Jamel and I met while I was catering a small gathering for his uncle. When Jamel arrived, his uncle introduced us and informed me that Jamel liked to cook as well. We talked briefly before Jamel left the party but when I needed extra hands for a catering gig later that year, I called to see if Jamel might be interested in the work. He was and the rest is history.

As my assistant in catering, Jamel was the sole reason that so many jobs went off without a hitch. He was responsible, dependable and always made the food look like art. (That’s an extreme gift that I simply do not possess.) If Jamel was on a catering job, I knew that everything would be fine. With a strong track record working with me on catering gigs, it wasn’t long before he was hired to work with me at my day job as well.

Jamel has told me that he looks up to me but I don’t think he has an inkling of just how much I admire him. He is the single most generous person I have ever met, always willing to take from himself to see that those he cares about are ok. Jamel is fearless in most every way and never backs down from challenges of any sort. He is humble and does not seek out any level of praise or recognition for all of the good work that he does. And with all of those qualities, his greatest gift may be how open his heart and mind are to understanding the world around him without judgment or bias.

Hands Down - the BEST salad I have ever eaten - made by Jamel!

I could write a book about the inside jokes we share, the talks we’ve had, or how good looking he is (Sorry ladies, he is taken!) I am so excited to see where his life path will lead because the potential within him is infinite. As I continue on my own journey, I am very grateful to know that I have such an INCREDIBLE little brother who is always in my corner.

Cooking with Mel

Mel, I want to thank you for being a positive force in my life and always encouraging me to be the best that I can.

Your big bro (who will continue to support, challenge, and embarrass you),

Jarrod

Handcuffed on top of Jamel's old car at Kings in Montclair, NJ - Long story

Our crew aboard the J/24 (24 foot sailboat) - Rom, Kristen, and Maurice

(No, I did not buy a sailboat!)

One morning while checking my email, I noticed a discount promotion for sailing lessons. My interest was immediately piqued as I had never sailed a boat before and it certainly seemed like it could be fun. Upon further examination, the sailing school was located pretty close to where my favorite co-conspirator, Romulus, lives so I figured the universe had given me the green light. After a brief call to Romulus, confirming that he would be willing to sail with me, I clicked on the “Buy My Sailing Lessons” button and we had taken the first step in becoming bona fide seamen.

Admittedly, Romulus and I had not thoroughly read the fine print and therein lies the problem with most impulse purchases: not taking the time to rationally consider every angle of what you’re getting. We figured that the lessons would include some vocabulary, maybe an onboard wine party where everyone would get to steer the sailboat before receiving a complimentary Captain’s hat and calling it a day. Instead, we had signed up for a three-day, fifteen-hour intensive sailing course complete with homework due on the first day of class. There would be a three-hour classroom session at 6 pm on a Monday night followed by two consecutive days on the water (beginning at 8 am!) the following weekend. Rom and I feared that we had accidentally signed up for the British Royal Navy.

Our instructor, Rick, in the classroom

On the first night of class, there was a group of about 15 to 20 students, most of us feverishly taking notes while our instructor, Rick, reviewed the homework. Rick’s nautical stories from his adventures sailing around the globe kept the class interesting while he used a model sailboat and dry erase board to prepare us for the subsequent days of class on the water.  We went over terminology, water safety tips, and items we would need to be ready for sailing on that Saturday morning. By the end of that evening, I think the whole class was excited to hit the water that weekend, even with the 8 am start time.

In the classroom on Saturday morning, we were broken down into smaller groups of four sailors before being taken to the boats with an assigned Captain/instructor. My group consisted of me, Romulus, two friends, Maurice and Kristen, and Captain Al. Maurice was pretty solid on his sailing knowledge from doing the homework and Kristen was probably the most ambitious student. We joked with her that she would probably get the highest grade in the history of the sailing school on our certification exam. And then there was that duo of Romulus and Jarrod who were still holding out hope for the onboard wine party. 

Kristen and Rom with Captain Al - feeding the mainsail

Over the course of the two days, we practiced setting up the boat and sails, tying different knots, steering, and navigating the boat through the wind. Unfortunately for us that weekend, the wind was weak on the first day and all but dead on the second. Using the power of the motor, we still managed to run through and practice skills necessary for the exam. Each one of us took turns doing all of the jobs on the sailboat from tending to the sails when switching directions to saving the “Man Overboard” on rescue drills. While sailing, we talked with each other about our backgrounds, etc and picked Captain Al’s brain about his sailing experiences. Without the wind, it was perhaps not the best weekend for sailing but wonderfully serene on the water. It was here that I found the allure in sailing for myself. I’m sure that for many people the actual sailing is the draw but being on a boat, in the water, with a few friends and no worries has Jarrod written all over it.

That's me practicing the bowline knot

At the conclusion of our second day on the water, we docked the boat as we’d been taught and it was time to take the certification exam. Romulus and I both decided not to take the test, knowing that we would have the option in the future if we decided to do so. We had a great introduction to sailing but our feeling was that if we were on a sailboat again, we’d rather be holding margaritas instead of the tiller (the steering lever). We ended our sailing lessons by thanking all of our instructors and exchanging Facebook information with our crewmates. Had we conquered the seven seas? Certainly not, but we had an enjoyable weekend sailing away in the New York Harbor.

Our whole crew - from left to right - Maurice, Captain Al, Romulus, Kristen, and Me

Now YOU try it! : Sailing season is over in the Northeast but if you’re interested in learning how to sail, you can start your search with the American Sailing Association. Rom and I took our lessons at “The Award Winning True North Sailing School” located in Jersey City, NJ but I am certain that a Google search would yield many options for you wherever you are. Good luck if you choose to take up sailing for a weekend or as a lifestyle. Let me know if you do, I’d love to hitch a ride as a first mate.

Me with my first Moscow Mule! Delicious!

On Sunday night, I went to dinner at the Tudor House restaurant, located in the hotel where I was staying. Renowned chef and restaurateur, Geoffrey Zakarian was the visionary behind the restaurant and it did not disappoint. From the bar (I had my first Moscow Mule), to the appetizer, the entrée, and dessert, I was in a gourmet wonderland. However, as fantastic as the food was, my waiter, Victor made the meal extra special. Not only did he steer me towards some of the finer selections on the menu but we also talked about the city. He was a recent transplant to Miami from New York and had done a fair share of exploring Miami in the same way that I was now.

As my meal progressed, and Victor continued giving me his city recommendations, I informed him that I planned on hitting the 8 oz Burger Bar the next day. He stopped me right away and said, “No, no, no! If you want a great burger, I know exactly where you need to go!” I was intrigued because every menu item that Victor had suggested was a winner, especially the steak tartare. He told me that I needed to go to the Shake Shack on Lincoln Road and have one of their burgers instead of one at the Burger Bar. With Victor being a New Yorker and Govind Armstrong being a California native, I had to ditch the Burger Bar and head for the Shake Shack (Sorry Govind, maybe next time).

Steak Tartare with Quail Egg and Grilled Toast at Tudor House

The Shake Shack has over a dozen locations on the US East Coast and in the Middle East! This particular branch was located on the tourist heavy Lincoln Blvd, of South Beach. When I walked in and approached the counter, I found out that the cashier was another New York transplant! We spoke for a while about his Miami experience before I asked him to guide me towards what would be my first Shake Shack experience. He recommended a single patty Shack Burger with fries and a “Fair Shake” - a vanilla shake mixed with Fair Trade coffee. It sounded like a plan to me so I agreed, took my “shaker”, and waited for my order to be ready.

The "Shaker" that lets you know your meal is ready

While waiting, I was marveling at the fact that Shake Shack sells wine and beer to pair with the burgers. Though I was on a mini vacation, I’d already enjoyed a Mojito or two so the non alcoholic shake was fine for me. I researched their story a little on my cell phone and found out that Chef Danny Meyer had started this chain in 2004 with a sustainable, eco friendly product in mind. The first restaurant opened up in NYC to the delight of its neighborhood patrons before critical acclaim and other locations followed.

When my burger was ready, my shaker shook and I picked up my order. On my tray were the crunchiest fries that put Five Guys to shame, and the most flavorful and tender burger I could have asked for. I am not one to easily crown something “the best” but it certainly was a contender. The shake was delicious too but the burger was stand out. Every bite that included a soft bun, fresh lettuce, tomato, cheese and “Shack Sauce” was perfection. The meat, cooked to medium, was also accompanied by the onion and pickles I requested to make one heck of a delicious burger. Victor was right. I can’t speak on what was happening at the 8oz Burger Bar but this was darn good!

Lunch! My burger, fries, and shake.

Shake Shack certainly delivered on a whole lot more than just shakes. With a juicy, tasty burger and fries that left me craving more, I almost didn’t mind the price tag associated with my meal. Lunch that day had run me about fifteen bucks. This was clearly more than I would ordinarily spend for a burger and fries but this was a special occasion, vacation meal.

Upon leaving the restaurant, I gave two huge thumbs up to the man behind the counter who had guided me towards the lunch I had just eaten. He smiled and signaled back as he was helping a few other customers who were about to treat themselves to a very special food experience. As I left Shake Shack, still thinking of those fries, I smiled knowing that this was a meal available to me at home, just a short train ride away in NYC. As much as I love burgers, Shake Shack would indeed see me again.

My New York cashier ringing up some other customers

Now YOU try it! : If you get a chance to try Shake Shack, absolutely do it! Though they have a mighty good burger I am hesitant to crown it the “best”. You can find so many good burgers at an assortment of restaurants, diners, and even in your own kitchens. So I am looking to you Jarrodonline.com readers. Where do you think the BEST burger is? I want to hear from you, where are the best burgers you’ve ever eaten located? Leave a comment below and as always, thank you for reading! See you soon.

I have never watched an entire car race (or one of those Fast and Furious movies for that matter) but while I was in Florida this month, I came as close to being a NASCAR driver as I may ever get when I went Go Kart Racing.

K-1 Speed in Fort Lauderdale

My buddy, Robert picked me up from the airport and informed me of that afternoon’s plan. We would be meeting up with his friend, Terrell, and then heading over to K-1 Speed Go Kart Racing. I was thrilled. Though I don’t usually crave activities that cause an “adrenaline rush”, flying high, being upside down, or roller coasters, I had wanted to try Go Kart racing for some time now.

When we got to the racing complex there was an assortment of people of all ages, some in the reception area but most behind the glass, where the tracks were. I have to admit, it was looking pretty cool. Inside the racing area, where the tracks were, was pretty loud and races were going on nonstop. There were two tracks, one for younger or less experienced drivers and the big track.

We were told that each race lasts about 8 minutes, barring any “incidents” but we would have to wait about 30 to 45 minutes because they were packed. “No problem!” I thought as this would give me a chance to scope out the scene and figure out if I needed to fake an illness to avoid driving. We filled out the necessary paperwork, disclaimers in the event of an accident, etc and went to go watch some races.

While waiting, I noted how organized and well managed everything was. Of course there are huge “Rules of the Track” all over the place but the facility was well staffed by people who seemed to really know what they were doing. Before each group of drivers even gets in a car, they get a “crash course” in safe operation. Crashing into other cars is absolutely frowned upon as an ejected driver found out a few minutes earlier.

Staff member giving us the Rules of the Road

Before it was our turn to go, I struck up a conversation with a man, Mike Brown, who was also waiting to race. He was a man in his early 50s who told me that he used to love racing cars but had not done one in about three decades. His race was before mine so I watched Mike go and when he got his score sheet, he came in second place! Not bad for his first race in thirty years!

Some cars lined up and ready to go!

So with inspiration from Mike and the instructions from the K-1 speed staff, I was ready to burn rubber. I was put in race car number 11 and, one by one they instructed us to drive onto the track from our lineup. They score everyone by time so when they let you onto the track one by one, your clock starts. My goal was simply to not flip over. I hadn’t given too much thought to what place I would finish in the race in.

Before I knew it, I was told to pull up to the entry gate and Vroom! I was off. We were not supposed to take our cars over 40 mph but even that felt like you were going over 100. Hearing Mike Brown’s advice in my head, I was supposed to drive very close to the turns at high speed and just cut my wheel like crazy. I got the hang of it pretty quickly and I was flying! … Or so I thought. One by one, other drivers started zooming by me. CRAP!

That's me in the driver's seat!

At that point, I was going around the track, occasionally hitting the walls (and other drivers). I noticed Robert and Terrell zooming pass me like the rest of the pack as I was doing my best to make up some time. We were supposed to go around the track 11 times but by the seventh lap, my competitive spirit had run out of gas. We were soon flagged in to stop racing and it was time to pick up the score sheets for the race.

Terrell in his car right before the race started

Out of eleven racers, I had come in tenth! I WASN’T LAST!!!! – A victory in itself. I checked for Robert and Terrell’s names and I didn’t have to look far. Robert had come in 9^th place while Terrell was in 8^th.  Obviously, we weren’t ready for the pros just yet. We did have a great deal of fun and although we chose not to do another race that day, we certainly enjoyed recounting our time on the track for the entire car ride home.

Robert in his car after the race

Now YOU try it!: K-1 Speed has 10 locations across the country for your Go Kart racing pleasure. If they do not have one near you, “Go forth and Google” because Go Kart racing can be found all over. It’s a great change of pace from the movies, bowling or just eating out. For you Northern New Jerseyans, there is a “Multi Million Dollar Entertainment Center” (that’s how they bill themselves) called Velocity-17, that has go kart racing, laser tag, and a whole slew of other adventures for you to try. You might run into your buddy, Jarrod there. I still have yet to try laser tag !

Thanks for stopping by and PLEASE – leave a comment or two or twelve! I would love to hear from you.

Ana and Me

When Ana and I started emailing, she informed me that she wanted to have a Latin inspired menu to celebrate her Puerto Rican heritage. We would also need to account for the fact that her invited guests would be vegetarians. With a little counsel from my Columbian barber, Frank, I came up with a menu that I thought would satisfy both criteria and ran it by Ana, a fabulous cook in her own right. We nailed down the menu together, settled on a date and before long, it was time for our party!

Prepare to salivate. Here’s the menu…

• Cuban Shredded Pork with Sherry Lime Glaze (clearly not for the vegetarians in the group!)
• Black Beans and Rice
• Field Greens with Homemade Lime Vinaigrette
• Tostones (Twice Fried Plantains)
• Yucca with Garlic Infused Olive Oil
• Fresh Fiesta Corn with Cream and Red Pepper
  

  MMMMmmm... Pork!

I let the beans soak overnight on the evening before the dinner while the pork shoulder was marinating. The pork needed to roast for seven hours so I began cooking it at my place on the following morning. As I packed up the food that I had sliced, diced, and prepped, a few nerves began to set in as I thought about the proposition of cooking ethnic food. Excited to give it my best shot, I got in my car and headed to Cranford, NJ.

Making sure it tastes good!

When I arrived at the Little’s house, I was greeted by familiar smiles on two sides of the street. Ana’s family (husband Frank and daughter Sophia), who I’ve known for several years as I used to be Sophia’s ballet teacher, live right across the street from the Thorntons. The Thorntons happened to be friends, past clients, and the evening’s dinner guests. I was assured by Kim Thornton that dessert was almost ready and they would be over later.

Into the Little’s kitchen I went where I was greeted by Ana who offered to be my sous chef for the evening. I told her that this was a gift to her and that she should sit back, rest, and enjoy. She assured me that she would love to cook with me. With that, I accepted and to work we went!

Working in the kitchen with Ana

Ana handled the plantains while I cut the corn. I tended to the pork while she boiled the yucca. We had a great rhythm going in the kitchen while her husband, Frank, photographed it all. I was guilty of pilfering a plantain or two before dinner with Frank as an accomplice. They were delicious. It was only right that I let Ana sample the vinaigrette for the salad that tasted pretty darn good! When I checked on the meat, I knew we would have an outstanding meal. I gave Frank a sample of the pork and he agreed we were certainly well on our way to a memorable meal.

Enter the Thorntons…

Brian with the Cupcakes

Not only did the Thorntons bring with them incredible energy, hilarious stories, and a spicy cheese to snack on, they also brought dessert. This wasn’t just any dessert. This was a homemade Bailey’s Irish Crème cheesecake and homemade Peanut Butter Chocolate cupcakes.  Just Wow!

The Dinner Guests!

We sat down to eat and everything was perfect. The superb food (if I do say so myself) was only rivaled by the conversation. Ana and I made quite a team putting together this meal. The flavors were bright, tasty, and there was such variation on the table. I never had yucca like this before and this was my first time doing pork this way. Ana informed me that the meal was more Cuban than Puerto Rican but moreover, it was delicious! As the night drew to a close, seven satisfied diners, five adults, including yours truly, and two children were all smiles and full bellies. This certainly turned out be a meal fit for a Jarrodonline.com contest winner.

Here is a picture of Ana and her husband Frank, who served as our camera man all night long

Lincoln Road in South Beach

 When I was 20, I ventured down to Miami for the first time with an ex. That trip found me on a pay phone in the hotel lobby with my mom, wanting to come home. Miami, take 2, I was down there with another ex, before a cruise to the Bahamas. Even though the cruise was great, I remember us being on Washington Avenue, in good ole Miami, screaming at each other. Do you see a pattern?

Miami, take 3, I’m with Romulus, the world’s greatest travel buddy, on a layover in Miami on our way to the Dominican Republic. We board a flight, from Miami, so rocky with bad weather that we had to land in Puerto Rico to refuel before getting into the DR. Ok, ok! I know that last one can’t really be attributed to Miami but you see where I am going, right? I have never enjoyed the city.

You think that I would have learned my lesson at this point. Fast forward to one week ago, October 1, 2011, and I’m on a flight down to MIA once again.

Out and about in Miami

This time, I already had an inkling that my “good time” was in jeopardy. Shortly after buying my ticket to Miami, for the sole purpose of hanging with a friend who had recently moved there from New York, my “friend” (and that term is used loosely) had become incommunicado.

So, how did I, with a non refundable ticket, make sure that I had a great time in Miami, even with the odds stacked against me? Read on!

The company: Since I have never done well when visiting Miami with a love interest, I called a buddy who had recently moved to Tampa. I convinced him to meet me in Miami for a weekend of painting an already red town, a whole different color. Even though I would still be doing a part of the time down there alone, time with my pal Robert would at least get things started on the right foot.

The hotel(s): I decided that with my previous history and current situation, I had earned the right to stay some place sweet. Using Expedia points, I was able to book the uber chic and brand spanking new hotel, The Dream, for about thirty bucks. The only problem with the Dream was that there were no vacancies on Saturday night, my first night in town.

A room at the Dream hotel

I did some research and found out that a hotel referred to as the “Grand Dame of South Beach”, The Tides, did have availability. Only problem was, the rooms at The Tides started at around $600. That was certainly more than we wanted to pay for one night. And then along came the mysterious $150 price drop three days before the trip. I promptly drained my remaining Expedia rewards points and clicked “Book”. We would be at the Tides hotel, right on Ocean Avenue for the first night of our South Beach stay.

The mindset: I knew that this could quite possibly be my last time in Miami so I went with the mindset to “enjoy every single minute”. I would allow nothing, NOTHING to get in the way of me having a great time in the city. My plan was to come home exhausted from laughing and celebrating life in a town geared towards having a great time. I had the option to lament being in Miami for all the wrong reasons OR I could choose to be thankful for having the chance to enjoy an incredible weekend away from home. I chose the latter.

TO BE CONTINUED: This week on the blog I will start to share some of the things that I did in Miami that you can do just about anywhere. On Wednesday, I will share my experience go kart racing and Friday I will share one of the best burgers that I’ve ever had in my life. Join me next Monday as I do my Miami wrap-up and let you know how my third visit to South Beach actually turned out.

 See you this Wednesday!

Mr Curtis A. of Jersey City, NJ – I just want to Thank You for everything you’ve done to help a Jarrod out! Let’s see, I think that you’ve been Like an Uncle, Father Figure, Mentor, Style Guide, FRIEND!

You have provided advice, inspiration, and an appropriate verbal “smack down” when necessary  

I just want to let you know that I am extremely grateful to have you in my world!

Thanks for everything!

J

I suppose I'm not really a serious bowler

I came across this trend a couple of years ago while investigating options for Terence’s birthday celebration. We were looking for something that would be a little different, a lot of fun, and easy to organize in a short amount of time. It was recommended to me that I check out a bowling alley called Lucky Strike which has a location in New York City. Upon my first visit to the website, I realized that Lucky Strike was not the same old bowling alley to which I was accustomed.

One of the Lounge areas inside of Lucky Strike

At first glance, the Lucky Strike website is full of color and bold design elements; a far cry from what you would expect of the local bowling alley. Rotating pictures include shots of leather sofas, sleek lounge set ups, and martini glasses on a seemingly hip and happening bar. There are a few shots that put you in the mindset of an ultra chic bowling alley, with lanes, bowling balls and such, but even their bowling shoes don’t seem as frightful as you might expect.

The Bartender at Lucky Strike NYC

Further inspection of the website yields more surprises. Their menu borders on gourmet by including items such as “Salmon Wonton Snacks”, “Beef Short Ribs”, and “Caprese salad”; not exactly standard cuisine for a bowling alley. Beyond the menu, a link at the bottom of the page reading “Dress Code” is certainly unexpected. Clicking on that link reveals a list of dos and don’ts for acceptable attire and a note that the dress code is strictly enforced. Suffice it to say, we had to check this place out.

We threw on our best duds (a clear requirement), assembled our group of eight and headed out to Lucky Strike for an evening of upscale birthday bowling. The security guards inspected us at the door before sending us on to the lovely hostesses waiting inside. Since we had arrived early, we had our choice of which of the plush couches we wanted to claim in the lounge area. In honor of Terence’s birthday, we chose to order a bottle of champagne (yes, all of this at the bowling alley) from the waitress that came to serve us. After perusing the menu and ordering, we noted that the place was starting to fill up. Before long, the lounge area was hopping and we took our party to the bowling lanes.

What bowling alley has BOUNCERS??? These are the Bouncers at Lucky Strike NYC!

When the actual bowling began, the experience started to resemble something much more familiar and expected of a bowling alley. Sure we were wearing nicer clothes and the décor had more panache but this part of the evening was fairly standard. Apart from the lane-side drink service and comfortable chairs, this was bowling as I grew up knowing it. We took turns competing with our less than average bowling skills and would taunt each other for the all too common gutter balls. Whenever someone would earn a strike, we would celebrate them as a group. As the night grew on and the drinks continued to flow, we cared less about the actual score and more about the great time we were having. This was a night of bowling to us.

Though the experience of coming to the fancy-schmancy bowling alley made for a great memory (and hopefully blog post), the best part of the night by far was laughing, eating, and bowling among friends. I’ve not been back to Lucky Strike since, though I had a fantastic time and would do it again in a heartbeat. Still in all, if I had to choose, give me jeans and a t-shirt to bowl any day.

Terence's Birthday Group

Now YOU Try It: Upscale bowling alleys, like Lucky Strike, have become very popular in recent years and can be found all over the country. If you’ve never experienced this brand of bowling before, I do indeed recommend trying it but be forewarned. These bowling alleys do carry a heftier price tag. The lanes, shoe rental, food, and cocktails will definitely drive up the cost of your evening very quickly. If you’re not deterred by that, go forth and Google “Upscale Bowling Alleys” in your area. To get you started, check out (Lucky Strike hyperlink) or (Splitsville hyperlink) on the web and report back. Use the comments section to let me know about your experience. I look forward to hearing from you!

You certainly are one of the most brilliant people I know and yet so down to earth. I can always count on you for a good laugh and I hope you know how much your friendship means to me!

Thanks Romulo!

Jarrod in front of the National Monument

One of my favorite destinations for an easy road trip has always been Washington, DC. I’ve logged more miles than I can count on that four-hour drive down Highway 95 from New Jersey. This past Labor Day weekend, I decided that the recent opening of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial would give me a great reason to visit DC again. In addition to that bit of sightseeing, I knew I could count on some friends in the area for great food and fun. The plan was set and off I went down to the District with my nephew, Charles, as a travel companion.

It took me a while to realize that Washington, DC is part of an area commonly referred to as the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) because of their close proximity to each other. With that knowledge, we set out for a hotel that we booked in Virginia, a short ride away from the National Mall and the Dr. King Memorial. To our surprise, traffic on this Saturday afternoon was a breeze and we arrived early in the evening with high hopes of hitting the town that night. However, we fell victim that first evening to one of the biggest drawbacks of any long car ride: exhaustion. Our first night in DC would be spent sleeping, with the promise of having big fun in the city the next day.

Whatever day one lacked in tourist time, day two certainly made up for it. We set out early on Sunday, meeting friends for brunch to give us the fuel we would need to hit the National Mall and take in the sights. Fortunately enough, we packed our patience because with the heat and holiday weekend crowds; getting around was a challenge. We spent a couple of hours walking and viewing sites like the Lincoln Memorial and the National Monument on our way to see the Dr King statue. It took the guidance of a few information booth workers and lots of legwork but we finally arrived at the Dr. King Memorial.

The entranceway to the Martin Luther King Memorial

Seeing the Memorial was certainly worth the trek in the heat for us. It was quite a magnificent site to see. When you arrive, there are two huge stone walls with an opening to walk through. After you enter that passageway, you can see the back of the main statue and some of Dr King’s most notable quotes all around what are called the inscription walls. The moment is complete when you walk around to the front of the statue and see the sculpted image of Dr. King standing high above the crowd looking out onto the waters of the Tidal Basin. My nephew and I had a moment of silence, partially reflecting and partly in awe, before we took some photographs and were soon on our way.

After seeing the monuments and memorials, we met up with some more friends for one of the best meals I’ve ever had in DC. We went to a neighborhood spot called Matchbox where the menu consisted of elevated bar food and an assortment of cocktails. I could oversimplify and say that we just had pizza, sliders, and fries but the experience was so much more. It could have been the assortment of food, drinks, and friends but the food was amazing. The fries were crispy, the sliders were melt in your mouth juicy, and the thin crust pizza was delicious. Matchbox is certainly on my radar for my next DC visit.

The statue of Dr. King

We finished that night by hitting a party but suffice it to say, Jarrod was done. After our long day out, I was ready to hit the sack. That night when we got in from the party, we made the decision to get on the road early in the afternoon on Monday, with hopes of avoiding traffic. Luckily, that plan worked. Talking to my nephew in the car on the way back, we agreed that DC had once again delivered. During one weekend, and one day really, we got to be tourists, hang with friends, and share some really good eats. We had an awesome time in a great city that was just a few hours away by car.

For YOUR trip: Washington, DC is high on my list of favorite cities. I personally love the diversity, history, and, of course, the food culture there. With two airports very close by, Reagan International and Dulles, it’s easily accessible by those of you who are not as in love with road trips as I am. Great options for those who don’t mind the road trip but do not wish to drive are buses. Companies like Bolt Bus and Megabus offer inexpensive tickets with a wide array of destinations and they have power supplies and wireless Internet for passengers. If seeing the Martin Luther King Memorial is something that would have you interested, you can view the website for it here. Let me know your thoughts on DC, the post, or whatever else you feel like sharing in the comments section below. I look forward to hearing from you!