DC House Sit and Philly Trip 08-2024

August 8, 2024 by rachelauthorbarnard in Rachel Barnard and tagged Affogato, Ariake, DC, Dolcezza Gelato, Honeymoon Chicken, Menya Hosaki, Old Ebbitt Grill, Ottoman Tavern, Pat's King of Steaks, Philly, Ted's Bulletin, trip cost, trip planning, Uber, Unconventional Diner, Zaytinya

Starting with the most important information! Where you must go to eat when in DC:

Menya Hosaki (karaage, tonkotsu, and tantan)
Affogato (recommended with pistachio ice cream) at Dolcezza Gelato (904 Palmer Alley NW location)

Thoughts and impressions from our trip 7/26 – 8/4 in Washington D.C.

Not all ride shares use the air conditioning even if it’s over 95 degrees outside
There was a little suitcase without any apparent owner on the bus and someone saw it, immediately told the bus driver, and then got off
There is a price surge for rideshare that can be 3x during the 5-6pm rush hour window
There is a price surge for rideshare that can be 4x when it’s raining out (which creates more traffic)
There are so many bikes, e-bikes, and scooters available to rent everywhere
Capital Bikeshare is a great deal for a day pass at $8 but even for a monthly pass if you can use it more than a day or two
A few blocks’ walk is tough when it’s over 90 degrees out
Sometimes parking can be just as expensive as an Uber (but not more than the bus)
We probably should have gotten a toll pass since we hit more than one toll in one direction and avoided it on the way back but added to our trip time
Food at many of the restaurants we went to came out absurdly fast
The food was more expensive and of higher quality than I was expecting
I regret that we didn’t get to eat Menya Hosaki twice — by the time we tried them they were closed for the remainder of our trip and we couldn’t order from them again
You can make reservations easily for restaurants and cancel within a certain time frame without penalty (and check back for openings that were not there before if you really want to go the day of and there are no more reservations available)

So many of the sightseeing and tourist stops are free! But some require advance reservation (like the Air and Space Museum)
Some of the more secure tourist stops are still free but require advance reservation much sooner than the requirement as they do fill up (White House and Pentagon among other places if you want to go inside)
Many of the museums close before the evening on weekdays
Some of the places to see are not open on weekends or Sundays (like the Supreme Court)
If sightseeing is outside – go early or late to avoid the summer heat
I wish we went to Philly when more places were open and available (Sunday was not the best day)

Other food recommendations:
Zatyinya restaurant – Ayran, bone marrow kibbeh, Turkish coffee chocolate cake
Ottoman tavern – Beyti Kebap
Ariake Japanese restaurant – Eel Cucumber Roll
Unconventional Diner – meatloaf and Lebanese fried rice, pot pie poppers
Ted’s bulletin – street fried corn
Honeymoon chicken – chicken poutine and/or chicken sandwich
Old Ebbitt Grill for dinner – fried oyster deviled eggs, oyster riot burger, melting thin mint dessert drink, and peanut butter pie

Avoid these:
The Baklava Pie at Gypsy Kitchen (an insult to Baklava everywhere)
The Kebab platter at Zaytinya (oddly spiced, a bit dry, and not worth eating)
Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken (expensive and meh food)
Tsehay Ethiopian Restaurant & Bar (overpriced food that wasn’t that great)

Other stats and thoughts:

We tried out 24 unique restaurants/cafes
We spent a day in Philadelphia and hit at least 3 tolls on our way from DC to Philly
We took 15 Ubers and rode the bus twice
Had to purchase large band-aids, Neosporin, and nail clippers that we didn’t bring
We spent 4 nights in a hotel downtown and 5 nights at a house sit with two lovely Ragdolls just North of the city

Actual Spending for Dual Income No Kids Trip to DC, including a day trip to Philly

Category	Spent	% of trip cost
Food, Snacks, Groceries, Consumables	$1691	37%
Airfare (United)	$1150	25%
Hotel 4 nights	$844	18%
Car Rental Avis 8 days	$300	7%
Parking & Tolls & gas	$296	6%
Transportation (Uber, bus)	$241	5%
Misc., Souvenirs	$49	1%
Entertainment – tourist activities	$29	1%
	$4600

DC activities planning chart

Activity	Notes	Hours	Cost	In/Out
White House	Landmark, historic home & office of the United States president, with tours for visitors. 45-minute self-guided public tours must get timed entry 21-90 days advance notice for tours My rep: Michael T. McCaul	Public tours are typically available from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday	Free	In
Pentagon	Tours requested 14-90 days in advance (booked up for the next 5 weeks so book 6+ weeks in advance) Fill out visitor registration form in advance (7 days prior) Tour is 60 minutes, 1.5 miles https://pfpa.experience.crmforce.mil/PortalTour/s/tour-creation	10AM – 4PM Monday – Thursday, 12pm – 4PM Friday	Free	in
Diplomatic Reception Room Tours	Monday – Friday 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, and 2:45 PM Arrive 30 mins. Before tour https://iipstate.my.site.com/drrtours/s/		Free	in
U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing	Requires reservation		Free
The Kennedy Center	https://www.kennedy-center.org/visit/Tour/ Daily tours every 15 minutes	Mon. – Fri. 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sat. & Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.	Free	In
The Supreme Court	https://www.supremecourt.gov/visiting/visiting.aspx Self-Guided Tours	Monday – Friday (except Federal Holidays) 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Closed on Saturday and Sunday	Free	In
Washington Monument	A Landmark obelisk rising from the National Mall that honors America’s first president.	9AM – 5PM	$1	Out
Lincoln Memorial	Parthenon-inspired tribute to Abraham Lincoln with a 19-ft. marble statue, murals & reflecting pool.	24 hours	Free	Out
World War II Memorial	An iconic outdoor memorial honoring the 16 million Americans who served during World War II.	24 hours	Free	Out
National Mall	Washington Monument plus memorials to Lincoln, MLK, FDR, WWII & Vietnam vets along a grassy mall.	24 hours	Free	Out
Vietnam/Korea Memorial	Monument to Vietnam War service, featuring a wall with over 58,000 names of dead & missing soldiers.	24 hours	Free	Out
MLK Jr. Memorial	Memorial pays tribute to slain civil rights leader near where he delivered “I Have a Dream” speech.	24 hours	Free	Out
Smithsonian Air and Space Museum	Museum documenting the history of aviation & space exploration, with displays of vehicles & more.	10AM – 5:30PM	Free	In
Smithsonian National Museum	Artifact exhibits & modern interactive displays examine the history & culture of Native Americans. No tickets required	10AM – 5:30PM	Free	In
Washington National Cathedral	Grand, storied cathedral with stained glass, organ recitals & scenic vistas from the top. https://cathedral.org/calendar/wind-down-wednesdays/	10AM – 3PM/5PM	$15	In
Planet Word	19th-century building home to immersive exhibits & karaoke sessions dedicated to the spoken word.	10AM – 4PM/5PM/6PM	Free	In
The U.S. Capital and Library of Congress	This federal cultural institution is the world’s biggest library & features tours, talks & concerts. Advance tickets are available 1 month at a time https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1038417/timedentry-ticket-reservations-washington-thomas-jefferson-building	10AM – 5PM W/F/Sat/Tues 10AM – 8PM Thursday Closed Sunday-Monday	Free	In
Union Market	Warehouse-like food market with a host of artisans offering charcuterie, empanadas, gelato & more.	8AM – 9PM		In
National Archives Museum	https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/234645	10AM – 5:30PM	Free	In
9:30 Club	Enduring, intimate rock concert venue with shows, dancing, a pub food menu & beer.	Open 24 hours	$25-$37	In
Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden	The sculpture garden closed atm	10AM – 4:30PM	Free	In

Further cost breakdown and schedule:

Day	Date	Location	Type	Description	Price
Friday	7/26	NA	Uber Bus	Uber to airport	$31
		ATX airport	Food	Airport voucher meals	$21
		ATX to IAD	Transportation	Fly from AUS to DCA	$1150
		Avis IAD	Transportation	Car rental for 9 days	$300
		DCA	Transportation	Parking downtown in/out 4 days	$169
		DCA	Hotel	Hilton Garden Inn 4 nights	$844
Saturday	7/27	DCA	Transportation	Capital Bikeshare Day Pass x2	$16
		DCA	Entertainment	Mega Lucario Raid Day	$0
		DCA	Food	Farmer’s Market Cocoi’s Taste of Philippines (guava donut, caramel flan donut, brown sugar drink, and sweet corn pudding)	$27
		DCA	Food	Farmer’s Market Turkish Baklava	$7
		DCA	Food	Zaytinya restaurant: still water, 2 semi-sweet Turkish coffee, Ayran, Sprite, karpuzi me feta, hunkar begendi, bone marrow kibbeh, kebab platter, and Turkish coffee chocolate cake	$174
		DCA	Groceries	WaWa: water, milk, OJ, and cookies	$12
		DCA	Groceries	Whole Foods: Allagash white beer and water	$23
		DCA	Entertainment	Bike around the White House, National Mall, Reflecting Pool, Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, Korean War Veteran’s Memorial, MLK Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial	$0
Sunday	7/28	Philly	Food	Dunkin’ Iced Latte	$5
		Philly	Transportation	DCA to Philly tolls	$13
		Philly	Transportation	Rental car toll upcharge	$24
		Philly	Transportation	Hilton Garden Inn Garage for walking around the Reading Terminal Market	$4
		Philly	Food	Kamal’s Mediterranean (in the market) Halva milkshake, kibbi, and meat pie	$27
		Philly	Transportation	Rocky Steps and statue near parking	$2.50
		Philly	Misc	Rocky Gift shop shirt for Jon	$33
		Philly	Transportation	Autopark at Independence Mall	$24
		Philly	Entertainment	Independence Mall Visitor’s Center	$0
		Philly	Entertainment	Liberty Bell	$0
		Philly	Uber Bus	Uber to cheesesteak area	$10
		Philly	Food	Geno’s Steaks (fries and soda, cheesesteak cash only)	$27
		Philly	Groceries	Supermarket drinks	$6
		Philly	Food	Pat’s cheesesteak for small fish cake and original cheesesteak)	$21
		Philly	Uber Bus	Uber back to the parked ca	$10
		Philly	Transportation	Drive DC to Philly	$0
		Philly	Food	Dunkin for coolatta and donut	$8
Monday	7/29	DCA	Food	Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken (4 donuts – Crème Brulee, Chocolate, PB&J, and jelly-filled along with a fried chicken biscuit $38.62)	$39
		DCA	Food	Gong Cha Early Grey and Milk tea with boba ($15.02)	$15
		DCA	Food	6PM reservation Unconventional Diner $108.92	$109
		DCA	Food	Dolccezza gelato ($18)	$18
Tuesday	7/30	DCA	House Sit	House sit	$0
		DCA	Food	Elle brunch (quiche, latte, goat cheesecake, Reuben sandwich ($66.56	$67
		DCA	Transportation	Drive to Trader Joe’s	$0
		DCA	Food	Ted’s Bulletin for dinner (truffle mac n cheese, fried calamari, shrimp tacos, and crab cakes benedict for ~$71	$71
		DCA	Groceries	Trader Joe’s groceries ($34.21)	$34
		DCA	Entertainment	6:45PM – 7:45PM POLETRY INT/ADV ($28.62)	$29
		DCA	Groceries	CVS for supplies $18.50	$19
		DCA	Uber Bus	Uber home $9.22	$9
Wednesday	7/31	DCA	Food	Honeymoon Chicken for lunch (~$100 for 2-piece chicken tenders with rolls, chicken sandwich, mac n’ cheese, chicken poutine, and lobster sliders)	$100
		DCA	Uber Bus	Uber downtown ($13.70)	$14
		DCA	Food	Old Ebbitt Grill for dinner ($157.50 for 2 raw oysters, fried oyster deviled eggs, crab cake single, oyster riot burger, Irish coffee, melting thin mint, and peanut butter pie)	$158
		DCA	Uber Bus	Uber Home ($12)	$12
Thursday	8/1	DCA	Uber Bus	Bus to dinner ($2.25×2)	$5
		DCA	Food	Café Divan dinner	$136
		DCA	Entertainment	AMC movie	$0
		DCA	Uber Bus	Uber back home $11	$11
Friday	8/2	DCA	Food	La Tejana 6 tacos for $24 ($26.40)	$26
		DCA	Food	Tsehay Ethiopian Restaurant & Bar $53 (Ye Belay (Superior) Medium Rare / Leb leb and Injera	$53
		DCA	Food	DC Boba $22 (sea salt coffee and bubble milk tea)	$22
		DCA	Uber Bus	Uber to dinner	$7
		DCA	Food	Lullabelle’s waiting for dinner affogato	$7
		DCA	Food	Entitlement Lounge waiting for dinner drinks Dark and smoky and 829 mojito	$23
		DCA	Food	Menya hosaki karaage, tonkotsu, and tantan	$64
		DCA	Groceries	Yes! Organic Market for dried fruit and 2 pints of Mcallan’s ice cream (peanut butter and vanilla)	$24
		DCA	Uber Bus	Uber back to house sit	$9
Saturday	8/3	DCA	Uber Bus	Bus downtown	$5
		DCA	Entertainment	Smithsonian museum of natural history	$0
		DCA	Misc.	Gift shop fry bread and milk chocolate chips	$16
		DCA	Entertainment	Sculpture garden	$0
		DCA	Food	Gordon pizza	$55
		DCA	Uber Bus	Uber to Dolcezza	$7
		DCA	Food	Dolcezza affogato x2	$22
		DCA	Uber Bus	Uber home	$12
		DCA	Uber Bus	Uber to dinner	$28
		DCA	Food	Ottoman tavern for Icli Kofte, raki, Ayran, and Beyti Kebap	$81
		DCA	Uber Bus	Uber to Gypsy Kitchen	$11
		DCA	Food	Gypsy Kitchen Gypsy Dragon drink and Baklava pie we didn’t like and didn’t eat	$30
		DCA	Food	Ted’s Bulletin for a Glazed Donut	$5
		DCA	Uber Bus	Uber home	$12
Sunday		DCA	Transportation	Gas at Exxon	$43
		DCA	Food	Ariake Japanese restaurant Lion King Roll, Eel Cucumber Roll, Ariake Roll, Rainbow Roll, Dragon Roll, Super Dynamite Roll	$145
		DCA	Food	Airport snack Dunkin’ 2 donuts and an iced coffee	$10
		ATX	Uber Bus	Uber Airport to home	$48

Book Review: Atomica: Between Sea and Sky by Heather McKenzie

July 8, 2024 by rachelauthorbarnard in Book Review and tagged Atomica: Between Sea and Sky, fantasy, Heather McKenzie, Science Fiction

Atomica: Between Sea and Sky by Heather McKenzie

A Fantasy/Sci-Fi Novel published by House of Hebyzie (08/27/24)

Summary:

“If you’re not doing things the hard way, then you’re not living…” (Page 40, ebook).
“Never judge based on appearances. Sometimes the most unassuming can be the deadliest.” (Page 114, ebook).

Eva is a protector. Even when she fails in her duty and is captured, her loyalty and determination do not falter. Kade is a hunter on a mission. When Eva and Kade are shipwrecked together, they will be forced to rely on each other to survive. But it’s not just the two of them on the island. Mysterious forces, harsh weather, deadly animals, and the villainous Raiders stand between them and their survival.

Keywords:

Capture, Escape, Hiding, Secrets, Mission, Mind, Protection, Shelter, Island, Power, Fight

My Review:

In a perfect mashup between fantasy and science fiction, I’m compelled by both main characters Eva and Kade. They both have a strong, compelling, nearly single-minded purpose. In the beginning, we learn that Kade’s and Eva’s missions are at odds with the other’s. And then they meet. When will they discover what the other is hiding and how will that turn out when they are slowly becoming more and more reliant and trusting of each other? I couldn’t put the book down until the inevitable happened. The build-up to the end was a slow burn of constant tension that kept me at the edge of my seat frantically turning pages.

It annoyed me that Kade could quiet down the force that propelled him to his mission at all costs when he didn’t believe he was laser-focused on the end goal. He knew he was getting sidetracked by Eva. I didn’t believe him when he tried to persuade the force that what he was doing would ultimately serve the end goal. I’m waiting to see how this force and Kade’s free will ultimately clash.

My favorite character, though, was the conflicted Rowan of the Raiders. We see him through Eva’s story as he doesn’t have his own narrative. One of Eva’s first encounters with him shows that he is not who he appears to be. This mystery pulled me to the end almost as much as the tension between Eva and Kade and the survival story that ties the characters together.

I’m excited to see where this story goes next and what is going to happen to Rowan, Eva, Kade, and Zolaya.

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this story in exchange for my honest review.

This novel will be published by House of Hebyzie on 08/27/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.50

Links for more information:

Heather McKenzie’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: The Love Position by Evie Alexander

July 5, 2024 by rachelauthorbarnard in Book Review and tagged Contemporary, Evie Alexander, Romance, the love position

The Love Position by Evie Alexander

A Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (07/23/24)

Summary:

“People who do bad things are very good at hiding what they do, and we’re so trusting because it would never occur for us to beave the same way.” (Page 352, Kindle Edition).

Sophia Hunter-Savage has been through a lot lately! After discovering yoga with the local hot yet unavailable Isaac, she decides to spend her summer on a remote island for an intense yoga instructor training course. Isaac doesn’t want to break his vow and his new student Sophia has awakened in him something he hasn’t felt in years. He runs away to his ashram to get away from temptation and back on the path of inner peace. But Sophia’s new yoga course and Isaac’s ashram are one and the same and neither can deny the forbidden attraction.

Keywords:

Romance, Contemporary, Standalone, HEA, Forced Proximity, Steamy, Yoga, Retreat

My Review:

Talk about toxic environments! This yoga intensive seems so far from what I think of as the practice of yoga. How ironic for Sophia that she just wanted something relaxing to focus on for the summer and this ‘retreat’ is anything but. I remember the shy and keeping-to-herself Sophia as a brief character in other Foxbrook novels. What I recall of her is that she wouldn’t stand up for herself and she’s been thrust into an environment so difficult to get through. The rules of the yoga retreat are terrible and seem so counter to health and happiness. Sophia will have to go through so much to discover what she’s made of and how much she’ll take before speaking up and out. Is there a fine line between discipline, rigorous practice, and being at peace and one with others? It is places like this Ashram and the leader who give yoga communities a bad name. This place is more like a cult than a community. Even the less timid best friend Sophia makes at the retreat, Jessica, doesn’t fight back against some of the rules. They did pay a lot of money to be there, so it must be worth it? When the abusive relationship between this Ashram and its students is finally broken, it was so satisfying!

I liked how this Caribbean setting really gives Sophia the chance to have her story. Her family and the Foxbrook crew are so lively and larger-than-life that Sophia would fade into side character territory in their midst. Sophia shows real grit and perseverance at this yoga retreat, to the detriment of her health and happiness. In the end, everything turns out alright.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 07/23/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

Links for more information

Goodreads

Book Review: Bitterroot: A Novel by Suzy Vitello

June 18, 2024 by rachelauthorbarnard in Book Review, Local Authors and tagged bitterroot, Fiction, Suzy Vitello

Bitterroot: A Novel by Suzy Vitello

A Socio-Political Fiction Novel published 5/21/2024 by Sibylline Press

Summary:

In a small town in the Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho, Hazel works as a forensic artist. She mostly keeps to herself but is suddenly thrust into the midst of her brother’s chaotic struggle. Kento and his partner are using a surrogate to have a baby. In Idaho. With an ex-girlfriend who is married. What could go wrong in a conservative town full of anti-LGBTQIA sentiment and guns?

Keywords:

Crimes, abortion laws, LGBTQIA rights, prejudice, suspense, racism, same-sex marriage, rights, romance, second chances, grief, familial drama

My Review:

The main character Hazel can diffuse so many potentially violent situations but the chaos just keeps coming into her life. She is still processing her childhood trauma when her husband suddenly and abruptly dies. Thrust into this new grief, it’s fascinating to watch Hazel navigate her new life. And then again her life is thrust into chaos when Kento, her brother, decides to get involved with an ex-girlfriend who is still married. Why would he choose someone like her to be a surrogate? Corinda, the ex, seems highly unstable and unpredictable and yet the author humanizes her through Hazel. I feel exasperated by the situation. It becomes harder and harder to blame Corinda though, as more and more of the story and past unfolds. Each character is complex, layered, and both a product of the environment and their conservative upbringing. In this way, the characters come to life as real people with real lives and real motivations.

The story, more than the characters, is larger than life as the chaos unfolds. I was riveted by the story. What could possibly happen next? It all seems unreal but makes sense in the context of the setting and the community the author crafts in this fictional small town. Step across the border from Washington into Idaho and you step into a different world. A world with fewer rights for LGBTQIA folks. A world with a different political and social atmosphere. A world with different laws and legislation.

There are so many themes/sub-plots intertwined that I had so much to think about as I was reading and getting sidetracked by the main story. I could probably have an hours-long discussion of all the myriad issues brought up in this book, including same-sex marriage and rights, grief and death, family drama, small-town struggles, and LGBTQIA rights and struggles.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced novel with multi-faceted characters and striking setting.

This novel was published by Sibylline Press on 5/21/24 and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 5.00

Links for more information:

Suzy Vitello’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: Uglier by Kelly Vincent

June 4, 2024 by rachelauthorbarnard in Book Review and tagged coming of age, Kelly Vincent, Ugly, young adult

Uglier by Kelly Vincent

A YA Novel published by KV BOOKS LLC (08/01/23)

Summary:

Nic is back – this time at a boarding school in Oklahoma City. Still mistaken for a boy, even in the bigger city, Nic is still discovering her own identity and who she wants to be. This is the fresh start she’s been wanting, but there are new growing pains in this new environment.

Keywords:

YA, Contemporary, Bullying, Gender Nonconforming, Identity, Art, Introvert, Questioning, Labels, LGBTQ+ themes

My Review:

“My mere existence seemed to be a problem for some people.” (Kindle Edition).

Nic’s perspective continues to be true, full of anxiety, and full of heartbreak. Her thoughts still skew negative and anxious but with tones of hope and self-bolstering. Within the new school, she knows that she has the opportunity to rewrite her story a bit, to be more confident, to be perceived differently even if people try to push her into a box. Continuously, Nic is mistaken for a boy (especially given her height), multiple times in the very first chapter and throughout the novel as well as in different places and contexts. It’s sad to think that there are places where people are still shocked at those who dress more androgenously or don’t conform to societal ‘norms’ for female or male presenting selves. I do disagree with Nic that ‘normal’ girls always wear makeup but perhaps that was my upbringing.

There were multiple aspects of gender and identity presented in this book and all of Nic’s new friends were part of the LGBTQ+ spectrum. I liked how this book dived deeper into different experiences and how the characters’ lives were affected by their gender identities. “This was the whole problem with the binary, and the way other people felt like they had the right to determine your gender.” (Kindle Edition). I loved that there are multiple fiction books mentioned that also touch on themes of identity.

It was neat to see Nic grow in this second novel and I can’t wait to read more of their journey in book three of the series.

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this story in exchange for my honest review.

This novel was published by KV BOOKS LLC on 08/01/2023 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.00

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Kelly Vincent’s Website

Book Review: The Upper Crush by Evie Alexander

April 17, 2024 by rachelauthorbarnard in Book Review and tagged Contemporary, Evie Alexander, Romance, The Upper Crush

The Upper Crush by Evie Alexander

A Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (04/17/24)

Summary:

“Because we’re leaping into the unknown and hoping the other person will be there to catch us.” (Kindle edition, 94%).

Lady Estelle and James must work together to make the Foxbrooke festival a success for both their sakes. Estelle knows James to be a bully while James secretly likes Estelle but doesn’t think she’ll be able to see past his reputation. Can Estelle keep herself in check or will her personality and feelings get in the way of the festival planning? Can James redeem himself in her eyes so that she sees him as anything other than a bully?

Keywords:

Romance, Contemporary, Standalone, HEA, Enemies to Lovers, Small Town, Lady, Estate, Rich, Forced Proximity

My Review:

I love a good slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance with dueling POV. The book includes some other good romance tropes like forced proximity, small town, bully turned nice guy, and a bit of love at first sight.

I loved the main characters. I loved the side characters. I even loved the animals/pets. Both Estelle and James are the main characters you can’t believe are single but also can very much understand why they are single. They are both stubborn, strong, and big personality types. Both characters have a different but similar purpose intertwined with their forced proximity situation. They each also had their own backstory that made them very compelling. I really liked how both main characters were completely independent people and didn’t need the other to complete themselves, which made their love even more captivating. They have their flaws but are also the most caring and heartfelt people. Estelle will not hesitate to stand up and protect a woman she thinks is being abused. James will go out of his way for others without a second thought.

The romantic element makes this book so good, especially the slow buildup of the enemies-to-lovers romance that makes the eventual romance so very satisfying. The sexual attraction is always there, even from the beginning. There are a lot of falling-in-love montage moments and overcoming inevitable obstacles before getting to the first of the steamy parts.

The plot holds together the romance well and the dialogue is witty and super fun to read. The climax felt real and well-integrated into the story’s plot and the ending was satisfying with its HEA.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 04/17/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

Links for more information

Goodreads

Houston Space Center NASA VIP Tour

March 26, 2024 by rachelauthorbarnard in Rachel Barnard and tagged Apollo Mission Control Center, Crew Systems Laboratory, ISS Mission Control, NASA, Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory, Space Center Houston, VIP tour

Space Center Houston in the morning before the general public opening

NASA VIP Tour – Mission Control: Crew Systems Laboratory

NASA VIP Tour – Mission Control: Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory

NASA VIP Tour – Mission Control: Apollo Mission Control Center

NASA VIP Tour – Mission Control: ISS Mission Control

NASA VIP Tour – Astronaut Training: NBL

NASA VIP Tour – Astronaut Training: Astronaut Training Facility

NASA VIP Tour – Astronaut Training: Jake Garn Simulation and Training Facility

Would I recommend the Astronaut Training Tour? Yes.

Would I recommend the Mission Control Tour? Yes.

If you can only do one, which would I choose? Mission Control Center, but the Astronaut Training is a close second!

Was it worth the price? $200/each person for each tour but still yes!

What was my favorite part? live ISS feed from the Mission Control Center, holding the $2 million astronaut glove, and the Neutral Buoyancy Lab pool.

What would I change? – add on for astronaut breakfast prior to the tour as the time conflicts with the start of the first tour.

SXSW Austin 2024 Volunteer Experience

March 20, 2024 by rachelauthorbarnard in Rachel Barnard and tagged Anne Hathaway, Austin, Crew, Exhibitions, SXSW, The Idea of You, Volunteer

A badge costs how much!!?? I had no idea that a person would spend that much money on one ticket. And what exactly is SXSW (and is it acceptable to write it out as South by Southwest)?

In my own words: SXSW is a combo conference and festival that is a two-week long party with music, comedy, film premiers, several big exhibits, speakers, interactive media, panels, networking get-togethers, and straight-up parties with free alcohol and food.

Door/walk up price for the top-tier badge (platinum) was $2095 but if you get your badge for next year it is on sale now for $1365 (limited presale). There are several tiers of badges/tickets. It’s all a bit chaotic and there’s so much going on. As a volunteer, I was granted a film/tv, music, or interactive badge for my 44 hours of volunteering during the festival (minimum requirements are 40 for this second tier badge or 56 for the platinum badge and an additional 6 for an EDU badge add-on). It gets confusing fast when you’re new. There is also the option to just get an EDU badge with 24 hours of volunteering if you can’t commit to the 40+ but you won’t get as much access with an EDU badge.

I love volunteering and volunteering for SXSW 2023 was no exception. This year I chose the Exhibitions Crew (you choose a crew and stick with that crew for the duration of your volunteer hours). I was wavering between Catering, Exhibitions, and Sessions but due to my own time constraints, I went with the Exhibitions Crew. Sign up early to get the crew and the shifts that you want! I went to the volunteer call on the second day and there were already shifts that were unavailable by then (1/22).

Pros to volunteering with Exhibitions: you can front stack your volunteer hours since they operate during the first weekend before EDU starts. The hours were not earlier than 7:30AM and not later than 9PM. If you want a calmer experience you can opt for “load in” days and handle the setup for the festival instead of interacting with the SXSW people. Exhibition shifts were all indoors in the mostly climate-controlled convention center or Fairmont hotel next door. Our crew leaders and managers were awesome to work with and the other volunteers were enthusiastic and interesting people to be around. It was all-around a calm environment where I got to hear so many fun SXSW stories from past years and get the scoop on how to make the most of my time. I loved getting an hour for breaks so I could get a feel for downtown during the festival and have enough time to eat and socialize.

Cons to volunteering: public transit is not ideal for volunteer hours and shift start/end times. The metro train runs every 40 minutes and the local bus transfer I had to take was not consistent or reliable. You are not supposed to use your badge perks on the same days that you volunteer. With the amount of hours required to get your badge, it’s difficult to find the time to use your badge and your perks, especially if you don’t live downtown or won’t commit to hanging out downtown on your off-volunteer days (ie have day job).

From the many people I talked to while volunteering, in lines waiting to get into venues, and walking around the festival, I got the sense that it was a busy year. Many people expressed disappointment that they couldn’t get into movies, parties, lounges, events, sessions/panels, etc. Rooms reached capacity as soon as they let people in and to me, it seemed like the downtown area was full of street chaos. If I had paid for my badge, I would have been disappointed at how difficult it was to get into events, especially hot events like the Civil War premier, The Fall Guy premier, any party/event with free alcohol and/or food, and speakers like Meghan Markle, Kirsten Dunst, Selena Gomez, Elijah Wood, Seth Green, Dylan Mulvaney, Jay Shetty, Justice, The Black Keys, Mike Judge, Judd Apatow, Ashley Judd, Brooke Shields, Jane Fonda and Janelle Monae. With possible red carpet appearances by Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Riley Keogh, Ryan Gosling, Dev Patel, Nicolas Cage, Willem Dafoe, Peter Sarsgaard, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marisa Tomei, Jon Bon Jovi, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, Mark Wahlberg, LeBron James and Travis Kelce.

I spent over an hour in line with my ‘free’ yet still standby line ticket for the Industry party but had to bail because my local bus wasn’t running past a certain hour even though the metro train had expanded hours. I made several buddies in that line and watched as one dared another to sneak in the back door. I later saw one of those line buddies as I was monitoring the door to the Creative Industries Expo (CIE) later that week and said hi.

Some people experience SXSW luck – not just when preparation meets opportunity but when you are around the right place and make friends with the right people. Someone happened to bump into Anne Hathaway in the bathroom while we were waiting for the premiere of The Idea of You to start. I saw one of my neighbors while volunteering. One of the volunteers got a wristband to get into Trevor Noah’s live podcast event by walking up to the right person at the right time. By keeping my eyes and ears peeled I was able to score free C4, free Prime, free Red Bull, free Siete chips, and a free Voodoo Doughnut. I was a little late to RSVP to events that required advance tickets but if I’d been more on the ball I could have gotten access to even more free nibbles and drinks. As it was, even with my $1300 badge, I was stuck in standby-esque lines anytime I wanted to try going to an event with something free in it.

A short list of what I was able to experience at SXSW 2024:

Creative Industries Expo including Battle Bots
Registrant Lounge with free samples and 5* bathrooms
Equality Lounge with free drinks (not high in alcohol content but delicious) and appetizers
Funk Factory event by Pourri with lots of easy-to-grab Poo-Pourri travel-sized packs
Health & Medtech Happy Hour with an ‘open bar’ and appetizers (after waiting in line for 40 minutes)
A tour of the XR expo and EDU expo before they opened to the public during load in
Film premiere of The Idea of You (in the last 10 rows of the theatre after waiting in line for 2 hours)

I would volunteer again but would probably choose a Film and TV badge. I would RSVP and get tickets well in advance of the festival so I could go to some of the networking/parties and actually get into those events. I would try to make time to come to SXSW as a participant on a weekday and not just on the weekend. I would try to catch at least one music performance. I would try out the shuttle and check out other venues. I would carpool with other volunteers, if possible, to cut down transit time from 90 minutes to the 18-25 it takes to get from my house to downtown.

I would never pay for a badge – the value just isn’t there unless you are press or have good connections. A badge doesn’t grant you front-of-line status, it’s just another way to access SXSW events. Even Platinum badge holders have to wait in lines and won’t always get into events, sessions, and films. Just like going to Disney, going to SXSW is outside the reality of normal value per use. You won’t always get what you want but if you are strategic about what you are willing to spend time in line for, you can get into some buzzy events and be the cool kid. Then again, in a venue of 1300 people, if they all laugh at a joke the sound is deafening enough to drown out the next line of dialogue in a movie so I think I’ll have to watch that movie again when it comes out in May.

Birthday Freebies – Austin 2024

January 30, 2024 by rachelauthorbarnard in Rachel Barnard and tagged Alamo Drafthouse, AMC, birthday, birthday freebie, Culinary Dropout, Dutch Bros, Jeni's, Panera, Sprinkles, Starbucks, Ulta Beauty

Using this handy dandy local person’s spreadsheet, I picked out the rewards I wanted and the places I would go this year for my birthday freebies!

Day-of Starbucks drink: Treinta Pistachio Cold Brew with Chocolate Cream Foam and Extra Pistachio Cream Foam, no ice, 2 vanilla syrup and 2 pistachio sauce

Dutch Bros the week after my birthday: iced cold brew with protein milk in their largest size

Free soda drink and free large popcorn at AMC the month of my birthday

Any pastry from Panera: I chose their croissant because I wanted to make it into an avocado and tomato sandwich at home

Jeni’s scoop of ice cream: I chose chocolate in a waffle bowl

Sprinkles: I tried out their gluten-friendly red velvet cupcake

Culinary Dropout – one dessert: I chose their Mississippi Mud Pie

Ulta Beauty – one sample size of their Good Genes

Not pictured – Alamo Drafthouse free treat: 3-Cookies

Book Review: Ruthless Ends (The Marionettes Book 4) by Katie Wismer

January 26, 2024 by rachelauthorbarnard in Book Review and tagged Katie Wismer, paranormal, Ruthless Ends, The Marionettes, Urban Fantasy

Ruthless Ends (The Marionettes Book 4) by Katie Wismer

A Dark Urban Fantasy Novel published by Ahimsa Press (10/22/23)

Summary:

“The bond is pulled taut, like we’re each gripping one end and holding on for dear life.” (Kindle edition, 6%).

Valerie’s blood magic is changing. Her life is still in chaos. She must decide if she’s going to be the one to fight and if that will cost her too much or if the sacrifices will be worth it in the end.

Keywords:

Urban Fantasy, Vampires, Witches, Paranormal, Romance, Sacrifice, Blood, Attack, Mystery, Friendship, Family, Love, Gothic Fiction, New Adult

My Review:

This fourth book of the series starts where book three left off and if you aren’t reading them one after the other it may take you some time to get re-aclimated into the turmoil and chaos that is Valerie’s life. Even though I didn’t remember all the characters and their stories thus far, I was propelled along by the action and the plot. It felt like this book was building up to a grand ending and I wasn’t getting stuck in the details along the way.

I absolutely am enthralled with the world-building in this series. I don’t typically read this genre but Katie Wismer has sucked me into the world of the Darkmoors, vampires, and all the creatures in between. My favorite part was the newly introduced storyline of darker magic and the shadow world. If you are a fan of the movie Us then you will be as fascinated by the shadow world as I am.

There was one steamy/spicy scene that I felt was out of place to read but guess it made sense as it related to Valerie and her declining mental state. This book felt like less romance and more thriller/horror and the steamy romance didn’t feel like it belonged as well as it did in the first book.

This novel was published by Ahimsa Press 10/22/23 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.00

Links for more information:

Katie Wismer’s Website

Goodreads

Rachel Author Barnard

Author, Reviewer, Donut Enthusiast

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Book Review: Ruthless Ends (The Marionettes Book 4) by Katie Wismer