Tag Archives: vacation

August 27, 2012 · 3:46 pm

Labor Day Special: Modern Manners’ Recipe for the Perfect BBQ

pic courtesy of Twirling Clare

While the end of summer holiday, Labor Day, neither marks a change in the weather (curse you, climate change!) nor the autumnal equinox (curse you, solar calendar!), it does mean something everyone can support: barbeque.

The Labor Day Weekend BBQ is a great tradition of Americana, a last hurrah before school starts, or more appropriately for DC, Congress returns. Here are a few tips for throwing a Labor Day BBQ that will be the exclamation point to end your summer.

(I’ll leave it to far better informed sources to advise you on how to prepare Labor Day delicacies.)

Invitations—Digital Age Decisions

With so many different ways to issue an invitation now—Facebook, Evite, email, text, old fashioned paper—it can be hard to decide which method is best. My advice is to choose a way that all or nearly all your invitees use to communicate. If there are a few outliers that don’t use that method of communication, you can reach out to them separately. Don’t forget to provide a date by which you would like people to RSVP.

And a side note to everyone on the receiving end of the invitation: respond. Let the person know whether or not you can attend. It’s the bare minimum you can do to acknowledge that you have been invited into someone’s home.

For online invitations, I’m personally a fan of Paperless Post. They have the aesthetic appeal of paper invitations (Evite graphics are fug), are easy to use, and add a sense of gravitas to your event. You aren’t throwing some Natty Lite kegger in your backyard—you are having an event in your garden with microbrews.

Audience Participation—Clarity is Key

Some people assume that a barbeque means they should bring food or drink. Others don’t assume this at all. For the convenience of your guests, let them know clearly in the invitation whether or not they are invited to bring something of their own. (Of course, if you are hosting a potluck, say you are hosting a potluck. However, a potluck is different than a BBQ. Moving on.)

Use simple, straightforward language about bringing food, such as, “We will have plenty of food and drinks, but please feel free to bring something if you wish.” Or if you prefer your guests do not bring anything, say “All food and drink will be provided.” If you are… CRING… sending a text invite and that’s all too many words, “BYOB” or “NOT BYOB” should get the point across.

Preparations—The Boy Scout Way

There are some clutch items you’ll need to have a clean and comfortable BBQ:

  • Plenty of plates, utensils, napkins and cups. Disposable ones are admittedly easier, but consider the environment and get recyclable materials or even use your own regular kitchen items.
  • A few spare blankets or sheets for people to sit on the ground if you run out of chairs.
  • Bug spray. Everyone will love you for this.
  • Large coolers with plenty of ice.
  • Clearly labeled bins for trash and recycling. Don’t forget the extra bags.
  • Outside lighting if you are going into the late hours of the day—think tiki torches, Christmas lights or candles.
  • Band-Aids for the random boo-boos.
  • Sunscreen. You should have plenty left over from the pool.
  • Extra TP and paper towels are critical for hosting.

Food & Refreshments—Om Nom Nom

MM makes no claims whatsoever about being a good cook, but I do have a few quick pieces of advice to make sure all your guests go home satisfied.

  • Diversify. In the modern world of vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free eaters, it’s good to have options. Provide at least one main dish that can be enjoyed by the most restricted eater you know is coming. If it’s any good, everyone will have some.
  • Have a plan B. Stash a couple frozen pizzas or keep a delivery number handy. In the unfortunate event that your planned cuisine goes caput or you run out of chow, you’ll have a low-stress solution ready to go.
  • Wetness is the essence of beauty. Have plenty of water and nonalcoholic drinks available.
  • Buy an extra case of inexpensive beer. If you get to the point where you need to delve into the cheapo case, no one will care by then what they are drinking.

Happy Labor Day, workers of Washington!

-MM

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July 18, 2012 · 8:15 am

Summer Mixing Guide

pic courtesy Alrian Erdedi

It’s summertime, kids. Alas, most of us working folk don’t get the luxury of several months-long vacations, and so we turn to our trustiest coping mechanism – booze. So, what better time to use two of the best mixing liqueurs? Well sidle on up and grab a seat – before you know it you’ll be mixing the fanciest cocktails in town, and you won’t have to shill out $14 for each one.

One of the liqueurs you’re surely familiar with — St. Germain. Not to be confused with Canton, this European elderflower mixes well with just about anything — whiskey, sake, rum, gin, everything. Impress your friends with your own creation, or check this out for some inspiration.

 

The second is a bit more obscure, and has a terrifically bizarre moniker — Velvet Falernum. This one is a blend of lime, almond, ginger, vanilla, and cloves! I first discovered it at a fantastic place in Baltimore called Bad Decisions. This unique booze has tons of possibilities but is primarily used to blend a lot of popular cocktails, including the Mai Thai and the Zombie. It’s a bit more difficult to find, but liquor stores worth their salt will special order it for you.

 

Try both of these specialties out sometime. But be careful — drink too many Zombies and you just might become the Walking Dead (returning to AMC this October). Zing! I’ll be here all week, folks.

 

Written by Joel Church.

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June 18, 2012 · 12:42 pm

Pool Perfection: Modern Manners Takes a Dip

Modern Manners is feeling hot, hot, hot! It’s my most favorite of seasons, summer, and all this Vitamin D is making me dizzy with joy, so I’m sharing some thoughts about etiquette at that bastion of summer traditions, the pool.

No possession is more coveted in DC during the summer than the rooftop pool. If you are lucky enough to have access to one, it is essentially a public service to invite your less fortunate friends to enjoy this amenity from time to time. If you are fortunate enough to be invited to the pool by one of your luckier friends, it is essential that you act in a manner becoming of a stylish guest.

Here are a few Do’s and Don’ts to stay highbrow during your urban beach going.

The Do’s:

  • DO: Share. Share sunscreen, water, towels, snacks and beverages. It’s summer—the season of love. Spread it.
  • DO: Bring extra. It makes it a lot easier to share when you have a super-sized bottle of SPF 30.
  • DO: Thank your host. Offer to pick up your host’s favorite beverage or snack.
  • DO: Bring your own chair. It will make you look smart and you will not have to sit on the hot deck. This also avoids the awkward “who can walk to the open chair fastest without looking like a competitive psycho” situation.
  • DO: Drink up… water, that is. Dehydration can lead to a multitude of social faux pas. See below.
  • DO: Respect the lifeguards. They are just doing their jobs. Please be kind.
  • DO: Be hygienic. The chlorine in the pool will not heal your open wound. Also, the pool does not substitute for a shower after you have gone to the gym. Also, eww.

And the equally important Don’ts…

  • DON’T: Use glass. It’s against the rules at most pools, and for good reason. If glass breaks in a pool, it usually must be drained. Do NOT be the jerk that ruins summer for everyone.
  • DON’T: Dunk/splash/yell/act like a 3 year-old who has never been to a pool. If you ARE a 3 year-old who has never been to a pool, you should be congratulated on your superb reading skills.
  • DON’T: Get tanked. This isn’t Jersey Shore. You’re an adult and should be able to hold your liquor. “Too much sun” is not an excuse.
  • DON’T: Skinny dip. This isn’t Jersey Shore. You’re an adult and should wear clothes appropriately in public. “Too much sun” is not an excuse.
  • DON’T: Stare. It’s awkward, and 95% of the people around you feel some degree of self-conscious in their swim suits. Instead, wear sunglasses to check out the hot bods discreetly.
  • DON’T: Play loud music. It’s annoying.
  • DON’T: Use the pool as a latrine. Also: this.

See you poolside. –MM

If you have a modern manners question for Mademoiselle Marie, post to the comments, si vous plait.

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April 25, 2012 · 5:35 pm

Cherryblast from the Past: Weekend Wrapup

pic courtesy of National Cherry Blossom Festival

Cherryblast, the annual closing party of the Cherry Blossom Festival, sponsored lovingly by Philippa Hughes and her Pink Line Project, was, unsurprisingly, a blast this past weekend in Anacostia.  The art, the games, the shows, the people were all part of a new and exploratory DC.  There were the usual suspects: aerial trapeze artists, a Bluebrain collaborative feature (pretty cool: in a four story elevator shaft), and an all-girl drum corps.

The not-so-usual suspects dropped in: The Floating Lab Collective, a group of artists who work to “expand the space of art into public space and to expand the discourse about contemporary art.”  Cool right?  As I walked into their van (I know, I know), the artist told me that there were paper bags of Mobile Memorials.  Anyone could take one (become a ReDistributor), providing they put it somewhere public and “check in” its location on the website.  Hopefully I’ll start seeing some of these objects around town!

The old DC Police evidence warehouse has effectively become Lightbox, an open and roomy space especially suited to video installations.  Listening to acoustic guitar strummed by a hipster-chanteuse while standing next to the old Medication Room and looking out the broken glass windows at downtown DC was…surreal.  And a ton of fun.

I’m eager to see how Anacostia develops as a new art hot spot in DC, “activating abandoned spaces with the arts“.  For more info, search #lightboxdc on Twitter.

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April 17, 2012 · 9:46 am

Ms. Vedral Goes to Washington: Glasses Off, Lights Out, Song 1

Author’s note: I’m about to mix up some metaphors here. In previous posts, I’ve referred to DC as a nerdy guy and also as the girl next door. Since I’m assuming you’re reading this at work because someone posted it as their g-chat status, I’ll refrain from getting into a discussion about the social constructs of gender roles and identity and just say “sorry for any confusion, thanks for reading.”

You know that movie moment, most often captured in high-school films from the 80’s, when the poorly-dressed smart guy finally listens to the advice of his best friend (usually a tomboy who’s waiting for him to realize that love has been standing in front of him all this time) and gets some kind of leather jacket, a set of contacts and a new haircut? And then the girl he likes (usually a super popular, pretty/mean girl who is starting to think that there’s more to life than football and shopping…like books and being nice) finally notices him, only she’s changed a little and he’s changed a little and they find both love and common ground.
Just like the classic film, Grease 2.
For me, Song 1 at the Hirshhorn was that movie moment.
About Song 1:
I don’t know what I could tell you about it that you haven’t read in other blogs, papers, magazines, etc. Doug Aitken’s film is utterly beautiful, projected 360 degrees around the Hirshhorn. It features multiple versions of “I Only Have Eyes for You” while various actors (Tilda Swinton for one) and non-actors lip-sync in a range of scenarios. My favorite was a hipster chick walking down the stairs. Her footsteps and shaking keys comprised the song’s percussion.  There’s no way to see the whole thing from one vantage point, so I guess I need to go back a few more times to see it from different angles. Sigh.

About the experience:
I went on a Friday night. If Song 1 were being projected off MoMA or the Whitney, there’d be no way that I could find any place to stand and watch for more than four seconds. Because in New York, you can’t just decide to go to a cool exhibit on a Friday night and have a meaningful experience without being joined by a bajillion people who also had the same idea and also want to have a meaningful experience and will push and shove until they do.

For example, this past December, I went to a Christmas tree lighting a few blocks from my apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and there must have been about 3,000 people there with me. You couldn’t see or hear anything if you hadn’t camped out a few hours in advance.

Up until two months ago, I never knew that there was any other way to live.

So, as I stepped out of the Metro I could hear the song faintly playing from all around the Mall. As I walked closer, the music grew louder and clearer.  Everything was still, except for the song. There was even a “Moonstruck” moon out (or Cosmo’s moon). The night was clear and beautiful.

And there was hardly anyone in sight (Mom, if you’re reading this stop freaking out. It was all totally safe). No pushing. No shoving.

I met up with my friend, who is also from New York and has been much more skeptical about DC’s potential for cool than I have been. Yet as we watched, both dressed in our New York black and gray, the moon and the stars and the quiet all conspired to saturate us with the city.

Oh, DC.

Not many New Yorkers will say this (and I expect to get some hate and consternation from my city friends who read this post), but DC, I’m sorry for comparing you to New York. I don’t need another New York–I have one of those and I always will. But my neurotic, stressed-out, over-achieving soul needs a DC. I need a laid back, nerdy, fun-loving city that doesn’t make me thank it for the privilege of living there. I’m sure one day I’ll come back and I’ll appreciate the craziness and the competition and the stress of my hometown. But right now…dare I say it? I love DC.
That night at the Hirshhorn,  DC showed up, in his leather jacket, contacts and new haircut, only he’d been great all along. I just couldn’t see it until then.

Written by Juliet Vedral.  Follow her on Twitter.

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March 21, 2012 · 11:17 am

Taylor: It’s a Good Day for a Hoagie

pic courtesy of We Love DC

Today Taylor Gourmet will be giving away a free Puck’s Soda with purchase of a hoagie or salad.

I’ve never heard of Puck’s either, but this is an excellent reminder that Taylor is a great choice for a lunch break in the middle of your work week.  After opening on H Street years ago, the local franchise has expanded to locations on 14th Street near Logan Circle and in Mount Vernon near Busboys and Poets.

In keeping with the Taylor aesthetic, Puck’s purports to be a small-batch, naturally sweetened type of thirst quencher.  Taylor sandwiches are all made to order, with the customer’s name called out when ready (remember when Starbucks did that?).  The sandwiches are all named for streets in Philadelphia, from whence the delicious, chewy taste explosions hail.

Yes, the service is super chill.  Keep this in mind if you’re in a rush or need a catering order filled by a certain hour.  Taylor is for sunny days when you seriously consider getting a Vespa.

Locations near you, so today’s your day.

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