Mother's Day conjures images of children proudly carrying a burned toast and scrambled-egg laden tray to a still-sleeping mom early on a Sunday morning. As an adult, though, it's time to amp things up by showing your mother some love with a classy and delicious brunch.

Prepare the following menu and serve it at a table set with fresh flowers, and you're sure to show mom how much she means to you.

Menu

• Eggs Florentine
• Apple wood-smoked bacon
• Scones
• Spring salad with edible flowers
• Ruby Red Mimosas

Take an individualized approach to eggs Florentine by baking each egg ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2008/5-9/arts/home/12557.cfm Fri, 9 May 2008 05:00:00 EST Beautiful day in the neighborhood
Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets works to preserve area's charm
By ZACK ROSEN
Friday, March 14, 2008
Just because Dupont Circle is one of Washington's most well-known and established neighborhoods doesn't mean it can't be improved. Since 2003, the Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets organization has sought to preserve the neighborhood's distinct character by boosting independent businesses and beautifying its streets. This year, HDCMS plans to raise money for both those goals during its upcoming Spring Fling fundraising event at the Connecticut Avenue Hilton.

Now in its third year, the event is a celebration of the HDCMS' past accomplishments and includes a silent auction and buffet dinner. The previous two Flings raised more than $47,000, and this year's goal is to raise an ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2008/3-14/arts/home/12223.cfm Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:00:00 EST Going to seed
Whether organic seed makes a better plant is still up for debate
By KATHERINE VOLIN
Friday, March 07, 2008
From fashion to media coverage to the Nobel Peace Prize, going green is the hot button issue of the time. If you can't afford some fancy designer's new eco-chic line or a hybrid car, consider taking the environmental movement in an easier direction: seeds for your garden.   

Local plant store American Plant Food Company in Bethesda says sales of their organic seeds are up.

“People are really going for certified organic seeds,” says Rica Boege, who works in the store's seed section. “We have really increased the number of those [that we carry]. People are really willing to pay a little extra for those seeds.”

... ]]> http://washblade.com/2008/3-7/arts/home/12174.cfm Fri, 7 Mar 2008 05:00:00 EST Beat the blues with food
Feed your body and improve your mood with recipes and tips from a local nutritionist
By KATHERINE VOLIN
Friday, February 22, 2008

Winter can wreak havoc on your mood. It's cold, it's gray and — especially at this point — it can feel never-ending. On the flip side, winter is heaven for cooks. Roasting, boiling, baking — they're all possible and there's the upside of warming up your home.

But it's not just cooks who can benefit mood-wise from food. Scientists have been examining the relationship between food consumption and mood reaction and have found the two may more connected than previously thought.

Juliet Johnson, a registered dietitian who works with Food & Friends, says preliminary studies have linked omega-3 fatty acid intake with treating depression.< ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2008/2-22/arts/home/12080.cfm Fri, 22 Feb 2008 05:00:00 EST It's Rainier-ing charm
A small town just outside the District exudes warmth on a rainy day
By KATHERINE VOLIN
Friday, February 08, 2008
Should you decide to visit Mount Rainier, Md., anytime soon, keep your eyes open. Don't blink for even one second as you make the drive down Rhode Island Avenue from the District to the tiny town just inside Maryland's border. If you do, it's almost certain that you'll miss Mount Rainier entirely, which would be a shame.

Located northeast of the District near Takoma Park, the 1.7 square miles that make up Mount Rainier have long been a liberal foothold outside the District. In 2004, the town became the fourth in the nation to have a majority-gay city council. Although the town's population is only 8,500, it even has its own gay group, Gays & Lesbians of Mount Rainier.
http://washblade.com/2008/2-8/arts/home/12010.cfm Fri, 8 Feb 2008 05:00:00 EST A cuppa comfort
Hot chocolate is a great way to ward off winter's chill
By KATHERINE VOLIN
Friday, January 25, 2008

Despite global warming's best attempts, winter is here, heralding the desire to shrink from the season's cold brutality.

Frigid winds and wet snow can make it tempting to snuggle into a down blanket on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate and a book. For those of us whose mothers or fathers made hot chocolate, there's no beating the familiar flavors of home.

I don't even really care for hot chocolate. Its richness makes it difficult for me to finish one mug, even though I love the concept of warm chocolaty goodness. And yet when I was at home on a recent wintry day, I reached for my mother's mix to bring back a small taste of comfort.

Several mothers of people I ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2008/1-25/arts/home/11941.cfm Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:00:00 EST New wheels for a new yea
From high-test muscle cars to high-tech crossovers, this year's rides are some of the best
By
Friday, January 18, 2008

A new year, a new season for auto shows. Detroit was first, with more than 15 vehicles making glitzy debuts. But throughout the year, look for another 100 or so new cars to roll into dealer showrooms.
So, what to choose? For gay and lesbian drivers on the automotive prowl, here's a look at some of the best.

BEST COUPE

trong>Honda Accord
Price: $22,000
Mpg: 22 city/31 highway

What corners, accelerates and looks like a BMW, but comes at half the price? Yep, Honda took this mousey coupe and made it roar. Slick Euro-inspired sheet metal takes the coupe light-years away from its bland forebearers. There's a ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2008/1-18/arts/home/11907.cfm Fri, 18 Jan 2008 05:00:00 EST More than meets the eye
Adams Morgan's weekend party reputation belies its everyday charm
By ZACK ROSEN
Friday, January 11, 2008
Like Dr. Jekyll, the Northwest Washington neighborhood of Adams Morgan has two distinct faces. The visage of Mr. Hyde comes out on Friday and Saturday nights when 18th Street, the main drag, gets clogged with obnoxiously drunk frat boy stereotypes. At all other times of the week, though, Adams Morgan serves as a pleasantly eclectic and deceptively gay pastiche of the different cultures that make D.C. hum.

“Adams Morgan is like the nexus between Mt. Pleasant and Dupont Circle, and it's so close to Columbia Heights” says gay resident Kenneth DeGraff. “Adams Morgan gets a lot of foot traffic that lingers and stays and attracts people that find it magnetic.&rdqu ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2008/1-11/arts/home/11869.cfm Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:00:00 EST Fit for an artist
Lesbian painter Joey M&aacute;nlapaz's home includes studio space, thanks to an extensive renovation
By KATHERINE VOLIN
Friday, January 04, 2008
Upon opening the door to lesbian artist Joey Mánlapaz's Capitol Hill row home, it's easy to see that the house has undergone a serious makeover.

“Houses here in Capitol Hill, they're built like bowling alleys,” Mánlapaz says. “You enter in one end, go out another end.”

Mánlapaz's 1895 house might have once resembled a straight-through walkway, but no more. After purchasing the home in 1991 with a former partner, Mánlapaz bought her out four years later when the couple broke up. The artist then started renovating in 2001, breaking down walls to turn the chopped-up downstairs rooms into a sweeping, open dining r ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2008/1-4/arts/home/11837.cfm Fri, 4 Jan 2008 05:00:00 EST Into high gea

By
Friday, December 21, 2007

With the holidays

just around the corner, satisfy your favorite motorhead with car gifts

It's down to the wire

for holiday shoppers, so if you're at the end of your rope, consider the following gift ideas for the car freak in your life. The selections aren't just for NASCAR junkies, however; they can keep any guy's or gal's motor running throughout the year.

Automotive getaway

A fun destination for the motorhead in your life is the 117-year-old Keating Hotel in San Diego. It has a race-car red lobby — the same hue as many Ferraris — and hallwa ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2007/12-21/arts/home/11781.cfm Fri, 21 Dec 2007 05:00:00 EST A capital house
Gay couple's home on the Hill combines history with modern flourishes
By KATHERINE VOLIN
Friday, December 14, 2007
Before they met 14 years ago, Brian Miller was pretty sure John O'Connell was not going to be the guy for him. Two of O'Connell's six sisters were behind the matchmaking and O'Connell lived in Frederick, Md., whereas Miller lived in Washington, D.C.

“He thought I was going to be some hairdresser with dark roots and acid-washed jeans,” O'Connell says. Such was not the case, however, and they quickly became a couple.

After two years together, O'Connell had moved to D.C. and the two wanted to buy a house together in Capitol Hill. Miller says they didn't really consider any other neighborhoods — he already lived on the Hill and liked it.< ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2007/12-14/arts/home/11743.cfm Fri, 14 Dec 2007 05:00:00 EST Make the yuletide gay
Local gay party planners offer tips for the perfect holiday fete
By KATHERINE VOLIN
Friday, December 07, 2007
With holiday season in full swing, people are throwing parties almost every weekend, and for the hosts, it can be a hectic time. Two local gay party planners offer their tips for throwing a memorable soirée and how to avoid common pitfalls.

Jonathan Myers is relatively new to the party-planning business, having done it for about two years after a job fundraising for a non-profit triggered his interest.

“That kind of sparked interest and creativities I'd had all along, but hadn't really channeled before,” says Myers, who lives and works in Baltimore. “I've always thrown different parties for friends and often tied different themes into my ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2007/12-7/arts/home/11705.cfm Fri, 7 Dec 2007 05:00:00 EST Homes for the holidays
Logan Circle Holiday House Tour features historic abodes in a burgeoning gay neighborhood
By ZACK ROSEN
Friday, November 30, 2007
Though Halo and Whole Foods make Logan Circle a desirable gay nightlife and shopping destination, the neighborhood's best feature is its side streets full of beautiful homes. If living in a Logan mansion isn't part of your financial reality, you can at least take a peek inside the glamorous homes featured on the Logan Circle Holiday House Tour taking place Sunday, Dec. 2, from 1-5 p.m.

Like much of the area east of Dupont, Logan Circle is a neighborhood of expansive old houses that was, for a time, neglected by greater Washington because of prostitution and drug problems. Despite that reputation, the tour has been happening for 29 years without a single crime incident.
... ]]> http://washblade.com/2007/11-30/arts/home/11665.cfm Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:00:00 EST Wintertime treats
Kick-start the holiday spirit with cookie-baking
By GREG MARZULLO
Thursday, November 22, 2007

Cookies are a wonderful way to fill your home with winter cheer, so here are handful of recipes to get you started. Package them in pretty boxes as gifts for your family and friends, or better yet, invite your favorite loved ones over for an afternoon of baking, topped off, of course, with eating your day's handiwork and enjoying a mug of hot cocoa.

Korova Cookies

Adapted from Pierre Hermé Paris
From “Paris Sweets” by Dorie Greenspan

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 stick plus 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2007/11-22/arts/home/11626.cfm Thu, 22 Nov 2007 05:00:00 EST Crystal in the rough
Arlington's Crystal City offers a host of gay-friendly attractions beyond Freddie's
By ZACK ROSEN
Friday, November 09, 2007
The Arlington neighbor-hood of Crystal City is a bizarre one. Made up mostly of office buildings, hotels, chain restaurants and a network of underground tunnels, it's easy to dismiss the area as just another suburban wasteland. But a closer look at the neighborhood reveals surprising pockets of dining, theater — and even gay culture.

For most D.C. gay residents, Crystal City is best known as the location of Freddie's Beach Bar, the tropical-themed watering hole, restaurant and karaoke spot that's won repeated accolades in the Blade's Best of Gay D.C. issues. Freddie's is located on 23rd St., a deceptively cosmopolitan strip of independently owned restaurants in the cent ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2007/11-9/arts/home/11552.cfm Fri, 9 Nov 2007 05:00:00 EST Easy as pie
Perfect your holiday pies by learning the basics of homemade crusts
By
Friday, October 26, 2007

Despite unseasonably warm autumn temperatures, the season marches onward and with it comes pie-making, an art that seems most readily connected to changing leaves and the approach of Thanksgiving. Many people fear that piecrust is an unattainable perfection, only to be attempted by the schooled cook, but making a flaky yet mouth-watering crust is a simple and rewarding experience.

Pies have been around in one form or another since the time of the ancient Egyptians who wrapped a kind of dough around fruit, nuts and honey. The treat traveled to Greece, Rome and then throughout the ancient empire before finding immense popularity in England, where meat pies were the order of the day. ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2007/10-26/arts/home/11469.cfm Fri, 26 Oct 2007 05:00:00 EST Uncorking the mystery
'Queer Eye's' Ted Allen spills the facts on appreciating wine
By KATHERINE VOLIN
Friday, October 05, 2007
Despite the fact that wine has been around for thousands of years, the fermented grape beverage remains shrouded in a cloak of mystery for many Americans.

Endless resources have been devoted to demystifying wine, some of which make it more confusing in the process. Tannins, a “nose” and about 100 other technical terms make the whole process seem, at best, obnoxious.

The majority of my wine experience can be grouped into two categories: 1. A one-day trip through four Virginia vineyards and 2. Cheap wines that I have purchased at Whole Foods mostly based on my attraction to the label's graphic. So I figured I was a perfect candidate for “Uncorked ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2007/10-5/arts/home/11361.cfm Fri, 5 Oct 2007 05:00:00 EST Hearty feasts
Food Network's Hearty Boys talk about their businesses, their young son and partying on the cheap
By KATHERINE VOLIN
Friday, September 28, 2007
When Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh first began working as caterers in Chicago, they knew exactly where to find great parties: among their gay friends.

“We were focused on what we understand,” McDonagh says. “We always felt that catering is a little daunting. It's a little awkward having strangers in your home. So we thought we'd take that fear out of it by having a gay-friendly staff. So we were just focusing on who we were. We found a niche that people were willing to fill and our business took off immediately.”

Other catering companies realized the great marketing opportunity they had missed and expanded their services to include gay and ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2007/9-28/arts/home/11328.cfm Fri, 28 Sep 2007 05:00:00 EST You say tomato
Enjoy fall's bounty through recipes for sandwiches, sauces and canning
By GREG MARZULLO
Friday, September 14, 2007

Early fall brings with it an incredible harvest that delights home chefs of all varieties, and perhaps nothing better represents the fading summer than a bumper crop of tomatoes. A quick trip to local farmers' markets reveals a myriad of varieties, from the standard plum and beefsteak to the more alluring and vibrant heirloom varieties including the purple Cherokee and Paul Robeson, named after the black opera singer who was also a civil rights figure during his lifetime.

The only difficulty lies in utilizing the bushels of tomatoes before they spoil or before the season comes to a close.

Perhaps the simplest way to enjoy the heirloom varieties is on sandwiches. Make or p ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2007/9-14/arts/home/11244.cfm Fri, 14 Sep 2007 05:00:00 EST Fall into new home trends
Designers favor rich colors and textures for season
By AMY CAVANAUGH
Friday, September 07, 2007
The onset of fall's cooler temperatures and more time spent indoors requires putting away summery decorations and making your home a warm and inviting place. Decorating for autumn doesn't require a lot of effort or money — experts are saying creativity is key this season, and a little bit of decoration goes a long way.

Fall decorating “is really about adding details to your home,” says local gay designer Patrick Baglino, Jr. “It's best done with accessories, details, fabrics, colors. You're not going to paint a room or anything permanent, but just add in little splashes of color and texture.”

Baglino suggests working with non-tradit ... ]]> http://washblade.com/2007/9-7/arts/home/11201.cfm Fri, 7 Sep 2007 05:00:00 EST