DC Dining – Summer 2023

Summer 2023 has been one of my favorite summers in recent years. Summer 2020 there was the pandemic. Summer 2021 I felt mentally crushed being away from all of my college friends having just moved back to the Washington, DC area. And, Summer 2022 I was struggling a ton mentally. SO, Summer 2023 was such a treat for me. I travelled to South Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, Delaware, and took day trips to Maryland and West Virginia. In between it all, I spent many afternoons and evenings in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia and Washington, DC. Needless to say, many special memories were made both near and far this Summer 2023. At the same time, my Washington, DC area dining experiences were ALSO ones for the books, too!

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

This Summer, I tried some places that I LOVE going to from time to time and also some that I’ve been dying to try. It was a GREAT highlight of a GREAT Summer for me. I feel beyond lucky to have friends and family that I love and are happily willing to try such incredible restaurants with me. In case you didn’t know, the Washington, DC foodie scene is BOOMING. There are SOOOO many delicious places to dine at in and around the Washington, DC area yet SO little time!

The Bazaar by Jose Andres (1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC)

With its setting inside the iconic Waldorf Astoria in Washington, DC, Bazaar is truly in the most majestic setting which draws its inspiration from the hotel’s origins as DC’s General Post Office until 1914. Bazaar is the workings of a 30-year dream by its iconic Chef Jose Andres and it serves up unique Americana-inspired dishes. The Bazaar was truly one of THE MOST magical restaurants I have *ever* stepped foot in – I was seriously IN AWE the moment that I walked into the restaurant with its glorious avant-garde and Americana flair.

My best friend Briana and I decided to make a girl’s night out on the town via dinner at The Bazaar and *of course* photos admiring the gorgeous lobby of the Waldorf Astoria. While we LOVED the entire atmosphere of the restaurant, we found the food to be unique yet overpriced for its tiny portions. The charcuterie and oysters with a fizz on the top and drinks were extremely well-done, I would not see myself going again for anything more than a nice glass of wine or a cocktail and a snack. I would LOVE to bring some of my best friends from Indiana and North Carolina to The Bazaar when they come to visit and *even* climb to the top of the Old Post Office Tower, which also calls the Waldorf Astoria its home and is FREE for all.

Tip: Make a reservation at least 4 weeks in advance, as tables fill up FAST.

Bellissimo Restaurant (10403 Main Street, Fairfax, VA)

My best friend Stephanie and I tried Bellissimo Restaurant, located in Old Town Fairfax, Virginia (here), as apart of Summer 2023 Washington, DC Restaurant Week. We tried their 3-course $40 menu with a glass of house wine for an additional $10. Bellissimo is a tiny yet extremely elegant and homey Italian restaurant that has been owned by the same man for over 20 years. Stephanie and I got to meet the owner and he was so kind alongside the rest of the staff! Let’s just say that the menu was also TO DIE FOR good and I was BLOWN AWAY (!!!!) by the food. I started with their caprese tower, enjoyed their lobster bisque and crab and shrimp ravioli, and then finished off with their cheesecake to go alongside some Pinot Grigio. Stephanie and I enjoyed a nice time catching up before heading back home via enjoying an extraordinary sunset that was ALL across the Washington, DC area at the end of August.

Tip: Make a reservation *even* on a weeknight as the restaurant is small to guarantee seating.

Virginia’s Darling (277 S Washington Street, Alexandria, VA)

I first visited Virginia’s Darling in November of 2022 (here) and was blown away by the gorgeous atmosphere and delicious food and *just knew* that I needed to make another visit back! SO, when I had a free Thursday night, I decided to head on over to Old Town Alexandria and enjoy Virginia’s Darling’s Happy Hour and some pasta. I had a delicious blackberry summer spritz and a unique pesto gnocchi! Needless to say, Virginia’s Darling’s vibes and decoration were just as great if not BETTER than I remember!

Ada’s on the River (3 Pioneer Mill Way, Alexandria, VA)

If you know me in real life or on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), then you know that I LOVE spending my weekends at home in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia! In the recent Summer months, my Papa, Aunt Amy, and I have been dining out in this gorgeous Potomac Riverfront town as apart of our monthly dinners/brunches together. For June, we decided to do brunch at Ada’s on the River – an Old Town Alexandria restaurant boasting gorgeous panoramic views of the Potomac River. Ada’s is named after and inspired by Ada Lovelace aka one of the greatest mathematicians, pioneers of coding, and women in STEM of the 19th century. When looking on Ada’s website, I learned that this waterfront restaurant was built around a custom wood-burning oven – HOW COOL! Papa, Aunt Amy, and I enjoyed cocktails and brunch fares while admiring both the interiors and exteriors of Ada’s. Overall, we had a GREAT time together and LOVED being so close to the waterfront!

Trattoria Villagio (7145 Main Street, Clifton, VA)

Located in the Clifton Historic District on Main Street, Trattoria Villagio combines the vibes of an elegant Roman Trattoria with the hustle and bustle of an Italian train station. Growing up, I used to enjoy dinners at Trattoria Villagio with both of my parents and have several great memories. SO, Papa and I decided to take a trip down memory lane and dine here *yet again*. Let’s just say that Papa and I were EXTREMELY impressed and blown away with our time and service here. We made a reservation *even* on a Monday night which was still pretty busy. The staff, ranging from our waiters to the hostesses were super kind and ensured that we had an incredible experience there. We happened to dine at Trattoria Villagio during their Monday Happy Hour special (aka my FAVORITE way to dine!!!!) of 1/2 priced wine bottles, so we *of course* enjoyed a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and some pasta. The best part?! Trattoria Villagio also sells carryout pizza for lunch and dinner, which Papa and I want to try at some point!

Barca Pier & Wine Bar (2 Pioneer Mill Way, Alexandria, VA)

When Papa, Aunt Amy, and I dined out at Ada’s on the River earlier in the summer, we *just knew* that we had to hit the nearby Barca Pier & Wine Bar next! Part of Barca is located LITERALLY on the Old Town Alexandria waterfront pier via covered seating, which makes for the perfect summer atmosphere. We ended up dining at Barca on a cloudy Sunday, which made for a nice and more peaceful experience. Barca serves food in a shareable, Spanish tapas style and also has some brunch delights and a delicious cocktail menu (I ordered the Sangria!). A fun fact about Barca is that they use my exact same serving ware from The Golden Rabbit (!!!), which was a nice coincidence. I LOVED getting to take in ALLLL of the views at Barca while enjoying incredible shareable Spanish tapas with Papa and Aunt Amy (we LOVED the scallops and butternut squash dip!).

Carlyle (4000 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA)

I’ve ALWAYS found Carlyle to be a magical place! Located in the heart of Arlington’s Shirlington Village, Carlyle serves American fare while decked out in deco-esque decoration with a STUNNING bar. Carlyle is also apart of the Great American Restaurants (GAR) Washington, DC area-based chain like Jackson’s, Mike’s, Coastal Flats, and Ozzie’s that I also LOVE dining at as well. To me, Carlyle has always felt grand. A fun fact about Carlyle is that my Dad and Step Mom went on their first date here years ago. And, my Dad and Step Mom took me and my brother to Carlyle for dinner growing up. Needless to say, Carlyle is an extremely special place to me and my family. Papa and I LOVED getting to spend a Friday night at Carlyle, as it holds a special place in both of our hearts. We definitely want to dine at Carlyle again, too!

The Majestic (911 King Street, Alexandria, VA)

I knew that I wanted to dine at The Majestic since seeing its gorgeous sign on Old Town Alexandria’s King Street. Having been a fixture in Old Town Alexandria since 1932, The Majestic has a delicious menu, extensive drink list, stunning interior design, and great happy hour specials (which I want to come back for VERYYYY soon!!). I dined for a solo Saturday brunch in August and felt like royalty. The food and my summer spritz is TO DIE FOR good and the staff including the owner who regularly greets diners. The interior walls are lined with paintings, including those that are of Washington, DC area landmarks. I find the retro interiors to make The Majestic OH SO elegant and make you feel just as if you turned back in time to 1932.

Thompson Italian (1024 King Street, Alexandria, VA)

Having been given accolades by Washingtonian and Northern Virginia Magazine, New York City culinary-trained couple Gabe and Katherine Thompson opened Thompson Italian‘s first location in Falls Church, Virginia in 2019. In recent times, Thompson Italian opened its second restaurant in Old Town Alexandria’s King Street where my Papa and I dined in late August. Funny enough, my name is *also* Katherine Thompson, which made my desires to dine at Thompson Italian (beyond reading about it on just about every top restaurant magazine headline!!) that much stronger. When we came into the restaurant, the host was shocked that I was not the restaurant owner – LOL! – despite the fact that she doesn’t usually make reservations being an owner. Our time at Thompson Italian was great, as the staff was super kind (including our super sweet waiter Caesar!), approachable, and made our experience such a delight. We enjoyed a Monday special of $30 for any bowl of pasta and a glass of wine, where I got a corn, panko, and scallops pasta with a glass of Pinot Grigio – it was GLORIOUS (!!!). Thompson Italian is a popular restaurant spot and does get busy FAST, even on a Monday night, which shows how many Washington, DC area locals love this place, too. I WILL be back with others again soon, as I’d LOVE to try dessert and a martini there in the future!

The Bullpen (1201 Half Street SE, Washington, DC)

I came The Bullpen briefly before a Washington Nationals baseball game, as apart of a company-wide networking event at the baseball game where some of my coworkers and I met up for drinks before hitting the ballpark. Located right by Nationals Park, The Bullpen is known for its live music, drinks, and baseball. My coworkers and I ALL got the “Barbie” aka pink colored cocktails while networking with one another and our other coworkers. The funniest part was that one of the guys in the band playing live music while we were all there happened to also work at our company, too – WHAT A SMALL WORLD! Needless to say, I had a GREAT time catching up with my coworkers, many of which I hadn’t seen for quite some time.

Spartans Family Restaurant (9542 Burke Road, Burke, VA)

The moment I step foot in Spartans, I immediately feel right at home. Its heritage truly shows how Spartans strives to make everyone feel welcome and at home as they walk through the restaurant’s doors. Spartans Family Restaurant was founded by Chris and Xenia Sarantis in January 1995 in Burke, Virginia. The couple truly believed they could make their dreams a lasting reality within the Northern Virginia community through their beliefs of hard work and value in customer service and even expanded to open a second restaurant – Olympians Family Restaurant – in Alexandria, Virginia. Spartans serves the most delicious Greek, Italian, Mediterranean, and American fare and there is ALWAYS something on the menu for everyone that comes to dine.

Papa and I regularly come to Spartans Family Restaurant and find that the same sweet and extremely kind staff are there and excited to see us (along with many of their other frequent diners!). Each time Papa and I come, we both get salad and their French Onion soup, which is THE BEST! I ALWAYS look forward to dining at Spartans, as there’s such a cozy, welcoming, and magical feel whenever I go.

Del Mar Restaurant (791 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC)

In early August, my best friend Shivani and I met up for dinner in Washington, DC’s gorgeous area known as The Wharf. And, we happened to walk by Del Mar and simply pop in. I will say, in the moment, I had ZERO expectations of what to expect, however, I am SO glad we stumbled upon this incredible restaurant. Del Mar is a Spanish seafood restaurant on the waterfront by Fabio Trabocchi. The atmosphere is STUNNING and truly goes off of its Spanish-style and seafood cuisine. Shivani recently graduated with her Master’s and we happened to share that with the waiters who brought us complimentary champagne and made us both feel SO special. The manager came to bring us dessert champagne and cake, too – something that Shivani deserves more than anyone else I know. But, while there, I also enjoyed a summer spritz (surprise!) and octopus. Del Mar is definitely a special place in my heart and I hope to dine here again with Shivani and/or someone else very soon!

The Tasting Room (1602 King Street #200, Alexandria, VA)

Located in the Lorien Hotel & Spa on Old Town Alexandria’s King Street, The Tasting Room Restaurant proudly offers authentic European cuisines with an American twist. Offering everything from charcuterie, flatbreads, sandwiches, desserts (I ordered the delicious warm cheesecake topped with vanilla-sugared berries!!) food-wise alongside an array of specialty cocktails, beers, and wines, The Tasting Room offers it all at a much more affordable rate than other restaurants in the Washington, DC area. Personally, I LOVED getting to enjoy the small and cozy yet opulent restaurant atmosphere here without worrying about spending a fortune to have a good time on the town (if you know, you know!). And, if you plan on staying at the stunning Lorien Hotel & Spa (somewhere that I want to go for a staycation!!), then depending on when you book, you may get a restaurant credit, too.

On an August weeknight evening that I had free, I decided to get out of the house and head to Old Town Alexandria to check out some of the many fun Happy Hour spots! While I missed the Happy Hour window (which usually ends at 6 or 7 on weeknights at most places), I did snag a seat at the gorgeous bar which was empty when I arrived. I LOVED getting to have the entire bar at The Tasting Room to myself, too. It has been on my bucket list to enjoy a gorgeous bar to myself on a weeknight after a long work day, and I am SO glad that I got to.

Tip: Be mindful that The Tasting Room does not accept any reservations. Walk-in’s only, so plan accordingly.

Here’s to making MANY more Washington, DC area dining memories this Fall and beyond!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Washington, DC Area Things To Do: August 2023

Is it JUST me or has summer just flown by wayyyyy too fast?! Happy almost-August y’all! As August approaches us *tomorrow*, I cannot look towards the future with anything but uber-excitement for this upcoming month with all that there is to do here in the Washington, DC area. Even though the heat and humidity are pretty brutal around here, there are still several ways to have fun (and stay hydrated!) both indoors and outdoors.

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

The Washington, DC area offers a variety of multicultural and historical activities that are both free and extremely affordable. Needless to say, you can easily have a GREAT time locally while on a budget, too. Personally, I am REALLY looking forward to the Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week at the end of the month AND seeing Moulin Rouge on tour at The Kennedy Center.

Events:

  • Enjoy a summer evening in the Hillwood Estate Gardens at Dance on the Lunar Lawn – featuring a performance by dancers of the Dance Institute of Washington. Tickets are $5-$20. (August 16 at 5:30-8:30pm)
  • Celebrate Vietnamese culture at Tysons Corner Center’s VietFest featuring vendors, live music, and traditional dance performances (August 12-13)
  • Commemorate 50 years of Hip-Hop – an artistry shaped by Black Americans – at the National Museum of African American History & Culture’s family-friendly Hip-Hop Block Party with free admission (reservation required) from 11am-11pm (August 12)
  • Wine & dine at some of the Washington, DC area’s top restaurants via Metropolitan Washington Week Summer 2023 starting August 28-September 3 (more to come in a future blog post!)
  • Enjoy a late night at the museum via The National Building Museum’s Summer Block Parties (August 10 and August 24)
  • Test your knowledge with Trivia Night: US History and Imperial Revisions at the National Portrait Gallery’s Kogod Courtyard from 5-6:45pm with free admission (reservation required) (August 15)

Activities:

Looking to check out and cool down at one of the MANY vineyards and/or breweries in the Washington, DC area on a regular basis?! Then, you are IN LUCK: Reserve Pass is the app for you. With Reserve Pass, you have easy access to app-only deals and discounts, reservations, and a map-view to plan your visit accordingly to ALL the local vineyards/breweries in your area. The best part?! Many vineyards/breweries within the Washington, DC area are participating, meaning that you can access all of the great deals and events (such as Oyster day at Barrel Oak Winery and Brewery!!), reserve your visit right on the app, and best plan your visit accordingly.

Use the code ktloveswine for 40% off a yearly Reserve Pass membership. Happy wine-ing and dine-ing!!!

**Looking for fun things to do in the DMV & beyond, continue to follow @_thepinkchickadee on Instagram & this site for more posts on fun things to do on a regular basis.**

XOXO – Katie <3

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DC Dining – May 2023

Ahhhhhhhhh! May 2023 was a GREAT month for Washington, DC area dining. As I kicked off the month celebrating my 24th Birthday, there were MANY dinners out checking out new-to-me restaurants along with some restaurants that I’ve been to before. I feel so beyond lucky to have many incredible and loving family and friends who made this past month so special and memorable. SO many special memories were made while dining out this May 2023 (you can also see my DC Dining round-up from March and April 2023 here and here).

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

Farmers Fishers Bakers (3000 K Street NW, Washington DC – Harbour at The Georgetown Waterfront)

Located in The Washington Harbour in Washington, DC’s gorgeous neighborhood of Georgetown, Farmers Fishers Bakers is literally in the perfect location for dining and fun vibes along with *of course* scenic views of the waterfront! Farmers Fishers Bakers is a farm-to-table restaurant just like its sister restaurant Founding Farmers that has locations in both Tysons, Virginia and Foggy Bottom in Washington, DC (I visited each respective location during February and March of this year coincidentally!). Farmers Fishers Bakers is a very special restaurant to me. I first went to Farmers Fishers Bakers was with my now best friends Briana and Brittany for our first-ever meet-up during DC Restaurant Week Winter 2022 for an amazing all-inclusive brunch buffet. There at Farmers Fishers Bakers, we all found out that we went to the same exact high school (though at different times) and lived within minutes of one another to this *very* day! This time around, I celebrated my Birthday with my friends Shivani and Joelle amongst pizza and their 10/10 caesar salad with THE BEST signature cornbread croutons (!!!). Shivani, Joelle, and I had an amazing time just catching up and celebrating. It was such a blessing to see them both AND I always love the vibes at Farmers Fishers Bakers and *of course* the Georgetown Waterfront!

Urban Roast (916 G Street NW suite c-2, Washington DC – Penn Quarter)

Urban Roast is LITERALLY THE MOST Instagrammable pop up restaurant/bar in all of Washington, DC! It reminds me of Virginia’s Darling – an adorable bar in nearby Old Town Alexandria, Virginia – a bit with its signature Spring decorations which were up when we went in mid-May. Urban Roast spices up its decorations seasonally along with its menu that includes a variety of charcuterie spreads ranging from breakfast spreads to cheese boards to pastry spreads and drinks including seasonally along with individual menu items, too. What I LOVE about Urban Roast is how friendly the staff is there and social that they are as well as *of course* how gorgeous and fun the decor is, too! I also LOVE LOVE LOVE how easy of a walk it is to Urban Roast from both the Metro Center and Gallery Place Metro stations (less than a five minute walk!) and from the well-known Capital One Arena where the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards play along with several artists on tour (including The Jonas Brothers who I am seeing there this September!). I came here with my best friends Briana and Brittany and their ultra-sweet Mom and we had a BLAST catching up, taking in the ALLLLL moments, and snapping several photos!

La Chaumiere (2813 M Street NW, Washington DC – Georgetown)

Some of the best memories that I have made in my high school years (and now post-grad years!) with my Dad were at La Chaumiere (French for “the cottage”) ever since I was 14 and just about to start high school. I have had many Daddy-daughter dates at this restaurant as well as my 17th Birthday celebration with friends. On their website, La Chaumiere prides itself on being “as close as it gets to dining in a French country” by serving *none other than* traditional French cuisine. La Chaumiere has a strict no-phone policy and formal dress code policy where guests can truly enjoy the moments in their best, classy attire. I came back to La Chaumiere for the first time in 7 years with my Dad and Step-Mom DD to celebrate my Birthday and we had such a special time catching up and bonding. A highlight for me besides our great dinnertime conversations phone-free was getting to enjoy two bottles with the family of Katherine’s (my legal first name!!) Vineyard Chardonnay (which was AMAZING!) out of Cambria Vineyards in California. Specials memories were made at La Chaumiere and the extremely friendly staff made it even more memorable!

Hometown Grill and Bar (9000 Lorton Station Blvd, Lorton, Virginia)

Hometown Grill and Bar is essentially a hometown hangout for those local to the Lorton, Virginia area near to well-known and refurbished Workhouse Arts Center! I grew up around Lorton, Virginia in the nearby Fairfax Station, Virginia where I still live today with Papa! I feel so lucky to live with my Papa in my childhood home and I’m savoring EVERY SINGLE MOMENT. Enough of my soap box – LOL! Hometown Grill and Bar is a favorite dining spot of mine. My good friend James and I went to Hometown Grill and Bar for dinner and catching up with one another. One of the highlights of Hometown Grill and Bar is that everything ingredients-wise is locally-sourced and farm-to-table AND every season has its own unique menu to reflect what may be in-season. So, I got to try the brand-new Spring 2023 Dinner Menu at Hometown Grill and Bar which I LOVED getting to do and tried their seafood rigatoni which I am still craving.

Coastal Flats (11901 Grand Commons Avenue, Fairfax, Virginia with additional locations in Tysons, Virginia & Gaithersburg, Maryland)

One of the Great American Restaurants owned by The Carlyle Group based primarily in Northern Virginia, Coastal Flats is a seafood restaurant that offers an incredible sea-themed atmosphere with impeccable dishes to try, too. Papa, Aunt Amy, and I have been going to Coastal Flats together for years now! We usually go to the Fairfax, Virginia location since it is nearest to us in distance. Alongside the variety of delicious seafood and all-American fare dishes, a highlight of Coastal Flats is their seasonal cocktail menu that is SO SO SO fun. My favorite appetizer which we get *just about* every time is their crab fritters which are SO tasty and unique as well. Aunt Amy and I are HUGE FANS of the salmon at Coastal Flats which is served across many of the other fellow Great American Restaurants but decided to branch out and try a veggie burger (Aunt Amy) and grouper (me) this time around. Needless to say, we were not disappointed as with every visit!

Bistro Cacao (316 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington DC – Capitol Hill)

A gorgeous French restaurant located in Capitol Hill just blocks away from Washington, DC’s iconic Union Station, Bistro Cacao has gorgeous atmospheres and delicious fares. I came here to Bistro Cacao with my friend Tiffany when she was in town after a conference *just blocks away* from the Capitol Building. On our way to Bistro Cacao, Tiffany and I took a stunning walk alongside the Capitol Building and through some of the iconic Capitol Hill neighborhood. Our food was delicious and we sat outside in their fun and floral atmosphere. I ordered the salmon which was delicious! HOWEVER, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to go back to dine at Bistro Cacao and dine inside which Tiffany had done in the past and showed me its gorgeous interiors!

1310 Kitchen & Bar (1310 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC – adjacent to The Georgetown Inn in Georgetown)

1310 Kitchen & Bar is located coincidentally on 1310 Wisconsin Ave – a GREAT location for dining and shopping within Washington, DC’s neighborhood of Georgetown. In fact, 1310 Kitchen & Bar is *just* a few blocks up the road from M Street NW in Georgetown near ALLLL the shops and bakeries, whether it be Glossier’s DC storefront, TJ Maxx, Shop Made in DC, Little Words Project, Baked & Wired, Scout Bags Flagship Store, Vineyard Vines, Bitty & Beau’s, Kendra Scott, and Tory Burch. You can see why I just LOVE Georgetown?!?! I came to 1310 Kitchen & Bar with my high school best friends Laura and Haley to catch up and enjoy Georgetown. The food and staff were super kind at 1310 Kitchen & Bar and it was a great time. I ordered the spinach omelet which was AMAZING! At the same time, with 1310 Kitchen & Bar’s adjacent location to The Georgetown Inn, I got to enjoy the lobby including its gorgeous paintings just before we headed out for more shopping and neighborhood admiring.

Maman Joon Kitchen (8048 Tyson’s Corner Center (Tyson’s Corner Mall), McLean, Virginia)

Located right near the Apple Store within Tyson’s Corner Center, Maman Joon Kitchen is a brand-new Persian Kabob restaurant. My best friend Stephanie and I met up here one day after I was at a work happy hour. What’s funny about this spot is that Stephanie and I both saw it via the power of Instagram (!!!). I really admire that Maman Joon Kitchen gave out free kabobs to military Veterans in honor of Memorial Day over the recent long weekend. Maman Joon Kitchen is a true leader in what it means to be a local small business with the heart to pay it forward to others. I ordered a salmon kabob plate with rice and salad and Stephanie did the same but with chicken (I think!) and split some hummus and pita. Stephanie and I both had a great time catching up!!

May 2023 overall was such a memorable month for me! I am beyond grateful for those in my life that I can call family and friends. Much love!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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DC Dining – April 2023

Over the past few months, I have LOVED getting to dine at several different Washington, DC area restaurants, cafes, wineries, and much more. In the past, I used to write a blog post per desintation, however, in recent times, I have LOVED getting to share each place that I dine at in a monthly (or bi-monthly) round-up. This April 2023, I commemorated the start of Spring with friends and family both near and from afar and visiting along with early Birthday celebrations. April 2023 has been nothing short of a special month for me this year. April truly is the start of Spring here in the Washington, DC area! I feel beyond blessed and happy to have been able to dine at and try some incredible places this past month. Now, let’s get into it!

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

Cheesetique Shirlington (4024 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA)

With locations in both the Northern Virginia suburbs of Shirlington and Del Ray, Cheesetique is a woman-owned wine and cheese bar and also a sit down restaurant. I went with my Papa and Aunt Amy and we checked out the Shirlington location. I was IN AWE when we walked in as Cheesetique is filled along its walls and decked out with *none other than* wine bottles and cheese for purchase, which can all be purchased online, too. Not to mention, Cheesetique has cheese-related puns everywhere! What could be better?!

Papa, Aunt Amy, and I tried Cheesetique’s limited-edtion Cherry Blossom drink and menu special. I got a gorgeous cotton candy-topped mocktail and Aunt Amy got one of their cocktails. And, all of us ordered one of their signature cheese-y dishes, whether it be French Onion Soup or Grilled Cheese. And, for dessert, we got raspberry-themed cheesecake which was AMAZING! All in all, a GREAT time! Read more about Cheesetique here: https://www.cheesetique.com/

Open Road Rosslyn (1201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA)

What could be better than popcorn and beer?! The signature complimentary starter dish is none other than POPCORN at Open Road!!! So, what did I do?! Order a beer to enjoy while I waited for my best friend Shivani to arrive! Shivani and I met up for dinner at Open Road after one of her evening classes and I happened to get there earlier than she did. We enjoyed burgers, catching up, and beer and wine. The decorations at Open Road feature all-American decorations, including local Washington Nationals baseball team paintings along with pop culture references to stars like Marilyn Monroe.

One of the incredible things about Open Road is that in 2021 The Washington Post ranked it one of the top places to work in the Washington, DC area. Along with its Rosslyn location, Open Road has a location in Merrifield, Virginia close to the Mosaic District. Read more about Open Road Rosslyn (and Merrifield) here: https://www.openroadgrill.com/location/rosslyn/

Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters (520 12th Street South Suite 150, Arlington, VA)

Known for its award-winning coffee and huge passion and innovation for the creation of the latest and greatest coffee, Commonwealth Joe strives to bring together people for the common good. I first discovered Commonwealth Joe (located in the Pentagon City neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia) in March of 2022 when my friend Brittany brought me here as it was a favorite of hers. Brittany has GREAT taste in cafes, as she is such a friendly person and Commonwealth Joe 10000% fits both of our vibes! The cafe is ALWAYS decked out for the season with seasonal menus too (in March 2022 it was a Winter Wonderland theme and in April 2023 it was a Spring cherry blossom theme!) and their staff is beyond friendly. Beyond the super fun seasonal themes at Commonwealth Joe, the cafe truly does bring people together, as they have a mural full of sticky notes where people can write what they’re thankful for (I wrote my family back in March of 2022). When I came back in April after seeing their super fun Spring menu, I was amazed to se how gorgeous Commonwealth Joe was decked out AND how kind the staff was which I remembered back in March of 2022. I ended up going solo this time around in April and loved the kind atmosphere and my Spring-themed Raspberry-flavored latte. I will definitely be back!!!

Commonwealth Joe also sells their award-winning coffee right to your doorstep (which is tempting me at this *very* moment as I write this blog post!!). And, Commonwealth Joe even has a subscribe and save option. I truly LOVE Commonwealth Joe’s culinary coffee mission that brings so many people together. Read more here: https://commonwealthjoe.com

Daniel O’Connell’s (112 King Street, Alexandria, VA)

Daniel O’Connell’s is an Irish-owned Irish pub established in 2006 in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. It is located in Old Town Alexandria’s main King Street *pretty close* to the waterfront park there and one of my favorite King Street stores – The Lucky Knot. Thursday’s-Sunday’s, Daniel O’Connell’s plays live music with a different singer on each day on a weekly basis. I went here with my good friend from high school James and we had a great time. I ordered *none other than* fish n’chips and a Guinness (when in Rome – am I right?!) and James ordered a beer and I think Shepherd’s pie. We enjoyed the live music by Brian Gaffney at the bar and one another’s company.

Growing up, I would go to Daniel O’Connell’s with my Dad along with other Irish pubs. I truly have a loving affinity for Irish pubs! And, well, Daniel O’Connell’s is NO different in being an Irish pub that I love!! Read more about Daniel O’Connell’s here: https://www.danieloconnells.com

Tatte City Center (1090 I Street NW, Washington, DC)

Tatte is a bakery selling pastries, soups, sandwiches, quiches, and *of course* coffee all across the Washington, DC area. Tatte also has location across the Boston, Massachusetts area. I met up with my college best friends Cassie and Caroline at Tatte’s location in City Center of Washington, DC when they came to town in April. I have also been to the Clarendon neighborhood location that Tatte has in Arlington, Virginia. I HAVE to say that Tatte’s interior design is so so so elegant and classy and Instagrammable!! Tatte is always a busy spot, as it is a popular cafe hub for people to study, visit with friends/family, or get a morning/afternoon pick-me-up. The coffee and food is 10/10 quality, too! Cassie and Caroline and I enjoyed the gorgeous environment at Tatte and one another’s company.

When looking at Tatte’s website, I was beyond impressed with how many locations (and counting!!) that Tatte has in the Washington, DC area besides Clarendon and City Center, including: Dupont Circle, Capitol Crossing, Bethesda, Foggy Bottom, and *very soon* 14th Street. Read more about Tatte here: https://tattebakery.com

Barrel Oak Winery (3623 Grove Lane, Delaplane, VA)

Barrel Oak Winery (also known as BOW) is a dog-friendly winery in the Piedmont Region of Virginia about an hour west of Washington, DC. It is known as Virginia’s “Most Family Friendly Winery in the World” according to Wine Enthusiasts. The owners are a local family that strive to “usher in the next generation of Virginia wine lovers, and remain steadfast in preserving our history and core” (via their “Our Story” page). And, their native Virginian winemaker Jeremy Ligon is extremely passionate about producing world class wines made in Virginia. Papa and I met my best friend Stephanie and her super sweet parents at BOW and we each brought our dogs Rosie and their dog Teddy. BOW is unique in that they allow dogs both inside and outside their properties (hence the name BOW!). They have live music and food trucks bringing in some tasty delights. We happened to be there during oyster weekend (!!!!). It is a popular winery in Virginia and the Washington, DC area and *very* well-liked amongst many fellow Washingtonians!

I most definitely want to come back to BOW, as Stephanie and her family LOVE it having gone on their expedition to see *as many* Virginia wineries as possible! Read more about BOW here: https://barreloak.com

Clyde’s of Georgetown (3236 M Street NW, Washington, DC)

Clyde’s is a favorite amongst both residents of the Washington, DC area and visitors, alike. Since its establishment in the Georgetown neighborhood on M Street in 1963, Clyde’s of Georgetown helped “transform M Street from a row of dimly lit watering holes to the commercial destination it is today” (via their “Hours and Location” page). Clyde’s it is an all-American bar serving All-American and Mid-Atlantic delights, including their amazingly delicious crab cakes. I went here with Cassie and Caroline when they came to visit me for dinner and was amazed at how beautiful the restaurant interiors is. Not to mention the fact that the staff at Clyde’s are beyond kind and caring!!

Alongside Georgetown, Clyde’s has locations in Gallery Place, Chevy Chase, and Mark Center along with others. Read more about Clyde’s and make your reservation here: https://www.clydes.com/location/georgetown/

Old Ebbitt Grill (675 15th Street NW, Washington, DC)

Old Ebbitt Grill is one of the most well-known Washington, DC area restaurants!! It is perfectly situated right by the White House and near ALL of the iconic Washington, DC monuments. Old Ebbitt Grill was established in 1856 and is known as being Washington, DC’s old saloon when innkeeper William E. Ebbitt purchased a boarding house. Former United States Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew Johnson, Warren Harding, Grover Cleveland, and Theodore Roosevelt (whose hunting collection is on display in the restaurant to this very day!) have visited the iconic bar. My best friend Haley and I dined at Old Ebbitt Grill for my Birthday weekend pre-seeing Aladdin the Broadway musical on tour at the National Theatre where our super kind server Henry gave us dessert on the house to celebrate the occasion! My first time ever dining at Old Ebbitt Grill was right before Thanksgiving in November 2022 when my best friend Hannah came to town for a conference. Read my blog post from my initial experience at Old Ebbitt Grill here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/11/26/washington-dc-spots-old-ebbitt-grill/

For more information on Old Ebbitt Grill, its iconic history, and how to make a reservation, look no further than here: https://www.ebbitt.com

Here’s to many more memories made beyond April 2023!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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I Saw Aladdin at National Theatre!

Ever since I saw that Aladdin the Broadway musical was going on tour, I *knew* I had to go! In recent times, I have been trading concerts for the theatre and I have seen several shows since this past Fall. Shows include Hamilton, Wicked, and Hairspray. At the same time, I have fallen in love with getting to go to different theatre’s around the Washington, DC area. And, Aladdin happened to be shown at The National Theatre, which was a theatre that I had yet to go see a show at! SO, for my 24th Birthday, my Dad treated me and my best friend Haley to tickets to see Aladdin via the National Theatre’s Broadway on Tour 2022-2023 season!

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

The National Theatre is *just* down the street from the iconic Willard Intercontinental Hotel on Pennsylvania Ave Northwest in Washington, DC. It is just a couple of blocks away from the Metro Center Metro Station on the Blue, Orange, Red, and Silver lines and an easy walk. The funnest part of the National Theatre when we left was seeing the theatre ALL decked out for Aladdin outside, including seeing the Aladdin truck outside. Unlike the Kennedy Center, the National Theatre is a bit smaller of a theatre, however, it offers SO MUCH charm and history to it. One of my favorite parts of The National Theatre’s interior design was the painting of a portrait of the woman known as “the First Lady of Theatre” – HOW NEAT!!!!

Ever since my college years, I have been OBSESSED with the soundtrack of Aladdin. And, coincidentally, Haley had been obsessed with the soundtrack, too! Both of us had been listening to the soundtrack pretty often during the weeks leading up to when we saw Aladdin, too. I LOVED watching the Aladdin soundtrack in action, too. I always find it to be super unique to hear any musical’s soundtracks beyond my daily life of listening to them on Spotify! The production was SO WELL DONE! And, I always find that musicals have such a beautiful way of tying together beautiful meanings that we can take into our own daily lives. In the case of Aladdin, I find the show’s catchphrase “the diamond in the rough” to be such a GREAT meaning to finding beauty in areas and things that it may be harder to find the good in.

For both Haley and I, Aladdin was one of the BEST shows that we’ve ever seen! The cast did such a great job and the props, scenes, music, and dancing was done SO well and beautifully. In recent times, I have LOVED getting to see shows locally in the Washington, DC area. I feel BEYOND lucky to be able to see some pretty incredible performances that happen to come to my city so I don’t have to make the trek ALL THE WAY to New York City or London to see a pretty great show. Haley and I both have been lucky enough to see a show at New York City’s Broadway (and London’s West End for me as well) and we both LOVE the affordability and accessibility of seeing a show in our own city.

A special thanks to my Dad for this incredible Birthday gift and experience that I will keep in my heart for years to come!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Washington, DC Spots: Artechouse

One of my biggest passions is finding applications of STEM concepts in the real world. When my influencer bestie Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs on Instagram came to visit me in Washington, DC and really wanted to go check out Artechouse, I knew we had to go. Before Lindsay’s visit, Artechouse had been on my Washington, DC area bucket list for a while. And, to my surprise, Artechouse is an intersection of art and technological concepts such as artificial intelligence (AI) and sensors. Needless to say, one of my biggest passions in finding STEM applications in the real world was met while experiencing this super neat masterpiece!

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

About Artechouse:

Artechouse was founded in 2015 by its founders Sandro and Tati in the hopes of “redefining the way art is experienced and creating a supportive ecosystem for the future of art.” They have locations in New York City, Washington, DC, and Miami Beach. The name Artechouse combines the words art + tech + house! Throughout the year, Artechouse has unique exhibits to reflect the current times in its respective cities (such as a Christmas-themed exhibit during the holiday months) and Lindsay and I happened to see the Pixelbloom: Timeless Butterflies exhibit going on there then in honor of the current ongoing National Cherry Blossom Festival. Read more about Artechouse here: https://www.artechouse.com

Getting There:

Artechouse Washington, DC is located on 1238 Maryland Avenue SW in Washington, DC. It is an easy walk (5-10 minutes) a few blocks away from the Smithsonian Metro Station located on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines. Lindsay and I found a group of ladies also going there as we were walking to Artechouse which made it easier to find for my directionally challenged self – LOL!

Admission:

When it came to tickets, Lindsay and I got the Date Package as it was $33/person (compared to $25 for general admission) and included admission and a drink voucher at the bar. I’m glad we did the Date Package to save some money and get everything all at once. However, many of the guests at Artechouse just got the General Admission tickets and were good to go even if they wanted to order a drink at the bar, too. It is important to note that upon admission into Artechouse, you have about 90 minutes to enjoy all of the unique features within the gallery!

Our Experience:

Artechouse was such a cool experience! A unique part of Artechouse is that the gallery replays the immersive art and technology around every 22 minutes. So, if you miss something the first time, then you can see it and enjoy it again! I will say, though, that in the main gallery Lindsay and I both felt a bit dizzy with the artwork moving around us, which is why many people sit down when enjoying it all. At the same time, Artechouse along with the main gallery and bar has a few additional galleries, including features that have sensors like building a butterfly – HOW COOL! The additional galleries were honestly a highlight for me at Artechouse, as I did get to experience real world applications of artificial intelligence and sensors. In my work professionally and charity with STEM For Her, I get to learn more about real-world applications in STEM and empower others who want to pursue their interests in it. So, Artechouse was definitely a happy haven for me in that way!

Along with enjoying the art and technology immersion in the galleries, Lindsay and I also enjoyed getting some drinks at the bar. Artechouse has unique cocktails on-theme with whatever the current exhibit is. They also have an app where you can add unique filters to your drinks which make is SO immersive and enjoyable (it ALSO brings in the sensors and artificial intelligence concepts, too!). Lindsay and I met a super sweet group of women in STEM who had connections to Indiana too – HOW NEAT! I love how small and special our world is and moments like these make it so much more unique, wherever each of us may be.

Wrap-Up:

Artechouse was such a neat immersive experience. I am SO glad that I finally got to go! I talked with one of my friends Brianna about going back to Artechouse for a Christmas-themed exhibit!!! I cannot wait to go back and see *even more* applications of STEM in the real world.

XOXO – Katie <3

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DC Dining – March 2023

In the past, I would write a blog post for each and every single spot that I dined at for the most part. However, I have been dining at a ton of different unique spots in the Washington, DC area that I think it will be fun (and A LOT easier) to do a round-up of each of the different spots that I dine at each month. In case you haven’t noticed on Instagram or Tik Tok, the Washington, DC area foodie scene is booming. There are SO many different places to try dining-wise and I am excited to share more about where I eat each month here!!

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

Virtue Feed & Grain (Old Town Alexandria, Virginia)

As my friend Lorena says “this is your spot”! Yes, I frequent Virtue Feed & Grain in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia *quite* a bit. I went to this favorite spot of mine back in January with my good friend Haley and I took Lorena here when she came to visit for the day in March. Virtue Feed & Grain is located in an old warehouse building turned restaurant. It *even* has stain marks from a past hurricane flood which adds to its unique character. In January, Haley and I sat upstairs at a table looking over the waterfront. This time around, Lorena and I enjoyed mimosas, eggs, and waffles at the bar! Read more on my experience at Virtue Feed & Grain back in January here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2023/02/08/washington-dc-spots-virtue-feed-grain/

Lotus Pho & Grill (Lorton, Virginia)

My good friend Haley wanted to check out this close to our homes Vietnamese restaurant for her birthday and it was A HIT! Asian cuisine is probably my favorite type of cuisine besides Italian and classic seafood from practically anywhere. I rarely go out anymore for Vietnamese food but I am glad I did recently. I am not a huge pho fan, but I tried their Vermicelli and it was amazing. At the same time, the staff at Lotus Pho & Grill were super sweet along with the quick service. I could easily go there to grab and go or stay and chat for some time which is what Haley and I did.

Residents (Dupont, Washington DC)

When my fellow influencer bestie Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs on Instagram came to visit, Residents in Dupont was on her list brought to you by the power of Instagram sharing *just* how cute this spot truly is. Residents is decked out in ALL the cherry blossoms galore this cherry blossom season and the food is definitely not to miss as well. At the same time, Residents had so much character as they use their old candle jars as decoration on the interior walls. Lindsay and I got coffee and avocado toast, but Residents also had a gorgeous bar and drink menu (espresso martinis anyone?!), too. The brunch truly hit the spot!! Our server Maria was super sweet, too, and made our experience dining at Residents SO SO SO worth it. I definitely will be back!

Vola’s Dockside Grill (Old Town Alexandria, Virginia)

I dined at Vola’s a few years ago just before Christmas with my family when they were in town. My memories at Vola’s were very fond and the food there was hard to beat. Not to mention, I had a hard time then as I did just about 10 days ago deciding what to eat off their menu that is tempting to order just about everything off of it. I took Lindsay to Vola’s for dinner as I wanted to show her Old Town Alexandria on her first night in the Washington, DC area and we had an AMAZING time! We got the crab dip (which is TO DIE FOR), crab sandwiches with Old Bay fries, and cocktails. Lindsay was introduced to Old Bay seasoning (if you know, you know!!) here at Vola’s. The staff and service is pretty great too – Franklin was our server and was super sweet! I definitely hope to bring Papa back to Vola’s in the coming weeks/months.

Founding Farmers (Foggy Bottom, Washington DC)

The corn bread croutons at Founding Farmers on my caesar salad were SO HARD to beat! Needless to say, I am STILL craving those incredible croutons at Founding Farmers. Funny enough, I have been to Founding Farmers every month so far in 2023. Founding Farmers is a Washington, DC area-based farm-to-table chain that uses locally sourced goods and brings it into delicious cuisine. I have been to both the Tysons Corner, Virginia and Foggy Bottom, Washington DC (where I went in March!) locations and they do not disappoint. Lindsay and I sat at their gorgeous bar and got drinks and salads along with freshly made candy to go off of their glorious dessert menu. I have always admired what a classic staple Founding Farmers is here in the Washington, DC area and will definitely be back in the near future.

Mike’s American Grill (Springfield, Virginia)

Nothing beats dinner at Mike’s American Grill in my book!!! I’ve grown up dining at Mike’s American Grill – one of the iconic Great American Restaurants via The Carlyle Group chain (which also includes Coastal Flats, Sweetwater Tavern, Ozzie’s Good Eats, and Carlyle!) in the Northern Virginia area. I had my first-ever Washington, DC area Dinner Club meet up with some of my best friends at Mike’s American Grill. My great friends Laura and Sarah came and we enjoyed their delicious rolls (which you can get for $1 which is then donated back to charity!), burgers, salad, and cheesecake and simply catching up. The memories, the magical environment and atmosphere, and the food make Mike’s American Grill such a classic!

Coyote Grille (Fairfax, Virginia)

I dined at Coyote Grille back in September 2021 with Haley when she was in her undergraduate years at the nearby university there. Coyote Grille is located in the adorable Old Town Fairfax, Virginia and is an authentic Mexican restaurant. After my hair appointment at a nearby salon, I was starving and decided to pop into Coyote Grille on my own for some chips and salsa and tacos – nothing better am I right?! Thee waiters who are all mainly university students there were SO kind and fun to talk to. Their salmon tacos were so so so good that I am craving them now as I write this. I definitely want to come back to Coyote Grille after sightseeing a bit in Old Town Fairfax!

Now, onwards to my April dining round-up!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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A Visit to the Tidal Basin at Peak Bloom!

*Just* in case you didn’t know, my favorite color is PINK!! And, well, I LOVE that the pink cherry blossom trees are well-known in my home city of Washington, DC. Peak bloom for the iconic cherry blossom trees for this year aka 2023 was this past week (March 23-29). And, it just so happened to be that my blogger bestie Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs on Instagram was in town to visit me! We had the PERFECT cherry blossom-themed weekend here in the Washington, DC area! Today’s blog post will focus on our visit to the Tidal Basin at peak bloom.

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

The Tidal Basin is one of the most iconic places to see the cherry blossom trees in Washington, DC. Even though cherry blossom trees are planted in several different areas across the Washington, DC area even in the neighboring states of Virginia and Maryland and in my home neighborhood in Fairfax Station, Virginia, nothing really beats getting to see the cherry blossom trees at the Tidal Basin. People from ALL across the world come to visit the cherry blossom trees at the Tidal Basin! In fact, 2023 is the first year since COVID-19 that people from abroad are coming to see the cherry blossom trees along with Washington, DC area locals and visitors from all across the United States. That all being said, the cherry blossom peak bloom gets none other than CROWDED!

Personally, I get super overwhelmed and triggered by big crowds. I have NEVER liked crowded places and I refuse on the most part to be in a crowded place. I can likely thank my Mom for this one – LOL! I have learned since moving back to the Washington, DC area that there are a few times to go to certain places in the city than others if you want to see a big tourist and visitor heavy area that is popular (case in point: the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin!). On Instagram, I have seen SO MUCH hilarious content about the brutal crowds at the Tidal Basin in the midst of all the gorgeous photos that the fellow content creators took. The crowds are brutal at the Tidal Basin, y’all! In the case of visiting the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin, then it is best to go when the weather is rainy, cloudy, windy, overcast, all of the previously mentioned combined, OR at sunrise. In Lindsay’s and I’s case, we went to the Tidal Basin on an overcast Saturday afternoon the day that the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s Kite Festival was postponed to that following Sunday.

Living in Washington, DC, I have noticed that people DO NOT like to come out in crowds if there isn’t a big event or it’s not a beautiful sunny day or it’s not 5am. That all being said, Lindsay and I were both so so so glad that we went on an overcast Saturday afternoon. It was Lindsay’s first time ever to the cherry blossoms, too! Lindsay had only been to Washington, DC once for a brief day before last weekend. Seeing the excitement on her face when she saw ALL of the monuments and cherry blossom trees along the National Mall made me SO happy. I feel beyond lucky to live in and call the Washington, DC area home. When I have friends come to visit, I feel so excited to see the excitement in their eyes when they come to the place that I call home.

Some of my favorite places alongside the Tidal Basin to see cherry blossom trees in the Washington, DC area are the following:

  • Washington Monument
  • The White House
  • Smithsonian Gardens
  • Old Town Alexandria
  • There are ALSO probably many more places that I am forgetting to mention as well!

I am SO happy that Lindsay came to visit me to see the cherry blossom trees! And, until next year, I am going to smile at the memories made this year amongst the cherry blossom trees.

XOXO – Katie <3

 

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An Early Bloom

I am a sucker for Spring! A fun fact about me is that I am a Spring Baby – born in May. One of the biggest highlights of Spring since moving back to the Washington, DC area is that there is *none other than* the iconic cherry blossom festival with places ALL around the city and beyond to see these gorgeous blossoms bloom. The Cherry Blossom Festival is a BIG deal for myself and my fellow Washingtonians, alike, along with many who come to visit from around the world. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared a bit on my stories about the early peak bloom of Washington, DC’s cherry blossoms this Spring.

This morning, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that the cherry blossoms are expected to peak on March 22-25 on March 1 and The Washington Post reports that they are expected to peak March 23-29 on February 28. While both of these announcements from NPS and The Washington Post have overlapping dates yet aren’t exactly the same, their predictions are ONLY predictions that one person can go off of. What most people (including myself!) like to do is use the estimated peak bloom dates as a blueprint for planning our adventures to see the cherry blossoms. This year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival is planned for March 20-April 16, 2023. These National Cherry Blossom Festival dates are planned with a wide enough range of dates to both attract visitors from out of town and to ensure that peak bloom is within those scheduled dates. Read more about the National Cherry Blossom Festival and ALL of their events here: https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/

What is SO monumental about this year is that we are expecting an early bloom. The other weekend, I was in Raleigh, North Carolina visiting my friends in honor of my best friend Alanna’s Birthday Weekend. Alanna and I went on a walk nearby her house in North Raleigh to see some trees and flowers starting to bloom. It was BEAUTIFUL and I got to take some photos while on our gorgeous walk on that overcast Sunday afternoon. Winter can be a tough time for many of us. The weather is super cold which makes it harder for me to want to do literally anything including going for a walk as the sun also sets before I finish work on a typical day. At the same time, after Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years, Winter just feels boring, too, as there’s isn’t much to do and it’s a tougher season for businesses and people, alike. Not to mention, as a fellow single lady, Valentine’s Day can sometimes just SUCK and the hype around it isn’t so much fun for me either. However, I do like Galentine’s Day and love all things self love and empowerment. So, that all being said, I am SUPER happy to have an early bloom this year, just like many other people that I know!

Now that the weather is starting to get warmer, I am starting to feel revitalized. I always feel so much refresher and ready for new beginnings when Spring comes, as odd as it sounds. The National Cherry Blossom Festival, to me, is an opening to warmer weather, new beginnings, and a happy warmer season ahead of us. Last year was my first year truly getting to experience the National Cherry Blossom Festival (well, besides going a few times as a kid and once on a Sunday morning with my best friend Haley in high school!) that I can remember as an adult. I truly had an amazing time getting to go to the National Cherry Blossom Festival and see what ALL the hype was about. Many special memories were made on solo adventures and with my best friend Shivani. I am SO excited to be able to spend it this year with my blogger bestie Lindsay of Sunshine and Stair Climbs, college besties Cassie and Caroline and Shivani, my family members aka Papa and dog Rosie, and high school classmates Haley and Laura and James. Much fun is to be planned and already planned and I am SO excited to see the cherry blossoms sooner than expected this year!! Read more about my experience at the National Cherry Blossom Festival last year here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/04/02/my-experience-at-the-national-cherry-blossom-festival-2022/

February was a ROUGH month for me. I got into an accident around 8pm that was a bit traumatic for me. The accident was not my fault either. Luckily, I was not injured and my car wasn’t totaled but it took a major mental toll on me and still is to some extent. What sucks is that during that time, I was gaining a lot of confidence when it came to driving, so it was horrible to feel that it was robbed from me via that accident. I ended up taking 3 days off of work to communicate with insurance and process it all. It sucked. So, long story short, an early bloom to me is like a breath of fresh air and hope for new beginnings and more happy memories to come.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Washington, DC Spots: National Air & Space Museum

When I was 7, my Mom took me to the National Air & Space Museum’s iconic planetarium. At the time, I had a major fascination with astronomy, and my Mom wanted to allow me to explore that then-passion of mine more. While I do not have as much of a HUGE passion for astronomy nowadays, I do still have a fascination and interest in it. SO, when one of my best guy friends James and I were thinking of a place to go in Washington, DC to catch up, I *just knew* that the National Air & Space Museum would be THE ticket!!

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

Getting there: The National Air & Space Museum is located on the National Mall, just alongside several other iconic Smithsonian Institution museums AND the National Monument, United States Capitol Building, and Lincoln Memorial – just to name a few. Its address is 600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560. If taking public transportation, it is easiest to access via the L’Enfant Plaza Metro station, located along the Blue, Green, Orange, Silver, and Yellow lines or the Smithsonian Metro station (which is what James and I did!) in the case that you want to take the more scenic route. You can also drive to the National Mall, too, but it can be more challenging and pricey to find parking there. Along with visiting the National Air & Space Museum, it is also very easy to visit the monuments, grab a bite at a food truck alongside the National Mall, and check out another Smithsonian Institution museum!

About: The National Air & Space Museum is one of the many FREE to visit & ICONIC museums located along the National Mall that are apart of the Smithsonian Institution. It is also well-known as the Air & Space Museum. This museum was established in 1946 as the National Air Museum and it displays aircraft, missiles, rockets, spacecraft, and other flight-related artifacts. They also have an iconic planetarium to this very day, just like they did when I was a kid with my Mom! The Smithsonian museum was recently updated after undergoing renovations during the bulk of the COVID-19 pandemic and re-opened to the public in October 2022. To learn more about the National Air & Space Museum, look no further than here: https://airandspace.si.edu/

Planning Your Visit: In order to visit the National Air & Space Museum, you must reserve a free timed-entry pass. The purpose is free timed-entry passes is for crowd control. I highly suggest reserving your passes at least a few days in advance or seeing if there any available the day of that morning at 8:30 or that afternoon at 12:30 via the front desk. I didn’t have a problem reserving tickets for James and I just a few days before. It’s important to mention that many items, including knives, pepper sprays, scissors, and wallet tools, etc. are banned from all Smithsonian Institution Museums and Washington, DC sites, alike. To reserve your timed-entry pass, look no further than here: https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1029945/timed-entry-washington-the-smithsonian-national-air-and-space-museum-general-public

James and I were IN AWE at the National Air & Space Museum!! Its remodeling has made it look absolutely STUNNING! We both started off by visiting an exhibit on the Wright Brothers and their invention of the aircraft/airplane and how aviation has evolved ever since they first took off in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. As someone who went to college and has many close friends who are either from or still live in North Carolina, I LOVED getting to see an exhibit that had roots in North Carolina. It was also fascinating to be able to learn about the hard work that the Wright Brothers put into developing the aircraft and the legacy that they’ve left behind to this very day. The remainder of the exhibits that James and I saw were more focused on *none other than* astronomy (!!!). I LOVED getting to see an exhibit on the planets, space crafts that visited our galaxy – in REAL life!!!! – and learn more about how our world is connected via technology. James and I both had an amazing time.

Unfortunately, the planetarium that I knew and loved and still do was not open at the very precise moment which James and I arrived to try and take a peek inside. However, if we had thought more ahead of time, then we would have. Seeing the planetarium is definitely something on James’s and I’s bucket list for the future.

James has been a close friend of mine since high school. He has always been someone that I can count on in life and to have a GREAT TIME with. I am so so so glad that we got to spend time together at the National Air & Space Museum. As someone who frequents the National Mall and Washington, DC in general A LOT from Northern Virginia, I got James hooked on the city, too, and was very proud to have done so.

XOXO – Katie <3

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