DMV Matchbooks

Founded in 1831, Denison University is a liberal arts near Columbus, Ohio. Interesting bit of trivia: the campus was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, the landscape architect responsible for Central Park, the U.S. Capitol, and close to my heart, the Louisville park system.

This matchbook painting was commissioned for a wedding gift for, I assume, Denison alum.

(100 West College Street, Granville, Ohio)

This one was a custom order wedding gift (their friends were married at The Little Club). The Little Club was established in 1968 on the legendary polo fields of Gulf Stream and they have a lovely golf course. Congratulations to the happy couple!

(100 Little Club Road, Gulf Stream, Florida)

I'll be at the Old Town waterfront tomorrow (Saturday, August 17 at King and Union) from about 10am-4pm. Come say hello!

I'll be INSIDE the Torpedo Factory tonight (Friday 7-10pm) AND tomorrow (Saturday 10am-4pm). Will have large original paintings with me.

Pop Up at the Torpedo Factory Art Center Second Friday Event in Old Town Alexandria this Friday, August 9th✨7-10pm✨

In addition to seeing all the amazing resident artists, you can shop a variety of local Old Town Alexandria artists, makers and creators:
Laurel Prucha Moran, Blue Room Studio
DMV Matchbooks

Calmconnectwell schmeling
Made in ALX
and more!

I look forward to seeing you on this weekend!🩵

O'Sullivan's Irish Pub is a much loved Irish Pub in Arlington with trivia on Wednesdays and live music on Fridays and Saturdays. Opened in 2006, this family owned and operated pub boasts more than 130 whiskeys and offers traditional Irish fare like sausage and mash, fish and chips, and beef and Guinness stew.

(3207 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201)

The name Busboys and Poets refers to American poet Langston Hughes, who worked as a busboy at the Wardman Park Hotel in the 1920s, prior to gaining recognition as a poet. (from the Busboys and Poets website)

This matchbook was for a custom print but our family also enjoys Busboys and Poets with the shrimp & grits being my favorite, my husband is a big fan of the vegan “tuna” salad sandwich, harira soup is Child2’s go-to order , and Child3 LOVES the black beans & wild rice. Love that the menu clearly marks vegetarian and vegan options. And the cocktail menu is full of witty, yummy drinks like DC Tapwater.

(2021 14th St NW, U Street Corridor | Washington, DC; 450 K St NW, Mount Vernon Triangle | Washington, DC; 625 Monroe St SE, Brookland | Washington, DC; 235 Carroll St NW, Takoma Park | Washington, DC; 2004 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, Anacostia | Washington, DC; 5331 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville, MD; 4251 S Campbell Ave, Shirlington | Arlington, VA; and 6251 Mango Tree Rd, Columbia, MD)

This one went on a custom order for Arlington favorites. Crisp & Juicy - Arlington has been open since 1989 and serves Peruvian chicken with a choice of sauces (Hot (pink), Mild (yellow), dark green (chimichurri), and light green (Jalapeño).

(4540 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA; 7520 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA; 1331-G Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD; 1305 W 7th St, Frederick, MD; 18312 Contour Rd, Gaithersburg, MD; 3800 International Dr, Leisure World | Silver Spring, MD)

I’ve mentioned Pizzeria Paradiso on International Women’s Day as a much-loved example of a local, woman-owned/led restaurant and was thrilled when someone asked me to paint it for a custom matchbook print.

Open in various iterations since 1991, award-winning Pizzeria Paradiso makes the kind of pizza where the crust is the most important part. An example of their interesting toppings is their July special pizza of ricotta mixed with roasted peaches and apricots, basil, and prosciutto. Some locations house Birreria Paradiso (artisanal beer) and/or Game Rooms.

(3282 M St NW, Georgetown | Washington, DC; 2003 P St NW, Dupont Circle | Washington, DC; 4850 Mass Ave NW, Spring Valley | Washington, DC; 4800 Rhode Island Ave, Hyattsville, MD)

The tag line is “DC's home for Chicago and Detroit Expats. And people who like to drink. And eat hot dogs. And baseball. And also drink.”

Only thing I’ll add is they partner with and host bi-monthly social runs/walks (next one is July 31).

(The person who requested I paint this matchbook decided their t-shirt graphic perfectly captured the vibe of restaurant so kudos to the artist who created it!)

(1537 7th St NW, Washington, DC)

A new matchbooks for a custom print: Brasserie Cantillon (also home to the Brussels Museum of the Gueuze [a type of lambic, a Belgian beer {yes, I had to look that up}])

That man on their logo has me very worried!

(rue Gheude 56, Brussels, Belgium)

“Making butter since 1987” How awesome is that tag line???

This is another new matchbook for a custom print. Obelisk has been serving seasonally inspired 5 course meals in a 1930s row house in Dupont Circle for decades. They have a video of flinging gnocchi on their Instagram account that is mesmerizing to watch!

(2029 P St NW, Dupont Circle | Washington, DC 20036)

Old Bahama Bay is a beautiful beach and marina resort only 56 miles due east of Palm Beach and is where the requestor spent their honeymoon 💙

(Queen's Hwy, West End Settlement, The Bahamas)

Back from a relaxing week at the Outer Banks and while I’m thinking of blue water and sandy beaches, thought I’d post a few recent requests for resorts in the Bahamas.

First up is Pelican Bay Hotel , a boutique hotel situated on a marina in the heart of the Port Lucaya area of Grand Bahama. They’ve updated their logo to a more cartoonish pelican but the client had a matchbook from when they got married there ~20 years ago 💙

(Seahorse Road at Port Lucaya, Lucaya, The Bahamas)

Opened in 2006 and originally intended as a temporary restaurant, ad hoc & addendum serves a daily-changing, family-style menu of American classics featuring local ingredients and local wine.

(6476 Washington St, Napa | Yountville, CA)

Closed in 2011, Café Atlantico was a José Andrés restaurant that focused on the cooking traditions of Latin America, with touches of molecular gastronomy and Nuevo Latino cuisine.

(formerly at 405 8th St NW, Penn Quarter | Washington DC)

Capitol City Brewing Company is still going strong in DC but who else remembers Cap City when it was in Shirlington? After 22 years, they closed the Arlington location in 2018.

(1100 New York Ave NW Washington, DC; formerly also at 4001 Campbell Ave, Shirlington | Arlington, VA (closed))

Established in 1983, Louie's Backyard serves caribbean-american cuisine and gorgeous waterfront views.

Interesting factoid for any Jimmy Buffett fans: “Louie's Backyard should be an any Jimmy Buffett fan's walking tour.
It's Afterdeck Bar at Louie's is what Jimmy was referencing in Trying to Reason when he says “I knew I could use a Bloody Mary, so I stumbled next door to the bar”. He routinely continued to visit the restaurant with his sisters.”

(700 Waddell Ave, Key West, FL)

I’m working on a custom print full of memories including some now-closed favorites.

For almost 23 years, a bright green townhouse in Adams Morgan was home to a charming hidden gem called the Little Fountain Cafe.

(Closed in 2016; was at 2339 18th Street, NW, Adams Morgan | Washington, DC 20009)

So many great places on this custom print celebrating DC, Arlington, and Alexandria!

Who remembers the popular Mango Mike's Alexandria (1995-2013)? I just painted it for a custom matchbook print and am filled with nostalgia from when I lived off Duke Street, right around the corner from the original, tiny Mango Mike’s at 4111 Duke St. They moved down the street to a much bigger space in 2000.

Great article in the The Zebra Press - GOOD News in Alexandria, VA on the history of Mango Mike’s owner and history. I especially liked the factoid that every spring he drove to Florida, bought 25 palm trees and 300 tropical plants and planted them in 5 days to transform the restaurant into a tropical paradise.
https://thezebra.org/2018/05/13/mango-mike-anderson/

(Closed in 2013; formerly at 4580 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA)

With live music and crab cakes, what’s not to love about the Middleton Tavern ? I love how their social media feed is filled with pics of Bloody Marys filled to the brim with veggie garnishes!

Established 1750, Middleton Tavern was host to a bevy of the nation's most revered leaders during the period following the American Revolution. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin were numbered among their prominent patrons.

(2 Market Space, Annapolis, MD 21401)

Another one for the New York client, 12 Chairs Cafe started out as a small cafe, I’m guessing with 12 chairs 😉 It has grown and offers a full menu of Israeli dishes.

(56 MacDougal St, New York (SoHo), NY 10012; 342 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249)

Devocion USA in New York is unique in that they roast their beans only 10 days after leaving Columbia. I’m sure their coffee is excellent and that’s why my client asked me to paint a matchbook for them. But what I really love, is that all five of their cafés look very different but are all quintessentially New York with exposed brick, lush leather and wood furniture, and LOTS OF PLANTS. Really gorgeous.

(69 Grand St., Brooklyn, NY 11249; 276 Livingston St., Brooklyn, NY 11201; 25 East 20th Street, New York, NY 10003; 105 York St., Brooklyn, NY 11201; and 600 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10022)

Yes, I will be at the Old Town Waterfront in my tent AGAIN this weekend…but this time I’ll be with 90 other makers and around the corner at Waterfront Park!

More info and vendor list at www.volunteeralexandria.org/arts-and-crafts-festival

UPCOMING MARKETS:
* June 8, 2024, 10am-6pm: Old Town Arts Fair, Waterfront Park, Old Town Alexandria, VA
* June 22, 2024, 1pm-8pm: Portside in Old Town Summer Festival, Alexandria, VA

My new computer arrived and I am so thrilled that, while time-consuming and frustrating, my backup worked and I’m up and running. Finally got my scanning software sorted out so I can show you some of the new matchbooks I’ve been painting for custom prints!

Sister store to the very popular Georgetown bakery Baked and Wired , A Baked Joint takes their homemade bread and serves it with toppings for breakfast or in a sandwich for lunch.

(430 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001)

UPCOMING MARKETS:
* June 8, 2024, 10am-6pm: Old Town Arts Fair, Waterfront Park, Old Town Alexandria, VA
* June 22, 2024, 1pm-8pm: Portside in Old Town Summer Festival, Alexandria, VA

Fun fact: when your 11-year old iMac starts up with a circle with a line through it (like a no parking sign) expect a very frustrating week. New computer arrives next week and in the mean time, I’m cobbling together my system on Child3’s computer.

Happily the weather gods have taken pity on me and tomorrow and Sunday will be lovely. Come see me down at the Alexandria waterfront!

UPCOMING MARKETS:
* June 1, 2024, 10am-4pm: Old Town Pop-Up at King & Union, Alexandria, VA
* June 2, 2024, 10am-4pm: Old Town Pop-Up at King & Union, Alexandria, VA
* June 8, 2024, 10am-6pm: Old Town Arts Fair, Waterfront Park, Old Town Alexandria, VA
* June 22, 2024: 1-8pm: Portside Jazz Festival, King & Union, Old Town Alexandria, VA

Working on a matchbook for a NYC coffee shop for a custom wedding gift. I absolutely love school bus yellow and am really happy with how this is coming along. (Anyone know which coffee shop uses these awesome cups?)

UPCOMING MARKETS:
* June 1, 2024, 10am-4pm: Old Town Pop-Up at King & Union, Alexandria, VA
* June 2, 2024, 10am-4pm: Old Town Pop-Up at King & Union, Alexandria, VA
* June 8, 2024, 10am-6pm: Old Town Arts Fair, Waterfront Park, Old Town Alexandria, VA

     

UPDATE: the tide is coming in so I can’t set up until closer to noon.

I'll be at the Old Town Alexandria waterfront A LOT in the next month (and was just there for an event last night!)! Happily, the weather is finally cooperating and it should be a lovely day. Hope you can swing by!

UPCOMING MARKETS:
* May 25, 2024: 10am-4pm: Old Town pop-up market at the waterfront (King & Union)�
* June 1, 2024: 10am-4pm: Old Town pop-up market at the waterfront (King & Union)�
* June 2, 2024: 10am-4pm: Old Town pop-up market at the waterfront (King & Union)�
* June 8, 2024: Old Town Arts Fair, Waterfront Park, Old Town Alexandria, VA�
* June 22, 2024: Portside Jazz Festival, King & Union, Old Town Alexandria, VA�

Lots of lovely, fresh Lebanese food at Thyme & Co. I love the culinary lingo section of the Thyme & Co. Cville website (za’atar is Child2’s favorite addition to chickpeas!).

This one went on a gift for a graduating UVA student. Congratulations to Hope!

(104 14th St NW, Charlottesville, VA 22903)



UPCOMING MARKETS:
* May 25, 2024, 10am-4pm: Old Town Pop-Up at King & Union, Alexandria, VA
* June 1, 2024, 10am-4pm: Old Town Pop-Up at King & Union, Alexandria, VA
* June 2, 2024, 10am-4pm: Old Town Pop-Up at King & Union, Alexandria, VA
* June 8, 2024, 10am-6pm: Old Town Arts Fair, Waterfront Park, Old Town Alexandria, VA

Overcast but the rain has stopped. Amazing plant 🌷🌿 sale at Green Spring Gardens in West Alexandria. Here til 3pm and I brought original paintings ❤️