Week-end Highlights: Pho, Poutine & Playing Tourist on the Mall

26 September 2016

Happy Monday!! How was your first weekend of fall? Friday and Sunday were absolutely beautiful here in Washington. I really wish I had made some outdoorsy plans… or that I had a car so I could be spontaneous and go play outside of the city. But I still found ways to enjoy the beautiful weather.

SUNSET ROSÉ ON THE ROOF

I’d had a busy week and I wanted to go swimming Saturday morning (call it the post Olympics effect, but I’ve been going swimming at Dunbar Aquatic Center three times a week lately) so I took it easy Friday night and just enjoyed some rosé on the roof before watching the series premiere of Designated Survivor with the husband. I found a $8.99 bottle of Coteaux Varois, Mémoires rosé de Provence at my local liquor store and really liked it. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on a bottle and this was a good value rosé.

I love this pineapple wine tumbler I scored at Marshall’s for just $2.99!

I also really liked the first episode of Designated Survivor! The show marks Kiefer Sutherland’s return to television as a low-ranking cabinet official catapulted into the nation’s top job following an act of terrorism that kills all of the U.S. government during the state of the Union. I’m definitely going to watch the next few episodes! Have you seen it? Watched any other good new shows?

FOODIE SATURDAY (OH, AND ART ALL NIGHT TOO)

I was a bit upset Saturday because we were supposed to go to Barrel Oak Winery to celebrate a friend’s birthday but ended up having to excuse ourselves since we couldn’t arrange for transportation to the vineyard (the lesson here is don’t let your husband be in charge of those kinds of arrangement, even if he’s a former classmate of the birthday girl and good friends with her husband.) I was super bummed because I really wanted to get out of the city and would have love to spend the day outdoors, with friends, sipping wine. But I did end up slightly out of the city, in the suburbs, near Morningside, Maryland (where Andrews Air Force Base is) to try my friend Madalene’s family restaurant Pho Viet. I *love* pho and the weather was actually pretty perfect for a warm bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup. It was also super fun to chat with Madalene’s mom, one of the owners of the restaurant, and her sister who was in the kitchen making the soup that day. I actually I’m looking forward to cooler temperatures only so I can have more pho😉

The #1 pho at Pho Viet in Morningside, MD

The #1 pho with brisket, tendons, meatballs and rare beef

The eating didn’t stop there😉 Afterwards, my friends Cecile, Aparna and I checked into Le Diplomate for the last Saturday of their summer glaces and sorbets cart. The fromage blanc and strawberry ice cream were SO good but I guess summer is definitely over😦 And for dinner I finally tried Haikan‘s mapo tofu poutine.

Mapo Tofu Poutine at Haikan in DC

Ice cream from Le Diplomate

I’d been wanting to try it ever since the restaurant opened. I’m still on the fence about it though. I mean, having spent 4 years in Montreal, I’m always on the lookout for poutine here in DC but I think I’m more of a purist. The tofu just isn’t a good replacement for the cheese curds for me😉 But still, it was an interesting twist on the dish. And while we were up in North End Shaw, we checked out Art All Night. Every year I tell myself that I’m not going to compare the event to the Nuit Blanche in Paris. But it’s hard not to. Yes, it’s fun to walk around your neighbourhood after hours and discover new businesses. It’s always fun to see Batala play and witness a new mural come up, but the art part of Art All Night just really isn’t there and it’s kind of the same thing year after year… There’s been a bit of controversy about this year’s event which was rebranded from Nuit Blanche | Art All Night to Art All Night: Made in DC but they really need to step it up if they want this to be more of a cultural event and not just a glorified evening block party. Putting a couple of DJs in restaurants and on empty parking lots, with some weak projections on the walls really doesn’t cut it.

PLAYING TOURISTS ON THE NATIONAL MALL

Sunday was absolutely gorgeous and I reeeeeeally wanted to get out of the city!!! But alas, that wasn’t meant to be. So I did the next best thing I could think of and took a really walk around the National Mall. I’m so lucky that America’s backyard also happens to be mine! Altogether, I walked some 7 miles, stopping to catch some of the music performances at the Freedom Sounds Festival and take pretty pictures of the monuments. I still would have liked to escape the city for a bit, but this wasn’t bad ;-)

Picture Perfect day at the Tidal Basin

What’s your favourite way to escape the city when you simply can’t get out? Let me know in the comments!!

Questions/Réponses avec Elodie & Laëtitia de Français aux USA

25 September 2016

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Depuis quelques mois je participe à un super groupe de blogueurs/blogueuses francophones sur facebook, organisé par la fabuleuse Estelle Tracy. J’étais un peu en manque d’inspiration pour mon blog et ce groupe m’a complètement re-motivée et aidée à me lancer dans les billets en français. Et en plus je suis maintenant connectée à pleins d’autres expats un peu partout dans le monde dont Laëtitia (et oui, c’est un nom très commun dans mon groupe d’âge… merci Gainsbourg! Quoique moi j’ai pas les trémas… ) et Elodie, deux expats derrière un compte instagram que j’adore: les « Français aux USA». Quand on aime, on partage! Elodie et Laëtitia ont gentiment accepter de répondre un quelques questions pour vous présenter leur projet instagram.

Commençons par quelques présentations… Laëtitia, à gauche, est originaire de Grenoble, habite Portland dans l’Oregon depuis 2013 et tient le blog « French Fries and Apple Pie. » Elodie quand à elle est de Caen en Normandie, vie à Los Angeles, aussi depuis 2013 et son blog perso c’est « Further-West. » Elles ne se connaissent en fait pas, du moins pas en personne, même si elles collaborent maintenant sur plusieurs comptes instagram. Leur « amitié virtuelle, » comme la décrit Elodie, a commencé à travers leurs blogs avant d’évoluer et j’espère qu’elles auront l’occasion de se rencontrer bientôt! En attendant, en voici un peu plus sur Les Français au…

J’utilise le hashtag #FrancaisauxUSA maintenant pour quasiment toutes les photos que je prends ici… Comment est née l’idée pour ce compte ?

Laëtitia ~ Je suis passionnée de photos et adore m’évader sur instagram. Je suis beaucoup de comptes très différents notamment beaucoup d’expatrié(e)s aux Etats Unis qui me faisait découvrir de chouettes endroits aux quatre coins du pays. J’ai eu l’idée de créer cette communauté pour rassembler toutes ces photos, prises par nous, Français aux USA, sur un seul et même compte. Le but était vraiment de proposer quelque chose qui présenterait les States d’Est en Ouest, du Nord au Sud et potentiellement d’inspirer à découvrir certains coins de cet énorme pays ! Au début, je l’animais seule, mais j’avais un nourrisson et donc moins de temps pour gérer le compte. J’ai pensé qu’avoir de l’aide et un autre point de vue aussi serait super bénéfique et Elodie est la première personne à laquelle j’ai eu envie de proposer de rejoindre cette aventure instagram.

Elodie ~ Quand Laëtitia m’a proposé de modérer avec elle le compte Francais aux USA, je n’ai pas hésité une seule seconde, j’ai toujours aimé le concept, j’ai donc été très heureuse qu’elle me propose d’en faire partie !

Le compte se décrit simplement: « Les USA vus par les Français. » Au départ, est-ce que vous envisagiez plutôt un compte d’expats ? De touristes ? Un mix des deux ? Inspiration voyage ou regard sur la vie aux Etats Unis ?

Laëtitia ~ Le hashtag #francaisauxUSA est ouvert à tous les français qui se trouve aux Etats Unis, qu’ils y résident ou qu’ils soient de passage. Par la force des choses le hashtag est plus fréquemment utilisé par des expats que par des touristes.

Elodie ~ C’est vrai que de temps en temps on publie une photo nourriture, mais on se concentre particulièrement sur les paysages de rêves que les Etats-Unis offrent. On espère vraiment donner l’envie de voyager, mais comme ce n’est pas toujours possible ( les vacances aux US ont un prix ), on souhaite offrir la possibilité à nos followers de s’évader le temps d’une photo. On envisage vraiment le compte comme une inspiration au voyage plutôt que tranche de vie lifestyle USA.

Un peu sur le même sujet, comment choisissez vous les photos que vous regrammez ? Est-ce qu’il y une stratégie genre géographique ou c’est juste une ou deux photos qui vous plaisent ce jour-là ?

Laëtitia ~ On essaie de publier 2 à 3 photos par jour et oui, on essaie de varier les sources et les localisations géographiques au fil de la journée. Ce n’est pas une règle stricte mais c’est naturellement quelque chose que l’on fait. Bon d’ailleurs, je lance un appel parce qu’il y a des régions totalement « délaissées » pour lesquelles nous n’avons reçu aucune photo😉 La partie centrale des US notamment. On est convaincue qu’il y a de magnifiques endroits à découvrir dans le Nebraska, l’Ohio, le Kentucky et tous les autres …

Elodie ~ Effectivement, beaucoup de régions des USA sont encore peu, voir pas du tout, partagées et c’est dommage. Ce ne sont pas forcément des destinations très touristiques, et nous n’avons pas encore fait « la connaissance » d’expats dans ces Etats. Pour le moment, le partage de photos reste principalement concentré sur les côtes Est et Ouest, en plus d’Etat comme le Texas, le Kansas…

« Français aux USA » a commencé aux Etats Unis, mais maintenant il y a d’autres comptes, notamment au Canada. Je m’étais bien amusé à tagger #FrancaisauCanada pendant mon séjour à Montréal en juillet…. Pour l’instant, c’est très Anglophone avec d’autres comptes pour l’Australie et en Angleterre… est-ce qu’il y a d’autres projets d’expansion?

Laëtitia ~ Nous avons récemment agrandie la communauté à trois nouveaux pays. Je me suis réveillée un matin et me suis dit que finalement il y avait des français un peu partout dans le monde, et du coup pourquoi pas lancer le concept sur d’autres pays. J’ai pensé au Canada en premier ( proximité oblige ) et j’en ai parlé tout de suite à Elodie. En une demi-heure on avait décidé de se lancer dans 3 nouveaux pays ( Canada, Australie et Angleterre ), de créer des nouveaux logos, de créer le compte Facebook Français Autour du Monde pour y rassembler les photos qu’on partagerait sur les différents comptes IG… bref on était hyper enthousiaste toutes les deux. Le 12 juillet on a annoncé la création des autres communautés, on a recruté des modératrices et c’était partie !

Pour ce qui est des prochaines étapes, rien de très précis pour l’instant, si ce n’est continuer de faire grandir les comptes déjà existants et être plus assidues sur Facebook. L’idée d’avoir une présence « mondiale » est un projet qui séduit forcement… A suivre prochainement !!

Elodie ~ Je me souviens encore très bien de cet échange. Très vite, j’ai proposé le compte Français en Angleterre ( pays que j’affectionne particulièrement ). Ces nouveaux comptes sont encore petits, c’est pas facile de se faire une place sur Instagram et le compte Facebook est encore tout neuf… Cela va venir petit à petit, il suffit de mettre tout en place ! Pour ma part, j’aimerais beaucoup ajouter des pays nordiques : Suède, Finlande, Norvège. Il y a tellement de destinations qui font rêver !

X X X X X

Donc, Français Françaises, en gros, où que vous soyez en vacances ou en permanence, commencez à utiliser le hashtag #francaisaXXXX ou #FrancaisauXXXX! En temps qu’expat, j’adore vraiment observer le monde à travers notre point de vu bien Frenchies… et puis ça me fait plaisir de voir qu’on s’exporte bien et qu’on bouge aussi! Un grand merci à Elodie et Laetitia pour avoir répondu a mes questions! N’hésitez pas à suivre leurs blogs et leur comptes instagram aussi (ici pour Laëtitia, là pour Elodie) et bien sûr le compte Français aux USA. Et pis, si vous êtes dans les états-qu’on-survole (les “Fly-Over states” comme on les appelle ici) taguez!! On veut voir du Kentucky, de l’Iowa et tout ça ;-)

Drink Your Way Through Election Season at Bastille & ENO Wine Bar

21 September 2016

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It’s a time honoured tradition in Washington, DC. We like to drink. We like politics… so every election cycle, whether it’s the primaries or the general, local bars come up with politically-themed cocktails. If you’re like me and less than thrilled with your options this year (not that I can vote anyway), I’m sure you can use a stiff drink, or five, with a cheesy name poking fun at the candidates. I love it, especially when an awesome French restaurant gets involved.

Bastille is one of my favourite French restaurant in the city… well, technically it’s not in the city but right outside in Alexandria, VA. It’s definitely worth a metro ride to Braddock Road though, and that’s saying a lot given how bad WMATA is these days!! There’s 47 days until Americans head to the polls (and 59 until I do! That’s right, I get to vote in November too, but in the French Republican presidential primary). With election season in full swing, Bastille has designed a cocktail for each candidate, even the long shot ones like the Green Party’s Dr. Jill Stein and Libertarian Gary Johnson.

Deluded little Manhattan cocktail at Bastille Restaurant

“Deluded Little Manhattan” with Korbel Brandy, Dolin Rouge, Dolin Dry + Belle Orange Absinthe Rinse

The Crooked Cocktail features Dewar’s White Label, lemon cordial, Allspice Dram garnished with lemon peel and a cherry

My favourite of the five different cocktails offered is the “I Vote Canada.” Leave it to a French restaurant to come up with none-of-the-above option, bien sur😉

I vote Canada! (flee the country vote) cocktail at Bastille Restaurant wth Crown Royal, lime juice, a dash of Allspice Dram and Angostura bitters.

I vote Canada! (flee the country vote) cocktail at Bastille Restaurant with Crown Royal, lime juice, a dash of Allspice Dram and Angostura bitters.

Regardless of who wins the election, Canada always seems like a good idea to me!! Each cocktail is priced at $10 and from October 4^th through November 8^th, the restaurant will keep a tally, or “straw poll” if you will, based on popular demand. Will the results match those at the ballot box? I guess only time will tell!!

Of course, Bastille is hardly the only bar offering its boozy take on the presidential race. Like I said, this is a time honoured tradition in the city, and pretty much every bar is getting in on the pun-tastic action. 701 Restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue got inspired by the candidates’ slogans to create “Make America Grape Again” and the “I’m With Her” (both $12). Shaw’s Mexican eatery Espita Mezcaleria and the Oval Room are all about that wall, with “The Wall” (mezcal, Campari, orange juice and soda – $11) and the “Build That Wall” (Muscat Grape purée, spiced honey syrup, Champagne vinegar – $12) respectively. So far, I don’t think the newly open Trump International Hotel bar at BLT Prime by David Burke is doing anything, but Bourbon Steak at the Four Seasons Hotel is. And for election 2016, the Georgetown establishment is not picking sides and throwing it back to past Commanders-in Chief instead. Head bartender Torrence Swain crafted four specialty presidential cocktails inspired by the drinking preferences of James Buchanan, Harry Truman, Herbert Hoover and Dwight Eisenhower. At $20, those are pricier, but $5 from the sale of each former president-inspired cocktail will go to the nonpartisan organization Nonprofit Vote, which aims to assist other organizations integrate voter engagement into their ongoing activities and services. If you’re more of a wine person like I am, the hotel’s wine bar, ENO, has something for you too! From now until election day, you can select one of two presidential candidate inspired flights, each priced at $20 and featuring wines from locations significant to each party’s nominee.

Presidential Candidate Wine Flight at ENO Wine Bar – Picture Courtesy of ENO Wine Bar

The Clinton “I’m With Her” flight features white wines from New York state, where Clinton served as senator for eight years and include:

Element Winery Riesling, 2011 from the Finger Lakes
Influence Wines Riesling, 2015 also from the Finger Lakes
Bedell Cellars Chardonnay, 2014 from North Fork, Long Island

No Arkansas wine? Shocking lol. Meanwhile, Trump’s “Make America Great Again” flight features red wines from New York and Pennsylvania, where Trump attended University:

Galen Glen Winery Gruner Veltliner, 2014 in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Galen Glen Winery Zweigelt, 2014 in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Brooklyn Oenology 2015 Social Club Red in Long Island, New York

I must say I’m a little surprise that flight doesn’t include any wine from the real estate mogul’s own winery in Virginia… Putting two Pennsylvania wines on there seems to guarantee no one is going to order it… which might be the point I guess? Both flights will be available from October 1–November 8, and the winner’s flight will be served through Inauguration Day.

Have you spotted any other fun election-themed gimmicks at bars and restaurants around the city? Or wherever you live… I know it’s corny, but I kinda love it, especially since picking a drink or wine flight is the closest I’ll get to voting in the US elections ;-)

Weekend Highlights: Garnacha, Hello Kitty, a Pique Nique & a Sneak Peek at NMAAHC

19 September 2016

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I can’t believe it’s already Monday! I packed a lot in three short days, and the weekend definitely flew by! Now let’s just hope the week goes just as fast too ;-)

MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY AT GRAND CATA

Have you been to Grand Cata yet? It’s one of my favourite wine store in the city… and since it doesn’t carry many French bottles, that’s saying something about the rest of their selection! My first instinct when picking vino is usually to go straight for what I know, French wines but Julio and Pedro who co-own the Latin-centric shop are always spot with their recommendations. Whether it’s a Spanish garnacha, a Portuguese rose or a bottle from South America, they’ve definitely helped me step out of my wine-comfort box and explore different wine producing regions. On Friday, they held a bit of a party at their 7th street store to celebrate Mexico’s Día de la Independencia. There was Mezcal (Grand Cata sells more than just wine) and tasty maizopes courtesy of Manos de Maiz.

Since Snooth, an online community for wine drinkers was hosting a virtual tasting party with Wines of Garnacha for #GarnachaDay I picked up a 2014 Gardacho from Alzania vineyards in Navarra, a 100% garnacha wine that they recommended and joined the twitter fun while watching St Vincent on Netflix ;-) I definitely needed a night in after a busy week, though I’m not gonna lie, I thought the movie was going to be a bit funnier… I was quite depressed after watching it…

HELLO KITTY CAFE TRUCK PARKS IN BETHESDA

I also needed a good nice rest since I had to get up super early to head to Bethesda for the scheduled appearance of the Hello Kitty Cafe truck. Yes, I pretty much dedicated all of my Saturday to waiting in line, outside a pink truck, to grab one box of $15 Hello Kitty themed macarons.

The wait was a bit ridiculous (Hello Kitty sure has some dedicated fans!) and the line could certainly have been managed better but it was all worth it! Besides, I got to swing by Fresh Baguette while I was there and tried their pumpkin croissant too! ps: speaking of Fresh Baguette, they’re in the running to have their bread named DC’s best baguette. Will I see you at the best baguette finale at the French Embassy on September 29th?

END OF SUMMER FRENCH PIQUE NIQUE

Sunday, some of my Frenchies and I had planned a get-together with friends and other members of the french expat meet-up at Peirce Mill and Barn in Rock Creek Park for a low key picnic. The ratio of baguettes to attendees was excellent, which I guess is to be expected when French people get together…

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY & CULTURE PREVIEW

A huge merci to Ninette who let me tag along with her during the friends and family preview of much anticipated NMAAHC, which will officially open this Saturday. I *cannot* wait to go back! Three hours was barely enough time to skim the surface of this fantastic new Smithsonian museum, which takes visitors on a journey through the lens of the African American experience, from slavery in Africa at the lowest underground level of the museum to the brighter upper floors to segregation to the third and uppermost history level, called “1968 to Today.” There, the mood lightens, with sections celebrating achievements and contributions to pop culture, music, sports and the arts.

On my next visit to the museum (I have timed free-tickets for September 22) I’ll actually start at the upper levels and make my way down since I spent most of my time Sunday at the lower levels. I also will absolutely visit Sweet Home Cafe, the museum’s dining hall for which chef Carla Hall was a culinary ambassador. Like Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe at the National Museum of American Indians, the 400 seats-restaurant is split into 4 food sections that tell the culinary story of African Americans: the North States, Agricultural South, Creole Coast, and Western Range. I was only able to peek at the menu for the Creole Coast, with candied yams, house pickled vegetables, catfish po’boy and duck, andouille and crawfish gumbo among other. My husband is from Louisiana and I definitely want to eat my way through that menu — and discover the rest too!

So that was my weekend… next week is the National Book Festival and Art All Night (two September events I’ve been looking forward to) so I have another busy weekend ahead. Hopefully, the week will go by quickly!! How was your weekend? How’s your week shaping up?

Christine & The Queens au Festival All Things Go Fall Classic

17 September 2016

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Vous êtes allés voir Christine And the Queens quand elle est passée au 9:30 Club un peu plus tôt dans l’année? Moi j’ai pas pu, donc je suis bien contente qu’elle revienne nous voir à l’occasion d’une petite tournée Nord Américaine. Elle sera au All Things Go Fall Classic Music Festival à Yards Park le Samedi 8 Octobre. On a pas beaucoup de festival de musique comme ça à Washington et j’aime bien voir sa progression depuis ces débuts au Dock 5 derriere Union Market en 2014… et le fait bien sur qu’il y a une super artiste française dans le line-up!!

La tête d’affiche cette année c’est les Australiens de Empire of the Sun (leurs vidéos sont toujours superbes, comme la pour Alive, donc j’imagine le show qu’ils doivent produire pour leurs concerts!), Passion Pit, Sylvan Esso et d’autres dont bien sur notre Christine nationale. Mais le top avec le festival c’est qu’il marrie musique et bouffe. En plus des artistes, le site de revues de restos The Infatuation a sélectionné des vendeurs comme Buredo, Takorean, Milk Cut ou Beefsteak pour s’assurer que les festivaliers ne meurent pas de faim. C’est bien gentil de leur part😉

Christine and the Queens at the 9:30 Club in May 2016 - Photo by Francois Boo

Christine and the Queens at the 9:30 Club in May 2016 – Photo by François Boo

Si ça vous intéresse d’y aller, vous pouvez trouver plus d’info sur le site du festival ici et utiliser le code FrenchTwist pour recevoir 10% de reduction sur les billets que vous achetez!

Aux Etats Unis, en Septembre c’est Football

12 September 2016

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Ça y est, c’est reparti pour une autre saison de football américain! Même s’il fait encore plus de trente degrés ici, c’est l’automne et l’automne on football (et on citrouille aussi, mais ça c’est un autre sujet!!) La saison est assez courte (pas comme celle de baseball qui dure des mois!) mais très intense parce qu’en plus du football professionnel (les équipes de la NFL, comme les Redskins de Washington, ou les Dolphins à Miami) il y a aussi les équipes des universités… Les matchs pros c’est plutôt le dimanche que ça se joue, mais il y a aussi des matchs le jeudi soir et parfois le lundi. Les rencontres inter-universitaires c’est le samedi, donc en gros, de septembre à décembre il n’y a que du foot à la télé et dans les bars (et dans les ordis, parce qu’en plus il y aussi les leagues de football imaginaires!)

Une partie des Packers, l'equipe de Green Bay dans le Wisconsin, prise par mon ami Christophe Remington

Une partie des Packers de Green Bay dans le Wisconsin, prise par Christophe Remington

Le football américain c’est sacré aux Etats Unis. C’est LE sport que l’on regarde grandissant avec ses parents, auquel les garçons jouent souvent dans les leagues pee-wee, et quand ils sont au collège et au lycée – et que les filles soutiennent avec leurs pompoms. Une fois à la fac, on soutient son école avec un brin de fierté et des grandes rivalités. En fait, il n’est pas rare d’être attaché à plusieurs équipes. Mon mari, par exemple, suit un peu les Tigers de la Louisiana State University (il est de Baton Rouge) et un peu plus les Fighting Irish de l’Université de Notre Dame. Et bien sûr, il suit l’équipe professionnelle de la Nouvelle Orleans, les Saints. Les Redskins il ne s’y est jamais trop mis, même s’il habite ici depuis un bout de temps… ce qui arrive beaucoup en fait à Washington. Comme tout le monde vient des quatre coins du pays, on a tendance à garder des attaches locales pour le sport. Certains bars se désignent comme quartier général pour les fans de telle ou telle équipe et le football crée de véritables réseaux sociaux de cette manière, avec des anciens élèves de la même fac qui se retrouvent tous les samedis, ou des transplantés d’une certaine ville ou region qui se regroupent entre eux pour soutenir les footballeurs de chez eux! Un peu comme nous quand on mate les matches des Bleus ensemble pendant l’euro ou la coupe du monde, mais bon, nous c’est juste quelques rencontres tous les deux ans ;-)

Le stade de foot de l'universite du Wisconsin - photo de Christophe Remington

Le stade de football de l’Université du Wisconsin – photo de Christophe Remington

Donc nous à Washington, notre équipe professionnelle locale c’est les Redskins. En ce moment c’est un peu la controverse sur leur nom (même Le Monde en a parlé!) et je crois qu’ils sont pas très bons… mais quand j’ai débarqué ici, j’ai voulu bien sûr faire l’experience d’un match. Comme il y a très peu de rencontres en fait (16 matchs par team par saison, dont seulement la moitié se passe à domicile) et une grosse demande pour les billets, les places sont assez chères. Mais bon, la partie dure plus de trois heures donc au moins t’en as pour ton argent!

Avec mon amie de fac Vlasta pour mon premier match de football americain a FedEx Field

Avec mon amie de fac Vlasta pour mon premier match de football américain à FedEx Field

Avec mon Americain, a un match des Bucaneers a Tampa

Avec mon Américain à un match à domicile des Bucaneers de Tampa

On ne se refuse rien: bateau pirate dans les stade!

On ne se refuse rien: bateau pirate dans le stade des Bucaneers à Tampa!

Malgré son nom, le football Américain est plus proche du rugby en fait que de notre foot à nous. Ça se joue avec les mains et pas les pieds. Le nom de “foot” vient de la taille du ballon un peu oval utilisé pour les matches et qui mesure exactement un pied de long. Les règles, j’y comprends toujours pas grand chose… et pour être honnête je fais pas trop d’effort pour suivre. C’est un jeu de gagne terrain. L’équipe qui attaque doit amener le ballon dans la end-zone de l’équipe adverse pour marquer un touchdown qui vaut 6 points. L’équipe qui défend doit faire son maximum pour empêcher la progression de l’équipe attaquante et cela en faisant le moins de fautes possible. Après ça devient un peu plus compliqué😉 Chaque équipe compte jusqu’à 53 joueurs, dont 11 sont sur le terrain à la fois. Chaque joueur a sa spécialité (mon mari quand il y jouait était line backer) et le nombre de remplacement est illimité. Techniquement parlant, le match ne dure que 60 minutes (4 quart de temps de 15 minutes) mais la partie semble durer une éternité (souvent plus de trois heures) parce qu’il y a énormément de temps d’arrêt, ce qui permet plein de pubs à la télé et est une bonne occasion pour les américains qui regardent le match, que ce soit dans les tribunes, à la maison ou dans un bar, de passer du bon temps en famille ou entres amis, à papoter, grignoter et bien sur boire plein de bières. Parlons-en de la bière justement… pour beaucoup la partie commence bien avant le coup d’envoie, lors de grands rassemblements festifs, souvent sur le parking au dehors du stade.

Un apercu d'un tailgating, pris en photo par Christophe Remington avant un match dans le Wisconsin

Tailgating a Lambeau Field – photo de Christophe Remington avant un match des Packers

Le rituel du tailgating est parfois même plus prisé par les supporters que le match… comme la bière coûte souvent une fortune à l’intérieur des stades (genre $9 pour une bud-light dégueulasse) on en profite pour se bourrer un petit peu, on improvise des barbecues avec hot-dogs et hamburgers, le tout dans une ambiance conviviale et bonne enfant, comme les Américains savent si bien le faire! Contrairement à une avant-match de foot chez nous il n’y a aucune animosité entre les fans des équipes adversaires. Moi mon conseil, ce serait presque que sauter le match et de participer juste au tailgating avant😉 Mais bon, assister à un match de football Américain c’est une experience culturelle à faire au moins une fois! D’ailleurs, moi, j’ai fais que deux rencontres d’équipes pros et ça me dirait bien d’essayer un match universitaire. Bon, comme l’équipe de George Washington University où j’ai fait mon master est pas top du tout, j’irais peut être plutôt voir les Terps de l’Université du Maryland… Y’a des partants pour venir avec moi?

Highlights From My Trip to Anaheim, California

10 September 2016

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When you think Anaheim, your first thought is probably Disney and that’s sorta what brought me there. A work conference. At the most magical place on earth😉 The last time I was in Disneyland, I was still a teenager and Disney had taken a more important role in my life since. I worked at the store on Champs Elysees during summer offs from college and I worked in the offices at Disneyland Paris right after graduation. So I was pretty stoked to be reunited with my old boss Mickey even if I didn’t have a ton of time for non work-related activities.

WHAT BROUGHT ME TO ANAHEIM?

To this tune… work work work work work work! The trade association I worked for was hosting its annual conference at the Disneyland Hotel so I got to spend a few days there, mostly locked up in the hotel hosting luncheons, workshops and meetings.

HOW I GOT THERE

I could have flown to SNA, closer to Anaheim, but opted for a direct flight to Los Angeles International instead. My friend Lindsay picked me up and I spent one night with her in Santa Monica. She dropped me back off at LAX the next morning, and I caught the magical Disneyland Resort Express bus from there to the parks. The shuttle departs every hour from LAX and only sets you back $48 round trip, which is nothing compared to what a taxi would cost for the 35+ miles trip.

WHERE I STAYED

Since I spent a LOT of time inside the hotel, it’s a good thing we stayed in a really nice one, the Disneyland Hotel. If you’re looking to do Disney on the cheap, this isn’t going to be the place. The rooms are pricey, buy hey, I wasn’t picking up the tab😉

Here’s a couple of things I loved about the hotel: it’s within a quick walk to Downtown Disney District (perfect spot to grab a bite, a drink or do a little Disney shopping after work-hours!) and both the Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks. The hotel is also considered the original Disneyland Hotel (not the flagship one, that would be Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa next door) and is full of Disney-history. There’s a strong Mickey Mouse motif throughout the rooms, with Mickey accents and details here and there, though my favourite “disney” touch was the “goodnight kiss,” where “when you wish upon a star” star playing along with fireworks in your headboard when you turn off a switch.

The hotel also has a really nice pool (not that I ever went) and boasts one of the only decent bars in all of Disney, the legendary Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar. I would have spent a lot more time there, except after a long day of work everyone had the same idea and the last thing I wanted was to hang out with colleagues and other conference attendees ;-)

BEST THING I ATE

So, let’s be honest, people don’t come to Disney for the food. To be fair, there are a few decent meals to be had around the resort. As I mentioned earlier, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar makes a mean cocktail. There’s also Napa Rose, Disneyland Resort’s flagship restaurant, located at the Grand Californian. Sadly, I didn’t have enough time to squeeze in a meal there…. I did have an unexpectedly decent meal at the UVA bar, right in the middle of Downtown Disney District. I had gotten up super early that morning and I’d been indoors in the air conditioning all day. I had an hour window to relax before a diner organized by one of my colleagues. I knew the food would be bland at best (hello conference chicken my old friend!) if I even got to sit down long enough to eat any of it so I took a chance on UVA’s chorizo burger with UVA fries and a glass of rosé that surprisingly was one of my better meals at Disney.

I also loved the beignets at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen. But when I got a little bit of free time, I hopped in a Lyft (I was able to activate a $50 Promo Code at LAX since I was a new user) and explored Anaheim beyond Disney a little bit. I had a lovely breakfast one morning (when work started a bit later) at Ink & Bean’s Coffee Saloon and Wordshop and an equally lovely lunch at the Anaheim Packing District, a food hall a bit like our Union Market, with an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants inside a two-story renovated Sunkist packing house from 1919.

I had a great meal there, a lemongrass beef bun at Sawleaf Vietnamese café, though I was really tempted to get the poutine at Kroft too! I also would have loved to check out the Anaheim Brewery right around the corner, but somehow it wasn’t open at 11AM on a weekday…

BEST FREE ACTIVITY

Hum… Disney and free don’t really go hand in hand😉 However, if you’re staying at one of the hotels near the parks like I was, you can experience the fireworks from the Esplanade between the Disney California Adventure and the Disneyland parks. You don’t get to hear the music or have the stunning cinderella castle as a backdrop, but it won’t cost you the $97 admission to the park.

BEST SPLURGE ACTIVITY

My best splurge was definitely going into the California Adventure park for an evening and seeing the World of Color nighttime show (you can see it here on YouTube too). Having been in Las Vegas the summer before (also for work) it made the Bellagio’s fountains look like amateur hour… The park opened in 2001 so I had never been, though I had done some of its ride like the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (which is closing soon at Disneyland!!) at Disneyworld in Florida.

A smaller splurge was this $25.99 Disneyland 60th Diamond Anniversary Minnie Mouse Headband with Ears that allowed me to fit right in and pretend I was on vacation too! I mean, EVERYONE is wearing some kind of Mickey or Minnie ear accessory on their head, it’s not something I had ever seen at Disneyland Paris when I worked then (doesn’t strike me as something the French would be into, even today!) Also, using Lyft to get outside of the resort on occasions was also totally worth the (small) splurge.

MY TIPS IF YOU’RE HEADED TO ANAHEIM

Well, obviously that all depends if you’re there with kids or grown ups, for work or for fun. If you can, definitely stay at one of the two hotels on the Disneyland Resort. Not only are they beautifully designed, but you’ll save a lot of time on transportation if you’re headed to the parks. Also, they offer a special extra hour to patrons where you get to go to the park a whole hour before everyone else. The parks get so crowded, it’s totally worth it! Buy some Mickey and Minnie ears and embrace the whole Disney thing, they have some for everyone, including some really cool star wars stuff now that Disney owns the franchise. And if you’re not going to the parks, or want a break from them, there are lots of other things to do in Anaheim. If you’re into sports, Anaheim is home to two teams: the Mighty Ducks hockey team and the Angels baseball team. See a game if you can! There’s also the Anaheim Packing District for food, a couple of breweries, a museum (the Muzeo) . And if you didn’t rent a car, don’t let that deter you from getting around with Lyft or Uber!

Have you been to Anaheim for work and/or fun? What was that like for you?

Los Angeles en 10 Photos

10 September 2016

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J’ai rarement l’occasion de visiter la côte ouest. La Californie, mine de rien, c’est quand même à six heures d’avion de Washington (DC! mais c’est quand même quatre heure de vol de l’état de Washington aussi) donc c’est pas comme si on peut y aller juste pour un petit weekend… Mais comme j’étais à Anaheim pas loin pour une conference au travail, j’en ai profité pour rentabiliser le billet (surtout qu’il était payé par ma boite!) et je suis restée quelques jours de plus sur Los Angeles, histoire de redécouvrir un peu la deuxième plus grande ville des Etats Unis.

Voici un petit aperçu de mon séjour à Los Angeles en 10 photos. Pas mal on été prises à Venice Beach comme c’est là que j’avais loué un AirBnB (que je recommande fort d’ailleurs pour ceux qui passeraient à Los Angeles!) Sinon, comme ce n’était quand même pas mon premier voyage là bas, j’ai évité les gros lieux touristiques et j’ai préféré explorer un peu des nouveaux quartiers comme Echo Park et Silver Lake ainsi que revoir le Hollywood sign, mais d’un angle un peu different cette fois😉 Je vous laisse voir:

Le gros cliché de Los Angeles: les palmiers partout, à perte de vue, sur la plage, dans la ville. Ils font rêver et on ne s’en lasse pas!

Les surfeurs adorent et moi aussi! Un bol de sashimi hawaïen de Poke-Poke, dégusté sur la plage de Venice Beach pour un diner healthy et léger, et pas cher en plus.

Toujours à Venice, la célèbre Muscle beach, la plage du bodybuilding avec ses salles de musculations en plein air.

Il n’y a pas que la plage à Venice Beach, y’a aussi le quartier historique des Canaux de Venice qui était tout près de mon AirBnB.

Hiking to the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles

C’est LE symbole de Los Angeles et la meilleure façon de le voir de près, c’est a la fin d’une randonnée dans les collines d’Hollywood.

On reste dans le sport avec cet escalier, une trouvaille colorée au détour des rues du quartier branché de Silver Lake, à l’Est de Downtown.

Decouverte pour moi lors de ce voyage: la quartier de Echo Park avec ces collines couvertes de petites maisons colorées et son superbe park, avec une vue imprenable sur downtown.

Découverte pour moi lors de ce voyage: la quartier de Echo Park avec ces collines remplies de petites maisons colorées et son superbe park, avec une vue imprenable sur downtown.

Autre découverte, celle du nouveau musée d’art contemporain du Broad. Il a ouvert ces portes fin 2015 et rengorge d’œuvres de Koons, Hirst, Basquiat, Mapplethorpe et Braque. Bonus: il est gratuit!

Un de mes buts pendant mon sejour a Los Angeles: ne jamais depenser plus de $20 par repas. Mission accomplie avec ces ramens a Tsujita LA Artisan Noodle.

Un de mes buts pendant mon séjour à Los Angeles: ne jamais dépenser plus de $20 par repas. Mission accomplie avec ces ramens à Tsujita LA Artisan Noodle.

5 Events To look forward to this September

7 September 2016

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I actually love summer… I don’t mind fall, but it reminds me that winter is coming, so I’m usually sad when labour days comes around. That being said, there are actually quite a lot to look forward to in D.C. in the fall. Here are 5 events happening in Washington this September that I’m particularly excited about:

THE DC SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
I have a short attention span, so seeing 7-9 movies in 90 minutes sounds pretty great to me. The DC Short Film Festival runs from Septembre 8-18, 2016 and showcases 131 films from 33 nations around the world, including plenty from France. A lot of the festival is geared towards aspiring filmmakers, with practical workshops on fundraising to finance your project or how to write a film review (actually, I might be interested in that one!) but there are plenty of film screenings too of course!

PARK(ing) DAY

I just really love the creativity involved in PARK(ing) Day , which will be held from 9Am to 4PM on September 16. It initially started in San Francisco to encourage businesses and residents to rethink how they use public space by converting metered parking spots into temporary, pop-up parks.

UNCENSORED AND BANNED BOOKS WEEK AT MARTIN LUTHER KING JR LIBRARY

The D.C. Public Library, along with libraries across the country, is shedding light on literary censorship in American history through Banned Books Week, which will start September 25 and wraps up with Uncensored, a cocktail party on September 30. That event will feature live music, as well as local mixologists’ boozie interpretation of a specific banned book, like a chartreuse concoction based on Ronald Dahl’s The Witches. Tickets aren’t cheap at $50 (you can buy tickets here) but all ticket sales will support DC Public Library programs and services. Also, this will be one of our last chance to hang out at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library at 901 G St. NW before it closes down for renovations starting in early 2017. Throughout the month of September, the D.C. public library system will be hiding copies of books that were once banned or challenged in businesses around the city and invite Washingtonians to go on a bit of an uncensored books scavenger hunt. Find a book (Compas Rose Coffee is one of the spots!) send a pic on twitter to @dcpl_literati using the #UncensoredDC hashtag and you could win free tix to the party! (plus it just sounds like a fun thing to do!!)

Still on the topic of books, I always look forward the Library of Congress National Book Festival, happening this year on September 24 (and still at the convention center…. I miss the days when it was held on the mall!) Stephen King will be there, as will Shonda Rhimes (that’s going to be a popular session), Bob Woodward (always popular with the DC crowds), and Salman Rushdie (always popular with me!!)

HISTORIC OPENING OF THE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY

You know you’ve lived in Washington for a long time when you’re getting ready to see your second new Smithsonian museum open on the National Mall (and third overall, I already lived in DC when the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center opened in Chantilly). The first one was of course, the National Museum of the American Indian in 2004. But I feel like I’ve really followed the NMAAHC, from its authorization in 2003 to the site selection in 2006 and finally construction after president Barrack Obama helped break ground in February 2012. I can’t wait to take an “after”-selfie once the building is fully finished.

The much anticipated grand opening will happen September 24^th at 1PM, after an official dedication ceremony earlier that morning (featuring Barrack Obama no less). The NMAAHC definitely knows how to throw an opening party, with free three-day, two-night festival on the Washington Monument Grounds, featuring live music by Public Enemy and the Roots among others. I’ll probably skip all that, but I can’t wait to go inside the beautiful bronze building for the first time! Got my timed entry tickets for the 26th and I can’t wait!

On the topic of museums, I’m also looking forward to reopening of the National Gallery’s East Building Galleries. Designed by IM Pei (of Louvre Pyramid fame) the angular building has been under renovations for close to three years. In addition to 12,000 new square-feet of exhibition space, the museum will now have a rooftop sculpture garden, featuring Katharina Fritsch’s “Hahn/Cock” giant blue rooster. That one. It’s already there, I can see it from the street and I can’t wait to get closer!

ART ALL NIGHT – MADE IN DC

By now I’ve accepted that Art all Night isn’t trying to be Paris’ Nuit Blanche and I’ve come to appreciate the event for what it is here. It’s a great evening of cultural happenings showcasing some of the city’s coolest neighbourhoods and emerging or established artists. This year, the festival takes place on Saturday, September 24^th from 7PM to 3PM in Capitol Heights, Dupont Circle, H Street, North Capitol, Shaw as well as Tentleytown and Van Ness. This year the festival will feature District of Columbia artists and collectives only, in celebration of the Made in DC initiative which I find pretty cool! The full schedule hasn’t been released yet, but you can check out the Art All Night website for updates.

Any event you’re looking forward to this fall?

Weekend Highlights ~ Low Key Labour Day

6 September 2016

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The first Monday of September is always Labor Day in the United States. It honors American workers and their contributions to the strength of the country. It’s also considered the unofficial end of summer… le sigh.

DRINKS AT THE WATERGATE HOTEL

We kicked off the weekend with happy hour at the Next Whisky Bar in the newly opened Watergate Hotel. Of course, everyone knows of the Watergate from the history books and the role it played in the demise of president Richard Nixon. But today, it’s a complex of 5 buildings right by the Kennedy Center. One of those building is now a landmark hotel overlooking the Potomac River and I hadn’t been yet since it reopened in June (it was closed for renovations since 2007.) The drinks are pretty pricey, so it’s not a spot where I’m going to become a regular at, but I loved the bar’s splashy atmosphere, with its lush red seats and the soft amber glow from the curved illuminated wall of 2,500 whisky bottles.

LABOUR DAY CAPITOL CONCERT

After that, my weekend was rather low key. Saturday, I went for a quick jog to the U.S. Capitol. I really want to get back into running now and jogging to and from the Capitol is a nice and easy 3 miles, the perfect distance when you havn’t been running for a while. Plus it’s such a pretty route, especially now that the scaffholding is almost all down.

Sunday evening, I went back to the Capitol, to the West Lawn to be exact, to catch the free concert by the National Symphony Orchestra. It was a very only-in-DC concert. The musicians, led by Steven Reineke, kicked off the program with the star spangled banner. Featured singer Storm Large and her band Le Bonheur then launched into some American classic, including America the beautiful. My favourite moments were when she dedicated her performance of The Lady is a Tramp to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (her “spirit animal”) before serenading Bernie Sanders with a special version of My Funny Valentine, which she turned into My Bernie Valentine. Yep, politics is everywhere, always (but especially in an election year!) Washington, DC ;-)

STUNNING SUNSETS

Was it because of Hermine? I’m not sure, but we were treated to some pretty magical, unforgettable sunsets Friday and Saturday nights. According to my instagram feed, that was the case all along the East Coast, all the way to New York City. I wish my pictures could do justice to just how breath taking the red sky was…

SUP-ING ON THE POTOMAC

I try to go kayaking on the Potomac at least once every summer, though I waited until the very end this year (let’s be real, it was too hot before that!) The weather was so perfect on Monday, we definitely weren’t the only ones who had that idea. We opted to do the Stand Up Paddleboards this time, which was a great workout on top of being a fun way to see the city from a different angle, including the Watergate where I had kicked off the weekend.

We wrapped up the weekend with a little grilling, of course. That’s kinda synonymous with Labour Day right? In addition to running again, I’m trying to eat less meat so rather than cook steaks or burgers, I tried something different: grilled artichokes.

It was actually really good and super easy to do. The trick is to boil the artichokes first. Once they’ve cooled down a bit, cut them in half and brush them with a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. You’ll grill them for 5-10 minutes (until the tips are a little charred) and enjoy with a little more of the olive oil mixture. It’s actually quite perfect if you ever have vegetarian friends over for BBQ!

How was your labour day weekend? Did you go anywhere fun or stayed behind and enjoyed an emptier city? Let me know in the comments and have a great (short) week!

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