I came across a really interesting read on Inc.com on “How to Be Happy at Work.” I think the majority of my friends are in the throws of their quarter life crisis, questioning the career they’ve chosen, the people they are dating (or not dating), whether they should go back to school or make a big move, how much money they should be saving…the decisions to question are endless. We are all placing some kind of pressure on ourselves to have “figured it out,” whatever the “it” might be.
Lately, I’ve often found myself so caught up in focusing on the fact that I am not where I think I should be professionally that I forget to stop and consider what it is I really want. This article challenges you to consider your “rules” for happiness and unhappiness. Once you take the time to truly think about factors that impact your happiness, you may realize that you are being unrealistic. Create a new set of parameters to define your happiness – or misery – and you just might surprise yourself!
It is always a good idea to think!
Of course, these “rules” apply outside of the workplace, too. Take a comprehensive look at your life; what makes you happy currently and what gets you down? Why? It is important to stop and contemplate every once in awhile. After all, if you don’t examine where you’ve been and how you got to where you are today, how can you ever know the way forward?
Comment:Comments Off on Date Night Dish: Market Tavern
Everyone loves a good date night. I love one even more when the hubby calls me at work and says be home by 6:30 because we have reservations. I love one even more when I am having a terrible day and now, all of a sudden, have something wonderful to look forward to!
Said fabulous hubby made reservations at Market Tavern in Clarendon. It had piqued our curiosity for awhile, as we were huge fans of Harry’s Tap Room and wondered why on earth it disappeared. Market Tavern’s menu is reminiscent of Harry’s, in fact, many of the dishes are the same, so needless to say we had to see if it lived up to its former inhabitant.
The Chophouse portion of Market Tavern is located upstairs. Picture from Arlnow.com.
It pains me to say that Market Tavern just didn’t make the cut. I really wanted to love this place and put it on reserve for special occasions and/or a treat when family comes into town. However, the food was mediocre, along with the service which is not something you expect from a restaurant with the price tag of this bill.
I’ll start at the beginning…we arrived and were promptly escorted upstairs to The Chophouse section of the restaurant. The downstairs is The Tavern and has a separate menu, but you can order off of either one in either section. We were greeted fairly quickly but the server didn’t return with our drinks for a good 5 minutes and we were only one of 4 tables in the entire upstairs dining room. Then, after he dropped off the drinks, we waited another 10 minutes before he came back to take our order. I’d understand if it was a busy night, but there were 3 servers upstairs and again, only four tables! Service was off to a rocky start, but let’s get on to the important part – the food!
We ordered a Caesar salad, lobster bisque, Chophouse paella and the twin filets, oscar style with crab meat and Bearnaise. Are you salivating yet? We were! The salad was fine, but the lobster bisque was pure perfection – decadently smooth with large, buttery chunks of lobster. Couple this with the “bread bar” which has 4 different types of fresh, homemade bread and various types of accompanying butter, and the first course was looking promising!
A serving of paella on the left, along with a filet and asparagus.
On to the entrees! The Chophouse Paella, flavorful, robust with a hint of smokiness, certainly didn’t disappoint with a fair amount of shrimp, mussels, chorizo and chicken. The dish was cooked well, which can be hard to do with paella. I wish we’d stopped at the paella. The twin filets with crab meat came out of the kitchen looking the part of a flawlessly cooked dish. The server set it down on the table and as I grabbed my fork and knife I could hardly wait to cut myself a bite of this tender filet, smothered in lump crab meat, drizzled with Bearnaise and garnished with bright green asparagus spears. I took that bite…and it was cold. Not lukewarm, not maybe it cooled off on the walk over here, not maybe we waited a bit too long to cut into it (because I couldn’t hardly wait a second) – just plain, flat out cold. Disappointing – yes. Still potential to taste deliciousness after we sent it back with server – yes.
But no, we received our filets about 2 minutes later. They had clearly been thrown into a microwave as the same bite I had taken was missing from the filet. People – you went to culinary school, not me, but even I know you don’t put steak in a microwave or even reheat it. You cook a new piece of meat. Sure, this is a lot to ask, but it isn’t a lot to ask to have your food brought out warm and freshly cooked.
After waiting for a manager for another 10 minutes, we explained the situation, were offered a new dish, politely declined and waited for the bill. I have to give credit where credit is due. The manager was very accommodating and understanding, apologized and sent over two complimentary desserts which were impressive. The server also apologized and was quick to ask if his service was an issue when we requested the manager, I always appreciate directness and a willingness to take accountability.
All in all, not a great experience. The other dishes we had, as well as the manager’s quick correction of the issue did make me willing to try it again – maybe in a few months when things are running a bit more smoothly. However, I’d steer clear or maybe try The Tavern for the time being!
Comment:Comments Off on Is Your Man a Dapper Dresser?
Men and fashion is kind of like going to the dentist. Things either go really well and you leave with a perfectly bright white smile; or they go horribly wrong and you’re left facing a root canal.
However, whether the wardrobe of the man in your life needs just a routine cleaning or some major surgery, you should have him check out Trunk Club.
Trunk Club: there should be a better way for men to find great clothes
This ingenious company has found a way around the major deterrents which keep men from embracing some wardrobe rejuvenation. Trunk Club does everything for their clients. The man in question just simply has to fill out a profile, either online or on the phone, to help the expert stylists understand a bit more about his likes and dislikes. Then Trunk Club packs a literal trunk full of clothes for him and mails it to his house. He chooses what he wants and sends the rest back in said trunk with a pre-paid FedEx label.
It really can’t get easier or more fail-proof than this, ladies! Before you start asking, what’s the catch, here is some more info:
Members only pay for the clothes they keep
There is no membership fee
Wardrobe selection is classified as upscale casual wear; think jeans, chinos, shirts, sweaters, etc. – no suits!
Prices range from $70 (for shirts) to $250 (for pants and denim)
Trunk Club buys clothes wholesale and then charges retail prices, the same you’d find at the Nordstroms of the world, which is how they make their money
….allowing the service and shipping to remain entirely free of cost
Like the sound of it? Buy your man (whether it’s your significant other, dad, uncle, brother – any man in your life!) a gift card for him to try it out for himself!
