The Cookies  (in order of appearance)

• Toffee Squares - epicurious.com
• Chocolate Kisses -  marthastewart.com (modified)
• Noel Nut Balls - marthastewart.com
• Ginger Spice Cookies - epicurious.com
• Chewy Orange-Almond Cookies - marthastewart.com (modified)
• Peanut Butter Blossoms - foodnetwork.com

The Punch

Ingredients: mulling spices, orange, lemon, sugar, water, seltzer or club soda, sparkling cider, cranberry juice, spiced rum.

1. In a saucepan, combine one package of mulling spices with the peels of one orange and one lemon, two cups of water, one cup of sugar. Simmer 20 minutes or so.  Strain liquid, let cool. (This is “the good stuff.”)

2. To make the punch, mix one cup of “the good stuff” with one liter of seltzer or club soda; one bottle of sparkling apple cider; one bottle of cranberry or cranapple juice; and as much spiced rum as you like.

New java joint for 14th - Peregrine Coffee is slated to open next to Cork restaurant, just north of R St, reports Prince of Petworth.  Yet another cafe with no apparent plans to sell coffee thru a take-out window or outside stall, leaving uncaffeinated dog walkers forsaken. :( (h/t PoP)

New York’s famous Shake Shack is opening up a location in Gallery Place Dupont Circle, in the space now occupied by Fuddruckers.  So says Prince of Petworth.

Coming soon to a former Polly’s near (on) U - a burger joint. That delivers! (h/t U Street Girl). No word on opening date. Looking forward to the cowboy theme, however — almost as good as having pirate bar in the neighborhood.

Mexican, Thai, Spanish and a mystery are on their way — and bocce’s here already.

Mexican - a 274-seat tacqueria is coming to 14th St. next to the Black Cat, in the space formerly occupied by Georgetown Refinishing. (Prince of Petworth)

Thai - a new Thai joint, Teak Wood, is coming to the 1300 block of 14th St., below P. (Borderstan)

Spanish - The new pintxos spot, Estadio, is slated to open in minutes. My tastebuds can’t wait. (Metrocurean)

Mystery - The former Garden District spot, once rumored to become a burger joint, then crepe place, then nothing, is seeing activity. A permit notice posted lists “BCI Food Services LLC” as the applicant. (PoP)

Bocce - Vinoteca now has a back patio, complete with bocce court.  (The indomitable PoP)

It’s apparently a common claim that Washington, D.C. law forbids sexual intercourse in any position other than missionary. (For example; or here; or here.)

D.C. code is online, and some (take it from me) thorough searching could find no such law.

However.

It did turn up some good material from the city’s obscenity statute, governing what can and can’t be produced, sold, marketed, or shown to minors. Its author started off with his tie a little loosened, but picks up steam:

(B) The term “nudity” includes the showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area or buttocks with less than a full opaque covering, or the showing of the female breast with less than a full opaque covering of any portion thereof below the top of the nipple, or the depiction of covered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state.

(C) The term “sexual conduct” includes acts of sodomy, masturbation, homosexuality, sexual intercourse, or physical contact with a person’s clothed or unclothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or, if such person be a female, breast.

(D) The term “sexual excitement” includes the condition of human male or female genitals when in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal.

(E) The term “sado-masochistic abuse” includes flagellation or torture by or upon a person clad in undergarments or a mask or bizarre costume, or the condition of being fettered, bound, or otherwise physically restrained on the part of one so clothed.

Friends who have known me for some time are familiar with Bear Day.  It’s an idea I had several years ago – and for which I often advocate, sometimes with the inspiration of beverage, and often during the summer tourist season.

The idea is pretty simple: Once a year, before sunrise on a foreordained day, several dozen live bears are gathered up and let loose on the city streets.  From dawn to dawn they can roam unfettered.  Citizens are not allowed to shoot the bears, although they may engage them in manual combat, if it is their wont (or last hope).

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