Directions in Washington involve quadrants with the Capitol as the center: NW, SW, SE, NE. Many addresses are found repeated in more than one, so make note of the quadrant. Numbered streets run North-South; lettered streets run East-West; streets with state names run on a diagonal. http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/city-guides/washington-dc-travel-basics/

Pennsylvania Avenue is known for joining the White House and the United States Capitol. Called "America's Main Street", it is the location of official parades and processions, as well as protest marches. Pennsylvania Avenue is an important commuter route and is part of the National Highway System. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Avenue

The White House is at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, and interestingly, a McDonald's is at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue SE.

From a Pennsylvania cook who "fed us to the brim" on our recent trip: Italian wedding soup refers to the marriage between meat and vegetables, not to a marriage between individuals.

Food phrases from New York muse readers
newborn bagels: newly-baked bagels
aged bagels: stale bagels (one reader dips them in vinegar)
pre-owned food: someone else's leftovers

Candied chicken from a New York cook (tasted and approved by muse readers)
1 cut-up chicken, salt and pepper
1/2 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. ketchup
4 tbsp. brown sugar
1 crushed garlic clove
Bake at 375 degrees one hour or until done. Baste every 15 minutes.

Quotes from The Empty Copper Sea, a Travis McGee novel
Avarice is the longest lever in the world.
Those birthday years that end in a zero are loaded.
John D. MacDonald (1916-1986) Also wrote as John Wade Farrel, Robert Henry, John Lane, Scott O'Hara, Peter Reed, Henry Reiser