Holiday Lunch

Andrea wanted to go for a pizza at his favorite place, Menomale.

We invited Dona to join us. We all enjoyed the food, the place, and the company.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Invitation to a screening

As a loyal WETA supporter, I was invited to a special screening of the first episode of Downton Abbey, Season 4. I invited my friend Carol to be my guest.

We met at the WETA headquarters in Shirlington. Here we are in the lobby of the building.


We then were taken upstairs and offered tea sandwiches, fresh fruit, scones, and Christmas cookies. We could then have our photos taken in front of Downton Abbey.



We were given several items - a bumper sticker, a Gwen-Judy pin, and a WETA tote.

 

We enjoyed the episode very much and are eagerly awaiting all of Season Four! It was a very nice experience. Thanks, WETA and PBS!

I could not live without PBS. I am very grateful for its excellent programming - so many wonderful programs. It lifts my spirits! (Did you all see the Irish boys' Christmas special? Heavenly!)

Paella Feast for Ruth

Ruth's wonderful daughters and sons-in-law organized a fantastic party to celebrate Ruth's 75th birthday. We were treated to a great meal at Jaleo's, Crystal City, featuring butternut squash soup, mixed greens salad, chicken paella, vegetable paella, and flan. And Spanish wines. It was marvelous! We were very honored to be included in this special family celebration.

 Ruth and I met at St. Christopher's back in 1977.

 The Meloni and the Squadrini families soon became friends.

Same combination: Italian husbands, American wives

 Scott, David, Michelle on the left and Teresa, Rich, and Lisa on the right

 Andrea, Michelle, and Alessia

David, Tania, Teresa

Dining out on a cold winter day

Sunday was a cold and snowy day but Andrea and I braved the elements and went to church. We then went to our favorite Afghan restaurant in Springfield, Afghan Kabob, on Rolling Road. We invited our friend Florence to join us.

Florence and Christine

I ordered my usual - the Vegetarian Dish. Here is the description on the menu:

Combination platter of bouranee baunjan (fried eggplant), subzi (fried spinach), and kadu (sautéed pumpkin), served with nan (Afghan bread)

Book Sales at the Norwegian Christmas Bazaar

I am the one in the Norwegian sweater! Book sales were quite brisk this year.

Dutch and Greek Delights

DCDC met today for a very special outing. We met at the Phillips Collection and toured the Van Gogh Reflections exhibit. Memorable!

 Mary, Jodi, Synthia

 Christine, Synthia, Mary

Then we walked over to Mourayo's Greek restaurant on Connecticut Avenue. "Mourayo" is Greek for 'safe harbor where fishermen moor their boats.' We had a very delicious lunch. Jodi took charge of the selections (she is superb at this). She ordered four appetizers and one salad - all equally impressive.

Salata Gaea - fresh beet salad with apples, walnuts, and yogurt

Manouri stin Shara -Manouri cheese grilled with a cranberry coulis sauce, garnished with spinach

Agria Manitaria - Oyster mushroom ragout with tomatoes and feta

Kypriako Haloumi me Sousami - Sesame crusted Cypriot haloumi cheese

Melitzanosalata - Roasted eggplant, garlic, tomatoes, feta, olive oil, and vinegar

(It should be noted that DCDC had dined at this restaurant several years ago. Check out my blog post for November 16, 2007.)

God Jul!

The Washington, DC Sons of Norway lodge has a very vibrant and enthusiastic group of Norwegian-language learners. In the photo above you will see the members of the Advanced Norwegian class - from left to right, Ellen, Instructor Nina, Bill, Ingrid, Chuck, Norbert, Christine, George, and Rebecca.

Our exuberant instructor kindly invited all of her students to her home for a Christmas celebration. We ate numerous delicious goodies while we socialized before settling down to watch an excellent Norwegian film, Suffløsen (The Prompter).

A good time was had by all! Thank you, Nina and Keith, for your cordial hospitality.

The Lighting of the Tree

Andrea and I went to Union Station to participate in the annual lighting of the Norwegian Christmas tree. The people of Norway are grateful for the assistance of the American military during the Nazi occupation of their country during World War II and, as a symbol of their gratitude to the American people, they give a Christmas tree that is placed in Washington's Union Station. WETA's Robert Aubrey Davis was the Master of Ceremonies, and, as always, the ceremony was both moving and festive.

  This year, in addition to the little Norwegian and American flags, the tree was decorated with many small illuminated Screams, the face of Edvard Munch's very famous painting "The Scream." 2013 marks the 150th anniversary of Munch's birth.


                        See the little Screams?

Two opera singers from the New York Opera Society sang the Norwegian and American national anthems. The new Norwegian ambassador to the United States gave a moving speech.



Norwegian refreshments were served.

Robin's Birthday at Annie's

Andrea and I met our dear friend Robin at Annie's on Kent Island for a birthday lunch. In the photo above she is showing off her piece of birthday cake with one candle.

We liked her sweater - Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow - Somewhere else!

The restaurant was beautfully decorated for the holidays. We had a wonderful time catching up on our news and celebrating our long friendship (Robin and I go back 6 decades!) as well as Robin's birthday.

Lunch with Pam and Bob

Our dear Missouri friends were in town for Thanksgiving and we took them to our favorite DC restaurant, Founding Farmers. We all enjoyed the wonderful meal and the wonderful opportunity to be together. In the photo above from left to right, Bob, Pam, Liz, Christine, and Andrea.

Finnish Bazaar

 This week it was the Finnish bazaar at the Unitarian Church in Bethesda. Many interesting items were for sale. Our first purchase was a loaf of raisin rye bread.

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Then a large bar of Finnish chocolate.

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Then we had lunch. Here is the menu:



Here is an illustrated price list:

Here is a Finnish Christmas Tart:

Grilled Cheese Again

Betsy and I met again for lunch at Jaleo's and we again opted for the grilled cheese sandwich!

After lunch I went to the National Portrait Gallery and viewed the very interesting Dance exhibit.

Then I went to GW to see the new entrance to the Gelman Library and the transformed second floor (now the main floor). I was completely disoriented and very impressed. It is incredibly different and very wonderful!

Icelandic Bazaar in Fairfax

 Andrea and I went to the annual Icelandic Christmas bazaar again this year. We were delighted to meet our dear Norwegian friend Nicole there and we had lunch together. I had an Icelandic pancake filled with cream and jam and a cup of hot chocolate; Andrea had an open-faced Icelandic lamb sandwich and an Icelandic hotdog; Nicole had an open-faced salmon sandwich and an assortment of pastries.

 

We made a few interesting purchases. We bought some Icelandic orange chocolate. And a book for Claudia about a little girl in Iceland who loved horses and turned into one. And several magnets that read:

LEIF LANDED FIRST

Andrea bought me a pair of earrings (see below). The black balls were made from Icelandic volcanic ash.

The DCDC Celebrates Two Big 7-0s at BB & P

Celebrating the Big 7-0 at Busboys and Poets in Shirlington has become a tradition! The DCDC met to honor Jodi and Mary as they enter an exciting new decade. The conversation was stimulating and amusing as usual, centered on - of course - politics and travel.

Jodi

Jodi and Synthia

 Chris and Mary

Preview at the Folger

Kate and I had brunch at the Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar on the Hill.

Kate had a Florentine omelette. 

I had delicious Brioche French Toast with maple syrup.

We then walked around the corner to the Folger Shakespeare Library.



We saw an entertaining performance of "Romeo and Juliet."

Crossing Off Number 2 on my Bucket List

Visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown was #2 on my Bucket List. I have now crossed it off!!

My sister engineered the whole thing! I took the train to Philly where she met me and drove the five hours to Cooperstown. What a thrill!


We got right into the spirit of the town immediately upon checking in at our hotel. This flag made of baseball bats was proudly displayed on a lobby wall. The next morning we headed for the Hall of Fame and were there the minute it opened. We certainly didn't want to waste any time!

Kate and Chris in front of the National Baseball Hall of Fame

What a thrill! I will narrow down the highlights of the Hall to a few.

 The Great Babe Ruth

 The Number 42 shirt of the great Jackie Robinson

 My very favorite Yankee Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto

My current very favorite Yankee (tied with Andy Pettitte)

 The Great Mickey Mantle's locker with his Number 7 shirt

Another Great Yankee, Mariano Rivera (also Number 42)

One of Phil Rizzuto's gloves

One of Phil Rizzuto's batting helmets

A Photo of Phil

Pointing to Phil's plaque in the Hall of Fame

Close-up of Phil's plaque

The 1950 World Champion Yankees

 Caps of Joe Torre (left) and Andy Pettitte (right)

 Derek Jeter's Shirt

C.C. Sabathia's Size 15 shoes

We also did some exploring in Cooperstown. 

We visited the Fenimore Museum. 

 Museum Entrance

 Lightning Bolt

  

Basket

 Horse mask

 

 Kate with marigolds

We visited the Fly Creek Cider Mill. You should taste their fudge! Out of this world!

We had a delicious picnic lunch with Cayuga Lake white wine, local apples, cheese, crackers, and chocolates. And genuine apple cider. Delightful!

Thanks to everyone for a great time!!!!