Flying to Columbia Heights just got easier

Thank you, Metro, for finally doing something to help us! Beginning New Years Eve, the Washington Metro Yellow Line will continue up the track to Ft. Totten, the end of the line the other train on the same track, the Green Line. This is great news! This means I can now hop on the Metro and go all the way to the airport without transferring. Eventually they'll even extend the Metro to Dulles (the Purple Line is supposed to happen by 2010, right?). Woo hoo! Thank you Jim Graham.

Proof, beware

I admit, I was thrilled to read about Proof, the wine bar coming in March. Thanks to Gallery Place Living for keeping us in the know. But I was more excited to hear a little rumor that a small wine bar is coming soon to Logan Circle. I wish I could tell you more, but it really is little more than a rumor at this point. A friend of the folks opening it promise it will be here soon.

Can anyone think of where? Stoney's has moved into the space recently vacated by P St. Bistro. Are there open spaces I'm blanking on?

Ask and you shall receive

What was that I was reading about there being no great Spanish restaurants in DC? Along comes news (thank you Metrocurean) that the folks behind Sonoma and Mendocino Grill are opening a Spanish gastropub (whatever that is) on 14th Street, not too far from home (mine, and perhaps yours). That is very exciting stuff. If Sonoma's meats are any indication of the quality of meat they will have at La Pata Negra, my mouth is watering.

Eating our way to San Fran

As if I was not excited enough about our trip to Maui in January, now I am getting just as pumped about the first two days of the trip - in San Francisco. The most exciting place I've found yet (and I've just started!) is Swan Oyster Depot.

I've been to SF a few times now, and the last most exciting place was Burrito Juan or something equally generic-sounding. I'm not kidding; this was the best burrito I've had yet (and I'm on a mission to try them all).

But the Swan Oyster Depot (no web site, of course) looks incomparable. How amazing, by the way, is Flickr? I'm so excited to try it... and of course will share when I get back. But I have six weeks left to drool...

Anyone have favorite restaurants in SF or Maui? Please leave a comment.

Seratonin bars in Chicago

See, and here I thought I had nothing to say. I just read about a new concept - the chocolate lounge. Thanks to Graphic Design USA for pointing it out, albeit in November 2005, and thanks to the ever-informative JOTW for passing it on.

First of all, of course this place is called Ethel's. Two of my great-grandmas were named Ethel. I don't think there is a more loving, Jewish-grandma-ish name out there.

And I love that they're open all over Chicago (there's a warm place in my heart for Chicago) because you really need to warm up there, and I hear the seratonin in chocolate helps with that. But most of all, since I rarely get to Chicago anymore, I really love that the only one outside of Chicago is in Las Vegas.

Oh, and lastly I love that someone is trying to take the Starbucks concept to a new food. Let's see if it works.

Returning

I'm thinking it's time to return to The Long Way Here. I'm not sure anyone is reading anymore, although I do get a monthly "statement" from my counter, and just about one person a month finds him or herself here. Who knows how... Even after almost a year, I'm not sure what to write. Maybe I'm not cut out for this blog thing. You have to have a lot to say. What do I have to say right now?

Requests? Dedications?