Thursday, February 28, 2013
This weekend is Texas Independence Day and there are plenty of events to celebrate. Here are some suggestions to help you wrangle in your independence and don't forget -- “Remember the Alamo!” http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/02/a-holiday-as-grand-as-its-size-texas-independence-day/
Little Serow is the hottest new restaurant in DC. Truly a unique dining experience like no other. They don’t take reservations so your only option is to show up early and wait in line. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/02/our-review-of-little-serow/
Our Review of Little Serow
I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived at 1511 17th St. NW. The vanilla colored town house was unassuming and plain, and there was no sign for the restaurant anywhere to be found. Little Serow wouldn’t open until 5:30pm sharp and it was still 45 minutes until go time. Amazingly there were already 75+ people lined up at their front door and the temperature was a cold 37 degrees. When they opened there were at least another hundred more people in line behind me.
The city’s foodies were so excited to eat at Little Serow! I kept hearing comments about how they were raving about this restaurant all over New York City and GQ magazine named it the “Most Outstanding Restaurant of 2013” in America.
They don’t take reservations so your only option is to show up early and wait. Once they open they process the patrons in line, so you either eat right away or they take your cell number and shoot you a text when your table is ready. I must admit I like how they don’t take reservations because the restaurant is so hot that you would have to book a reservation 6 months+ in advance. At least this way the dedicated diners have a fighting chance to eat there on any given day.
So was it worth the wait? Definitely! Little Serow serves northeastern Thai cuisine in a family style format that is prix fixe. During my visit they served me seven courses. What would you guess that a seven course meal served by a nationally acclaimed restaurant that is owned by renowned Chef Johnny Monis would cost you? The answer is a meager $45 (American).
When I entered the restaurant I felt like I was transported to another world. The space is tiny with only 28 seats and the walls are painted a striking aqua. The music playing was hard to describe, it was kind of like a “bubblegum pop” music. The staff was exceedingly friendly and gracious and their enthusiasm matched that of the foodies who were dying to dine there that evening.
Their food is really something special, particularly if you like spice. The theme of the first 6 dishes was definitely bright and pungent with a slow lingering heat. This is why they serve a tray of vegetables that are intended to cool your mouth down and cleanse your palate in between dishes. You can also utilize them as a wrapper or to scoop up food. A basket of sticky rice is also served with the meal and personally I like to ball up the rice so I could use it to soak up the sauces.
One of the early dishes was the Tom Kha Het. It offered an explosion of Thai flavors and it merged salt and sweet flavors perfectly. There was some earthiness from the mushrooms and galangal. The nice delicate lemongrass flavor that you expect in Thai soups was present, but it was a refined flavor that Monis brought to the dish that made it extraordinary.
Everything they served was excellent, but one of the more unusual dishes was the Bla Chorn Lom Kwan. It incorporated the snakehead fish, which is an invasive species that has been causing a lot of grief in Maryland and the Potomac River. It was my first time having it and I really enjoyed it. I was surprised that such an aggressive and destructive fish had so light and delicate a flavor. The dish itself was herbaceous and I could detect a hint of rind from the kaffir limes. And of course, the heat was present.
My favorite dish was the Naem Khao Tod. It had these little cubes of rice that were crunchy on the outside, but warm and tender on the inside. It was served with sour pork, onions and cilantro. The flavors were strong and aggressive and very enjoyable. By this point I was starting to sweat and get an endorphin rush from all the heat.
The final dish that evening was the Si Krong Muu. It was a plate of slow cooked pork ribs that were in a slightly sweet and vinegary sauce that had mekhong whiskey and dill in it. The ribs were very tender and a little smokey.
Little Serow is a truly unique dining experience and worth the time you spend in line. I think the value is impossible to beat and I would have gladly paid double the $45 price tag. If you love food and interesting dining experiences, then you will do yourself a service by going to Little Serow. My advice is to get in line as early as 4:30 pm, especially on the weekend.
The post Our Review of Little Serow appeared first on ClotureClub.com.
Capitals Fall 4-1 to Flyers
After shutting out the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday night at the Verizon Center, the Washington Capitals had little time to make their way to Philadelphia and it showed. The Capitals (7-11-1) were visibly tired and clearly not the same team as the previous night, as they fell 4-1 to an aggressive Philadelphia Flyers.
The Flyers (10-11-1) got the scoring going early, as Claude Giroux scored 23 seconds into the 1st period. Then, not even 3 minutes later, Wayne Simmonds scored on a power play to extend the Flyers lead 2-0.
Unfortunately for the Capitals, they weren’t able to pick themselves back up after the slow start.
The Flyers put two more goals on the board, with returning fixture Simone Gagne scoring on a power play in the 2nd period, then Maxime Talbot scoring towards the end of the period to extend the lead to 4-0.
Gagne played 10 seasons with the Flyers before going to Tampa Bay for the 2010-11 season, then to Los Angeles Kings for the 2011-12 season. He was required by the Flyers on Tuesday, on a red-eye flight from Los Angeles that day and back in a Flyers uniform on Wednesday.
Joel Ward scored late in the third to finally get the Capitals on the board, but it was too little too late.
“It’s kind of hard to bounce back after 2-0 after 3 or 4 minutes start in the game,” Capitals’ captain Alex Ovechkin said. “The blame is on us. We shouldn’t start a game like that.” Capitals’ coach Adam Oates had similar sentiment. “We had a terrible start. First shift and down too quick, and playing against a team that needs it as bad as us and we had no answer for them.”
Capitals’ goalie Braden Holtby was put to the test, following the previous night’s shutout. “Fourth goal was mine to have, but I have to put it behind me and move forward,” Holtby said. Then Philipp Grubauer came in to relieve Holtby, making his NHL debut after being recalled from Hershey. Grubauer had an impressive showing, stopping all 14 shots he faced in his 25:05 minutes of play time.
“He looked confident. It looks like a lot of net sometimes, but he takes it away quick. There is good promise there,” Capitals’ player Karl Alzner said. As for the team, Alzner added that they are still not where they want to be completely, but are “getting back there.”
Oates added that while the team did look tired, citing the “product of the league because of the lockout”, he said that the players just did not play good enough. “We didn’t have enough to fight back…As a man, no one had a jump.”
The Capitals will get a day of rest today, but then it’s back to work at practice on Friday, followed by an away game Saturday verse the Winnipeg Jets at 3PM.
The post Capitals Fall 4-1 to Flyers appeared first on ClotureClub.com.
Internships, Jobs, and Office Relationships
I moved out to DC in August to find a job on the Hill. It’s damn near March, I left my House internship in the end of January, and I feel I have no job prospects, on or off the Hill. Should I just go move back with my mother in Chicago?
Am I right to have an overwhelming feeling of uselessness and depression right now? Furthermore, is there anything in Obamacare where I can score antidepressants and mental health counseling?
– Rage quitting DC
Dear Potential Rage Quitter,
D.C. can be a cruel mistress. I had a friend with a law degree that couldn’t get past the staff assistant’s desk, take another job — only for his boss to lose re-election a few months later. This town will prop up dipshits and punch smart, competent people squarely in the nuts. This town doesn’t make any sense.
But it’s better than Chicago. Anything is better than Chicago. I mean, crime here isn’t a picnic, but in Chicago, you’re bound to get murdered. New York might be run by an asshole that loves banning things, but at least it’s safer. Chicago is probably the worst big city in the country, and it has ruined the perfectly good down state portion of Illinois.
I’d encourage you to give D.C. a little more time. Maybe reconsider a career focus. Maybe do something other than work for government. A lot of my friends have left the hill over the years, many of them have gone back home and not all of them have been successful in finding fulfilling work. Others have. Some have just left government entirely and moved on to other things, and they’re all the happier for it.
Keep working BradTraverse.com’s listings. Think outside the box, apply to something that interests you that might not be what you’d expect you’d be doing.
As for whether you’re right to feel useless and depressed, I don’t know — I’m not a medical professional. A few years back I quit a job and loved the freedom for about a month. Then I began to feel useless. Before it got to depression level, I got another gig. If you’re under 26 and seriously worried about counseling and getting your hands on those sweet, sweet antidepressants, then getting on mom’s plan might be good for you.
Good luck!
My male co-worker seems to go out of his way to ignore me. He jokes around and makes small talk with other staff, female and male, as well as interns. I’ve tried engaging him in conversation and he brushes me off with one word answers. It’s not a huge problem since it doesn’t affect our working relationship, but it’s just strange. He’s notoriously slow about getting letters to me…but I don’t nag him about it.
-New to Workplace Politics
Not going to lie, it seems from the first sentence that you may/may not have a little workplace crush on your silent co-worker. Friendly advice: don’t shag where you shit. Or shit where you eat. Something like that. Don’t bone co-workers.
If you’re not attracted to your colleague, it could be that he is really into you and is shy. That or he hates you. Tough to admit, but always possible.
I’ve had co-workers that — for a while — were extremely close friends. But people change, and we barely exchange words these days. Life has its ebbs and flows. The Hill, in particular, tends to be a magnet for strange personalities. As long as your work is able to get done, I wouldn’t worry about it or bring it up. Only if it gets strange should you consider how to address it. Otherwise, let weirdos be weirdos.
I interned for two members on the House side last summer, and will be interning for a Senator this summer. In regards to office atmosphere, generic intern duties, and projects/ tasks delegated to interns, how do Senate & House interns differ? – Josh
It’s a matter of scale. No matter the office, you’re a much smaller cog in a Senate office. Now, whether you’ll be given similarly important work that you probably saw in the House will depend on the Senator’s staff and their trust of interns. I for one, stopped trusting them.
The post Internships, Jobs, and Office Relationships appeared first on ClotureClub.com.
Our anonymous hill staffer is back to answers your questions. This week's topics: Internships, finding a job, and office relationships. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/02/internships-jobs-and-office-relationships/
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
This deserves a caption! Gov. Rick Perry played guitar hero with his teenage neighbor. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/26/rick-perry-guitar-hero_n_2769140.html
We have two screening tickets to Jack the Giant Slayer in Silver Spring TONIGHT at 7pm. Want to go? Let us know in the comment section below.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
It's Caption Tuesday! In celebration of the Oscars this past Sunday, here's a classic Oscar photo of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama from 2009. Give this photo your best caption!
Wine review of Sauvignon Blancs: Sonoma vs. New Zealand
I love Sauvignon Blanc. There, it’s been said and now my bias is known. Since I love it, I drink a decent amount of it and I like trying new things as well as going with old stand bys that I know are good and typically at good price points. Sauvignon Blanc is a very approachable, refreshing, easy drinking dry white wine that goes great on a deck or by the pool during the summer or by a fire in the colder months. Excellent with shell fish and sharp cheeses and because of its characteristic acidity, it goes well with spicy thai or a bowl of chili. These are blanket statements about the varietal, but they’re statements that are going to prove to be correct in 95% of Sav Blancs out there, so I feel fairly comfortable making them. And more pertinently, these statements are quite applicable to the wines I write about today – the 2011 Hanna Russian River Valley (RRV) Sav Blanc from Sonoma in CA and the 2011 Nobilo Marlborough Sav Blanc from New Zealand. Both of these bottles fall into the old stand by category I mentioned above, as they’re both well made, delicious wines that are budget friendly with both retailing right around $12 per bottle. I have had both of these wines a number of times but I thought for this article I’d actually put them side by side to see how they truly compare.
A Little History
Sauvignon Blanc is a French varietal, native to the Bordeaux region. But Bordeaux is more associated with red wines and while there is a decent amount of Sav Blanc produced and bottled there simply because of the volume produced, more and more wine makers in Bordeaux are using Sav Blanc as a blending grape in some of their world class dessert wines. So for most consumers who want a good, dry Sav Blanc, they turn to other regions. It’s a hearty, adaptable grape and grown the world over; the US, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, South Africa and Italy just to name a few locations. But more and more, New Zealand is receiving acclaim for producing top notch, world class Sav Blanc, and it has become the default national grape of the Kiwis. Sonoma County in CA which lies just west of Napa also produces some world class Sav Blancs. Often overlooked because of the prominence of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma and specifically the Russian River Valley (RRV) in Sonoma produces some of the finest Sav Blanc in CA and the world. Its then no surprise that the climates of both Marlborough and the RRV are similar; dry, sunny and relatively cool (temperate) because of the regions respective proximity to water. Now that you’ve got a bit of a background on the regions and growing conditions, lets get to it!
Our Review
Wine Chosen: 2011 Hanna Russian River Sauvignon Blancs vs. 2011 Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs
Both wines are clear in the glass with now sedimentation or any visible flaws. They’re both relatively light or pale in color, with the Hanna appearing to have a straw color with a tinge of green while the Nobilo gives you a very pale yellow, almost clear appearance. So in terms of appearance, while almost a push, I’ll give the nod to the Hanna because of its mildly darker appearance. The noses of both wines are fairly similar as well. Both give you very crisp mineral and slate scents and the trademark citrus aromas that are present in almost all Sav Blancs. The citrus scents are slightly, and I’m nit picking here, different. The Hanna gives you a little orange and lime on the nose and true to Kiwi style, the Nobilo gives you the trademark grapefruit aroma that most expect from a Marlborough. Edge on the nose- Nobilo. Tasting these wines is an absolute pleasure.
The Hanna gives you a dry, mildly acidic light bodied mouth feel with really distinct flavors of lime, nectarine and a little vanilla. The Nobilo is dryer, right around bone dry with more acidity but still a light body. The grapefruit jumps out at you and is present throughout with a nice addition of tomato plant (think ripening tomatoes on the vine) and tropical, fruity flavors of pineapple. Both of these wines are very well balanced, and neither sees any time in oak (both are fermented 100% in stainless steel) and I think the very subtle differences come from the addition to the Hanna of Semillon (3%) and Chardonnay (4%) vs 100% Sav Blanc in the Nobilo. The result when compared side by side is a slightly mellower wine in the Hanna while the Nobilo is way more zesty and bright and has a nice citrus zip to it. Both have relatively short finishes with citrus flavors lingering a bit while the acid of the wines slowly dies down. All in all both are excellent wines, but for my pallet, I give the ever so slight edge to the Hanna; simply a personal preference.
So I officially declare the 2011 Hanna RRV Sauvignon Blanc the victor! In all honesty though, you cannot go wrong with either. They’re both great on their own, with salads with a vinaigrette dressing, or with grilled chicken or shrimp. They’re very similar wines and maybe I’m slightly more biased towards the Hanna because I’ve been there. But regardless if you’re a fan of Sav Blanc or want to try some nice, affordable crisp wines give one (or both) a try. Bottom line – if you want a little more acidity and more pronounced grapefruit flavors, go with Nobilo. For a slightly subtler, smoother wine that’s a little easier on the pallet with beautiful citrus and vanilla with a more rounded, moderate mouth feel give the Hanna a shot. Or get silly and drink them side by side and make your own determination!
The post Wine review of Sauvignon Blancs: Sonoma vs. New Zealand appeared first on ClotureClub.com.
Still trying to burn off those 10 lbs from the 2012 campaign? Our new contributor Emily Egan has reviewed DC's shaking class, Dance Trance Fitness. Check out her review! http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/02/cloture-club-review-of-dance-trance-fitness-classes/
Cloture Club Review of Dance Trance Fitness Classes
Hey Cloture Club readers, the folks that run the site have noticed that a few of you still haven’t lost the 10 lbs you gained during campaign season so they asked me to review some of the new fitness classes and gyms in the area to give you an extra push of motivation. If there are any classes or gyms you’re curious about, feel free to let me know in the comments or via twitter.
After attending a SweetGreen-sponsored Dance Trance class hosted at the Lululemon store in Georgetown, and loving it, I decided I would try out the dance classes for real at their location inside Balance Gym’s Thomas Circle location. From what I understand, Dance Trance is a nationwide franchise and they operate separately but rent space from Balance. The classes are not cheap ($18 drop in fee, with various packages and memberships available) but they offer the first week free, and I took full advantage by attending 3 classes last week. Dance Trance is nothing like the dance aerobics, hip-hop or Zumba classes offered at other gyms. It actually feels like you are out clubbing with your girlfriends, minus the uncomfortable heels and unwelcome manhandling! For newbies like me, they have a one-hour breakdown class where the instructors run you through the steps of two routines. The second hour is “high cardio” where you dance the routines you learned as well as many that are unfamiliar. The lights are low, the music loud, and you’re too focused on keeping up with the complicated steps, turns, and hip thrusts to realize you just got a great hour-long cardio workout.
Routines to Cobra Starship’s “Good Girls Gone Bad,” Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite,” Def Leopard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me” and, a personal favorite, Maklemore’s “Thrift Store,” repeat sequences just enough that by the end of the song you feel like you almost have the hang of it. Pro tip for newbies: scope out the regulars (they are hugging friends and chatting with others before the class, it seems be a very collegial group!) and try to position yourself near a few, you’ll often want to have someone to watch on all sides of you when you can’t see the instructors. Speaking of the instructor, the owner, Sarah Sands, teaches the classes and could not have been nicer or more encouraging to all of the participants!
I have to say that my class at Lululemon where, with no mirrors, I could pretend that my shimmying was just as sexy and coordinated as the instructors, was a little more enjoyable! With walls of mirrors in the Balance Gym studio, I had no such illusions. However, I found that when I ignored my reflection, watched the instructors, and focused on having fun I got a great workout and the hour of “high cardio” flew by. By the end of the week did I have all of the routines down? No, but I was much more confident and less apt to hit a neighboring dancer with a flailing arm or wrong turn. What’s that Justin Timberlake? You want me as a backup dancer in your next video? I’d LOVE to.
And on to some of the logistics: it takes some time commitment to come to the breakdown classes and learn the routines, but Dance Trance is a good workout for the fitness beginner too intimidated by other classes that require major muscle. For those looking for the maximum burn in a short time, stick to boot camp classes or spinning, because you aren’t going to wake up after a Dance Trance class needing an Advil and a day off. While going to Balance has the added bonus of seeing the buff Crossfit dudes throwing tires around shirtless, the ladies locker room was no-frills (showers had body wash and conditioner but no shampoo) so it’s not the most comfortable place to shower and change. Lastly, the classes I went to each had only 1 male participant, so guys who love to dance shouldn’t be shy!
The post Cloture Club Review of Dance Trance Fitness Classes appeared first on ClotureClub.com.
Are You a Product of Your Past?
The past is prologue so we are all products of our pasts to varying extents. I am the son of an alcoholic father, and my life, in part, has been shaped by that fact. Whether your father drank too much, your mother took too many pills, your older sibling or cousin relied upon legal or illegal drugs, or if you knew of someone in that situation; then you will identify with what I have to share.
My father was a good, caring, hard-working man who suffered from the disease known as alcoholism, which back then was called a drinking problem. Although he died when I was in my late twenties, it wasn’t until later in my life that I began to understand the reasons why he used alcohol to cope with his fear and shame. Understanding my father, his habits, and choices put things into perspective, but it did not change that his actions influenced my life.
Growing up in a world of uncertainty was an extreme challenge. From day to day I could not predict my father’s condition or mood, and that meant I couldn’t risk the embarrassment of bringing home friends. As an adolescent I often wondered, “What do they think? How did they look at me?” It caused me to create some very interesting stories in my mind that I carried for a long while. One “story” was that I was the only kid on this planet that had this problem. The fear of embarrassment also manifested itself whenever we were in public. If he had been drinking to excess, anything could happen and the world was judging me, or so it seemed it was in my story. Therefore, I developed techniques and habits that would drive my life. For example, by eight I learned that the more I controlled my environment, the less the chance existed that I would be surprised and hurt. I learned that uncertainty caused anxiety whereas control and being highly over organized produced safety.
Another early lesson I learned was that confronting my father when he was under the influence was not wise. I had no chance of winning the confrontation and that taught me conflict was bad and should be avoided at all costs. As readers of my columns know, this pattern does not lead to healthy relationships. It led to breakdowns in communications and a less than authentic life.
But, my challenges produced a few survival techniques or “strong suits.” I learned to evaluate my surroundings instantly. If my father was smoking a pipe it usually meant that he was not drinking and things were safe, yet if I smelled cigarette smoke, I played a outside little longer. Any object out of place was a clue that I used to deduce information about my environment. This habit to quickly assess my surroundings later helped me to read people and business situations within minutes. Since I needed to find alternatives to direct conflict, I developed creative ways around it using the power of influence. Being a professional influencer was invaluable dealing with difficult clients, both internally and externally to the company.
We develop many of our strengths because of lessons we learned as a child from how we first dealt successfully with crises. Although in many cases these strengths have helped us survive and mostly succeed they have also locked us into our current professional path with no apparent escape.
The way that I saw the world as a little boy was through lenses that were clouded and formed by the circumstances that I described, which I’m sure applies to many of my readers. Most importantly it was how I was interpreting that situation. In some cases, my first impression was twisted from the reality and would stay with me until adulthood until corrected. For example, it was a fact that my father was an alcoholic and it was a fact that I was there to witness his actions in various forms; but my interpretation that my friends and my world was laughing at me was not real and not a fact. Later I learned that they had some of the same shame and fear in their own lives.
To have a productive future with new opportunities, I had to recognize and then make friends with and shake hands with my past. Forgiving my father and embracing the facts instead of my incorrect impressions of reality gave me the power to deal with my wound and not concentrate on the person who caused it. This past, no matter how bad, was never going to give me the fuel to burn a healthy present and future.
If you have identified with my journey and can replace your life (at least in part with mine) then my suggestion to you is to totally understand that you are a wonderful whole person and that each day is a new beginning and being. Live each day by starting at the point of where you are and not through the lenses of an eight-year-old child who has developed a life of interpretations and false stories. This gives you tremendous opportunity to be and create a future full of new opportunities based on just being and living not in the past and not in the future but in the present as if you were born today. For those of you who say that this not possible, it is…. I know!
The post Are You a Product of Your Past? appeared first on ClotureClub.com.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Kitchen Quorum Recipe: Sesame Zaatar Crackers
With rocky economic times, some yearn for a return to the barter economy, a simpler system with fewer opportunities for debt swaps and complicated algorithms. If this is you, give it a test run with DC Food Swap.
Yes, they swap food, but we’re not talking McNuggets. The organizers bring together foodies with high-quality, home-made, well-decorated (for the most part) projects. So yes, a few offerings are a little weird. But this event draws the try-anything-once crowd, so even the weird things get traded. Oh, and you do sign a waiver, so it’s your own fault if a swap gets too weird.
But ‘too weird’ is unlikely. DC Swap meets in a bright, clean room above an AdMo bike shop, and the swap looks like a farmers market — except no money changes hands. Instead, each swapper has a ‘bid’ sheet on their table, where others can write their offers (two loaves of poppyseed bread for a bottle of earl grey-infused gin?). The afternoon ends with a lightening round of accepted (and a few denied) swaps, and everyone goes home with as many items as they brought.
So: I arrived with ten packages of Nutella blondies. I left with: a poppyseed loaf, two cannolis, a tin of fake meat (weird), scones, biscotti, a few packets of cookies. Nine items, since I broke open a bag of blondies to put out samples. But then, I did get my bag’s worth of tasty samples from the other tables.
Yes, I made Nutella blondies. But only after my black sesame zaatar crackers caught fire. However, after I enjoyed eating what I could salvage from the flames, I realized that this was truly the perfect recipe for clueless young professionals. So this is what I’m sharing this week, along with a useful note on how not to set them on fire.
But why don’t we make this a barter? Send me – I’m serious – your favorite recipe.
Sesame Zaatar Crackers
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp sugar (brown or white – your choice)
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 2 TAB plus a 1/2 tsp oil (any kind, but sesame is tasty, and feel free to experiment with flavored oils)
- Flavorings – your pick, any amount that makes you happy (but don’t overdo it!): dried herbs/spices, grated cheese, finely chopped nuts
Directions
Preheat oven to 375F.
Mix the dry ingredients together. In another bowl, combine the water and oil.
Combine the two bowls, stirring until blended. Feel free to blend in flavorings at this point too — any grated cheeses, sesame seeds, whatever.
Knead the dough like a stress ball for a minute or two, then place on a greased cookie sheet (I prefer to use it upside down, so I don’t have to deal with the raised edges), and roll flat (you’ll need a rolling pin – though I used a metal water bottle). Roll it very flat. Like, paper-flat. Sprinkle it with more tasty flavorings if you feel like it — cinnamon/sugar, rosemary, seeds. You can run a knife across it (to make cracker shapes), or simply break into jagged, ‘foodie’-looking shards after it’s completely cooled.
Bake 15-20 minutes, or until the crackers are crisp. Allow them to cool, then break apart.
Eat.
Visit http://dcfoodswap.org/ to learn more and start swapping. Don’t show up without registering – they kind of hate on crashers (sorry, Caroline).
The post Kitchen Quorum Recipe: Sesame Zaatar Crackers appeared first on ClotureClub.com.
We have 2 screening tickets to Jack the Giant Slayer tomorrow at AMC Mazza Gallerie. Want to see it before your friends? Let us know in the comment section below your favorite children's storybook!
Photo of the Week: Kennedy Center Northern Lights
The Kennedy Center will feature the “Nordic Cool” festival through March 17th. Every night between 5:30pm and 11:00pm the four sides of the Kennedy Center will display the Northern Lights.
Photo taken by: Brandon Wu
The post Photo of the Week: Kennedy Center Northern Lights appeared first on ClotureClub.com.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
The Washington Oscars
With tonight’s Tinseltown event, we thought we would award our own Oscars to politicians and pundits. If you have any suggestions, let us know in the comment section below!
Best Actor:
Clint Eastwood. His RNC speech was beyond this world.
Best Supporting Actor
Marco Rubio’s Water Bottle. Became famous overnight.
Best Actress
Hillary Rodham Clinton – After her heated exchange with Sen. Ron Johnson and getting unscathed from the Benghazi incident, This classy lady certainly won title of best actress!
Best Supporting Actress:
The Code Pink Protester – Always with a grand entrance.
Best Musical:
President Obama – singing Al Green’s “Let’s stay together“.
Best Dramatic Performance:
Karl Rove on election night. His disarray was so believable.
Best Costume Design:
Representative Frederica Wilson – Her wardrobe alone is worth this title.
Best Makeup:
Squeeking by, John Boehner for his bronzer. In a close second, Nancy Pelosi. She’s 72.
Best Director:
The person who recorded Romney’s 47% speech. “Nailed” it.
Best Documentary
Showtime’s Homeland. Because it couldn’t get any closer than the General Petraeus scandal!
The post The Washington Oscars appeared first on ClotureClub.com.
With tonight's Tinseltown event, we thought we would award our own Oscars to politicians and pundits. Best Dramatic Performance: Karl Rove on Election Night Find out why here: http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/02/the-washington-oscars/ If you think it's funny, give us a thumbs up or Share!
Friday, February 22, 2013
Thank you for coming out last night to our Social Media Week Happy Hour at 201 Bar! Many business cards were exchanged and new ideas were born. We had a great crowd! Stay tuned for our future networking events! http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/02/our-social-media-week-networking-happy-hour/
Our Social Media Week Networking Happy Hour
Thank you for coming out last night to our Social Media Week Happy Hour at 201 Bar! You all made it a great event and we were so excited so many great people! Many business cards were exchanged and new ideas were born. We had a great crowd! Stay tuned for our future networking events coming up in the following months, we look forward to sharing a beverage with you all again soon!
Special thanks to 201 Bar for hosting the event, Hemen M. as our official photographer, and everyone who made it out!
The post Our Social Media Week Networking Happy Hour appeared first on ClotureClub.com.