The 4 Day Vacation

Off to DC on Thursday morning with lunch and snacks in the cooler. The lunch was meatloaf sandwiches on whole grain bread, super-delicious with home made cookies, smoothies and Cape Cod potato chips, better than any fast food. Colder than a well digger's ass when we left, or 7 degrees. A cold drive, but sunny. We tore through New Jersey, only a little put out that the last of our Garden State Parkway token had expired last month. Whatchagonnado?

Cool hotel. One of those internet bargains. Right above the Metro, with two bars and a decent restaurant, and plenty of choices in the subway. We did breakfast in the hotel lobby at Starbucks.

We saw the Vietnam Memorial (very moving), Lincoln Memorial, Washington (hard to miss) and the World War II memorial. We spent a morning at the American Indian Museum, totally wonderful, and saw the artist Fritz Scholder's exhibit. We had a long familiarity with Scholder from the late lamented Elaine Horwich Gallery in Scottsdale. Great Stuff.

The also trekked to the National Gallery, a first for us, and it knocked our socks off. Everyone should really hie themselves to Washington and see what's there. You will be amazed. The Indian Museum had native foods in the cafeteria. I had buffalo chili on fry bread with lettuce, tomato and peppers, and it was superb. Used to eat buffalo chili at the Pepper Pod outside of Denver in Hudson, Colorado.

Walked our legs off and then walked some more. Weather totally decent yesterday and not bad on Friday.

So go. It's a great city. We rode the subway to dinner Saturday night. Found a wonderful bistro with great food and wine. Drove home today, with more good weather. How divine to have a break from our obstreperous winter. And cooking. Even blogging. Yup.

The Washington Mseums are free. How about them apples? Photos anon.

Grapeshot

Buffalo Burgers, Not Wings

New York Times today had an article in the food section about buffalo meat. The Pepper Pod, in Hudson, Colorado outside Denver served buffalo to locals and travellers. We used to eat both chili and burgers there, and it was delicious. They had a small herd of the beasts outside.
http://www.thepepperpod.com/index.htm

Alas and alack, the menu on the website has no mention of buffalo or even beefalo. Gone are the days. It's still a cozy place, but the Pepper Pod with no buffalo? Boston without beans? Buffalo without wings? Philly without cheese steak? Kansas City without BBQ?

I don't know what things are coming to.

Grapeshot