I returned to DC for the first time in nearly 15 months. Right now I am at the well-loved coffee shack of Adams Morgan, otherwise known as Tryst. This place has been around and very successful for about 7-8 years. I recommend the Vanessa, which is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Wait, that might be the Oscar. Well, either way, all the sandwiches are pretty good.

It's actually not PACKED. I am surprised. Usually this place has minimal vacancy. I don't even feel back taking up a three top. I shall order a sandwich to relieve my waitress. She's getting a little anxious since I sat down about an hour ago.

The report from the field is that Adams Morgan is much the same. The North Sea Chinese place near the McDonalds at 18th and Columbia is still here. I think a few apartment buildings, including my last one, have converted to condos since I left but otherwise the vibe is similar to what it was in '04.

The people working the counter at Tryst are still impatient (they want you to sit and get waited on), the bus patrons on the 96 are still raucous and needing exercise, and I already mentioned the North Sea. TNS is one of those take out Chinese places where you walk in and the counter guy and cooks are behind bulletproof plexiglass. It's strangely comforting to know that gentrification has not displaced TNS. Who knows for how much longer, though.

Tryst needs some new music. They've been playing some old tired Elliott Smith all morning.