Busboys and Poets … and PC

Being annoyed with my inbox filling up [52 to date and growing] with reminders of their gathering/socials/information sessions, I caved; and for all the wrong reasons. They’re web site and recruiters explained plenty. My reasoning: checkout a new bookstore/bar/coffee shop I had heard about. Previous patrons mentioned it was “cool”. Upon entering, it’s immediately obvious why they selected this social establishment for their social gathering. Painted murals of peace advocates, like Rigoberta Menchu and Joan Baez, blanketed the walls alongside Bush-hating Iraq War slogans. The aura was that of a first-date. After listening to, in the reserved large back room that included a stage for poetic performances, a Malawi RPCV and two hopefuls who were dragging their feet to press the “Submit” button for their applications, and some PowerPoint slides put to indie rock with an iPod, I made a hegira for the door. Not needing a motivational boost, with my paperwork hasta luego, I was ready. But tonight, I was physically hungry.

Meandering back to the McPherson Metro, and ducking into another Mexican-Salvadorian dive, [I’ve come to accept the marriage of these two bordering nations as one cuisine in DC.] a wasted night was averted. Why is it that the rain exposes us to diamonds in the rough? Apparently, it’s not just the humidity it helps clear up, but an astute awareness is excreted from our stomachs. If not for a slight drizzle, one would walk right on past this place … again, as it rests quietly close to many densely populated high rises. The hole-in-the-wall is apparently romantically attached to Las Placitas on Capital Hill, which I’ve never tried. But if La Villa pollo a-la-brasa mirrors their grub, I’m running for Congress. Mounted on the entry-way bulletin board are 4x6 photos from former fiestas held at this casa. Senoritas es muy caliente!!! Crawling past the digital jukebox blasting Mariah Carey in Espanol, I plunked down on a bar stool, botching my order in pathetic Spanish to a very pleasant wait staff. One horchata and nachos ranchero w/ chicken later left one extremely pleased soon-to-be PCV.