Take Action!

I just finished reading an article about dogfighting rings and how horrifically cruel the people running the rings are to these innocent animals. As you all know, Mike and I are animal lovers. We treat our little Bella as if she were our daughter, and we don't know what we would do without her in our lives.


The 450 dogs that were rescued from these terrible dogfighting rings need a place to call home. We need to encourage the governors of the seven states that were raided to keep cracking down on these criminals who are murdering animals, and we need to encourage them to continue to try to rescue these dogs and place them in safe, loving homes.

You can take action here.

We're Going Home!

Tomorrow Mike and I are heading home to NYC to see my parents and some friends. My parents have just returned from a two week trip to South Africa and Botswana where they saw every animal imaginable and then some. Needless to say, we are very jealous that we weren't there with them, but can't wait to hear all of their stories.

I am super excited to see them, of course, and just to be home. Mike and I are most looking forward to the food. We eat a lot when we're in NYC. You just can't get some of the foods here in DC that we used to take for granted when we lived in NYC. Specifically, bagels, pizza, good Italian food, good affordable sushi, and amazing Chinese food.

Many people living here in DC may argue with me and say that there are good pizza places here. I beg to differ. Actually, I downright disagree. Manny and Olga's? Not good. Alberto's? I think not. Jumbo Slice? Not even close.

Anyway, my point is that DC is great for many things, just not all foods. And that's okay. At least I can go back to NYC and enjoy those delicious goodies there.

Stay tuned for reviews of some of our favorite restuarants in Queens, NYC!

Gripe of the Day: If Your Gym Clothes Smell Like Cheese Wash Them!

If you are a gym member, at any gym you have experienced the random cheese whif...it's that whif of stanky cheese coming from another person working out nearby. Now I can understand if someone has been working out hard on the treadmill, or elliptical and is sweaty and a bit stinky, but the stench I'm talking about here is another story all together.

This is the stench that comes from someone who hasn't washed their gym clothes after wearing them several times. I have to be honest and say that normally this cheese-y smell emanates from a man. Usually one that is a bit overweight and that looks like he would smell if exerting a little bit of energy.

Well my friends, today was a different story. I was enjoying my workout on the elliptical at my local gym of choice, Vida Fitness, which hosts a majority of members who are good looking, buff gay males, when a nice looking gay male, who was very fit mounts the elliptical next to mine. It took only seconds for me to catch the whif...that nasty whif of cheese. The smell that could only come from stanky, moldy, gym shorts that had been festering in a hot locker for one too many days.

So there it was. The smell. And I had to get off my elliptical because I couldn't take it. And that's not fair. Why should I have to move off of my elliptical because you smell and don't wash your gym clothes regularly? You, King of Cheese, should have to leave the gym, and sign an agreement to wash your shorts!

Yuck. A bit of advice for those of you who think you can go between visits to the gym without washing your clothes: Don't Do It! Or the next stinky post could be about you...

Video of the Week: Benny Lava, An Oldie but Goodie

When I first saw Benny Lava I was at work in my office that I share with my friend Rana. Another office mate told us to watch this video and little did we know that we would soon be laughing out loud so hard that people walking by were staring at us like we had gone mad.

I was crying tears of joy at the end of this video and that's why I hold it near and dear to my heart. Anything that can make me laugh that hard, is something that I want to share with everyone. My apologies to those who have already seen it, but let's be real, you can never watch this too many times!

Sunday Brunch

Today Mike and I met my cousin Camille at Bistrot du Coin, one of our favorite French bistros in DC. Located on Connecticut Avenue in DC's famous Dupont Circle neighborhood, Bistrot du Coin is a great place to dine with family and friends.

It is loud and boisterous inside, which I think adds to the allure, but I wouldn't recommend it for a first date unless you don't care about hearing what your date is saying (sometimes the case).

The menu is vast with everything from white bean cassoulet, to monkfish medallions, to the ever popular steak maison served with bearnaise sauce and french fries. There is definitely something on Bistrot du Coin's menu guaranteed to please even the pickiest person's palette.

When you visit, expect crowds, and sometimes rushed servers, but overall delicious french bistro fare, great people watching and affordable prices.

My favorite is La Traditionelle Mouclade des Charentes, or steamed mussels in a light cream sauce with light curry. Order your mussels with some frites and you're good to go!

Bon Appetit!

For more information or to make a reservation visit their website.

Art-O-Mania at Artomatic

Every year an event called artomatic http://www.artomatic.org/comes to town where artists can dipsplay their work for all of DC to see. This year I visited artomatic with my good friend Rana. We had a great time, saw some really awesome installations, and had a lot belly laughs at what some people call art...but to each his own.

Here are some of my favorites.

I Endorse: Leather Soul

Since I fancy myself knowledgeable in all things style related, I want to share with you the first of my sartorial endorsements.

Christina will learn via this post that, not surprisingly, I found an outlet for my excessive per diem here in the Aloha state. Located on the uber retail strip Kalakaua Avenue here in Honolulu is Leather Soul, a high end mens shoe shop. Upstairs from the likes of Hermes, Fendi and Cartier, Leather Soul is on the third floor of an open air mall. I had sent owner Tom an email letting him know I would stop by, and Tom and the manager Matthew were friendly and knowledgeable and chatted at length about this, that and the other, despite the fact that I immediately mentioned that I had no intentions to buy. And looking around for a few I can state with certainty that Tom's selection of shoes is truly magnificent. John Lobb, Edward Green, Gaziano & Girling, Alden -- quite an impressive lot to look at.

Then the sale rack beckoned me.

I ended up picking the black shell cordovan Alden boots pictured above. Matthew threw in a tin of Alden paste wax (gratis) and told me to call him in 4-5 years when they would be ready for a recraft. I picked up a couple of recommendations for dinner and left a few quid lighter than I walked in. But very satisfied with the experience.

Thanks to Tom and Matthew at Leather Soul. Check them out online for some splendid kicks.

www.leathersoulhawaii.com