Many of our readers are shocked (shocked!) to find out that we at DCist are ardent supporters of independent retail establishments in our fair city. Sometimes we’re even capable of overreaction to the threat of national chains on our beloved mom ‘n pops. Remember when so much doom and gloom followed a Washington Post story on the changing nature of retail on Connecticut Ave? But you’ll have to forgive us if each of our hearts…

Quick, someone send a memo to this DCist’s mom: it turns out that beets actually do taste good. And it only took 23 years of wrinkled noses and red stained plates to realize it. With their earthy sweetness and semi-soft texture, beets have been our latest food “discovery”. Eastern Market and Dupont Market are particularly good sources for the taproot, which comes into its prime in the summer. With the dog days of summer in…