Stop #2 on the Cupcake Tour took place in Old Town Alexandria with Emily. Alexandria Cupcakes touts itself as the "DC metro area's premier cupcake bakery." It certainly has the best location: across the street from some awesome nuns I know.
After our first stop, Virginia cupcakes had a lot to live up to. If Haymarket doesn't count as part of the DC area, then Alexandria cupcakes could have something to its claim. I ate a dark chocolate cupcake with buttercream frosting. The cupcake did not match the texture of Stop #1, but the dark chocolate was delicious. It satisfied my perpetual chocolate craving. And the buttercream lived up my high frosting standards.
On the downside, the shop was tiny and clearly not meant to be visited. I think the woman working there was confused that we stopped by just to eat and not order. There was only one table, which was awkward and even more so when a mother and her little son came in with the same plan we had.
Overall, I give them 3.5 out of 5 stars. Excellent cupcakes, but I want a nice place to eat. Larry's mom had the same rating but for different reasons:
Alexandria Cupcakes - Old Town Alexandria (King St)
3 1/2 stars
A little disappointing, nothing stood out
Little variety & none w/filling
Average to high price at $3 for average - small size cupcake.
The frosting just so-so. Cake not moist or dry
Shop - felt like we were disturbing the 1 person staff. It had 1 table w/3 chairs. It was set up or take out service more than eat-in. Bottle beverages available.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Summer Words
From Julia's tumblr:
“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”
~F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”
~F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Sunday, June 3, 2012
High Standards: Cupcake Heaven
Larry's mom and I have started a summer quest: a cupcake tour of Northern Virginia. I'll be posting our reviews on here as we hit up cupcakeries across the region.
We started off at Cupcake Heaven. It's a cute cupcake and coffee shop in Haymarket. My aunt, sister, and I walked in after a morning of hiking and winery-touring. It was pink and fluffy and immediately welcoming (in spite of my general aversion to pink and fluffy). As we stood indecisively, the women working helpfully pointed out various menu options, including those that tended more toward meal than dessert. I knew I wanted a cupcake for lunch, however, and (as soon as I saw the option) a latte.
I got a chocolate raspberry champagne cupcake (a flavor of the week, not a constant) because what is more delicious than chocolate stuffed with raspberry filling? To drink I ordered a latte, which is my test for coffee shops. (Ana and I visited many in St. Louis and I evaluated them all this way.) Cupcake Heaven won on both counts. The chocolate cupcake was moist and sweet, with delicious raspberry filling and frosting that complemented the cake. And my latte was a frothy, espresso-filled win.
Even better, the atmosphere made me want to sit and linger. I ate slowly and sipped with care so that we wouldn't have to leave. I miss non-Starbucks coffee shops when I am in NoVA, and this one filled my heart. Even before I discovered the shelf of Jesus-books and the canned food drive.
In the enthusiasm of the moment, I think I gave the place 8 of 5 stars. My aunt provided a more grounded review:
Cupcake Heaven - Haymarket VA , main street (Washington St)
4 1/2 stars
Perfect size,
Not too sweet
Good variety - filled & unfilled
Very satisfying to eat
Reasonably price at $2.50 for slightly larger than average size
Shop felt welcoming both from the decor & staff. It was cheerful & bright w/some interesting items to browse through. A nice array of beverages.
We started off at Cupcake Heaven. It's a cute cupcake and coffee shop in Haymarket. My aunt, sister, and I walked in after a morning of hiking and winery-touring. It was pink and fluffy and immediately welcoming (in spite of my general aversion to pink and fluffy). As we stood indecisively, the women working helpfully pointed out various menu options, including those that tended more toward meal than dessert. I knew I wanted a cupcake for lunch, however, and (as soon as I saw the option) a latte.
I got a chocolate raspberry champagne cupcake (a flavor of the week, not a constant) because what is more delicious than chocolate stuffed with raspberry filling? To drink I ordered a latte, which is my test for coffee shops. (Ana and I visited many in St. Louis and I evaluated them all this way.) Cupcake Heaven won on both counts. The chocolate cupcake was moist and sweet, with delicious raspberry filling and frosting that complemented the cake. And my latte was a frothy, espresso-filled win.
Even better, the atmosphere made me want to sit and linger. I ate slowly and sipped with care so that we wouldn't have to leave. I miss non-Starbucks coffee shops when I am in NoVA, and this one filled my heart. Even before I discovered the shelf of Jesus-books and the canned food drive.
In the enthusiasm of the moment, I think I gave the place 8 of 5 stars. My aunt provided a more grounded review:
Cupcake Heaven - Haymarket VA , main street (Washington St)
4 1/2 stars
Perfect size,
Not too sweet
Good variety - filled & unfilled
Very satisfying to eat
Reasonably price at $2.50 for slightly larger than average size
Shop felt welcoming both from the decor & staff. It was cheerful & bright w/some interesting items to browse through. A nice array of beverages.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
About Me
Have I posted this tumblr yet? I am a little obsessed since I am an INTJ (my Myers-Briggs type) and so it basically describes me. Especially the bits about sarcasm and emotions. If you want to understand the insides of my head and heart, peruse this tumblr. You won't get a full understanding, but you'll come out so much closer. If you are an INTJ (especially a lady one), read it! You will feel so much less alone.
DHQ
If you are ever in a bad mood, go visit an elementary school and spend some time with the little ones. I have been in kindergarten therapy once a week since getting back from Ohio and it is amazing. (By kindergarten therapy, I mean the small ones are my therapy. My mom is a teacher, so I go to her room and hope to be more helpful than disruptive.) The babble-y chaos of a kindergarten classroom helps with my days that consist of solitary distance learning. I generally find small children intimidating because they are breakable, belong to other people, and don't understand sarcasm. Then I spend time with them and realize they are just tiny people who haven't forgotten how to be enthusiastic about life.
I come into the room to a popcorn of "Hi, Ms. Beth!" I wave at one and another pipes up until I swear everyone has greeted me at least twice. Then I sit and do end-of-year inventory or other such work while life in kindergarten goes on. Somehow, five or six find their way over to me to ask what I am doing and tell me what they are doing. During free time, I have a few requests: Play kitchen with me! Read a book with me! Fantastic for the self-esteem. Also, I reached my daily hug quota (DHQ), something very rarely achieved, mostly because of my personal space bubble. Small children slip in easily, however. After only a few days in the classroom, I think I am going to miss these children when school lets out.
I come into the room to a popcorn of "Hi, Ms. Beth!" I wave at one and another pipes up until I swear everyone has greeted me at least twice. Then I sit and do end-of-year inventory or other such work while life in kindergarten goes on. Somehow, five or six find their way over to me to ask what I am doing and tell me what they are doing. During free time, I have a few requests: Play kitchen with me! Read a book with me! Fantastic for the self-esteem. Also, I reached my daily hug quota (DHQ), something very rarely achieved, mostly because of my personal space bubble. Small children slip in easily, however. After only a few days in the classroom, I think I am going to miss these children when school lets out.
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