The day honoring the fifth century Romano-British missionary who brought Christianity to Ireland is coming up next week; it’s a day for which many in the U.S. celebrate with copious consumption of Irish beer and raucous merrymaking. However, I prefer to mark St. Patrick’s Day in a quieter manner by reading about the saint’s life and learning about traditional Irish beauty secrets.

Irish moss (Chondrus crispus) is a seaweed high in vitamins and minerals. (Photo: Visoflora)

Irish moss

Irish beauties are known for their alabaster complexions and thick, glossy hair, both of which they maintain with the wealth of natural ingredients available on the Emerald Isle. For a flawless skin and healthy hair, Irish moss should be on every Irish, or wannabe Irish, beauty’s list.

Not actually a moss, Irish moss is a species of seaweed (Chrondus crispus) that grows abundantly in the Atlantic Ocean. Its high nutrient content — it contains vitamins B, D, E, K, beta-carotene and such important minerals as zinc, selenium, calcium, iron, iodine and potassium — make it top-notch in overall health and beauty benefits. It can be ingested in the form of medicinal teas, as was traditionally done in the British Isles, but it can also be applied topically to hair and skin.

One of the most remarkable properties of Irish moss is the mucilage it produces when immersed in hot water. This slimy byproduct, unappealing though it may be, imparts a high degree of smoothness to skin and hair, making it a superb skin softener and hair conditioner and detangler.

You can purchase dried Irish moss in whole, flaked or powdered form. Try the following DIY recipe for smooth, glowing skin:

Vitamin C Seaweed Masque

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Irish moss
1 1/3 cup water
1 tbsp vitamin C powder

Directions:

• Place the Irish moss in water and soak for 20 minutes. Blend the moss and soak water for 30-40 seconds. Add vitamin C. Blend for another 20 seconds or until moss is fairly smooth.
• Pour into a jar with a lid and allow it to set for five minutes, or place in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes to set.

 
To apply:
Take 1/2 tbsp of the seaweed serum and massage all over your face and neck. Leave on for 10-15 minutes. Wash off with tepid water and enjoy your smooth complexion.

Cabbage

Years ago, I became intrigued by the traditional Irish saying “cabbage juice for the complexion.” Part of the Irish culinary tradition, the humble cabbage has a lot to offer in the health and beauty department. Full of vitamins C, K, B6, and minerals manganese, calcium and sulphur, cabbage also contains omega-3 fatty acids, powerful, rejuvenating phytonutrients and antioxidants. The high-sulphur content strengthens the hair, promotes its growth and reduces hair loss. You can drink raw cabbage juice and apply it topically to your hair to invigorate weak hair with its high vitamin E and selenium content. Try this recipe in your juicer:

Raw cabbage juice is good for your complexion. (Photo: My Health by Nature)

Cabbage green juice

Ingredients:
2 green apples
2-3 cups spinach
6-8 leaves Swiss chard or another cabbage
1 cucumber
4 celery stalks
1/2 fennel bulb
1 bunch of basil

Directions:

• Use juicer to extract juices from produce.
• Stir juiced contents.
• Enjoy cold.

 
And Irish folklore is spot-on in regards to the complexion perfecting powers of cabbage. It’s rich in indole-3-carbonile, a potent antioxidant that supports liver detoxification, which helps rid the body of toxins that can cause dull, blemished skin.

Beer

No St. Paddy’s day celebration is complete without beer, preferably a good Irish stout. I have, during my misspent youth, imbibed my fair share of this wondrous nectar, but these days I limit its consumption to my hair, where it works wonders in enlivening my limp, fine hair. The yeast plumps up the hair shaft, and the malt and hops nourish and strengthen the hair at the root, resulting in shiny, extra-voluminous tresses.

Try this recipe, which also includes hair-growth promoting rosemary essential oil, to achieve super healthy locks:

Rosemary Guinness hair rinse

Ingredients:
5-6 drops rosemary essential oil
1 can of Guinness or other strong ale or stout

Directions:

• Open beer and add rosemary oil.
• Let the mixture sit open overnight minimum — the beer should be flat.
• After shampooing, rinse hair with the beer mixture. Let sit on hair for several minutes, massaging it into the roots of your hair.
• Rinse with cool water and style as usual.

Beer lovers rejoice! The Chicago-based Old Town Pour House opened its first restaurant in the DMV on Monday in the Downtown Crown area of Gaithersburg at 212 Ellington Blvd. The beer-centric restaurant is the Bottleneck Management’s first outside of the Chicago area. It joins Coastal Flats, Ted’s Montana Grill, Paladar Latin Kitchen and Rum Bar and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in the new Downtown Crown development.

The Chicago-based Old Town Pour House opened in Gaithersburg’s Downtown Crown development on Monday.
(Photo: Bottleneck Management)

The 7,966 square-foot restaurant and bar and 1,511 square-foot outdoor patio. The interior has custom milled dark woodwork, high ceilings, copper-inlayed bars and tables, operable windows opening onto the patio and several 110-inch “video walls.” The restaurant seats 172 and another 92 on the seasonal patio.

The interior features dark woods and a copper bar. (Photo: Jeff Elkins)

“Bringing our ‘pour house’ concept to new markets allows us to share our extensive line-up of 120 craft beers on draft, made-from-scratch cuisine and an incredible atmosphere including a premiere audio/visual system to provide state of the art entertainment for our guests,” said Bottleneck partner Chris Bisaillon in a press release. “With the overwhelming response of our restaurants in the Chicagoland area, expanding to additional major metropolitan markets was the natural next step for our brand.”

Beer enthusiasts can browse the online menu of 90 beers served from 120 draft handles and even rate individual wheats, lagers, Belgians and IPAs. Besides the usual standbys like Bud Light, diners will find many well-known local brews like Frederick’s Flying Dog Brewery and D.C. Brau Brewing Co. to lesser-known brewers such as Laurel’s Jailbreak Brewing Co., Baltimore’s Union Craft Brewing and DuClaw Brewing Co., Silver Spring’s Denizens Brewing Co., Westminster, Md.’s Pub Dog Brewing Co., Salisbury’s Evolution Craft Brewing and Alexandria’s Port City Brewing Co.

Old Town Pour House features 90 beers on draft from 120 handles. (Photo: Old Town Pour House/Facebook)

But it’s not just about beer. There are eight wines on tap and cocktails such as Texas mules served in copper mugs and a 21-ounce Churchill Bloody Mary served in an oversize goblet garnished with peppered steak, pepper jack cheese, pickles, cocktail onions and a Slim Jim stir stick.

The menu, which features American cuisine, also includes beer in the Bavarian pretzel bites with Lagunitas IPA gouda cheese sauce. Other dishes include Chicago dogs, Vienna beef mini dogs wrapped in potatoes, tomato powder and poppy seeds topped with mustard relish, celery salt and sport peppers; truffle mac n chees made with Nueske’s Applewood smoked bacon, parmesan bread crumbs and shaved black truffles; 1871 chili made with smoked brisket burnt ends, N.Y strip, pork, chipotle peppers, Left Hand Milk stout, crème fraiche and red onion relish; the Pour House burger with Angus beef, aged white cheddar, lettuce, dill pickle, a beer-battered onion ring and vine ripened tomato on a white grain bun; shaved smoked brisket served with cider mustard, butter pickles and Big Ed’s gouda mornay on a Hawaiian bun; bone-in center cut 10-ounce pork chop with potato puree, chipotle maple glaze, cinnamon spiced apples and crispy buttermilk onion strings; farmed Atlantic salmon served with crème fraiche fingerling potatoes, braised baby fennel, oven dried tomatoes, grated egg and roasted spring onions with dill caper butter; and peanut butter Snickers pie with peanut butter mousse, Snickers pieces, chocolate and caramel sauce.

Menu items include the 1871 chili (clockwise from top left), cheese curds, smoked brisket sandwich and peanut butter Snickers pie. (Photos: Lee C./Yelp)

New for Gaithersburg is the Maryland crab cakes with jumbo lump crab meat, citrus jicama salad and saffron aioli; and the Ipswich clam sandwich with crispy clams, iceberg lettuce, pickled red onions and smoked potato aioli served on a hoagie bun. The restaurant also offers eight gluten-free items. Starters are priced from $7-$16; soups from $4-$8; salads from $6-$18; sandwiches from $12-$18; entrees from $18-$24; and desserts from $6-$8.

Old Town Pour House in Gaithersburg is open from 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. Happy hour is from 4-7 p.m. weeknights and includes a $14 beer flight for four six-ounce beers and $5 truffle popcorn, pulled pork sandwiches, sliders and Chicago dogs.

There is a season for every beer, and summer is no exception. When you are picking up spirits for your next backyard barbecue or lawn party, keep an eye out for these vernal varieties from your favorite craft brewer.

Suns out, suds out (photo: Snooth)

Dead Rise

Every year there is heated debate about which song will be crowned summer jam of the year. Just as there is no debate about Iggy Azalea’s Fancy, Flying Dog’s Dead Rise is hands down Summer 2014’s King of the Beach beer. A citrus hop creation, Dead Rise is flavored with a pinch of Old Bay on the finish that evokes wooden picnic tables filled with steamed crabs and good times. Make sure to set down the mallet long enough to crack one of these open.

Ruby Redbird

Texas’ Shiner has released a gem of a summer beer in Ruby Redbird. I had my first sip at Hill Country’s weekly Friday evening barbecue at the National Building Museum. A bluegrass band stomped on stage while the ginger and grapefruit taste of Ruby Redbird ushered me into the weekend. This is a drink that brings the front porch with it. You are guaranteed to feel relaxed and swinging with some Ruby Redbird.

A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale

Lagunitas Brewing Co. has made something special here. An ale that somehow manages sweet, A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ ale has been one of my favorites so far this summer. It has enough flavor (and alcohol) to let you know its there while leaving enough room for some food off the grill.

Look for any of these three summer seasonal beers for some good times in Summer 2014!

What a month for pop’s bad boy Justin Bieber. First, police raided his California home looking for evidence that he caused $20,000 damage to his neighbor’s home by egging it. During the raid, his boy Lil Za was busted for having Ecstasy and Xanax. Then he flew off to Colorado to go snowboarding just days later, only to be caught writing his initials in pee in the snow along the road. He’s also been caught tagging buildings and drag racing up and down the streets in his private tony community.

Justin Bieber’s smiling mug shot (Photo: Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department)

With “bloodshot eyes” and a stupor “look on his face,” the Baby singer was arrested in Miami early Thursday morning after leaving the SET night club in Miami Beach for DUI, drag racing, driving on an expired license and resisting arrest following an F-bomb laced rant. Police allege the pop singer admitted to having beer, marijuana and prescription drugs in his system.

After leaving the nightclub, the musician’s entourage had apparently used their cars to block traffic on Pine Tree Drive at 26th Street, a residential area, at around 4 a.m., creating a drag strip for Bieber.

Miami Beach police said Bieber was pulled over for speeding in a rented yellow Lamborghini and failed a field sobriety test. The other alleged drag racer, who was racing Bieber in a red Ferrari, was Khalil Amir Sharieff and he was also charged with DUI. The police report said the cars were going 55 to 60 mph in a residential zone posted at 30 mph.

This is a first-degree misdemeanor, which could get the Biebs up to six months in jail and have his license suspended for six months. But he may be eligible for a program for first-time offenders that reduces the charge to reckless driving, said defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh, who is not involved in this case. Florida has zero tolerance for underage drinkers and if the singer enters a program for first-time offenders Bieber will have to steer clear of all drugs and alcohol, as was the case with actress Lindsay Lohan.

Miami Beach Police Chief Raymond Martinez told the Miami Herald that Bieber was incoherent at the time of his arrest. He had his hands in his pockets and resisted arrest without violence, the chief said, adding that the singer was driving with a Georgia license that expired at least six months ago. Police allege that Bieber cursed out the arresting officer then admitted to having beer, marijuana and prescription drugs in his system.

His blood alcohol level was .04. That level was illegal, because he is under-age. The standard for someone driving under the age of 21 is .02.

The 19-year-old spent the rest of the night in jail then appeared in a Miami courtroom early Thursday afternoon. He stood silently in the courtroom dressed in a jail jumpsuit as his attorney spoke. The judge set bail at $2,500. Bieber posted bail and exited the courthouse a short time later.

After leaving the jail, Bieber climbed on top of his Escalade and blew his fans a kiss. In an Instagram post after his release, he said “What more can they say” next to a split photo of him and Michael Jackson. In the split he and Jackson are both waving to their fans after trying ordeals with the law.

Justin Bieber and Michael Jackson in similar poses after brushes with the law. (Photo: Justin Bieber/Instagram)

Jackson did a similar move by dancing and showing the peace sign for fans after leaving court in 2005 during his trial on child molestation charges. Jackson was acquitted.

Reports are that the Canadian was with his dad prior to the bust Wednesday night, with some suggestions he may have supplied the adult beverages. TMZ reports that Jeremy Bieber, 38, even helped block off a road for his son to drag race and that young Bieber gets his prescription pills from his mom – also a crime.

A source connected to Bieber said that the alleged DUI and his subsequent bad behavior doesn’t come as any great surprise and rehab could be the next step – if only to save face in the court’s eyes.

The new City Tap House across from the new City Center — the new development on the site of the old convention center — will likely be the go-to place for the area’s newest residents who can afford to pay $2,670 a month for a one-bedroom apartment or $600,000 for a one-bedroom condo. But for the rest of us, the new upscale pub with its tasty fare, small portions and big prices will be more for special events than our neighborhood watering hole.

City Tap House opened in early December at 901 I St. NW. The restaurant is owned by Frank Falesto, who also owns Public House and Harrington’s Pub and Kitchen in National Harbor. The original City Tap House is in Philadelphia.

City Tap House opened in December in the old 901 Restaurant & Bar space. (Photo: Mark Heckathorn/DC on Heels)

“Washington, D.C. was an obvious choice for our concept,” said Jonathan Ball, regional director for Public House Investments, a management company that oversees multiple restaurant concepts including City Tap House. “There is a lot of positive development in the city at the moment, which reminded us of the eclectic vibrancy when we launched the original City Tap House in 2009, centered in the University City neighborhood of Philadelphia.”

Streetsense redesigned the former 901 Restaurant & Bar with a rustic industrial design with exposed wood beams, interior stone panels, copper bar and light fixtures and an open kitchen complete with brick oven. The strong elements are complimented by the cooling earth tone fabrics and the sleek, dark wooden tables and chairs. The restaurant can seat 180 customers including 40 in the bar/lounge area with floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s also a private dining room that can accommodate up to 100 people for a seated dinner.

The dining room at City Tap House is done in earth tones, wood, stone and copper. (Photo: City Tap House)

Extensive beer menu

With more than 40 beer lines and two beer engines, City Tap House features 43 different local, national and international beers on draft ranging from $6-$10 and another 20 or so in bottles. Popular brews such as Allagash, Weinhenstephaner, St. Feuillien and Sierra Nevada will be available along with domestic and European craft stalwarts such as Founder’s, Bell’s, Bosteels, Schneider and Goose Island as well as local staples from Three Stars, DC Brau and Mad Fox. They also have a wine and cocktail menu.

Andy Farrell is the restaurant’s beer director. Farrell has 15 years of restaurant experience, including seven as chef in Italian, Latin, American regional and steakhouse venues. He also has extensive bar training and will be testing to receive his Cicerone certification this month. Prior to opening City Tap House Philadelphia in May 2010, Farrell served as operating partner at Bridgid’s in Philadelphia, which specializes in Belgian beers. In September 2013, he attended Sierra Nevada Beer Camp, assisting in the brewing of a Munich Dunkel Lager.

“The beer program is at the heart of what we offer,” said Farrell. “We want it to be approachable, unpretentious and community driven.”

The beer taps at City Tap House feature more than 40 beers on draft and another 20 in bottles. (Photo: City Tap House)

Revamped food menu

Open only a month, upscale pub just redid its menu. Executive Chef Scott Swiderski’s retooled menu includes six brick-oven pizzas ranging from $12-$18. On a recent visit, I tried the 12-inch honey goat cheese pizza with sliced red onion, pistachios, rosemary and truffled honey. This was tasty with the sweet honey and pistachios offsetting the goat cheese, but good for two to share as an appetizer since it is more personal sized than dinner sized (and priced at $13, one of the less expensive).

Snacks, which range from $7-$12, include bacon popcorn and candied peanuts, duck fat fries, ten spice wings and skillet fried shishito peppers. Appetizers, which range from $10-$21, include blue crab mac and cheese with fontina cheese and lump blue crab (you could taste the crab, but the cheese was a bit mild for my taste), foi gras French toast with roasted apple and port gastrique, and sweet corn and crab hushpuppies with honey-thyme butter and a citrus remoulade.

Honey goat cheese pizza (clockwise from top left), blue crab mac and cheese, seared jumbo scallops and pot de creme. (Photos: Mark Heckathorn/DC on Heels)

Entrees ($22-$32) include a ribeye with truffled mashed potatoes, foraged wild mushrooms, caramelized cipollini onions and a bordelaise sauce; a lobster roll with poached lobster, celery, green onion and mayonnaise served on a buttered roll with duck fat fries; and rabbit bolognese with Benton’s bacon and pecorino romano over bucatini pasta. I had the seared jumbo scallops with curried cauliflower (the star of the plate), crispy Brussels sprouts (no so crispy), apples, pancetta, piquillo pepper coulis (yummy!) and a herb persilade ($27 for three scallops). The pub also serves mussels ($12-$13), salads ($10-$15), “Craftwiches” served with duck fat fries or a green salad ($12-$26) and a daily special from 5-10 p.m.: Monday is bucatini and clams; Tuesday is chicken and waffles, Wednesday is braised beef short ribs, Thursday is a crispy pork shank, Friday is a fresh seafood dish and Saturday is a butcher selected steak or chop.

Desserts range from $7-$9 and include a Mason Jar cheesecake with strawberry jam; Pot de Creme, a chocolate mousse with caramelized bananas and toasted macadamia nuts; a peanut butter blondie smash with vanilla gelato and a chocolate stout sauce; and an apple cherry cobbler with salted caramel gelato. They also serve Dolcezza artisinal gelato.

New brunch menu

Just this past weekend, the restaurant kicked off brunch with a la carte dishes ranging from $7-$26 with chicken & waffles and foie gras French toast in the mix. Also on the brunch menu are maple-sherry glazed pork belly with local turnpike cheddar grits, poached egg and mustard greens; lemon ricotta pancakes with caramelized bananas and Vermont maple syrup; steak and eggs with a hanger steak, potato hash, fried eggs and truffle aioli; crab cake Benedict with jumbo lump blue crab, poached eggs and oven-dried tomato hollandaise; and the house smoked salmon hash with shaved fennel, fingerling potatoes, poached eggs and hollandaise. Brunch also features a bottomless bar, which includes endless bloody Marys, mimosas and beer-mosas for $18 per person.

City Tap House is open 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m. through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m.-1 a.m. on Sunday. Brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.