● The Jefferson Hotel (Dupont Circle) - Just enough pomp and circumstance to keep Thomas Jefferson happy. New comforts gone old school.
● Kellari Taverna (Downtown) - Mt. Olympus comes to America's Mt. Olympus. Greek cuisine, done up for DC, without being dumbed down.
● Plume (Dupont Circle) - "What's this fork for?" whispered with a Maltese accent. Dupont's hot new haute French.

I lost my virginity in the backseat of my 1990 Nissan Pathfinder that I had purchased with my Bar Mitzvah money to a girl named Christine on a darkened street in Santa Monica, CA when I was seventeen years old. Towards the end of the seven minutes of condomsex she told me to hurry because she had a misshapen canal and “this wasn’t working out” as a result. I didn’t understand what any of that meant, but I knew then and there as I sat panting and confused with my jeans around my DCs that I wanted to be the night editor of BlackBook. Another awkward first time after the jump.

At the New York Film Festival premiere of Broken Embraces:

● PENELOPE CRUZ - Favorite restaurant in New York? "Oh, I have many because I love food so much!" And in Madrid? "I go to many that are out in the countryside, but whoever goes there for the first time should go to Botin. It's the oldest restaurant in the world." What did you like about it? "Everything!"

● PEDRO ALMODOVAR - Favorite restaurant in New York? "Mr. Chow's -- we had dinner there the other day, and it was really very impressive." And in Madrid? "In Madrid, there are many. Casa Lucio is one of my favorites."

● The Gibson (U Street) - Vintage gin + dry vermouth + pearl onion in a chilled glass (of a speakeasy-trend bar).
● Midtown Loft (Dupont Circle) - Luxe, playful rec room vibe meets sleek bobo-themed bar in a "dream apartment" setting.
● H Street Country Club (H Street NE) - Amusing amusement park inside a townhouse bar inside a DC slum.

The Sofitel in Washington DC is luring customers to check out its fancy digs with a sparkling deal. It's a cute version of a BOGO -- buy a bottle of Champagne Pommery's Cuvée Louise 1998 Champagne for $299, and you get a night's stay at the Sofitel. The champagne itself usually sells for around $200, and the hotel's rates tend to hover around $350 per night, so this deal is the real thing -- the Sofitel is asserting its French roots to your benefit.

[See part 1 of Paper Route's tour blog.]

I'm not gonna lie. In fact, I'm pretty bad at lying. Unless you consider exaggerating a lie. If that's the case, I'm screwed. But this is beside the point. I'm not gonna lie. We've been invited by BlackBook to blog about this tour. Consistently documenting the highs and lows of touring, then turning in our tour "gems" at the end of the week. I would love to say that I've been on top of this ... but the reality of the situation is that besides driving, unloading gear, playing shows, loading gear, playing after shows, and sleeping on seats perfectly designed to ruin your back, all I've done is draw pictures (to keep my brain moving) and take some photographs. I haven't revisited any of these, so there's a chance I'm even a bit more intrigued than you. Let's begin ...

These are getaways for lovers -- or lusters -- only, without the family, just-good-friends, kids, laptops (lap dancing and clothing optional) or other encumbrances. Either you want to see and be seen, or you don’t. Whether you’re after an in-room Jacuzzi, couples massages, meals, or just a fireplace and a view, read on.

Pan Deï Palais (Côte d'Azur) - A princess’ historic palace turned boutique hotel in the heart of St. Tropez. With only 12 guestrooms, the palace is exclusively reserved for hotel guests -- so unless the people you’re trying to avoid are staying there, you’re safe. Valmont treatment fit for a princess are available in guestrooms and spa.
Also rans: Château de la Chèvre d’Or, L’Hôtel Du Cap – Eden Roc, La Réserve Ramatuelle.

Nashville-based Third Man Records -- owned by busiest man in rock n’ roll Jack White -- is opening a pop-up store for two days on July 16 and 17 in New York. The store will be located on the Lower East Side at 131 Chrystie Street with proper business hours from 10am-6pm. (131 Chrystie is the current address of art gallery space Envoy.) Horehound, The Dead Weather’s highly anticipated album, will of course be in stock to purchase due to its July 14 release date.

Pumpkin-pie tans are no longer reserved for self-indulgent celebs with too much time on their hands. In an astute piece of investigative journalism yesterday, the Huffington Post published ORANGE ALERT! Politicians With Fake Tans: A Cautionary Slideshow, and it wasn’t pretty. I don’t take issue with a little fake and bake, but there’s no need to lie about it, John Boehner. And one would hope that the people making the major decisions would have enough sense to avoid the obvious and unattractive orange tan. Avoid the telltale sienna streaks by following a few simple steps.

● Blue Ridge (Upper Northwest) - Southern comfort in the form of down-home, unpretentious, locavore-heavy cooking.
● Pitango Gelato (Logan Circle) - Gelato as DC's new status dessert.