Hi Friends!

Checking in to tell you guys all about how we spent our 4th wedding anniversary this fall. For all of the OG Spoonful of Trish readers, my very first blog post was written after our 1st wedding anniversary so it’s crazy to think I’m now recapping yet another amazing trip!

This year we headed down south (23 minutes) to Maryland to stay at a little slice of heaven Las Vegas known as MGM National Harbor. We have been visiting the MGM for years so it was really special and exciting for the property to host us for our anniversary.

Property

Where do I even start when it comes to this amazing property? MGM National Harbor is a premier luxury resort and casino located just south of Washington, D.C. on the banks of the Potomac River across the bridge from Old Town, Alexandria. The resort includes 308 rooms, a 130,000+ square foot casino, 10+ onsite restaurants, shops, a spa and a 3,000 seat theatre. I knew upon check-in that we would have absolutely no reason to leave the property, everything we needed was all in one place. The MGM also features a 15,000 square foot conservatory with absolutely stunning seasonal displays.

Rooms

We spent our anniversary in a corner suite with floor to ceiling windows with insane views on all sides. Our room had a separate living room along with a seating area near the views of the Potomac river. Our room had the most perfect view of the National Harbor ferris wheel which I was able to capture during sunset. I loved having a separate room in our suite where I could fall asleep early and Randy could stay up and watch sports – it was a win-win.

Dining

There are so many food options at MGM National Harbor, it was so hard to decide where to start! Our first night we shared dinner at Ginger which serves authentic Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese dishes right in the center of the conservatory. Our second night at Voltaggio Brothers Steakhouse might have actually been one of my top 5 best meals of my life and I don’t say that lightly – just let the pictures below do the talking.

I would highly recommend MGM National Harbor to anyone in the DMV (D.C.-Maryland-Virginia) area who could use a mini vacation outside the city, or those who are traveling to the East Coast this destination is a MUST! Thank you so much to the MGM for hosting us, we can’t wait to come back soon!

xoxo,

Trish

Hi Friends!

As this year is coming to an end and we have been spending more time than ever at home, my husband and I love to get out of the house and explore the variety of bustling neighborhoods in the District. This past weekend we had the pleasure of staying at the Thompson Washington D.C. hotel in the emerging Navy Yard neighborhood located on the Anacostia River between Nationals Park and the Washington Navy Yard.

The Navy Yard is such a nice change of scenery from the traditional historic neighborhoods compared to where we live in Dupont Circle, and we honestly felt like we were on vacation in another city. The 11-floor property is situated on D.C.’s scenic riverfront, steps away from outdoor parks such as the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail and The Yards Park, inviting visitors and locals to walk around and explore.

Rooms

We checked into one of the Thompson’s Junior Suites and completely fell in love with the space and the stunning views. Many of the Thompson’s 225 rooms and suites include either ballpark or river views through their floor to ceiling windows. If you are a fan of the Thompson Hotel brand, this is actually first property under the Hyatt chain in the Nation’s capital.

Our room was very spacious and more than enough room for two people. We enjoyed the abundance of natural light from the 10th floor, and the connivence of comfortable yet modern seating area. Our room also included a 55-inch flat screen TV and Google Chromecast for my husband to stream all of his college football games.

The beautiful hardwood floors and neutral colors make for a very relaxing stay that feels like home. The bathroom included a huge shower with plenty of space on the vanity for my all of hair & makeup products. Our room also included robes and slippers for both of us which also makes for a fun staycation.

Neighborhood

The Thompson Washington D.C is the first lifestyle hotel in the growing industrial neighborhood, and was designed to be a social anchor in The Yards community. The property joins a number of specialty retailers, restaurants, high-end residences, and cultural attractions in the area.

Conveniently located right next to The Yards DC, we were steps away from award-winning restaurants, craft breweries and signature shops with riverfront views. We were very fortunate for some 60 degree December weather and enjoyed a number of DC-made wines and appetizers at District Winery.

If you are planning your visit in the next couple of weeks, The Yards DC is hosting Light Yards for its fifth year as a tradition and opportunity to celebrate the holidays in a fun, safe way. This year’s installation features the premiere of “Stars” illuminated nightly from 6-10pm until January 10, 2021.

Property

The hotel’s modern facing and large industrial-inspired windows are a visual standout that embody the historic industrial language of the neighborhood. The hotel was designed with many dining options in mind for guests onsite, but are currently closed for the season to ensure health and safety for patrons and employees during the public health emergency.

The Thompson’s signature restaurant Maialino Mare is a Roman-style trattoria located on the ground level, includes a menu of seasonally-focused ingredients and sourcing from local farmers and fisheries, complemented by a robust Italian wine list and rustic desserts. Also on the ground level in the lobby is the sophisticated Thompson Bar Room to enjoy curated cocktails, wines and beer and a variety of light fare including sandwiches and salads. Anchovy Social is the hotel’s very popular 6,000-square-foot rooftop bar, featuring sliding floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking 360-degree view of the city and waterfront. We will definitely be back to visit all of the on-site dining options once they reopen in coming months.

I can’t rave enough about our stay at the Thompson Washington, D.C. and would highly recommend if you are looking to plan a trip. The Thompson is within one mile of the Capitol Building and makes the perfect home base in between touring country’s most famous monuments and museums. The Thompson Washington, D.C. is also ensuring compliance with all social distancing protocols for guests and visitors by following directions put forth by our local and national government in order

Hi Friends,

Happy December! This month marks our official 1.5 years living in District of Columbia. Since we still haven’t taken advantage of exploring all of DC wonderful neighborhoods, this past weekend we booked a mini staycation at Yours Truly Hotel in the West End. This neighborhood is home to a number upscale condos, hotels and trendy restaurants (most recently the insta popular Tatte Bakery).

Rooms

Located at 1143 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Yours Truly DC is only 0.6 miles from the Dupont Circle metro station.

Yours Truly is colorfully styled with a mix of industrial and bohemian decor and yields over 300 eclectic rooms and suites. We checked into the City View King room and had plenty of space and the perfect view of the neighborhood from our 9th floor window.

Yours Truly is also pet friendly with no additional fees or size requirements, so you can cuddle with your furry friends during your entire stay.

Health & Safety Measures

I’m sure you are wondering what it’s like inside hotels these days during the pandemic. Yours Truly is ensuring compliance with all social distancing protocols for guests and visitors by following directions put forth by our local and national government in order to best identify and prevent any potential risk.

Masks are available at the front desk and requires in all public areas of the hotel. Hand sanitation stations are located throughout and all employees require temperature checks and a screening before entering the propery.

Lobby

Yours Truly’s Lobby include’s an open-concept “living room” instead of a traditional lobby, and you will want to take ALL the instagram photos. This space is absolutely stunning and filled with modern arm chairs, couches and nooks for lounging. Plus, where else are you going to find a local record shop right into your hotel? The El Donut Shoppe brings high-quality vinyl to the district where you can shop for records, record players, headphones, and other gear. Yours Truly also has a ton of other unique swag for purchase in memory of your fabulous stay.

Dining

We shared an incredible dinner at Mercy Me, the all-day, South American-inspired restaurant and bar from the local Timber Pizza and Call Your Mother teams. Visit in the morning for pastries and breakfast tacos and you can come back in the evening for house-aged steaks and South American accented cocktails. We couldn’t resist had to order the The Bruno pesto pizza along with the Butcher’s Steak. Our meal and service was over the top and I can’t wait to return for brunch. Mercy Me has both indoor and dining options where all tables are socially distanced, and open daily from 8am to 4pm.

Book Your Next Stay

I would definitely add Yours Truly to your list if you are looking for unconventional yet memorable stay in the district. The hotel definitely feels like a home away from home and I’ll definitely be back to visit often. You can book through my exclusive reservation link here for a discount on your next stay.

xoxo,

Trish

Hey Siri, play California gurls.

I am over the moon to finally share the details from our Anniversary trip up the Pacific Coast Highway. Katy Perry wasn’t joking when she said “nothing comes close to the Golden Coast” because California is absolutely stunning. This blog post highlights our some favorite spots and recommendations from our trip from Los Angeles up to San Francisco. Tip #1 while visiting California, make sure to refer to Pacific Coast Highway 1 to “The 1” and you will fit right in.

FIRST STOP: VENICE BEACH

We had a feeling we would fall in love with Venice Beach and boy it did NOT disappoint. The weather and the views were gorgeous and every meal we ate was heaven. Fun fact, some restaurants actually charge market price for avocado toast, whatever that means.. #socali.

I would definitely recommend visiting the famous Venice Beach sign, but actually taking a picture in front of it when tons of other instagrammers are trying to do the same thing is easier said than done. It’s also a high traffic area, so I would suggest going very early in the morning before all of the cars are out and about. I would also recommend trying out the cutest coffee shop right across the street called Great White Venice.

Another Venice Beach hotspot we loved was Abbott Kinney Boulevard as there’s a great variety of eclectic shops and restaurants that you won’t find many other places. Some of my favorite online boutiques I was most excited to visit in person were Show Me Your Mumu, Cuyana, and Gorjana. We ate brunch at The Butcher’s Daughter pictured above, and it was a VIBE – I am totally moving here.

NEXT STOP: SANTA BARBARA

The drive from Venice Beach to Santa Barbara was actually the easiest leg of our near 400 mile trip up “The 1”, so we were able to spend a little extra time in Venice Beach before we were on our way. We actually stayed a few minutes north of Santa Barbara at the Kimpton Goodland in Goleta. To say I was obsessed with this hotel is a total understatement. Our hotel room was so cozy and even had it’s own record player in which you could borrow extra albums at the front desk. This hotel was serious instagram goals and I really hope to return someday soon.

FAVORITE SPOT: BIG SUR

Oh my goodness Big Sur is a dream. We probably pulled off at least 10 times just to stop and look at the views of the water over the cliffs, it was insanely beautiful. Highly recommend renting a jeep for the drive, although I only lasted 20 minutes behind the wheel so big shout out to my husband for being able to handle it. We stopped for lunch at The Nepenthe before stopping in Monterey for the night. We actually didn’t have much time to explore Monterey but did enjoy the sunset drive through Carmel By The Sea, and of course the In-N-Out conveniently located right next to our hotel.

FINAL STOP: SAN FRAN

The final destination on our trip up the coast was good ole San Francisco. We drove straight to the Golden Gate Bridge for some sight-seeing before parking the Jeep at the hotel for the evening. Of course we arrived in the city just in time for rush hour, so that was eventful… This was our first time ever staying in a St. Regis and all I have to say is WOW. I had been saving my Marriott points for this trip so it was nice to splurge a little bit on a fancy hotel, especially when they upgraded us to a 1 bedroom suite! Our room had a butler who actually brought coffee for free, so it’s safe to say we had plenty of caffeine during our 18 hour-ish stay. Spoiler alert, we actually drove all the way back down to LA in 1 day to fly home on Randy’s Delta companion ticket, so you probably think we are crazy. I will say the drive back actually went by pretty quickly, and we still had plenty of time to stop a couple of times to take in the scenic views.

Lastly, here are few tips that I wish I would have known before planning this trip:

(1) Confirm it’s not peak fire season, which is not something I would have ever thought about prior. We have been wanting to plan this trip up the coast for a long time and our anniversary week was perfect timing for us.

(2) California is actually very cold in the fall at night so it’s necessary to pack more than 1 jacket.

(3) If you can, start the drive in San Francisco and drive South as we thought the views were better in the opposite direction.

(4) Never believe that a Wharf is actually going to be cool…we learned the hard way that they were tourist traps. #bubbagump

That’s it! Feel free to reach out if you ever have questions or need recommendations for your next trip to Cali.

xoxo,

Trish

Happy Friday! Randy and I spent last weekend traveling to Washington, D.C. for an extended business trip turned weekend getaway. This town is full of memories after Randy lived up here during my last couple semesters of college and I was fortunate enough to be able to visit him at least once a month, #deltababy. Since we have already tackled all of the major sights to see in D.C. over the years, we spent our weekend trying out new places and revisiting old favorites around the different neighborhoods we know and love.

GEORGETOWN

My favorite things about Georgetown are the lavish shopping and insanely gorgeous homes, #goals. In typical Trish fashion, I had our Uber drop us off at the Greenworks Floral Boutique so that I could get the gram in front of a bright pink flower shop (pictured above). In my defense, it was only a couple of blocks away from where we were planning to eat lunch and we were also able to take in all the pretty houses on our way down to M street.

We ate lunch at one of our long time favorites, Pizzeria Paradiso, where we both proceeded to eat our entire pizzas with zero shame. After lunch we walked from M Street down to the Georgetown Waterfront to enjoy some afternoon sunshine and watch the rowers fly down the Potomac River.

DUPONT CIRCLE

We stayed at the Kimpton Topaz Hotel in the Dupont Circle Area. I highly recommend Kimptons across the board, and some of the perks at this hotel included huge rooms, free breakfast and not just one but two free happy hours nightly. I would recommend this hotel if you are trying to get some sleep because our street was surprisingly quiet and I slept like a baby.

We ate the most amazing brunch ever right next door to our hotel at the Tabard Inn. After starting out with a couple rounds of Bellinis and the Tabard Donuts, I indulged on the Chicken & Waffles while Randy thoroughly enjoyed the Eggs Benedict.

We also ventured a little bit north of Dupont into the Adam’s Morgan neighborhood to have lunch at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants Loriol Plaza. As if we didn’t have enough to eat, we then went up the street to Tryst Coffeehouse for lattes and dessert. Randy used to live in AdMo a few years back so it’s always fun to go back and visit because pretty much nothing has changed.

LOGAN CIRCLE

Logan Circle might be one of my new favorite areas of town as it’s the perfect mix of city life with that neighborhood feel. Fun fact, Logan Circle is actually the last remaining residential traffic circle in the city so that’s what I think makes this area so charming. During our visit, we were actually following a list of places to go out on 14th Street recommended by my favorite D.C. blogger, Sweet Tea with Madi. From Madi’s list of recommendations, we only made it to Barcelona Wine Bar and Pearl Dive, where I actually ended up running into her and meeting her which was cool, #fangirl.

We also ventured to check out the Distract Wharf which was packed as expected since the weather was so beautiful on Saturday. We concluded our weekend adventures by spending a relaxing Easter in Alexandria, VA with family. If you have any recommendations for our next D.C. trip, please let me know in the comments!

xoxo,

Trish