Wolf Trap

In September Shelley and I went to Wolf Trap to see Les Miserables. It is my favorite musical and Shelley had never been. I had seen the production once before when I was 14. My parents gave me tickets to see the play at the Curran Theater in San Francisco. It was the first time I had ever seen a Broadway-level production and I had such an amazing night. I dressed up and went into The City, ate at a nice restaurant, and headed off to a night at the theater. I think very fondly of that night because I felt so sophisticated and grown up.

When I found out that Les Miserables was playing at Wolf Trap I decided that I had to go. While I was willing to go by myself, I was able to sweet talk Shelley into not only coming with me but also forking out good money for expensive seats (sadly Seabreeze was out of town). It turned out to be a good investment as it rained most of the night and the poor saps on the lawn seats got totally drenched.

I didn’t really understand the concept that Wolf Trap was an outdoor theater with some covered seating. While it is really cool to have the outdoors and the theater together in one (it reminded me of the times I went to the California Shakespeare Festival in Orinda) I don’t like getting rained on. Also, being open to the outdoors also means no air conditioning (which I have professed my love for on various blogs). The humidity was killer and I could not fan myself enough. The play, however, was outstanding and worth every penny; Les Miserables never disappoints.

Getting my car out of the parking lot proved to be difficult to the torrential rain. Luckily I plan for every contingency so Shelley and I sat in the car and watched episodes of “The Soup,” until the lot cleared out. God bless Joel McHale for being so hilarious.

Please note that I know I look slightly demonic in this picture. I am a bit freaked out - but there is no reason to punish Shelley because I am not photogenic. We tried to capture some more visually interesting pictures but lighting made it really difficult to capture any of the cool architecture of the facility.
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Prepare Thyself for Merriment - the Maryland Renaissance Festival

My friends Cameron and Lindsay Sanders invited me to attend the “Maryland Renaissance Festival” with them back in September. I had never been to a “RenFest” (as I learned to call it after overhearing some hardcore fans refer to the festival) but I felt it was worth a shot. I also remember a lot of references to renaissance festivals on the show Gilmore Girls. In any event I was not going to miss out on an exciting day of medieval fun.

When Cameron and Lindsay picked me up, there was a guy sitting in the front seat. At first I though they were trying to casually set me up, but no such luck. The guy turned out to be married so I didn’t bother remembering his name. I know that sounds callous, but I have to remember so many names that I am not going to waste my time on some guy that I will never date. No offense dude.

The first thing I remember about the RenFest is the absolute culture shock I experienced. It was surreal and that doesn’t even begin to describe how out of sorts I felt. I cannot believe how much effort people put into getting medieval. They must spend hundreds of dollars on outfits and accessories. Personally I would rather shop at Nordstrom than at a booth at a renaissance festival – but I have my own weird stuff that I do so I am not really in a position to judge. The details that go into the clothing are astounding. The whole festival carries the gravitas of a Goth prom. I left being very impressed by peoples commitment to the Renaissance. One thing I would like eliminate from the RenFest is the bad, fake British accent. It was painful…please just speak in your native accent. A good costume will compensate for the fact that you are not really from 16th Century Britain.

I guess what shocked me most is that I had no idea that this subculture existed. I had heard of renaissance faires but I never knew anyone that attended. I guess this explains all those students that liked to fake swordfight on the lawns at BYU. I also found it kind of refreshing that all these people have found a way to embrace their love of Henry VIII, drinking horns, jousting, and bralessness.

There is also a very predominate “bimbo” subset of the RenFest crowd. So many women saw this as an opportunity to wear little to no clothing. Every culture has their tramp contingent so I shouldn’t have been too surprised. What was strange is that so many people put a lot of effort into wearing so few clothes. I would also venture to say that Renaissance clothing is particularly challenging for the busty gal.

Overall I had a really good time, far better than I expected. Lindsay and I got massages (from local massage therapists so it wasn’t creepy) in this lovely grove of trees. Cameron and the other guy got to see jousting and sword fighting.

I also learned a lot about entertainment and history while I was there. Primarily:
• In olden times, all food was served on sticks. This includes but is not limited to turkey, macaroni and cheese, chicken, fruit, and cheesecake.
• People really like tricks that include swords and whips. I guess that helps to explain some of the appeal to men of the Indiana Jones series. I think for women it is just a young Harrison Ford in a fedora. Yum.
• Medieval humor can actually be funny and quite bawdy. I guess some things that are funny never change.
• Guys find anything made for a woman out of chainmail sexy.
• Drinking horns are far too expensive.

Thanks again to Lindsay and Cameron for the invite. I had a blast. Shelley was so disappointed that she couldn’t go. Maybe next year Cameron and Shelley can go to the RenFest while Lindsay and I go shopping at the Ikea near by. Sound like a good time for everyone.

Jordan

Portsmouth, VA

Instead of teaching a course, I had the opportunity to attend a course by the National White Collar Crime Center on investigating financial crimes. While I tried to attend the course in Anchorage, Alaska my boss wouldn’t go for it. Instead I attended the course in Portsmouth, VA. I decided to drive from Reston to my hotel in Norfolk. A road trip that was supposed to last about 3.5 hours took me almost 5.5 hours. Stupid I-95. I chose to stay in Norfolk, which is close to Portsmouth, because the Hilton there was offering double points. I can’t resist.

Driving in Norfolk and Portsmouth is a lot like driving in the Bay Area. You have to take into account bridges and tunnels. According to MapQuest it should have only taken 13 minutes to get from my hotel to the Portsmouth Police Station. That is not the case as it usually took me between 30-45 minutes depending on traffic. I probably should have stayed a bit closer, but there is not a lot in Portsmouth to make it appealing.

The best part of the course was the fellow attendees. I had so much fun learning from all the police officers and prosecutors in the course. We often went out at night and had dinner together. We even went and walked on the Virginia Beach boardwalk, which I must admit looked a lot better than when I was there six years ago. The statue of Neptune is spectaular. I was a bit of a buzz killer as I was recovering from a sinus infection and didn’t have a lot of energy.

Next trip – Ft. Leavenworth, KS

Mt. Vernon, VA

My friend Evan is awesome. He decided that we (Shelley, Evan, and I) needed to go visit Mt. Vernon, the home of George Washington. Luckily, I was in town for the weekend and the weather wasn’t too terrible for August in Northern Virginia.

Evan picked Shelley and me up and here is where Evan’s awesomeness really came into play: his car was pristine and he packed a cooler of snacks. Anyone that packs a cooler of snack (including waters and soda) is perfect in my book because I rarely think that far in advance.

Now I had been to Mt. Vernon about 12 years ago during my high school DC trip. I wasn’t that impressed by the place and had never been eager to return. Shelley, however, was dying to go and who can say no to that face? Also, the Mt. Vernon Ladies Association just renovated the museums and visitor’s center. Perhaps it was time for me to give Mt. Vernon another chance.

When we arrived we first went to the visitor’s center and watched a movie about George and Martha Washington. The movie was pretty good and I swear there were some actors that I had seen on Law & Order episodes. Pat Sajak also introduced Mt. Vernon and the video. It is always good to see Pat.

Evan arranged for us to take a boat ride up the Potomac. I don’t go on boats often, but I am always glad when I do. It was a lovely ride and the breeze off the water kept us very comfortable. I will admit that the girl reading the narration was not very enthusiastic – but it didn’t ruin the experience in any way.

The new visitor’s center had a lot of cool multimedia presentations. There is one theater that accounts Washington’s crossing of the Delaware. It was an interactive presentation that had falling snow. Now because I am nosy, I overheard that the snow was falling only on the right side of the theater. I was Machiavellian in getting us on the snowy side of the theater, and it was so worth the trouble.

The actual home of Washington is quite lovely with an incredible view of the Potomac. I enjoyed my trip much more this time around. I think I could have lived in that home (as long as I could modernize with air conditioning). Overall I really enjoyed the tour, except for the annoying little kids – but that is a long rant that I won’t repeat.

Evan told us that there was a restaurant at Mt. Vernon that serves colonial cuisine, and Shelley loves colonial cuisine. Unfortunately it was closed for a wedding (stupid wedding). It worked out just fine in the end as Shelley and I took Evan to Kabob Palace, which serves the best kabobs in the DC area. So delicious.

I just want to give a shout out to Evan for planning such a great excursion. I had a blast.

Sacramento, CA

Luckily I get to go to Sacramento, CA for work on occasion. I love it because I get to go home and see the family, friends, and state that I miss so much. While my trips to CA are rarely action-packed, it is wonderful just to be home again.

Dad, Roger, and I went to Tao San Jin, my favorite Chinese food place on my first night back. I am such a Chinese food snob that I refused to eat Chinese food in Utah and I haven’t found a satisfactory place yet in Reston. I had my favorite chow fun with black bean sauce and it was as delicious as ever.

My friend Katie and I had a chance to catch up on the weekend over breakfast at the Sugar Plum Coffee Shop. Katie looks fantastic and every time I see her it just reminds me how much I miss our instant messaging and just general hanging out. She is the best. I also want to give a shout out to Katie for finding the absolute best volunteer work for her ever. Her job is to pet cats in animal shelters for an hour one day a week. For an avid cat lover like Katie (but not a creepy, crazy cat lady kind of way) it is a win for both her and the cats.

I also saw my friends Shariyah and Derrick. They are an adorable couple and they deserve the best of everything. We drove around in my cool Mustang rental car and went to the Riverview Lodge in Antioch. If you like seafood, the Riverview is a great place to eat. It has a nice view of the San Joaquin (if you can call the river nice) and the décor has been the same since the 1940’s, which I love. My mom swears by the crab louie salad. Katie and Shariyah are my friends from Bank of America and we all have lived to tell the horror stories. Next time I go I hope to see my other Bank friends.

In Sacramento I went out to dinner with Larry, Jody, and my dad. I love seeing Larry and Jody as often as possible. I was also totally jazzed to spend so much time with my dad while back home again. We ended up going to Frank Fat’s which has often been highlighted as the best Chinese food in Sacramento. If you ever go, the Honey Walnut Prawns are to die for.

My dad and I also headed to the Rusty Duck. We had an excellent meal. The fish at the Rusty Duck is always fresh. It has a very classic steakhouse look and vibe. I also enjoyed the intimate atmosphere and good service. The chef even came out to introduce himself, which I love (but only if the food is good).

My students and I decided to go to dinner and a movie after class. Near the theater were a variety of chain restaurants, including Hooters. I said I was up for anything except for Hooters because they objectify women. One of the guys in my class turned to me and rightly observed that, “You wouldn’t be the one objectifying them.” He had a point.

Back in Antioch my dad, Roger, Diedra, Mary, and I headed to Bridgehead Café. While Bridgehead is not my favorite place to eat, you cannot beat the welcome you get as a regular. The place has been owned by the same family for forever and you can tell they love the place. If you like chicken fried steak or fried chicken they are both very good.

Dad and I also headed to Prevots in Antioch. They serve continental cuisine that is pretty classy for Antioch. They have a marvelous rack of lamb and their bread is always served fresh from the oven. Unfortunately, is it located in a not-so-great part of town and I don’t think the place gets the recognition it deserves. If you go before 6:00 pm you can get a three course dinner for about $15.00. It is amazing.

I have been worried that all of my blogs revolve restaurants. Aside from enjoying eating far more than I should, I love anything related to restaurant reviews and travel advice. Also, when traveling for work, there isn’t a whole lot of time for sightseeing and wacky adventures. I have to eat and I have a very small window in which to go out and see the world. Enough excuses – I like dining out.

Next trip – Portsmouth, VA.

Akron, OH "Flee to the Cleve"

I have put off writing about my trip to Akron because I never thought I could adequately represent how much excitement I had in Ohio. I know that sounds strange, but Akron turned out to be one of the coolest trips I have been on so far. I also ate very well because they really like food, especially fried food, in Akron.

First off, my hotel was circular and I mean circular. I stayed at the Quaker Square Inn which used to be a grain silo for Quaker Oats back in the day. Everything there was round and old fashioned. The inn also smelled like a grandma’s house. I don’t mean that in a bad way, it just smelled of old furniture and baking (they made homemade oatmeal cookies daily). They also had an old railroad train car that the Inn converted into a diner. It was fun to sit in the train car and have a side order of nostalgia with my lunch.

I worked with the Akron Police Department and they are a fantastic group of people; very friendly, considerate, and hospitable. They took excellent care of me while in Akron and introduced me to some nice restaurants. I had my very first taste of fried macaroni and cheese at the Lockview. Fried Mac and Cheese highly decadent and surprisingly good. It is very rich, so take it slowly.

At Bricco I had fried dill pickles with garlic aioli and a well-cooked, moist pork loin. I don’t really like dill pickles that much, but it just goes to show that everything taste better when deep fried because I loved those blasted fried pickles. I had great time that night because many of the officers came out to dinner with me and then took me on a tour of Akron. There are some lovely parts of the city, especially the neighborhoods with brick streets and large trees.

On Wednesday I had to “Flee to the Cleve” as they say on 30 Rock and drove up to Cleveland. I decided that it was essential for me to go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame juts out onto Lake Erie and the water really made the setting lovely in the sunlight. The building itself is architecturally interesting with a large glass pyramid. I spent quite a bit of time in the museum (what a shock!). I would have to say the highlights were:
• Madonna’s bustiers from the Blonde Ambition tour
• The hand written lyrics of John Lennon’s “In My Life” which is one of my favorite Beatles songs
• The guitar that Paul Simonon smashed on the Clash’s “London Calling” album
• And the red jacket from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” which 8 year old Jen would have died to have seen
I really enjoyed all of the videos and credit given to the roots and founders of rock – especially one of my favorites, Sam Cooke.

The new Iron Chef, Michael Symon, is from Cleveland and has several restaurants in the area. I tried to get into both and could not get a reservation at Lola and I couldn’t find Lolita. It got totally lost in Cleveland trying to get back to Akron because of construction; a 40 minute trip took me over and hour and a half. Good times!

I had the opportunity to go out on a police ride-along with the Akron PD. It turned out to be one of the most exciting and enlightening experiences I have ever had. I got a tour of the police station, attended roll call and went on patrol for 4 hours. I rode with Officer Evans in one of the more sketchy neighborhoods of Akron. We drove around and answered a few minor calls. Then we got to ride lights and sirens across town to a 30 person gang fight. It was so cool to go that fast. When we arrived at the fight, one of the suspects started to flee and Evans followed him down alleys in the car which rocked. Evans jumped out of the car and chased him down. It was straight out of an episode of “Cops.” I sat in the squad car with the suspect for a few minutes (I was in the front seat so no worries) and the suspect kept asking me to roll down the windows. I did not. I got to witness a gun shot residue test and how they process gang members. I got to ride lights and sirens again because a fight broke out again in the same location a little later in the evening. I also got to go to a homicide crime scene and watch them process the scene. I am so grateful to the Akron PD for letting me tag along.


When in Akron you must eat at Luigi’s. It is, hands down, the best pizza I have ever had in my life. It is also a local favorite of the Akron PD. I went out after my ride along (around midnight) with the captain who set up my ride along. If you order a salad you can add mozzarella cheese on the top. When they talk about cheese, Luigi’s isn’t kidding; you can’t even see the salad because of all the wonderful, fresh mozzarella cheese. I cannot emphasize enough how fantastic the pizza is…just know that they don’t take credit cards so go with cash.

Who knew Akron would be so awesome?