Top DC Metro Comic Shops

I had the opportunity to spend some time in Georgetown on Wednesday. I was down there for a Photoshop conference, learning some new tricks on that application. During my lunch hour I ventured down Wisconsin Avenue to Big Monkey Comics, a comic book shop that was new to me. Now it's been awhile since I'd been in that part of DC, so they could've been around for awhile. I was very impressed with the shop and the staff. Wednesday is always a good test for a comic store since that is Diamond Distribution's delivery day to the shops or as I refer to it "New Comics Day."

Big Monkey Comics wasn't a huge store, but they managed to stock a lot of books and merch without making the store feel cramped. There was good conversation going on in the store that I actually joined in on. Anyone who knows me realizes that my joining strangers in an impromptu conversation is a rarity. But they actually had good, higher level topics of interest...better then the chit-chat going on in the stores I frequent in the suburbs. I think part of it results from the difference in city comic fans and suburban fans, which I'll maybe go into in another entry.

The wide selection and plentiful stock of comic books and merchandise really has Big Monkey up there as one of my new favorite comic book stores. I think I might actually drive down there just for that store. If I hook up with Wiscounsin Ave from River Road, I can get there pretty quickly without dealing with much of the traffic that can clog that area of town. Big Monkey also has and impressive web site, some of their comic community events I think are a great idea... something that is lacking in other shops in the area.

Georgetown is the mecca for the great comic shops of our area. Big Planet Comics has a store in that area as well. Big Planet Comics has a foreign and graphic novel selection that can't be beat. My main experience with them comes from their Bethesda, MD location. For what I remember of their Georgetown location, the selection of trade paperbacks and graphic novels is equally as impressive, even though the Bethesda store gives customers a little more elbow room.

Beyond Comics is my most frequented store in the area, and though its a strong store that has shown much improvement over the years its not my favorite for purely personal reasons. The Gaithersburg store has a very strong Manga selection, unfortunately most Manga isn't my preferred reading choice. I enjoy Japanese artwork and love anime, but Manga I don't feel offers me enough entertainment for the money. Often I'm not motivated to read Manga unless i see an anime that I really enjoy and want to read the original source material the anime was based upon. Of the two locations, Beyond Comic's Frederick, MD location would be my favorite because of the large selection of back issues and the well stocked shelves of new material. If I ever miss a new issue at the Gaithersburg shop I know I can find it in Frederick. Unfortunately, at these shops I don't find much of any comradery with the other customers or much with the shop staff with a few exceptions. Not like the instant "chemistry" experienced at the Big Monkey comic shop.

All three of these stores are really the top the shops in my opinion for a good comic store experience. If you have an interest in comics and live in the DC area you can't go wrong at any of them really.

Weekend of Excellent Breakfast

I had every intention of making breakfast over the weekend. Its something I enjoy doing. But the weekend had other plans for me. So I thought why not take the opportunity to point out two of my favorite breakfast spots since I visited them both this weekend.

Saturday - Mountain View Diner - Frederick, Maryland

On Saturday, the wife and I had the opportunity to join another couple for breakfast at this great little diner. The Mountain View Diner doesn't look like anything special from its location on Route 40 in Frederick. It looks like any other local diner. However some of their breakfast offerings really set it apart. My personal favorite is their French Toast. Man alive is it delicious, thick slices of battered french bread, cooked to perfection. Crispy outside and warm and soft inside delicious. Plus the place serves, my personal favorite breakfast meat, Scrapple! Their bacon, and other egg dishes are great too. Mixed reviews at our table regarding the sausage links.

The other great thing about this place, despite having a steady flow of customers there is rarely much of a wait. I don't know if we are just lucky or if its always that way. So if you happen to be up in Frederick give them a try.

The Original Pancake House - Rockville & Bethesda, Maryland

Sunday morning I was awakened by my Mom & Dad, offering us an invite out to breakfast. Their pick was our traditional location, the Original Pancake House in Rockville, MD. This small chain of restaurants is really the best place to get pancakes. I happen to be a big fan of the pancake, so this is place is breakfast heaven to me. They have such a wider variety of pancakes it's unreal. The classic buttermilk pancakes are great, but I've been going with the healthier buckwheat pancakes more often then not. My Lady enjoys the wheat germ variety.

Despite the name of the restaurant they really excel at all kinds of breakfast dishes. Their omellettes are huge, fluffy and fantastic. Their crepes and waffles look devine. Both locations can build up quite a crowd of folks waiting to get in. However the wait has never been more than 20 minutes for us.

There are a couple other places that I enjoy. However I don't have the same perfect run of breakfasts that I've enjoyed at the two listed above. If you are a local or visiting the area. Look them up and give them a try.

Injured and Apple

My dog Bailey has been a directly...or at least partially related to my knee injury that I'm nursing tonight. She has habit of sleeping at the top of our staircase on the third level. Tonight, while trying to avoid her as she snoozed, I banged my knee into the corner of our wooden stair rail. It was loud and it hurt. And it continues to hurt, I have a sharp pain shooting through my leg when I try to bend it and put weight on it, like climbing the stairs for example. With a wife going into the 3rd trimester of her pregnancy, the time for having a bum leg couldn't be worse. The Lady wanted me to go to the ER to get it checked out. Even though it hurts like a mutha, I'm going to see how it does overnight. The dull ache doesn't bug me so much...just the shotting sharp pain when I try to use the leg...oh and by the way, with all the banging and cursing after hurting myself the dog didn't even raise her head. She kept right on snoozing away, unconcerned...man's best friend...

Totally unrelated topic but also on my mind was the MacWorld keynote by Apple CEO, Steve Jobs. As per always an interesting array of new products. This year there weren't any real surprises. I was more surprised by the products that weren't presented. I'd thought for sure a Mac Mini with an Intel Core processor would be on the list of items presented, but alas we are given an iMac that looks like the previous version with new guts and a MacBook Pro (really not sure I like that name) which looks a lot like a Powerbook, despite it's drastic changes inside. I like the performance promises given for both products, they sound like a good step up from their predecessors. Right now I'm thinking a MacBook Pro might be the way to go for my next 'puter... when the 2nd generation version comes out. I'm not one to jump on to these things when they are first produced.

The new FM Reciever for the iPod 5G is pretty neat. I got a new 60gb iPod for Christmas and I've been digging it. It's a different experience from my old 30gb iPod 3G. I never thought I'd be into watch video on a screen that size, but I've been downloading animation from the music store and watching on there...pretty good quality. If only Sony could get its act in gear and deliver video content so easily to their PSP.

On the software front from the keynote, the iLife '06 suite seems to address a long needed solution for easy creation of podcasts and simple web design. I skipped out on buying the '05 suite, since I usually alternate buying these kind of things every other iteration, but the current iLife will be a purchase I'll be making soon. Might actually put in the order tonight.

Maybe in Spring or Summer we'll see some beefed Mac Mini's that can serve as media centers and an expanded line of Intel products. This is a good start... but I want to see more.

Loooong Day

Wow am I glad this week is over. I know it was short because of the holiday, but wow it was still a busy work week. I didn't leave the office until almost 8pm today. I'm part of a two person design team within the Ecommerce department, and my associate designer was out. So I was a solo act today.

One thing I didn't have to worry about was dinner tonight. This morning I actually hauled myself out of bed with enough time to prep up the ingredients for a good roast beef. Letting the beef and veggies slow roast in the electric crockpot for 10 hours while we are at work is my kind of cooking. I really have this meal down to a science.

Coming into the house it smelled so good. Being welcomed home by my wife and dogs, with the smell of a homecooked meal in the air helped me quickly shake off the stress & frustrations of the day. Reminded me why I put up with the crap that I deal with throughout the day.