After what seemed like forever, our task was finally up and we had accomplished our goal. We then bought ice cream and decided it was time to head back to Kingsmill. We were all worn out from being at the park all day so we decided to relax in the pool and then move onto the steam room. My brother, Jack Johnson, had his friend Will Oviatt over because it was his birthday. We asked Will where he wanted to go for dinner, and of course being a sixteen year old boy he chose Hooters. So, we had no choice but to pile up in a car and drive to Hooters for a nice evening out. The day was perfect and everyone had an amazing time.

At National Harbor there is a gorgeous view overlooking the water, you can enjoy a water taxi ride, and you can even see the monuments in DC off in the distance. After watching the water and enjoying the area we went to an early dinner at a restaurant called Ketchup. Of course after dinner we had to do some shopping so we stopped by a shop called Charming Charlie’s, a cute little boutique with every kind of accessory you could imagine in every color.

After spending the day at the National Harbor we spent the next day in Georgetown. While we were there we did a little too much shopping. And for anyone who’s been to Georgetown, you know that you have to stop at Georgetown Cupcake and get a beautifully made, delectably delicious cupcake. I got the usual, a Chocolate and Peanut Butter Swirl while my cousins each got classic flavors. After cupcakes we walked around to burn off some of the calories, shopped, and called it a day.

It has been a long and time-honored tradition that the Weekend section of the A-Blast gives a food review of a new or interesting restaurant every issue. This year, however, we decided to put a little spin on the old model and decided that we would only review restaurants with cultural influences. 

As AHS contains such a diverse student population, we found that reviewing different ethnic cuisines would not only appeal to a larger portion of our readership, but would also provide us with the opportunity to learn about new cultures through food.

Having said that, let us begin with our first Culinary Conquest: Duangrat’s Thai Restaurant in Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia.

Upon first entering the restaurant, we were both amazed at the beautiful spectacle before us. The walls were painted in a deep red and meticulously decorated with ornate statues and detailed artwork. On every table sat a white linen tablecloth, a small candle and a purple orchid, which carries special significance in Thai culture.

After adjusting to our new environment, the next sense to come into play was smell. A wonderful aroma wafted towards us from the kitchen that was both savory and spicy.  

Having only ever experienced Thai food at Noodles and Company (if one can even count that), both of us were incredibly eager to dive in to this new, exciting cuisine.

We were greeted by a hostess in traditional Thai attire and quickly seated at a comfortable booth in the main dining area. As it was relatively early, around 5:00 p.m., there were only a few other customers present. 

The reason we decided to eat at this time was because of Duangrat’s small plate special. This is ideal for the customer new to Thai cuisine, who would like to try a little bit of everything.

There were thirty dishes on the small plate menu, designed to be either appetizers for two, or a smaller portioned dinner for one. This menu is available from 4:30 until 6:30 on weekdays and reasonably priced at around $6.00 a plate.     We quickly scanned the menu and wrote down anything that sounded remotely intriguing or an item we had never tried before. The total amounted to 15 dishes, which we then cut down to nine. 

Our waiter was incredibly patient with us as we bombarded him with questions: “What is the difference between green and yellow curry?” “The green is much spicier than the yellow.” and so on and so forth.

I’m not exactly sure what we expected when we ordered, but the amount of food that soon came pouring out of the kitchen and onto our table was downright embarrassing. 

Dish after dish came out of the kitchen. We ordered shrimp and lobster “cigar” rolls, lemongrass chicken spring rolls, shrimp tempura, duck in a crispy egg roll shell along with many others.  

As each new food reached our table, our waiter would smile and explain what we would soon be eating, as well as how to eat it if we were unsure. The chefs in the kitchen must have assumed that a party of ten was sitting in the dining room for the amount of food we consumed.

And boy did we eat all of it. Not a single condiment, shred of lettuce or noodle was left after we were finished. We then ordered an exotic dessert of Green Tea Ice Cream with a banana spring roll, at which point we contemplated unbuttoning our pants.

    We paid the bill and left to the sounds of many friendly staff members asking if we enjoyed our meal and to come again soon. Overall, our experience was fantastic and we will most definitely be making a return to Duangrat’s soon.

If you are looking for a quiet and peaceful place to catch up with friends, try Tidal Basin paddle boating in Washington, D.C. This man-made inlet is situated alongside the Jefferson Memorial and provides stunning views of the monument. Two passenger boats are available for rent for $12.00 an hour. However, if you are going in a group, Tidal Basin also offers four passenger boats for $19.00 an hour.

Make a day of paddle boating and go out to lunch at a nearby restaurant or pack a lunch and it eat on the National Mall lawn, only a few blocks away from the Tidal Basin boathouse. Paddle Boats are available for rent from 10:00 a.m. until 5 p.m. from Wednesday to Sunday. The Tidal Basin boathouse closes for the season after Columbus Day Weekend so do not wait to go try this fun activity. Grab a friend and head into the D.C. for the day!

Fairfax Ice Arena

Although school has just begun, you can take advantage of all the fun winter has to offer at Fairfax Ice Arena. Located just ten minutes up Little River from AHS, it has every ice activity one could think of. With lessons, hockey, public skating, parties, groups, and fundraisers there is something for everyone to enjoy. It is the perfect place to meet up with friends, casually skate and catch up. 

For approximately ten dollars, this is great alternative to an unreasonably priced movie theater, where you sit in silence for two hours instead of making new memories. If you go with a group of seven or more you can receive tickets at a reduced price. Ice-skating is a considerably wallet-friendly outing, costing around of 55 for a two-hour session. If you’re looking to make an entire evening out of it, grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants nearby such as First Watch and Noodles and Company.

National Harbor

This is the perfect activity for a large group of friends on a Saturday night and has features that both guys and girls will enjoy. Just a quick drive down the beltway brings you to this ultra-trendy waterfront along the Potomac River. 

The marina is packed with new restaurants, ranging from upscale steakhouses to Peeps & Company candy store. There is plenty of room to run around and explore the sculptures along the beach. If you are not up for walking and you are willing to pay a little extra, hop on a Segway tour of National Harbor, which are offered both during the day and at sunset.

The Gaylord National Resort recently opened nearby and offers an excellent array of concerts and entertainment for all tastes. On Sunday nights, outdoor movies are featured on a jumbo screen up all the way through the month of September. For a limited time, Cirque de Soleil will be performing in one of the National Harbor arenas. Visit www.nationalharbor.com to learn more about all of the various activities National Harbor has to offer.

AMF Annandale Lanes

When looking for a place to reunite with friends lost in the shuffle of summer look no further than a mile from AHS. Annandale Lanes is a longstanding, local business, home to some of Annandale’s most prominent bowlers. However, after 9 p.m. when the lights get turned down and the music starts thumping, the atmosphere quickly turns from family fun into the ultimate teen hangout. 

Across the Little Run Shopping Center, this hidden secret is definitely the right place to go after a football game or on a Saturday night. Annandale Lanes is more then just a place to casually bowl. It offers ample space for parties and extreme bowling, which is perfect for beginners. Annandale Lanes is reasonably priced and is the perfect environment to talk and reconnect with the friends you haven’t seen in a couple of months.

As you enter this family-owned restaurant, the staff will greet you with a smile that is often too rare in this world of efficiency and indifference, and tell you that any table that is open is yours.

There is usually only one waiter on-duty, but another ready to spring into action should the restaurant become crowded. Inside, with a room that fits no more than forty, the noise level is kept to a minimum.

In fact, on a nice day, there is an outside patio where you can sit and dine in the open air, reminiscent of the European restaurants after which the Eatery is modeled.

The usual crowd contains lawyers and officials on lunch breaks from the courthouse, students from nearby George Mason University, and of course, passer-bys attracted to the restaurants atmosphere.

Once you sit down, you will notice the sparsely decorated room and the outdated booths. However the most important thing- the food – smells wonderful.

Although a small Greek and Italian restaurant, the menu offers a smorgasbord of European, along with American, cuisine.

Havabite has many great entrees such as various pastas and appetizers; however, their two specialties, pizza and gyros, stand out.

I happened to order a small 9” white pizza with gyro meat, which is more than enough for one sitting and cost only $6.40. This great price is worth the meal. The pizza was melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

We also ordered their gyro sandwich for $6.50 and a highly recommended plate of fries to share for $1.95. For this hearty lunch we spent $18.10, which included the heavy Town of Fairfax restaurant tax.

For dessert, you can get a plate of homemade baklava, a bowl of rice pudding, or one of their various specialty cakes.

Havabite also offers delicious entrees such as an amazing chicken parmesan, baked lasagna, shish kabob, and of course, the classic bowl of spaghetti and meatballs.

For a group of two, this great lunch or dinner spot is the perfect place to spend under $20 for the perfect homemade-style meal.

The wildly popular Whole Foods grocery store is mostly known for having the best organic foods and prices around. However, many remain aloof to their hidden secret of great free samples. With everything from freshly baked breads and pies to fresh produce, this store is a haven for hungry high school students.

Baskin-Robbins

Who does not love free ice cream? This fun and festive ice cream food chain helps everyone indulge in the stores’ many different flavors. According to the manager of the Twinbrook Shopping Center location, there is no limit to the number of free samples a person could request. Technically, a customer could ask to try all of the 30 plus flavors and still would not be obligated to make a purchase, though we do not recommend it.

Trader Joe’s

A favorite specialty grocery store, Trader Joe’s is known for having samples out for customers to test their products before buying. Located about 20 minutes away in Springfield Plaza, this nutritional grocery store provided a sample of their Carne Asada steak to junior Katie Bui. Their Hawaiian- print work uniforms coupled with friendly customer service makes this a great place to shop and sample.

Costco

This wholesale mega-store is widely known for the free samples of food found at the end of nearly every aisle. On one side alone there were samples of apple strudel, cheesy burritos and Oreo ice cream pie. The staff is friendly and accommodating, usually turning a blind eye to customers sneaking back for their third or fourth helpings. The one downside for students is that membership, which costs about $50 per year, is required for admission into the store.

The fabulous restaurant is loaded with numerous amounts of televisions circling the restaurant. Costumers get the opportunity to listen in on most sporting events while dining out. It’s a great place for friends to just hang out and watch a game together. You can never miss a game due to going out for dinner again.

“I went there for the first time expecting another classic American restaurant like Fuddruckers, but it definitely was much better. The service was great, and I just got a great vibe from the workers and other customers,” said junior Meriem Khadraoui.

The unique restaurant offers a menu full of various delicious meals. Costumers can choose from having “the All-American Burger” to any “Fan-tastic Sandwiches.” There isn’t one thing on the menu that will disappoint.

But the best way to have an unforgettable experience at Glory Days Grill would be watching a Washington Capitals game there. The costumers that usually dine there on game days are enthusiastic and have such a rush of energy. Costumers can bond and enjoy their meal as if they were actually attending the game. Some have said that its often better than the actual game.

“The people there are so nice and they really know how to please the costumers. I went to watch a Capitals game there once, and I’ve got to say, the place was buzzing with excitement. I would definitely go back again for another good meal,” said junior Katie Panther.

This restaurant has definitely received positive feedback and hopefully more students can take time out of their busy schedules and visit Glory Days Grill for a great resturant experience.

Walking through the outdoor shopping streets, we realized that there were several different options for frozen yogurt. We instantly decided that nothing would be better than a smooth ice-cream-like texture, complete with juicy and delicious fruits.

Frozen yogurt has recently become a popular commodity, indoors and outdoors, winter or summer. A healthy alternative to ice cream, frozen yogurt is helping to make better diet choices easier.

There are a variety of flavor options, but every store is guaranteed to have the original tart flavor, strawberry, vanilla and chocolate.

Next are the fruit toppings, often including mango, kiwi, blueberries, bananas and strawberries. Combining two of the sweetest fruit groups, fruit and sugars, it is no wonder this treat is on the rise.

There are a variety of stores that offer several different options. Tyson’s Corner Center offers at least three different types of frozen yogurt stores.

Our personal favorite is Fruity Yogurt, located on the second floor above the Wasabi sushi restaurant and next to Auntie Anne’s toward the exit.

This frozen yogurt place has so many choices, and has only 20 calories per ounce of frozen yogurt. There are almost no restrictions to how much yogurt or fruit can be placed in an order. There are two options for cup sizes; larger and huge.

You have the ability to choose what flavors and how much. There is no limit to the number of flavors or number of toppings.

The toppings include candy, nuts, baked goods, syrups and original fruit.

However, you will have to pay a certain price for the abundance of toppings and yogurt that fill the cup, by ounce. Further, it is not particularly expensive; it is definitely cheaper than ice cream places like Coldstone or Maggie Moo’s.

The other option we have tried in Tyson’s Corner Center is called Yogen Fruz, a kiosk located on the first floor right across from H&M.

This yogurt place also has many options. There are frozen fruits that you can mix with vanilla or the traditional tart to create a new flavor, like mango, strawberry or mint.

Then there are several fruit options as well as a few nut options, but the abundance of toppings is limited to the amount the server can stick onto the yogurt because the dishes are not as deep. Yogen Fruz is a little more expensive, but just as tasty.

Frozen Yogurt places are popping up all over the region, so be sure to take advantage of this trendy treat. Instead of ice cream, choose this similar option that has far fewer calories; it is definitely worth the switch.

Ice cream, with its heavy calorie count, should be reserved for a rare treat while frozen yogurt can become a more frequent sweet after-school snack.

Whether you’re with friends, or with the family, at The Big Apple Circus, you’re bound to have a good time. Filled with multiple acts, The Big Apple Circus is a European-style, one-ringed circus. It has no big animals, only horses and dogs, and each dog it owns is a rescued dog from animal shelters around the nation. Many acts are interactive with the audience, and each act is usually followed by a quick, satirical skit done by either Granny or Bello, and sometimes both. Each year, the circus has a different theme, and somehow each act is related to that theme. Many of the clowns, acrobats, jugglers, and you-name-its are from other countries, and come on tour exclusively for the Big Apple Circus. Whether you’re in the first or last row, you will leave with a smile on your face, and a desire to return the next year.

The Big Apple Circus is a small circus that travels the nation, giving laughter to audiences, but more importantly, to children who need it. Started in 1974, in England this special organization’s mission was to not only put on spectacular shows for an audience, but also serve each community it showed in through several outreach programs. Many who watch the show are unaware of the fact that the Circus currently runs five outreach programs, pinnacled by its most famous, “Clown Care.” In this ground-breaking program, several clowns from the Circus visit hospitals, most days of the week, year-round, and give those children who otherwise might not have something to be happy about, the gift of laughing. In fact, the Big Apple Circus is a nonprofit organization, and each donation you make is tax-deductible. So, in the future, if you and your friends, or your families are looking for a laugh to feel good about, but not necessarily a cheap one (prices are from $15-$65 per ticket), go to www.bigapplecircus.org, and book your seats for one of the best circuses around.