But I digress. As a parting gift my friend sent me home with a box of chocolate-peppermint holiday cookies. Yay! Later (quite late at night actually) I found myself at home with a serious case of the munchies. Eureka, I thought to myself, COOKIES! I grabbed the box out of my bag and there they were. I was so excited. I could already taste the chocolatey gooeyness. Yum. Then I tried to open the box, but before I flipped the top open I noticed a simple three-letter word that would take my mood from the zenith to the nadir: “mix.” Yes folks, I did not in fact have cookies at all, but rather a mix. What friends to have! (Just kidding, I love Lori and Andrew.)

So my munchie pangs had to be satisfied by something else because there was no way I was going to make cookies at that time of night. Then today rolls around and I’m coming out of a post 33.5-hour-straight design session coma when I get the craving and—most importantly—the energy to make these cookies. Let me tell you, they are delicious!

From their website:

A peak of chocolate divinity dusted by sugar and the chill of peppermint.

These chewy, deep dark chocolate cookies have a slightly crunchy crinkle on the outside making them a melt-in-your mouth delight. With a little confectioners’ sugar sprinkled on top, they are as pretty as they are delectable.

Chocolate-Peppermint Crinkle Cookie

Ingredients
1 stick salted butter (melted and cooled)
2 large eggs
1 box of Stonewall Kitchen’s Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookie Mix
3 tbsp powdered confectioners sugar

Directions
My directions differ slightly from those on the box.
Pour contents of cookie mix into bowl of electric mixer. Add melted butter while mixing on low speed. [I don't have an electric stand mixer, and my Oster hand mixer's slow speed is fast on most other mixers.] Add eggs and beat on medium speed until well combined. Empty the contents of the bowl onto a large sheet of plastic wrap, smoothing out the mixture so it’s about an inch from the closest edge. Lay another large piece of plastic wrap on top of the mixture, pressing lightly to smooth it to an oval disk about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch thick. Gently roll the edges of the plastic wrap onto its self to seal it all in. Then set on a plate inside your freezer and let the mixture cool in your freezer for an hour.

Once the dough has chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease two cookie sheets with non-stick cooking spray. Pour powdered sugar (from the box) into a small bowl. [I ended up needing about 3 tbsp of extra powdered sugar than what came with the mix.] Form the cookie dough by hand—a messy affair—into 1.5-2-inch balls. Roll each ball in the powdered sugar, coating them generously. Place on the greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake until the tops appear cracked (12-15 minutes). Allow cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for five minutes, then remove to a wire rack.

“Makes 26 cookies” says the box, but that’s a lie. I was able to make 16 normal-sized cookies. So while the holidays may be over, there’s no reason your taste buds have to know.

Order a box for yourself at Stonewall Kitchen: http://www.stonewallkitchen.com/shop/speciality-foods/baking-mixes/dessert-baking-mixes/553104.html

This is particularly sad thing to hear. I’ve been a patron of Penn Camera since I started in photography in high school, and even before that when I was working as an apprentice to my godfather, also a photographer.

Penn Camera has been an amazing resource for photographers and enthusiasts for years. My sincere hope is that through their reorganization and with a bit of creative ideas, Penn Camera can return to profitability and thrive in the new digital photography space.

One suggestion I’ve long had is to completely re-think their equipment rental strategy and operate that portion of their operations like the successful LensProToGo.com. Requiring deposits equal to the value of the equipment—as Penn does now—completely defeats the purpose of renting equipment.

Another suggestion is for them to re-imagine their retail space that is more consumer-focused than the stores are currently. The greatness of Penn Camera comes from their extremely knowledgeable staff who are photographers and enthusiasts themselves.

I hope that this move isn’t the first nail in the coffin. It will be a sad day in Washington DC’s photographic community without Penn Camera.

Below is the message Penn posted on its website:

1/4/12

Penn Camera Exchange Inc., with eight retail stores in the Washington DC metropolitan area, and fixture since 1953, regretfully announced on Wednesday January 4th 2012 that it has filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Five locations will be closed immediately and we will hold a special clearance sale at our E Street, Rockville and Tysons locations.

A dramatic decline in sales performance during the preceding holiday period has precipitated this action.

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the photographic needs of this community for nearly sixty years. We extend our deepest gratitude to our many employees and wish for them a smooth transition.

Customers that have repairs, processing or other business related items located in the stores that have closed may pick up their property as indicate below:

Pikesville and Laurel:
At the Rockville location
Rockville Federal Plaza
Manager: Brian Z.
12266-F Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
301-231-7366

Fairlakes and Springfield:
At the Tysons location
Tysons Corner
Manager: Ramona S.
8357-E Leesburg Pike
Vienna, VA 22102
703-893-7366

18th Street:
At the E Street location
E Street
Manager: Kim P.
840 E Street NW
Washington, DC 20004
202-347-5777

Please allow us until Monday 1/9/12 to transfer and stock all items to the proper location. The individual stores will probably not be able to answer specific question until 1/9/12. Until that time please E-mail inquiries to sales@penncamera.com. Telephone inquiries can be left at 301-210-7366 x 100 and will be answered in turn. A fax inquiry can be sent to 301.210.7370.

Penn Camera

You’re only as smart as your dumbest moment.
I’ve had many.
Starting a business is like birthing a child. You have an idea and you want to incubate it, care for it, prepare for it in a way that births that idea into a healthy screaming baby. You read books and blogs about the subject. You talk to friends and people who have been through it before. No matter how many children you’ve had, nothing can prepare you for the next one. Every child is different and presents their own set of challenges. As a parent (business owner) you’ve got to look out for your family, see into the future to anticipate problems or growth spurts, and find that happy balance between being the cool parent and the authoritarian one. It’s a battle. Failure means death and that’s just not an option.
Influential is my eighth or ninth child. I lost count after number five.
I’ve already started on my next child.
I hate being called a foodie. I come from a Southern family so food has always played a predominate role in my life. I like to cook and experiment in the kitchen.
I measure butter in sticks not spoons.
That last one will be on my tombstone.
Great ideas are like fire. Not the kind you make on the stove. It’s like caveman fire. You don’t know where it came from, but you will spend every last bit of energy making sure the fire doesn’t go out.
Friends are the most important family you can have because you choose to share your life, your secrets, and your treasures with them.
Every day I thank God for being so lucky that there were people who took a chance with me.
It takes bold and brave souls to join a startup in its infancy.
I probably sold it better than I should have, but If I said to you “Hey, I’m gonna go base jumping without a parachute over shark-infested waters. Wanna join?” would you?
I didn’t think so.
#winning
Politics can be a messy game, but I keep my head above water by recognizing it for what it is. A game. A game that determines the future of our country and our world. Pretty high stakes game if you ask me.
I heard someone say to someone once “That’s a dirty old-school Vegas trick.” My unsolicited reply: “No it wasn’t. That’s a DC welcome mat.”
I still believe in the power of producing quality work, honest communication, and determination.
I am terrible at business development. I hate it actually. But get someone into my conference room and I will sell them my vision like Ronald Reagan at a Lincoln Day Dinner.
I have the greatest clients in the world. I mean that.
The 2011 victory I’m most proud of is Bryce Reeves for Virginia Senate. He’s a really good guy, with an amazing family. He’s going to do amazing things for Virginia. Just you wait.
You never get the help you don’t ask for.
Asking for help is the most humbling experience one can have. You’re basically saying “My life is in your hands. Will you please help me?” It’s why the rejection can be so painful. It’s not their fault.
Honestly, I really try to think about what Jesus would do. He’d probably react differently than most people would expect.
Open hands, open heart, buckets full of crazy.
I think I’m done with my house. All I really need now is a bigger couch so some of my friends aren’t relegated to the floor of my living room.
My brother reminded me of a long-unfinished art project I started nearly ten years ago. I probably won’t finish it in 2012, but if I’ve made some headway on it, I’ll be happy.
Scream and yell only if you know that you’re the loudest, otherwise you’ll just look like an asshole.
Before you can forgive someone else, you must forgive yourself.
One my greatest triumphs of 2011 was defeating Bowser in Super Mario Bros. Wii.
I’m working on my first short film. It’s going to be based in DC, but it’s not going to be about politics.
Yeah, I went down to the White House that night. I wanted to feel connected. I wanted to feel connected to those people who were lost that day ten years ago. I wanted to wash away the pain in my heart.
I don’t know if I’m ready to go back there, to ground zero.
The memorial looks pretty on TV and in photographs, but the memorial I wanted was the tallest building in the world with a monument in the sky. One that shouted to the heavens, “Fuck you. This is America and we are proud to be bold, brash and unapologetically patriotic.”
I wanted a giant steel and glass middle finger.
We got two balls and a average-sized shaft.
Fuck you Osama bin Laden.
God bless our men and women in uniform.
Especially the brave and strong members of the LGBT military community.
Dealing with crazy people—especially family—should make you feel more sane. But it doesn’t work like that.
#houseguest
I only tweeted a small fraction of the absurd gems that came out of his mouth.
Then Houseguest got a Twitter. He’s just not as funny without an editor.
My grill misses me. We’ve become estranged this last year. I promise to use it more.
The hair. People always comment on the hair. You know, it’s a lot more work than I bargained for, but man, when it’s looking good, I look good.
Maybe in 2012 I’ll cut it. Maybe.
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. That’s just ripe for failure. Instead I reaffirm my goals to be a thoughtful, earnest and compassionate human.
I make a pilgrimage to The Container Store every New Year’s day. Usually before 11:00 am. I like to start my year off more organized than how I ended the last one.
Who wants to start the new year hungover? Not I said the blind man.

I’m looking forward to 2012, to making new memories, and to putting even more distance between me and my twenties. So here’s to a new year filled with peace, serenity, and prosperity for all.

Happy New Year!
-Justin

And in case you don’t know where you’ll be at 3pm EST on Saturday, November 26th, you should be watching the Iron Bowl on CBS. War eagle!

In the spirit of giving, I thought it would be appropriate to give my friends and fans the one recipe I’ve held closest to my heart for so long. Never once did I reveal all of the ingredients to anyone, and especially not the method of the making. So here it is, after all these years, for you to enjoy. Merry Christmas.

Justin’s Famous Mashed Potatoes

INGREDIENTS
5-7 pounds of Idaho Russet baking potatoes
1 pound of cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup of light cream (room temperature)
1 cup of Sour Cream
1 cup of Cream Cheese (room temperature)
1 cup (2 sticks) of Salted Butter (room temperature)
2 tbsp (1/4 stick) of Salted Butter (cold)
1 tbsp of garlic, minced (use 2 tbsp if not using fresh garlic cloves)
2 tbsp pureed white or Vidalia onion (substitute 1 tsp of onion powder)
1 cup of green onion, chopped
Sea Salt (Greek or Mediterranean are best)
Coarse Black Pepper (freshly ground is best)
Paprika

WHAT YOU NEED
Hand or Stand Mixer (I prefer the former)
Mixing Bowls
Ceramic Casserole Dish or other oven-safe container
Food processor or blender (for onion puree)

Estimated Prep time: 60 minutes
Servings: About 5-20 servings depending on how greedy you are

INSTRUCTIONS
Peel and dice the potatoes into evenly-sized cubes about 1-inch thick, and place into a large pot. Fill the pot with water so that the water is about 1 inch above the potatoes. Boil the potatoes until the are almost done—you still want a small amount of firmness in the potatoes because they will continue to cook and soften.

While the potatoes are boiling, take your garlic and one stick (1/2 cup) of butter and saute in a small saucepan. This will help the garlic to release the flavor into the butter. Add 1/4 cup of green onions to the pan and saute of med-low heat until the onions become tender. Strain butter over a large mixing bowl.

Place the boiled potatoes into the bowl and mix on high until the potatoes start to smooth out. Add the remaining room temperature butter and continue stirring. Add about a third of the light cream, and all of the pureed onion. Mix. Add sour cream. Mix. Add cream cheese. Mix. Salt and pepper to taste while mixing on low, but go easy on the pepper. A dash will do ya.

The potato mixture should be fine and virtually lump-free. An errant small lump here or there won’t affect the final product. Judge the consistency—they should be thick, not runny—to see if additional half-and-half should be added.

Mix in the shredded cheese and remaining green onions and transfer to your casserole dish. Leave about a quarter to half of an inch of room between the top of the potatoes and the rim of the dish. You don’t want it bubbling over. Cut the remaining cold stick of butter into small squares evenly spaced on top of the potatoes. Dust the top with the lightest dash of salt and a light amount of paprika (for color).

MAKE AHEAD
This recipe should be made at least one day ahead of serving, but can be made as many as 5 days ahead of time if you’re cooking around the holidays. It’s better when all of the flavors come together in the refrigerator. It is certainly possible to prepare and serve on the same day—and it will taste and feel just fine—but why not make what you can ahead of time, especially since this recipe can create quite a mess in the kitchen.

FINAL PREPARATION
When you are ready for the final preparation, place the potatoes in a 375º preheated oven and heat uncovered until the butter has melted and created a lightly brown crust, about 20-30 minutes. Sometimes I even throw this into the broiler for 5 minutes to get the top just a little extra crispy. Once your potatoes reach the desired color, remove from the oven and let it rest for at least 15 minutes—unless of course you want to burn your mouth. (The colder the potatoes, the more time they will need to spend in the oven.)

Serve and enjoy! (If you have any extra chopped green onions, they make a nice garnish at the dinner table.)

STRETCH THE RECIPE
The real secret of this recipe comes the following morning if there are any left over. In a large skillet heat Crisco vegetable shortening (any vegetable oil will work too) on med-high heat. Wait, that’s a big lie. I usually fry them in bacon grease. Take your cold potatoes and make 2-3 inch balls in my hands. Take the balls and pat them with a healthy coating of flour. Then flatten them in your hand to make semi-round disks that are about 1/2 inch in thickness. Carefully place the pancakes into the oil and cook until medium brown. Remove from the pan with a wide spatula with small drainage holes, and dab lightly with a paper towel to remove excess fat. Plate, and serve with bacon and eggs. Mmmmmm mmm tasty!

Whichever fat you choose, there’s nothing healthy about this positively gluttonous breakfast treat.

Once you make these, you’ll know why they’re called “Justin’s Famous Mashed Potatoes,” and you’ll never want to make mashed potatoes any other way. And these potatoes—cold or warm—make the absolute best hangover cure.

SPECIAL MENTION
This recipe has evolved from the recipes of two amazing women: my mom Vickie, and her friend Bonnie Dickman. Thanks for everything you’ve done ladies, and everything you continue to do.

This recipe was originally published on December 25, 2008 as a Christmas present to my friends and other fans of these mashed potatoes. As far as I am aware, there have been no deaths as a result of eating these mashed potatoes.

But I celebrated and remembered him today by going to church. As my Foursquare check-in reminded me today, it’s been since six months since I last went to mass. Seeing as how today was the last Sunday in ordinary time, and also the last Sunday running on the “old” Roman Missal, I could almost hear him saying “have fun with that.”

Dad, I love and miss you. Happy birthday.

There have already been a few bumps in the road, and some users are grumbling about the new feed behavior, but overall the changes mark fantastic things ahead for both users and brands looking to drive increased user engagement.

Subscribe

The single biggest new feature for professionals looking to leverage personal Facebook profiles is the “subscribe” feature. Now you don’t need to encourage business contacts to “friend” you. With subscribe you can finally hone your public image by separating what you share publicly with what you limit to friends or groups of friends within lists.

The subscribe feature also helps to shape what updates you will see from friends; letting you select either, all updates, most upsates, or only important updates (for those who tend to over-share).

Timeline

On to the fun stuff: the new timeline user profile view finally delivers something that is at once pleasing to the eye and deeply engaging. Users can select a beautiful large image for the top, with shares, photos and other info layered below in two columns. Once activated, you’ll no doubt have fun in this Facebook time machine of sorts—photo albums, trips, comments and shares come to life in a way that lets the memories and the stories shine, while the technology blends into the background.

Here’s how to get the Timeline early, for everyone else it reportedly goes live on September 29, 2011.

Apps & Ticker

The ticker, a live fire hose stream of all your friends’ and page updates, packs a potentially powerful and viral punch. Because every activity within Facebook and sites all over the web is captured here, Friends and Pages become a sort of channel that is further amplified by the ticker—making it a great tool for content discovery.

For example, say I’ve created a playlist on the newly integrated Spotify music player, the songs and playlists that I’m listening to are announced on the ticker. A friend might see a song and decide to play it too, then their friends will see the song playing. Same for a video I’m watching on Hulu, media can be consumed more easily on demand.

Privacy and Revamped “Smart Lists”

Users who have privacy concerns with the new lower barrier to sharing should definitely check out the revamped and simplified lists feature. Many of the common groups are now automatically created as a list, for example Close Friends, Co-workers, Family and friends by location.

Lists show up on the main feed below your photo on the left: click on the list for a handy way to view activity from groups of contacts at a glance. When viewing a list, you can add contacts using the box to the right, or for more options look for the “manage list” button at the top right. Add people to lists by hovering over their name in the feed (or on their page), then go down to the “friends” tab and add them to a list.

With the clarified lists, you can more easily control what you share with certain groups by directing post or status update using the customize option to the left of the “post” button.

When it comes to building an online presence, it’s nothing like building a house. It’s more like setting up a really fancy tent. You deck it out as best you can, but be prepared to get a new tent every few months. The new Facebook platform updates are all about being more connected to users and their on and offline actions. We look forward to exploring new ways to help our clients utilize these exciting features to help them to be more influential!

Neighborhood blogging has become a great outlet for community members to connect with other readers in the area who share similar interests, opinions and ideas. From restaurant reviews, to detailed accounts of life in the city, to DC’s official cocktail (that’s “The Rickey”), neighborhood blogs cover a variety of topics and everyone can find at least one to keep revisiting.

Businesses looking to reach the local market should also take note as advertising on individual blogs and local networked blogs can be a great investment helping to drive consumer decisions. We here at the Influential Social Media team also recommend businesses follow local blogs and social news to identify trends and good content to share. Being plugged in to these outlets is piece in the content strategy pie, it’s also a way that customers can check in and see that a business “gets it” about the local market.

If you’re new to the blogosphere and don’t know where to begin here’s a few local blogs to check out:

1. DCist [The Guerrilla ‘Washington Express’] This blog focuses on what’s going on in DC. It covers metro news, DC politics, entertainment, and a recent post claims to have found the best chocolate chip cookie in the city. This is a great place to look if you’re new to the city or simply want to keep tabs on local news and events.

2. Urban Turf [Real Estate] – If you’re looking for a new apartment, are interested in buying a condo, or want to know more about the DC real estate market subscribe to Urban Turf. Here you can find neighborhood profiles and trends, the best new listings, and upcoming construction projects.

3. Where the Beltway Ends [Urban Exploration] – DC is an exciting city and when you want something to do the possibilities are nearly endless. But sometimes we need a break, to get out of the DC bubble and discover something new. This blog explores great places to go that aren’t the usual DC hotspots. Whether it’s a historical site in Silver Spring or a café in Alexandria, this blog will tell you where to go if you’re in need of a district-free outing.

4. Betsy’s Bites [Cooking] – This site offers the uninspired cook a collection of new and different recipe ideas. With everything from jam to mango chutney grilled cheese (which looks outstanding) even the pickiest eater can find something new to try. The writer also adds personal elements to her writing, like documenting a recent trip to Yosemite, which adds a homey feel to the blog’s style.

5. DC Vegan [Lifestyle & Food] – Just one of many lifestyle blogs, DC Vegan is full of reviews, tips and interviews with notable vegans. Did you know they can make “faux” caviar? The Influential Team may be omnivorous, but we respect the veggie cause; we even sampled some tasty veggie burgers at our July Happy Hour at the Science Club (also, ask Justin about his famous deep-fried hush puppies)!

6. Greater Greater Washington [Urban Planning] – This is less of a blog, and more of a daily eduction in how the city should be run. Penned by smart urban planners and policymakers, Greater Greater Washington offers a unique perspective on city life, and is often on the cutting edge of policy debates and best practices. It’s refreshing to read the smart opinions on this site, and often say to yourself “why didn’t I think of that.”

7. Prince of Petworth [News & Opinion] – The “Prince” has branched out to cover daily happenings, restaurant openings, neighborhood events and rants all over the DC area. The blog’s cheeky style and unique perspective has a growing following and is a good place to look for the grittier side of DC living.

8. New Columbia Heights [Hyper-Local News] – Finally, there’s a segment of blogs truly focused on one neighborhood. These have become go-to outlets for neighbors to connect and stay informed. Some, like And Now, Anacostia (an aspirational focus on the rebirth of “east of the river” neighborhoods), tell the unfolding story of neighborhood change. Others like Logan Circle’s Borderstan keep tabs on new businesses, crime and other important issues. These blogs do a great job defining the neighborhoods they cover.

Finding good neighborhood blogs can truly enhance your experience in the city. You can meet new people, discover new places and deepen the connections you have to your neighborhood. To find a blog that piques your interest, visit www.dcblogs.com where you can find links to numerous DC-based blogs. Subscribe to a few and also sign up for Google Reader to easily keep track of the daily entries. We made a great Google Reader bundle of 31 blogs covering nearly every corer of DC interest. Just click on the link, you can browse the feeds and subscribe using your Google login.

Meg loves puppies (actually only Boo), she enjoys running in the city, taking part in numerous races and running clubs in the DC area. Meg joins us from the Republican Governors Association where she served both the finance and political divisions. Meg is currently a senior at the George Washington University majoring in International Affairs, focusing on International Economics. In her spare time when she’s not supporting our digital strategy and business development teams, she fights the sins of government waste with her magical debt-reducing cape. This is why she is our Ambassador of Awesomeness.

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