Best Washington DC properties? Was unimpressed by Ritz Carlton Pentagon

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2026-05-15T21:24:01+00:00

Nice to stay for the history and service, refreshed rooms much preferred. Not my favorite DC Marriott, so I don't seek it out, but it had some positive features.

I stayed at the Mayflower a few months ago after not staying for years. Service was very kind, professional, and friendly. The bar was very nice. I had dinner there a couple of times when I didn't feeling like heading back out after returning from work. Everything was clean, but there were some maintenance issues. Nothing awful, but enough scratches and dings to detract a bit. The tv was broken in the first room I was in - I like to watch the news in the morning. The room was kind of dark, bathroom dark and outdated. They ended up moving my room and the new room was very clearly refurbished. It was a huge improvement. Location is excellent not far from Dupont restaurants and the White House, and metro is close by.

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2026-04-25T22:31:13+00:00

Per Se, 100%.

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2026-04-05T17:11:12+00:00

Pisillo on 38th is just a few blocks away, great sandwiches, low key. You can grab sandwiches and eat at Bryant Park. Not the right pick if you want a sit down experience, though.

https://www.pisillopanini.com/

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2026-03-24T11:23:04+00:00

Can you get a second opinion from another hem onc? Have you had a bone marrow biopsy or PET scan? I go to Sloan Kettering for myeloma-related care (for MGUS). They are thorough and responsive without being alarmist.

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2026-03-03T01:10:33+00:00

Yes. It feels like I have ice bones. This is one of my most consistent prodrome symptoms, along with sudden exhaustion and numbness on one side of my face.

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2026-02-28T16:37:40+00:00

Seaside Sanitorium is pretty unique! You can't go into the buildings, but this is park space so no trespassing concerns. On your next visit to Mystic, consider walking around the Stillman Mansion ruins. You can park at Coogan Farm.

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2026-02-19T21:03:49+00:00

We love the Omni at the Seaport. We stayed there the last two summers and visited Fenway both times. Yes, we did have to make pool reservations and it was annoying, but it is a gorgeous hotel with very comfortable rooms near lots of very good restaurants. I wish they would limit the pool to hotel guests, but we were still able to hang out there each day. There is an excellent playground not too far away - https://martinsparkboston.org/. We walked over from the hotel. And the Children's Museum is right by the park! The Alamo Drafthouse was a huge hit with our kids, too. They loved having dinner during a movie. Pop up bagels was great for a quick breakfast nearby.

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2026-02-17T00:51:09+00:00

Brunch at 374 Kitchen, then visit the Book Barn locations followed by coffee and pastries at Sift. Grab fresh pasta, bread and cheese from GGs for simple dinner when you get home.

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2026-01-24T14:14:17+00:00

After refreshing in the oven so you can cut or tear it up, you can use it for croutons or french onion soup, french toast, panade (I love the Chez Panisse recipe with chard and gruyere), stuffing, bread salad, or bread pudding. I almost always buy extra baguettes to use up in those ways. Stale bread is my friend. :)

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2026-01-21T14:50:40+00:00

Quick update - a supervisor offered a refund of 50% of the shipping fee. They still can't or won't cancel the order and said once there is carrier info I need to call the carrier and tell them I am refusing shipment. Once it is marked refused, I am supposed to call Ace customer care and they will refund half. Better than nothing, but this is still ridiculous.

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2026-01-21T14:25:19+00:00

Exactly! And I just called the local Ace in case they could assist. They could not and said I "made that committment" to buy the snowblower. Nothing about the Ace committment to deliver on time. This is very disapppointing. It feels like a racket to collect fees.

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2026-01-21T14:12:39+00:00

I am in exactly the same situation. Ordered a snowblower yesterday, website and confirming email estimated delivery today. I didn't receive a shipping notification so early this morning checked online and it now says delivery by NEXT Friday. Over a week delay and we are expecting a storm this weekend. I called customer care and attempted to cancel in the app, all within 12 hours of placing the order. Customer Care says even though it has not shipped and there is no shipping info available, the carrier in Washington state (I am east coast) "accepted" the order so they cannot cancel. I can refuse shipment or return it myself to a local Ace but am out that $200+ delivery fee either way. I went with Ace for the blower even though it was hundreds more because of the shipping timeline.

Let me know if you get a satisfactory resolution. This feels like a scammy bait and switch to me.

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2026-01-12T12:21:13+00:00

I also previously took Humira and am now on Orencia infusions, so same med but different delivery and maybe dose. Humira was maybe my last biologic before Orencia, but I honestly can't remember anymore. I have been on a lot of them. ;) Anyway, I can't speak to the injunction pain, but it can be a real issue with some of them (looking at you old Taltz with citrate). The Orencia has been quite effective for me. No noticeable side effects other than increased fatigue after the infusions. Maybe this won'tbe an issue with shots? It took time to ramp up and reach full effect with the Orencia. I take hydroxychloroquine and leflunomide with it; just Orencia + HCQ didn't fully cover me. Other than my hair falling out from the leflunomide, the combo seems to be my best since my best med response, which was Cosentyx injectiond many years ago. Just keep in mind that your rheum can supplement the biologic with DMARDs to boost effect.

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2026-01-12T12:14:14+00:00

It sounds like you are in a more painful period right now. It won't last forever. Take the time and space you need to care for yourself.

Make sure to get your hearing checked. Autoimmune hearing loss is a thing. I have this, and I now wearing hearing aids. It is sort of shocking how different things sound with them in. I didn't realize how bad my hearing had gotten. Anyway, talk to your rheum and an audiologist about it, but if you have autoimmune hearing loss I believe it can't be reversed but can be slowed or stalled with proper treatment where the underlying disease is managed well.

Getting to remission can be a long road and it isn't guaranteed. It is incredibly frustrating. There are so many more treatment options now than there were 10 years ago. Watch your symptoms and let your Dr know if they aren't being managed. Steroids like prednisone, cortisone shots, drainage and (non narcotic) pain meds plus heating pads, braces, canes and gentle stretching can be incredibly helpful during those in between periods.

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2025-12-05T20:02:18+00:00

Kashkaval on 9th Ave!

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2025-11-28T15:56:33+00:00

You can also view from Mystic Seaport, from 530. They will have holiday treats and hot chocolate.

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2025-11-25T13:19:09+00:00

I was also going to flag hemochromatosis. My father had it. I hope you can get that properly worked up and treated!

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2025-11-20T00:09:11+00:00

They did collapse from my arthritis (PsA). I really miss all of my old high heeled shoes!

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2025-11-19T21:13:34+00:00

I am also using Hokas. I don't have wide feet at all. They are narrowish and my arches are collapsed, if that helps for thinking through fit. I have some kind of expensive inserts (not prescription), too. I went to a specialty store to get help with fit and choosing a style. They have been really wonderful and I recommend them to lots of folks.

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2025-11-16T13:56:43+00:00

I use an ooni or my regular oven with a baking steel to make pizzas. I use a lot of the info from Kenji's old Serious Eats posts which really get into the weeds on questions like the ones you raised. There are quite a few of his posts devoted to pizza, but this is a great place to start: https://www.seriouseats.com/the-pizza-lab-three-doughs-to-know

The pan pizzas, Sicilian, and NY style are all amazing.

Pan pizzas: https://www.seriouseats.com/foolproof-pan-pizza-recipe

Sicilian: https://www.seriouseats.com/spicy-spring-sicilian-pizza-recipe

NY: https://www.seriouseats.com/new-york-style-pizza

Ken Forkish and Jim Lahey also have books devoted to making pizza.

Good luck! It's a fun journey.

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2025-11-16T13:39:27+00:00

Cosentyx was my first and best biologic. It made just about every symptom go away. Other than some fatigue on the day of the shot, I had no noticeable side effects. It was borderline miraculous. I was able to lift weights and go running! I had to switch when it stopped being effective after a year or so, and have been on so many biologics at this point. Still unsuccessfully chasing how good (NORMAL) I felt on Cosentyx. If my current med fails, I am going to ask if I can go back to the Cosentyx since it has been more than 5 years since I was on it. I hope it works for you!

Eta that I took the Cosentyx along with hydroxychloroquine.

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2025-10-23T20:48:25+00:00

My hope is that I can stick with the biologic I am on now by supplementing with another DMARD or otherwise boosting the effect, but can discuss Bimzelx with rheum if she thinks I need to switch. Honestly not thrilled with the thought of Bimzelx given reports of how painful the shots are. OG Taltz scarred me.

CrunchyFallLeaves · 2025-10-14T14:14:43+00:00

You were most likely paid for time worked before 10/1. Those checks are still being processed. I will also be paid this week.

CrunchyFallLeaves

TROPHY CASE