Lions, and Puppies, And Movie Stars..oh my..

There are those friends who make you laugh, those friends who help you cry, those who hold your hair back, and those who can stand you snoring. Luckily I have Linds.

She can take on those challenges and she can tolerate traveling with me...because it is always an adventure! (That's the euphemism for disaster.) Plus it helps that we are equally obsessed with completing the 1,000 things to do before you die list!

This weekend adventure took us to Toronto for Memorial Day, but not before a quick little stop to Niagara Falls. Friday we snuck out of town and caught a flight to Buffalo, while the rest of the world headed south for some sun.

Like a machine we picked up our luggage and our rental, plugged in our hotel coordinates and we were off. Well, sort of…we reserved an economy, but since our flightmates all had the same idea, all they had left were land whales. So Chez copa and our Land Whale took off for the Canadian border – in search of free health care…I mean culture. After a few very personal questions from a hot Montee…we were cleared to cross. For the record…Linds is a lawyer and our trip is not for work.

I should have known right off the bat what kind of trip this was going to be…as we were parking our land whale in the Best Western (we keep it classy) guest parking lot for the night, sitting at the foot of our spot was a lion winking at linds from his cage. No joke. We got a picture of the trailer he was coming out of, but we both sat there laughing too long to get the actual cat on film. Your guess is as good as ours as to what he was doing there.

Like true Americans, we embraced all the cheesiness that Niagara had to offer… the country’s largest glow in the dark mini golf, Rainforest café, and of course….the Maiden of the Mist. Too bad we didn’t film that because it was a train wreck of awesome…linds spent the horseshoe falls tour inhaling her plastic poncho, and I couldn’t keep my hood on to save my life.

As a memento of our survival we stole our ponchos…and then bought an overpriced snowglobe. Damn. We showed them.

Then it was a pitstop at Starbucks and on the road for some Toronto action. On the way up we passed at least 15 vineyards. (seriously.) Fighting the urge to right angle it for a tasting, we pulled into the Le Meridien King Edward, Toronto. One word BOOOOGIE! This was one classy joint, and the two of us looked like drowned puppies checking in.

After the color returned to my face, and we showered off, it was time to hit the pavement. We had two more spots to hit on our list – the Art Gallery of Ontario and the flagship Four Seasons. It was also Open Doors Toronto where they open 150 architectural, historic, cultural and/or social significance buildings to the public. So we had plenty of exploring to do. But on the way, we kept bumping into a filming crew.

I didn’t think much of it so we grabbed a few shots and some video and kept bouncing on our way. One gallery a drink and four miles later, we rested our feet at the four seasons for a glass of local Niagara Chardonnay (finally), making friends with our bartender, and annoying the hell out of our barmates. Then we headed up the hill, through the most adorable neighborhood (Rosedale.) to dinner at CAVA.

Tucked inside an office building courtyard, this tapas restaurant is no joke. We were told to order 3-4 dishes each, but after splitting oysters, wine (Niagara Pinot Nior this time), asparagus, edamame bruschetta,
eggplant with queso fresco, cauliflower with Spanish saffron, and a fresh tamal, there was no hope for us. We collapsed on the subway and waddled back to the hotel, too tired to crash the wedding that was happening in the ballroom down the hall. (But don’t think for a second, we didn’t consider it.)

Waking up on our second day, we headed down to the main dining room for some egg white omelets and coffee, and personal sized jar of honey slipped into my purse.

Then we started our walking tour again only this time headed south to the CN tower. But right outside our hotel, the camera crew had set up again. This time we needed answers. It turns out they were filming a movie set in New York called Cosmopolis. Sitting across from us that morning was Robert Pattinson and Paul Giamatti.

On the way we joined a march for awareness for something or other on one block, danced in a parade celebrating Israel’s independence on the next, cheered on bicycle racers around the corner, and coached some puppies being trained on another. I’ll say this…not a dull day in this city. We decided to take refuge in a little community park, but even that turned out to be a coordinated effort…the pigeons had choreographed quite a bathing routine for us.

I think all in all, Toronto is one of my new favorite cities. This was my first trip to Canada, but I couldn’t help thinking that if Chicago and London had a baby …it would be Toronto. The city had American high-rises literally wedged in with gothic cathedrals. The people were friendly in that Midwestern sort of way, but still with an urban sensibility. The streets were clean and there was so much going on, who wouldn’t get hooked. Linds and I sure did.

When You Don't Have Tim The Toolman Taylor To Blame

Linds and I have been talking about putting shelves up in the living room FOREVER now. So while on an errand from my brother (he's in San Diego mind you) I ventured into the IKEA neighborhood and figured I would just pick up the shelves and get the ball rolling.

Well the shelves sat in the living room for three weeks - staring us down. I blinked first and decided to trap linds into helping me hang them. Studying for law school demands distractions, right?

Well after an hour of research on how to find a stud (not that kind ...this time) we went for it - screw drivers a-flailing and sure enough - we found a sturdy stud. Now the nature of these shelves requires you mount the first bracket - slide the shelf into the bracket, slide the other end bracket on, and then mount that bracket to the wall. (Ha this really sounds like a heaving-bossom-throbbing-member paperback intro). Regardless, Linds and I figured out the first step - bracket mounted - and after an hour of agonizing - finally go to slip the shelf in - and wouldn't you know it - the shelf was two wide.

While linds is howling - I try to make my case - "but IKEA put the shelves and the brackets next to each other in the display aisle." "Did you think to measure? You didn't even look at the boxes did you?," she presses through belly laughs. I try once more to pass the blame with no avail. "We effed this in a serious way," she tells me.

No matter - we now have a very prominent member hanging from our wall. I came home to this sticky note the other day: "At least it's good for something." Tom Villa's got NOTHING on us!

Take A Bow

Helen Mirren on stage in DC. I'm a total theater-moron and I even know that's a big deal. When I first heard the rumors back in the spring... I mentioned it to Linds. Well she about had a heart attack on the spot. Then the details started to trickle in. She would be playing Phedre at the brand new Shakespeare Theater downtown.

It would be the only American appearance for the National Theatre of Great Britain on their International Tour, and they selected DC. Chew on that New York. And guess who will be playing her ill-fated step-son....yep, Dominic Cooper. Ring a bell Mamma Mia fans? He was the fiance in the movie. It gets better.. Wait for it... we managed to get tickets.

It was a perfect night. Linds and I grabbed pizza at Edna's in Gallery Place before walking over to pick up our nearly-impossible-to-get tickets. While we were killing time we splurged and bought copies of the academy award winning actresses' memoir, then made sure to have them signed.

I'm not even going to attempt to give my opinion on the show, other than it was nothing short of perfection. We were watching Helen do for stage, what Maryl Streep does for film. Not just hit the right lines and memorize what must have been impossible dialogue from Jean Racine's 17th century classic, but she completely owned it.

Ben Brantley in The New York Times wrote, "Ms. Mirren remains not only incomparably majestic but also compellingly credible. Her Phedre is a more extreme blend of artifice and conviction, but boy , does she make it work in Nicholas Hytner's modern dress interpretation."

Waiting for us just outside the doors after the third curtain call was champagne for the audience. Linds and I toasted to her brilliance, and our success on a perfect evening.

When One Door Closes...Bliss...

Just like restaurant week, twice a year Washington DC rolls out the super-deals for Spa Week. And we were committed this time to take advantage of it! On the list were two big names I have been dying to try...Elizabeth Arden's Red Door Spa and Bliss in the W Hotel. For $50 a treatment, why not do both?

So first stop, Red Door, which is conveniently located literally across the street from work. It was a perfect day for a massage - rainy, gross, and demanding. Linds and I were signed up for the stress melting ritual.

Having only been to a spa once before, aboard Grandeur of the Seas en route to Bermuda, I had no idea what to expect back on land. Nor had I ever had a male specialist. Lets just say I was a wee bit nervioso. But within two minutes Rob had me wrapped up in relaxing oils and was rubbing my temples. From there on in I was free-falling into heaven. After an hour of wrapping, exfoliating, and head/neck/shoulder and feet rubbin Rob was my new best friend.

Of course, I rarely see my own roomie, so we decided to make of night of it and head into the city for dinner. The target: one fish two fish, from our old GW stomping grounds. Well as we were heading in, the rest of Washington scrambled to get out. My only saving grace was I was still flying from my treatment! Thank you Red Door. Over dinner I was telling Linds, I felt like someone hit my reset button.

The next morning I got a call from Earla - the spa consultant for Bliss bringing me more awesome news - they had an opening for the spa week special - an oxygen blast facial. I was in. Luckily, I had gone into work a few hours early, so slipping off for a facial mid-afternoon didn't feel completely indulgent.

What a change in pace from Red Door to Bliss. If Red Door was Brahms, Bliss would be Joss Stone. What a completely different approach to healing but neither better or worse.

Now, I have never had a honest to goodness facial - but this was great - my face has never looked so radiant. I could have sailed ships home safely, my skin was glowing so brightly. Working with Rhea was like hitting the gym with a girlfriend - good for the body and the soul, and so much fun. She whipped up a tailored mask, ran through a litany of treatments, complete with an oxygen blast, and even slipped in an arm/neck/and shoulder massage.

The special was $50 but the same treatment goes for about $70 regularly - perfect for a once-a-quarter regiment.

Copa Awakening

In honor of our three year roommate anniversary (don't judge), Linds and I thought we would celebrate with a little dinner and a show. Linds being the theater aficionado, she picked Spring Awakening. Theater is like the movies to me - I have no idea what's out nor what's good, so she gets to pick. And good thing she did, she scored us $25 tickets through the Kennedy Center's Attend student tickets program. (Even collegians need a govt. handout.)

However, when it comes to restaurants ... i can flex my foodie muscles (which involves sucking in my belly while trying on swim suits). With my Washingtonian's 100 best restaurants checklist in hand I did a little research on our foggy bottom selections, being that the Kennedy Center is all of 5 blocks from our old GW stomping grounds. I came to find not only is Circle Bistro one of the areas acclaimed digs, they also have a pre-theater pre-fix menu. So if you are able to sneak in before 7 pm, you can snag an appetizer, entree, and dessert for $35. Not too shabby considering an entree goes for $29 alone. Now we blew that cork out of the bottle by adding on wine. Not the point.

And the menu was impressive. I had the house smoked gravlocks (they had me at avocado) and continuing with the seafood theme for my entree Seared Diver Sea Scallops, Carrot-Ginger Coulis, Garlic Confit, Baby Bok Choy. Presentation was excellent, service was superior, and the food was paired nicely and not overly done. Combined with the Pinot Gregio and chocolate brownie with espresso ice cream for dessert, I was in food coma heaven. Did I mention the restaurant itself? Swanky but not over-trendy. We had such a good time - this may fold into the theater evening flight pattern more often.

Now onto the show. I was expecting a story of teen angst in a High School Musical fashion, Boppy and light with a rock concert feel. But this production hit it all: abuse, teen pregnancy, suicide, abortion, and death. Not to mention a little on stage nudity. Whoops - wasn't expecting that. But it worked. Between the highly explosive dance sequences using literally all available stage space, and the charged rock and roll dialogue the show had yours truly crying, laughing, clapping and swooning - sometimes simultaneously.

A quick plot snapshot: the Tony award winning musical, based on the play by Frank Wedekind's literary masterpiece, follows eight German teens on the trail of self discovery. Although the play is set in 1891 the issues are just as relevant today. Wrapped in Dunken Shieks' rock lyrics, it's easy to see why this story of rebellion and understanding made waves on the Broadway scene two years ago. Interesting side note, this is one of the first instances in over 100 years that the entire story line was used because it was so controversial.

One Singular Sensation

National Theater (March 12) - “A Chorus Line,” the longest running American Musical. Tragic I guess that I grew up in the cultural left big toe of the country and missed this one completely. Until Now.

Linds and I went to see THE BEST MUSICAL. EVER., as they say, at the National Theater. Apparently I was the only one who knew zippo about this theatrical phenom.While the audience, donning anything from weekend jeans for formal gowns (cringe, can someone please send out a memo on appropriate theater attire please) sang EVERY word to EVERY song, I bopped along to the quite catchy hooks.

Although considered THE BEST MUSICAL, this probably wasn’t it's best execution. I got the impression aside from a few standouts…like Robyn Hurder, playing the overqualified Cassie, and Deanna Aguinaga playing the Puerto Rican prodigy Lois, the cast left their belting boxes at home with the rest of their costumes. Others compensated with fancy footwork and flamboyant scissor kicks as per Anthony Wayne as Richi. But all in all I was glad I finally have reconnected to our Brodway blood-line.

And for the trivia whores out there…here you go: Yes - I am talking about YOU so keep reading.

- Each cast member kicks his or her legs a total of 36 times (18 kicks each leg) in the final kick line of the show.
- The only full costume change in the entire show is for the Finale. This costume for the men is a single jumpsuit – pants, shirt, and vest all sewn together with one zipper, giving them time to slip in, add socks, shoes, hat and jacket almost immediately. Question….how can you be sure you’re grabbing the right costume…EWE.
- The men keep battery packs for their microphone in a pouch just below their waist. Oh that's what that was. That changes things.
- Cassie sprays hairspray on her bum to keep her red leotard from venturing north during her solo. Wonder if that works on swim suits…
- They Mop n’ glow the stage floor before each performance to keep it slick for the dancers. Noted. Jen will not be testing that out...I have enough trouble standing as it is.
- They are making a documentary about casting this show….how ironic.

Brown Baggin It

Last February, in honor of Singles Awareness Day, Tommy hosted a little soiree while he did his show live at the Hard Rock Cafe. Of course, with Chez Copa in tote.

What's not to love - a bunch of awkward singles, discounted booze, swag bags and -oh pinch me- a Photo booth! And yes, I did intentionally try to walk off with the Elvis glasses. I was caught. But we did walk off with some pretty awesome swag including a free facial gift certificate from Shiseido. So today at lunch I cashed that bad boy in.

The lovely Shiseido consultant escorted me to a back room at Bloomingdale's, Chevy Chase, equipped for such a challenge. Then for 40 minutes she gave my face a full rub down with all the fancy shmancy products that will never make it into the Jen-Richer budget. Despite the company's claims, I'm not sure how much long term good was actually done. But I did leave refreshed and look nice and shiny. And as a former Labrador in another life: I'm telling you the best part of the whole thing was when she rubbed my ears for 10 minutes. I took all my strength not to wag my imaginary tail.

Happy Birthday Linds

Playing Dress Up

Not to give too much detail away…Linds has completed her mission and decided on a bridesmaid dress for her sister’s big day. No, this is not it, but this was day one of the search.

Tapas That!

On the top of our foodie list for chez copa has been the tapas king Zaytinya in Gallery Place. So when Linds sister Tiff came down for dress fittings, we jumped at the excuse to make a reservation.

I won’t bury the lead on this one – it was superb. Tapas and buffets are very similar to each other for me, perfect for the A.D.D. taster, only unlike a buffet, I don’t feel like Violet “blueberry” Beauregard.

But not all Tapas are created equal. Having just visited Bodega in Georgetown , which was mediocre at best, I was hoping Zaytinya would earn its rating on the Washingtonians Best of List. And just to be clear, Zaytinia serves mezze, or Mediterranean tapas.

We were not disappointed. Just being three of us, we tried to limit the selections. Tried but failed. Twelve dishes were paired with, “the wine that will change your life,” as suggested by Jeff our waiter. I can’t recall the exact name of the Greek red, but for all intents and purposes it may as well have been named Zeus for how powerful it was.

All in all – this is a definite revisit, for both happy hour and a mezze-fest!

Anything You Can Do...I Can Do Better.....?

Nothing like an Army 10-miler through our quaint Crystal City neighborhood to inspire greatness right? Well amid Linds and my leisurely stroll down to the pentagon to check out the newly unveiled 9-11 memorial, we seemed to be swimming upstream against a current of extremely fit Army runners.

Rather than feeding into the intimidation, we channeled the Powerade and are now kick-starting our 5k training program (same difference right?!) The couch to 5k program lasts 8 weeks and promises to have us jogging the three miles with ease. I'm a week into it with minor injuries (sore tush) but with a finish line in sight.

Blowing Into Town....

I dare you to find a better motivator to get out of town then bad weather at home. If you can't head for the hills, the next best thing is a convention dedicated to travel. Nothing better then roaming the aisles of the new Gaylord Hotel on the waterfront, at the Travelganza travel show while a hurricane blows through DC. YUM.

Linds was a trooper and headed over with me. Although most of the vacations were way out of our budget.... there was plenty to aspire to!

Take Me Out To The Opera

As a huge Opera buff, (fan yes, but don't quiz me, I'm terrible) I was so thrilled to hear the Washington National Opera was once again doing a simulcast of their opening night performance. This year they would be playing Verdi's La Traviata on the HUGE high-def jumbotron at National's Stadium.

What a great way to spend the evening, under the stars, listing to far and away one of the greatest (and most popular) operas with a beer in one hand and Ben's Chili Bowl chili fries in the other. The performance was excellent and all 9,000 attendees at the ball park , including linds, angela and myself were blown away (some even cried!) while the kids played tag in the outfield. How very Italian!

It was the crowd control issue we had after the show. Unlike Nats fans - we stayed through the whole game - unable to tear our eyes and ears away from the show. So the metro happened to be just a hair crowded.

Back To School

This is a two for one - Linds on her first day of law school, and our new totally awesome Ikea Couch.

If you know anything about Chez Copa, you know how badly we needed a new couch - after our $20 monstrosity that used to sit in the living room. . In our third and final move, we decided to dump the ugly thing and invest in something a little more .....Copa.

But both cases caused Linds' heart to work harder...the first time we almost lost the couch off the truck as we had no tie downs. This time the ikea delivery truck almost got stuck in the garage.

We are also really excited for Linds' new legal endevor - with me as a friend - we're going to need someone who can do damage control. P.S. total Thomas Crown Affair moment - "'we have a warrent, you can have your lawyer review it." and from the kitchen steps Tommies Friend and Lawyer. That is so us!

Fate and Les Mis

12 strikes again! Linds and celebrated the end of the week by snagging a couple of seats at Wolftrap to see the traveling Les Mis show. As fate would have it, my seat was #12. Ha!

But it gets better, because of that coincidence I remembered our third roommate, my little, Mandy had just moved into an apt in Florida. She reported that if you add the numbers together it equals 12. As I was telling the story to Linds,  the women seated in front of us turned to ask who we were talking about. She was an old co-worker of Mandy's at AU! Small world!

And the musical was amazing too! It was my first time (and lind's 7th). One point of contention was actually the perk of the venue - it's open aired design. I'm sure the musical is even more powerful indoors. The music and stage was so strong! It was the Delacroix liberty leading the people brought to life!

Bowl This

Bowling…who doesn’t love a game where form is not necessary, just as long as a) the ball hits the pins at the end of the lane and b) you don’t fall on your ass chasing the ball down the lane.

But there is something to be said for drinking beer by the pitcher over Formica laminated tables and wearing funky shoes whereby the only thing separating you from foot fungus are your trusty sucks (if you remembered them) and the Lysol a teenager sprayed (hopefully) before you slid those suckers on.

Well a few years ago, someone had the brilliant idea (hey bob, I’ve got an idea) to try and glam this ritual up! Let’s make bowling posh! So no more beer for you ….lets charge $10 for a G & T and another $15 for chips and salsa. Then…..we’ll turn the lights down and make you dress in your uncomfortable but fabulous club gear. But you still have to wear the shoes….and this time no socks, because lets be honest….who can really fit those in their clutch.

That’s the idea behind Lucky Strike in Gallery Place. Wow! In addition to the unbelievably lousy service and lounge crowd lacking panache, I’ve gotta say…let’s keep this American pastime where it belongs…in the 1970’s throwback we like to call an ally! (complete with disco balls and beer bellies)

Zip-A-De-Do-Da

The girls and I hit up the Adventure Travel Expo and boy did it have a few surprises.

In addition to the booths highlighting just about every travel destination in the world, they had quite a few demos. A group of scuba schools set up a scuba pool where you can strap on a scuba tank and go swimming right in the middle of the convention center! Next door, the Caribbean vendors were jamming out to their  mini-dance fest complete with costumes. Not going to lie, we were pretty interested in the West Virginian white water rafting booth.

But the pièce de résistance was the West Virginian zip line. Although not as long as the ones we did in Costa Rica, this was a pretty great set-up.

After hitting  up just about every booth, including the Africa photo shoots, Angela, Katie and I hit the crazy line. Weeeeee!

Thats Our Simone

A little melodrama for the midweek, we decided to see what the press was buzzing about (see article below.) Our Simone and her stage mates were fabulous, funny, and most importantly, entertaining.

One suggestion for any theater goers, this is not a liner story so take a quick peek at the plot before making your way to the ticket booth. The 4 of us finally cut through the confusion by act 2.


By Nelson Pressley
Special to The Washington Post
Wednesday, July 16, 2008; Page C12

Seasoned theatergoers can be forgiven for flinching when they hear the title "The Skin of Our Teeth." Start with actors as prehistoric beasts in a weirdly timeless Ice Age and a key character rebelling against the script, then switch to moral failings in Atlantic City and thunderous plunderings from the Bible -- it can be a bit much if ill-handled.

Yet Rorschach Theatre is making a vigorous case for Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer-winning 1942 play in a visually astute, sneakily immediate production at Georgetown University. It's as if director Rahaleh Nassri and her cast see no difficulties, only opportunities as the ramshackle story grapples with the never-ending plight of mankind.

The opening act (of three) calls for high melodrama that veers toward camp, and Jjana Valentiner and Wyckham Avery are ready, backs of hands to their foreheads. Valentiner is Sabina, vampy, flighty maid to the Antrobus family (and the one who keeps snapping out of character at the zaniness and insensitivity of it all). Avery is the dutiful Mrs. Antrobus, and they're both home waiting for Mr. Antrobus to help them figure out what to do about this Ice Age that's descending upon, um, New Jersey.

The writing is cartoonish and chaotic, but Nassri -- who admirably directed Tony Kushner's challenging "A Bright Room Called Day" for Rorschach in 2006 -- coolly controls the heightened style. The actors are winning and even funny, and the Antrobuses' suburban house is rendered as a white scrim upon which large shadows play as people (and creatures) come and go.

Oh, and those spiky white things towering to the side of Robbie Hayes's set: They look rather glacial. But they also look as though they're rigged to suggest another purpose. (Think oil.)

You stop guessing and go with the unexpected flow as the epochs change and Nassri finds good uses for such anachronisms as a juggling Elvis and a lively sample of the 1980s pop tune "Tainted Love." The established conflicts repeat in Act 2: Mr. Antrobus's eye roves toward Sabina, the Antrobuses' son Henry has a penchant for violence -- he answers to "Cain" -- and another crisis is in the wind. This time, it's a storm being monitored with threat levels that will seem all too familiar to post-9/11 audiences.

Not that Nassri makes that link explicit, though the red-white-and-blue palette that dominates much of the act is hard to miss. But the tone keeps shifting, slowly sobering up, so the play seems to march naturally toward something that by Act 3 looks a lot like our own wartime era and isn't a laughing matter at all.

The actors take to this arc, with Valentiner and Avery doing especially dizzy and then pointed work as the women who cope with the crises that keep coming their way. Scott McCormick is a good vainglorious Mr. Antrobus, inventor of the wheel and the alphabet, and Cesar A. Guadamuz handles both the sprightly and psychotic sides of Henry with a fiery eye.

The company seems at home in the plush surroundings of Georgetown's Gonda Theater (a radical change from Rorschach's origins in found spaces) and also with the aesthetic stretch that is "The Skin of Our Teeth." Rorschach has tackled vintage material before, but its main interest is contemporary works; the impressively busy troupe also has a new Jason Grote play running at Georgetown and is readying an original four-part serial to begin this week.

They've blown the dust off this one. As Nassri's gang renders it, Wilder's drama feels like the granddaddy of the edgy material Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company has been doing for years, finding loopy ways to goof off and then land hard.

Crystal City Gets A Face Lift

As residents of the concrete jungle known as Crystal City, Linds and I have been noticing a few upgrades in the way of art.

Similar to the pandas, donkeys and elephants of DC, Crystal City, conveniently located near National Airport is playing up it's character...in airplanes. By far the crowd favorite of chez copa is this little pink Cadillac.

On a walk under the bridge connecting old copa to the metro (18th street), Linds and I ran into the artist responsible for the fun new murals that bring new life to the drab pigeon hangout. After doing a little research I found her blog recording the process.

Copa 3.0

Well folks, after a very long weekend, we have made it across the street to the new copa. The rooms are painted, the boxes are piled in and the champagne has been toasted!