Establishments: TangySweet

Before catching a movie in Chinatown, (one I'd recommend actually, How to Train Your Dragon), had some time to stop at TangySweet.

Weather's getting perfect for frozen yogurt.

Essentials: National Aquarium

I'm driving to Reagan National Airport, and pass by one of DC's worst secrets.

Off of 14th Street, the National Aquarium actually has a venue right there.

Establishments: Pitango Gelato

To cap off a wonderful excursion, decided to stop by Pitango Gelato.

Got a great combo of Pistachio & Chocolate (w/ chocolate chip).

Establishments: Greater Goods & Smith Farm Center

After getting a neat birthday present (thanks Ravi!!) we keep walking down U Street and walk into Greater Goods.

Pretty neat store, would like to spend more time checking out its goods. And next door to it was the Smith Farm Center for the Healing and the Arts.

Again, just one of those moments were I actually got to know more about places I've driven by more than I can count.

Establishments: Caramel

So Ravi and I are walking around, we've checked out a couple of places, but I enter Caramel and like it from the get-go.

There are pieces hanging up on the wall, and the store is very simple straight forward. Nothing to elaborate, open lighting, and fun shirts (one that I'm wearing now).

While Ravi's looking for things (and he was nice enough to buy me a shirt as a belated birthday present, I got to talking to Sarah, whom I presume is the store's owner.

It was really neat hearing about how the exhibiting component of the store came to evolve over the couple of years.

Definitely would like to go back.

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Establishments: The DC Center

So Ravi and I are walking up 14th St and I see a sign for the DC Center.

It is Metro DC's GLBT Community Center.

Didn't realize it was right there.

Establishments: Sitar Arts Center

After getting some food to fix for dinner, I was walking down Kalorama and passed the Sitar Arts Center.

It was one of those times were it was an organization I'd heard of for a while, but it's like right in the middle of a neighborhood I thought I was familiar with.

One my classmates from AU's Arts Management program actually has a full time job there.

Some kids also were a part of a joint program with the Capital Fringe Festival, and presented a bit of a cabaret last year.

Establishments: Love Cafe

So I was a bit hungry and couldn't wait until dinner to eat.

Ended up stopping by Love Cafe on U St for a couple of cupcakes, with a glass of milk. One cupcake was banana split flavored, the other was chocolate with strawberry frosting.

They were good

Establishments: Jack's Cafe

Had the urge to do brunch in Old Town Alexandria. It was raining lightly, but not too bad to walk around. After we couldn't find the place we originally wanted to head to (or remember where it was), we were wandering and came upon another place that had come to our attention via Yelp, Jack's Cafe.

It was a very neat, intimate establishment.

Priced very moderately, pleasant people at the counter/grill, and delicious food, well at least it's breakfast fare.

I got french toast, egg, and bacon and had no complaints. Will definitely go back to check out the rest of the menu.

Establishments: Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center

I'd actually spent a year at MC's Rockville campus, and performed in several productions in the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center during my stint there. Even after transferring to UMD, I continued to perform occasionally. After graduating, I actually got a chance to Assistant Direct a couple of musicals, and choreograph a dance for the department's annual Spring Dance Concert, which is what Sam & I saw after dinner.

The neat thing about the PAC is that they constantly have programming, from 5 different series they host at the center.

Establishments: Indique

Sam & I grabbed a bite to eat an Indique before heading to Montgomery College for a show. I'd never eaten there before, and they had limited balcony seating at tables for two.

The weather was perfect and the food was delicious.

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Establishments: Katzen Arts Center & Greenberg Theatre

So as I'm wrapping up my time at AU, in its Arts Management program, I realize how awesome the facilities we have are, for the arts

There's the Katzen Arts Center, and the Greenberg Theatre.

Establishments: The Brown Bag

Grabbed a great sandwich at the Brown Bag on 14th st.

Not much else to say

Establishments: Waterfront Safeway

Again, another entry I have mixed feelings about.

Safeway isn't exactly a unique establishment...but it's makeover in SW is somewhat of note.

The new store is quite a change from the retro look the older one had, probably due to the fact that it was built decades ago.

Right next to the metro and blocks away from Arena Stage 2.0, it'll be interesting to see what effect this neighborhood facelift brings.

In addition to a new look, it also opened 4th street to pass through the development.

Too bad none of the development related websites, i.e. Waterfront Station and the Southwest Waterfront, seem to have been updated recently.

Good thing there's the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly.

Establishments: The Diner

There aren't too many places in DC that are open late night on a regular basis.

The Diner is one of them (it's actually open 24/7), and it's one of my faves.

It is also one of several establishments which make up quite a neat triumvirate, all with different atmospheres, depending on what you're in the mood for, and when.

The other two are Tryst (which is right up the street from it), and Open City.

Anyway, I ordered the mac & cheese with mixed greens on the side...well worth it.

Establishments: Dance Place

After running into Holly B. I ventured over to Dance Place with my friend Jerry. Deborah Riley Dance Projects, one of the resident companies performed a piece examining our relationship and perceptions regarding food and nutrition.

It was neat because Jerry's a chef, so having that perspective made for some particularly insightful dialogue after the performance.

Speaking of chef's, Peter DiMuro, director of Dance/MetroDC, played one in the piece with some monologues which provided some thoughtful transitions between sections of the evening length piece.

Anyway, Dance Place is just an amazing example of community and engagement. They've got performance virtually every weekend of the year by local, national, and international dancers.

And it's very metro accessible, barely a 10 minute walk from the Brookland-CUA metro station.

Establishments: Torpedo Factory

So NCS decided to have prom at the Torpedo Factory, this year. They also asked me to DJ it after finding out that I've spent some time on the 1's & 2's as a hobby.

I also got a neat mixing program for my MacBook, Traktor, and a midi DJ mixer from M-Audio (the X-Session Pro), so I was set.

My initial reaction (as well as other's) was: "huh?" An art gallery/space/etc.?

Well, turns out it's one of the things they offer regularly, so it wasn't weird for them.

And it actually kinda made sense, especially from an Arts Administrator point of view.

Aside from renting their space, they're quite an impressive arts center. Just the number of visual artists who have space to work and display their work...it's just amazing.

In the end, prom was pretty neat, the girls had fun, and I'd love to check out renting it out for any events I might throw in the future.

Entities: Team DC

Earlier this school year, through the encouragement of some friends, I started a GLBTA climbing group.

I did this with the advice and counsel of some of the guys at Team DC, the Washington area's "gay sports connection".

This evening, I manned a table for the group, at an event at Town. Had a number of guys who were interested in participating. Now I just need to follow up with 'em (in addition to finding the time...and the money).

Establishments: The Java Shack

I'm walking around with a friend of mine, around Arlington, and we end up getting coffee at the Java Shack, which I'd never patronized before.

Even before we walked in, it seemed like a pretty chill space, with people sitting outside in the gorgeous weather, some in good company, others on their laptops.

And the baristas were pretty chill and engaged in pseudo-witty banter while my friend and I were trying to make up our minds.

Coffee outside, just the energy of the place was neat. This was reinforced by their business partners, Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade, the Specialty Coffee Association, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, USDA Organic, and the Lexington Coffee Roasters.

Even though it's been around for over a decade, it seems like this level of engagement and partnership is still something that seems to be catching on, rather than an essential part of best practices, for endeavors, whether they be businesses, non-profits, or whatever.

Anyway, although it was my first time, it will definitely not be my last. Anybody have any experiences at the Java Shack they'd like to share.

Establishments: Arena Stage 2.0

I actually got enough sleep to go for a walk this morning. I woke up a little after 7:30am, heated up a little breakfast, and then walked around my neighborhood in Southwest.

Now I've been blessed to have parents which have let me stay with them as I've try to figure out what I'm doing with my life, from finishing at UMD, to taking on grad school. We're actually in the house I grew up in, and my dad let me move into the basement unit, with a separate entrance and kitchen.

The house is also a couple of blocks away from Arena Stage, which has been living vicariously in Crystal City and on U St while they've had their main space renovated and prepped for their 60th season.

Now, just in case you don't know, Arena Stage received a Tony in 1976, which was awarded to regional theatres for theatrical excellence. It was only the second outside of New York to receive it, and the first in the Washington, DC area. The only other theatre in the area to do so has been Signature Theatre in Arlington, and that was only last year, in 2009.

So this fall, Arena Stage's Mead Center for American Theater will open.

Should be interesting.