European Escape: Weeknight French Fare at Montmarte

Now that we Washingtonians are enjoying longer daylight hours and a bit of cool breeze in the evenings (before summer officially arrives), grabbing dinner on a patio during the week can be the perfect way to decompress after a long day at the office.

Most Hillers hit Montmarte for brunch on the weekends, my husband and I decided to try them for dinner instead.

The patio, of course, is fantastic. The space has the perfect amount of umbrellas to shade everyone dining, but it doesn't feel cumbersome or enclosed.

Watching people stroll past from neighboring Peregrine Espresso and Pitango Gelato gives this little sliver of Captiol Hill the perfect European vibe.

We started with the crab cake, which is full of flavor and cooked to the perfect texture. Slightly crunchy on the outside, which is the perfect contradiction to the lump crab meat center.  For my main course I had the Mahi Mahi, which was on special for the evening.  The Mahi Mahi was served on top of a bed of bok choy and bell pepper with a slightly tangy sauce.  The flavors were exciting but did not over power the fish. Lastly, we finished the meal with a light flourless chocolate cake paired with two delicious cups of espresso.  

My husband and I have been to France multiple times, and I can say from my experiences, no one dines better than the French. When we said 'l addition s'il vous plait' the waiter smiled, 'oui monsieur'.  

Montmarte was the perfect escape from the rush and worry of a normal week day, I encourage you to check it out and experience a European escape for yourself.

Montmarte
327 7th Street SE (Eastern Market Metro Stop)
http://www.montmartredc.com/

Happy Hilling!
S.

Fashion Finds on Capitol Hill: A Sunday Afternoon at Pinktini

Hillers - as you know, our neighborhood is completely starved for fashion boutiques.  

If we want to find the perfect outfit for date night, a quick gift for a girlfriend, or a new fun accessory we have hardly any options on the Hill.  We end up going online or to somewhere else in the city which is so unfortunate.  I was really excited to check out Pinktini, a luxury women's fashion boutique, located right here in Capitol Hill.  

During my afternoon of perusing at Pinktini I found a little bit of everything. Here are a few highlights:

- A super chic white linen jacket with a bit of frayed edging, simple (but with a twist) to make it special

 

- A gorgeous blush sheath dress with killer beading detail, perfect for a special date night or cocktail event

- A super fun black & white maxi dress with cutouts at the neckline and (hello! pockets!) which I love in any dress 

I also found some great basic jeans and casual tops which would be perfect for pushing the stroller around the neighborhood, running errands, or grabbing coffee on the weekends.

If you are looking for a new accessory this would be a great place to stop as well. I found some gorgeous high quality cocktail rings, infinity scarves, and hand bags.  The boutique carries everything from Lauren Merkin to Big Buddha - which are amazing options!

Women of Capitol Hill, we should rally behind our local business and spend some time shopping locally at this great boutique.  Pinktini has the basics covered but will also push you outside your fashion comfort zone and offer some new and fresh options.

Pinktini is located next door to Port City Java at Eastern Market, look for the pink balloons! They will guide you to your neighborhood fashion destination. 

Pinktini

705 N Carolina Ave SE

www.pinktini.com/

Happy Hilling!

S. 

Rental Round Up - Saturday, May 17th

Check out these great rentals that just came available in Capitol Hill, would love to see you in the neighborhood!

2 Bed/1 Bath, English Basement, W/D in Unit, Large Deck with Grill - $2500

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/4474571183.html

1 Bed/1 bath, English Basement, W/D in Unit, Great Daylight - $1600

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/4474497843.html

1 Bed, 1 Bath Duplex at the Car Barn, Walk in Closets,  Pet Friendly - $2075

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/4457238643.html

Happy Hilling!

S. 

Walking the Neighborhood: The Perfect Comfortable (and Cute) Shoes

This post is for the ladies of Capitol Hill!

As we all know, we live in an incredibly walk-able neighborhood. And so much walking requires comfortable (but cute) shoes - whether it's for errands, meeting friends for brunch, or taking the dog out for an evening stroll.

A pair of peep toe Louboutins can't take a girl everywhere in this city, especially with undulating brick sidewalks that are 200 years old.

I have long struggled to find the perfect solution for being stylish, but not in total pain, as I explore Capitol Hill. Here are two shoes that I have found that totally fit the bill!

Sketchers Go Walk (top photo)
These shoes are amazing.  They are cute, slightly sporty, and by far the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn.  They are breathable and wick away heat, odor (eww, but necessary), and have memory foam type soles.  They come in tons of colors and I will probably own at least three pairs. Sketcher Go Walks run about $50-$60 per pair, you can easily buy them online or at DSW. Oh, and if you haven't read Vogue lately, sneaker type shoes are all the range with a fashionable ensemble. Here is a link to just one article relating to the trend: http://www.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/best-sneaker-street-style-of-fashion-week-2014/#1

Dexflex Ballet Flats (bottom photo)
These ballet flats are as comfortable a pair as I can find.  If my Sketchers are too casual for my outfit, these are my backup option. Dexflex comes in so many patterns and colors and they always release new designs for spring, summer, and fall.  I buy them for $20 online when they are on sale or at Payless.  Just because something is inexpensive doesn't mean it can't be stylish!

Happy Hilling! And walking. ;-)
S.

Free Tequila? Yes, Please! At La Plaza, A Capitol Hill Mexican Favorite

As a born and raised Texan I take my Mexican food pretty seriously. And I can tell you from experience, most of the time, the best Mexican or Tex-Mex food is out of a totally low key, unassuming restaurant with some kind-of weird decor.  So when I walked into La Plaza for the first time and saw the cartoon characters painted on the wall for the kids section, I knew I had come to the right place!

The first time my husband and I ate at La Plaza was actually on Christmas night.  We stayed in DC for the holidays, and without any family to cook for, we decided to venture out.  We had passed signs all week on Penn for this place called La Plaza that would continue their tradition of being open on the holiday.  Enchiladas and tequila on Christmas? Hell, with a meal like that we would practically be back in Texas.

One of the best appetizers is the Chroizo con Queso. My personal favorite main dish is the No. 5 - a super flavorful chile relleno with a cheese enchilada. You know how french chef's are tested by making a soup? Well, I think Mexican restaurants should be tested by making a cheese enchilada.  It's totally basic but can either be delicious or unexciting, La Plaza's is perfect.

And did I mention they serve refried beans? So many Mexican restaurants in DC serve black beans, which is incredibly odd and incredibly un-Texas like. Side note: I once asked the crew at Tortilla Coast why (as fellow Texans) they chose to serve black beans over refried. They said everyone kept asking for black beans so they kicked the refried off the menu.  Black beans as a side at a Mexican restaurant is just unnatural. Judge them by the refried beans, it's a sign they know what they are doing.

Now, let me warn you, not everything at La Plaza is incredible. The chicken burrito, chicken enchilada, anything with chicken, I have found to be vastly under-seasoned. I would recommend sticking to a veggie or seafood option, you will not be disappointed.

Now on to the beverages...the margaritas are stout.  Tasty, and stout.  And if you order a drink they will (surprise!) bring you a free tequila shot at the end of the meal. If they didn't have me coming back just for the food, it would definitely be for the liquor, of both the paid for and free variety.

La Plaza is located at 629 Pennsylvania Ave SE between 6th and 7th.

Happy Hilling!
S.

Who is That? - A Bit of Capitol Hill History

Have you ever passed by this statue and wondered who it was and what was the history behind it? This statue is located in front of a private residence near the corner of 6th Street SE and North Carolina Ave SE. It is very large and very mysterious and has had me wondering for some time. I decided to look into this statue and see what I could find out!

The statue is of Olive Risley Seward (1841-1908) and was sculpted by the artist John Cavenaugh.  The artist wished to provide a sculpture of someone from the Seward family, since Seward Square (across the street) did not have a statue or memorial in honor of it's namesake.

Olive was the adopted daughter of William Henry Seward, who served as Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Jackson.  Olive was born in New York but eventually came to DC where her birth father worked as a civil servant for the Secretary of the Treasury. After the tragic passing of William's wife and daughter, and Olive's loss of her mother, the two met and developed a bond. To squash any scandalous rumors as to the nature of their relationship (with quite a few years of age between them), William Seward formerly adopted Olive as his own daughter.

At the time Cavenaugh created the sculpture he did not have a photograph of Olive to use as a reference. With no documentation to guide is creation, he modeled the figure as his ideal Victorian lady.  Ironically enough, a picture was later found of Olive and the statue does, in fact, resemble her.  Serendipitous, I think!

Happy Hilling!
S.

P.S. I'm looking for the next bit of history to research in the neighborhood.  If you have anything you pass by all the time and wonder "What's the story behind that?" please let me know! I'd love to research it and share my findings.

Rental Round Up - Saturday's Studios

Here a few great studio apartments available in Capitol Hill.  Spend your Saturday searching for the perfect new studio apartment in the neighborhood.

Immaculate Studio at Union Station - Hardwood Floors, Granite Countertops. Great Location
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/4435311621.html

Charming English Basement - Tall Ceilings, Private Outdoor Patio
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/4457654302.html

Top Floor Studio at Lincoln Park - Modern Kitchen, Nice W/D in Unit, Large Bathroom
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/4461764592.html

Happy Hilling!
S.