Carry On (local food delicacies) Wayward Son

Dearest Cadbury Creme Egg cupcakes,

I have been blogging for a good while at this point, and have to say that I still enjoy writing about random things here on W&CP just as much as the day I first launched the blog. In fact, I have so many possible topics I want to blog about (curly hair care, Peeps family day at the Washington Post and my love of Easter candy, Meredith and Adam's winter photo shoot, Michele's Granola, and so much more) and am just to grateful that people take the time to actually read and comment on the posts I write.

One of my favorite things about writing a blog is the conversations I have with people in real life about the posts. Aside from feeding the truly extroverted nature of my personality and affirming that I actually write about things people care about, my MOST favorite part of writing a blog is when people bring me food from other cities that they 1) think I will enjoy 2) have read about here and know I can't get in DC. In the last few weeks, there have been three different instances of this happening and I am just so grateful to the W&CP fans who risked getting syrup confiscated by the TSA, made room in suitcasea for cookies, and packaged hamantaschen for easy transport, all in the name of making me, your local food loving friend, happy!

I Got Carded for a Hamantaschen
The recent wave of food transport/delivery started with an e-mail from Becca Y.:

Also, as a side note, unrelated, but very important--the hamantashen at the Rockville JCC are beyond delicious in a way that I cannot even describe. I'm not sure how they get them so good, but calling them tasty doesn't even do them justice. Put that on your DC metro area foodie radar :)

And with that, I was determined to get my hands on one (wouldn't you, especially after that type of endorsement?). I had heard from several other friends who work in Rockville (perhaps a silver lining to working in Rockville is access to these hamantaschen?) that they were unmatched and knew I needed to try one. I heard conflicting reports that they were shipped in from New York... or baked locally in the hamantaschen mecca that is Montgomery County.

After a bit of research and the assistance of Becca's friend Beth M., I determined that the hamantaschen were, in fact, baked at Shalom's Kosher Market in Wheaton, MD. And it gets better: they are also available YEAR ROUND. So, I changed my Facebook status to something bribing my Montgomery County frequenting friends to bring me a poppy hamantashen from Shalom's (the prize: a handsome blog shout out). I figured it would take a few weeks and a good amount of nagging to get my personal delivery of this Purim delicacy. But no... I received a text message from Becca a mere 24 hours later letting me know she had transported a triangular pastry worthy of W&CP fame from Wheaton.

I swung by Becca's apartment building the next morning to pick it up from the front desk. I saw a little Whole Foods bag with my name on it behind the front desk--but the person staffing the front desk must have known about the precious nature of what was inside the bag because he carded me (!) to ensure I wasn't trying to steal Shalom's hamantaschen that were not intended for me. Thanks for keeping the hamantaschen safe, buddy.

So the moment of truth came when I actually got to taste the poppy hamantaschen (I don't bother with the other flavors, they're a waste of time in my opinion) from Shalom's, and it lived up to Becca's endorsement. The pastry was flaky but firm, the filling was sweet but not cloying. Nice work, Shalom's! And thanks to Becca and Beth for exposing me to what just may be the best Purim themed pastry in all of the DC metro area.


(NOTE: I also really really love the poppy hamantaschen from Bagel City in Rockville, they come in as a close second to the Shalom's variety.)

Moment of Cookie Self Actualization
The next occurrence in this string of food related deliveries came in the form of one Julie F., a large tupperware container, and our photography class.

We've discussed the Levain Bakery before. They are located on the Upper West Side and produce the BEST cookies I have ever eaten. I will defend Levain's status as the best cookie ever to anyone who challenges this (truth is, the cookies speak for themselves, but since there are only two places to get Levain cookies and they are both in New York, I sadly come into contact with people who have never been exposed to this baked good delicacy on a regular basis).

Good thing Julie F. had recently spent a few days in New York and made room in her suitcase to bring a tupperware full of Levain Bakery cookies to DC, which she then schlepped to our photography class. Julie had not been to Levain until her recent trip, but has been hearing me talk about them on an almost daily basis for five years, and quickly bought into the Levain way of life as soon as she set foot into their tiny shop at 74th and Amsterdam.

We snacked on the chocolate/peanut butter variety as we walked down the street on our way home. This moment was one of my favorite moments. Amy B. was there, it wasn't too cold, we had just learned how to adjust the white balance on our cameras, and all was well in the world. A moment of cookie self actualization, if you will.


I also need to mention several other instances of Levain cookie presence in DC. The first came about a year ago when Jonathan H. sent a cookie home for me with Rachel H. who promptly delivered it to my apartment as soon as she got off the bus in DC. We videotaped the delivery. My very skilled niece, Olivia, once sent a box of cookies after a trip we took together to thank me for being her babysitter (she is very advanced, and has excellent manners). My former office mate, Sara F., reached platinum friend status when she brought several cookies back to DC from NY and shared them with our whole office (I don't think I would have been as generous). The next instance occured just a few weeks ago when we celebrated Julie's 27th birthday (welcome to your "late 20s," Foolie) with a chocolate/peanut butter themed bake-off. Neil S. contributed a box of Levain goodness and really stole the show. (Actually, he won for the category "Best Chocolate/Peanut Butter Baked Good Featured on Oprah.")

The most recent instance occurred last Wednesday. I do lots of online shopping so it is not rare for me to arrive home to a box or two outside my once in a while. So when I came home from work and saw two brown shipping boxes propped up outside my door I wasn't surprised. When I examined one a little more closely, I knew immediately that it was a Levain cookie shipment (I have received this amazing gift once or twice before and can recognize the signature packing tape and shape of the box from afar). As I opened the box, I saw a delightful card from one Cara F. wishing me good luck on my new job. Basically, the best present, EVER. Way to go, Cara F.

Syrup Smuggler
The third (and possibly most amazing) chapter in this recent rash of food delicacy deliveries took place at the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) conference in DC two weeks ago. This story makes most sense if I back up a few weeks so bear with me as I set it up.

February 23 is National Pancake Day. In observance of this important holy day, I decided to celebrate by tweeting about my favorite pancakery, Pamela's, in Pittsburgh. (You've never seen me blog about Pam's since I haven't visited since I've been a blogger, but I just planned a trip for September so sit tight and prepare yourself for a full blog review then.) Around National Pancake Day, I had recently become Twitter friends with one of the NCJW volunteers, Christine S., who lives in Pittsburgh (oh, the wonders of the interweb, we connected through Elissa F.'s lively twitter feed and decided to become online friends). So, Christine S. spotted my tweet about Pam's and volunteered to bring some with her to DC when she came for the NCJW conference. I obviously thought she was kidding.

As the conference approached, Christine featured several Twitter messages about her preparations to bring the pancakes from the 'Burgh to DC:



Mind you, we'd never met and based on her Twitter feed, I knew she was very busy with a full time job, two daughters, and being a fabulous NCJW volunteer. I couldn't believe she was actually going through with the delivery, but at the same time I really hoped she would since Pamela's pancakes are just so delicious.

So the day before the conference arrived, and Christine notified me by Twitter that the syrup had been confiscated by the TSA but the pancakes made it through security. I began to get a little nervous that I wouldn't be able to properly thank Christine for all the trouble she had gone to... then Elissa told me the two of us were really similar and she would just be excited to see my enthusiastic reaction.

I told all the NCJW ladies that I was on my way to find Christine S. as I traipsed around the Omni Shoreham to connect with my long lost pancake delivering friend (after speaking on a panel about interfaith organizing for sex education funding). Then I spotted Christine... Obviously, I had a very enthusiastic reaction... and the rest was captured by the very capable photography skills of Amy B.


The pancakes did NOT disappoint and I feel as if Christine and I are now pancake soul mates. (And how cute is Christine's statement necklace? It is from this cool website called Avelle.)

So to all of the lovely people featured in this post (and to everyone else who has thought of me while you had access to a local food delicacy), please know how much I appreciate your efforts. I promise to return the favor when I begin my French Meadow bakery salad import business from the Twin Cities to DC.

Signing off from my NEW MAC,
Wild and Crazy Pearl

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Tax Man

Every year the competition is fierce.

There are e-mails exchanged and Facebook posts written. There is strategy, careful planning, and stealth calculating involved. Numbers are crunched and money is exchanged. Both federal and local governments are involved.

This may sound different from my usual posts about cookies or a cappella because I am talking about something very, very serious: the Annual Goodstein Family Tax Competition. Yes, you heard me. In my family, there is a competition among households (there are three) to see who can file their taxes first.

And this year... I WON.

Some families may gather around the TV and cheer on a sports team together. In my family, we compete to see who can get their taxes filed first. And the prize? Bragging rights until the next year and the privilege to post a blog about your win.

This year, I was pretty sure Rebecca G. was going to win. You see, by the time my W2 arrived in the mail, Rebecca had already made her appointment with our tax man. Speaking of which, I should probably tell you about him. He is basically the best person ever.

His name is Dick Van Dehi and he works out of the H&R Block offices in Cleveland Park. Similar to my thoughts on manicurists and hair dressers, I am not endorsing just anyone at the H&R Block in CP, rather, I am endorsing Dick Van Dehi. He doesn't work by e-mail and you need to call the store pretty far in advance to make an appointment (especially if you aren't participating in the Great Goodstein Tax Race and you are, perhaps, doing your taxes now). He is thorough, dependable, trust worthy, and very patient. He never makes fun of me for asking unrelated questions ("What do you think of the font that H&R Block uses for their printed materials?" or "Have you ever had the hot chocolate at the Marvelous Market a few doors down?") and spends the summers in Maine (where he lives on a tiny island) so what is not to love?


Okay, back to the competition. So, Rebecca G. was the front runner. I even convinced Dick V. to allow me to make my appointment DIRECTLY after hers (8:00 AM and 9:00 AM, we love the morning) so I could come in as a very close second... Then I received two text messages from Reb. The first read "FYI, I had to reschedule my appointment with Dick Van Dehi." I was disappointed as I was looking forward to chatting with Reb while Dick V. crunched numbers and catching up on her recent trip to the UK. Then I received the second text, "...and this means you won the tax race this year." All disappointment melted away and I became the proud champion of this year's competition.

I will be signing autographs at the Cleveland Park H&R Block location between now and April 15.

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Guest Blog: Tovah & Save Our Saftey Net

Hi Team! You're in for a treat today. My lovely (tall and Minnesotan) friend, Tovah P. (pictured at right along with yours truly and our friend Gina E.) has prepared an extra tasty guest post for you. Tovah was mentioned in my Minnesota Mornings post and is really fabulous. (She is so great at writing inspiring notes that I have the birthday card she wrote for me last year still on my fridge. Come over for a snack one day and you can read it for yourself!) And now, here's Tovah!

Hello Wild and Crazy Pearl readers,

Emily has been kind enough to let me write a guest post for her blog -- I hope I live up to your high standards! Emily and I go back about six years when I strolled into a Voices for Choices [the pro-choice student organization that Emily started when she was a tiny wild and crazy pearlette back in 2001] meeting at The George Washington University. Little did I know that one meeting, led by Emily Goodstein, would change me from a rather reserved (well, kind of) English student to a loud, probably annoying activist. Emily got me started down the activism route, and so it is fitting that my guest post be a call to action…and here we go:

D.C. Residents –do you see your safety net falling away?

What safety net, you ask?
The safety net that is in place to protect Washington, D.C.’s low-income residents. The safety net that provides for affordable housing, adult literacy training, childcare vouchers, homeless services, disability services, protection from domestic violence, and the list goes on. The safety net that has already been cut by $100 million dollars and is at risk of being slashed even further as Mayor Fenty puts together his 2011 budget.

What if I don’t use any of those services?
My guess is that most of you Wild and Crazy Pearl readers wouldn’t ask this question, but I will suggest one reason why it doesn’t matter if you rely on social services or not. A healthy community is one where everyone is given an equal opportunity to succeed. Without vital social services like job training and assistance for the disabled, our community will not be a healthy one. What’s more, while you may not need food stamps or subsidized housing, your friends or neighbors might. Let’s all watch out for each other.

Well, what can I do?
A-ha! I thought you would never ask! I have gotten involved with a fast-paced and urgent grassroots campaign called Save Our Safety Net.

This is what SOS is proposing:

In Washington, DC, the highest tax bracket is $40,000 and above. That means those who make $40,000 and those who make $2 million are being taxed the same. SOS is proposing that the City Council create a 4th tax bracket for those who make $200,000 or more. By just taxing those people a minimal amount more (probably less than 1%), about $50 million can be generated -- that money could go a long way in ensuring our safety net programs stay intact.

What You Can Do Right Now?
Mayor Fenty will release his budget proposal to the City Council on April 1st. As he puts the finishing touches on his budget, we want to make sure he knows that his citizens are watching him and are demanding that he provide protection for crucial safety net program. Click here to sign the Save Our Safety Net petition and tell Mayor Fenty we want our safety net protected.

If you are interested in hearing more about Save Our Safety Net, want to get involved in talking to your Ward council member, or want to attend a SOS event, you can contact me at tovpent@gmail.com and I will put you in touch with the right people. Thanks for your time!

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La Casa Blanca

I have recently started using Four Square (it is a application you put on your phone and you can update your location so people can know where you are). There are some downsides of this (example: do I always want people knowing where I am? No, and you choose when to update your Four Square status--it doesn't happen automatically) and some very fabulous upsides. One of my favorite upsides is that when you go somewhere really, really extra cool and special, you can publicize your whereabouts to the world and therefore impress your friends and admirers (my #1 goal in life).

And my Four Square status update hobby came in especially handy last week when.... I went to the White House.

You may already know about my little adventure to the White House because I splashed information about my trip on every social networking site and status update opportunity I had. When you go to the White House, it is okay to brag about it a little, right? I even carried (okay, still carry) the invitation around with me in my bag so I could show the invite off to anyone I encountered who would care.


So, now that I am no longer at the White House and no longer need to pretend to stay calm, I can completely geek out (thank you for introducing me to this term, Elissa F.) in the comfort of my own wild and crazy home on the web. My White House experience was surreal, memorable, and really moving. I've outlined the highlights (although really, the whole thing was a highlight) here:

1. Mystery invite. I had no idea how I had gotten on the list for the International Women's Day reception in the East Wing. I interrogated my friends, colleagues, and posted several Twitter status updates asking if anyone knew what the story was. What a pleasant surprise when I encountered Shannon L. in line waiting to enter the White House and learned that she had added me to the invite list. I cannot thank you enough, Shannon, and hope that one day I can put you on an invite list for something half as cool as our White House shindig.

2. New friends. As I approached the specific gate where we were instructed to check-in, I befriended someone who looked as if we were going to the International Women's Day event too. The conversation went like this:

Me: Hi, I'm Emily. Looks like we're going to the same place.
Lieutenant Governor Roberts: Hi! I'm the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island, Elizabeth Roberts. Nice to meet you.

...insert back and forth regarding excitement about the fact that we were both invited to the White House and questions regarding bringing cameras inside...

Me: Have you ever been to Block Island? I was there over the summer for my friend Katie's bachelorette party and had the BEST lobster roll at Harry's Cafe! And I write a blog about adventures and delicious things I eat and wrote all about my discovery. I'll send you the link! I also love Olga's Cup and Saucer right next to the Planned Parenthood in downtown Providence.
Lieutenant Governor Roberts: Oh yes, it is a small state and we get to visit all parts, including Olga's and Block Island! I'm glad you enjoyed yourself and supported Rhode Island. It is really a great state.

Yes, that conversation really happened. And yes, it was amazing. It was so exciting to stand in line with the Lieutenant Governor Roberts on one side and the president of Wellesley college on the other (they were both lovely and we had a fun time waiting in line and chatting).

2. I had visited the White House on two past occasions... but never during a Democratic administration. Yes, that's right. I've been a resident of the DC metro area for almost 27 years and had made visits to both the Reagan and Bush White Houses. Somehow, I had missed all the Clinton years. And my visit during a White House starring a president I had actually campaigned for was so sweet...

(P.S. I tried to find photos of the Goodstein fam outing to the Reagan White House, because we both know they would have been really amazing. But according to Peter G., there were none taken. If only I had known how to operate a camera at the age of 4, there would have been photos.)

3. The food. Allow me to tell you about the really fabulous food at the White House. I was skeptical because it was made in such large quantities and based on experience, banquet food is never that delicious. But, like most things in the White House, it did not disappoint. I felt like a crazy person photographing ever last bacon stuffed new potato, but knew I would need to turn those photos into the glorious food photo collage below, and am glad I did.


The desserts were also very memorable. I have been seeing these really divine macarons all over the place (I loved Jodi's post over at Tasty Touring about 'em) and the White House is part of the trend, too. I sampled the green (possibly pistachio) and pink (most likely raspberry or strawberry) while hanging out in the East Wing.

Food blogging meets the executive branch of the government meets the coolest president in years = dream come true.

4. Then there were the touristy photos. There was a point during the reception when Shannon L., Megan E., Chai S., and I got worried that the event was going to end and we weren't going to get a chance to take photos around the White House like the huge tourists we are. So, we made the hard decision to leave the open bar and plentiful dessert trays and make our way all over the East Wing, stopping to pose ever three feet. We decided that invitations the White House are not an everyday occurrence, and we should do our best to document everything. Good thing I live my life with this motto no matter where I am... and that I brought both lenses and my external flash with me.


5. Superstar intern. So in one of my favorite types of small world moments, it happens that my sophomore year college roommate (Meredith L.) has a friend from the years she spent living in Israel who is now an intern at the White House (Sara K.). Sara also befriended one of Julie F.'s friends (Talya L.) while in Israel, just to complete the "what are the chances that everyone knows everyone else" situation.

Long story short, Talya and Meredith connected Sara with Julie F. and I and we met for dinner a few months ago. And Sara is now an intern in the White House for the department that organized the Women's Day event. It was SO exciting to see Sara at the end of the White House hallway on my way out (obviously, this fits very well with my life goal mentioned above.) See the chart above to explain the series of events. Way to go on a fabulous event, Sara!

Okay, so the best part of the whole experience? I just got a call from the White House inviting me BACK for a meeting next week! Guess they weren't put off by the number of macarons I ate...


P.S. Thanks to Shannon for this FABULOUS photo. And to Megan for using her Wellesley alum street cred and attracting Madeline Albright's attention for long enough for us to get this photo:

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Who Needs a Band?

My morning photo shoot got rescheduled because of the rain, so I am having a really lovely day at home (activities have included going back to sleep, watching Oprah on DVR, and making myself the best omelet with sharp cheddar cheese and apples). Because of my surprise free time, I also have time to tell you about one of my favorite low-cost DC activities...

Georgetown University's Cherry Tree Massacre!

I wrote about my love of the Cherry Tree Massacre (the event used to be a competition but is now more of a gathering of a cappella groups from up and down the East Coast all performing in one of Georgetown's beautiful and very ornate buildings that make you feel like you're very far from the Dean & De Luca only a few blocks away) in my 100th Willard Scott themed post... and recently made the trip up M street to attend the event once again.

During the concert, I learned one significant thing about myself: I have no ability to distinguish between people who are able to sing and people who aren't.

So, when I used to watch American Idol (in the days of Paula) and she would tell contestants they sounded "pitchy" I had no idea what she was talking about. Or when I would attend my high school's annual Blast from the Past theater production, and a friend would whisper about how great someone's voice was, I would pretend to agree but actually had no idea what they were talking about. (Side note: I just googled "Blast from the Past" and my high school's name and came up with so many fabulous YouTube results that I have been watching for the last hour. Not only do I love Saturday, but I love that my suburban high school had professional videographers documenting our theater productions which have somehow been uploaded to YouTube so nostalgic bloggers, like me, can spend a Saturday afternoon remembering what 11th grade was like as an audience member).

Okay, back to my love of a cappella and the Cherry Tree Massacre. This inability to distinguish talented performers from those who sounded pitchy came in handy because I thought every group that performed was EXCELLENT (you would too if they all sounded like professional singers to you). The friends I was with (who were born with the ability to hear when people are off key) had mixed reviews (the general consensus was that the show was just too long).

My favorite group was obviously the Tuft's University Beelzbubs. Who doesn't love the 'Bubs? They were so New England and preppy looking in their khaki pants and navy blazers. And they are so great that they were even featured on NBC's Sing Off! I loved their selection which included a medley of songs by The Who which I promptly downloaded as soon as I returned home.

We also loved the NYU group, Mass Transit. Where as the 'Bubs looked very New England, Mass Transit was costumed in all black and exuded a much more New York (read: Jewish) look but were equally as entertaining when compared to their their a cappella neighbors to the north. Several members of the group weren't able to make the trip to DC for the Cherry Tree Massacre because they were back in New York doing New York things (performing in Broadway shows)... I guess they didn't know I was in the audience and the fame that would ensure after a review of the show ends up on W&CP.

I also enjoyed the Georgetown Saxatones. They may sound just like another a cappella group (especially to me), but they are actually Georgetown's "only community service a cappella group." We're unsure if this means that they sing a cappella then do community service, or if they only perform in a community service/fundraising capacity. Either way, I loved their very millennial generation approach to singing college a cappella then helping to repair the world.


The other groups who performed were also fabulous (as we've discussed, I think all a cappella is fabulous) including UPenn Off the Beat, the UVA Belles, and the Georgetown Chimes. I can't wait to go back next year!

P.S. While "researching" this post, I discovered that there is a DOCUMENTARY being created about college a cappella. Basically, a combination of two of my favorite things. The kicker is that it is only being shown on New England cable stations, or something. So, I promise to reward you with the best blog post shout out ever if you can help me get my hands on a copy of Who Needs a Band. Because, although I don't need a band, I need a copy of this documentary.

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Community Organizing Residency

A few years ago, I participated in a program called Selah (a collaboration between Jewish Funds for Justice and Rockwood) and haven't stopped talking about the life-changing week I spent with other progressive Jewish leaders ever since. So, when the folks at JFSJ e-mailed to find out if I'd help them publicize their new Community Organizing Residency, I jumped at the chance!

The Community Organizing Residency is a six-month, paid residency. COR is for people from different faith backgrounds who want to make community organizing their profession. They will gain social justice experience working with leading organizing groups in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Doesn't that sound cool?

Applications are due on April 2! So spread the word... and consider applying yourself.

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Winter Picnic Wrap-Up

My trip to New York and Boston feels like forever ago (it actually was forever ago... since I've been back I have actually made another trip to Chicago during which a fabulous baby was born and I visited a really delicious hot dog place... you'll just have to stay tuned for that Chicago recap). And I am so sorry, my little blog reading lady bugs, I haven't even posted my final post in the Winter Picnic series. So at long last, here it is. (And in case you need to brush up on the Winter Picnic theme, check out the other posts in the series.)

In addition to the bakery tour, photo shoot with Dena and Jay, and day of iconic Jewish food establishments, I also dined at MANY other delicious establishments with friends in both the Big Apple and Beantown.

In order to stay organized, I created a trip itinerary:

Don't be surprised.

If you'd like to recreate my trip, here is a recap of the places I enjoyed but have yet to blog about.

9th Street Espresso: I Think Coffee Smells Like Erasers
I needed a place to meet my elementary school friend, Radhai R., for coffee before my brunch in the "East Village" (allow me to pretend that I understand the names of the neighborhoods in New York by using this fancy term). This was a great spot! They really take to heart the "do few things, but do them well" attitude. The menu has four things on it (coffee, espresso, latte, mocha). The menu was so limited I feared that they didn't have my go-to breakfast beverage (obviously I don't drink coffee--another post for another day) until I asked the gentleman behind the counter who reassured me that not only did they have HC, but it was delicious. And he was right.


Grape and Grain: Secret Notes and Delish Brunch
So I sauntered over to Grape and Grain for brunch with four of my very hip New York friends (Julia S., Sonal B., and Jamia W.). Before I tell you about G and G, allow me to just say that Julia didn't actually know Sonal before we brunched with her... but they knew of each other because 1) they are both fabulous and 2) both use twitter. I love the interweb... and introducing great people to other great people. So back to Grape and Grain. It was not crowded, even when we left around 1:00. The food was great (Sonal and Jamia had shrimp and grits which I tasted and were fantastic, I had a pizza with smoked salmon and ricotta... mmm) and our table even had a tiny drawer filled with secret notes and drawings. A very fun mid-brunch surprise. What's not to love?


Creative Little Garden: Doesn't That Sound Like the Best Place Ever?
Well, it is! We happened upon it because I wanted to do some post brunch photos and loved everything about what we discovered. According to several New Yorkers I spoke with, the city has lots of little gardens (with different themes etc.) for city folk to enjoy green space once and awhile. It sort of reminded me of a secret garden because when we first walked by, it just looked like a little path with some crazy lights strung onto trees, but when we ventured inside we discovered a porch swing and lots of delightful little areas so sit, photograph, and savor.


Kefi: Tzatziki and Grecian Wine
A big thanks to Cara F. for researching this most delicious dinner destination! Kefi was fabulous and I can't wait to go back. It will surely be on my list of New York stand-bys. It was reasonably priced, beautifully decorated in relaxing colors, and the food was fabulous. Everything was really fresh and delicious (my favorite item was the appetizer sampler of warm pita, hummus, tzatziki, and a few other yummy things I won't try to spell correctly). The extensive wine list was composed of entirely Greek wines and the one we selected was REALLY good. I am glad I snapped a photo of the name so I can remember it next time I am somewhere serving it. (AND, I saw a girl who lived on the floor of my freshman dorm across the restaurant. Who doesn't love a good random long lost friend sighting in a city you don't live in anymore)


Cafe Lalo: Dessert Celebs
Another Cara F. recommendation, Cafe Lalo was such a fun way to end our evening! The dessert selection was EXTENSIVE (and we felt like celebrities because the restaurant was also featured in You've Got Mail)! One small downside was the fact that it was super crowded and the tables were really close together. I think I was also pretty exhausted by this time (it was past my 10:30 bedtime) so perhaps my tolerance for table closeness was depleted. But I would certainly go back next time I venture to New York.


Flour: My Boston Breakfast Stand-By
The folks who own Flour are also avid Twitter users and I know they just began construction on a new location in Cambridge. So, if Cambridge is an option...isn't DuPont Circle? I met my friend (and former Planned Parenthood colleague) Lena Z. here for breakfast. We hadn't been to Flour together since the first time I ventured there upon her suggestion (the day my life changed forever) and it was great to return to the scene of the breakfast sandwich. On this visit, we tried a bunch of new things (in addition to the aforementioned breakfast sand) including the pecan roll which could not have been more delicious. I have no words to describe it so I will just force you to add it to your list of things you MUST eat next time you're anywhere in the greater New England area.


Veggie Planet: Or M., Is That You? Or Do I Need New Glasses?
Katie R. first exposed me to VP back when she was Katie P. and I've loved it both times I've visited. In addition to the REALLY great, fresh, locally sourced mostly vegan food (including a black quinoa salad which I wish I could recreate in my own kitchen), Veggie Planet is attached to the Passim Folk Music and Cultural Center. According to Katie and my other Cambridge experts, Alex M. and Mattie T., Joan Baez and Bob Dylan performed there before going on to play larger venues. Sadly, I didn't see Joan or Bob while I was there, I did have a chance to dine with Mattie T. (my favorite Harvard Divinity School employee and good friend of my officemate, Alex M.) in addition to seeing my former Hillel colleague and Israel trip co-staff (who lives in Ohio now), Or M., in the line at VP. There is NOTHING I love more than seeing people I know out of context and Veggie Planet is the place for out of context friend sightings.


Sweet: I'll Take a Shot of Frosting
Yes, they serve tiny shots of frosting here. Thanks, Sweet, for making it socially acceptable for me to want to eat frosting, plain, in public. This tiny shop is so bright and cheery and sells a very wide variety of cupcakes. I camped out at one of their cute little tables to do some work and return phone calls (read: pretend to be an adult) on a rainy Cambridge afternoon and really enjoyed my time soaking in the positive frosting energy.


LA Burdick: My HC Beshert
When several friends suggest you visit the same little chocolate shop in Cambridge, you know you have to. THEN, when two separate friends make plans to meet you at the same little chocolate shop in Cambridge, you know you're going to have a really good day. And I did. I first stopped here with Neil S. to get out of the rain and enjoy a little mid-day snack. We had a lovely chat (allow me to once again affirm my love for Neil S.) then, my friend Jenny O. suggested we meet here there later the same day. I would say Burdick's is my hot chocolate beshert.


Harvard Graduate School of Education: Through the Eyes of Neil S.
Neil S. took me on a little walking tour of the HGSE. We ventured into the library and I did a mini photo shoot in the stacks. We walked across the street and I inspected the state of the art lecture hall with touch screen maps on flat screen TVs. Then we went to pick up a reading packet for one of Neil's classes and I stopped the TA to find out where she'd purchased her wide calf boots. Neil was not embarrassed for a second and that is one of the many reasons why I love him.


The Regal Beagle: Roberta G. + Red Wine = Divine
Do you remember hearing about the famous Roberta G. during my blog recap of Abbey and Oded's wedding? Well, even though Abbey now lives far far away from Brookline, I decided to meet her mom (Ro) for a glass of wine while in Beantown. We had a lovely time recapping the wedding and discussing Abbey's big return to the US (counting the seconds)... and we discovered a great little spot on called The Regal Beagle. It is new and very swanky and I would suggest you go there when you need a place to meet your friend's fabulous mom for a glass of wine when traveling in Boston.

The Paris Creperie: I Will Do Anything for a Nutella Crepe
When I was in college, I used to smuggle nutella crepes from the crepe place in the dining hall into the library in my back pack and tell my friends to meet me in the bathroom where we'd eat them. Perhaps I will regret sharing this... but I think it only happened once or twice and the crepes were really good. So, when friends Lisa S. and Zach K. suggested we dine at Brookline's Paris Creperie I was excited to have the chance to dine on a crepe at a table with proper cutlery as opposed to the Gelman Library ladies room. And according to Dena S., the hot chocolate at this little corner of Paris in the middle of Boston was actually named one of the top ten in Boston (Burdick's was number one. Obv). Delicious!


So there you have it, lovelies.

...And I decided I'd rather be a person who lives a busy life with LOTS to blog about and not enough time to blog about it (resulting in a recap almost a month after the actual events) as opposed to living a life with lots of time to blog and nothing to blog about. Don't you agree?

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It's So Hard to Say Goodbye...to RCRC

Lots of happenings going on here in Wild and Crazy Pearl world... so I decided on a little blog post was the best bring my loyal fans (that's you) up to speed!

Nine years ago, I stopped to chat with a woman carrying a "Pro-Faith, Pro-Family, Pro-Choice" tote bag on the DuPont Circle metro escalator (and if you've ever gone up or down the escalator at the DuPont metro, you know it is not short, so we had plenty of time to talk... and if you've ever been with me in public, you know I have no problem talking to people I don't know). During our conversation, I learned about a wonderful organization called the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC's) that had produced the tote.

Five years later, I was recruited to be RCRC's youth and young adult organizer. I joined the RCRC team on April 1, 2006 and have spent four exciting years directing the organization's Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom (SYRF) program. I was 22 years old and had been out of college for 11 months.

Yesterday, I resigned from my position at RCRC (over a delicious lunch at DC Coast with my supervisor). I will be transitioning to a position with a technology company called Convio that helps non-profits with online advocacy and fundraising. I am excited, terrified, and very optimistic about this opportunity. And in true Wild and Crazy Pearl form, I have put together a little FAQ to cover the specifics of the job change. Pull up a chair, grab a snack, consider donning an item of SYRF paraphernalia I may have given you over the last four years, and read on...

When is your last day at RCRC?
I'll finish out my time at RCRC on March 26! Between now and then, I will try to cram four years of SYRF program knowledge into a transition memo and work to hire and train my replacement. (Stay tuned for a job description soon!)

Is there a Juice Joint near your new office?
If you don't recall my love of the Juice Joint, check out the post I wrote about their turkey bacon potato breakfast wrap. I am actually dining on one as I write this! Alas, there is no JJ near the new office (which is in Foggy Bottom) and I am already beginning to mourn the loss of my favorite lunch (slash breafast/lunch/snack) spot. I will try to eat a breakfast wrap (or two) everyday between now and March 26 just to prepare for the separation.

How many business cards do you need to distribute per day between now and your last day at RCRC to use them all up before you go?
47.6. Yes, that's right. Our office just moved so I helped the Coalition design and print new business cards for all the staff featuring our new address. And they are BEAUTIFUL (if I don't say so myself). I love the design and the weight of the card stock and the satiny glossy finish. Alas, I have 1,000 cards and three more weeks in this job. So, if I distribute 47.6 everyday between now and my last day (including Saturdays and Sundays) here, I will have given 'em all out. I am also taking suggestions for craft projects that use business cards (note: there is text on both sides).



Are you leaving the reproductive justice and youth organizing movements forever?
Um, have we met? Never! I am still a very proud member of the Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington (PPMW) board of directors and am helping to plan an 80s prom fundraiser on May 7! The prom will actually coincide nicely with my 27th birthday (which is the following day) so if you want to celebrate me and the big 2-7 while making a donation to an important organization, get out your shoulder pads and SAVE THE DATE. As specifics and ticket sale information are finalized, I will surely dedicate a blog post to all the details.

I am also really excited to be helping Choice USA with some strategic planning work in the coming months so I can keep my organizing skills sharp (and support an organization I really care about). Speaking of Choice USA, have you heard about the Generation to Generation Celebration? Check out more information on this fabulous soiree and consider nomianting a reproductive justice rockstar for the award.

How does the new office compare to your current office?
I am not sure if anything will ever compare to my current office. I sit about four feet from two fabulous colleagues who keep me laughing and inspired on a daily basis. I don't know if the Convio office will allow me to play Rock and Roll by Eric Hutchinson everyday at 9:00 AM (but there is talk of cheese puffs in a snack closet which was a big selling point).

Does the new job involve wearing a cape?
So, I am unsure if actually wearing a cape is encouraged... alas, I am looking forward to having a few superpowers and doing super things! Actually, the position will allow me to work with a whole bunch of non-profits and help them with online fundraising and advocacy efforts. A big part of my job will be serving as a liaison between Convio's non-profit clients and the company. I am still working on my "elevator speech" but so far I have come up with a few different versions:

• I have a new job! I couldn't stand being so far away from the Trader Joe's in Foggy Bottom so I've decided to take a job only a few blocks away. See you in the Two Buck Chuck aisle...
  
• I have a new job! I am going to work for a company called Convio. They work with non-profit organizations on e-mail fundraising and advocacy. Did you hear about all that amazing fundraising work that happened after the Haiti earthquake through the Red Cross? That was Convio!
• I have a new job! My really cool friend Amber W. went to work for an exciting company called Convio and I want to be just like her. She told me the office has a fun committee, so I decided to change jobs.
  

Will you still get to travel to cool places and blog about bakeries you discover?
YES! Convio's main offices are actually in Austin. I will most likely make my way there in mid-April and several other times in the near future. So, Austin friends, clear your calendars and get ready to take me to Hey Cupcake!

What was your favorite part of working at RCRC?
Obviously the SYRFboard keychain bottle openers...

I actually have tons of fabulous memories from my time at RCRC. I will remember the political conventions and all of the fabulous volunteers we worked with in both Denver and St. Paul. I am also so proud of the outstanding SYRF organizers, activists, grantees, and SYRF Program Coordinators (Josh F. and Reina A.) that I had the privilege of working with and learning from--your creativity and passion for reproductive justice inspires me and I know our movement will be in good hands with you at the helm. And although it is nearly impossible to articulate all of my favorite aspects of this job, I also loved my work with the Youth Organizing Working Group. This coalition of hard working peers at partner organizations made me feel so supported in this important work and are excellent colleagues and friends.

Thank you...

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