Snow Sports around DC
After you get over the frustration of having to dig yourself out of the massive piles everywhere, you’ll realize that there’s no better time than now to use the packed powder to your advantage (especially after hating on it for the last week and a half). So gear up, team – it’s time you put your shovel down and embrace the snow:
Whitetail College Day and Night
Where: 13805 Blairs Valley Rd, Mercersburg, PA – it’s maybe 2 hours of driving, but it’s worth it.
When: Every Wednesday until the end of the season
How much: Only $36 for a 4-hour lift ticket
Why: From their website, “We certainly appreciate the budget of the average College student…and how important skiing or shredding can be to your mental well being.” They just get us. Bring your college ID and you’re all set to ski. Image courtesy of citigroupadventures.com
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WISP Mondays
Where: 296 Marsh Hill Road, McHenry, MD – this one’s a bit more of a commitment, the road trip is about 3 hours.
When: Mondays! Except for Monday January 18 & February 15.
How much: $49 will get you an ALL DAY lift pass.
Why: ALL DAY. Well, technically from 9am-5pm but STILL. Just look at that view! Image courtesy of wispresort.com
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Snowshoe Mountain Getaway
Where: 10 Snowshoe Drive, Snowshoe, WV – and yes: it’s far. About 4 hours drive. But you’ll be staying for a few days, so it’s totally doable.
When: The bookings are available until Thursday, March 10 and you can book until Monday, February 29. They require a minimum of a 2 night stay, but you can also stay for up to 5.
How much: $69 per person. If that sounds steep you should know that the price not only includes lodging, but also 2-days of lift tickets.
Why: We all need to getaway every now and then, and Snowshoe makes it so easy to make it happen. Image courtesy of snowshowmtn.com
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Snowball Fight
Where: After the Snowzilla of last weekend, there was a massive battle in Dupont Circle.
When: TBD as weather permits, but you can follow the official Facebook page for updates on everything from weather predictions to timing and locations. The best thing to do is keep an eye out for any precipitation that could cause another legit snow day (or snow week).
How Much: Free! Just show up prepped and ready to throw some serious snow.
Why: First off: there’s a DC Snowball Fight Association (or the DCSFA, as they like to be hashtagged) and they mean business when it comes to snowball fights. News crews often cover how many people show up and how much fun they’re all are having and everyone is invited. How can you NOT want to be a part of it? Image courtesy of DCSFA facebook page
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Ice Skating
Where: As we’ve said before, DC natives’ favorite spots are in Georgetown at the Washington Harbour or in the National Gallery’s Sculpture Garden
When: G-town’s is open daily from 12pm-7pm and the Sculpture Garden from 11pm-9pm, but both have extended hours on weekends (check their respective websites for specifics). You should also know that these rinks are outdoors, meaning they’ll close for extenuating weather circumstances such as extreme cold or precipitation.
How Much: The Harbor’s rink is a bit pricier than the Garden’s ($10 vs $8.50 for adults, $5 vs $3.50 for skate/locker rental), so expect to pay around $30 regardless of where you go. The real difference is in the surroundings you prefer: a panoramic view of the famous harbor with rink-side hot drinks (not included in price), or skating alongside nationally-renowned sculptures by some of history’s famous artists. We say: Why not both?
Why: It’s -amillion degrees outside and there’s snow everywhere. What the hell else are you going to do if you’re craving some open air?
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Tubing at Boulder Ridge
Where: 78 Country Club Trail Carroll Valley, PA – only an hour and a half away!
When: All day every day (but check the website for special circumstances and day-specific hours)
How much: For an hour of solid tubing it’s $20, but for double the time it’s only $7 more.
Why: Want to experience some slopes but have never seen or been on a real one before? No experience necessary for this adventure! Zoom down “expertly crafted lanes” and return to the top with a moving carpet (the last part really speaks to our lazier side). Image courtesy of libertymountainresort.com
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Have fun!
9 Reasons to Keep Partying in DC
Despite the incredibly awful weather DC has suddenly been blessed with, it’s still totally worth it to go out (if you can get there and back safely, of course). Provided the city has learned its lesson from the infamous “clipper” that blew through here and tore our sh*t up, here are the reasons you should keep partying through the deep freeze:
Great Parties
So many clubs in the district step their game up for the Winter because they’re trying to get more people out. That means you’ll find the best specials, coolest themes, and best deals all over the city.
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Greater Concerts
So many. We listed a bunch earlier, and the list has only grown since. With the addition of David Guetta, Yandel, and Showtek, the Winter lineup makes it seriously difficult to stay in. PS: tickets on all of the above will most likely sell out, so get on it.
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Liquor stores may close, but the clubs don’t
We party year round at DCClubbing! A little snow won’t shut us down (unless, of course, the forecast rivals that of the 2010 Snowpocalypse). And clubs will keep serving well past liquor store hours. If you didn’t prepare your liquor and beer stashes properly, we’ve got you covered.
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It’s warmer in the club
Sure, the safety of your covers seem cozy now, but if you really want to stay warm there’s no better way than to dance around a hundred friends. Work up a sweat and burn a few calories – it’s not only going to keep you warm, but it’ll keep you in shape!
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You need to show off your winter fashion
Why else did you buy all the seven bags of brand new Winter stuff you definitely needed from H&M?
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Beer jackets are real and they can help you (a little)
The science behind the infamous beer jacket is solid: drinking lowers your core temperature so the harsh Winter breeze doesn’t affect you as much and you feel warmer. We don’t recommend this as your first line of defense (especially if you plan on hiking or running or doing any kind of cardio out in the cold), but it helps take the edge off.
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Cold Weather = Extra Fridge
For all of you lucky home/condo/apartment owners/renters out there who have a back patio or a balcony: it’s time to finally make some room in your fridge and freezer. All that fresh snow and freezing weather is PRIME for keeping alcohol at it’s coldest. Throw the bottles in the snow pile and an extra 30 in your fridge. You’re welcome.
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New Netflix shows aren’t out yet
You can’t use it as an excuse anymore since you probably just spent a 4-day weekend binge watching everything already on there. All the new shows and next seasons aren’t starting until March. Get off the couch.
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What else are you going to do?
Honestly. You’ve been cooped up and snowed-in all weekend and need to get out. Get out.
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It’s not often you get to say, “Yeah, I was around for the historic DC snow storm of ’16. And I was raging my FACE off.” Now’s your chance. Get out there and be a part of history.
David Guetta: 3.4.16 at Echostage
Glow Washington DC Presents:
David Guetta
March 4, 2016 | Doors 9pm | Ages 18+
Echostage • 2135 Queens Chapel Rd NE • Washington, DC
VIP and Venue Information – 202.503.2330
David Guetta makes his return to Echostage on March 4!
Why Winter in DC is the Worst
Aside from the fact that DC weather is generally a roller-coaster of emotions (“It’s going to be 70 today! I’m wearing sandals!” <insert impending ice threat 4 hours later>), Winter is the most frustrating season to deal with considering the city itself doesn’t know how to deal with it. Potential snowfall in 2 weeks? SHUT IT DOWN. Brief respite of sunny 65 degree weather? OUTDOOR YOGA STARTS WEEKLY NOW, GUYS.
Walking
If you are one of the few that only has a block and half between warmth and work: get out. The rest of us have to reach Bear Grylls survival status in order to make it to the door before our faces freeze completely. It’s always a fun sensation when you have to use strange muscles you didn’t know existed just to be able to talk to someone without sounding like you’ve been drinking for the past 6 hours. The facial-freeze-slur around here is real.
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Traffic
Did you know that when the temperature drops below freezing, DC cars’ basic mechanisms for turn signals and proper steering fail to work? NEITHER DID I BUT APPARENTLY THAT’S THE CASE. To all fellow drivers attempting to navigate the rough terrain of a flat city grid system: it’s really no different than if it were summer, so stop blaming your perpetually shitty driving skills on the cold. (If it’s icy, that’s a different story. But cold? Stop.)
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Metro
So we meet again, Metro. Nothing like waiting for the usual delays on a raised, outdoor platform amidst sub-zero wind gusts. The only thing predictable about Metro now is it’s total lack of predictability. That and the fact that your life could now be in danger because of teenage gangs.
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Pepco
Time to fork over half your rent in order make your place 10 degrees warmer inside than outside. The real question is: where does this money go when it comes time to rebuild lost power due to flurries every month?
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Comcast
It would be nice if you could watch news updates and movies on your snow flurry day, but not according to Comcast! (see above question). Comcast is quickly rising to the top of the list as greatest villain of our time. Just under the Metro.
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Uber surge
So convenient! So handy! So expensive! Have you tried taking an Uber on an extra cold or snowy day? I know a lot of people are looking to avoid dealing with the outdoors, but mother of god are the surge prices ridiculous. They aren’t holiday ridiculous (refer to the outrageous NYE surges for example), but they’ll cost you a pretty penny nonetheless.
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Football is over
This is especially tough after such a great year for the Redskins. Kudos to Cousins for not only proving to everyone how great he can be as a QB, but for also bringing the team further along than anyone in the district (or nation) expected. We like that. And hey! Caps are still playing strong, so not all sports hope is lost. Bonus: when it’s this cold outside, sitting next to an ice rink doesn’t feel so bad.
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Couch Potato Status
Stupid Winter and its stupid temperature drops make it basically impossible to go to the gym. This is definitely 99% of the reason why only 8% of people actually keep their “Get in shape” resolution. It’s really difficult to find the energy and motivation to go outside in the blistering cold when it requires you to get off your cozy, ice-free couch. Especially when you have a Netflix remote on hand. Doubly so if your remote works from under the covers.
You know what, though? It’s JANUARY, team. It’s SUPPOSED TO BE COLD OUTSIDE. So get used to it, because in DC that means Winter is here and it probably won’t be completely gone until April-ish if we’re lucky.
It’s Gym Membership Time
Okay you lazy phone-scrollers out there: time to get off your asses and hit the gym. It’s the new year which means yes, enrollment will be high, BUT it’s also the best time to join since “New Year, New You” enrollment deals are at their peak. So which one should you join? We got you.
Orange Theory
Where: 425 I Street, NW is the new studio opening up in the coming months, but there are plenty of locations just outside the district in Arlington and Alexandria.
Why: According to their website, “The idea of Orangetheory is this: a 60-minute workout designed to push you into the Orange Zone.” They use science and fine-tuned workouts to push you to your optimal level of exertion and burn the most calories possible. On average, they claim to help you burn anywhere from 500-1000 calories per workout. These guys mean business.
How much: It’s class based, so it depends on how often you plan to go. 4 classes a month will cost you roughly $60/month, 8 is around $100, and unlimited is $150.
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Zengo
Where: 4 studios in the DMV area.
Why it’s worth it: It’s a high energy, high calorie burning, highly trendy exercise. And it’s fun! It’s not just sitting on a bike for an hour; it’s core training, weight training, and cardio all wrapped up in one neat little 50-minute package.
How much: One class is $22, but if you plan on trying out more than that you should go for one of their multi-class packages. Photo courtesy of @zengocycle
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LA Fitness
Where: 1101 Connecticut Ave NW
Why: It meets all your basic gym needs for a reasonable price. No cap on attendance and no required classes to take so you can go at your own pace.
How much: Their website advertises a $25 initiation fee and $30/month after that, but that could potentially vary a bit by location.
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Planet Fitness
Where: 1406 Okie St NE
Why: Again – all your basic membership needs.
How much: If $30 per month is too pricey, how does $10 sound? If you bump it up another $9 a month to the premium membership, you also get a free t-shirt, 1/2 price sports drinks, and some other cool perks.
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Crossfit
Where: Everywhere. And if you can’t find it, just keep your ear to the ground. The first rule of Crossfit is you do not stop talking about Crossfit.
Why you should try it: It’s a great workout, plain and simple. You push yourself to the limit and then push yourself even more, before you know it you can dead lift twice your weight no problem. But be careful if this is the route you take – it’s easy to get hurt going so hard so fast.
How much: Depends what gym you join. Crossfit DC offers memberships starting at $189.
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Soul Cycle
Where: 4 studios in the district
Why: It’s trendy, fun, and it’s hard work that works. If you’re a cardio lover, this is definitely the place to go. Bonus: you get to listen to good music while you work out to keep you going.
How much: First ride is only $20, and classes after that start at $30 per session. If you plan ahead, though, you can buy multiple class passes starting with 5 for $145.
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Nike Clubs
Where: Training and running clubs have been popping up all over DC, but the Nike ones we’re featuring here all end up at Nike Georgetown, so you can reward yourself with some sweet workout swag when you’re done.
Why: Running can get boring by yourself. Run with a friend or 20 and now you’ve got something to be excited about. You also have a built-in support system you don’t get from working out by yourself. With this group, they’ll all help keep you going when you want to give up.
How much: Free! Just reserve a spot online when they open up.
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Beta Martial Arts Academy
Where: 1353 Florida Ave NW
Why you should try it: I can get in shape AND learn how to kick some ass? Count me in. This is probably the coolest option on the list. Not only do you learn the discipline of your choice, but if you get good enough you can go up against other martial artists in competitions. Talk about a great new hobby.
How much: Prices vary based on what you want to try. They offer a wide range of training sessions and instruction options and are willing to work with you in order to bring out your best, so the right move is just to contact them for details.
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No more excuses! It’s tough to get started, but once you get going it get’s even tougher to stop (and you know you have all that holiday partying to burn off).
Resolutions We Plan to Keep
Now that it is 2016, it’s time to evaluate your life and take into account what could use some changing. We aren’t talking about a complete overhaul, just little adjustments here and there. Whether you want to get a bit more healthy or stay more positive, now’s your chance to turn over a new leaf and really work on improving your self and life. But did you know that only 8% of people actually keep and achieve their new year’s resolutions? Pshh. Please. We’re here to change that with a list that anyone can follow.
1. Drink less
Obvious. We should save our health. More specifically: our livers. We’d like to be raging welllll into our golden years, so we should start taking care of ourselves now. Instead of 7 drinks at the bar we’ll keep it to 4 drinks. 5 tops. I mean, 6 really isn’t that much of a stretch, though, when you think about it. Especially if you start early.
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2. Exercise more
In case you hadn’t heard, gym memberships spike like crazy in January. There’s a general statistic that says there’s around a 30-50% increase in attendance every year around this time (have fun waiting in line to use the machine someone’s hogging so they can take fake gym selfies). BUT the good news is that gym membership also drops off by 80% come the second week in February. That means it’s not just okay if you want to wait on registering for a new membership, it’s smarter to wait out the noobs until February’s over. So we should start in March just to be safe.
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3. Save money
Who said you have to stop having fun to save money? You just have to know where to go. Drinks are only a dollar Thursdays at Barcode and you don’t even have to throw down for the open bar Tuesdays at Soundcheck. So you can go ahead and check this one off the list already since we’ve got the game figured out (although this may end up contradicting our first resolution…)
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4. Spend less time on fb
BUT HOW WILL I KNOW WHATS HAPPENING WITH EVERYONE EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME. Calm down, guy. Reel your fomo in for a minute and think this through: we said LESS time, not NO time. But you should know that if Facebook is your primary news outlet and interaction with the world, you have more to consider about your life than a few minor resolutions. Let’s just start with trying to look up from the phone once in a while.
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5. Spend more time with friends/family
You need someone to go with you to the parties. Duh. And hey – they love you for some reason. Show them you love ’em back.
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6. Eat better
WAIT: let’s clarify the important difference between healthier and better. Eating healthier is good for you and all, but eating better is really what’s going to make you happy. No more sh*tty microwave meals, no more leftover takeout from last Friday night, and no more questionable fridge finds. You are going to eat wisely and deliciously and enjoy every bite of your new year. To get started, check out our past food posts on the best pizza, best late night food, and amazing hidden DC restaurants you should know about.
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7. Learn something new
That 8% fact up there counts as something, right?
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8. Quit smoking
This one is no joke, fam. Smoking is the worst. And it’s freezing outside (or will be soon) – it’s SO not worth it to leave the party so you can hang out in the cold sucking down tar trying to look cool (which it hasn’t been since Joe Camel got called out for having a phallic face). Let’s put this one away once and for all.
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This is a list we can all stick to.
Calories in Your Favorite Holiday Drinks
Hooray calories! …said no one ever. The holiday season is always cause for some extra inches around the waist and it’s not just because of the insane amounts of food thrown at you from every direction. Drinks, alcoholic and not, add to your calorie count in ways you can’t even imagine. We’re here to shed some light on ruin all of them for you.
Wine
Kick up your feet and really enjoy that glass, it’ll cost you. A single serving of red, white, pink, whatever: roughly 120 calories per 5 oz serving. Who drinks only 5 oz in a serving?
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Starbucks Lattes
Their regular ones start at 190 calories. Their holiday ones? Cinnamon Dolce: 260. Eggnog: 470. Maybe try it with skim milk? Or go somewhere else? Image courtesy of Starbucks
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Egg Nog (the fun kind)
Generally made with either rum, brandy, or bourbon, the holiday staple puts you at a whopping 220 or so calories per cup. We know family can be tough to deal with sometimes, but for calories alone maybe don’t drink an entire punch bowl’s worth.
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Egg Nog (the lame, but still good kind)
Store bought or homemade, this one still clocks in around 190 calories per cup.
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Hot Chocolate
Swiss Miss is our go-to and it’s 138 calories per serving (note: this does not include the necessary marshmallows, which add another 50ish calories, depending on how hard you go with them). You can cut out some of the calories by using water instead of milk or cream, but why would you do that to yourself?
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Hot Chocolate with Bailey’s
One classic plus another brings your beverage’s total calorie count to 268. So why add it at all? Because it’s amazing. Forget cream or milk in your cocoa, Bailey’s + Hot Cocoa 4EVA. Image courtesy of Bailey’s
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Hot Toddies
For the basic 5 ingredient recipe (whiskey, honey, lemon, cinnamon stick and hot water): 134 calories. It’s like alcoholic tea that warms you from the inside out better than any herbal winter supplement ever could.
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Scotch Rocks
Only 60 calories for you gentlemen who enjoy enjoying their liquor of choice. Cheers.
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Holiday Beer
Some of DC’s breweries put out a some really great seasonal beers you can only get right now and a lot of them are offered in the district at various pubs and restaurants. Our choice is Port City’s Tidings, a festive Belgian style ale for 230 calories per bottle.
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Apple Cider
This guy will only set you back 120 calories per serving. But it’s basically just apples and fruit is good for you so when you think about it it doesn’t really matter in the end. BONUS: hard apple cider is generally only an extra 20 calories. Go for it.
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Okay. So the calorie count mayyy be a bit out of our dietary price range. But does it really matter? It’s the holidays, man. In the wise words of Donna Meagle and Tom Haverford, we say: Treat yo self.
NYE 2016 in DC
Time for a much-needed clean slate and a way to celebrate it! Here’s what we’ll be up to when the clock strikes 12:
Ultrabar NYE
As one of the longest running New Year’s Eve parties in DC, this one is bound to be awesome. To begin with, they’ve got an open bar for the first hour of their party. After that, they’ve got 5 floors, 4 DJs/musical experiences, and a great champagne special going for both the bar and VIP tables.
How much: If you are one of the first 300 smart buyers, your ticket for everything is only $30. If you’re even smarter, you’ll reserve a table in advance and get entry along with a complimentary bottle of champagne to pop at midnight.
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Krewella
Every year Echostage delivers a great show and this year promises to be no different: the #2 in the country mega-club is hosting the amazing DJ duo Krewella for their 2016 New Year’s bash. If you want to ring in 2016 dancing alongside 3,000 of your closest friends, this is the place to do it.
How much: $50 to get into this party and it’s well worth it.
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Booze Cruise on the Potomac
Want to keep things a little more low-key, but still awesome? Take an Odyssey Dinner Cruise or hope on the Spirit of Washington and sail along the scenic Potomac River and ring in the new year on the water. Complete with a Platinum open bar, party favors, a champagne toast at midnight, a pre-set crafted dinner menu, and incredible views of the monuments followed by a dock-side party until 1am. Image courtesy of spiritcruises.com
How much: A celebration as swanky and upscale as the Odyssey cruise is going to cost you and the slightly more affordable Spirit Cruise will as well, but either way you’ll remember a night like this forever.
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Georgetown Waterfront
Want to stay on solid ground but don’t want to miss the views that come with a cruise? No worries! The Georgetown Waterfront is alight with celebration on New Year’s Eve. Restaurants and bars along the river band together to offer great packages filled with dining, drinks, and celebration all night long.
How much: Depends where you go and what exactly you want to do, but here’s a good jumping off point.
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Crawl Til the Ball Falls
There’s nothing like a good old fashioned bar crawl (and one with a name like like this HAS to be a fun). Dupont has a pretty solid set of bars and clubs, no matter who participates this’ll be a great time.
How much: There haven’t been any solid plans announced yet, but the Eventbrite is up and active with more information. Check back for updates on location and registration timing. Odds are when tickets go on sale they’ll be gone pretty quickly.
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NYE Masquerade Ball
The W is known for it’s high class and high-up views – their POV rooftop bar has the best views of the city and now one of the coolest parties you can attend for New Year’s. Watch the DC skyline light up as the year rolls over with hand crafted cocktails and a cool atmosphere.
How much: Tickets start at $75 for general admission, but if you want to enjoy some great food beforehand they have an offer that includes entry plus a 4-course meal at the ultra-hip Pinea for $135.
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NYE Burlesque Ball
Manor is another swanky spot to enjoy your New Year’s Eve. It’s the best if you want to watch the streets erupt in celebration – the floor-to-ceiling windows in this lofted lounge have a great view of Connecticut Ave.
How much: Tickets are only $35 for the early birds, but the price goes up the closer to the event you try to buy tickets. The hot setup: find a friend and buy a couples ticket, you get a pretty good discount by doing it that way.
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Duffy’s NYE
Are trendy lounges, booming clubs, or champagne toasts not your thing? Have no fear, Duffy’s is here. With an open bar all night, free appetizers from 9-11, and party that requires no fancy attire (not to mention the special Jameson toast at midnight): this is definitely the place for you. Image courtesy of yelp.com
How much: Get your tickets now and they’ll only be $45, wait until after the 15th and they go up a whopping $15 a pop.
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Start making those plans now – the sooner you do, the better.
Christmas-y Things to Do This Season
‘Tis the season? Hell yeah, it is. They’ve been playing “Jingle Bells” on repeat ever since stores opened for Black Friday Thursday. But ’tis also the season to do something awesome you normally wouldn’t. Get out of your comfort zone (which may or may not be inside on the couch watching Netflix) and get out there! DC has some pretty legit Winter activities that (1) aren’t lame, (2) are as fun as they are cheap, and (3) don’t include screaming children running around you while you miserably hunt down that last gift at the mall.
Ice Skating
Where: DC natives’ favorite spots are in Georgetown at the Washington Harbour or in the National Gallery’s Sculpture Garden
When: G-town’s is open daily from 12pm-7pm and the Sculpture Garden from 11pm-9pm, but both have extended hours on weekends (check their respective websites for specifics). You should also know that these rinks are outdoors, meaning they’ll close for extenuating weather circumstances such as extreme cold or precipitation.
Why: It’s -amillion degrees outside, what else are you going to do if you’re craving the open air? And, honestly, no holiday season is complete without a spin – and subsequent fall – on the ice.
How Much: The Harbor’s rink is a bit pricier than the Garden’s ($10 vs $8.50 for adults, $5 vs $3.50 for skate/locker rental), so expect to pay around $30 regardless of where you go. The real difference is in the surroundings you prefer: a panoramic view of the famous harbor with rink-side hot drinks (not included in price), or skating alongside nationally-renowned sculptures by some of history’s famous artists. We say: Why not both?
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ZooLights
Where: The National Zoo of course!
When: November 27 – January 2 from 5pm – 9pm (Except December 24, 25, 31)
Why: It’s the ZOO. With LIGHTS. AND FOOD. Come on. If you aren’t sold yet, their website put the event pretty plainly: “More than 500,000 environmentally-friendly LED lights transform the Zoo into a winter wonderland. New this year will be a dazzling light show set to music!” Wait – A LIGHT SHOW TOO!?
How Much: Unless you go to one of their special ticketed ZooLights events it’s totally free. Because Smithsonian is awesome.
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The Washington Ballet’s Nutcracker
Where: Warner Theater at 513 13th St NW
When: December 3-27, and most days there are multiple shows. These ballerinas are kicking ass and taking names with the work they put in.
Why: Seriously? What is more Christmas-y than the freaking Nutcracker? It’s also a good option for you “indoor kids” during the Winter season.
How Much: $30 – $120 depending on seats and show time, check the link for specifics. Orchestra or mezzanine: the show will be great. Image courtesy of washingtonballet.org
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Hot [Cocoa] Date at Coco Sala
Where: 929 F St NW
When: 5pm-10pm during the week, 5pm-midnight on weekends, and brunch hours on Saturdays and Sundays.
Why: Cozying up to Coco Sala’s unbelievable menu of Winter drinks and cocktail pairings is sure to warm you up from the inside out. And we didn’t even mention their decadent food and dessert options.
How Much: We’d go for the Hot CoCo Flight to start off – get their 3 types of insanely delicious hot chocolate drinks (white, dark, milk) for just 9 bucks.
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Renwick Gallery
Where: Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street NW
When: After two long years of renovation and anticipation, Renwick has FINALLY opened it’s doors back up to the public. Now open daily from 10am – 5:30pm (with the exception of December 25).
Why: So many reasons, the aforementioned re-opening being only one. Renwick Gallery is the first building in America built solely for the purpose of being an art museum, so the building itself is already a treat to behold. Inside, however, they’ve premiered an impressive show that can only be described by it’s title: Wonder. They also have an impressive collection of unique handmade items and gifts that you can’t find anywhere else.
How Much: Again, because the Smithsonian is awesome, it’s totally free.
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DC Snowball Fights
Where: Last year they hosted massive battles in Dupont Circle, Meridian Hill, and the Washington Monument.
When: TBD as weather permits, but you can follow the official Facebook page for updates on everything from weather predictions to timing and locations. The best thing to do is keep an eye out for any precipitation that could cause a snow day (a REAL ONE, none of that quarter-inch-of-flurries-but-we’re-too-scared-to-drive bullsh*t).
Why: First off: there’s a DC Snowball Fight Association (or the DCSFA, as they like to be hashtagged) and they mean business when it comes to snowball fights. News crews often cover how many people show up and how much fun they’re all are having and everyone is invited. How can you NOT want to be a part of this?
How Much: Free! Just show up prepped and ready to throw some serious snow. Image courtesy of DCSFA facebook page
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FREE S’MORES
Where: YOU READ THAT RIGHT. The Ritz-Carlton in Georgetown (3100 South Street NW) has an annual December happy hour tradition that includes “decadent” dessert drinks and Winter cocktails served with the classic fireside treat.
When: Nightly from 6:30-7pm in the Livingroom, and daily on the Terrace.
Why: S’MORES. FREE.
How Much Actually: They’re complimentary with the understanding that you’ll buy a couple drinks. This place is definitely on the swanky side, though, so dress to impress and expect to pay a little extra for the atmosphere.
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Miracle on 7th Street
Where: 7th Street. Duh. JK. But really, it’s 1843 7th Street NW (Mockingbird Hill)
When: Opens every day at 5pm, open until 1:30 am on the weekends. But it’s only happening this month, so get there while it’s still around!
Why: It’s a pop-up holiday cocktail bar! They feature specialty drinks that celebrate everything Christmas and Hanukkah with daily themed specials. BUT THAT’S NOT ALL: they also plan to do holiday movie nights, “lively festivities”, and Manischewitz Pong competitions. Holy moly is this place awesome.
How Much: Drinks are only $12 (unless otherwise specified). But a shot of Baltimore Egg Nog is only $4. Cheers! Image courtesy of miracleon7thst.com
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NYE at Ultrabar
Where: 911 F Street NW
When: Thursday December 31 at 8pm sharp
Why: Okay, so it’s not necessarily “Christmas-y”, but the annual NYE bash at Ultrabar is tradition. It’s also one of the longest running NYE parties in DC (for good reason). Ultrabar knows how to throw a party: this year they’ve got an open bar, 5 floors of tables and dancing, 4 DJs spinning all night, and bottle specials at the bar – all of which is neatly wrapped in a great price.
How Much: $30 if you’re one of the first 300 people to buy your ticket, but if you’re planning on raging with a group of people then getting a table is the best way to go. It gets you entry and, if you book in advance, a complimentary bottle of champagne to toast with at midnight.
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Throw on that Winter jacket you’ve been dying to break out and go have some fun. ‘Tis the season, after all.
11 Awkward Thanksgiving Moments
Who doesn’t love Thanksgiving? A long weekend at home, time off from work, a huge feast with friends and family you haven’t seen in maybe a year…and some excruciatingly uncomfortable moments. You know the ones we’re talking about and you’ve probably experienced at least 4 of the ones we mention here, but it’s the time to be thankful for what you have. So grin and bear it, it’s time for Thanksgiving dinner.
The Angry Superfan
Football is to Thanksgiving as stuffing is to turkey – you can’t really have one without the other. But not everyone is always cheering for the same team, and not everyone’s team is doing the most stellar job. Sometimes your dinner has that one football fanatic (probably showed up in their team’s jersey over their dinner clothes, is glued to the tv for the better part of the day/night) who is taking the game(s) to unnecessarily serious levels. Does their team win? Great! Did they lose? Just leave their plate within arm’s reach and back away slowly.
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Meeting the New Bae
This poor soul showed up because either (a) they have real love for their significant other or (b) they’re in deep shit and trying to make up for it by spending time with the other’s family. Regardless, it makes for some uncomfortable conversation. “Remember the time you did something really embarrassing that would definitely be too much for a new significant other to hear? Well HERE IT IS IN DETAIL.” Note: if it’s you who brought this person and they make it through the whole ordeal and still want to hang out with you, you’ve found a keeper.
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The Black Friday Exit
We get it, Black Friday is where you can find the sale of a lifetime on all the things you want to get for everyone for the holidays. But is it really worth it to leave Thanksgiving dinner early to spend all night shoulder checking other savvy shoppers for that blender? Yes. Yes it is. At least they think it is. And you should just let it happen, because if you try to stop them they will just mow you down trying to get through the door – it’s a technique they’ve been utilizing and perfecting for years and it doesn’t just work on other consumers in front of Wal-Mart. The football fan may or may not be slightly jealous/impressed/critical of their skill.
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Burned Food
It happens. But don’t say anything. Burned food occurs because someone has been slaving away in the kitchen all day to provide you with a perfect meal, hoping for nothing but you to enjoy yourself and be thankful you have a meal to eat, and one (or more) of the dishes slipped away from their attention. Appreciate it anyway. It may taste and look like a pile of used charcoal briquettes, but dammit it’s made with love. Photo courtesy of theaccidentalcook
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Bad Food
“Oh, it’s DELICIOUS!” <covertly spits food into napkin when no one is looking> <gives rest to the dog> <dog spits it out> This guest was SO excited to have an opportunity to contribute to the meal that they made you forget their cooking skills and pallet are about as highly developed as the four-year-old cousin who enjoys eating the blue play-doh pizzas they pump out of a plastic tube. Again, be polite. And be thankful they like your miserable ass enough to spend time making you something. The taste of Karen’s “casserole” will eventually fade, but the love that went into making it won’t.
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The drunk
It’s all fun and games until they get honest. This person was probably the first one to sneak you drinks when you were 14 and now steals them all back. They’ll eat a play-doh pizza and be passed out on the couch by 7. Photo courtesy of Dana Edelson, NBC
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Rando Guest
“Carl? Do we know a Carl? It’s too busy in this kitchen, just grab a plate.”
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Deep Fryer: 1, Chef: 0
A deep fried turkey is probably one of the most delicious cooked turkeys you can have for Thanksgiving dinner. Just PLEASE make sure you know what you’re doing. Nothing puts a damper on dinner more than Ernie burning his eyebrows off before he can express his surprise at how amazing a deep fried bird tastes.
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The Aggressive Pet
It’s one thing if the host’s pet is a little antsy around a lot of people, they can just put them in a back room or in their cage for a little. But when someone insists on bringing their animal pal to dinner and it can’t control its carnal appetite for shoes and legs we have a problem. Calm it down with a chew toy or scratching post or something. And if that doesn’t work, just feed it some of Karen’s food.
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Old Photo Album
Remember that time we mentioned how much of a test this is for that new love of yours? Well, this is the final boss. If they can sit through an album of your third grade play, your bare bathing ass, and your eighth grade kewl frosted tips a la N*Sync and still look at you without bursting into laughter-induced tears: KEEPER.
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“How’s Life?”
UUUUUUUGGGHHHHH. Unending questions about how you’re doing are really about how you’re doing. Are you going to be successful like your CEO-rockstar-wunderkind cousin who rolled up in a new Mercedes, or a screw-up like Ernie over there with no eyebrows? NO, I do not know what I want to do with my life just yet and I’m okay with that. NO, I do not want to meet your friend’s cousin’s nephew who bags groceries down the street – I’m sure they are as great as you say. And, NO, I’d rather not talk about that time I peed my pants in fifth grade. Now pass the booze.
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Okay, so a long weekend cooped up with family can be a bit rough sometimes. You know you love them anyway.
