller Derby. At final count, I saw eight people I knew (in addition to the big group I arrived with). And they were not all people I knew from one place. One was a woman I know because we used to work on the same floor of my old office building and we chatted about shoes as we passed each other to and from the bathroom. I interviewed someone else for a job once. Someone else is a friend of my roommate and professional colleague.

The Steel City Derby Demons are really good. And when I say good, I mean they scored three times as many points as DC's All Star Roller Girl team. (This can obviously be explained by the fact that they are from the city where the best pancakes, ever, are made (PAMELA'S)...good pancakes clearly lead to expert Roller Derby skaters...but I digress.) This didn't make our outing any less fun, though. I actually thought the best part of the Derby was the coordinated rollerskating-esque dances that happened during the warm up phase of the day. Perhaps this is because I am not so interested in anything that involves keeping score (except heated games of competitive Cranium).

The Derby is a great place for celebrity sightings. The day we ventured to the Derby, The Learning Channel was there filming the owners of Georgetown Cupcake for their new show, Cupcake Sisters. We were treated to a free cupcake (and even witnessed a giant version of the Roller Girl logo made completely of cupcakes) and made sure to say lots of soundbite worthy things close to the cameras and large boom microphones. If you catch a glimpse of me on TLC, now you'll know why!

Start Brainstorming your Derby Girl name now. You'll sit for hours trying to write a blog post about your time at the Derby and be stuck without a title if you don't have one ready to go. I stole Ovary Action from a DC Derby Girl as I find it hilarious and hope you do too.

The bake sale WILL sell out. When I saw Adam G.'s Fruity Pebbles "marshmallow square" (read: Rice Crispy Treat made with Fruity Pebbles), I regretted my decision to walk past the bake sale at the entrance of the Derby without making a purchase. But, by the time I got myself down to the bake sale area after the first half of the bout was over, it was over and done with. So, keep this in mind if you plan to purchased a baked good while Derby spectating. The other concessions were all over the map in terms of deliciousness. The fries that Julie F. purchased were excellent, but my choice of fruit flavored Dippin' Dots was a very (VERY) poor one (what inspired me to get that?).

Roller Derbies are hard to photograph. I took about 100 photos while at the Derby and maybe 10 turned out. I think the combination of the very fast moving subjects and fear that a roller skate or skater could potentially fly into one's face while shooting made the project even more challenging to capture. Alas, I will be returning sometime soon and hope to capture a few photos of this most excellent celebration of roller skating and patterned tights.

So, if you're not sold yet, I hope you'll consider a trip to the Derby in March! And if you see me there, I am happy to be included in your total number of people you saw that you didn't think you'd see or as a cupcake wielding celebrity.

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Who Are You?

(You can tell that my iTunes baby boomer concert series is really going strong today. Thanks to The Who for inspiring this title.)

My dear 1/2 priced Valentine's day candy loving readers--

I have recently been thinking about who reads W&CP.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting your comments (and figuring out who theyr'e from--especially the people who don't leave me any clue who they are like the "Josh" who commented on one of my Toronto posts), e-mails, feedback when I see you in real life, and especially love watching my Google Analytics account for spikes in readership (did you know that people from India, Israel, and Ireland are all subscribers?)... I love knowing that you forward links to my blog to your mom (Hi Moms!) and that your brother-in-law in Ohio is now a subscriber. And to those of you whom* I've never met, I want to know you too!

So, I decided that I want to institute a little feature highlighting you! Who are you? What products do you enjoy? Did you recently eat something that was so good you can't wait to go back for more? What is your favorite challah recipe? Do you love shopping on Etsy and who is your favorite seller? Did you just finish a creative wall hanging project in your living room that you're really proud of and want to show off? Well, this shindig is for you!


This is the plan:

• You e-mail me and express interest in my new Wild and Crazy YOU campaign.
• Based on the number of responses (is it possible that this will really take-off and I will be inundated with e-mails about this project?) I will get in touch with you and we'll find a time to connect.
• We will chat about some of the above questions and perhaps other things I find mildly diverting and then I will blog about you!
• You will be famous.
  

It occurs to me that this is the PERFECT time for a FAQ (who doesn't love a good FAQ?). Here are the answers to some questions that may come up about Wild and Crazy You:

I live in Nebraska. Can I still be Wild and Crazy cool?
Oh yes! This is why we have video chat (and cell phones).

I am worried you'll think I'm a stalker if I contact you. Perhaps I shouldn't participate.
If you're actually a stalker, please don't contact me.

But, if you have fun things to share, bring it on! I am specifically looking for products you can't live without (if you were to ever buy a lifetime supply of something, what would it be?) and other fun/quirky things that other people will find helpful and amazing.

If you already know me, can I still participate in this fiesta?
For sure. You will, however, be required to dress in a costume and pretend we've never met (just for fun).

I am a celebrity. Do you think the Blogger servers can handle the traffic created when you post something about me?
I am sure they can. I'm talking to you, Mayim Bialik.

Sound good? If so, shoot me an e-mail (emily.goodstein@gmail.com) and we'll go from there!

*Please note my grammar expertise, using whom as opposed to who. Thank you very much...

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We're All WINners

I just want you to know that in the near future, I will be blogging about some (more) delicious restaurants in NYC and Boston, a roller derby, and an a capella concert... BUT my regularly (un)scheduled blogging adventure has been momentarily put on hold for this important post!

On Thursday night, I joined several other fabulous progressive women as a Young Women of Achievement Award winner! The event was hosted by the Women's Information Network (I actually blogged about them last year when my friend Miriam P. won the same award) and was really fantastic. The kicker is that almost 40 people are nominated for the award, but similar to a full fledged awards show, nobody knows who wins the awards until names are called at the event itself. SO, when my name was called I had no real idea of what I was going to say as I walked to the mic.

Good thing I remembered to plug my blog (ha!) in my "acceptance speech" so I can fully analyze the award and graciously accept it here on the interweb. If I had actually prepared anything, I would have included the following:

Thanks, Froperson
It was Elissa F. who nominated me for the award (we got into an argument about who wrote a better nomination letter as I nominated her for an award too! And I still attest that mine was better because I was working with such excellent material). Unfortunately, Elissa couldn't be at the event to see me take home the gold...I mean glass plaque...in person. So, thanks to Elissa F. for writing what must have been a very excellent nomination letter (and for imitating Augustus Gloop's mother from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which causes me to laugh for extended periods of time) and for being a fantastic social justice advocate and activist too!

Competish
This year, WIN decided to divide up all the nominees into categories. My category was "Women in the Choice Movement." One of the other people nominated in this category was my friend and colleague, Edith S. (I have alluded to Edith before in posts about the Monif C. trunk show and my discovery of bacon enrobed in chocolate at Co Co Sala). Obviously, I love the idea of even being considered in the same category as the fabulous Edith S., who is the best ever Field Director at Choice USA. We took a series of photos pulling each other's hair to simulate bitter competition... But I've chosen to post this one which makes it look like we're really good at pretending to get along.

The G-steins...
So, I had been nominated for the Young Women of Achievement Award four times in the past. That's right, four times. It had actually become a really fun event to attend and cheer on the other accomplished people receiving the award. And every time, my parents and sisters got dressed up and came downtown to share a glass of (free) wine while schmoozing with the other guests. And every time, I didn't win. So, this time, my parents and one sister were on their way home from a vacation in London and the other sister was at home with the world famous Olivia. And I didn't even think to invite them because I was so sure my non-winning streak would continue. Alas, I was wrong. Thanks to my fam for being so enthusiastically supportive and always coming to my events even when I don't win (for four years in a row).

Inner Circle
As I walked to the stage to accept my award (it was a very dramatic moment, just like the Emmys), I loved seeing a whole row of my favorite people clapping for me! Thank you for bringing me flowers, videoing the acceptance speeches, reassuring my mom that we should share the video with her, going out after the event to celebrate with me, and being so generally fabulous. I could not ask for better, more supportive, or enthusiastic friends. You are the BEST.

Sara and Rebecca
Okay, crazy! There were four other winners of YWA Awards this year, and two happen to be my friends. AND, they happen to share the same names as my sisters. I just figured this out now as I began to write the section and love the coincidence. But, back to the point--two of the other winners are my mentors, friends, and colleagues: Sara F. and Rebecca F.! Sara (who also happens to be my part-time officemate) was nominated for the creation of her new progressive (and delicious) baking company, Grassroots Gourmet (ring a bell? I did a little photo shoot and blog post about GG back in December)... And Rebecca is the executive director of the National Coalition for LGBT Health and we participated in the Jewish Funds for Justice Selah Program (meaning we learned how to mesh and take vision stands and change the world) together. I think very highly of both Sara and Rebecca and was honored to share the stage with them. Nice work, kids!

We're All WINners
One other thing I DID remember to discuss in my acceptance speech was how great I think WIN is (but I will just reiterate this important point one more time). I've blogged about this awesome organization before and would really encourage you to join if you haven't already (thas is, if you're pro-choice, living in DC, a Democrat, and under 35... and if you're not, I'm impressed that you read this blog and apologize if I've offended you in the past). I am a big proponent of mentoring young women as they arrive in DC to pursue a career in the progressive non-profit community (sort of like future actors arriving in LA to be movie stars...but significantly less glamorous) and love that WIN provides such an excellent platform to do this. We've all been new once, so let's make it less scary for people who want to do good work on issues we care about.

...and to see what I actually said, check out this most excellent video shot by Alex M....

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Neil S. Guide to Life

Remember the time I told you I was going to Florida to thaw out after DC's mammoth snow storms? Well, my flight got canceled. So I am not in Florida (but I did threaten to wear a bathing suit to all my weekend events and pretend I am frolicking on the beach).

I was supposed to be vacationing with friends Beth K. and Neil S. to celebrate Neil's birthday. So, if we can't be sunning ourselves next to the pool, the next best way to celebrate Neil's birth is with a Neil S. Guide to Life (similar to the Peter G. Guide to Life I created for Father's Day) here on W&CP.

If you haven't read the Peter G. Guide to Life, I suggest you do. It is one of my favorite posts but I am slightly concerned that we will be in a "you can never go home again" type of situation with this post (read: can a second guide to life be as good as the first one?). If anyone can inspire an excellent blog post, though, it is Neil S. So, here we go...

Social Media
The Neil S. Guide to Life encourages the use of social media in a tasteful way.

• When channeling Neil, consider selecting a few topics that are close to your heart and post related articles with links to your public profiles.
• When major world events happen, a video should be created featuring interviews with those around you.
• In an effort to stay on top of upcoming social media trends, one should occasionally visit the Google Lab and read related articles in major publications (including your roommate's thesis about Facebook).
• Purchase the URL corresponding to your name so you can control your online presence and properly manage your personal brand.
• For examples of best practices, visit Neil's Twitter feed, Facebook profile, and blog (Striving for Successful Days).

Technology
According to Neil's mom, when Neil was a little boy, his "favorite Fisher Price toy was a crude, even by late 80's standards, computer which he pronounced omputer." Today, technology still plays a significant role in the Neil S. way of life.

• If there is an opportunity to simplify something in your life using technology, the Neil S. way of life says "go for it!"
• When in doubt, buy Apple products. Subscribe to Apple eNews to stay up to date on trends.
• Because one should buy few, but high quality and dependable technology items, it is acceptable to purchase a new item as soon as it is released (after it has been well researched, of course). This is especially true for the new iPhone with upgraded storage capabilities.
• If you are in a situation where the purchase of a large technology item (HD video camera, for example) is not possible, consider taking one out on a loan from the library at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Dress
Practicality, comfort, and durability are important factors in Neil S. costuming choices.

• For most professional situations, a khaki pant and button down shirt are good staples.
• The Land's End line of "no iron" products are a standard go to for busy days filled with classes, teaching, meals with friends, and other activities.
• Land's End is also the go-to source for outerwear. When transitioning from one climate to another, one should fully embrace the need for warm clothing and purchase several coats and jackets on the shop's website.
• When getting dressed in the morning, channel the Neil S. way of life and remember this mantra: the socks should match the pants; the belt should match the shoes. This means that when wearing a khaki pant, one should wear a khaki colored sock. If a brown shoe is selected, a brown belt is a must.

Vernacular
The hallmark of the Neil S. vernacular is positivity. In most cases, a cheerful approach to life influences the word choice and tone one should use.

• If you're looking to channel the Neil S. way of life, wish someone a "successful day" as opposed to a "good day." This is also an applicable closing when recording outgoing voicemail messages.
• Whenever possible, use the word "whatnots" as opposed to "other things" or "et cetera" The word "whatnots" can also be used to describe several small appetizers.
• While in situations when plans are being made or logistics are being discussed, consider saying "yofi" in place of "sounds good" or "works for me!" The literal translation of this Hebrew expression is great or fantastic and is a nod to Neil's interest in Judaism and Jewish culture.

Cuisine
Products from California and other delicious whatnots are central themes in the Neil S. Guide to Life: Kitchen Edition.

• One should attempt to support the California economy while enjoying produce grown in the the Golden State. This is especially true of avocados.
• When in California, several local delicacies should be heavily featured on all menus including the date shake and El Pollo Loco.
• Efficiency and variety are important themes when selecting a grocery store in Neil world. Thus, Costco and Trader Joe's are two favorites. (Don't forget to try the TJ's brand almond butter and whipped honey spread.)
• Dessert for Neil S. is simple: Costco apple pie or frozen yogurt (from Toppings or Mr. Yogato). When possible, one should fully engage in all forms of shtick around a frozen yogurt store and steer clear of Costco carrot cake.
• Lunches should be packed with the proper gear. An insulated lunch bag (with "Mr. S." written on it in sharpie marker), Campus Entrepreneurs water bottle, and sandwich sized Tupperware are critical for proper food preservation and transportation.
• The proper item for a quick after school pick me up (or sideline snack) is an "orange smile."

Important TopicsThe Neil S. way of life encourages varied interests and a full and in depth purist of social justice.

• Consider subscribing to the NASA e-mail alerts to stay on top of all things happening in the world of space exploration.
• One should devote his or her life to the bettering the world. Neil S. has personally endorsed Teach for America as a primary way to expose education inequality and help to close the achievement gap, but many forms of world repair are acceptable in the Neil S. Guide to Life. No matter the cause you choose, strategically purchase branded items (such as a baby onesie) to not only support the organization you care about, but educate others about it too.
• Embrace institutions of higher education (Neil's love of UCSD's John Muir College is obvious in any conversation) and become active in their alumni communities. Purchase and don branded paraphernalia in a moderate way.
• In addition to the above pursuits, Neil's time is also spent conserving precious environmental resources (take Neil's lead and carry a reusable bag with you, change your light bulbs to compact florescent bulbs).

So, Neil fans, there you have it. There is so much more to our lively friend from the Left coast...so I hope you'll leave other Neil S. Guide to Life tips in the comments section of this post.

Happy 26th Neil! I'm honored to be your friend.

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One Day, Two Cities, Lots of Lox

....or, Winter Picnic: Part 4 (tales from my jaunt up the East Coast)

January 24, 2010 was very close to the most perfect day.

Yes, the day did include some not so glamorous aspects (I spent about four hours on a bus that sort of smelled like cheese...and I schlepped a laptop, camera, two lenses, and a suit case lots of blocks) but the events that occurred on either end of my bus jaunt made the day really fabulous. Here's the play by play:

8:15 AM
Wake up in Cara F.'s adorable upper west side apartment (complete with polka dotted floor mat and bright yellow bathroom).

9:00 AM
Leave Cara's apartment and walk several blocks in the most adorable Upper West Side neighborhood. Pretend not to be a tourist.

9:15 AM
Arrive at Barney Greengrass. Become embarrassed because of my large suitcase and the fact that I am several minutes late to meet Carolyn G. and Jonathan H.

9:17 AM
Sit down in the Barney Greengrass dining room and bask in the joy that is fresh OJ, whitefish salad, and conversation with two of my favorite people.

11:13 AM
Quick stop at Levain.

12:09 PM
Arrive at the Bolt Bus pick-up spot. Spot another curly headed familiar looking person. Strike up a conversation and discover mutual friends Neil S. and Jill S.

12:33 PM
Fall asleep on the bus to Boston.

4:32 PM
Dena and Jay S. arrive to pick me up at the bus station. We drive to their cute house in Brookline and take lots of photos.

6:45 PM
Take a photo shoot break and eat delicious cookies Dena has just baked.

7:13 PM
Walk from Dena and Jay's house to Zaftigs. Loudly mention former employee Abbey O.'s name so waitress knows I'm in with the in crowd.

7:15 PM
Place order for the "Zaftigs sampler" and a bowl of matzah ball soup. Come to the realization that I have just completed the almost perfect day: two iconic Jewish food establishments in two different cities on the same day.

That's right. I woke up in New York and had brunch at Barney Greengerass... then went to sleep in Boston having just eaten dinner at Zaftigs. I am quite proud of myself for accomplishing this personal celebration of Ashkenazi cuisine in less than 12 hours. In case you try to do the same thing (or perhaps dine at either one of the establishments mentioned above), here are my thoughts.

Barney Greengrass
Levain is to cookies as Barney Greengrass is to smoked fish.

You heard me. I just put something in the same category as Levain. BG is just the best. I remember the first time I went there with Jonathan H. and Erica F. (her last name contains the word fish which just made the whole experience even richer). The service is bad and there's usually a wait. The prices are steep and the selection is limited...

But what they do serve is fantastic. They do a few things, and they do them VERY well.

I usually get a toasted sesame seed bagel with whitefish salad and orange juice and consider this basically the perfect breakfast.


A few more interesting facts about BG:

• My grandparents went to Hebrew school around the corner (they were both students there at the same time but didn't know each other).
  
• Once, Cara F. was dining at BG and saw Matt Damon at the next table.
• Although I don't believe hype and celebrity equal excellent smoked fish, the fact that Yov've Got Mail and Revolutionary Road both included scenes filmed inside BG proves what a New York icon it really is.
• It is possible that Barney Greengrass requires its own blog post...and when I have the correct words to thoroughly describe this Upper West Side palace of smoked fish, I will.
  
• After Elissa F. completed her rabbinical school interview, I had two dozen Barney Greengrass ruggelach overnighted to her office. For this, she proclaimed me "the greatest friend of all time."
  

Zaftigs
So, I had never been to Zaftigs until I was in Boston in September for Abbey and Oded's wedding. We stopped in but didn't have time to stay so I got a black and white cookie to go. It was fine, but not blog worthy. Then...I went back with Dena and Jay S., and Katie R. and actually had a meal. It was delicious. Not really in the same category as Barney Greengrass, but delicious in its own way.

We started with the Zaftigs sampler. What a good idea, Zaftigs! It is a plate composed of all the things you want to get when at a Jewishy food establishment but can't really cobble together into a socially acceptable meal: a cheese blintz, one potato latke, a potato knish, and a piece kugel. We split this plate of Jewish culture and it was really fantastic.

I ordered matzah ball soup as my entree and it was warm and flavorful with big pieces of carrot (one of the most important parts). Dena ordered something with potato latkes and lox which I tasted and it was excellent (how could you go wrong with that?). Although he didn't order this when we were together, Jay's usual dish at Zaftigs is "The Lupo" which consists of hot brisket layered between two latkes (!) with vegetable gravy and horseradish. If he had ordered that, I can only imagine the photo possibilities.


A few other important Zaftigs related points:

• A cute aspect of Zaftigs is the funny t-shirts that all the waiters wear ("Got latke?" or "Happy Challahdays").
  
• I am slightly bothered by the fact that there is no apostrophe in the name. Shouldn't it be Zaftig's?
• In Yiddush, ˈZäf-tig, ˈzȯf- means voluptuous.
• Abbey O. used to work at Zaftigs before she moved to Israel. This, by definition, makes it cool.
• According to Suburban Sweetheart, the french toast she consumed at Zaftigs was the best french toast she ate in 2009.
  

So, there you have it. I am unsure if this feat of Ashkenazi culinary excellence has ever been accomplished, but if it has I'd love to meet the participants and compare notes. I think I will make an effort to feature more Jewish food establishments here on W&CP. Nothing says wild and crazy like the pursuit of excellent bagels, lox, whitefish salad, and ruggelach.

Next up, Potomac's Celebrity Deli?

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Bakery Touring: Tips for Success

....or Winter Picnic: Part 3 (Tales from my jaunt up the East Coast)

So I guess, by now, you are well aware of the fact that I love bakeries. I used to work in one and find myself drawn to the quaint and happy nature of little shops that produce sweet and delicious items in a cheerful way.

During my trip to New York, I visited four bakeries and one candy store all in the span of four hours (impressive, I know). Here are my trips for bakery touring endurance:

1) Stay well hydrated. Consider carrying a bottle of water with you and refill it at every stop.
2) Consider glittens (gloves+mittens). It is hard to eat a cupcake (or navigate on your iPhone) with gloves on when it is almost freezing in windy NYC.
3) Share one classic purchase at each destination with your bakery enthusiast friends. (I shared with Cara F., Julia S., and Gwen L.).
4) Don't waste space in your stomach on an item that is not the specialty of the shop. Buy what they're known for in traditional flavors.
5) Wear sensible shoes (cowboy boots, obv).

I can't really imagine a better way to spend the day... Here's the recap.


Doughnut Plant
It was my GW friends Katie R. and Carolyn G. that first told me about the Doughtnut Plant. And apparently the day we were there, the shop was also featured on a Travel Channel show.

Doughnut Plant is located on the Lower East Side and is tiny inside. We waited in a line about 15 minutes long, but it was well worth it. Although the hype about DP got my hopes up REALLY high, I thought it was a really fun experience and the doughnuts we sampled were scrumptious.

I tried the crème brûlée doughnut (which had a caramelized sugar top just like real crème brûlée). It was filled with a vanilla creme that was obviously made with real vanilla beans (I could see the vanilla specks suspended in the cream). The other doughnut we got was a classic chocolate. According to Carolyn, we should have gotten the Tres Leches (and I am still unsure why we didn't). I got to meet and chat with the owner for a few minutes after we completed our purchase which was fun. He was fabulous and enthusiastic (my kind of doughnut man).

My favorite part of the DP experience was hopping up on the fake doughnut covered counter with Julia S. by my side to snap a few last photos inside the shop.


Sugar Sweet Sunshine
Could I be happier about a bakery featuring alliteration in the name? I don't think so.

As soon as Cara F. told me I "had to try" Sugar Sweet Sunshine, I knew it would be part of our bakery tour. I trust any recommendation Cara F. makes--her suggestions are well researched and thorough. Have we talked about Cara? She is the best. I know her because she was a SYRF activist while she was still in college then worked with Elissa F. and others for a few years post-college. Although I am sad she is no longer my DuPont neighbor, she has an adorable and fabulous apartment in NYC and makes excellent cupcake suggestions. So, because Cara said so, we walked a few blocks from the Doughnut Plant to this tiny, retro, brightly colored bakery also located on the Lower East Side.

The cupcake I had there was really chocolaty. Not just chocolate like a cloyingly sweet chocolate, but a really solid and deep chocolate taste. I was thoroughly impressed but wished the cupcake would have been a bit more room temperature (if I learned nothing else from my CakeLove days, it is that baked goods always taste best when served at room temp).


Economy Candy
Okay, not so much of a bakery, but a sweet stop on our sugar tour.

I had actually heard about EC when Julia S. used to live in the apartment above it (imagine that). Do you know how amazing Julia S. is? She is actually one of my Flickr inspirations and I love discovering her new photo posts. I distinctly recall the discovery of her Economy Candy photos (WARNING: when you click through to Julia's Flickr feed you will get lost in her beautiful images and come up for air in about three hours. You can thank me later.)

Economy Candy is somewhere I would like to go for a full fledged photo shoot. Perhaps a backdrop for a completely unrelated shoot (an engagement shoot, perhaps?). The best part is OBVIOUSLY the wall of M&Ms you can buy in large quantities in custom color combinations.


Levain Bakery
The third stop on the tour was the Levain Bakery (FULL DISCLOSURE: As soon as I got off the bus in NYC on Friday, I went to Levain... But I also met a friend there on Saturday so I am comfortable featuring it in this post). We've talked about Levain before and since then, I have been featured on the shop's blog and have sent several visitors to NY to this famous cookie nook on the Upper West Side (including Jessica T.'s mom! Hi Robin T.!).

I recently learned that Levain was rated as the "#2 cookie in New York City" by Serious Eats New York (thanks Mat S.) which makes me want to protest use of the internet for the next ten years until this tragic mistake is worked out... but we both know that will ever happen. So my plan B is to preach the gospel that is the BEST cookie I've eaten to date and hope Serious Eats gets the message. (One more FULL DISCLOSURE moment: I have never even heard of the place they attest to being the best, but based on the photos I am not impressed.)


Crumbs
So, three bakeries and one candy shop later, you can imagine I was dragging a bit (I was actually really ready for a non-food activity by this point but New York is cold and I needed somewhere quick to meet a friend). I was waiting to meet my friend Alex B., former GW classmate and fan of Façonnable shirts, and remembered Crumbs around the corner from Levain.

I always hear people talking about Crumbs as a great destination for cupcakes in the Big Apple but I have never understood the hype. Firstly, the cupcakes are gigantic (and when you spend your day touring other bakeries, you need a gigantic cupcake "like you need a hole in the head," as my dad would say). Secondly, the time I did purchase one, it was dry. Thirdly, the flavors are just too much. I don't need an apple pie flavored cupcake, I'd prefer a delicious piece of apple pie. (I know this conflicts my doughnut flavor selection outlined above, but the Doughnut Plant can do whatever it wants because its doughnuts are just so delicious.)

So, we opted for branded bottles of water and chatted about Alex's life in the big city. While we were in the shop, another group of cupcake fans from New Jersey asked me to take their photo. After doing so, I wrote the name and address of Levain on a slip of paper and passed it to them. Was this awkward? Yes. And probably not a very nice thing to do to the owners of Crumbs. But my new-found bakery buddies were so close to cookie heaven, I felt it would have been irresponsible to leave them in the dark.


...And this giant photo of Alex B. and a well branded bottle of Crumbs water concludes my recap of my New York bakery tour. A big thanks to Cara F. for your bakery related enthusiasm and to Julia S. for making sure I was properly documented during our jaunt. Stay tuned for the next installments in my Winter Picnic series: one day, two cities and two iconic Jewish food establishments.

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Snow Induced Vacation

As I write this, Washington is being blanketed with yet another sizable layer of snow (and in case you were wondering, my street has yet to be plowed). We're going on day six of no school, no work (with the exception of a few work related conference calls and e-mails), and snow related fun all the time (including a snow photo shoot, a Korean food outing, and lots of online shopping.) It is possible that I am now fully vitamin D deficient due to the limited time outdoors, but I am thoroughly enjoying many of the other effects that this impromptu snow vacation has provided.

All My Chickens
My native Washingtonian status comes into play once again: I am used to people coming to DC and then moving away only a few short years later. This is where my informal two year rule comes in handy--if you can't commit to staying in the area for two or more years, I am going to think twice before forging a new friendship with you. NOTE: some exceptions are made, especially for people who are really cool, like to go to sleep early, don't mind doing the dishes after I cook, and/or dislike coffee.

The great thing about the snow is that nobody can go anywhere! So, even if for a few days, my dislike of folks leaving the city I love is put aside and I can bask in the joy of having so many people I like spending time with all within three square blocks of my apartment...physically unable to leave. I understand that this makes me sound like a crazy person (is this one of those times that I shouldn't share information like this on my blog?), but I am still embracing the fact that all my DC chickens in their DuPont nests.

Office of Personnel Management
This brings me to the second occurrence I am loving about the snow: every night around 6:30 or so, there is a flurry (pun intended) of activity involving laptops, iPhones (no, I still don't have one), and the local news. Will the government be open? Read: we will have to go to work tomorrow? Theories are presented ("Delayed opening?" "If DC schools are closed, will government do the same?"), text messages are exchanged ("I bet the staff meeting will be held by conference call..." "Even if the office closes, I still have to go in.") and we try to make sense of a system well beyond our control about a decision that so greatly impacts the next 24 hours of our lives.


Last night's guessing game was had around two tables in my apartment: one with puzzle pieces scattered on top of it and several friends crouched around the perimeter scouring the pile for edge pieces. The second covered in sugar cookies and brightly colored bags of royal icing for decorating. I'm sure you know where I was situated.

And the news? The federal government is closed (again) today! My 10:00 AM conference call still happened--and I took it in my pajamas.

Bake up a Storm (...or, Bake up a Blizzard to be alliterative)
Yesterday's baking fiesta included Martha Stewart's "ideal" sugar cookies and the famous Dena S.'s classic chocolate chip cookies.

For the sugar cookies, follow Martha's recipe. Don't gloss over the part where she tells you to chill the dough before cutting and baking it. This is the ONLY way to get sharp edges to the cookies and help them keep their shape (very important for decorating). Also, she is lying when she says the royal icing is optional. I see the sugar cookies as the blank canvass for decorating so don't skip that part either.


You may remember Dena from the photo shoot I did of her and her husband in Brookline a few weeks ago. Remember the cookies at the end of the shoot? Well, I tested out the recipe last night and they were GOOD. My recipe notes are in italics, Dena's are in bold.

1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract *I also used almond extract, as I usually do when recipes call only for vanilla
3 cups (12 oz) all-purpose flour *If at all possible, please weigh the flour. *I used a bit more than three cups to end up with a denser cookie that didn't spread very far on the pan.
1 tsp. smallish-medium coarse sea salt *Please do not use table salt, the sea salt gives the cookies a nice flavor and hints of texture.
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 cups/16 oz of semi-sweet chocolate chips *I use Nestle Toll-House *I used Ghirardelli chocolate, 1/2 semi-sweet and 1/2 milk chocolate

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 360 degrees. Cream butter, sugar, and brown sugar until it is nice and fluffy (approx. 5 minutes on medium speed). Add both eggs and vanilla and beat for an additional 2 minutes. Add baking soda, baking powder, salt, and flour until cookie batter is fully incorporated. Finally add chocolate chips until well distributed. The cookie batter should be somewhat thick. Drop about 2 tablespoons of dough or use a medium cookie scoop and plop the batter onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (I used a ice cream scoop filled 3/4 of the way full and aluminum foil as I was out of parchment.) Bake for 12-14 minutes until the edges are nice and golden brown. Remove from heat and allow the cookies to stay on the cookie sheet for an additional 2 minutes. Pick up the parchment paper with the cookies still on top and transfer to a cool non-porous surface. Allow the cookies to cool on the paper for at least 3 minutes before serving.

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Excellent Kick

It is likely that you've heard about the big snow storm that hit Washington in the last 48 hours.

And in case you didn't, just flip on the news and watch for about 30 seconds and you'll get the full picture...and then you'll consider moving to a cave somewhere in a warmer climate to avoid snow ever again. (I'm going to Florida to thaw out and lounge on the beach wearing my 1950s inspired black and white polka dot bathing suit next weekend.)

My blizzard preparations involved:

• A trip to Whole Foods (that actually closed for a period of time while I was there because the number of people in the store was violating fire codes) to buy ingredients to make homemade macaroni and cheese
  
• The acquisition of several rolls of quarters so I could do laundry when stuck at home all weekend
• A quick conversation with my sister to develop a contingency plan regarding Olivia's birthday celebrations if we couldn't be together in person (we opted to sing Happy Birthday over Skype)

What I did not prepare for was a visit from my friends Meredith S.H. and Adam G.! You have heard about Adam and Mer before (Meredith is the daughter of my dad's bizzaro world Midwestern twin and is one of my best friends from my home away from home state of Minnesota) and they are two of my very favorite people.

Around 1:30, I got a call from Mer telling me to look out my window. And there they were--clad in full Nordic ski wear (Mer was on the Nordic ski team in high school) standing in the middle of my street. So I invited them up for mac and cheese. So far, not so unusual (except for the skiing around DC part, but it is Adam and Mer so I didn't think anything of it).


This is where the unusual part comes in... Have I ever told you about my roommates? Abra L.W. and Jon F.? Well, they were both writers for one of America's most esteemed college newspapers, The Justice, at Brandeis University. Today, in addition to making me laugh, wearing hooded sweatshirts, and challenging me to games of Cranium, Jon is a writer for the Washington City Paper (I'm sure it was tough to transition from writing for The Justice but he seems to have made the switch quite successfully).

So as Mer and Adam and I were playing the apartment and recapping their morning of skiing around the District, Jon decided to interview them for a City Paper article, "Snowpocalypse Skiing Conditions: Excellent Kick, Great Glide." I think my favorite part of the experience was Adam's use of his Garcia messaging training (he laid out his comments in three points). The resulting article is quite fabulous (especially my photo credit).

In addition to the ski adventure being captured on the City Desk Blog, Mer and Adam also created a video (featuring me, playing the role of "BFF") of their day snow exploring. I love how free time due to a snow storm really allows us to let our creative documentarian abilities loose.

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Blizzard Birthday

Dearest Livvy,

Today is your first birthday! Mother Nature decided to celebrate by creating the biggest snow storm anyone in Washington has ever seen, and frankly, I think something this dramatic, beautiful, and exciting is a perfect way to celebrate you and the first year of your dramatic, beautiful, and exciting life.

I remember when your Aunt Rebecca called me at work to tell me "it was time." (It seems like maybe a few months ago, but in no way an entire year ago!) We had been on the phone talking about several other things only moments before...then my phone rang again and I knew it. You were on your way and I couldn't wait to meet you! I left my office (after giving out the pink bubble gum "it's a girl" cigars to all my colleagues) and hopped into a cab. I needed to head home before going to the hospital to grab my camera (obviously!) and lenses and a more comfortable pair of shoes. No way was I going to welcome you into the world without happy feet.

We got to the hospital, checked in on your Mom and Dad...and then we waited. I befriended the other people in the waiting room (who were expecting the arrival of their second grandchild, a little boy).


Once we learned he had been delivered, we knew you were well on your way to arrival and we felt like we couldn't wait any longer. I tried to pass the time by recording funny videos of Aunt Rebecca.

Then, in the middle of what was maybe my 15th recording of the day, we got the news! Here's what the video looks like:


I think my favorite part of the video is the place where I tell Auntie Reb to "keep it on" so we could capture all of the moments of your arrival on camera.

We heard from the doctor that you were healthy and fabulous (I already knew you would be) and then we waited a little longer to finally meet you. We were so excited that you had arrived after nine months of waiting, we forgot to even ask your parents what they had decided to name you! When we found out, this is what Auntie Reb wrote about your name:

My little niece Olivia Abigail R. was born on Friday, February 6 under the (almost) full moon at 4:57pm - she weighs 8 lbs. and 5 ounces and is beautiful and warm and soft and perfect. Her name means "olive tree" and her middle name is after my strong and loving grandpa, Abraham.

I love watching you grow and learn and am so proud of you everyday! Here is a little recap of the last 12 months in photos:

February
You are born! We get to know you, learn about you, wrap you up in very tight bundles, and love you. We celebrated your first Valentine's Day with Great Grandma Gladys together!


March
We took a trip to cousin Matt's Bar Mitzvah in New York and you got to meet other members of our family. You fell asleep on me during the reception and I have never been happier. We also officially gave you your Hebrew name during your naming ceremony and unveiled new lyrics to a song Grandpa Peter and Grandma Lois wrote about you, "Liv Liv the Lima Bean."


April
You got to meet lots of my friends, and one of my favorite photos of the two of us was taken! We also organized your first official photo shoot against a soft and fuzzy purple blanket and I was very proud of the results.


May
We celebrated MY birthday together (thanks for coming to the Crafternoon, by the way) and you got to meet Great Grandma Edith. We took a picture of all four generations together (I know Gram shows it off to all her bridge friends--she is so proud of you).


June
We celebrated your Dad's first Father's Day and took photos of our entire family by my apartment. You were such a good sport that day (and even color coordinated your outfit to the larger color scheme).


July
I spent an entire day with you and documented your first experience with solid food (squash)! You swam in the pool and showed off your stylish bathing suit and excellent swimming skills.


August
We went on vacation to West Virginia together and perfected the "NASA game" from Auntie Reb's arms into your Mom's hands.


September
You learned how to sit up on your own which created several new photo possibilities! I came over to document this development and remember leaving and thinking how quickly you were growing and how proud I was to be your aunt...


October
You hosted a party for all your baby friends for Halloween (which I sadly had to miss because I was recovering from Swine Flu) but it was well documented over on your friend Aerin B.'s blog. (That's you in the lobster costume, which I bought for you as soon as you were born.)


November
Your first Thanksgiving! I took one of my most favorite photos of you during this gathering.


December
We celebrated Chanukkah together (in yet another snow storm) and Auntie Reb gave you a children's membership to the Nantucket Historical Association. I gave you Chanukkah finger puppets and a wooden menorah.


January
We spent New Year's Day together and took tons and tons of pretty photos. You showed me your new found ability to clap and we played peak-a-boo.


February
Here we are, a full 12 months later. I look forward to celebrating with you and cheering you on as you continue to grow and explore (not to mention being there to photograph you every step of the way).

Love,
Auntie Em

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On Location...in Brookline

...or, Winter Picnic: Part 2

Before I got on the Bolt Bus in DC to make my way to New York and Boston, I put a little shout out on Facebook letting my friends to the North that I would be in their cities! I am so glad I did because I received the nicest note from my friend Dena S.:

I am very excited for you to come to Boston and for my fair city to be featured in your blog. Before anything else, let me get something out of the way...I would like to profess basically my obsession with your photography. I cannot say enough how constantly impressed I am with all of the pictures you put up on your blog and Flickr. If you don't hear that from me often it is just because I don't to seem too stalkerish but I seriously tell Elissa all the time what awesome talent I think you have and you are definitely my favorite photographer there is.

I have even shown Jay many of your pictures you have put online and said to him how much I would love if some day there was an opportunity that we could get you to take our picture. That said, and feel free to say NO, but I wanted to ask if when you are here you would be willing to take some pictures of me and Jay? Not even like a real photo shoot, but just a few pictures would be so amazing? PLEASE do not hesitate to say you don't have enough time or you are not up for this! I will totally understand. I wasn't sure even if I should ask you but I checked with Elissa and she said I should at least ask.

I was so flattered when I saw Dena's e-mail--I remember forwarding it all around to all my friends because I was honored to have a photography stalker from afar. THANKS DENA!

So, needless to say, I jumped at the chance to photograph such willing subjects. Dena and her lovely husband, Jay (who was mentions in the e-mail), picked me up at the bus when I arrived in Boston and we headed to their adorable apartment in Brookline. By the time I got to Beantown, the sun was setting so outside shots were tough...but I am very pleased with the results of our time together.






At the end of the shoot, we were waiting for the photos to upload, and Dena revealed some of the most delicious chocolate chip cookies she had just baked (this is the second time I was photographing something and the subjects prepared cookies for us to snack on--amazing)! So, we decided to play around with a few photos in the kitchen too. I love how they came out.


And when the shoot was over, we met up with Katie R. (formerly Katie P.) at Zaftig's! Stay tuned for a blog post about my food adventures while in the land of the Red Sox.

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