Cozy Capitol Hill Dinner: Rose's Luxury

Let me start by saying all of the hype you have heard about Rose's Luxury is true.  I have dined at Rose's for dinner three times in four weeks.  Yes, it is that good.


Rose's Luxury is the perfect modern day dining experience.

The food is sophisticated, but not fussy. The wait staff is knowledgeable, but not pretentious. The decor is elegant, but not over the top.

Rose's Luxury does not take reservations and yes, they are slammed on Friday and Saturday nights.  If you want to go on a weekend night, go at 6 or at 9:30pm.  If you show up at a normal dining time you will have a three hour wait.


Personally, I like to go on a Wednesday or Thursday around 6:30pm.  Enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail at the chic and cozy upstairs bar before being seated for dinner.

Considering the number of times I have been to Rose's Luxury I have now tried almost everything on the menu (which does change seasonally).  A few of my favorites are as follows:

1. Oysters - both Chicken Fried and Raw, absolutely delightful

2. The Bread - which is free, is omg-amazing.  The whipped butter with crispy potato skins on top, out of this world.  I could make an entire meal just from this bread and butter.

3. The Fried Chicken - drizzled with a bit of honey for a savory & sweet experience.  Try it with and without the Crystal's hot sauce.  By the way, shout out to Rose's for offering legit southern hot sauce to pair with the chicken.

4. The Brisket - juicy, savory, cooked to perfection. If you don't want the family style platter ask for a brisket sandwich - trust me, it's exactly what you want. Technically the sandwich is only on the bar menu, not the full dining room menu, but they will serve it at the table.

5. The Sourdough Donuts - mixed with the vanilla bean ice cream, this stuff is heaven.

Happy Hilling!
S.

Rental Round Up - Saturday, April 5th

Check out these awesome properties I came across over my morning coffee.  And make the move to Capitol Hill, life is good here. :-)

Fabulous 1 Bedroom at Stanton Park, Hardwood Floors, Fireplace - $2200 a month
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/4401281245.html


Cute Bungalow, 2 Bed, 1 Bath with Open House Today 10am to 2pm - $1895 a month
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/4408126246.html


Charming, Newly Renovated 1 Bed, WD in Unit, two blocks from the Capitol - $1800 a month
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/4408033911.html


Happy Hilling!
S.

Capitol Hill Flowers: Fresh Cut & Arranged

One of the simplest pleasures I always treat myself to is having fresh cut flowers in the house every week.  I usually only fill one vase and put it in a highly visible spot, like the fireplace mantel, to keep it budget friendly but still have impact.

Up until recently I had been buying my flowers inside Eastern Market.  While that flower shop is convenient, their selection is limiting and they often run out of what I want.  I decided to go on a hunt for another source for weekly fresh cut flowers in Capitol Hill, and that's when I found Surroundings.

Located on the southeast corner of Lincoln Park, Surroundings is an adorable little shop that has a huge selection of fresh cut flowers.  They also do events, arrangements, and even landscaping.  Lucky for me, Surroundings is a quick five blocks from my house.

This morning I took the dog for a walk to the park and we stopped off at Surroundings.  I was in the midst of tying the dog to a bench when the shop worker told me I could bring her inside, dogs are welcome! I loved it!

The prices are fair and the flowers are gorgeous and they definitely won me over on the charm factor.  Buy your flowers local and support our neighborhood small businesses. You won't regret it!

Surroundings
1023 East Capitol St SE
http://www.surroundings.bz/
10am to 6pm, Monday thru Friday
10am to 1pm, Saturday
Closed, Sunday

Happy Hilling!
S.

Rental Round Up - Thursday, April 3rd

Do you have this weekend carved out to look for a new apartment?  Here are some digs that just came available in Capitol Hill.

If you live on the Hill already, you know you want to stay.  

If you don't live on the Hill yet, you know you want to move here.

Gorgeous 1 Bedroom One Block from Eastern Market - $1850

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/4399178456.html

Stunning 3 Bedroom Row House at 6th and F Street SE - $3950

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/4395778297.html

Well Located Studio Apartment with Full Size W/D - $1300

http://yarmouthmanagement.com/today.html

Happy Hilling!

S. 

Harold Black: A Capitol Hill Speakeasy

It was a rainy, dreary Saturday night in DC this past weekend.  With guests in from out of town, and outdoor sightseeing out of the question, we luckily scored a last minute table at Harold Black.

That's right Hillers, we have our own illusive speakeasy right here in Capitol Hill.  As is the tradition with most speakeasy's....it's difficult to find, impossible to make a reservation, and because of these trials and tribulations it is ultimately very, very cool.

Harold Black is located above Aqua Al 2 on 7th Street across from Eastern Market.  We heard about Harold Black from friends.  It seems all the buzz is by word of mouth (and the occasional blog).  

I looked online and could not find a way to contact the speakeasy so I called Aqua Al 2.  The hostess was so nice.  She said Harold Black did not have a public phone number but that she would go upstairs and ask if they could squeeze us in and call me back - which she actually did! It's always so surprising when people do what they say they are going to do. Freaking amazing.  

The night was already improving. 

She called back and said they could seat us immediately but that they needed the table back by 10pm for people who actually had reservations.  So across the street we ran!

To enter Harold Black do the following:

- walk through the unmarked door to the left of Aqua Al 2's entrance

- round the corner hallway

- go up the stairs

- knock on the sliding wood door

- someone will open it and ask for your name

- if they do not have your name, you cannot drink with the cool kids

The space is dark, cozy, and intimate.  The decor is made up of vintage books, men's shaving brushes, and all sorts of other miscellaneous knick-knacks on the bookshelves that separate each booth.

The drinks are stout, flavorful, and delicious.  Our group ordered the cocktail flight for $35- which was a hell of a deal to get sufficiently buzzed on some serious high quality booze.

The servers were knowledgeable and friendly.  The vibe was chill, fun, and secretive - of course.  Harold Black was the perfect answer to a rainy weekend night.

Happy Hilling!
S.

Grocery Shopping in Capitol Hill - Knowing Your Options

Every week we spend time buying groceries; which for most of us, is an annoying chore.  You hope when moving into a new neighborhood you will find some place to shop that will have exactly what you need. Lucky for us in Capitol Hill, we have a wide variety options on where to buy our weekly groceries. After six weeks of living in the neighborhood, here is what I have found.

Fresh Daily - Eastern Market
Eastern Market is known for it's weekend leisure crowds.  People stroll vendor tables filled with jams, scarves, and everything in between.  But during the week, Eastern Market is a great option for buying groceries the day-of.

Eastern Market is open until 7pm during the week. There is hardly a soul in the place on a week night so it is very easy to shop. Besides grabbing fresh meat, fish, or veggies you can also grab pantry staples at the booth at the Southeast corner of the building. They stock tomato paste, cranberry sauce, rice...you
name it!  The small space is crammed but I was amazed at what they had available.


Fresh Weekly - Relay Foods
Relay Foods is where I buy the majority of our weekly groceries.  Relay is actually an online grocery store focusing on local and organic items.  I was a little nervous about trusting someone else to pick out my perfect cut of meat or just-ripe-enough produce; however, I have been amazed at the quality of my items from Relay.

Relay can either deliver your items or you can pick them up from one of their truck locations on Monday or Friday from 4pm-8pm.  There is a charge for delivery; however, pick up option is free.  If for someone reason you are not satisfied with a purchase from Relay, just go to the online chat section of their website.  A customer service person will refund your item in literally less than 5 minutes.

Stocking the Pantry - Harris Teeter
Buying local and fresh is great, but sometimes you need to stock up on Oreos, Cokes, and instant Mac & Cheese.  You know, all the things that really get us through when we are too lazy to actually cook.

The Harris Teeter located at Penn Ave SE and 14th is great for pantry stocking.  They have pretty much everything you would expect from a normal grocery store.  And, they have free garage parking.  So whether you have your own vehicle or a Zip Car membership, you can really stock up and only have to make the trip once every three months or so.

For the Gluten Free, Organic Junkies - Yes! Organic Market
While Yes! Organic Market is very, very small they have a great selection for you gluten free folks.  They are located on the north end of Barracks Row. Yes! Organic Market has a decent wine and beer section as well as some ready made sushi, sandwiches, etc. in the back.  I do love that they carry hot Hale & Hearty soups, one of my favorites from living in New York.  The store is a bit limited for me personally, but it would be a perfect solution for someone who is gluten free.

Eastern Market
225 7th Street SE
http://www.easternmarket-dc.org/

Relay Foods
http://www.relayfoods.com/

Harris Teeter
1350 Potomac Ave SE
http://www.harristeeter.com/

Yes! Organic Market
410 8th Street SE
http://www.yesorganicmarket.com

Happy Hilling!
S.

Dessert in Capitol Hill: The Sweet Lobby

I have to admit, I knew about this uber fabulous establishment, known as The Sweet Lobby, long before I was a Capitol Hill resident. 

The Sweet Lobby serves cupcakes, macaroons, and cupcakes with macaroons on top.  Simple, right? Simple and delicious!  

The macaroons are hands-down my favorite thing at The Sweet Lobby. The flavors are inventive, fun, and change on a regular basis.  The presentation is beautiful and they have great gift box options if you are looking for a unique hostess or work gift.  

I am not traditionally a cupcake lover; however, The Sweet Lobby's cupcakes really hit a home run with me. Why? Because they are not overly sweet or overly filling. I can actually eat an entire cupcake from The Sweet Lobby and not feel like I am on the verge of becoming diabetic.  The cupcakes come in a wide variety of flavors including vegan and gluten free options.  

The Sweet Lobby makes the perfect stop for an afternoon sweet fix or a unique dessert destination after dinner on Barracks Row.  

Personally, I would recommend the praline macaroon - it's divine. :-)

The Sweet Lobby
404 8th Street SE (between Penn Ave and E St)
http://sweetlobby.com/

Happy Hilling!
S.