At the age of 16, I fell in love for the first time. His name was sushi, and he was intoxicating. My parents had inexplicably tried to keep us apart for too long and with one taste, I was hooked. Since then, I've done my best to make up for lost time. I haven't gotten past rolls for the most part (c'mon, I'm being encouraged to have cream cheese in my entrees? Sign me UP), but I do try to order something new each time.
While I knew it was impractical to make a list of adventures that read "try all sushi spots in all of the DC Metro area," I wasn't about to get through 3 adventures without making one pitstop to indulge first. Our weapon of choice? Nooshi Sushi. I came across Nooshi while looking for good happy hours - Matt enjoys a well-made cocktail just slightly more than he loves barely paying for one. So a sushi happy hour was like blending my heaven with his, and blend indeed we did.
Nooshi's "crazy hour" brings half-off all drinks: cocktails, sake, beers and non-alcoholic beverages. Though we went on a rainy day, they have a little patio outside that's distinctly Farragut. Inside, an enormous bar lines one wall while the opposite wall has big booths that continue to the back of the rather large restaurant. Before going to Nooshi, I read that a reservation was mandatory because of happy hour crowds, but that didn't pose a problem to us on that Thursday night. Then again, GWU was not in session and it's apparently a go-to for students there.
The sushi was average-priced ($5.25 shrimp tempura, $4.00 California and $8-$12 specialty maki rolls) and delicious. I indulged and ordered (devoured) a dancing eel roll: BBQ eel, crabstick, masago and cucumber. It was filling and a work of art. Unfortunately, I get stage fright at restaurants and am reluctant to take pictures (read: embarrass Matt more than I probably already am), so you'll have to use your imagination. (It's called the dancing eel. Got it? Good.) We also split their Japanese Dumpling to start. Though it was delicious, that's as far as we got on their dinner menu. Other items on our table included shrimp tempura for me and spicy tuna and spicy crunchy yellowtail for Matt. Not one complaint was uttered!
The Happy Hour runs from 3pm to 7pm on weeknights. Besides sushi, Nooshi also has a fairly large lunch and dinner menu, with noodles, teriyaki, and other dishes.
Location: 1120 19th St, NW (between L & M streets), Washington, DC 20036
Closest Metro Stops: Farragut West (Orange/Blue), Farragut North (Red)
My Cost: $29.29 for dinner (two sushi rolls, spring rolls) and drinks (one cocktail, one iced tea)
Monday, November 21, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
#2: Sonny Bono Memorial Park
In keeping with the theme of surprising landmarks within our stomping ground, for adventure number two we found our way to the Sonny Bono Memorial Park. After far too much wandering, we found the park - a small triangle of fenced-in grass near New Hampshire, 20th, and O Streets NW. The park has some small benches, a Japanese maple tree and some flowers, and is a quaint little place that is easily overlooked in such a high-traffic area.
The plaque in the park reads: "In memory of my friend Sonny Bono 1935-1998
Entertainer - Entrepreneur - Statesman - Friend"
A little research taught me that buried 4 feet under the plaque is the sheet music to "The Beat Goes On," Bono's congressional cufflinks, a coffee mug from Sonny's Italian Restaurant and other Bono-related gear. Supposedly the park's founder, Bono's friend Geary Simon, asked Bono's friends for contributions to the underground vault. Among other items, Simon received two sealed envelopes that were buried as they were given to him. Adding mystery to an adventure? Bonus!
Once we had finally found the park, I darted over and caught the attention of some passers-by, who asked what we were looking at. One of them said, "I've walked past here 20,000 times and never knew that was here!" Ta-da, mission accomplished!
Location: New Hampshire & 20th Street, NW
Closest Metro Stop: Dupont Circle (Red)
Cost: Free
The plaque in the park reads: "In memory of my friend Sonny Bono 1935-1998
Entertainer - Entrepreneur - Statesman - Friend"
A little research taught me that buried 4 feet under the plaque is the sheet music to "The Beat Goes On," Bono's congressional cufflinks, a coffee mug from Sonny's Italian Restaurant and other Bono-related gear. Supposedly the park's founder, Bono's friend Geary Simon, asked Bono's friends for contributions to the underground vault. Among other items, Simon received two sealed envelopes that were buried as they were given to him. Adding mystery to an adventure? Bonus!
Once we had finally found the park, I darted over and caught the attention of some passers-by, who asked what we were looking at. One of them said, "I've walked past here 20,000 times and never knew that was here!" Ta-da, mission accomplished!
Location: New Hampshire & 20th Street, NW
Closest Metro Stop: Dupont Circle (Red)
Cost: Free
Monday, November 7, 2011
#1: The Watermelon House
The first adventure felt like a risk: I had to make it adventurous enough that another would be desired, but also not so involved that the whole list would be an ordeal. After careful consideration, I settled on the watermelon house near Logan Circle. To me, the best part about this was once we saw it, I'd have no explanation other than "I found it on the internet" and that would be that - just a nice mystery not-so-hidden in a nearby neighborhood.
I consider this one a success: we avoided looking completely sketchy while gawking at someone's actual home, but dawdled long enough to enjoy the scene. Since I wasn't willing to reveal what we were looking for, it was up to me to get us there without getting lost (which will be an unfortunate theme in a good bulk of adventures). Fortunately, it wasn't too hard, especially because of the empty driveway next door.
While stumbling upon it organically would've warranted a three-point turn to check it out again, going out of our way to intentionally see it was a fun, brief excuse for a "date." Lo and behold, it worked, far too many puns were delivered ("it looks a bit seedy," "sweet digs," etc.) and the adventures continued.
Location: 1112 Q Street, NW
Closest Metro Stop: Shaw-Howard U (Yellow/Green)
Cost: Free
I consider this one a success: we avoided looking completely sketchy while gawking at someone's actual home, but dawdled long enough to enjoy the scene. Since I wasn't willing to reveal what we were looking for, it was up to me to get us there without getting lost (which will be an unfortunate theme in a good bulk of adventures). Fortunately, it wasn't too hard, especially because of the empty driveway next door.
While stumbling upon it organically would've warranted a three-point turn to check it out again, going out of our way to intentionally see it was a fun, brief excuse for a "date." Lo and behold, it worked, far too many puns were delivered ("it looks a bit seedy," "sweet digs," etc.) and the adventures continued.
Location: 1112 Q Street, NW
Closest Metro Stop: Shaw-Howard U (Yellow/Green)
Cost: Free
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