If you enjoy traveling like me, you're always on the lookout for the best airfare deals. Consistently, I have found cheap flights and good customer service on AirTran the past two years. The major plus is that they fly out of the airport closest to me, Reagan National. I have also flown on Southwest, but they only fly out of BWI.
Well, it seems I might be able to "move about the country," as Southwest says, more easily because they are buying AirTran. What does this mean? According to this article in the NYT, Southwest will be filling the holes in their service, which AirTran currently flies to - like Atlanta (the nation's largest airport) and the Caribbean. Since both airlines were discount rivals, prices will of course stay low.
My only question... what will happen to my AirTran rewards?!?! I'm halfway to a free one way flight!!!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
A Taste of New York in DC
One of the things I miss most about home living in DC now is good italian food. Well, an NYC transplant may have just solved the issue for me!
For my birthday dinner this year I went with a group of friends to Carmines, in Penn Quarter, and finally found some good, homey family style italian food. Dishes are meant to split between 4-6 people and all 8 of us left stuffed after splitting 2 apps 2 entrees and a dessert (and yes, all of the food remained unfinished.)
Highlights of the meal:
The cold antipasto had a lot of variety, from fennel to caprese salad, olives to proscuitto, and and an absolutely delicious white bean dip.
The calamari was crispy and came with a slightly spicy marinara dipping sauce.
The chicken parmesan had a flavorful breading and wasn't smothered in too much cheese.
The gardineira pasta was the perfect mix of pasta and veggies.
For dessert, we had the TITANIC, which, as you can imaginel, is HUGE. There was a whole lotta whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, chocolate cake, and i'm sure a whole lot more I couldn't even see!
See the full menu and find out more about Carmines HERE.
For my birthday dinner this year I went with a group of friends to Carmines, in Penn Quarter, and finally found some good, homey family style italian food. Dishes are meant to split between 4-6 people and all 8 of us left stuffed after splitting 2 apps 2 entrees and a dessert (and yes, all of the food remained unfinished.)
Highlights of the meal:
The cold antipasto had a lot of variety, from fennel to caprese salad, olives to proscuitto, and and an absolutely delicious white bean dip.
The calamari was crispy and came with a slightly spicy marinara dipping sauce.
The chicken parmesan had a flavorful breading and wasn't smothered in too much cheese.
The gardineira pasta was the perfect mix of pasta and veggies.
For dessert, we had the TITANIC, which, as you can imaginel, is HUGE. There was a whole lotta whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, chocolate cake, and i'm sure a whole lot more I couldn't even see!
See the full menu and find out more about Carmines HERE.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
I HAD ANOTHER TASTY MEAL! :)
You know how much I LOVE writing all about the tasty food I encounter, so here we go again!
Last night I met a friend for dinner at Cafe St. Ex on 14th St. We were able to grab a table outside, on their super cute outdoor patio. Even better, we were seated at a corner table near a bunch of flowers :) Both of us started out with the arugula salad, which came with pine nuts, peaches, manchego cheese and a cilantro lime dressing. The portion was huge! Throw a protein on top and you could have a very satisfying meal. But that was just the beginning....
For our second course I ordered the Waygu sirloin with grilled romaine and tomatoes. I don't eat tomatoes so I pushed those to the side. The sirloin was cooked to my liking but the romaine was a little salty. I'm not too sure if it's because they oversalted it or because when it cooks more it turns salty; I'll have to do a little research (or if any of you know please tell me.) My friend got the chicken duo and cleaned up her plate.
For desert (yes we still had room) I ordered the melon & marscapone sundae which was light and refreshing - a great way to end the meal and a perfect compliment to the beautiful weather outside. My friend ordered the chocolate cake which came with the tastiest cinnamon ice cream.
For all that food, plus 2 glasses of wine and 2 coffees - the bill was $110... not too shabby I'd say! If you're in that 'hood and looking for something to eat, I'd definitely recommend it.
Last night I met a friend for dinner at Cafe St. Ex on 14th St. We were able to grab a table outside, on their super cute outdoor patio. Even better, we were seated at a corner table near a bunch of flowers :) Both of us started out with the arugula salad, which came with pine nuts, peaches, manchego cheese and a cilantro lime dressing. The portion was huge! Throw a protein on top and you could have a very satisfying meal. But that was just the beginning....
For our second course I ordered the Waygu sirloin with grilled romaine and tomatoes. I don't eat tomatoes so I pushed those to the side. The sirloin was cooked to my liking but the romaine was a little salty. I'm not too sure if it's because they oversalted it or because when it cooks more it turns salty; I'll have to do a little research (or if any of you know please tell me.) My friend got the chicken duo and cleaned up her plate.
For desert (yes we still had room) I ordered the melon & marscapone sundae which was light and refreshing - a great way to end the meal and a perfect compliment to the beautiful weather outside. My friend ordered the chocolate cake which came with the tastiest cinnamon ice cream.
For all that food, plus 2 glasses of wine and 2 coffees - the bill was $110... not too shabby I'd say! If you're in that 'hood and looking for something to eat, I'd definitely recommend it.
Lady Gaga's meat dress... Gross or genius?
Everybody's been talking about it the past few days... GROSS in my opinion.
I think we should all get over it and talk about how FAB!!!! Cher looked in her "Turn Back Time" outfit.
Friday, September 10, 2010
FIERCE... and Affordable
I first fell in love with Christian Siriano's designs when he was on Project Runway. Some people found him cocky and annoying, but his talent really put him in a class of his own. And anyone who can make Victoria Beckham smile is doing something very RIGHT when it comes to fashion.
While he may be known for making high concept cutting edge designs, his style is more accessible than one might think. He designs shoes and accessories for Payless! When I first heard about the partnership, I thought it was too good to be true! But now, a year later, I own 2 pairs of shoes and 2 handbags, and Siriano just keeps 'em coming.
His Spring 2011 Fashion Week runway show yesterday showcased his talent for high drama dresses but it also showcased one more thing - HIS SPRING 2011 PAYLESS DESIGNS. He's really tugging at my heart strings with these - I want them all, and retailing for $50 or less, I can afford to buy them all if I chose.
Who says you can't look fierce on a budget ;)
While he may be known for making high concept cutting edge designs, his style is more accessible than one might think. He designs shoes and accessories for Payless! When I first heard about the partnership, I thought it was too good to be true! But now, a year later, I own 2 pairs of shoes and 2 handbags, and Siriano just keeps 'em coming.
His Spring 2011 Fashion Week runway show yesterday showcased his talent for high drama dresses but it also showcased one more thing - HIS SPRING 2011 PAYLESS DESIGNS. He's really tugging at my heart strings with these - I want them all, and retailing for $50 or less, I can afford to buy them all if I chose.
Who says you can't look fierce on a budget ;)
Thursday, September 9, 2010
CHICAGO - my other adventures
My trip to Chicago wasn't all about eating! I did do a number of other things.
Navy Pier - the first night we were there was the last Navy Pier fireworks show of the season. I'm usually not too fond of touristy places but didn't mind the nice weather and slow paced stroll down the pier. Theres lots of vendors and things to see all along the Pier - and the ferris wheel looks pretty sweet, but I did not take a ride on it. Onto the fireworks. They were awesome! Although the show was a little short, it was set to music and was pretty awesome.
Wrigley Field - Yup, Wrigley made it onto my food and adventures lists for Chicago. Went there to see the Cubs play the Mets, and although we were rooting for the Cubs, the mets won 18-5. Exciting game. And Wrigleyville is pretty awesome. The bars near the stadium have seats on top so you can see the game -- FROM THE BAR! We only stopped by 1 bar and tried a good local beer - 312.
Millenium Park - Very beautiful green space, interesting water features and fountains, and THE BEAN! Really really nice.
John Hancock Tower - we went up to the observatory first (on the 94th floor) but I'd recommend you save your money and use it on drinks at the Signature Lounge on the 96th floor. Great views of the city, tasty cocktails... and the elevator ride up is only 40 seconds! Worth facing my fear of heights for.
City architecture by night Cruise - Like I said before, I'm not too into touristy things, but I've heard so much about the architecture that I had to get past it and go on a tour cruise. We opted for the nighttime one since the city is so much nicer lit up, and it was really cool to learn all about the history of Chicago. My favorite - the Chicago Tribune building.
Side note: They don't call it the windy city for nothin'... BRING PANTS and wear them if you know it's going to be windy. It's no fun trying to walk around the city while trying to keep your skirt from blowing up.
My next trip to Chicago - I don't know when but hopefully sometime soon. Since a lot of time was spent relaxing, next time I'm definitely taking in the nightlife :)
Navy Pier - the first night we were there was the last Navy Pier fireworks show of the season. I'm usually not too fond of touristy places but didn't mind the nice weather and slow paced stroll down the pier. Theres lots of vendors and things to see all along the Pier - and the ferris wheel looks pretty sweet, but I did not take a ride on it. Onto the fireworks. They were awesome! Although the show was a little short, it was set to music and was pretty awesome.
Wrigley Field - Yup, Wrigley made it onto my food and adventures lists for Chicago. Went there to see the Cubs play the Mets, and although we were rooting for the Cubs, the mets won 18-5. Exciting game. And Wrigleyville is pretty awesome. The bars near the stadium have seats on top so you can see the game -- FROM THE BAR! We only stopped by 1 bar and tried a good local beer - 312.
Millenium Park - Very beautiful green space, interesting water features and fountains, and THE BEAN! Really really nice.
John Hancock Tower - we went up to the observatory first (on the 94th floor) but I'd recommend you save your money and use it on drinks at the Signature Lounge on the 96th floor. Great views of the city, tasty cocktails... and the elevator ride up is only 40 seconds! Worth facing my fear of heights for.
City architecture by night Cruise - Like I said before, I'm not too into touristy things, but I've heard so much about the architecture that I had to get past it and go on a tour cruise. We opted for the nighttime one since the city is so much nicer lit up, and it was really cool to learn all about the history of Chicago. My favorite - the Chicago Tribune building.
Side note: They don't call it the windy city for nothin'... BRING PANTS and wear them if you know it's going to be windy. It's no fun trying to walk around the city while trying to keep your skirt from blowing up.
My next trip to Chicago - I don't know when but hopefully sometime soon. Since a lot of time was spent relaxing, next time I'm definitely taking in the nightlife :)
CHICAGO - the food post...
Hey all!
I'm back from Chicago and it was AMAZING! I can't wait to get back there again. One of the things I was most looking forward to in the Chi was the food and for the most part it did not disappoint! Want the rundown? (You have no choice.) Here it goes:
Chicago Burger Co. - probably the only food misstep in our trip, but granted it was in our hotel and we were quite tired from travelling. A word of advice - if you ever do end up here - take advantage of all the toppings they offer; the plain burger lacks a lot in flavor.
West Egg Cafe - on our search around our hotel for breakfast options we didn't find much, until someone recommended West Egg to us. We were lucky enough to snag a seat outside on a busy Sunday morning and enjoy the food and the weather. I ordered the Carl's Cool Creation which had egg whites, spinach, chicken, cheese and marinara sauce. Very unique and tasty!
Wrigley Field - I'm only including this on the food list because I tried a Chicago hot dog (minus all the fixins) The poppy seed bun is an interesting and welcome addition, and they cooked it right (on a flat top instead of on the warmers.) It might not be a NY dog, but I was definitley satisfied.
Weber Grill - Like the namesake, they really cook everything on Weber grills! I had a french onion soup and steak caesar salad - both of which were good, and the boy had a perfectly cooked melt in your mouth filet mignon. We're both glad we stopped by here.
Argo Tea - I stopped by here Monday morning on the search for a light breakfast. They have a lot of unique tea options, both cold and hot, and some tasty muffins.
Portillos - Mmmmmmmmmmmmm! Street food in a cozy atmosphere is how I'd describe Portillos. The polish sausage was crispy yet juicy and flavorful. The italian beef -- thats a taste experience I'll never forget.
Flatwater - I've read mixed reviews about it but enjoyed it a lot. The river view is absolutely amazing! And we went on a night with perfect weather. Started off with the kobe beef carpaccio, which was tasty but I would have liked a 'lil mo meat. For my entree I had the chilean seabass which had a nice crust to it but was still flavorful and light. The boy had a steak that was also cooked well.
Eleven Diner - the end of our Chicago culinary tour, which we ended up at after a long walk and getting lost. Had a cool atmosphere but was a bit pricey. A fun little place.
Want the full scoop? I'll be updating Yelp with all of my reviews.
I'm back from Chicago and it was AMAZING! I can't wait to get back there again. One of the things I was most looking forward to in the Chi was the food and for the most part it did not disappoint! Want the rundown? (You have no choice.) Here it goes:
Chicago Burger Co. - probably the only food misstep in our trip, but granted it was in our hotel and we were quite tired from travelling. A word of advice - if you ever do end up here - take advantage of all the toppings they offer; the plain burger lacks a lot in flavor.
West Egg Cafe - on our search around our hotel for breakfast options we didn't find much, until someone recommended West Egg to us. We were lucky enough to snag a seat outside on a busy Sunday morning and enjoy the food and the weather. I ordered the Carl's Cool Creation which had egg whites, spinach, chicken, cheese and marinara sauce. Very unique and tasty!
Wrigley Field - I'm only including this on the food list because I tried a Chicago hot dog (minus all the fixins) The poppy seed bun is an interesting and welcome addition, and they cooked it right (on a flat top instead of on the warmers.) It might not be a NY dog, but I was definitley satisfied.
Weber Grill - Like the namesake, they really cook everything on Weber grills! I had a french onion soup and steak caesar salad - both of which were good, and the boy had a perfectly cooked melt in your mouth filet mignon. We're both glad we stopped by here.
Argo Tea - I stopped by here Monday morning on the search for a light breakfast. They have a lot of unique tea options, both cold and hot, and some tasty muffins.
Portillos - Mmmmmmmmmmmmm! Street food in a cozy atmosphere is how I'd describe Portillos. The polish sausage was crispy yet juicy and flavorful. The italian beef -- thats a taste experience I'll never forget.
Flatwater - I've read mixed reviews about it but enjoyed it a lot. The river view is absolutely amazing! And we went on a night with perfect weather. Started off with the kobe beef carpaccio, which was tasty but I would have liked a 'lil mo meat. For my entree I had the chilean seabass which had a nice crust to it but was still flavorful and light. The boy had a steak that was also cooked well.
Eleven Diner - the end of our Chicago culinary tour, which we ended up at after a long walk and getting lost. Had a cool atmosphere but was a bit pricey. A fun little place.
Want the full scoop? I'll be updating Yelp with all of my reviews.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Gettin' outta DC for a few days
I have 6 pairs of shoes and 12 outfits packed for....... 4 days in Chicago with the boy! I'll be sure to come back with lots of stories of my adventures :)
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
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