#15 Browns Market

Most small beer/liquor stores are closed on Sunday - not something I appreciate. So #15 goes out to you Browns Market, way to go on staying open (and being close to my house) on Sundays.

#14 Rock Creek Park

One of the other joys of Columbia Heights is its close proximity to Rock Creek Park. Or DC's Central Park, if you will. Favored by runners and strollers, Rock Creek Park extends from the northern DC border all the way to Georgetown. Not only is it home to the Zoo, but also has its own golf course, planetarium, and I'm sure countless other wonders that I haven't discovered. Today, my now infamous friend Stephanie (I swear I have more friends than just her, she just happens, as she says, to be very "quotable"), meandered down to Rock Creek park to have a picnic and play a game of bocce on a beautiful September day (refer to #13). Now granted we didn't venture very far into the park, actually be found a spot right a long the busy parkway (see upcoming post), which was still quite a nice escape from the city. About halfway through our bocce game (which I won), an elderly couple including a gentleman with a cane pulled up and parked and proceeded to unload their own picnic. Now our picnic included using a Snuggie as a blanket, miller lites, subs, and pickles. Their picnic included a full table, two chairs, tablecloth, wine, and it appeared that they were eating something scrumptious off of PLATES. In my imagination, this is their Sunday ritual. Elderly couple, you made my day. Well, and the young man who came up just before we were leaving, and found a spot between us and the elderly couple. His picnic included himself and his bare hairy chest. Just goes to show you, Rock Creek holds something special for everyone.

#13 Proximity to other cities

This could be said for many cities on the East Coast, but I would argue that DC is uniquely placed at the juncture of the North and South and offers easy access to both. Seeing friends who live in Baltimore, New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, Charlotte, Virginia Beach, Raleigh are all within an easy drive/train/bus ride from DC. Now to be totally honest, since I've lived here I've never gone south (barring international trips or plane rides). I know weird, but I hear and figure that its pretty easy. And I have always wanted to go to the Outer Banks and also go to South of the Border, and relive my high school glory days on the Myrtle Beach strip. I still have 86 days left, so we'll see.

Anyway, its very easy and cheap to go North, this I know. First of all there's Amtrak, which is so nice, and so much better than flying - drink/snack car anyone? And although its not quite so cheap anymore, its still often cheaper than flying and much more convenient. And then there's Bolt Bus, just $20 bucks and you're in NY, with WiFi the whole way, and a friendly often stand-up comedian bus driver, and a rest stop along the way in case you're craving a BK Veggie Burger. Somehow they always make it in less than 4.5 hours, which I have never accomplished driving. So way to go Bolt at living up to your name!

So when you're not in the mood for appreciating DC, ahem, at least there's a lot close by thats cheap and easy, just how I like it.

#12 September

Finally the oppressive summer heat has ended and we're left with cool mornings and gorgeous days. September also means the end (usually) of crazy summer travel and a chance to be in DC and enjoy the weekends. September also brings the National Book Festival (refer to #2) and Adams Morgan Day festival (refer to #6), so quite a variety here in our nation's capital. Ahhh, say that you'll remember....

#11 Columbia Heights ever-changing scene

Tonight I went on a Columbia Heights bar crawl (ok, slight exaggeration, I mean its 10pm and I'm home watching 20/20), including two new bars/restaurants - Social and Room 11, both of which are very cute, modern, with great reasonably priced food and wine, and to be honest, quite surprising and welcome in C Heights. I remember 2.5 years ago when we moved into the neighborhood and Ruby Tuesday, and a string of Latin places - Rumberos, El Rinconito Dos, Rincon Deportivo were our only choice within a four block radius. And then came The Heights, which we then overdosed on ginger calamari and grilled romaine salad for a good year. Well now there's a parade of new restaurants, including the main corner of 14th and Park which has changed three times since we've moved in - always something new, even in the same location. We've seen the fall of Carvel, and the happy addition of a Potbelly. Its been a great time to live in Columbia Heights and watch its transformation (in both good and bad ways). Ruby Tuesday is still hanging on, and although I love the salad bar, I'm not sure thats enough to keep it in business for long....

#10 The Inauguration

Now even though it only happens every four years, its one of the great moments in DC (especially this last year). Its a full weekend of celebrity stalking, free events, and when else do you get to say that you're going to a BALL? There's also that special moment in history that you get to be part of - just because you live here. This past year, I had dinner next to Bon Jovi, took a pedicab everyday (which previously did not exist in DC), worked at Big Sky Night (Montana's BALL) in a ski hat and scarf with a blow up snowboarding machine on the dance floor, while my friend gave directions to Ron Howard, and was in the best section for the Inauguration - PURPLE, PURPLE, PURPLE. Memories to last a lifetime...

#9 Cab drivers

For the most part....there are a few bad apples out there. But in general cab drivers in DC are pretty entertaining. I have recently discussed heating up a punani with one, the fact that our friend Eve should really be dating an Adam, and the state of Eritrea's latest politics. One thing specific to DC's cab drivers, they're probably some of the smartest people in the city (refer to #7) due in large part to the fact that they listen to NPR all day. My roommate Sara probably loves them even more than I do, given her many enlightening conversations regarding the state of the world at 4am. All this said, I would probably not be writing this post, if we still had the zone system, so cabbies, the meter system has allowed me to see your inner beauty, since I'm not distracted by the fact that you were ripping me off.