A Hankering

I'm hard-pressed to think of something I enjoy more than a dozen assorted oysters on the half shell accompanied by a glass of white wine, which is why I can't think of many places I'd rather find myself these days than Hank's Oyster Bar near Dupont circle. The neighborhood spot, serving simple, accessible New England beach fare, never fails to satisfy my craving. Mix and match from the daily selection of fresh oysters to customize your order, and ask for a glass of the Albarino, a Spanish white wine, whose tartness cuts nicely through the creamy salinity of the shellfish.

Hank's also serves a mean fried oyster po'boy, which I enhance with a squeeze of lemon and squirt of hot sauce. Though I've never tried 'em, the fried Ipswich clams boast devoted followers as well. Chef and Owner Jamie Leeds - who recently opened a Hank's outpost in Old Town - serves these dishes and lots of other good stuff in an intimate townhouse setting that feels equally perfect for a romantic dinner for two or casual get-together with friends. Be forewarned, however, that there's no dessert menu. You'll hardly miss it, though, when your waiter drops off Hank's signature hunks of dark chocolate with the bill, a perfect less-is-more ending to the exceedingly satisfying experience.

Also worth noting is Hank's riff on the classic "Partridge in a Pear Tree" holiday song; for the month of December, both locations will serve the "Twelve Seafood Dishes of Christmas," priced at $75. Included in the bounty are: one cup of ceviche, two jumbo shrimp, three golden scallops, four barbecued oysters, five littleneck clams, six West Coast oysters, seven peel n’ eats, eight Ipswich clams, nine golden rings (calamari), 10 fried oysters, 11 steamed mussels and 12 East Coast oysters. You may want to bring some friends along for back-up. (Thanks to Metrocurean for the tip-off.)

Good to know:
Hank's Oyster Bar is located at 1624 Q Street, NW, easily accessible by Metro. Exit the Dupont Metro station to the South, then walk around the circle to the right, turning onto Q St. Hank's is a couple blocks down Q St. on the right side of the street.

Dress-wise, the atmosphere is relatively relaxed, but Dupont being Dupont (and oysters being classy), you may want to err on the side of chic.

Photos taken from Hank's Oyster Bar website.

More to love at Love Cafe

You don't really need an excuse to visit U Street's Love Cafe, the sister store of the wildly popular CakeLove Bakery across the street. I mean, the place has awesome cake and strong coffee, which are each, individually, reason enough in my book, and combined...well, even better. But just in case you're not convinced, there's now yet another reason to love the place. Two words: Cupcake Bar. That's right. Love Cafe will now let you create and customize your own cupcake. Choose from vanilla or chocolate cake, then pick one of the uber-rich buttercreams, which include amaretto, chocolate, dark chocolate, lime, lemon, orange, German chocolate, raspberry, strawberry, vanilla, and peanut butter. You even get to pick your own sprinkles. Why? Because it tastes better that way.

Good to know:
Love Cafe is located at 1506 U Street, NW. It is Metro accessible from the U Street/Cardozo on the Yellow or Green line, which will take you to the corner of 13th and U. From there, walk two blocks east on U Street. Love Cafe will be the place on the right with the line out the door.

Can't get enough? Owner Warren Brown blogs about the bakery here.

Photos taken from CakeLove/Love Cafe's website.

Sunday, idle Sunday

On this Sunday after Thanksgiving, I was craving something to feed the mind, having already fed my stomach to capacity on Thursday. I've been meaning to check out Idle Time Books for awhile now, so I donned my reading glasses and black turtleneck, and headed on over to the used and out-of-print book purveyor in the heart of Adams Morgan.

Upon entering, I was pleasantly surprised by just how large Idle Time is. Its quaint storefront gives the appearance of a cozy little shop, but there are actually three large floors filled with a diverse selection of books, spanning topics from Art Theory to Economics to Psychology and lots more. Political junkies will be especially pleased, as almost an entire wall is devoted to books on U.S. and international politics. There is also a sizable collection of biographies, and, of course, a large selection of fiction. My favorite part (well, besides the books) is the multitude of stools and chairs. There's even a red crushed-velvet armchair on the third floor by the window, overlooking 18th Street - a perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of the street below.

In addition to books, the Idle Time sells records and cd's, though not a very extensive selection of either. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I snapped up Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed and Wally Lamb's I Know This Much is True.

Good to know:
Idle Time Books is located at 2467 18th Street, NW. The easiest way to get there is probably via the Dupont Circle Metro stop (exit on the North side). From there, walk north on Connecticut Ave., take a right on Florida Ave., then a left on 18th Street.

If you're looking for a specific book, you can actually search Idle Time's inventory on the interwebs (as the kids say) before you go.

Photo of Idle Time Books by Flickr user Eye Captain.

A Napoleon Complex

The days are short, and the air is chilly. Patio happy hours and summer cocktails feel like a distant memory. But that's no reason to pout when the clock strikes 5 o'clock. Adams Morgan's sophisticated new bistro, Napoleon, is the perfect place to cozy up to a couple of drinks and some casual French fare. The Parisien-inspired spot has quickly become my office's post-work venue of choice. The best part? Napoleon's drink menu features an extensive list of champagne cocktails, sure to warm you up in no time.

When I went with co-workers, I tried "A Good Night Kiss," made with Campari, champagne, and Angostura bitter. The bitters made for an interesting contrast to the champagne's sweet fizz. If you find yourself reminiscing about warm summer nights, "La Tropicale" (champagne and mango nectar) will ease your nostalgie. My co-worker, R., had the "French 75," made with Bombay Saphhire, lemon juice, and champagne. I must say, I've seen nary a classier silhouette in Adams Morgan than R. sipping her sparkly ice blue drink from a slender glass flute, the twinkly lights of Columbia Road and 18th Street flickering outside. Napoleon's vibe is a far cry from the usual debauchery that descends on its environs at dark, that's for certain.

All that champagne gave us a good excuse to sample some of Napoleon's bistro fare. The pommes frites are dangerously addictive, and come with ketchup and a sweet tarragon-flecked mayonnaise. The mussels aren't as plump and juicy as I've had elsewhere, but the sauce from the Moules Marinieres (white wine, shallots, and garlic) makes for some divine dunking action with the gratis bread basket. I haven't had a chance to try the rest of the menu, but the savory crepes sound especially promising, as does the Cote d'Agneau (rack of lamb, served with potato gratin). Napoleon also serves brunch, and must be doing a fine job of it - the place is always packed when I walk by on weekends.

In addition to the restaurant upstairs, there's also also a moodily lit downstairs lounge. Think slouchy leather couches, exposed brick, and glowing lanterns mounted on the wall. Though it was empty when I saw it (I took the liberty of peeking around a bit on a trip to the ladies' room downstairs), it's not hard to imagine the room filled with people sitting and talking quietly over those exquisite champagne cocktails (which, by the way, are half price between 5 and 8 p.m.). It's almost enough to make a girl forget about those warm August evenings, sipping Blue Moons on the rooftop at The Reef. Almost.

Good to know:
Napoleon is located at 1847 Columbia Road, NW. It's not terribly close to a Metro stop (probably a 15-minute walk from the Woodley Park - Zoo/Adams Morgan stop on the Red line. I recommend a cab, especially post-champagne, but there is some limited street parking available on the surrounding blocks.

The atmosphere is upscale casual. I felt fine, if a bit stuffy, in my work clothes, but I would definitely change into my slouchy black boots, dark jeans, and gray Marc Jacobs tunic top to hit up the downstairs lounge.

Photo by Flickr user Roboppy.

An Introduction

Welcome to At Home in DC, my blog where I will share the cool stuff I've discovered (and continue to discover) while living here in the District.

It's all too easy to dismiss Washington as a place defined by politics, power-grubbing, corruption, and scandal. And it is those things. But it's also a lot more than that, and my goal with At Home in DC is to illuminate the things that define DC for the rest of us, and the things that remind me each day why I choose to make DC my home.

Photo of North Capitol Street by Flickr user Andertho.