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The Cupboard: It’s Not Just for Crack Pipes

June 9, 2012 by momindcity Leave a Comment

Sometimes, despite my best efforts, I’m tardy to the party.

Such is the case with “The Cupboard,” a convenience store on 15th and East Capitol on the Hill.

I walk by this store every day and have never been inside, mainly because there are so many other convenience stores on 15th St where I can buy things like blunts, rolling papers, and Mad Dog 20/20. I do remember The Cupboard when it was the DC Express Mart, and figured the new name was just window dressing for another ghetto bodega. Nine out of ten people who walk out of a convenience store on 15th Street are holding a beverage in a paper bag… and it’s not organic milk.

15th St Gem — One of many gems on 15th St NE

This brings me to how I finally decided to try The Cupboard. We were out of milk for Zana (again), and have been planning for two days now to go buy some. (I’m lucky Dave’s mom can’t find things on the Internet, because I’m pretty sure she’d call child protective services on us for that.) We got her a hot chocolate at Starbucks this morning and were hoping her dairy quota was met until after naptime, but she really wanted some milk..

Dave: I’ll run to Safeway when she falls asleep.
Me: She’s going to scream about milk and not fall asleep until she gets some.
Dave: No she won’t, she’s fine (while watching a soccer game and ignoring a screaming Zana)
Me: I’m walking to the corner store to get some.
Dave: The Bella Market?? Are you looking for crack pipes or organic milk?
Me: Crack pipes– duh. No, I’m going to The Cupboard. Caroline says it has good stuff.
Dave: I bet you they won’t have it either.

I knew there was something different about this place the second I walked in. For one thing, there was no bullet proof glass between the cashier and me. Also, not only was there organic 2% milk, but there was also organic 1%, organic skim and organic whole. I took a quick walk through the metal racks and saw Vita Coco (my favorite post-workout beverage), Spring Mill Bread, Green Mountain Coffee and quite the selection of wines and microbrews. Where has this place been all my life?

I paid $5.99 for a half gallon of milk (ouch) and happily walked home to hear Dave say “you were right.” I should probably mention (for the non-DC readers) that groceries are generally more expensive here. The same milk at Harris Teeter is about $4.50. Will I regularly buy milk there? Probably not. But will I start frequenting The Cupboard for my last minute needs and forgotten items? Absolutely. I will make it my business to go there often and hope that my neighbors do the same. And don’t worry about missing the old school convenience store experience. The Cupboard is wedged between a barber shop and Hong Kong Carry-Out, with its requisite bullet-proof glass. You’ll still get to pass by all of your favorite characters enjoying their malt liquor outside.

So here’s what I learned: if you want Fruit Barrels (think florescent colors and foil tops) and Funions, there’s no need to worry. But if you want something more, don’t take as long as I did to stop by The Cupboard. You will be glad that you did.

WooHoo, Party at the Biker Barre!

June 7, 2012 by momindcity 2 Comments

Today was a big day for me; today, I am officially free from pins, casts, stitches, and– most importantly– exercise restrictions. You wouldn’t think that a broken wrist would impact so many parts of life, but my doctor said that walking was the only exercise I could do during the healing process. No running, no Zumba, no square dancing (as if), and no yoga.

Since April 13, I’ve followed those orders. And during the past two months, I’ve managed to gain 10 pounds. I wonder how much I would have gained if I hadn’t done the vegan cleanse! So when the doctor gave me the go-ahead this morning, I immediately started plotting how to punish my body back into shape. First on the agenda: spinning. I have never been spinning (spun, spinned?) before, but I’ve seen people come out of those classes and that’s what I want to feel like. Legs wobbly, dripping with sweat and ready to vomit. Fun, right?!

A friend asked me to join her at a biker bar, and I immediately accepted– picturing a place like this where I could meet her for a beer after spinning:

But alas, she really meant Biker Barre, a new studio on the Hill that specializes in spinning and ballet-inspired fitness classes. We signed up for the 7:45 and I decided to walk the mile to class– these pounds aren’t going to melt off on their own! My friend arrived wearing a Camelback (which terrified me a little) and carrying an extra pair of padded biker shorts (which terrified me a lot). She told me to change so that my butt wouldn’t hurt “as much.” I told her I have plenty of padding back there, but she just laughed and pointed to the changing room.

Wearing my new, cut-off-your-circulation biker shorts and looking hella sexy, I walked into the dark room. The instructor explained how to adjust the bike– the seat moves forward and backward, up and down, and so do the handlebars. I hoped I wouldn’t need handlebars much since it still hurts to use my wrist. She turned off the lights, turned up “Born to Be Wild” (really) and proceeded to perform for the next 45 minutes. This instructor also happens to be the owner of the studio, and she is a rock star. Seriously, I would pay money to see her in concert dancing, singing and working the room (oh wait, I did pay money to do that). I knew I was supposed to take it easy as a beginner, but let’s be honest, I’m too competitive for that. I worked hard enough that I wanted to toss my cookies, and then took it down a notch to make sure that I didn’t; you can’t embarrass yourself like the first time you meet people! I like to save that for our second date.

When it was all over, Rock Star Lady gave us all a cold, lavender-infused towel– just like the one they give you at the end of Bikram yoga. Is that a thing now? It’s definitely my favorite part of either class. I walked out of the dungeon (classroom?) and into the light looking like I’d gotten run over by a truck. As I headed home– in my friend’s car because there was no way I could walk home after that — I took a moment to be thankful. Thankful for her cushy car seats, thankful to be able to sweat for a change, and thankful that the torture was over– at least until tomorrow.

Ebenezers is Not for Scrooges

June 3, 2012 by momindcity 3 Comments

Raise your hand if you like coffee!

Raise your hand if you like open spaces where you kids can run around while you relax!

Well if you like them, why don’t you marry them?!

I’m about to tell you a secret that will make you want to marry me. There’s this place, right on Capitol Hill where you can get a delicious caffeinated beverage and actually sit down and enjoy drinking it with your kids in tow.

It’s called Ebenezers Coffeehouse. You’ve probably heard of it; maybe you’ve even been there. But you haven’t done it the right way. How do I know? Because I’m there all the time and have never seen you there. I’ve almost never seen anyone there. Why? Because we hang out in the secret basement.

Perhaps it’s not exactly a secret to the hundreds of people who go there for meetings and concerts; but for families on the Hill, it must be a secret because I can’t think of any other reason why you wouldn’t all be there all the time.

Our weekend routine goes like this: grab our beverages, squeeze by the crowds of people upstairs and go to the basement. There, we have the entire place to ourselves. The girls drink hot chocolates, then play games, dance, sing, hula hoop, whatever their hearts desire– all while Dave and I enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee.

IMG_4256[1] — You can even hula hoop here

It is a staging ground for our weekend adventures. We go there first thing in the morning and decide what to do with the rest of our day. Sometimes we hang out there for hours, especially during cold winter days. There are TVs showing news or sports and a sound system that usually plays smooth jazz or R&B (which happens to be my fave). There are bathrooms and water fountains, so there’s no need to go upstairs. And ever time we’re there, we ask the same question, “why isn’t anybody else here?”

You can sit on soft leather chairs, in a booth, or in one of the many and stackable chairs. But don’t sit on those; they really need to be replaced, and a certain member of our family may or may not have had one collapse beneath him).

We’ve brought family and friends here, and it never disappoints. Occasionally, a rogue single person comes down hoping to get some work done. But my girls manage to scare them off fairly quickly. We even thought about renting the space for one of the girls’ birthday parties, but (just like everywhere else on the Hill) it was expensive.

Why am I telling you about this? Because I love you! Well, that and the fact that I can’t keep a secret. But now that you know, I’ll see you next weekend!