sundays are for recovery
Like many people living in the DC metro area, I am a firm believer in the benefits of exercise. I lift weights for the muscles, run for the heart and lungs, and drink for the liver. This weekend was a bit of a marathon for the latter…
Started off on Friday night by polishing off a few martinis with some other authors at Pinzimini; the restaurant/bar in the Arlington Gateway Westin. While I agree
with Wayan that the bar service was slow – at least they don’t pour rail when you ask for top shelf.
After the warmup on Friday night, I was ready to go the distance on Saturday.
We were entertaining a friend from London, so after the obligatory “here are all the monuments and memorials” tour, we headed out to Mie N Yu for dinner. Dinner there can be on the pricey end, but the food is excellently prepared and they have a great bar. I recommend you try the Tunisian martini, made with ginger infused vodka, cointreau, and cranberry juice – it’s got a crisp taste that perfectly
complements these cooler fall nights. Thai red snapper, red curry mussels, and barbecue lamb shank all got rave reviews – the blueberry crusted lamb loin was surprisingly unimpressive.
Our waiter was incredibly attentive and made great reccomendations on food and wine – but the manager who brought the second bottle of wine came off like a stalker when he called out one of our dining companions by first name, named where she worked, and reminded her they met once in a bar – 6 MONTHS AGO – and tested her to see if he remembered his name. Umm… yeah, guy, that’s what we call a dick move.
We moved down to Sequoia after that. Another sign that summertime is over – the
waterfront is surprisingly quiet, despite the very pleasant weather. After a few more hours of conversation and imbibing, we decided to go old school and meet up with a younger co-worker at Garrett’s. The drinks we had there fueled a decision to maintain the “damn I’m getting old” sentiment and head down the street to The Guards. Surrounded by seemingly underage Georgetown/GW students – these days 21-year-olds look like 12-year-olds to me – we rocked out to Journey in the Griffin Room – and polished off a few more rounds.
This morning I wasn’t so much hung over as nursing a sprained liver. Nothing four advil and two liters of water couldn’t fix…
By the way – does anyone know who the"Stop Bitching Start a Revolution" people are? A swarm of dreadlocked caucasian kids were pawning off t-shirts and bumper stickers at the corner of M and Wisconsin with that slogan on it. A little web research reveals they are tied to Wulf Zendik – leader and founder of the Zendik Arts community– who is survived by his wife Arol and daughter Fawn. I guess they are trying to expand upon his "social, political, and spiritual premises" – but honestly I find their website really, really, really confusing… a lot like these guys.
You covered almost every bar we did during a firm pub crawl not too long ago; what a way to entice summer associates.
For future reference – when entertaining guests from London, always have them bring tango, skips and caramacs with them.
Ah, the Zendik cultists. What a weird bunch they are. They live on a commune in West Virginia, and boy is it a bizarre group. The City Paper did a great article on them a while back.
The Zendiks are the libertarian’s ideal hippies. They live on their farm, they don’t take government assistance, and even when they’re out on the street corners trying to get money, they’re trying to sell you something.
They’re weird, and most of them are whiny screwups, but they’re whiny screwups whose lifestyle is privately supported. I grin every time I see them, and even bought one of their magazines. Vive les Zendiks!
“Drink for the liver” and “sprained liver” – hysterical! I had a similar experience this weekend, only somehow the ol’ “advil and water” restorative doesn’t work anymore…
I actually find that I can get most of what I need from London by going to the “British Foods & Goodies” store on Wilson Blvd. I agree with Mik that tango, skips and caramacs are good – but hula hoops, jaffa cakes, and anything from cadbury are my favorites – and they tend to have a good supply.
Jen also brings up a good point. It’s not often that we can prepare in advance of a marathon. Usually we are surprised to find ourselves passing the halfway point (e.g. the second or third bar you visit, depending on the length of the course). So how do we prepare for these circumstances – and what do we do if the normal recuperation methodology isn’t working.
A regular training regiment is critical for base conditioning purposes. Think of it as “core training” for your liver. Building on this foundation, you should alternate between sprints and marathons for greater flexibility in your performance capabilities.
Recovery is a more complicated matter. I recommend the preemptive late night meal as a first step. Warning – do not be tempted by Jumbo Slice or Taco Bell. These seemingly innocent purveyors to late night partiers do not provide what your body needs to make a full recovery. Opt for Burrito Brothers, Julia’s Empanadas, or any late night Korean restaurant, such as Yechon….Or keep a ready supply of Lean Pockets in your freezer.
Remember, if you have damaged your liver, you are not in any condition to drive – so be sure to have a designated support team with you or pre-programmed into your speed dial – I recommend siblings, friends, and taxi companies. Your spouse or significant other can also be called upon – but you will pay a higher premium for their support.
Depending on your level exertion, you may be required to make an offering to the porcelain gods before retiring to bed. This is normal and nothing to be ashamed of. Many of the greats have been there. Just be sure to keep your offering confined to the bowl. If your aim is off – you are required to make an attempt at rectifying that situation before passing out.
The following day your body will need more sustenance. There are two schools of thought I’ve heard on this – (a) go for grease or (b) go for soup. I find that the second approach works best for me – particularly Pho – but it’ss really a personal choice. I will say that if you are opting for grease – stick to places that use higher quality ingredients, such as Five Guys or The Italian Store. You’ll also want to consume plenty of fluids. I’ve found Smart Water and Emergen-C works wonders where regular water and gatorade fails. Both are available at your local Whole Foods.
Erm…have you ever been in the “British Foods & Goodies” store on Wilson Blvd.? The place isn’t that well stocked, much of that which is on offer is out of date AND THEY DON’T CARRY NO STINKIN’ CARAMACS!!!