Posts Tagged ‘coffee’
Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2011
If the Beach Boys’ “Little Deuce Coupe” or the forever classic driving song “Mustang Sally” resonate with you and make you want to grab a convertible, put the top down (okay, maybe not this week with the practically frigid temps) and go for a long drive, check out Northern Virginia’s very own classic cars hot spot.
Classic never goes out of style. / Photo courtesy: Shutterstock/dani3315
Early on Saturday mornings in Great Falls, dozens of collector cars, expensive cars and fast cars of all makes and colors cruise into the parking lot of Katie’s Coffee House for Cars and Coffee. Think of it as NoVA’s very own version of the original California tradition. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
From custom and antique to exotic, sports cars and hot rods, there is a huge variety of classic beauties for your viewing pleasure every weekend. A steel blue Factory Five Type 65 Coupe, a 1961 white Thunderbird and a 1959 powder blue Chrysler Imperial are among the impressive vehicles on display. What was started by Katie’s Coffee House owner Mike Kearnery as a small get together has turned into a highly populated Great Falls regular institution of sorts. NoVA’s proud car owners gather together on a weekly basis, without fail, to bring their prized possessions out in the public eye.
Christmas Eve Cars and Coffee, anyone? You betcha. And the auto good times continue this Saturday, too.
Over 200 cars have been spotted on a given Saturday morning. / Photo courtesy: Secret Entourage
Stop into Katie’s for a yummy jolt of caffeine (try the peppermint mocha or gingerbread latte) and then head outside for an early morning Great Falls showcase of truly great cars.
When: Saturdays
Time: 7 to 9 a.m.
Where: Katie’s Coffee House
760 Walker Road
Great Falls, VA 22066
Cost: Free
For more pics of past Cars and Coffee events, check out the photo gallery here.
–Lorin Drinkard
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, October 11th, 2011
Image: Sandra Cunningham/Shutterstock
Humans have been enjoying coffee since back in the 13th century, but a recent study from Harvard now shows that caffeine and coffee have yet more health benefits!
Aside from giving you energy and producing more dopamine (chemicals associated with the sense of pleasure) in your brain, caffeinated coffee is now shown to reduce the risk of depression in women. The study followed over 50,000 women without depression over the course of 10 years (1996-2006).
Compared to women consuming one or less cup of caffeinated coffee per week, the risk of depression for women who consumed two to three cups per day was 85%, and those who consumed four or more per day, 80%.
And though the study was done strictly on women, men, you can still enjoy the other benefits of coffee.
Though caffeine can be consumed in many ways aside from coffee– tea, soda, chocolate, energy drinks– more than 80 percent of caffeine is consumed through coffee drinking. For a list of the amounts of caffeine in different forms of intake, take a look at this article.
So don’t feel so bad when it’s a multiple-cup-of-coffee kind of day (like the Tuesday after a long holiday weekend)– reap the benefits and enjoy that extra cup of coffee!
For a list of some local coffee joints, visit this page.
Keep that coffee buzz going strong!
-Julia Harbo
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, September 19th, 2011
Here’s a Sure Thing for all those coffee lovers out there: Godiva Coffee.
In case you didn’t know Godiva makes coffee…good coffee. Now, being only 21, I may not have the most seasoned coffee palette but this stuff is the real deal. Sweet but not too sweet. Just strong enough but it doesn’t leave a bitter taste in your mouth. There are five different decadent flavors – breakfast blend, caramel, chocolate truffle, french vanilla and hazelnut creme.
Godiva coffee comes in multiple flavors at $14 per 10 oz. bag. Coffee lovers can even buy a set of three packages for $35. (Photo courtesy of godiva.com)
When Godiva first came out with the coffee, they had free samples in store. I was hooked. Personally, I enjoy the chocolate truffle flavor. I’m generally a creme-and-two-sugars kind of girl but thanks to the rich chocolate flavor I don’t feel the need to add sugar (and who doesn’t want to skip sugar when it doesn’t need to be added?).
The only drawback is that it’s a wee bit expensive at $14 for a 10 oz. bag, but trust me it’s worth it. Godiva stores often have sales on their coffee. Godiva coffee has become so popular that it’s even in grocery stores like Giant or Safeway. It even has its own website! The grocery store locator helps find local stores that have it. Other recipes help make your coffee experience the best part of the day.
Plus, Godiva gives you a coupon. So, it’s settled then. Godiva Coffee is a sure thing.
– Lexie Ramage
Freeze Jag: Boccato Gelato & Espresso
Posted by Warren Rojas / Saturday, August 27th, 2011
August is historically the steamiest, stickiest, sweatiest month of the year–brilliant move, Founding Fathers, building the nation’s capital on a swamp–in these parts. We’ve tracked down 31 frozen treats (one a day for the rest of this month) to provide you with some temporary, and often insanely delicious, relief.
The place: Boccato Gelato & Espresso – Multiple NoVA locations; www.boccato.com
The prescription: Chilean peach gelato. Gelato is, by design, naturally denser and sweeter than your run-of-the-mill ice cream. But Boccatto’s jaw-dropping Chilean peach is nothing short of ambrosial. The boozy chiller (left me punchy, anyway) captures the nectar-like sweetness and intensely floral bouquet of the foreign fruit, a combination that translates into an absolutely intoxicating thrill ride that slides down your throat.
The homegrown shop hangs its hat on experimentation and variety, boasting a recipe Rolodex with over 200 flavors–evaluating every single one sounds like a perfect challenge for next year, no?–including: rum raisin, chocolate cake batter (lawdhavemercy), cafe con leche, lucuma (fruity and refreshing), cinnamon risotto, blueberry-banana (smurf blue with a tropical undercurrent) and Ferrero Rocher truffle.
–Warren
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Keep tabs on the month long Freeze Jag trek here.
Worried About Prostate Cancer? Drink Coffee.
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
Denis Vrublevski/Shutterstock
A new study published yesterday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that drinking coffee may lower the risk of getting lethal prostate cancer.
Coming from the folks over at the Harvard School of Public Health, the study surveyed nearly 50,000 males between 1986 and 2006, and found that 5035 of the men in the pool contracted prostate cancer, and, of them, 642 died of the illness. However, researchers found that the coffee drinkers in group had a 60% lower chance of contracting this lethal form of prostate cancer.
Of course, this result was unique to only the extremely caffeine addled, taking six cups a day to get the desired effect. Lucky for more jumpy Americans, it’s not the caffeine that reduces the risk, as the effect was the same for both regular and decaf coffee.
NPR even points out that the health effects of coffee are surprisingly strong, even stronger than regular exercise, which only reduces the chance of contracting the same type of cancer by 50%, according to the same group.
Lane Wallace, a health writer at The Atlantic, spoke with the researchers, and they shied away from recommending that people increase their coffee intake, telling her “I wouldn’t recommend that men change their coffee consumption based on this study (or any single study).” But couple this new information with other studies that show that coffee can ward off breast cancer, strokes, diabetes and more, and it makes me grateful that I drank enough coffee this morning to make it feel like there’s a hummingbird trapped in my chest.
- Kris King
Posted by ryan / Friday, April 22nd, 2011
Starbucks is offering free beverages until 9 pm today, just bring your own travel mug. If you don’t have one, they have some for twenty percent off their original price. Every day you bring it back, your drink of choice will be ten cents less than it normally is. Those who do use reusable mugs have made a significant impact.
People brought their own tumblers to Starbucks at least thirty-two million times last year, which kept nearly one and half million pounds of paper out of landfills. If you prefer not to purchase anything, just ask for the “for-here” mugs and they’ll still pick up the tab.
Over a million people participated in the promotion last year, and they would very much like to beat that record.
Lowe’s Hardware Stores are also giving away a million trees to commemorate the occasion. Visit one tomorrow to claim yours.
Earth Day should be Every Day!
-Ryan Robertson
(image: shutterstock)
Great Dates: A Recipe for Success
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, April 26th, 2010
Monday, April 26th, 2010
Whether you are single, engaged or married, it is important to have an enjoyable time when you’re out on a date. Northern Virginia offers so many great and fun places. Here are a few tips I thought I’d share with you.
Vary your activities. You can plan a romantic evening atop one of the region’s many rooftop terrace hotels or restaurants and enjoy a breathtaking view of monuments. Or take in a live show or concert at a hot-spot restaurant or lounge. Of course, there is always the quintessential boat cruise along the Potomac. You have romance, fun and a little adventure all rolled into one.
I remember a good time I had at a local bookstore; believe it or not, my date and I had a blast reading our astrological signs while drinking coffee. Booze doesn’t have to be present in order to have fun. The key is you. Make your own fun. Avoid being that couple who listens to other conversations at the next table. Talk to each other. As my middle school math teacher once said, “Are you going to live life or watch others live it?”
Be receptive to new ideas, opinions and world views. You might learn something new. I’m not advocating changing your opinions necessarily, but be responsive. This way you avoid placing too many expectations on your date or the evening.
What makes a date successful from your perspective? Do you have favorite places when it comes to romance, adventure and fun? Email me with your thoughts or share your stories at littleredbook@northernvirginiamag.com, and be sure to check out Northern Virginia Magazine’s May 2010 issue to read my picks for top 10 first date spots.
–Katie
Just A Taste: Northside Social
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
Mind you, they’ve only been baking and a-brewing for about a week.
But Northside Social founder Stephen Fedorchak insists management sees plenty of room for improvement.
“We’re our own toughest critics,” Fedorchak said of the auto-scrutiny and fine-tuning NS staff are applying to the combo coffee shop/artisan bakery/wine bar. He noted that the public response has been very encouraging.
“People are hanging out outside. There are dogs, kids and neighbors … which is exactly what we wanted,” Fedorchak said.
The completely remodeled space bares little resemblance to its more bohemian predecessor, Murky Coffee.
Northside boasts four, inviting seating environments: 
a sun-splashed, streetside patio, the mixed-use main dining room (retail shelves tempt line standers with gourmet blends of Counter Culture coffee and fresh-baked artisan breads; refurbished chairs and galvanized buckets recast as light fixtures offer guests reclamation-inspired comfort), a cozy, library-style rear lounge (complete with communal bookshelf; pictured at right) and the farmer’s table-style wine bar located upstairs (antique backgammon table is pretty cool, too).
The wine bar remains very much a work in progress, according to Fedorchak. He said the plan is to open it up every night (except Sunday) from 4 p.m. till … well, till the crowds clear out–which will most likely be on the earlier side at the beginning of the week and much later from Humpday on (currently open past midnight from Wednesday – Saturday).
Meanwhile, general manager/sommelier Alison Christ has pieced together a very approachable craft beer and boutique wine program with an eye on value and variety (though, sadly, no Virginia wines).
Pastry chef Rob Valencia knows from moist cakes, whipping up a rotating roster of signature coffee cakes (vanilla painted with a lip-smacking lemon glaze comes to mind), cookies and brownies whose fans will, no doubt, be legion.
I fear that savory options, on the other hand, may be limited by the truncated kitchen set-up (only heating elements I spotted were a pair of panini presses). That said, a pork belly–advertised as “crispy;” turned out more brisket tender (an unintended win in my book)–and broccoli rabe pairing proved so scrumptious, I was soon left with a lap full of ciabatta crumbs and a gnawing desire to scoop up an encore serving for the road.
With Northside (finally) up and running, Fedorchak has now turned his attention to breaking the seal on companion project, Lyon Hall.
“We’ll open Lyon Hall this week,” Fedorchak pledged, touting a Thursday debut–while reserving the right to back things up till Saturday–as go-time for the highly anticipated brasserie.
–Warren
Northside Social, Lyon Hall Coming to Clarendon
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, November 13th, 2009
With their flagship now firmly anchored in the Clarendon dining scene, Liberty Tavern owner Stephen Fedorchak and his hospitality crew stand poised to unveil their latest historical property repurposings:
* Northside Social, a bakery/lounge erected from the ashes of the now-defunct Murky Coffee, and;
* Lyon Hall, a “casual neighborhood brasserie” moving into the former home of Dan Kain trophies.
Northside Social will be managed by Willow‘s one-time sommelier Alison Christ, while ex-Murky Coffee general manager Marianne Tolosa will step in as director of coffee (look for Counter Culture java and dairy goods from Trickling Springs Creamery). Baker G. David King is expected to trot out around a half dozen bread varieties per day.
Liberty Tavern executive chef Liam LaCivita will oversee both the Northside and Lyon Hill kitchens–though the search is on to lock in a full-time sous chef for Lyon Hall.
Northside Social is expected to feature “work-friendly farm tables” as well couches and love seats for maximum lounging, while second story guests will now enjoy an aerial view of the ground floor. The from dawn-to-dusk venue is also expected to field various alternatives to your morning joe (think: fully developed wine and beer program) as well as live music.
Northside’s menu will turn on breakfast, lunch and other lite-fare, and is tentatively set to include: Polyface Farm egg sandwiches, homemade granola and yogurt, chicken liver rillettes and apple pie topped with Fiscalini cheddar (FINALLY!).
Northside is currently projected to open right around Christmas.
Lyon Hall appears to be more of a bistro/bar project, uniting nearly two dozen craft beers–gourmet suds junkies can expect 20 draft lines–with Eastern European cuisine, including: Alsatian tarts, hanger steak and frites, skate schnitzel, roast chicken and a Bohemian sausage platter (stocked with homemade jagdwurst, bratwurst and kielbasa).
The three-story establishment will also feature an open kitchen (basement), 18-seat marble bar, outdoor patio, semi-private dining in the “Trophy Room” and reclaimed New York City subway light fixtures throughout.
Lyon Hall is expected to debut early February 2010.
Northside Social – 3211 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, late-night dining, Thursday through Saturday.
Lyon Hall – 3100 Washington Blvd., Arlington. Open for dinner, Tuesday through Saturday.
–Warren
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, January 9th, 2009
Don’t let the chilly service at corporate coffee chains leave you out in the cold. This winter, these friendly little java joints are the hottest places around.
By Abby Horowitz
Misha’s
In a Nutshell: Combination coffee shop and roaster with a funky side.
Must-Try: Route 66 Blend—a dark, house-roasted brew.
Price Range: $1.69-$3.65
Extra Perks: The aroma of roasting coffee, stacks of Scrabble boards and free Wi-Fi invite you to stay a while.
Steer Here: 102 S. Patrick St., Alexandria; 703-548-4089
Hours: 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
Gusto di Vita
In a Nutshell: Family-owned and -operated drive-through kiosk with lots of variety.
Must-Try: Mocha Divine—three secret mocha recipe comes topped with lots of whipped cream.
Price Range: $1.50-$5.00
Extra Perks: The knowledgeable staff is bursting with great recommendations.
Steer Here: Warrenton Village Center (off Route 17); 540-270-6543; www.gustodivita.com
Hours: 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
The Java Shack
In a Nutshell: Intellectual yet unpretentious, a great place to meet up with friends.
Must-Try: Any of the signature lattes.
Price Range: $1.80-$4.25
Extra Perks: The Java Shack supports fair trade and goes the extra mile to be environmentally friendly.
Steer Here: 2507 N. Franklin Road; 703-527-9556; www.javashack.com
Hours: 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday
Raven’s Nest Coffee House
In a Nutshell: So warm and welcoming, you’ll think you’re at Grandma’s house.
Must-Try: Homemade Chai tea.
Price Range: $1.65-$3.95
Extra Perks: Free Wi-Fi, windows that let in lots of sunshine and plentiful seating make this the quintessential workspace or reading nook.
Steer Here: 254 E. Davis St., Culpeper; 540-827-4185
Hours: 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday
Mello Out
In a Nutshell: An inventive menu with some great non-coffee options (think apple cider and mint hot chocolate).
Must-Try: Mello Mocha—a blend of Italian hot chocolate, espresso and steamed milk.
Price Range: $1.55-$4.09
Extra Perks: Impressive homemade marshmallows and even better panini (try the Plescow!).
Steer Here: 2 E. Federal St., Middleburg; 540-687-8635; www.marshmellos.com
Hours: 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
(January 2009)
