Hill Country Barbecue Restaurant Review

Address and Neighborhood: 410 Seventh Street NW Washington, DC 20004 in Penn Quarter/Chinatown

Price Range: $$ (Typical entrees range from $10 to $15)

Overall rating: 3/5 for Service

4.5/5 Food Quality and Overall Value

I have been told by many friends to go to Hill Country for great barbecue, which is not something you often see in Washington. It is a unique restaurant with a rustic feel. You are given a meal ticket which gets stamped according to what you purchase: including drinks, meat, sides, and dessert. There is waitstaff service for beverages and dessert, but the rest of the meal is a market-style service. I brought my meal ticket to the counter and got brisket (my go-to BBQ meat) and cornbread with ancho honey butter.

I also ordered a glass of sweet tea, which had plenty of sugar. A quarter pound of brisket was plenty to fill me up and their two BBQ sauces (one sweet and the other spicy) added the perfect kick to the juicy brisket. I am also a sucker for cornbread and this did not disappoint. The ancho honey butter was the perfect mix of sugar and spice. Although I was too full for dessert (a rare occurrence), my friends tried the German chocolate cake and thought it was delicious. My meal total, with tax and tip, came to $18.00. The only issue I had was that the table service was slow, especially to receive our drinks and the check. But, the food was amazing and I would definitely return to try out the mac and cheese and coleslaw sides.

This Week's Playlist June 24th 2013

1. Lies- Deap Vally

2. This is What Makes Us Girls- Lana Del Ray

3. Hollywood- The Technicolors

4. Hours- Lemuria

5. We Own This Town- D. Watusi

6. Wakin On A Pretty Day- Kurt Vile

7. Long Way to Go- Andrew Stockdale

Deap Vally has a great set of music videos on YouTube, so between the videos and songs I have been listening to the female duo often and am getting antsy waiting for their CD release which was pushed back another week to July 1st 2013. "Lies" brings out some meaningful lyrics and plenty of girl power.

"Hollywood" by the Technicolors is a great rock song that brings in a bluesy feel. It was the best song that they played live when I saw them a few weeks ago and for that reason I have kept it on my playlist for my hour long commute every day. With both keyboard and guitar solos this song brings a different sound to their album Listener.

D. Watusi is a Nashville-based punk band. Their keyboardist, Christina Norwood is currently part of the JEFF the Brotherhood quartet. D. Watusi brings a poppy-punk sound and reminds me a lot of Swedish rockers, The Hives.

I'm looking forward to Kurt Vile's concert at the 9:30 Club in July. I originally heard of his first band, The War on Drugs. I am looking forward to hearing him because of his versatile sound. "Wakin On a Pretty Day" is my favorite track right now because it is instantly relaxing and soothing after a stressful and busy day.

That's all for this week, and unfortunately I have no upcoming concerts for a few weeks but look out for some awesome album reviews coming soon!

"Gonna Make My Own Money" - Deap Vally

I was reading reviews of Bonnaroo and I got even more jealous of those who attended when I read about Deap Vally and listened to their song "Gonna Make My Own Money." Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards know how to rock with influences ranging from badass Courtney Love to classic rockers Led Zeppelin. They play some mean riffs and add plenty of distortion, while belting out powerful lyrics. I can't wait for their new album, Sistrionix to drop on June 24th and I am even more excited to hear their set at Lollapalooza in August.

Happy listening,

xx Lauren

This Week's Playlist June 17th 2013

1. You've Got Your Money, I've Got My Soul- The Virginmarys

2. 3's & 7's- Queens of the Stone Age

3. Peace of Mind- Black Sabbath

4. Area 52- The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

5. Leather Jacket II- Deerhunter

6. Age of Reason- Black Sabbath

7. Heavy Krishna- JEFF the Brotherhood

Starting off my playlist is a song from The Virginmarys. Ally Dickaty, Matt Rose and Danny Dolan are from all the way across the pond in Macclesfield, England. In the spring they were on tour to support their album "King of Conflict" and this song struck me instantly. The lyrics alone set the tone that they are true musicians dedicated to their craft. But, wait for the solo to prove the technical skill this band brings. Oh, and did I mention that Slash has played gigs while wearing a Virginmarys t-shirt? If Slash's support is not reason enough to check them out I don't know what would be.

You might notice two Black Sabbath songs. Now, I was initially skeptical as I am sure any fan would be, but after three decades I thought that their new album "13" would have been generic or just not very good. However, "13" was more than just a pleasant surprise with "Peace of Mind" and "Age of Reason" being my favorite tracks because it sounds like their second studio album, "Paranoid."

Deerhunter is a great indie-punk band that will be on tour for their new album "Monomania" this fall. I am looking forward to seeing them at the 9:30 Club in September. This song is not like most Deerhunter songs, but rather full of feedback and more punk than indie. For all those reasons it is hands down my favorite song on the new album.

And finally, a song from the band I simply cannot give up listening too. Their live show put me in a trance and one of their older songs impresses me the most. JEFF takes you on a ride through three different parts of the song in only four and a half minutes, expressing their jam band qualities.

I have "This Week's Playlist" to my Spotify account. If you want easy access to all of my playlists follow me on Spotify and start listening!

Estadio Restaurant Review

Address and Neighborhood: 1520 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20002 in Logan Circle

Price Range: $$ (Typical entrees range from $10 to $15)

Overall rating: 4.5/5 for Service

4.5/5 Food Quality and Overall Value

I have tried my fair share of Spanish restaurants ever since I fell in love with tapas on my first trip to Spain in 2010. DC has a wide assortment of Spanish restaurants and many friends recommended Estadio so I finally decided to test it out! My favorite part about tapas is that you can sample many dishes and you have control over how much you spend. Generally, I purchase about two dishes and last night that led me to a pre-tax/tip total of $14.50. Not too bad right?

The restaurant has enough seating that we did not need a reservation on a Friday night and got seated immediately. Our waiter was friendly and the food service was speedy. I decided to try out the grilled country bread, tomato, olive oil & and Spain's famous jamón serrano & manchego cheese. This serves as a great mix of  flavors and the jamón serrano brings a salty flavor to the dish. I also sampled the croquetas de jamón, which are fried ham and cheese croquettes accompanied by a slightly spicy sauce and pickled cucumbers. I could not help but try a few bites of my friend's tortilla española with sweet red peppers. The tortilla is a classic dish made of eggs and potatoes. It was delicious and had plenty of flavor, compared to some restaurants where the tortilla can be bland. When I return to Estadio I would definitely order the tortilla. I would recommend Estadio to anyone interested in Spanish cuisine looking to spend a modest price on dinner in a casual and fun atmosphere.

The Technicolors @ Black Cat June 12th 2013

The Technicolors are midway through their East Coast tour and their show at Black Cat in DC was notable, to say the least. Their set list brought a perfect mix of their slower songs, as well as a harder rock sound where Mikey Fanizza showed his skill on guitar. Fans were quiet to start but came alive once "To Love" began everyone started to dance. The resemblance to Oasis was uncanny throughout this song. Next up was "Wicked Game," a beautiful song that captivated concertgoers. Brennan Smiley, has an extensive ability to sing the slower songs and the band almost fools you into being on the quiet side. Just wait until the last three songs of their set. Brennan and the guys show their rock roots with"Fake a Smile." The killer riffs and solid beat remind me of Wolfmother. I never would have thought that a band could sound like Wolfmother and Oasis, but The Technicolors pull it off and express a wide range of musical influences which appeals to a myriad of rock music lovers.

"Sweet Time," their single off of their album "Listener" enveloped the crowd and true fans were singing along. To top it all off they played my favorite song, "Hollywood." This song showcases everything I love about them, from great lyrics to a serious beat, and to make it even better they cranked up the speakers to end the night. Although they get compared to other alt-rock bands there is no question that they bring a distinct sound and a wide array of songs on just one album. I look forward to hearing more that they have to offer in future albums and would recommend checking out their live show. They are playing a few clubs in New England and the Midwest to top off their East Coast tour!

Alero Restaurant Review

Address and Neighborhood: 1724 Connecticut Ave NW. Washington, DC 20009 Dupont Circle (with 3 other restaurants in the Cleveland Park, U St. and Columbia Heights neighborhoods)

Price Range*: $$ (Typical entrees range from $10 to $15)

Overall rating: 4/5 for Service

3.5/5 Food Quality and Overall Value

Last weekend I took a short 15 minute walk to the Alero Mexican Restaurant in Dupont Circle for the first time in my attempt to try new restaurants this summer instead of going to the same restaurants time after time. After reading mixed reviews online I had few expectations but I was pleasantly surprised. The server was prompt and friendly and there was little wait time for our food. The food service starts with unlimited chips and salsa. The menu is has many Mexican options from quesadillas to enchiladas, and plenty of appetizers and desserts.

I decided on the Chicken Tamales which were a great choice and only cost $9.99, perfect for a college student's budget. They were served with cheese, tomatillo sauce, sour cream, pico de gallo, guacamole, beans, and rice. It was filling and has plenty of flavor. If you are on a budget and want to get your money's worth out of a meal Alero is a Mexican restaurant that should be added to your list.

*Note: My price range scale $: it fulfills the college student's dream of cheap food (entrees mostly under $10)

$$: means it is a decent deal in the city (entrees between $10-$15)

$$$: means you want to go here for special occasions (entrees between $15-$25)

$$$$: means you want to wait for an opportunity where you aren't paying, can you say parents weekend? (entrees $25 and over)

This Week's Playlist June 10th 2013

Need something to help you get excited for the upcoming work or school week? Do you have a long commute or stressful tests coming up? Check out my weekly playlist as a way to get rid of your Monday blues.

1. Paycheck- FIDLAR

2. Sixpack- JEFF the Brotherhood

3. Sweet Time- The Technicolors

4. In My Bed- The Orwells

5. I Wanna Dance (But I Don't Know How)- SKATERS

6. Too Close- Alex Clare

7. Afraid of Heights- Wavves

Every Monday morning I post 7 songs for the week that I have either recently heard for the first time or a few songs I just cannot stop listening to. After seeing JEFF the Brotherhood two weeks ago I have a few songs I keep playing on repeat. Sixpack is the perfect summer song about sitting back, relaxing and enjoying the sweet summertime. The Technicolors will be playing live at Black Cat (1811 14th St NW  Washington, DC 20009) on Wednesday night. Take a listen to Sweet Time and if you like Oasis and The Beatles you will like The Technicolors riffs and lyrics. And oh yeah, if you have some free time go to the show. It will only set you back $10 which is less expensive than a movie or dinner. Here's the link: http://www.ticketalternative.com/Events/23102.aspx

Also, I started to get really excited for Lollapalooza. I am in the final two month countdown to three days of non-stop music. The aftershows were just announced last week and I immediately bought tickets for Saturday night (August 3rd) to see The Orwells and SKATERS at Schubas (3159 N. Southport Chicago, IL 60657). The Orwells are from the Chicago suburbs and the band members are still in high school. Do not let their age fool you as they are already solid musicians. Wavves will also be playing at Lollapalooza and heighten my obsession with the newest generation of punk music.

JEFF the Brotherhood plays the Rock & Roll Hotel May 25, 2013

JEFF the Brotherhood never fails to impress a group of punk and grunge fans and they definitely didn’t at the Rock and Roll Hotel in Washington, DC on May 25th. The Orrall brothers hail from Nashville, TN and bring an impressive sound. While it may seem simple because they are just a duo and Jake plays riffs on a 3-string guitar, they have a lot to offer in a live setting. The stage is also complete with a fog machine; which puts the band and crowd in a haze. With classics from their album Heavy Days, like “U Got the Look” and “Heavy Days” to their newest album Hypnotic Nights, fans are in for Jake’s truly tough guitar riffs and Jamin keeping a killer beat on the drums. JEFF also plays their newest available song, “Melting Place,” which gives off a great Black Sabbath and metal vibe, showing that they have the power to try every sub-genre of rock and roll. They have a musical presence on stage and cohesiveness that shows their fraternal relationship.
 After the crowd sings along to “Ripper,” the head banging and moshing truly begins.

 A JEFF show isn’t for everyone, so be prepared for a few bruises, especially if you’re up in the front. This never deterred the crowd who was riveted and tapping their feet along with the songs, completely enthralled. Christina, a keyboardist from the Nashville-based punk band D. Watusi and Karl, guitarist, add more noise and distortion to Hypnotic Nights favorites like “Sixpack” and “Country Life”. Although Hypnotic Nights is their newest record, JEFF sticks to the band’s roots and plays a mind-blowing rendition of “Heavy Krishna” that takes the crowd into a pure state of musical nirvana. If that wasn’t enough, you get to hear a different, softer side of JEFF in “The Tropics” and to top it all off with a jam of an encore in “Dreamscape”. All in all a fantastic night with true musicians playing some kick ass punk music.

My first post!

Hey everybody,

My name is Lauren and I just finished my sophomore year at GWU in Washington, DC. I decided to create this blog to do what I do best, review my favorite food and music. My two favorite ways to indulge in the city are to go to concerts at my favorite venues such as the Black Cat and the 9:30 Club, as well as try out new restaurants across the city, Maryland and Virginia.

xx Lauren