Adventures of The Cookie Girl

DC Hot Chocolate 5K/10K

2011-12-03T11:10:00.000-08:00

Beware: I am about to do some serious complaining. If you are looking for the executive summary, it's that you may want to think twice about registering for a Hot Chocolate 5K or 10K with Ram Racing. If you want the excruciating details, see below.

This morning, I woke up at 4:55AM to get ready to run the Hot Chocolate 5K at National Harbor. That's very early for a Saturday, but the wake up call seemed worth it for a good run followed by some Ghiradelli chocolate. Plus, I was shooting for a personal best today, hoping to finish the race in 27 minutes or less. I was hyped. I was really in the zone for this. Since the race was at National Harbor, there was no way to arrive by public transportation. Out of all of the travel options, it seemed best for me to drive to King Street and take the free shuttle to the race. This worked out just fine. But for others, travel did not come so easy. And this is where the problems start.

The race was set to begin at 7:30. After about an hour of ambling around, stretching, and a quick jog to warm up, I headed to the race corrals. And then I stood there for the next hour, along with about 20,000 of my freezing compatriots. The 5k race began at least 45 minutes late, and I hear that the 10K was just as bad. According to Ram Racing, the event sponsor, there was an accident on the road that caused a delayed arrival for many of the race participants, which required the delayed start. Race participants rushed to Facebook to express their skepticism about the accident; WTOP didn't report anything like what Ram Racing described, and racers arriving late did not report seeing any emergency vehicles. Many seem to believe that the traffic was simply the result of poor logistical planning on the part of Ram Racing.

While I was super annoyed about the late start, I am willing to give Ram Racing the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps this was out of their control. But there were plenty of other preventable problems with the event. Primarily, the course around National Harbor was not nearly wide enough for the 20K participants that Ram allowed to register. For the first portion of the course, it was nearly impossible to pass anyone and there was a lot of walking. My dreams of a personal best were thwarted by about five and a half minutes of walking because I literally could not run. This also got a little dangerous. Serious runners who could not bear to walk were attempting some parkour-like moves to get through the crowd. Others were running precariously close to the river. I think everyone was frustrated.

I heard a lot of other complaints from runners about lack of race volunteers to pour waters and mix Gatorade on the course. I experienced a lost shuttle bus driver. People paid for parking in locations that were not monitored for parking passes. Some felt that it was dangerous to run so close to a construction site and fast moving traffic. But worst of all, we were kept uninformed. Over and over again the announcer told us that we would begin in ten minutes. It would have been more helpful to let us know that it would be awhile so that we could leave the race corrals to jog, keep warm, and stretch. If there was an accident, they should have announced it while we were waiting for the race so that we wouldn't have gotten so frustrated.

I want to say "at least there was great chocolate," but if you want to pay $40.00 for fondue, might I suggest The Melting Pot?

And if you think I'm just being cranky about the race, it might be helpful to point out that I'm not alone ; )

Heavenly Frosted Cupcakes

2011-11-27T17:34:00.000-08:00

This past Thanksgiving weekend, I ate more cupcakes than anything else. I ate my fair share of traditional Thanksgiving fare too, but I seriously went to town on the cupcakes my mom picked up from Heavenly Frosted Cupcakes in Burlington, Kentucky. When all of my feasting was done and my top pants button was no longer useful, I had tried their Chocolate Indulgence, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Vanilla Salt Caramel, and Confetti Birthday cupcakes. I am the Kobayashi of cupcakes.(I know that really sound like a lot of cupcakes, but just see the photos below; I'm sure you can't blame me. The Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is a cookie on top of a cupcake. For real.)
The bakery is in Burlington, Kentucky, just a short drive from the Florence Mall. If you think you're getting lost, just give it a second. We drove through a residential neighborhood to get there, and it's quite a surprise to come upon a cupcake bakery. From the taste of things, I'm guessing they put out fairly small batches of their cupcakes. Not only was the frosting delicious, the cake was great too. It seems like a lot of bakeries rely exclusively on the flavor of the frosting, but Heavenly Frosted Cupcakes have moist, flavorful cake to match. Plus, these taste just like homemade, and are far stretch from the more industrial feel that comes from some larger chain bakeries.
In fact, these tasted so much like homemade that they reminded me of some of my own mother's recipes. This is no small praise. Anyone who has ever been to a gathering with my family can attest to my Mom's mad baking skills. That my Mom doesn't have a Food Network is practically criminal; she's just that good.

I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but the frosting on the vanilla frosting on the Salt Caramel cupcakes is just like something my mom makes. The Cookie Dough cupcake, too, reminded me exactly of her chocolate chip cake. If you are looking for something that tastes like some of the best homemade cupcakes you could imagine, Heavenly Frosted Cupcakes is the place to go.

Feast your eyes on this:

$1.00 Cupcake Sale- The Whole Foods Miracle

2011-10-29T06:10:00.000-07:00

If you were to ask me where I might expect to find $1.00 cupcakes, I would not have said Whole Foods. I might expect to see locally sourced wheatgrass or noni fruit cupcakes, but I would not have expected to find the most affordable cupcakes in the DC Metro area. Yet, when I arrived at the Whole Foods in Foggy Bottom on Friday, I saw a throng of people waiting in line for $1.00 cupcakes. This unbelievable price might have been a one day deal but at full price their cupcakes are still (comparative speaking) low priced. They are regularly priced at $1.99 per cupcake, but they are huge. These cupcakes are made for splitting, and if I say so you know they must be big.

Here is a list of things that should not be surprising: 1) People were being pretty intense about getting their cupcakes. 2) The line reached Georgetown Cupcakes proportions in length. 3) I bought six cupcakes. But don't worry... I didn't eat them all. I took them to a party and shared with friends. Somehow I still still managed to sample three of the flavors. Let me tell you all about them:

1) Pistachio: This is the first pistachio cupcake I have ever laid eyes or teeth on. I'm always skeptical about pistachio flavored desserts because pistachios are savory and salty and I generally expect my desserts to be sweet. But like with pistachio flavored ice cream, no need for skepticism here. The combination of buttery yellow cake (think Paula Deen amount of buttery) with toasty pistachio flavored frosting was perfect. The only thing I could ask for would be more frosting (duh), but overall they were delightful.

2) Hazelnut: When I bought a hazelnut cupcake, I was hoping it would be like eating Nutella in cupcake form. This was a tasty cupcake, but I actually would have preferred to eat a spoonful of Nutella instead.

3) Vanilla Caramel: I have had a penchant for the flavors vanilla and caramel ever since I spend a summer working for Edward Marc Chocolatier, who makes a killer vanilla salt caramel. When I saw that Whole Foods had a vanilla caramel cupcake, I knew it must be mine. This cupcake evoked pocket caramels like Werther's more than it did anything else, not that it's a bad thing. This was my favorite cupcake of the bunch. White cake, buttery white frosting with a dollop of caramel, and caramel filling. You heard me right: caramel filling. The only thing that would have made this better? Sea salt. You best believe.Among the flavors that I did not try were Vanilla Raspberry, Chocolate Raspberry, and Chocolate Fudge. There's always next time!

I Won FatBoy Cookies!

2011-10-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

Every time I enter a contest, sweepstakes, or raffle, I convince myself that I am destined to win. I quickly begin to imagine myself enjoying the spoils of my victory. Recently, I entered a Facebook trivia contest to win some cookie dough from FatBoy's Cookie Company, and I slipped into dreams of fresh-baked cookie bliss. I could picture myself boldly refusing a glass of milk to save room for yet another cookie; I could already taste the chocolaty decadence. While my reckless optimism usually results in my dreams being dashed, this time was different. This time I won.

This was not mere luck; this was the stars aligning in my favor. I had been periodically visiting FatBoy's website for a few weeks, trying to rationalize a reason that I needed to buy some cookie dough. But no occasion was coming to mind. I followed them on Twitter. I liked them on Facebook. I was inching ever closer to making the purchase. Then I started looking online for National Cookie Month deals, and I found that FatBoy's has been doing a trivia contest on Facebook every Saturday in October. This was my big chance.

If you are reading this before October 30th, 2011, you can have your big chance too! There is one more opportunity to win this upcoming Saturday. Here's what can take you to victory: All you will need to do is like FatBoys on Facebook, check to see when the trivia question will be posted, wait poised to answer the question at the designated time, and then answer the question correctly. You will be playing against other contestants, so good luck!

Now, on to the most important part: the part about the cookies. I got to pick which flavor of cookies I wanted, and it was an agonizing decision. I was close to choosing the Cranberry Nut, but in the end I went with Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk. I have a feeling that you can go wrong with picking one of the flavors, but I can testify that the PB Chocolate Chunk are thebomb.com.
I put some of these bad boys in the oven just last night. Once the cookies had been baking for a few minutes, they smelled just like the peanut butter blossom cookies my Mom makes at Christmas time. They aren't fooling around with the peanut butter here, nor are the fooling around with the chocolate. Not only is there plenty of chunky peanut butter flavor, there's also a generous amount of chocolate chunks. Unlike other prepared cookie doughs I've tried, these don't spread out in the oven. They stay...well..fat. It's nice because despite being jam packed with chips and chunks, there's still plenty of cookie in the cookie. I thought they were great!

While I got lucky and won these, I have to say that they would be totally worth buying. So next time you need to buy cookie dough, I'd say go for it! And don't worry my friends; I didn't eat them all...yet! There are plenty left for sharing!

Truck-a-Palooza

2011-10-16T11:31:00.000-07:00

GW's radio station, WRGW, knows precisely what's up. The Truck-a-Palooza event they held this past Friday changed up the way I get down on Friday. As soon as I heard about Truck-a-Palooza, I stopped working for the weekend; I was working for my lunch hour. How could I possibly want to be at home sleeping in or eating donuts in bed when a wonderland of food choices would be pulling up right down the street from my office? Like a woman possessed, I spent Friday morning pushing paperwork and muttering to myself like a madwoman, repeating the mantra: "Food trucks...food trucks...food trucks."Many of DC's food truck greats were in attendance. Curbside Cupcakes, Eat Wonky, DC Empanadas, Basil Thyme, and Lobster Truck DC and Dangerously Delicious Pies were all there, and that's just to name a few. You must be thinking, "Holy smokes!" Believe me...I know. There were so many choices that it was overwhelming, but I came knowing what I wanted: The Big Cheese. I've had a grilled cheese from The Big Cheese truck before, but I've never been lucky enough to show up to the truck when they still had The Mt. Fuji sandwich in stock. This was my big chance. Brie, fuji apples, and honey? Don't mind if I do.

The sandwich wasn't actually as good as I had imagined, but it was good. Based on my previous grilled cheese experience with them, I think I might have had inflated expectations. The Midnight Moon sandwich is much better, and it sets a high bar for The Big Cheese's other offerings.

Colin decided to try the Tasty Kabob truck, a favorite among the GW community. He seemed to be a low-medium amount of impressed with their fare. From the high praise Tasty Kabob gets from GW students, this surprised me. I have never tried their food myself since there aren't any veggie-friendly entrees, but the bit of Colin's spinach I tried was not so hot. Maybe they were having an off day.

With so many food trucks to pick from, it's impossible not to second guess your order. I know that Farragut Square is consistently brimming with food truck delights, but around Foggy Bottom they only come every so often (except Tasty Kabob, which is always there). I have only had the opportunity to try a fraction of these dreams-on-wheels. Should I have gotten an empanada? Cheese cake? Lasagne? The world may never know. I'm already pining for a second chance to pick out the perfect food truck order. This is why I've just gotta be straight with you, WRGW. Can we do this again? Please.

4 Ounces to Freedom

2011-10-09T16:57:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I had the agonizing choice of picking between the Taste of DC and the Capital City's Mid-Atlantic Octoberfest in Shirlington. Both events promised the availability of samples of craft beer and low-priced foods; picking between the two is like picking your favorite Disney movie. Impossible. Considering that the Taste of DC would assuredly include more cupcakes, cookies, and candies than Octoberfest, you may be surprised to hear that I spent my Saturday indulging in 4 ounce samples of craft beer. This, my friends, is what I did for love. As many of you know, my beau is an avid beer lover and, some would say, part of the intelligentsia of craft beer drinkers. Plus, I'm not foreign to drinking beer myself, and I sincerely enjoy trying new brews. Also, going to Taste of DC would require getting on the Metro...so minus ten points.Heavily considering the pros and cons, we headed out to Shirlington in the early afternoon knowing that there were more than forty breweries waiting for us ready to fill our tiny "pint" glasses. But first, we would have to wait awhile. This event was so popular that the photo above only captured a fraction of the line we had to wait in to get our tickets. Waiting in line for tickets wasn't fun, but thankfully there were enough breweries and food vendors at the event that we didn't have to wait long for anything once we entered the festival. Even for the most popular brewers, like Stone and Dogfish, the lines took maybe a minute to get through. There was plenty of beer to go around.

This Octoberfest featured a great many pumpkin beers and seasonal offerings, as well as some of the tried and true beers that the breweries are known for. Among my favorites were the Epic's Sour Apple Saison, Firestone Walker's Double Jack, and Founder's Red Rye PA. I was also pleasantly surprised by Delirium Tremens' lambic, though I'm not even sure that it was really a beer... someone might have switched out the keg with a bottle of Arbor Mist. I'm not complaining.

Throughout the afternoon, I tried some truly potent potables. I wasn't even able to make it all the way through my the ten beer tickets that came with the cost of admission. Thankfully, beer wasn't all that Octoberfest had in store for us, or I would have been able to sample even less. In addition to more traditional Octobefest schnitzels and sausages, this event had all kinds of food. We had some Indian food from Aroma Indian Cuisine. Only $5.00 for a plate full of chickpeas, naan, and rice! Alright! Colin got double hungry and also sampled the offerings from T.H.A.I Shirlington. The crowd started getting a little sloppy around the time the event was closing, but aside from a few broken glasses all ended well. If you ask me, this was a great event. We had perfect weather, great company, and more beer than I could drink all for the low cost of $25.00. Also, the event was just as good for dog-watching as it was for-people watching. I wouldn't hesitate to go back. Oh, and according to the Washingon Post's Going out Gurus, we made a good call by picking Octoberfest. Sounds like the lines at Taste of DC were outrageous.

National Cookie Month- Make the Most of it!

2011-10-06T09:03:00.001-07:00

I don't know about you, but I can't believe so much of October has passed already. This month is particularly important to cherish because it is National Cookie Month. You heard me right, but I can still say it again. It's National Cookie Month. This mean's that all throughout the month of October, you have a built-in excuse to take your cookie consumption to the extreme. If you haven't been taking advantage of National Cookie Month yet, don't worry. I'm here to help you make the most of it.

I'm sure that you will be celebrating National Cookie Month in your own special way. You may choose to celebrate by getting together with family and friends to break cookies, or you embark on a solo mission to tear through a bag of Oreos. It doesn't matter how you choose to celebrate as long as you celebrate. There are, however, some great cookie deals going on in the Month of October that I can't let you miss. By God, I am the Cookie Girl; this is my duty.

Here's what you need to know:

1) Mrs. Fields Cookies is doing a give away of FREE cookies for a year.

The winner of this Mrs. Field's sweepstakes will gain free membership to the "Treat of the Month" club, which will bring a delivery of gourmet cookies to your door monthly. All you have to do is submit a photo of yourself enjoying cookies to Mrs. Field's Facebook page. Shouldn't be hard, right? The deadline to enter is October 12th. I know you don't want to miss it. Plus, Mrs. Fields is making National Cookie Month even sweeter with a limited time deal on shipping.

2) Max and Erma's Free Cookie Wednesdays.

Max and Erma's kicked of National Cookie Month a little bit early. Starting in late September, the restaurant has been having Free Cookie Wednesdays, which is exactly as delightful as it sounds. With the purchase of any menu item (not drinks or side dishes) you can get two fresh, hot cookies for free. Basically, if you are patronizing Max and Erma's on a Wednesday, you get free cookies. Simple as that. And remember: not eating free cookies is a sin.

3) Free Cookies at Great American Cookie Co.

The Great American Cookie Co. is hosting their second annual Reading is SWEET National Book Drive. All throughout the month of October, Great American Cookie will hook you up with a free cookie for bringing in a new or gently used book donation. This event is great because it combines doing something kind with cookies, leading to double the happiness.

4) $10 off a $30 purchase at Cheryl's Cookies and Brownies

That's a pretty sweet discount. If you have never tried Cheryl's Cookies, you are missing out. It might seem like a lot to spend $30.00 on cookies ($20 with this discount!), but they are worth the money. The buttercream....my God, the buttercream. You will get hooked, but don't worry; Cheryl's is always running specials, so this is not the last great deal you will see from them.

5) Fatboy's Cookie Dough- Facebook Trivia and Crazy Cranberry Nut Cookies

Through the power of the Tweetosphere, I found out that Fatboy's Cookie Dough is doing a great combination of October events. As you may know, October isn't just National Cookie Month, it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Through the Month of October, Fatboy's is donating all of the profits from their Crazy Cranberry Nut cookie dough to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. You will have to take a look at their website to see how crazy good their cookies look. Fatboy's is also doing a weekly Facebook trivia contest through the moth of October. "Like" them to play and win yourself some cookies!

Know of any other great cookies deals this month? Post them in the comments!

Also, don't forget that more important that National Cookie Month, October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's a great time to support a good cause, like this one.

Run for the Parks 10K

2011-10-02T08:03:00.000-07:00

Somebody please cue up the Nelly Sweatsuit album, because I'm setting the stage for a story about victory and celebrating the only way I know how. Today, I ran in my first 10K: The Run for the Parks, put on by Potomac River Running (PR Running) to benefit the US National Parks Service. Running races can be really expensive, so I am always glad to be supporting a great cause with my registration money. I liked this race in particular because I've spent some time running on the National Mall, so I feel good about putting some money behind its upkeep.

I didn't know much about PR Running before I picked up my swag bag and race number at their store in Falls Church yesterday, but from my brief experience with them today, I was very impressed. For one thing, they hooked up the first 800 registrants (which I assume covered every single person who registered) with some super fly Saucony jackets embroidered with the race logo and a really nice commemorative pint glass. I know that some runners are in it for the medals, but this kind of functional swag is what I prefer.The event itself was pretty low frills. When I arrived this morning, there were a few hundred people gathered around three tents and the starting line. My typical goals with running are to do my best and to finish the course, but I also have a paranoia about coming in last. I know somebody has to come in last, and I know there's no shame in it, but it's just part of my involuntary pre-race ritual to convince myself that everyone might pass me. Seeing the crowd this morning did not help my last place anxiety. You should have seen the calves on these people lining up at the starting line. I swear to God they all had calves like Titans. I was preparing to eat their dust.

The race started at 8:00, and we started out on a flat "there and back" course along the Potomac River. Along the way, we were able to see the Solar Decathalon and some fisherman out at the river, but any other notable sights must have been blurred out by my being so intensely in the freakin' zone. Those six miles did not come easy for me, but when I crossed the finish line I was pleased to see that I had a time of 1:01:38, way better than I had expected. I had planned to use this race as a qualifier for a time corral at the Disney World Half Marathon in January, so getting a good time was pretty crucial. Phew! That some of the participants finished the race in under 40 minutes is something that I can't wrap my mind around, but I think it has something to do with their divinely chiseled calves.

After I crossed the finish line, I grabbed a bottle of water and a stack of cookies from the feast-0-carbs being offered by PR. Then a rainbow appeared in the sky. Then Marine One flew right through the rainbow. And I'm pretty sure the President was in it. If that's not an appropriate scene to accompany a feeling of victory, I don't know what is.

Fermentation Without Represenation

2011-10-01T14:54:00.001-07:00

Are you 21 years old or older? Well then, go on ahead and read this post. If not, you'll just have to make up a fake birthday then, now won't you? Because this post is about BEER, that adult elixir that tantalizes and teases our taste buds, warms our bellies, chills our hands, and gets the people going (...in moderation!).

This Saturday, I went with some friends to take tour DC Brau and try a few samples of their beer. Tapping into DC's iconic stars and strips images and the ever-present push for DC statehood and/or voting rights, DC Brau started bringing us "fermentation without representation" in April of 2011. They're brewing up their delicious concoctions right in the District that they supply to bars and restaurants in DC from a small brewery tucked away behind some store fronts in NE. According to our brewery tour guide, they are working on expanding their operations and hope to bring DC Brau into Northern Virginia this January. I'm ready already.

DC Brau had a welcoming atmosphere. You can walk right in, get yourself 0-4 free samples of freshly brewed beer (Saturdays only), sit in some comfy chairs and chill. They doors to the brewery were left open, letting the cool fall air right inside. We were there right in time for the 2:30 tour, and took a quick jaunt around the brewery to see the fermentation tanks, barrels of experimental brews, and canning station. You can walk the whole brewery in about 50 steps, but the tour still delights with information about the brewing process and gives tempting glimpses of beers to come.

With my three sample tickets (I was allowed four, but I was driving home), I sampled The Corruption IPA, The Penn Quarter Porter, and The Public American Pale. I enjoyed all of the beers, put was particularly fond of the IPA. It was super hoppy and reminded me of a Sierra Nevada with some extra hops to kick things up. Colin brought home a growler full of the IPA, which is currently the only was to get DC Brau outside of select restaurants and bars in the city. As of now, growler fills only happen on Saturdays. The price of the growlers can't be beat, coming in at $10.00 for a refill. Plus, what can be better than draft beer that you can keep in your fridge? For another take on the brewery tour and a more in-depth review of Corruption IPA, check out our friends over at Beer For Lunch.

To add one more fun facts about the brewery: This is DC's first production brewery in about 60 years!

This is Kay, who is super nice. --->

Yola

2011-09-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

I don't even know what's going on here to be perfectly honest, but I do know that I like it. Yola, a new yogurt/coffee joint in Dupont Circle owned by a father daughter duo (squee! it's very cute!) that sells fresh, not frozen yogurt. If you don't quite know what that means, don't worry... neither did I. What do you do with this fresh yogurt? At Yola, you make a delicious, organic parfaits. If you were alive in 2001, I know that you learned one lesson: everybody loves parfait.

Yola was yet another stop on the chocolate walking tour of Dupont Circle, and before we arrived we were warned not to expect the kind of yogurt they sell at places like Pinkberry. We would not be served the tangy vanilla frozen concoction, but rather something that "tasted...organic." Based on this description, I was half expecting the yogurt to taste like hemp, or goat fur, or grass clippings. What I got was a cup of creamy, chocolate yogurt that was a lot more flavorful than the froyo of my yesterdays. Yola's fresh yogurt tastes a lot like the organic yogurt you can buy at the grocery store, but with a little bit thinner consistency. Although I was only able to sample the yogurt, they have a variety of healthy toppings that they use to make parfait, like mint, jams, berries, coconut, agave nectar, nuts and dates. They also have Nutella.

Although initially skeptical, I was sold on this place almost as soon as I had walked through the door. Not only do they make parfaits, but they also have coffees made with Counter Culture Coffee and baked goods. It gets even better! They also host live music and book clubs! And coffee tour by bike! Wow. This place is doing a lot, and it has great personality. I would really like to spend some time loitering here. You should do yourself a favor and check out their website. Do it. It will be worth it. See? Wasn't that cute?

The phrase "freshyo" might not be quite as satisfying as "froyo" but the product is. If the purpose of froyo is to eat sweets but not get fatter (which has always been my impression), the fresh yogurt at Yola is taking a different approach. The message here: put good things in your body and support local farms. Also don't destroy the earth. I can dig it.

If you're looking to try fresh, not frozen yogurt, Yola is the place to go. It is the only fresh yogurt place in DC!

Chocolate Chocolate

2011-09-25T18:39:00.000-07:00

I love a small business with a story, and Chocolate Chocolate sure has one. Started by two sisters, Frances and Ginger Park, Chocolate Chocolate has been on the DC scene since 1984. The sisters started the store to help cope with their father's death, and clearly have a special bond with each other and with chocolate-for them, it's a family thing. I can relate; I am thoroughly convinced my out of control sweet tooth is genetic, passed down through the generations. Anyone who has ever met my family, go ahead and testify.Liz outside of the store.

The store owners were clear about being against chocolate elitism, holding the philosophy that you like what you like. While I often go after fancy chocolates, I have to agree. Just like there is a time and a place for boxed wine or 7-11 taquitos, there is a time and a place for a Hershey bar and/or a Reese Cup. In fact, I can think of many times and places for them. All chocolates might not be created equal, but there's a time for every season, or somesuch. They even say so in the Bible.

That being said, Chocolate Chocolate sells mostly high-end chocolates, including some bold flavor choices. Out of curiosity, I had to take home a lavender flavored caramel and a black pepper ganache truffle. It paid off to be adventurous. These flavor combinations were unique, but they weren't too odd to be overpowering. The black pepper candy mostly tasted like the earth dipped in dark chocolate, while the lavender caramel brought the floral tones in a big way. You'll find some of what Chocolate Chocolate calls "nostalgic chocolate", but I find that even these selections are on the fancy side. Not that I'm complaining.
I visited Chocolate Chocolate as a part of the Chocolate Walking Tour, and was also able to sample the house specialty- an original truffle recipe, the richness of which caused me to slip into a sugar induced coma. You have been warned: if you tend to inhale your food, be careful not to inhale these truffles. They're covered in cocoa powder, and results of inhalation will not vary: you will have to suppress a fit of coughing and embarrassment. I'm speaking from experience.

Chocolate Chocolate is the perfect place to go if you are looking to buy a few pieces of nice chocolate as a treat. But, if you are looking to stock up on chocolate Hoarders style, might I recommend going for Hershey's.

Larry's Ice Cream

2011-09-24T17:35:00.000-07:00

Larry's Homemade Ice Cream has been a long-term sugar supplier in Dupont Circle, and is definitely worth a visit. I went with my cousin Liz as part of the Dupont Circle Chocolate Walking Tour (it was awesome, you should go on one!). Although traditionally known for their ice cream, we were there for cupcakes. An adorable Turkish grandmother, an owner of the store and cupcake baker extraordinaire, served us up a batch of cupcakes warm from the oven. This was a rare treat, and it should tell you something about Larry's. When they say homemade, they mean it. They make small batches of cupcakes daily, and give the kind of mom and pop treatment that you could never get from bakeries with an hour long wait. Let's not beat around the bush-we're talking specifically about Georgetown Cupcakes.

The grandmother/owner/baker was also an epic smack talker, who straight up called out Georgetown Cupcakes and declared her cupcakes to be objectively better. This is a cupcake throw-down that Georgetown might not be able to win. She said that Georgetown Cupcakes isn't even homemade anymore, that it's "factory stuff" and is "made for television". Gauntlet thrown. Delicious as they are, GTown can't deny those claims. The grandmother/owner/baker/smack talker was hilarious and charming, but I hear she is mild compared to Larry, a man who has been compared affectionately to Seinfeld's character "the soup nazi," bu has instead been called the "scoop nazi". Some people on Yelp! seem pretty upset at Larry for being rude, so go in expecting it and just be cool.

What's more, we were told us that Larry's Homemade got into the cupcake business to be able to make the high rent for property in Dupont Circle over the long, icecream-less winter. Apparently some people stop eating ice cream in the winter. WHO DOES THAT? Monsters. We did get to taste little samples of the ice cream, and I will tell you what. Larry's is doing it right. I tried the Brandy Peach, made with real brandy. It tasted pretty boozy for ice cream, and if you are afraid of eating ice cream in the winter go ahead and get yourself liquored up on ice cream from Larry's. It will warm you right up. Rum raisin or Jack Daniels would also keep you nice and warm and boozy. They also have interesting flavors like Rosewater and bold flavor combinations like orange and dark chocolate.

A few last things about Larry's. They have this cookie monstrosity that appears to have been plucked straight from my dreams. I will not rest until I have tried it. Also, this Dupont Circle Larry's Homemade is different that the Crystal City Larry's Homemade, who should have done Google search before naming his/her ice cream store.

To Georgetown Cupcakes: This Should Be My Job

2010-08-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

So I already have a job, and it's a good one, and I like it, and all the rest. But, I would really like to walk into Georgetown Cupcakes, and tell them "put me on the TV."

You see, this week Georgetown Cupcakes posted on Facebook that they will be hiring a full-time manager and part-time sales reps. I've been preparing my whole life for those gigs. Essentially every part of my experience as a human being has prepared me to be in the cupcake sales business. So despite the fact that I won't be applying for employment opportunities with Georgetown Cupcakes, I can't stop from imagining myself in the position. I've compiled a list of reasons why I'm perfect for the job, and if I were going to apply, this is what I would say:

1) I know the competition.

I can guarantee that one thing I have above any other applicant is the sheer volume of cupcakes I have consumed in my lifetime. It could take someone years to catch up to the amount of cupcakes I've had the opportunity to sample. And when it comes to DC cupcakes, I've already ranked and assessed the competition. Based on that information, I could do a SWAT analysis for Georgetown Cupcakes so fast that's it's unreasonable. Things they could do: vegan and gluten free offerings, mobile cupcakes, and in store cupcake making classes. I know about cupcakes.

And while Georgetown Cupcakes is the obvious top dog on the DC cupcakes scene, some NYC cupcakes are currently crossing into DC cupcake turf. That's right, Crumbs is coming to town. Georgetown Cupcakes shouldn't sleep easy just yet.

2) I actually don't care that much about being on TV.

The major perk of the job for me would be the cupcakes, not the reality television. In general, I care way more about cupcakes than I do about television. In fact, I generally disagree with reality television. I disagree with it about as much as I disagree with the idea of putting the internet on my phone. I think its gross. So you wouldn't find me distracted by the fact that Georgetown Cupcakes has had a wildly popular, yet fairly mediocre television show. Ain't no thing. Just give me a little free product and I'm on board. But if you put a camera in front of my face, I swear to God I'll work it.

3) I have experience in selling high end sweets.

It's true. In an act of making my dreams reality, I got a summer job working for a candy store in the Pentagon. The place is called Edward Marc Chocolatier, and it's where I sell people sugar all day long. I help people win the battle against reasonable adulthood to gain the courage to break their diets and buy way more candy than is necessary. And I know how this battle works because all day long my brain is in a battle about just how much sugar to consume. The answer is always lots. You deserve it.

4) I believe in cupcakes like I believe in me.

Think cupcakes are just a trend? That's like saying that fast food is just a trend. Or that America is just a trend. People are far too individualistic (and selfish) to want to share their cake. Now I don't think that all of these 10,000 cupcakes shops in DC will survive, but I do think cupcakes are here to stay. So don't believe the things you hear about frozen yogurt.

5) I'm not Georgetown Cupcakes' biggest fan.

I think I've made it obvious in previous posts that I can be critical of Georgetown Cupcakes. Right, they have delicious-insane cupcakes. But I think I could help Georgetown Cupcakes reach people who aren't interested in the hyper-bougie elite yupster feel. Just saying.

6) I would never work harder for anything in my life.

Like I've said, I really like cupcakes.

4th of July in DC

2010-07-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

There might be only one thing that can make me feel more awesome about being in Washington DC than watching "The West Wing." That one thing is the Fourth of July. Like a Disney World draped in nationalism, this events in the city previous weekend combined unbearable heat with food, parades, music, eagles and freedom to amount to a tremendously fun time.

With temperatures in the mid-90s, tourists blanketing the city, and shady spaces at a premium, I knew only the strong would survive. Needless to say, Colin and I had what it took to celebrate the day full force. We started out by watching the parade on Constitution Avenue in front of the National Archives. If you like high school marching bands, this was a parade for you. If not...well...you're out of luck. My only recommendation for the parade is that they should throw candy from the floats. What good is a parade without the opportunity to race against children for free candy? Seriously.
Next we went to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival for a sampling of cultural activities from Mexico and the Central Pacific. The festival offered music, lectures, educational displays, shopping and, best of all, cold, refreshing beer. It offered a nice escape from the heat and provided some unavoidable learning. Even on days of celebration, the Smithsonian doesn't let up a bit on education. Gotta hand it to them.

What came next in the day was a bit trying. We spent three hours baking in the sun waiting for the Capitpol Fourth Concert. Temperatures reached 1000 degrees. Celsius. We arrived at 5 to stake out excellent seats on the steps of the Capitol building for premium concert and fireworks viewing. It's a good thing too, because they stopped letting people into the concert at about 6:30.

Three hours in the agonizing heat may or may not be worth it to you for a free concert, but let me remind you of a few things. 1) We're kind of tough. 2) We're talking about B-list celebrities here. 3) America.
The concert started out with some of the soulful Gladys Knight. While other divas (cough cough, Whitney) have lost the stuff of greatness, Gladys Knight truly worked it. :Midnight Train to Georgia" sounded as good as ever.

In between acts, we saw the National Symphony Orchestra, Lang Lang (a pianist, not a panda), and the Marine Corps band.

I was most excited to see Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish fame, but Darius is Hootie no more. I was hoping for some of the classics, like "Dolphin Made Me Cry," but instead Ruker only played a series of vapid country songs. It's hard to believe that he has turned his back on his identity as Hootie. It makes me wonder if the 90s were nothing but a lie.
Reba really stole the show, though. She sang "Consider me Gone" and "Fancy." She was awesome. If you didn't catch the show on PBS, I recommend checking out this video of Reba. Go ahead and fast-forward to "Fancy." It's worth it.

Top it all off with fireworks and the cites of the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument, and you've got yourself a night. Well, we did. We had ourselves a night.

White House Garden Tour

2010-04-18T06:59:00.000-07:00

This is the view from the front door of the White House. I know because I was standing there. Colin and I got tickets for the White House Gardens tour, which is essentially just an excuse to get really really close to the White House and take photos of yourself to post on Facebook. It was awesome. They give out free tickets for the garden tours on certain dates in the Spring. If you can get up early enough to get some (I got there at 8:30 and they were about half gone), then you too can get mega close to the White House, the Rose garden, and all kinds of other cool stuff that will make you geek.

Can you imagine having this view everyday? Because I can.Yup. There is no zoom on the photo below. We were standing this close to the White House. I felt like I was seconds away from a fist bump with Barack Obama. The tours are self-guided. You get a booklet/map (with an introductory note by Michelle Obama) that shows you where things are and who is responsible for planting them. For example, this tree was planted by Bill Clinton. Hence the picture of Bill Clinton planting this tree.
To be non-partisan, here is a George H.W. Bush tree.
There are other spots along the way that the tour provides an excellent photo narrative. For example, here at the Rose Garden they displayed some of the most iconic walks down the corridor from the West Wing. This is where big stuff happens. Just imagine LBJ towering down on with "the Johnson treatment" to assure your legislative cooperation. This is that corridor.
These are the hand-prints of the first children in The Children's Garden. It's tucked away in the White House Front Lawn, and I am sure makes the children feel like they are in a fairy garden. What a charmed life.
This is the Kitchen Vegetable Garden. It has all kinds of stuff in it. Pretty much every kind of vegetable that you can grow. Must be nice to be the president or the First Lady. Although, we all know that these are political vegetables with a specific sort of agenda. Amirite?To add to the ambiance, the Marine Corps band played the entire time. And it wasn't stuffy music either. They played the score from Chicago and a medley of John Williams music. The Obamas bring the party.These have nothing to do with the gardens, but were just awesome photo opportunities.
Like you wouldn't act like a tourist here too.
Like you wouldn't act like a tourist here too.

Cherry Blossom Parade Photos

2010-04-10T17:21:00.000-07:00

The Cherry Blossom Parade is pretty big time. It's obviously not as big as the Macy's Day Parade, but it's the best non-Disney World parade I've ever seen. Plus floats just look hilarious with the backdrop of the Washington Monument. Here are a few of my favorite pics.VeggiTales was by far my favorite float. Which is more phallic: a giant cucumber or the Washington Monument? We report, you decide.

Kermit shows off his height.

Cherry Bl-Awesomes Festival!

2010-04-04T13:33:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's bloomin' cherry blossom time! No, this is not a fried appetizer at Outback Steakhouse, although I wouldn't be surprised if flowers could be made tasty bythat dipping sauce... But, in fact, it's that time of the year when our eyes and noses are both attracted to and repulsed by the short-lived bloom of our favorite trees. Aaa-choo! This weekend was deemed the best weekend to see the Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC, and hence, the weekend of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival is lasting into next weekend, when we will have a parade and Japanese Street Festival. There are big things shakin' come cherry blossom time.
Colin and I went to see the Cherry Blossoms around the National Mall in part just for the sights and great opportunity for photos, and in part for a celebration of being boos for two years. Huzzah! We went to the Tidal Basin at the Jefferson Memorial right before dusk, walked around through the literal mobs of people. Everyone was taking pictures of themselves with Cherry Blossoms, putting their babies in trees (this is not actually advised), shaking petals into their hair like a fairy princess would, and in general enjoying the blooms.

Here is Colin being forced into a photograph.There was an actual festival going on , but we spent so much time walking around and looking a the trees that we missed it. It appeared to be just festival food, aka all fried everything. It's hard to say since it was closed down. But I didn't even miss it because we, like many other festival-goers, packed a picnic. Caprese salad, hummus, fruit, Reese Peanut Butter Eggs, and even some adult "juice" that we packed in a Nalgene bottle. Deeeelicious.
The festival day was supposed to include fireworks. OK, well technically I guess it did, but not for all of the people who made the same mistake we did. A large portion of the crowd expected the fireworks to happen at the Tidal Basin,, the place where it would make sense for them to happen. It was packed with people sitting on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial, on the ground, and on the ledge surrounding the water. Suddenly, at fireworks time, there are explosions to be heard but nothing to be seen. We all turn around, and there are the fireworks, barely visible from beyond a concrete wall. It was awesome. No wait, it was the opposite. Maybe we just got left behind with the tourists who don't know the ropes. But fireworks by the Tidal Basin would be nice. It's a (good) suggestion.
All in all, though, this was a great weekend to be living here and going to see the Cherry Blossoms was so fun. There should be more festivals dedicated to trees. I'm even going to be a little sad when I wipe the final sheets of pollen off of my windshield.

For Love and Cupcakes

2010-03-30T06:07:00.001-07:00

Let's talk about something super cute. The owners of Curbside Cupcakes are getting married. They started their cupcake business when they were just bf and gf, but now they're getting hitched. As if they weren't cute enough to begin with, they are taking us all along as they ride together toward a sugary matrimonial bliss. The couple entered in Crate and Barrel's Ultimate Wedding Contest, and are asking their devoted fans to vote for them in hopes of winning a $100,000 dream wedding. They have provide us with mobile cupcakes, I think the lease we can do is provide them with some votes for an Ultimate Wedding! It's a cupcake love story, so c'mon. You gotta love it! But if you need more convincing, consider this: maybe we'll get a cupcake deal if they win! ; )

WANT TO VOTE? Follow this link!
I see a Sandra Bullock movie in the making....For Love and Cupcakes??? Maybe? Eh?

UPDATE: The Curbside Cupcakes folks got into the finals of this competition! They will be giving away 1512 cupcakes next week, one for every vote they got! HOORAY!

The Cupcake Cup: Heating Up!

2010-03-22T14:31:00.000-07:00

So if you aren't getting into the whole March Madness deal, perhaps this will be more up your alley: The Cupcake Cup. This is some bracketology that I can get in to. The Washingtonian is determining the best cupcake in the DC area through a tournament style bracket. If I would have known earlier, I would have started a pool!
I'm reporting a little late in the game, so things have alread heated up. The tourney is down to the final four! Excuse me, I meant to say the "frosted four" (squeee!). Gerogetown Cupcake, Curbside Cupcakes, Bakeshop, and Something Sweet. Being a newcomer and facing off against Baked and Wired, I think that Curbside Cupcakes represents a bit of an upset.

The winners of each round are viewer selected. The Washingtonian allows readers to vote for one of the two teams facing off, and the one who wins are allowed to proceed to the next round. I am just curious about how the rankings were made. We can all assume that Georgetown Cupcake was a 1 seed, but how about Hello Cupcake? I call for some transparency ; )

Anyways, I guess the rankings aren't all that important because only the winner takes the cake! Who will win the big cupcake dance? You can help decide! Vote here for your favorite.

I've Got my Cupcake Swag On

2010-03-17T12:01:00.001-07:00

Let's not kid ourselves: cupcakes are trendy. They're like Beanie Babies for adults. And while this means that I may not be able to satisfy my need for cupcakes to the same degree forever, for now there are cupcakes everywhere....and cupcake swag to go along with it. This weekend, my family spoiled me with two rare seeming cupcake items that deserve sharing.

1) Cupcake flavored Fruity Pebbles: for those who like vitamins in their candy or candy in their vitamins...this cereal is for you! Who said you can't have cupcakes for breakfast? I certainly didn't, and neither did Post Cereals. However, just as an informational item the second most dominant ingredient in this cereal is sugar. Go figure.When you open the box, it smells just like cupcakes! It's also delicious! Plus it has sprinkles.

2) Cupcake scented cupcake pen! This was a gift from my mom while we were shopping at Francesca's Collection in Northern Kentucky. The pen smells like vanilla and is outrageously cute. I'll be taking it to class as soon as possible.And just to tip it all off, check out this t-shirt I got awhile back from Nataliedee.com (one of my favorite daily webcomics, right behind Marriedtothesea.com). I think it's pretty suitable to my philosophy. Girl knows how to breakfast.
So whenever I'm not eating cupcakes, rest assured that I'm wearing them, writing with them, or pretending like they are in my cereal.

Nerding Out a Little Bit

2010-03-12T05:53:00.000-08:00

So recently I have had little time for adventures in the city due to an alarming amount of research and reading that isn't going to do itself. Sighs. The life of a graduate student. I'm currently doing some research on the coup against Ngo Dinh Diem in 1963 in Vietnam, aided by some very recently declassified government documents found at the National Security Archive. Geek or not a geek, their website is worth checking out. Actually, I have very little context for how non-geeks operate, so if you are in that category decide for yourself. I just couldn't help but want to pass along the resource because it is seriously the coolest freaking website in the history of history. And I'm a historian, so you can believe that I am up on that sort of thing.

The National Security Archive is a non-profit organization housed in GW's Gelman Library. They use the Freedom of Information Act to gather and publish documents related to some of the most interesting foreign policy decisions made in recent-ish US history. There is something here for everyone, but I will show my very favorite document collection:

Here is a link to some documented Kissinger conversations, including a hilarious one with Alan Ginsberg.

There is really so much cool stuff in here, that it would be worth it to check through the documents section to check out some stuff in whatever area you find interesting. They even have stuff form the Bush presidency. Coolest website ever.

Starbucks Cupcakes...oh my!

2010-03-10T15:55:00.000-08:00

So I feel like a cupcake heretic, but I have been doing a bit of cupcaking at Starbucks. That's right. Starbucks has cupcakes. Please hold off on the criticism until you hear my explanation. Now, believe me, I recognize that cupcakes are best when they are unique and come from someplace special. And yes, I recognize that Starbucks only meets these requirements in opposite land. I also recognize that DC and Virginia have more than enough cupcakes to satisfy me. But with Starbucks supplying cupcakes that means there are cupcakes on practically every corner, which is awesome. And they are also delicious. But before you start worrying that Starbucks might ruin cupcakes by turning them into grey, corporate, monotonous swill that the masses will choke down, here is the consolation: the cupcakes are only seasonal...for now. Rumors are circulating that the cupcakes are so popular that they may be on their way to becoming year round (they have already been extended from Valentine's Day into Spring, and they also introduced two new cupcakes just yesterday: Chocolate Bloom and Vanilla Buttercream). But until that happens, small business cupcakes needn't worry about competition from Starbucks except for when cupcakes are in season, even if they are super delicious. I have never before understood the seasonal obsession with Starbucks red cups, but now I am beginning understand how Starbucks can make and break your dreams as season come and go.

The downside: Since Starbucks is a corporate giant, you can find their nutrition information for cupcakes online. Ouch. It isn't pretty. I have only gotten cupcakes from the Starbucks by Gelman Library on GW's campus, and I have only had red velvet. They also have chocolate and vanilla, but the red velvet is the most appealing looking. Reasons why this cupcake is so good? Out of control icing. And delicious icing. There was seriously like an inch of icing. Jesus Christ, just look at it! And even though Starbucks might charge you five bucks for your coffee, the cupcake prices are comparable to any cupcakery around. So yeah, I liked it.
So I've admitted it. You can judge me now.

Chocolate Lovers Festival Lover

2010-03-07T17:18:00.000-08:00

Picture it: the smell of chocolate, crowds of people, excitement, candies, cakes, chocolates, and pogs. Yes, pogs. You can find all this and more at the Chocolate Lovers Festival in Fairfax, Virginia. More, you may ask? Could it be possible that the festival offered more than what I've already mentioned? Yes my friends, there was more. And I'm talking events like "See a Firetruck." (Yes, a real firetruck.) So this was really the place to be.The Chocolate Lovers Festival is an annual event, that this year got pushed back by the giant snowarrhea storm and was rescheduled for the weekend of March 6-7. The festival offered a low-key and unassuming presentation, but it didn't need to be flashy- it had chocolate, and lots of it. The event was held inside of an old schoolhouse in Fairfax, where many of the area's prominent choclatiers gathered to hock their wares. To make a transaction with them, you had to purchase official Chocolate Lovers Festival pogs (an an exchange rate of one pog per dollar) and trade them for chocolaty treats.People snaked through the schoolhouse a sugar induced frenzy, clamoring for the chocolate laid out before them. Children, adults, and the elderly alike walked around with a tell-tale chocolaty smeared face that made us all a part of the same fiendish chocolate-loving community. There was slight pushing and jostling, resulting from what I expect was fear of running out of chocolate. I felt like Augustus Gloop except that it was expected, not forbidden, that I enjoy the chocolate river. It was glorious.
Among the things you could purchase were: cakes, cupcakes, chocolate covered potato chips, chocolate covered twizzlers, chocolate covered everything else you can think of at all, fudge, designer chocolates, stuff dipped in chocolate, truffles, chocolate fountains, fudge puppies, and chocolate in all of its other forms. For the price of ten pogs, I was able to buy about 2 pounds of chocolaty goodness.
If you missed out on the Chocolate Lovers Festival even though you are a chocolate lover, you can still patron some of the businesses that participate in the event. I can go ahead and give some props to Ben and Xander's Fudge, Victoria's Cakery, and Watergate Pastry Shop. Nom, nom, nom.

Video from BP3 Tour in DC

2010-03-04T17:11:00.000-08:00

Some video from the Jay-Z (BP3) concert in Washington DC on March 3, 2010. For concert reviews and photos, see link.

"RUN THIS TOWN" - Jay-Z

"EMPIRE STATE OF MIND" Jay-Z

"GO GETTA" - Young Jeezy

"ENCORE"- Jay-Z

"MY PRESIDENT"- Jay-Z and Young Jeezy

Jay-Z and the BP3 Tour Hit DC: Concert in Review

2010-03-04T06:21:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that I was expecting more hubris. Since Jay-Z's nickname, Hova, is short for Jehovah, it at first seems fair to expect some arrogance. But after last night's concert at the Verizon Center, Jay-Z left me feeling silly for anticipating even a little bit of overblown "we-the-best-ing." With the skills that Jay-Z was laying on his audience, his attitude seemed at most times understated. And after hypnotizing the audience with consistently sick flow, J's typical claim to be rapper alive would raise no questions; in the moment I had no doubts. Today, with the concert buzz wearing down, I at least know that Jay-Z is among the best, and that he might be the coolest of living rappers. The man is seriously cool.That's not to say that the show as altogether without hubris; the opening act was Trey Songz, whose claim to have invented sex (or at least do it like he did) is among the most arrogant I can think of. At times rapping as if he were the love child of Rihanna and Usher, Trey Songz mostly tried to impress the audience with his abs. And it wasn't just the moments where Trey was lifting up his shirt to show them to us. There was actually a constant supply of shirtless Trey Songz during his show, as his music videos played behind his performance, videos in which no one wears shirts. Or keeps their tongue to themselves. His performance was a little ridiculous. And I loved it. Trey Songz at least has the staying power to make it through the rest of 2010 (more than I hope I can say for Lady Gaga), and while he's around I'm going to enjoy it. Plus Trey Songz played all of his best, staying away from the sometimes unbearable Trey Day tracks (with the exception of the hit "I Can't Help But Wait") and giving us the new stuff: "Say Aah", "I Invented Sex", and "Neighbors Know My Name".Being completely honest, I have to say that I didn't even notice how gimmicky Trey Songz performance was until Jay-Z hit the stage in all black everything, which is what happened next. And it didn't take as long as you would expect for Jay-Z to hit the stage; I'd say about 20 minutes Trey Songz came on. Jay-Z started the performance with "Run This Town" as he rose from the center of the stage to dominate our faces with with outrageous rhymes and masterful flow. You could tell that Jay-Z is a seriously great rapper because he didn't have a crew of rappers shouting lyrics with him. J just straight up rapped, able to carry the audience with him without a lot of mess going on onstage. When he wanted us quite we were quite. When he wanted loud we were loud. And when he wanted middle fingers he got that too.
While a lot of live rap shows rely on the noise created by many to fill the stadium, Jay-Z often didn't even need background music. The moments with just Jay-Z's voice were the most impressive; he could bring the volume down and keep our energy up, keeping our attention with the cleverness of his lyrics and the rhythm, which at times resembled that of a spoken word artist. I was so impressed that I would like to redefine "Stadium Status" based on what Jay-Z brings to the table: it's not just filling the stadium that counts, it's being able to take a whole stadium full of people to a halt with you, to capture literally everyone with your talent.

After Jay-Z brought out some of his best tracks from the Blueprint III, he also brought on Young Jeezy who is the other act advertised for The BP3 Tour. I thought Young Jeezy was going to be another opening act, and I am really disappointed that this wasn't the case. Young Jeezy and Jay-Z rapped a few songs together, and during those songs the show got more like the shouty live rap that I am used to. Young Jeezy was so barky and shouty that at times I couldn't even hear Jay-Z at all. This was the case even during some of my favorites, like "99 Problems." Young Jeezy also did a solo-set which was pretty good (my gripe is mostly that he was covering up Jay-Z during the songs they did together), and included "I Put on For My City," "I'm Going In," and "Go Getta." I got pretty hyped about those three. And if Jay-Z needs to grab a drink of water during the show, I'm glad to listen to a Jeezy intermission.The show had some seriously great moments, including the song "Empire State of Mind," "Hovi Baby," "Heart of the City," "On to the Next," "Can I Get A," "Death of Autotune," "Hate," "Already Home," and "Dirt of Your Shoulder." There was also a pretty long section of his earlier work, which I was unfamiliar with. Jay-Z gave ups to those in the crowd who had been with him from the beginning, but I think I was nine years old when some of these songs came out, so I don't feel too bad about it. I think the song that the crowd got most excited for was "My President is Black" during which the crowd vibes were just outrageous. So, in summary, the show was lyrically stunning. Jay-Z had all of us on his every word the whole time, and I was even seated in the very tippy-top row. The show was also visually stunning. The set design was not overblown but it was impressive. And Jay-Z was very cool to his fans.

I think the show ended in a way that showcased Jay-Z's coolness in a way that differentiates him from other celebrities. He had the lights turned up on the crowd, the cameras turned on audience members, and shouted out to his fans words of individual appreciation. He said things like, "You in the striped dress, I appreciate you. And you in the glasses." My favorite was when he saw a girl in a hot pink top and said "You in the all pink everything." He even threw someone his Yankees hat. Those people must have felt like rock stars. After taking a few requests from the audience, Jay-Z brought up the energy one more time with the song "Encore," and the show was over.My final thoughts are that Jay-Z was so good in concert that it may have ruined a lot of other rappers for me. Jay-Z is definitely old school, and this showed that the new school is just a bunch of gimmicks and technology. Weezy should step down with his claims at the rap title. Jay-Z still reigns king.

As usual, most of these photos were taken by Colin Reusch. The quality is impressive considering that we (no lie) had the very worst seats in the house. Level 4, row Q!