Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe & Grill

Since when was going to the bookstore cool? Aside from the prodigal student, the Starbucks junkie or a grad student most people would not go out of their way to spend an extended period of time in a bookstore. But this notion is evicerated when you spend some time at Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe & Gill.

Located right off Dupont Circle this cafe is a beehive of activity. Whether it be on a Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning or even a Friday night there is always a sizable crowd gathered at Kramerbooks. I would know because I have been here on all of the aforementioned times.

(Image brought to you by Brooklyn Nomad)

Taking a look inside you will see a wide variety of literature, from bestsellers and classics to cooking books and book about DC.. Their vast book selection along with long hours and dining options create a heterogeneous cliental which line their shelves every day.I personally love going to look at their selection of humorous literature which have included a parody on Where's Waldo (Osama Bin Laden edition) to a number of books about cats. I also enjoy the local literature as well as their staff's pics.

What separates Kramerbooks from Barnes & Noble is that they have a bar and restaurant. Yes you heard correct a bar, the place where people gather to have a cold one. When I first discovered this I questioned whether it could be a good pairing. I mean you always associate a bookstore with a quiet atmosphere synonomous to your experiences as a child in a public library (back when kids used to go).

(Bookstore)

But I was pleasantly suprised at how well the the two divergent atmospheres blended. I only went the bar once to have a drink with a friend after purchasing a novel. I enjoyed my time there especially because I channeled my inner child and went against the notion of being quiet in a bookstore. Attached to both the bookstore and the bar is a restaurant that offers a wide variety of gourmet food.

Whether it be a small appetizer which they call sharezies, a full meal, or a sweet desert to go along with your reading Kramerbooks offers it patrons with an array of dining options. I have eaten here a number of times and for a number of different occasions. My favorite two times came during some of our more prominent snow storms, I enjoyed a warm class of hot chocolate to go along with the scrumptious macaroni and cheese you see below you.

(Mac & Cheese)

While it was not spectacular in any discernible way it did render a homy feeling. I also enjoyed their mini crab cakes which were fairly delightful. Some of my other favorites include the Mozzarella, tomatoes and capper mini salad as well as their steamed mussels. They also have the distinguished honor of serving the Obama family chili recipe. I myself have not tried it mainly because I am not that big of a chili fan.

(Mini Crab Cake Duo)

Aside from their sharezies Kramerbooks also offer a wide variety of entrees. One of my favorite dishes here is the tuna & avocado salad which you see below. It is both light and refreshing and with a price tag of $14 it is a good deal. I also enjoyed their butternut squash ravioli which was very flavorful.

(Sushi Tuna & Avocado Salad)

While all the food I have tried has meet my standards the only thing that keeps me coming back is their wide variety of delicious desserts. As you can see from the case they offer a wide range of scrumptious pies which are paired with a scoop of ice cream.

Of the various desserts that I have sampled I would have to say my favorites are the apple crumb pie, wild berry pie, and their red velvet cake. These desserts are great on all occasions. Whether you are by yourself reading a book, with a friend or even on a date.

(Assorted Desserts)

The cosy atmosphere along with the food and accompanying patrons truly makes Kramerbooks unique. You shouldn't go here just to visit the bookstore or just to get food and drinks because you may be disappointed. If you focus on a single element you may be swayed to go elsewhere. Instead you should visit this place because you want the full experience of this unique store.

All and all Kramerbooks is a fantastic place to visit. If you want to just look at books then go to Borders, if you want to go to a bar or get some food there are plenty of options available all around. But if you want all these at the same time then go to Kramerbooks. The food is good but a bit pricy, the desserts are awesome, and the book selection is solid. All in al a great place to go any time of day and any day of the week.

Busboys & Poets

In a city obsessed with politics there is always an issue up for debate. Politicians, lobbyists and social rights activists advocate their ideologies year round and everyone in this city is exposed to it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is only necessary that the nature of this town manifests itself into our culture.

This takes us to our next restaurant which in reality is more than a place to eat. Busboys & Poets is a beehive of intellectual thought and debate. The origin of the name pays homage Langston Hughes who was himself a busboy before rising to fame as a poet. Each location is comprised of a restaurant, bookstore and fair trade market with the goal of igniting debate about social justice.

The one I frequently visit is located in the center of the radically gentrified U St. corridor. My visits began when I discovered that this was a location were intellectual thought and debate occurred on a daily basis. Everyday there is a different event promoting thought on an issue that is critical to the world at hand.

Upon entering the 14th and V St. location your eyes will lay witness to a vast library containing books that promote thought, books about DC, or even biographies about prominent social activists. You will also lay your eyes on plush furniture occupied by people who are either striking up a small conversation about current issues or glued to their books and laptops.

As you walk down the dining hall you will enter another private room that holds daily speakers who speak about a wide array of issues. Whether it's civil rights, cultural divides, race, or socioeconomic disparities there is always a debate to be heard.

Busboys & Poets prides itself on promoting healthy and sustainable eating. I try to visit every once in a while to enlighten myself on a hot topic and also indulge in their food which is fantastic. Recently I decided to take my sister who is a fan of their muscles which are cooked in a garlic tomato sauce. Their superb flavor put them on par with Bistro La Bonne's.

(Muscles)

Aside from the environmentally friendly produce that they serve Busboys prides itself on serving some of the best vegan food in town. Before dining here I could never fathom being a vegan. Blinded with ignorance I was like most who thought that lifestyle had limited options when it came to eating. Those notions were mildly relaxed after eating two vegan dishes here.

The first dish I had was a vegan wrap which I ordered during brunch. It consists of tofu which tasted exactly like eggs, as well as vegan bacon and cheese. The dish was delightful and refreshing, you could hardly tell that all these ingredients were vegan. The best way to characterize the brilliance of their vegan dishes is that it is actually quite easy to be a vegan if you could eat here everyday.

(Vegan Wrap)

I am also pleased to say that Busboys & Poets has a fine selection of both organic beers which I had never tried prior to dining here as well as mixed drinks. My favorite drink here is the DC Tap Water which if you have lived here long enough is a very clever pun on a longstanding issue.

(Picture brought to you by Yelp)

I am also a huge fan of their paninis, a favorite of mine is their grilled brie which is topped with spinach, caramelized onions, and tomatoes. I have also had their Tempeh which is a vegan option and the grilled chicken. This particular sandwich oozes with decadence and flavor. I enjoyed it so much that I myself have made a spin off which I will share in the near future.

(Grilled Brie Panini)

All in all Busboys & Poets offers a multitude of options. From great food to food for thought Busboys is a place that needs to be visited on a monthly occasion. Their wide array of events draws a diverse audience. Whether it's a guest speaker, an open mic night, or even an organic beer happy hour there's no reason not to try this place if you have an open mind.

Baked & Wired

Supercalafragalisticexpialadoshus, my appologies to anyone that suffers from hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia but this is the only way that I can describe Baked and Wired. Located right off of M St. Baked and Wired serves hundreds of loyal customers on a daily basis and has served as the main competition to Georgetown Cupcake.

Located right next to my office this enthusiastic bakery offers an array of options and has thwarted my efforts to sustain a consistent diet. Before working at my current job I was unaware of this bakery as I am not too deep in both the cupcake and sweets scene.

What drew me here was the hilarious sign that was posted right outside of their building. When I entered I was overwhelmed by a barrage of baked goods each with a unique and quirky name and animated illustration.

The first thing that drew my attention were the cupcakes. Lined across their stand each flavor offered a unique culinary experience. I immediately knew that I would come here on a regular basis. One of their more salient qualities is their quirkiness and laid back attitude.

The atmosphere gave me more of a west coast feel with an east coast work ethic. I am not much a coffee drinker so I tend to stay away from the Starbucks world. I am also dissuaded by inventory line treatment that you usually tend to get with the bigger chains.

(Assorted Cupcakes)

But this placed diverges from the status quo; the quirkiness of the products translates to to its staff who are all nice and always have a smile on their face. During my first visit I quickly took my camera out and started taking pictures off all hilarious images presented to you in this post.

I followed my instincts and ordered my first cupcake. When I finished I came to believe that these are the BEST CUPCAKES IN DC. If you happen to take bite of these monstrosities you will most certainly agree with my assertion.

The first cupcake I tried was the Razmanian Devil which consists of vanilla frosting on top of a vanilla core with a raspberry baked inside of it. The shear greatness of this delectable treat had me questioning my ability to abstain from sweets on a daily basis.

(Razmanian Devil)

The next day I decided to order a Mocha from the coffee bar which was beautifully designed and served as a energy boost for a long day at the office. I seemed to enjoy the atmosphere surrounding the cafe more than the drink itself. It was a cross between mellow, artful and sophisticated which beats the Starbucks crowd in my opinion.

(Mocha)

The next cupcake that I decided to sample is one of their most popular flavors. The Chocolate Cupcake of Doom consists chocolate cake covered with dark chocolate satin frosting. It was devilishly delectable to say the least and I was on the verge of a sugar overdose when I finished it. In all honesty I believe that this is the cake that people are referring to when they use the expression "I love you like a fat kid loves cake". It is a must try but I must warn you that it is highly addictive, especially to those with a sweet tooth.

(Chocolate Cupcake of Doom)

If cupcakes do not interest you I am pleased to inform you that Baked & Wired offers a wide array of options that serve as both snacks and breakfast options. The doughnut muffin below is one of my favorite items from this store. While I was hesitant at first I decided to ignore my skepticism and dig in. If I had the metabolism of a 13 year old or had an utter disregard for my health then I would make this a weekly breakfast or snack.

The other item is a Caramel S'more which is also very delightful. It definitely makes me reminisce on my childhood as it was a staple snack when I was a child. I would also recommend their homemade pop-tarts, gingerbread, and brownies.

(Doughnut Muffin & Caramel S'more)

I decided to take these delicious morsels to my house in order to introduce the cult that I have become a part of. I bought five cupcakes which cost me about $18 and was a bit upset that they did not have bundle deal. Regardless of that I enjoyed sampling each flavor as did my sister and a close friend of ours. They both seemed to appreciate them and what followed was a small debate on which cupcakes were better.

I have to say that their strawberry is my favorite and one of the best sweet snacks in all of the city. Each flavor is unique in its own way and is tailored to people's different taste preferences. They also are have vegan cupcakes for those with greater diet restrictions. I have not tried one so I can't offer an opinion.

(Pumpkin, Cocunut, Elvis Impersonator AKA The Unporked Elvis, Red Velvet and German Chocolate)

The last two items I decided to try were their respectable selection of tea and quiche. I am a huge fan of quiche so I had

tremendous expectations for what lay ahead of me, especially because they were able to please me with their other goods.

I decided to try the Ham and Gruyere & Mixed Veggie Quiche on different occasions and was disappointed to say that they were average at best. I would like to think it is because of my high expectations but I can objectively say that it was pedestrian.

Their tea on the other hand is great. I have tried their Darjeeling white, Mayan chai and Pomegranate all of which are great. If you are a tea aficionado then you should definitely stop by.

(Ham and Gruyere & Mixed Veggie Quiche)

All in all Baked & Wired is my default cafe for sweets and tea. The staff and company courteous and quirky. They take great pride in what they serve and have a good laugh while doing so. While they are a bit expensive if you go in solely for a snack it is more that justified for taste that is rendered from their treats. The lines can be long from time to time but they pale in comparison for the wait you have to endure for Georgetown Cupcake.

So if you are in the Georgetown area take some time and sample both Baked & Wired and Georgetown Cupcake and pledge your own allegiance. You can follow Baked on their Facebook page here and find out about special events and promotions.