This week marks my fourth year in DC. I’m a big milestone person, noting anniversaries, birthdays, recognitions, etc, as if I work for a card company or something. (Thankfully, I have friends who do the same, so I know I’m not alone in this.) As I think back on the four years I’ve spent here since I left school and Ohio a semester early, I realize I’ve been through a lot, but that I have so much more coming my way. Journey with me?
Since February 2007:
- I’ve lived in three apartments and had four roommates
- I’ve had two jobs, three titles, and six (and a handful of dotted line) bosses
- I continued a long-distance relationship, and broke it off
- I’ve rekindled old friendships, made many new ones, and lost friends I thought were for life
- I’ve consulted for 2 amazing entrepreneurs whose companies I believe in
- I’ve held five parties, all but one Cajun-themed
- I’ve watched the Saints win the Superbowl and LSU win the BCS Championship
- I’ve gone through two couches, two mattresses, two comforters, two shower curtains, and two lamps.
- I’ve gone kayaking, hiking, museuming, and attended tweetups
- I’ve run my first three races here and scheduled my next two
- I’ve watched the July 4 fireworks every single year, either on a rooftop or on the Mall
- I heard Ted Kennedy speak, voted in person for the first time, attended President Obama’s presidential inauguration, done a West Wing tour, and a Capitol tour.
All that and a lot more in these four (short/long) years. But, what’s even better is that there is still so much to do! I’ve decided to create a fifth year “bucket” list, or more appropriately named, a “Must Do” list. I’ll want your help – I’m going to start it here, and I want your suggestions! Anything and everything goes, from restaurants I should try, to the cheesy and touristy, to activities I need to do, to places to hang out in. Help me fill out my Must Do list for year five!
Must Do for Year 5
- Go to the top of the Washington Monument
- Eat at Art & Soul
- Visit Ben’s Chili Bowl (I’ve only had it at Nats Stadium)
Attend a Caps game- See a concert at Verizon Center
- Hike the Sugarloaf trail
- Visit Mt. Vernon
- Visit the Library of Congress
- Visit the Supreme Court
- Run the Capital Crescent trail
- Do a night monument tour
See a full show at the Kennedy Center (only saw a Millennium Stage show once)- See a play at the Shakespeare Theater
- Eat at Ray’s Hell Burger
- Visit the botanical garden
- Visit all the museums that I’ve missed so far
- Visit the National Archives
What else?
Jenna Sauber 
You are inspiring me to do one of these too, Jenna. Hmmm. First, I would hike Sugarloaf with you. 2. If you haven’t hiked old rag, its a must do. Maybe you could do a Jenna pub/bar crawl of all the bars you would like to try.
Some things I might put on my list in case you are interested. I haven’t been to the National Arborteum yet and I would like to bike that. I heard its cool. I also want to roller skate at the out door rink in anacostia. I want to camp in the greenbelt park because its so close and metro accessible. I want to ride the carousel on the mall. 🙂
That’s off the top…
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Would love to do some of these things with you! I’ve done the carousel on the mall, but would do again – it’s a good time! Let’s do Sugarloaf!
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Congratulations! I’m passing on the Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award your way! http://pattyabr.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/the-irresistibly-sweet-blog-award/
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Thank you!! I will find the right person to pass this on to next.
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I lived in DC twenty years ago. I lived there with my husband and then 2 year old son for 10 months. My daughter was born there May 1991 then we moved back to Colorado. I loved visiting Mt Vernon. It has expanded and commercialized since we were there. I am going back to DC in March for 3-4 days. I hope the weather is nice.
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The weather should be getting lovely around then, Patty…it’s already starting to warm up around here! I’ll let you know when I visit Mt. Vernon.
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Jenna this is a great list and I would happily join you for some of these! If you haven’t already, I would add: Get crabs at a local joint in Maryland (read: Inner Harbor doesn’t count!); visit the Virginia vineyards; do a specially themed tourist tour like Haunted DC or The Lost Symbol tour; see the Capitol Steps comedy troupe–that one is on MY list!
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I’m not surprised you’ve put the crabs down here, Katie, hehe. It’s still on my list. I did get a few crabs down on Main Street once, but they weren’t the best. Thanks for the other ideas!
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I got two for you: See a DC United game if you haven’t already done so. Also, a hidden historical treasure just past Mt Vernon is George Mason’s home, Gunston Hall. Amazing views of the Potomac and he was literally George Washington’s neighbor by way of the river.
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Thanks for the ideas, Mike! I did see a soccer match up in Baltimore, between Chelsea & AC Milan, but I do need to see a DC United game.
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I would like to join you for the Caps game, please. Here’s to year 5!
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