A timelapse of the mural I painted for Shaw Yoga in Washington, D.C. The design is original, designed by me in collaboration with the owners.
I’m finally back to the blog after a few months away and I’m excited to share the process for one of my biggest projects to date—my mural for Shaw Yoga!
Now, this timelapse video is definitely not perfect. I had a snafu with my iPad and the longest video of the first part of the mural was deleted, but it’s still really fun to see this come to life. It’s amazing how over 15 hours of work can be condensed into just 3 minutes!
A few huge thank yous to those who made this happen:
To Parker and Liz of Shaw Yoga, thank you so much for this opportunity and for being the most wonderful collaborators! It was a joy to work on this with you both!
To my very sweet husband (who makes several appearances in this video) for spotting me on the ladder, bringing me food, water, a million other things I forgot, and keeping me company late at night.
My wonderful friend Raynie who came and took progress photos of me!
All of you for following along as this project took shape! It has been especially amazing to see so many of you visiting the studio and taking photos with the mural.
I learned so much from this mural and am really hoping to paint more this year. If you have a project in mind, please hit me up! Rates start at $500 (varies based on complexity and size).
P.S. Tomorrow evening, Parker will be choosing the three winners of our joint giveaway. Follow along on Instagram to see if it’s you!
This week’s D.C. illustration is one of my favorite fast casual spots in the city: Shouk!
Desert 2 District Design II Shouk Restaurant in Washington, D.C.
Shouk serves modern Israeli street food and all of it happens to be vegan. There are so many delicious items, but a few of my favorites are the cauliflower bowl, breakfast bowl (featuring an “omelet” made from chickpeas) and the chopped salad. The polenta fries are also delicious and unique. If you like spice, their Harissa sauce is a great addition to any of their dishes.
The location I illustrated is their original, located on K Street NW, in between 6th and 7th. They also recently opened a location in Union Market. Let me know if you check them out!
Ever since I went vegan about a year ago, I have been wanting to try this restaurant, which offers a raw vegan tasting menu every Friday. We celebrated two years as D.C. condo owners in June and Elizabeth’s Gone Raw was the perfect place to celebrate.
Desert 2 District Design II Elizabeth’s Gone Raw illustration
I was totally blown away by each course. My non-vegan husband was equally impressed by the variety and depth of flavors throughout our meal. The setting is also very classic, yet homey, and the service is exceptional. I can’t wait to go back and think this will be my go-to celebration spot from now on.
Scroll through a few of the dishes we were served during our visit. The menu changes constantly so you’ll always be trying something new with each visit. Thank you for a beautiful meal, Elizabeth’s Gone Raw!
Weekly D.C. illustrations are back and I’m starting off with one of my neighborhood favorites— SUNdeVICH!
Desert 2 District II SUNdeVICH sandwich shop in Washington, D.C.
Although our neighborhood has a great selection of higher-end eateries and bars, there are a limited number of fast casual or takeout places. Luckily, the small selection we do have is excellent and that includes this neighborhood sandwich shop. As a plant-based eater, the menu options for me are a little limited, but I LOVE the veggie options they do have. I almost always order the Cairo, which has hummus, cucumber, brined veggies and walnuts. It. Is. Delicious. I have been assured by my omnivore husband that the meat options here are also excellent, so there’s something for everyone.
I also appreciate that SUNdeVICH works to keep things local, with local, fresh-baked bread and locally-sourced produce and meat. They even have their own veggie and herb garden on their roof.
Have you been? If so, what’s your favorite sandwich? I also love getting your recommendations!
Desert 2 District Design II Olde City Farm and Garden
The first day of spring was earlier this week and, even though it snowed that day, it got me excited to visit one of my favorite places in D.C.--Olde City Farm & Garden.
The farm and garden, located on Rhode Island Ave. NW in Shaw, is the perfect outdoor oasis in the middle of the city. I love to go there get away from city life and wander the rows and rows of plants. It's a large space that's full of all kinds of plants--from vegetables to flowers to trees for your landscaping project--and extremely knowledgeable and kind staff. They love what they do and it shows. Their selection also changes with the seasons so you can get pumpkins in the fall and a fresh Christmas tree in the winter.
They also are a wonderful community space as well and they host all kinds of fun events, including yoga classes and arts festivals. You can find me there a few times a year during their festivals, along with other awesome D.C. creatives and local businesses. I'll be updating my fairs & events page with upcoming events soon if you'd like to follow along.
The farm and garden is still closed for the winter, but you won't have to wait long to visit. They reopen at 9am on March 31st. Can't wait to stock up for my spring garden!
Last week, we went to Morris American Bar on a date and we are hooked. We love the whimsical yet classical design, the ambiance and music and, of course, the cocktails.
Located in the Shaw/Mt. Vernon neighborhood of Northwest D.C., Morris is tucked away on 7th Street between New York and L in the Convention Center. It's a small, intimate space that you could miss if not for the fantastic sign that I painted above that greets you and points you in the right direction.
Desert 2 District Design II Morris American Bar
We were seated at a little table in the corner with the BEST hooded rattan chair and a great view of the bar. I love how everything in the bar is this lovely baby The service was fast and attentive. We ordered from the menu (which changes monthly), but they also offer to make a custom drink for you based on your tastes and preferred spirit.
My husband got a play on a Manhattan that was fantastic and I got a champagne mojito. I had never thought that mint and champagne would go together, but it was delicious and would be perfect for a sunny day.
We love this new spot in our neighborhood and will definitely be back to try next month's cocktail menu. I'd definitely recommend stopping in for a cocktail for or two!
