Dear Washington, D.C., We need to talk. Not in a “we should see other people” way, but in a “I have some feelings and they are wearing sensible walking shoes” way. First of all, you are a lot. You are monuments, memorials, marble and power suits and school field trips and men in khakis explaining the Constitution like they personally drafted it over brunch. You are the physical embodiment of “group project where one kid does everything and the rest show up with a sense of unearned pride.” And yet… I kind of love you. I love how you make me
Category: Travel
The Madera, a Kimpton Hotel, Washington D.C.: A Series of Unfortunate Personal Choices
I don’t know what it is about Kimpton hotels, but I appear to be on a personal vendetta tour with them. The last time I stayed at the Palladian Kimpton in Seattle, I was deeply, spiritually offended by the bathroom setup. This time, at The Madera Kimpton in Washington D.C., I somehow managed to turn myself into a full-blown slapstick routine. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever been such a chaotic disaster before, and that is truly saying something. Let’s begin in the bathroom. The layout is… creative. The sink and mirror are outside the bathroom, which is excellent if you
The Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals: Or, The Time I Accidentally Soft-Launched My Engagement
If you ever want to feel both extremely poor and extremely powerful at the same time, may I suggest a visit to the Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. I went in July of 2019 with my boyfriend (important detail, hold onto it), ostensibly because I like rocks. Which is true. I do like rocks. But not in a “I know Mohs hardness scales off the top of my head” way. More in a “this shiny thing has been on Earth longer than capitalism and could still crush me emotionally” way. This hall is pure spectacle.
Dinosaurs In DC: The Most Elite Thing You Can Do With Your Time
Let’s clear something up immediately: If you go to Washington, DC and skip the dinosaurs, you didn’t “do DC.” You just walked around outside looking at buildings like a Victorian child with no indoor enrichment. The dinosaurs are indoors. The dinosaurs are free. The dinosaurs are the best thing in this city. This is not an opinion. This is a travel truth. The Smithsonian Fossil Hall Is a Flex The David H. Koch Hall of Fossils is one of those places where you walk in and instantly think, Oh, I should have blocked off more time for this and fewer minutes
July 4th, 2019: The Best Firework Show I Never Saw
It took me awhile to finally post about the Fourth of July, but I DID IT. Eventually. (I mean, it’s only six years later). We love a delayed sense of patriotism. This was the Fourth of July 2019, and it was supposed to be special. Celebrating our nation in the nation’s capital had been sitting on my bucket list for years. I imagined fireworks, history, vibes. What I did not imagine was tanks and a very aggressive “Salute to America” announcement turning the whole thing into a political spectacle. But listen. I did not care. I was there for the fireworks. I am
The Lincoln Memorial: The Most Dramatic Stone Dad in American History
If the monuments in Washington, DC were a family, the Lincoln Memorial is the dramatic eldest son who moved to the big city, became philosophical, and now sits in the corner silently judging everyone. In other words…my kind of guy. I’ve been to a lot of monuments, but the Lincoln Memorial hits different. Maybe it’s the solemn glow from the marble. Maybe it’s the vibe of “we’ve gathered here to reflect on democracy and also take a hundred selfies.” Maybe it’s the fact that the man himself is sitting there with the world’s most iconic “I’m not mad, I’m just
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial: The Most Uncomfortable Selfie I’ve Ever Tried to Take
There are places in DC that feel like postcards. The Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol, even the Washington Monument which is basically a very patriotic exclamation point. And then there is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which does not want to be your postcard. It wants you to sit down, shut up, and look directly at yourself while contemplating 58,000 names of people who never got the chance to overthink their outfit for a casual Tuesday. Which, rude. But also necessary. My Very Bad Attempt at a Nice Photo I went to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial with perfectly normal tourist intentions. Take
Why the World War II Memorial Is the Most Powerful Monument in DC (and Maybe Ever)
Listen. I’ve seen a lot of monuments. The Lincoln Memorial is dramatic, the Washington Monument is a literal and figurative point of pride, and the Jefferson Memorial has that “philosopher-king” vibe. But the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.? Hands down my favorite. Ever. No contest. Here’s why this one hits different. First, the Basics Completed in 2004, the World War II Memorial sits smack dab between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, like the quiet middle child who actually holds the whole family together. It honors the 16 million Americans who served during the war, the more than 400,000 who died,
🥐 A Very French Lunch Fantasy at Paul depuis 1889, Washington DC
I walked into Paul depuis 1889 fully prepared to live my best café-core life. You know, the one where you sip espresso, gaze thoughtfully out a window, and look like you’re contemplating art or revolution when you’re really just deciding if you can justify another pastry. The space gives “classic European bakery” energy with its polished wood tables, faint hum of conversation, and enough butter in the air to make cardiologists nervous. The Main Act: Spinach Quiche That Means Business My plate arrived like a minimalist dream: one perfectly portioned spinach quiche and a crisp green salad. The quiche itself? A tiny, buttery miracle.
Hawk ‘n’ Dove: The West Wing Made Me Do It
Let me just start by saying: yes, I came here because of The West Wing. There’s a line (brief, almost throwaway) where Donna mentions Hawk ‘n’ Dove, and my brain went “Oh, that’s real?!” Cue me immediately deciding that I, too, must channel my inner political operative and grab a cocktail in a place where fictional White House staffers might’ve argued about filibusters and friendship. Spoiler: it was absolutely worth it. 🥚 Deviled Eggs Three Ways I ordered the deviled eggs because, let’s be so for real, if they’re on a menu, they’re basically an edible personality test. Hawk ‘n’ Dove’s version came