So you wanna be in pictures?

photo taken from website.

K – Believe it or not you too can possibly be in a movie! Every now and then, Hollywood comes to the DC/Baltimore area and films. Some of the recent series that are filmed here (mostly Baltimore, even though it’s supposed to portray DC) are “House of Cards” with Kevin Spacey and “Veep” with Julia Louis Dreyfuss. Some of the movies filmed here include “National Treasure,” “Game Change,” “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”

Almost anyone can be an extra. You don’t have to be a seasoned actor, have a headshot, resume or be union – in fact, extras are usually non-union. Usually all you need is a recent photo graph and to be available for an entire day. And, not only that, you will get paid and fed! It’s not much, but it can be fun.

A few things to know about being an extra. You usually have to arrive on set early – around 6 a.m. You have to be able to get yourself wherever they need you – be it Baltimore, DC, Richmond, etc. and you cannot be late. You also have to have whatever outfit they asked you to wear along with the other options – maybe different colours, sleeve lengths, etc. the casting agency will tell you.  You must be “ready,” which means for women, have your make-up and hair ready and men, be shaved and ready to go as well.  There will be a lot of waiting so bring a book or something to do while waiting. It is possible that you may wait for three hours or more and be on set for only 20 minutes. You could be there for 12 hours or more depending on what’s going on. If you leave before you are released, you will not get paid and may ruin your chances to be an extra again.

Big “don’ts”:

1. Do not try to talk to the actors during filming

2. Do not take photos, let alone tweet, Facebook, etc. anything while you are on set. You will be told what you can and cannot do while there and this will be one of them.

Being an extra can be a lot of fun. You get to meet interesting people, see how filming is done and sometimes see great actors at work.

If you would like to be an extra you can go to the casting agents site and follow their directions in how to submit yourself.

Casting agents:

Erica Arvold Casting

Central Casting

Pat Moran

Carlyn Davis

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World of Beer – Yes, there is such a thing!

C – I didn’t really have high hopes for this place. The name is kind of cheesy and it really just looked like your typical sports bar. But little exceptional things kept happening and the sum throughout the evening meant that I’ll be going back soon.

1. Seriously the most comfortable bar stools ever. Super cushiony, double-wide. You could pretty much sit there all day (and I’m sure that’s the point).
2. Mac and cheese to die for. Everyone’s doing this little side these days and I can’t fully explain what made this one different. It was very small, but totally rich with flavor.   I couldn’t have had any more than I was served. It was perfect.
3. A truly great selection of beers from around the world. I had the Maes Pilsner from Belgium. Someone else had the Hofbrau Original from Germany. But the real test came from the girl from Galway. She was absolutely beside herself when she found out Kilkenny was on the menu.

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The atmosphere was friendly and casual. The place had an open feel which made me comfortable – as if I could escape if need be. There was a band that played on a little stage and super huge pretzels served hanging. The only negative was the specialty drink my friend ordered. The Berry Cosmo was very thick and she had a hard time with it. So, they don’t do everything right, but WOB totally works if you’re looking for low key and lots of beer.

World of Beer – Arlington
901 N. Glebe RD 105
Arlington, VA 22203

Cyclone Anaya’s – Mexican in the Mosaic District

C – So, this was a nice surprise. It was a Sunday and we wanted something that wasn’t your typical brunch and we got it. Cyclone Anaya’s Mexican Kitchen opened in November 2013. It went up so fast, I didn’t even see it happen. That section of the Mosaic District now boasts several new restaurants I’m dying to try.

But back to the Mexican grub. Cyclone Anaya’s offers quite the brunch spread including the typical Huevos Rancheros and the not so typical Carne Asada and Eggs. But we went straight for the lunch fare. This girl wanted a taco.

I had the Del Rio Dinner: Crispy beef taco, homemade tamale and a beef enchilada. Served with guacamole, Mexican rice and beans. It was a lot of food, and yes, I totally cleaned my plate. Every last morsel.

I should say that there didn’t seem to be anything spectacular about the food. It was typical. But typical totally works when you’re in the mood for Mexican.

Cyclone Anaya’s Mexican Kitchen
Mosaic District
703-992-9227
2911 District Ave., Suite 170
Fairfax, VA 22031

**check out their website for the fascinating story of Cyclone Anaya – the professional wrestler who started a family restaurant. http://www.cycloneanaya.com/our-story/ 

The Tasting Room Wine Bar and Shop

C – Several years ago my friends in the Orlando area started buzzing about a wine room that provided customers with a really fun self-service option. I did my research and could find nothing in the DC area that had anything even remotely similar. I gave up the search. Years later, imagine my surprise when I walked into The Tasting Room Wine Bar and Shop in Reston.

Small and cozy with an extraordinarily chill atmosphere, The Tasting Room isn’t your typical Thursday night happy hour joint. It wasn’t very crowded when we went, but that might have been because the entire place was reserved for a private event starting at 630. They were kind enough to let us know in advance and they encouraged us to stay until the last minute.The servers are very nice, knowledgeable, talkative (in a good way) and they cater to to all levels of wine drinkers. No question is a dumb question here.

So here’s where it gets fun. Using a prepaid card, you can select small tastes, or a full glass of any wine available at the kiosk. Our server said most people start with $20. We decided not to go for this option because we didn’t think we’d drink through our credit before having to leave 45 minutes later. Next time, though, I’m all in.

Despite being owned by a local winery, The Tasting Room offers wines from around the world. I went with the 2012 Secco Italian Bubbles from Veneto, Italy.It’s described as “Fresh and elegant. Layers and layers of flavors. Elderberry, anise, Italian summer melon, beeswax and seashells.” Beeswax and Seashells? Hardly noticed.

The Tasting Room Wine Bar & Shop
1816 Library Street
Reston, VA

Restaurant Week

K – Restaurant Week is happening now and it’s a great opportunity to experience many of the great restaurants in our area at a reasonable price. For just $20.14 you can get a 3-course lunch or $35.14 for a 3-course dinner. It’s best if you can book ahead on a site like OpenTable to ensure you can get in as many of the restaurants get very crowded during this time. Also if you plan to do lunch make certain that the restaurant is including lunch for Restaurant Week as not all are doing lunch and dinner.

Some of the fabulous restaurants that are participating include 1789 (dinner only), 701 (lunch and dinner), Cuba Libre (lunch and dinner), FarmersFishersBakers (dinner only), Mintwood Place (dinner only), RIS (lunch and dinner) and The Source (lunch). For an example of a Restaurant Week menu from Brasserie Beck click here.

Restaurant Week ends 19 January however some do extend the offer for longer so check their websites. Bon appetit!

American Tap Room

 

C – It was really cold last Thursday, and while looking for a place to grab a bite at Reston Town Center, I didn’t really do much looking around. American Tap Room was the closest option and it wasn’t extraordinarily crowded. At least not in the dining room. The bar was packed, and happy hour was in full swing, hours after it started.

The dining room on the other hand, was easy to get into as a walk-in. My friend and I scored a table by the fireplace and we ordered from very clever illuminated menus.

I got the blackened chicken sandwich with marinated pineapple and avocado ranch dressing. It was served on a toasted baguette with cajun chips. Or, Hell chips. A little too hot for my taste. The sandwich was OK.

My friend, however, said his meal was outstanding. He had the greek turkey burger with hummus, tzatziki and a tomato-cucumber kalamata olive salad. Both entrees were under the sandwich section of the menu and very reasonably priced between $12 and $14.

American Tap Room isn’t spectacular, but I might go back. Not for the food, but to get an easy table on a cold night. Sometimes, that’s all you need.

Photos courtesy of my dining companion.

 

American Tap Room
Reston Town Center
Bethesda Row
Clarendon
Rockville Town Square

 

Heaven and Earth at National Museum

K- I don’t know about you but I’ve found the weather a bit too frigid lately for me to wander too far from the inside of my warm abode. Besides a cozy café or a fun pub one of my cold weather “go-to” options is one of our amazing museums.

Last time I went to the Newseum, I noticed that the National Gallery of Art was exhibiting Byzantine art as well as the Charles Marville: Photographer of Paris collection (which sadly closed a few days ago), two exhibits I really wanted to see. So during one of our frosty DC days I decided it would be a great idea to visit – stay warm and check out some interesting exhibits, fun day for me!

Heaven and Earth: Art of Byzantium from Greek Collections is the first exhibition devoted to Byzantine art at the Gallery. It presents life in Byzantium through approximately 170 works of art dating from the beginning of the empire to its end. The collection includes sculpture, mosaics, icons, frescoes, jewelry, glass, and ceramics. It is arranged in five sections: From the Ancient to the Byzantine World, Spiritual Life, Pleasures of Life, Intellectual Life, and The Last Phase: Crosscurrents.

A little history regarding Byzantium –  according to the museum’s website in 324 Emperor Constantine the Great made the decision to move the capital of the Roman Empire from Italy to the east. The new imperial capital emerged on the site of the ancient city of Byzantium on the Bosphorus Strait linking the Aegean and Black Seas. Dedicated in 330 and renamed Constantinople (now Istanbul), the city became the largest and wealthiest in Christendom, dazzling European and Russian visitors. The old name, Byzantium, is used to refer to the Byzantine Empire, which lasted for more than a millennium before falling to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

As you can’t take photos inside the exhibit I took some from their website so you can get an idea of what you will find when you visit.

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The exhibit closes on 2 March 2014.

Location Address
6th and Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20565

Mussel Bar and Grille – Arlington

C – There’s a reason I’m starting with a picture of a car dealership. For as long as I can remember, we passed this funky dealership on every trip to and from my grandparent’s house in Arlington. Then, one day, it disappeared. But I didn’t actually notice because Ballston has a way of swallowing things whole… very, very slowly. I didn’t notice, that is, until I saw it there again. A shiny, new version. But now, it’s a restaurant. Locals were so affected by the unique look of this place, that the firm that designed this modern building at 800 Glebe Road agreed to bring back the defining feature of the dealership… the geometrically awesome awning. And now, it’s home to Robert Wiedmaier’s Mussel Bar and Grille.

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On a Friday night just before the holidays, Mussel Bar and Grille was hopping. But it wasn’t too difficult to get into. Reservations for two on OpenTable.com for 7pm were granted the same day, and we were seated in a very comfortable booth. The decor is nifty and funky, yet welcoming and cozy. Chandeliers of beer bottles dot the ceilings. The happy hour crowd was packed in but, honestly, quite happy. Mission accomplished. This is the kind of place that invites you to stay a while. Friendly, welcoming and easy. Even the parking was a snap. I think I paid $2 for a convenient garage spot.

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As a member of Robert Wiedmaier’s restaurant group — which includes Marcel’s and Brasserie Beck — it’s kind of a given that the food would be good. And it was, for the most part. I had the white wine mussels (what else?) and my friend tucked into a steak, which she loved. We started with the Brabo Pils on draft. Beer is a main feature here, quite like Brasserie Beck. In fact, the meal was very similar to something I had at Brasserie Beck several months ago with one small exception: the frites were average. Totally edible and not at all bad, they simply weren’t at the same level as the rest of the meal. Just a small setback, though. All in all, a great evening.

Mussel Bar and Grille
800 North Glebe Road
Arlington, VA