10 Apr Last Week Today #1

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April 2-8, 2018

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1523422804088{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]My husband and I are lucky because, more than most, we get to regularly travel to far-flung places and explore beautiful cities and quaint villages. It’s a combination of our jobs (we’re freelancers and travel for work) and the fact that we don’t have kiddos, well – other than our two pooches, of course.

Even with our travel schedule as busy as it is, we’re home in Las Vegas more than we’re away. So, I thought making a new weekly post would do a couple of things:[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1523422681025{margin-bottom: 15px !important;margin-left: 32px !important;}”]

1. Help me get in a better routine with writing which, in turn, will help me to become a better writer. Incidentally, this will also help me (re)locate my voice after many years writing on pretty dry public policy topics.
2. Allow me to tell you guys more about the little things that we do like planning for travel, the local Vegas scene and quick day trips.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]With that locked down, let’s get this first “Last Week Today” out the door!

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The Bachelorette

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]On Monday, Drew and I had the awesome opportunity to be part of The Bachelorette audience (again) on one of Becca K’s group dates filmed in Las Vegas. Expertly poured fake drinks were flowing, Wayne Newton made an appearance, and there were a lot of inside jokes from people on the show. And I know this is totally vague, but #secrecy. When the episode airs, I’ll let y’all know.

Perhaps this will give a little away, but after we left filming we finally tried Secret Pizza at the Cosmopolitan. Located down a nondescript hallway with no signage, it’s kind of hard to find so it certainly lives up to its speakeasy-type reputation. But, since you asked, find Milk, then look for a hallway lined with old music records, walk down there and the smell will lead you the rest of the way.

We tried both the pepperoni and the white slices and they were pretty tasty. The real standout for me was the crust which was nice and fluffy with some crispness to it.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”17406″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1523423157582{margin-top: 20px !important;margin-left: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1523404481016{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]

Denver, Colorado

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]On Tuesday, Drew and I started our travels to Washington D.C. We spent a long layover in Denver on the way and, while we were there, tried Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs. We totally got ahead of ourselves and ordered too quickly, winding up with plain “Wild Boar” and “Elk Jalapeno Cheddar.” (We missed the whole part where it says “choose your dogs” then “top it.” While the dogs were good, albeit plain, the fries were a total stand out. Probably some of the best we’d ever had. PS – if you don’t like salt, you’ll hate them 100%.

The massive salt attack led us down the street to a bakery in the Five Points area called the Rolling Pin Bakeshop. I am a total sucker for a cheese Danish and this one (with apricot) didn’t disappoint.

We had an early morning flight out so we called it a night early.
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Washington, D.C.

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]It was so nice to be back in D.C. for the week! Drew and I lived in Del Ray (a cute little neighborhood in Alexandria, Virginia) for several years before realizing that we were much happier in year-round sunshine and low taxes and headed to Las Vegas. But I always get a little nostalgic when we visit. There are many things that I like better about living in Vegas, but D.C. will always have the culture, history and general hive of activity that Vegas can’t match.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1523404906475{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]

Kimpton Palomar

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]We stayed at the Kimpton Palomar near Dupont Circle (and our favorite empanada place – Julia’s – get the Saltena, the Jamaican and any dessert empanada). I love Kimpton hotels because the chain hits all the notes of “adult cool.” You walk around the lobby, the hallways, and your room dreaming of all the ways you could totally pull this look off at home. But then, inevitably, on the plane ride back you remember that your sweet husband will never let you put up that purple wallpaper and no, not even in the little bathroom that no one ever goes in.

But, while you’re at the Kimpton, it’s nice to dream. Daydream about would-be HGTV reno projects, and actually dream because the beds are super comfy.

We lucked out into a posh suite that included a sitting room (which was nice in theory but was actually really weird because the couch – the only piece of furniture in the room — didn’t face the TV and there were no tables of any kind), a giant bedroom with a king size bed, and a beautiful bathroom with a Thai soaking tub complete with wonderfully scented Epsom bath salts. That night, they brought us up a complimentary bottle of wine and a charcuterie board complete with all the fixins: cured meats, tangy pickles, sweet jams, cheese, and fresh fruit.
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Cherry Blossoms

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]While Drew was in meetings, I set out on my own to take pictures around the city including the beautiful cherry blossoms which were just at their peak. I love the pictures I got of the trees but it was certainly a madhouse; there were thousands of people running around the Tidal Basin trying to get their next selfie. I’ll write a post later this week recommending some good spots to take photos around D.C.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”17411″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” onclick=”link_image” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1523422339848{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-right: 15px !important;margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”17403″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” onclick=”link_image” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1523422354473{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-right: 15px !important;margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”17410″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” onclick=”link_image” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1523422394823{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1523405152837{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]

Hockey @ Capital One Arena

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]On Thursday night, we watched the Nashville Predators beat the Washington Capitals and win their division, conference and the President’s Trophy! We’re season ticket holders for the Golden Knights, but the team we fell in love with first was the Nashville Predators. Since both of our teams are in the playoffs the question becomes – who do you root for if they wind up playing each other??? And it’s too painful to even think about. The teams played one another during the regular season and you’re happy when one wins, but so sad for the other one. It’s terrible “Rosemary’s Baby” type situation.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”17412″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” onclick=”link_image” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1523422299248{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-right: 15px !important;margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1523423761746{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]

Link Up

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Accommodations:

• Kimpton Hotel Palomar

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To Do:

• National Gallery of Art
• Capital One Arena

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Restaurants:

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Las Vegas

• Secret Pizza
• Donut Mania
• Rolled Ice Cream

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Denver

• Biker Jim’s Dogs
• The Rolling Pin Bakeshop

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Washington, D.C.

• Julia’s Empanadas
• Roti
• Jaleo
• Panas Gourmet Empanadas
• Compass Coffee
• Mad Fox Brewing Company (Falls Church, VA)

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