A (for friendship!) DC and Fredericksburg VA trip to last weekend

I escaped the NYC floods on Friday last week and set sail for Fredericksburg VA. I took Amtrak intending to work, but the wi-fi was out and the train car was leaking right above where my laptop would have been if I did work (and nowhere else to put it).

Don’t think I’ll take Amtrak again.

First stop: DC.

Washington DC

I always forget how deep the subway is in DC, unless it’s just the Dupont Station stop.

Near Dupont Station, I enjoyed a plate of Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam and a side salad at Mikko Nordic Fine Foods. I was kinda disappointed with it, but for $15 (aka the price you pay in NYC for trendier fast-casual lunch) I was okay with it. I like my Swedish meatballs better (Food52 recipe). A yellow jacket or wasp or whatever was into it though, thanks to the jam.

This part of DC was quiet. Quaint. I’d never explored anywhere outside of the National Mall area (since any time I’m in DC it’s usually for less than a day).

Outside of the Museum of the American Indian, I sat guzzling an iced golden milk latte, waiting for my friends to arrive, when a man approached me. He explained that he was a Pakistani journalist trying to get to the Pakistani embassy in order to interview someone, I can’t remember who, in an hour. Or something like that. I set him up with a Lyft and he told me about his work while we waited for it to arrive. His thing was terrorism, women’s rights, and foreign affairs. Very very cool. The Lyft pulled up, we triple checked that the address I’d entered was correct, and he was on his way.

After meeting up with my friends, we went to National Museum of Natural History. I couldn’t resist this little bugger in the gift shop. My friend got the same one and remembered to take a photo.

Second stop: Fredrickersburg, VA, the lovely little city my brother lives in.

Fredericksburg VA

He kindly hosted the four of us and planned everything. (Thank you so much). We pulled in in the evening with just enough time to hit Blue Cow Ice Cream Co. for cereal milk ice cream. I got the “mini” size in a cake cone but it was still humongous.

Breakfast and especially biscuits are no joke in the south. I only ate a biscuit with jam and butter ($3.50) at Foode, but if the mound of butter they gave me says anything they definitely know what they’re doing.

At our quiet outdoor table, my brother asked “Isn’t this like New York?” After staring blankly at him, I smiled and said “No, it’s better” because service is slow and kind and nobody is trying to rush you out. Plus the biscuits. And fried chicken. But always the biscuits.

Found some cute earrings in Latitudes, a fair trade store. I went with the hummingbirds because I love how colorful and cheerful they are. They’re a bit heavier than I’d like, but I couldn’t resist. I’ll just have to wear them sparingly.

Rebellion Bourbon Bar and Kitchen had half-priced apps and $6 old fashioneds, Manhattans, and sangria even though it was a Saturday! It was a late lunch before we watched my brother’s choir performance.

Sunday morning was departure time. I left somewhat early because I had planned on going to a mushroom film festival I didn’t end up making (because instead I picked up dinner and stopped at an Albanian dessert place in the neighborhood I’d been meaning to try).

Before leaving Fredericksburg, we all stopped by Hyperion Espresso. I had a decent violet Italian cream soda, but I was more delighted by the stickers they were selling.