1. 365 Things to Do in DC
2. Bitches Who Brunch
3. Capital Bikeshare
4. Capital Weather Gang
5. Compassion Over Killing
6. Cultural Tourism DC
7. DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
8. Downtown Silver Spring
9. Eastern Market
10. Express
11. Free in DC
12. goDCgo
13. Going Out Gurus
14. Greater Greater Washington
15. The Hill is Home
16. KidFriendly DC
17. Metro Connection
18. Metro Forward
19. National Harbor
20. The Natural Capital
21. Prince of Petworth
22. Secret DC
23. Smithsonian Institution
24. WAMU 88.5
25. Washington.org
26. Washington Capitals
27. Washington City Paper
28. Washington Nationals
29. Washington Post
30. Unsuck DC Metro

DC has one of the highest rates of homelessness in the country—Street Sense gives homeless an opportunity to earn income by selling a biweekly newspaper. Vendors pay 35 cents for each paper (to cover the cost of production) and then sell each for $1. The paper focuses on issues surrounding homelessness, and many vendors also contribute to the paper by writing articles, works of fiction, or producing artwork. On average, a vendor earns $45 a day.

I didn’t realize how incredibly ignorant I was about homelessness until I started reading Street Sense. I find the vendor profiles particularly enlightening—each person’s story and situation is different. I also really enjoy my interactions with the vendors, most of whom are very friendly and really appreciate.

Now I make sure I always have a dollar in my wallet, so that when I see a vendor I can buy a copy. It’s frustrating for me to see so many people walk right on by, not bothering to give a dollar and a few moments of their time.

Become a fan of Street Sense on Facebook, follow Street Sense on Twitter, but most important, buy Street Sense!

© Fernando Revilla on Creative Commons

11. Don’t take I-66 during rush hour. I blogged about this awhile ago, but it’s worth repeating. Before coming to DC, I had no idea that roads existed that were HOV-only during certain parts of the day. Until I got a ticket on 66 the very first time I’d ever driven on it. (I’m still bitter.)

10. Do invest in a winter coat. I moved to DC from California and couldn’t justify spending a couple hundred dollars on a coat, so the first winter that I lived here I just wore the heaviest jacket I owned. A random woman on the Metro actually admonished me for not having a warmer coat. And, turns out, DC winters are a lot easier to handle when you’re not freezing your ass off.

9. Don’t get too attached. Okay, this is terribly pessimistic of me, I realize, but it’s true. I had a really difficult time when a few friends I had become super close with left the area. DC is a transient city, and friends you meet will usually move eventually. It takes time to find people who aren’t just passing through.

8. Don’t live at an AvalonBay “community.” Avalon owns a bunch of apartment buildings in the DC area, and I was mid-lease when they bought the building I lived in. They have horrible management and don’t care about their residents. I quickly moved out.

7. Don’t shop at Tysons Corner during the holidays. Okay, you can shop at Tysons during the holidays, but be prepared for some anxiety-inducing mayhem. I basically had a nervous breakdown from the crowds a couple years ago, so now I steer clear come November.

6. Do look at the Metro website on the weekend. I was used to taking the Metro on the weekdays, but it took a few mistakes before I realized that weekends are a different story. One time I had to wait over a half an hour for a train because of track maintenance. Now I check the website for delays and either leave earlier or drive.

5. Don’t tempt thieves. I was hiking at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maryland, which is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. I came back to my car and my window was broken—I had left my purse on the seat. My old roommate had the same thing happen when she parked at West Falls Church Metro and left a coin purse on the console. It’s a fine line between cautious and paranoid, but now I have no problem being the latter.

4. Don’t let angry residents rub off on you. It’s easy to get snippy, cut people off, give tourists dirty looks—a lot of people in DC do it, and I am certainly not casting the first stone (I won’t mention the fist fight I almost got into with a guy at the Library of Congress—not one of my finer moments). But the other day I was crossing a street with a man who went ab-so-lute-ly ballistic when a bus was blocking the crosswalk, and it made me realize there’s no reason to get so upset over minor annoyances. There’s something very satisfying about letting things go.

3. Don’t ask who the House Majority Leader is. When I moved here I knew very little about politics, and when I mentioned in front of coworkers that I didn’t know who Nancy Pelosi was, it was as if I had suddenly grown a third eye. “No Toto, we’re in California anymore.” Now I know a lot more about government and when I don’t, I fake it.

2. Don’t be too impressed. DC probably has the highest percentage of overachievers of any city in the country. People here are impressive. They speak Chinese and they have multiple degrees and they save children from burning buildings for fun on the weekends. But don’t spend too much time comparing yourself to others. (I’m still trying to take my own advice on this one.)

1. Don’t take DC for granted. When you call the DC area home, it’s easy to procrastinate about going to museums and monuments and the Kennedy Center and Rock Creek Park and Jazz in the Sculpture Garden, etc. But you probably won’t live here forever, so now’s the time to take advantage of all that DC has to offer.

Hosting a pumpkin carving party is a great way to start turning coworkers and acquaintances into friends.

With so many fun DC area events centered around fall, it’s just a shame that there’s only one month to take advantage of them.

Pumpkin Patches
People in DC, especially those with kids, love their pumpkin patches. And what’s not to love? Pumpkins, cider, corn mazes, hay rides, etc.

Cox Farms in Centreville, VA, is the most popular, so be prepared for crowds, especially if you go on a weekend. Also, they say that a pumpkin is included with the cost of admission, but it’ll be one that’s too small to carve, and those that are bigger are generally overpriced, so I suggest buying them elsewhere.

Other festivals include, but are not limited to Butler’s Orchard in Germantown, MD, Sharp’s at Waterford Farm in Howard County, MD, and Burke’s Nursery and Garden Centre in Burke, VA.

Enjoy Fall Colors
Many people head to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to enjoy fall colors. Hiking Old Rag is one of the most popular activities; it takes roughly four and six hours and reveals some gorgeous views. Make note, however, that it can get extremely crowded, so I suggest setting your alarm clock and heading there early. Last fall I had to wait in a line for 45 minutes (that’s not a typo) at the top of the trail to go through a narrow portion. Also, have some cash to pay a nominal parking fee. For those less active-inclined, cruising Skyline Drive is a nice alternative.

A closer and less crowded option is Brookside Botanical Gardens in Wheaton, MD. It’s gorgeous, peaceful and free. And, of course, there’s always the National Arboretum, which is a great place to explore by bike.

Scary Stuff
Nearby amusement parks create a shoulder season by offering Halloween-themed events. Six Flags in Maryland has Fright Fest and King’s Dominion in Virginia promotes its Halloween Haunt.

The National Zoo has its annual Boo at the Zoo, which is a trick-or-treating event. It costs $30 for non-FONZ members.

There’s plenty of haunted houses, hayrides and trails throughout the region. A couple options include Markoff’s Haunted Forest in Poolesville, MD, and Bennett’s Curse in Jessup, MD.

Celebrating Halloween
DC’s Halloween bar hop called Nightmare on M Street is really popular. A true rooky mistake is to go to M Street in Georgetown for this event, as it’s actually in Dupont. And be ready for some serious crowds and long lines at the bars.

Professionals in the City will also be hosting it’s annual Halloween party, Mayhem and Madness, at K Street Lounge.

© Eli Duke on Creative Commons

Zipcar: The Zipcar app is super handy for those who use the service. Find and reserve available cars, update your reservation and honk the horn to find your car in a crowded parking lot.

Food Truck Tracker: Is your day incomplete until you eat food from a truck? Then this is the app for you. Find food near your current locale.

Happy Hours: So many happy hours, so little time. Get help with this handy app to find places to go and what they’re offering.

DC Metro Map: A great way to find out where you’re going without looking like a touron with the paper version of the map.

NextTrain DC Metro: This popular app tells you when the next train is coming, particularly helpful during non-rush hour times.

NPS National Mall: Use this app from the National Park Service to navigate the Mall while you get the lay of the land.

Spotcycle: Nothing’s worse than going to return your Capital Bikeshare bike only to find that the docking station is completely full. With this app, you can avoid that annoyance by checking space ahead of time.

This is the eleventh year of the festival, which is organized by the Library of Congress. Some of the better known names this year are Sarah Vowell, Toni Morrison, David McCullough, Michael Cunningham and Julianne Moore (apparently she “writes” children’s books). You can find a complete list here.

Each author gives a presentation and also does a book signing (not consecutively). There are multiple pavilions that are set up on the Mall (last year it was on the side closer to the Capitol).

If there is someone you absolutely have to hear speak, then I recommend arriving early, probably half way through the speaker before him/her. It does get to be standing room only (though people are always coming and going). Well over 100,000 people attend the event, but since it’s spread out throughout the day, the crowds are generally manageable. Same with the Metro—more crowded but not like when everyone is leaving an event at the same time.

In past years they’ve given out reusable tote bags, but don’t get too excited because, as you know, these are tight times and tote bags might not have been in the budget this year.

If you miss an author you really wanted to hear speak, not to worry! The Library of Congress posts all of the presentations to the website.

Note: George Mason University in conjunction with the City of Fairfax also has a book festival during this time (September 18-23) though with seemingly no connection to the National Book Festival. It’s called Fall for the Book and attracts some big names too (this year Stephen King and Amy Tan are speaking).

The Great Falls © Jan Kronsell on Creative Commons

Known as “the nation’s river”, the Potomac runs through West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and DC.

10. The Potomac is about 383 miles long.

9. About 90 percent of DC area drinking water comes from Potomac.

8. There is some fantastic local hiking along the Potomac, including the popular Billy Goat Trail in Maryland and trails in Virginia’s Great Falls Park.

7. The water quality of the river began deteriorating in the 19th century as a result of mining, agriculture and sewage. It became so polluted that President Lyndon Johnson called the river “a national disgrace” and put measures in place to return it to its former glory. It’s made substantial success since that time, but still has a long way to go.

6. Rumor has it that Abraham Lincoln would escape to higher ground on summer nights to escape the smell of the Potomac.

5. You’re not allowed to swim in the Potomac (but that’s not to say that people don’t). In 2009, six people died in the river. You will see signs posted on trails near the river stating the number of people who have died so far that year.

4. The Potomac Conservancy is a non-profit working to improve the river’s water quality.

3. Activities you can enjoy on the Potomac include flat water kayaking, whitewater kayaking, stand up paddling, sculling, canoeing and cruises.

2. About 5 million people live in the Potomac Watershed and the population is expected to grow 10 percent each decade.

1. President John Quincy Adams swam naked in the Potomac every day. One afternoon Anne Royall, one of the first female journalists, forced Adams to give her an interview by standing on his clothes and refusing to move until she got her questions answered.

How freaking cute is this photo? © mbtrama on Flickr

On any given Saturday you’ll see countless U-Hauls zig-zagging across the DC Metro area. People moving in. People moving out. Women moving in with boyfriends. Woman moving out of their boyfriends’.

I recently decided to move (because Avalon Communities is a soulless and evil corporation, in my humble opinion). Moving is always stressful, but I’ve gotten good at it having moved 13 times in the span of 8 years (hence the 25 craigslist roommates). So I thought I’d share some tips that I’ve learned over the years.

1. Think ahead!
I visited some friends on the West Coast while they were going through a move (the move was scheduled after my tickets were already bought). The day of the move one of my friends had packed nothing … nothing! And it’s not like she was a minimalist, she had the master bedroom which included a freaking fish tank! She vastly underestimated the time it would take her to pack. So I beg of you, start packing early: You have more stuff than you think. And if you’ve hired movers, not being packed can cost you some serious time (aka cash).

In addition to packing, you want to book your movers or U-Haul wellll in advance, so you get exactly the movers you want or exactly the U-Haul size you need. This is especially true if you’re moving on the last weekend of the month (and remember, most moving companies don’t work on Sundays).

2. Packing should not be combined with discarding and/or sentimentalizing.
When you’re packing, you need to be focused on the task at hand. Ideally, you’ll have discarding unnecessary items before you started packing (see #1) but if not, now is not the time. Throw that crap in a box and deal with it later.

3. Keep several things in mind when choosing a mover.
First off, l recommend Yelp to help you decide on a moving company; you should also ask your friends or coworkers. I’m a fan of hiring a mover that charges an hourly rate. That way, I’m paying from the time they arrive to the time they’re finished. Some movers do their costing other ways, but I worry that I’m going to get screwed over that way. If you do get an hourly rate, make sure it doesn’t include travel time from their initial location.

You might also want to consider how they handle your stuff. My roommate’s mover wrapped EVERYTHING in big plastic wrap, including her mattress and couch. Mine just put my stuff directly into the truck, which worked for me because I don’t own anything super nice, but if you do, it’s something to think about.

I also recommend getting cold water bottles for your movers, they will love you for it. And don’t forget to tip!

4. Mix and match.
When I pack, I don’t worry so much about keeping desk stuff with desk stuff and kitchen stuff with kitchen stuff. Rather, I think more about weight and packing things securely. I wrap clothes around breakable stuff instead of bothering with newspaper. And for clothes that I don’t use for packing, I just drop them in a large Home Depot box, hangers and all, which makes it super easy to rearrange my new closet. (BTW, I must prefer purchasing nice, new boxes for a buck or two each from Home Depot instead of hoarding a hodge podge of boxes from work.)

5. It’s the little stuff that will lead to a nervous breakdown.
It’s always the last odds and ends that put you over the edge. You’ve moved the furniture, packed up the pots and pans, but yet the shampoo in the shower and the junk drawer in the kitchen are still there when you just can’t take it anymore. Prepare in advance by having a few bags set aside to pack this random assortment. You also might want to do the annoying cleaning chores ahead of time, like cleaning the fridge and the stove burners.

My friend Mike brushing and blushing.

Last week as part of a work “retreat” I went to Blush N Brush in Georgetown. I’d put it in the same category as pottery painting places, except in this instance you select a specific painting and the instructor goes through the steps to recreate the painting. We were a private class, and so we looked at the website ahead of time and picked out what we wanted to do, but if you go to one of their regularly scheduled classes, you can check out their calendar to see which painting is being taught. (Apparently landscapes are most popular, particularly those that look similar to famous paintings, which is good to note because classes do sell out.)

The “blush” part comes in because you are encouraged to drink wine while you paint. In fact, they give you a complimentary wine glass and soon will have wine at the store to purchase. The whole atmosphere is very relaxed, and you’re encouraged to change up the painting however you want (though I tried to copy it as closely as possible).

There are paintings that take 2 hours and others that take 3; we did a 2-hour painting and, I tell ya, the time FLEW by. In fact, I wasn’t able to totally complete my painting, but perhaps I was putting too much emphasis on “blush” and not enough on “brush.” (They do offer a Finishing Touches class the first Saturday of every month for slow pokes like me.) The price for a 2-hour class is $50 and for a 3-hour class it’s $60. You might notice on the calendar that many classes are sold out; I suspect that’s a result of a recent Groupon promotion.

Okay, so mine's not EXACTLY like the original, but I tried.

I personally think Blush N Brush would be the ideal first date—you’d have an activity to focus on that would make periodic silences less awkward, but you would also be able to talk and bond over the experience. It’d also be great to go with friends or even by yourself (which, according to the instructor, isn’t uncommon).

Blush N Brush is located at 3210 Grace Street, really close to the main drag on M Street,  in a building basement. It’s a decent walk from Foggy Bottom Metro or street parking shouldn’t be too bad depending on when you go and if you’re willing to walk a few blocks.

I’m not sure what I’m going to do with my painting. I was hoping I’d be proud enough of it to hang it up in my house, which I’m not, but I also like it too much to throw it away. Perhaps I’ll save it for Christmas and give it to an unsuspecting family member … we’ll see!

© Dan Smith on Creative Commons

There’s no better place to enjoy a beautiful, summer day than Annapolis. Maryland’s capital is only about an hour away from DC, depending on where exactly you’re starting from, and is easy to get to. Here are my five favorite things to do …

Time on the water
Ideally, you’ll have a friend with a boat who can take you out on the water but, assuming that’s not an option, there are a couple alternatives. You can take a cruise (including one with a pirate theme) , take a kayak tour or rent a kayak and go out on your own. A water taxi is also an option, but they’re not cheap.

Hang out at City Dock
No visit to Annapolis is complete without a walk around City Dock, the main hub along the water with cute shops and restaurants. Make sure to check out “Ego Alley” where boaters pull up in an unspoken “mine is bigger than yours” contest.

 Take a tour
I highly recommend taking the Naval Academy hour-long tour. Just go to the visitor center to sign up. When my friends and I were taking the tour, we walked by a student who muttered “welcome to hell.” Yikes!

Last summer I had the interesting and (hopefully) once-in-a-lifetime experience partaking in a “haunted pub crawl.” If that’s not your thing, there are plenty of other walking tours to choose from.

Eat
I’m particularly fond of eating brunch in Annapolis. My most favorite place is Boatyard Bar & Grill. It’s not near City Dock so you have to either take a short drive or a longish walk, but to me it’s worth it.

My boyfriend is obsessed with The Big Cheese which has amazing sandwiches, and used to be in “Market Place” before all the local places got kicked out when there was drama that I won’t get into now. It’s still close by though. People also really like Chick & Ruth’s Delly.  It’s good but really crowded.

Drink
Going out in Annapolis has a totally different feel compared to going to bars in DC. Jeans and T-shirts are the norm, anything fancier than that and you’ll stick out. I’m partial to the back bar at Pusser’s, which is right on the water, but it’s easy to hop around to different bars because there are plenty of options in the City Dock area. Of course, make sure you have a designated driver if you’re planning on coming home to DC at the end of the night.

Insider’s Tip: There is plenty of street parking in Annapolis if you’re willing to a) look for it, b) walk a few blocks and c) parallel park. There’s also metered parking at City Dock, but if you manage to get a spot, make sure to play the lottery that day too.