Harry Potter Harry Potter

Holy crap, Harry and Hermione kiss (however these aren't the REAL Harry and Hermione). I cry over a CGI house elf's last words. The Ministry of Magic becomes the Stasi headquarters. The creepiest old lady EVER turns into a snake and I scream and spill popcorn in the process all over my intrepid law school friend. The ensemble work is just brilliant in this film. The CGI is tops and the movie is so well-paced, I could not believe it lasted over 2 hours. I haven't been so engaged in a fantasy film since, like, Return of the Jedi. The humor is pretty sweet too... the characters stay true to their book-version originals. I can't wait until the last installment.

Holidays, Ready or Not

Tell me baby what's your story...

As I flip through accessories on the internet, I am really thinking about my loved ones and making notes on which accessories remind me of them... some people shop to forget, but to me it's almost like looking at photos of my loved ones, and then imagining them wearing new outfits.

A whale-shaped bag is an homage to my whale-rider sunshine... I approve of the tail to head proportions.

A Hello Noms keycap (so I remember where my house key is... hm I might actually buy this)

A Tenleytown Bag (actually it DOES remind me of the Katzen Center).... eh yeah I can see it in the cream and black theme.

Say Goodbye with Banh Mi

This is a shirt coveted by my friend. Who is taking me on one last banh mi run in NoVa. It's a little past 1 am, but they taste most delicious then. Is there anything better than pate on a baguette? I'm just writing this in happy anticipation. Maybe I'll get some cafe au lait with condensed milk.

Goodbyes are very, very sad. But I'm very happy for said friend, because goodbyes also lead to lots of other good things, too. I expect designer ramen when next I visit him.

I hear the beep of a zipcar. YES!!!!

[upon return]: We ended up at Bale Bakery (i.e. Paris Bakery) in Falls Church, where it is possible to get banh mi and a variety of delicious cold drinks (mostly involving red beans, coconut milk, and or/jelly) 24 hours/day. It was fun, and the banh mi did not disappoint. I didn't get the iced coffee, but I did try this drink made of coconut milk, rice noodles, red beans, and what I think was canned durian (still good). My tummy is quite happy and I'm quite sleepy now. Time to hug my giant stuffed panda and dream of heaven-sent sandwiches.

Matryoshka Dolls

These are from Russia with love. The littlest one is no match for the dime next to it.

Attending my first mustache party

The friends down the block invited me to a flashy mustache-y birthday celebration.

I learned some very important things about mustache parties.

First, if you are a man, it is impressive to have a natural mustache, but even more impressive if you paste a fake mustache on top of that mustache.

Second, if you set up a make-your-own 'stache stand, including scissors contained in a swiss army knife is one excellent way to provide the goods.

Third, it is entirely legit to throw a party themed around the birthday girl's all-sequin dress.

Fourth, finger mustaches are IN. All you need is a sharpie and the appropriate finger above lip gesture. I loved it when some ladies visiting from FSU made "handlebar" finger mustaches by holding TWO fingers above the lip. Genius

Lists

In the midst of a storm, there is always a center of calm. I love Thursday evenings, when I can exhale deeply from the rest of the week and recharge for the upcoming study sessions over the weekend. What is your favorite day of the week?

Since my sunshine is making lists, I think it's as fine a time as any to make a list of things myself.

Things that I want to do:

Talk to friends more often
Wake up early enough to see the sunrise (very, very rare)
Sing more.Always have clean socks. Be prepared, I guess. Watch more super awesome fantasy/comedy series with my girls.

Make a deliciously cheesy slideshow of photos for a friend, eventually.

Take more goofy photos.

Appreciate freedom.

Spend less time worrying about myself, and more time learning about the world generally.

Write one solid article for publication, and then another.

Push myself even when I'm tired.

Be more forgiving and more direct.

Spend more time with my relatives while they can get around.

Spend less on things I don't need.

Support other people's needs more.

Assert myself more, rather than of shy away find from conflict.

Dream big, but remember that I have to build my own dream. Others' goals have never really fit me right.

Hang out with some law students. In Europe. ;)

Accept change with grace and ingenuity.

Have Degree, Will Travel: city hall station

Have Degree, Will Travel: city hall station

Wow.

Wherein I make frozen custard

Many thanks to my sunshine for her awesome post titles.

When the world gives you a gallon of milk for $1.49, make frozen custard.

This is ideally done with an ice cream machine, but for those of you with a freezer and a limited range of movement for 9 hours, it's still possible.

I started with a simple custard base (scald three cups of milk, pour in a half cup of hot milk into a bowl containing three egg yolks with vanilla extract, mix it up, add mixture back to pot of milk, add 1.5 cups of white sugar to everything, turn down the heat and warm covered for five minutes). After it was cool, I popped it in an airtight container, stuck it in the freezer, and now I await the results. I like to let it freeze for 3 hours, then shake it up, then pop it back in the freezer to freeze overnight. The texture isn't as good as if it were constantly being churned in a cold environment (hence the ice cream maker), but it makes a lovely gratinee that can be fluffed up with a fork. I'm sure it will make the perfect post-week dessert when I can finally chillax.

I recommend this recipe for particularly long nights, when you look forward to any excuse to get up and shake something up real good.

Cee Lo Green being all kinds of awesome

Typography + Cee Lo Green = socks rocked


Also, if you haven't checked out the original F*** You song video, it's adorable.

Murasaki Japanese Cuisine and Sushi Bar

I stumbled across an old menu, reminding me of a particularly scrumptious meal.

Murasaki Japanese Cuisine and Sushi Bar is a little gem of a sushi place close to the Tenleytown Metro Station.

What you need to know: The restaurant serves very fresh fish, the soy sauce is excellent (yes there are grades), and the prices are not too steep (ranging from $6 for a regular spicy tuna roll to upwards of $12 for more elaborate rolls). The sushi is also really beautiful! One of the rolls that my wubs tried was shaped like a dragon. There's a lot of color and playing with sauces to keep things lively for the eye. And surprisingly, the stuff is very filling. The cuts of fish are generous and so is the nice, cohesive padding of rice around the fish. I know that too much rice offends the most pure of sushi purists, but I appreciate a little more rice around my sushi as long as it holds together nicely.

The space isn't very wide, but it's deep. I'd say it could seat at 60 people comfortably. The restaurant also offers catering and large party menus (for example, a menu for 8 people around $200 including 60 pieces of nigiri and 48 pieces of roll chosen by the chef).

Location: 5/5 noms

Service: 4/5 noms

Food: 5/5 noms

Price: 4/5 noms

Overall: 4.5/5 noms

Would I go back? This would be my first choice for sushi in Tenleytown, but I think whether I go back depends on who else wants sushi in Tenleytown. It's too pretty not to share.

Murasaki is located at

4620 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20016

www.murasakidc.com