Takoma Park House Tour 2012




Photo courtesy of The Washington Post

  Visiting Takoma Park, MD is like stepping back in time.  Its uniquely colored historic bungalows, farm houses, and Victorian homes and cute 'main street' mom and pop shops and restaurants makes you feel far from the urban sprawl.  I'll be spending next Sunday, May 6th at the annual Takoma Park House Tour viewing them, not from the curb, but actually going inside!  If you'd like to join me, go to http://www.historictakoma.org/ and get your ticket.  It's $18 online, and $20 the day of.  Pick up your tickets and tour maps at Upper Portal Park, at Piney Branch Road and Eastern Avenue.  The self-guided tour goes on from 1 - 5 pm.

Tip: Come a little bit earlier and visit one of the best farmer's markets in the area!  The Takoma Park Farmer's Market goes from 10 am - 2 pm on Sundays.  For more info, check out the website: http://www.takomaparkmarket.com/.

Sesen Spa: Manicure, Pedicure, and Thai Massage

People hear the word "spa" and automatically assume that it's all fancy-schmancy and expensive.  Well, that's what I think, anyways.  I was in-between nail places after a move, and I just wasn't having any luck with those strip mall salons (I once saw a mouse scurry across the floor during a pedicure).  A friend recommended Sesen in Old Town Vienna to me a few years ago, so I checked out their website, ready to write them off because of high "spa" prices.

To my surprise, the manicures and pedicures were about the same price as the nail salons in the malls, but what got me was their practices.  They use sterilized tools for each client --they actually open up a sealed package right in front of you, like at the dentist office.  Even their nail buffer sponges are new!  They are fanatics about keeping everything clean.  Now I can't even look at another grody strip mall nail place.

Click to read more about my experience: