When D.C. woke up this morning, the sun was preparing to set on Baghdad. On such an historic day -- Iraq's first post-Hussein national elections -- millions turned out to vote, despite attacks that left more than 30 people dead. In Washington, a city that has been awaiting this day for quite some time, we woke up to fresh snow and John Kerry on NBC's "Meet the Press." The roads were fairly empty and everyone went about their lazy Sunday agendas.

Just up the way from NBC's Nebraska Avenue studios, we found ourselves in Tenleytown, enjoying some corned beef hash at Krupin's, which has been recently renamed K's New York Deli. Oddly enough, we spied former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright at the table next to us. We're 95 percent it was her (we didn't see her with her customary decorative brooch, which is why we aren't 100 percent sure it was her) because who else, after all, would bring their BlackBerry to Krupin's? Albright didn't really look made up like she normally does for TV appearances. But like everyone at Krupin's, you come as you are. There's no need to dress up for corned beef hash, smoked kippers or Eggs a la Krupins.

Krupin's is an institution of sorts. To our knowledge, it is the only authentic Jewish (but not Kosher) deli in the District, one that has been attracting families for years and years and years. In fact, photos of families and regulars decorate the walls of the place. And after Jack Abramoff closed Stack's Deli on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House -- a victim of the fallout from Abramoff's alleged lobbying misdeeds involving American Indian casinos and a whole host of other matters -- the District is left with few options for authentic matzo ball soup, whitefish salad and traditional pastrami sandwiches. (Note to any Jewish deli entrepreneur in New York: D.C. would welcome your services in the nation's capital. Zingerman's also welcome to open a franchise here.)

As we were reading our Sunday newspapers, Albright and her party were listening to children at their table talking passionately about SpongeBob Squarepants. If only SpongeBob could bring peace and stability to Iraq, life would be better for the world ... but even if the cartoon could get the Shiites to like the Sunnis and vice versa -- all the while keeping the Kurds in check -- we're assuming that both Iraqis and some Americans would be quite offended.

(DCist photo of the Marine Corps Memorial taken Sunday. And no, we didn't make the snowman. We aren't in the business of enjoying winter fun on what could be considered hallowed ground, but there were a few people sledding on the other side of the memorial.)