We can jet off on bargain flights from Reagan National or Dulles Airport, avoid the endless hours of commuting traffic using the Metro or Amtrak, or just sit back, relax and let someone else do the driving on a bus.

Last week, I attended the Inman Connect conference in New York City and while I was preparing for my trip I had to decide the best way to get there.

Do I drive? Fly? Take the train? Or take a bus?

Driving would include lots of tolls, traffic, and a hotel charge of $50 dollars per night for parking – ouch!  Flying would be the quickest, but landing at JFK adds around a $60 cab ride to get into the city.  For this trip, I was working on a budget, so these two choices were definitely out.

To help make my decision, I went to Facebook – asking my friends their preferred method of travel to NYC and had an overwhelming response of suggestions.  Many said they swear by the train, but another offered an option I hadn’t heard of before.  The Bolt Bus.

I went to the Bolt Bus website and found that for about $15 dollars each direction (compared to $49-$79 for Amtrak), I could hop on a bus that in a mere 4.5 hours would provide me with a non-stop trip to NYC.  Not only was it cheap and efficient, it also had free Wi-Fi and electrical outlets on the bus.   I was sold. (be sure to book online in advance, if possible, to get best prices and time options)

The Bolt Bus departs from Union Station and arrives at varying locations in NYC, depending on which destination you chose when booking your ticket. When you arrive at Union Station, the bus port is on the Mezzanine level. You will actually exit the back of the building and wait outside in a covered garage area for the bus.

My three Bolt Bus tips–

1) Arrive at least 30 minutes early – they start boarding 15 minutes before departure and the “first come first serve line” can fill up quickly.

2) If it’s cold out, bring your jacket, it’s chilly in the outdoor waiting area.

3) Try your best to snag a seat with an electrical outlet so you don’t have to worry about your electronics running out of juice during the ride.

The trip was quick and easy.  On the way up, we made one “rest stop” to stretch our legs and get food and still arrived on time.  My bus dropped off at Port Authority making it a breeze to grab a subway train or cab and make it to my business dinner in Times Square with time to spare. I had arrived!

On the way home, the bus made no stops and we arrived back to Union Station almost 20 minutes early – an unfamiliar feeling compared to the flights I’ve taken recently where I’m consistently LATE.

Overall, the Bolt Bus experience was easy, enjoyable, and I would have no problem recommending it to my friends looking for an inexpensive way to get up to NYC – save the extra cash for an “I LOVE NY” t-shirt souvenir!

To share your DC travel tips, learn more about MyLife, view pictures, videos, post comments, and suggest adventures please “like” MyLife in Metro DC on Facebook!

- Kristin

If the tryptophan doesn’t leave you in a lazy nap filled coma, and you’re looking for an excuse to get out of the house this weekend (besides Black Friday deals of course), I’ve discovered a hidden gem in Old Town Alexandria.

The Old Town Theater was originally built in 1914 as the Richmond Theater and was the first permanent theater constructed in Alexandria. Over the years the theater was opened and closed a number of times for renovations and various changes. The last renovations took place in December of 2002, when the second screen was added to allow an additional movie to be seen in the theater.

I recently ventured to Old Town Theater with three friends for a “girls night out.”  Located at 815 ½  King Street, the theater is nestled between shops and restaurants, which made it easy for us to catch a bite to eat at Red Rocks before the show.

We found driving to the theater to be our best option. There is street parking all long King Street as well as the surrounding blocks that is free after 7pm.  Or if you’re up for a walk, the closest Metro stop is the Alexandria King Street Stop (Blue or Yellow Line) and is about eight blocks away from the theater.

When we visited, two first run major motion pictures were playing, one of which grossed $139.5 million this weekend alone. But don’t let this blockbuster’s presence fool you, this is not your typical AMC or Regal cinema. Old Town Theater channels a much more vintage feel, similar to the Byrd Theater in Richmond or the Lyric in Blacksburg – two of my all time favorite local theaters.

The lobby is small and the last design renovations appear to have occurred sometime in the late 1980s, but don’t let this discourage you. The snack bar is equally understated but provides the usual expected snacks as well as a small panini selection. When we arrived, we were actually directed there to purchase our tickets as that was the only cash register – a far cry from the wall of kiosks at most chain theaters.

Tickets cost a mere $9, but there is a catch.  A recent theater policy change states that you must purchase at least one beverage to accompany your ticket.  A soda is $5, beer is $6-$7 dollars and wine runs $8 a glass or $28 for a bottle.  That’s right, they serve alcohol in the theater – a pleasant surprise added to a fun and relaxing girls night out and not your usual find at the movies!

You do have the ability to purchase tickets on the Old Town Theater website, however I advise against this.  There is a $5 dollar service charge PER TICKET on the website and for that added cost you might as well at least get a soda with your ticket for the same price in the theater!

Once we entered the actual theater, we were pleasantly surprised that while the movie was selling out at many locations (Yes, if you haven’t figured me out yet, we saw Twilight – don’t judge!) there were ample seats to choose from here.  We sat near the back and even there the picture quality and sound were great.

At the end of the movie, there was no mass of people to funnel through or confusing hallways to navigate; we simply walked right out of the theater, were thanked by the two kind employees for our visit, and got in our car.  It was a welcomed change from the large theaters we usually visit and all of us agreed we’d be back for another visit to the Old Town Theater soon!

To share your favorite Old Town or Old Town Theater stories, learn more about MyLife, view pictures, videos, post comments, and suggest adventures please “like” MyLife in Metro DC on Facebook!

- Kristin

This summer, I was fortunate enough, in the span of just one week, to visit an outdoor concert venue not just once, but twice.

My first show was a melodic low-key evening with one of my favorite London based alternative rock/folk bands, Mumford and Sons, while the other was an over-the-top pop spectacular — complete with enough glitter and sweets to make even a resident of Candyland jealous.

That’s right, thanks to my very gracious rockstar friend Amie, not only did I get to attend my first ever “teeny bopper” pop concert this summer, I also got to work her I Love All Access event with Katy Perry – eeek!

Working the I Love All Access VIP Event Before the Show!

While the shows attracted VERY different crowds, both were highly anticipated sold out shows that had fans from all over the area flocking to Merriweather Post Pavilion.

Merriweather Post Pavilion is located at 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia, MD. The venue is smaller than most of the area’s bigger outdoor pavilions and is hidden in the woods, surrounded by trees, giving you the feeling of seclusion from the city — creating a unique concert experience.

If you live in the Metro DC area, the venue is around 30-40 miles away.  While an ideal traffic-free drive would take around 45 minutes, during weekday traffic, this trek can take up to 2 hours.

Merriweather's Distance from Arlington, VA

We left Arlington around 3:45pm trying to beat rush hour and sat in about two hours of traffic while heading to Mumford and Sons (there were also storms in the area slowing traffic). When I went to work the Katy Perry show, it took only a little over an hour – but I was also arriving at 11am !

When you get to the venue, you’ll be directed to park in one of the large grass lots (unless you are going to VIP Parking). If you arrive early to tailgate, be aware that alcohol, grills and glass containers are not permitted in the parking areas.  One thing that is permitted and I’d highly encourage is bug spray. The grass in the lots is pretty tall and it can be quite buggy.

As with any outdoor venue, the best tip I can give is to be prepared!  If there is even a CHANCE of rain, I suggest bringing a rain poncho; we were some of the lucky few that stayed dry before the Mumford & Sons show by having them. And if the show starts early, or is during the day, be sure to pack sunscreen; there are very few shaded areas and no shade on the lawn.

The venue allows you to bring in blankets to sit on and even permits you to bring in one sealed water bottle per person.

Priceless Ponchos and a View of the Lawn at the Mumford & Sons Show

If your tickets are for the lawn, try to arrive early to snag a good spot, sold out shows get packed quickly and visibility is limited from the top of the lawn.

Once the concert starts, sit back (or stand) and enjoy the fun!  The acoustics are incredible for being outside and even if you end up with one of the last spots on the lawn, large TV monitors help you see what you are missing on the stage below.

At the Mumford & Sons show, we ended up coming into the venue late, due to the downpour and crazy lighting that just wouldn’t stop, so we stood to the side of the lawn. We were able to see a tiny bit of the stage from where we were standing but had to rely for the most part on the TV screens.

For Katy Perry, we lucked out (again, thanks to Amie) and snagged second row center seats.  The view from here was unbelievable and we were even able to help a fan next to us get called on stage to be KISSED by his celebrity crush!

Katy's Fan Post Cheek Kiss and Views From Our Seats

During the show, if you are going to grab a snack or visit the bathrooms, be sure to plan ahead. There is usually a long line for both and the facilities are limited –many of which are porta-potties.  So wait until the end of your favorite song or you might miss it!

Both shows were incredible and perfect additions to my summer — I was very happy to check them off my summer “to do” list.

And I have to admit, while skeptical at first, after working for and seeing Kathy Perry live, I might even go to the next NKOTBSB or one of the other over the top Pop concerts in DC this summer.   I think my inner teeny bopper might be here to stay.  But shhh….don’t tell anyone.

-Kristin

To share your favorite outdoor concert stories, learn more about MyLife, view pictures, videos, post comments, and suggest adventures please “like” MyLife in Metro DC on Facebook!

Each year, come Memorial Day weekend, Facebook is a flutter with endless photos tags and check-ins to all the local Dewey bars and filled with status updates like “Monday, Tuesday, Dewey!!!!!!”

And I’ve found that until you’ve been there yourself — you feel like a DC outsider.

With one year of city living under my belt and no beach trips on the record, it was time for me to take the plunge.

So when a friend invited me to join her and 6 of our other friends for a long weekend at her parent’s gorgeous beach house (read: FREE place to stay!!) in Bethany, I jumped at the invitation.

True, Bethany Beach wasn’t located right IN Dewey (it’s less than 10 miles away), but the beaches were equally as beautiful and it was just a short jaunt away to the local nightlife that attracts all the young vacationers to Dewey Beach.

We planned our trip for the weekend AFTER Memorial Day.  Yes, I know, everyone loves Memorial Day Weekend in Dewey, but her parents were using the house and the 6+ hours in traffic both ways was less than desirable for my “weekend getaway.”  So we set out on our adventure after work on Thursday.

If you are planning your trip for a non-holiday weekend, I would highly recommend this – we hit zero traffic and were there and ready to hit the beach first thing Friday morning to make the most of the day.

The beaches were much nicer than other local spots I’ve visited, and not long after we picked out our sandy spot, we had some pretty intense games of bocce ball and tag football going on.  The weather was perfect for a long day at the beach, not too hot with a welcoming breeze.

Personally, the water was way too cold for my liking, but we did catch a curious pod of dolphins playing right in the wake by the shore (closer than I’ve ever seen), which more than made up the chilly water!

That night we headed in to Dewey to check out the bar scene.  If you are staying Bethany I HIGHLY recommend you check out the local bus schedule and take the bus into Dewey.

The bus cost us a skimpy buck each, whereas the short cab ride was rumored to cost over FIFTY dollars– yikes.  Do take note that even though last call at the bars is at 12:45am, the last bus back to Bethany picks up at 12:40am in front of the Lighthouse Restaurant, and you don’t want to miss it!

The group decided on Rusty Rudder as the first stop for the evening.  That night a cover band, “Kristen and the Noise” was playing and the bar cover was seven dollars per person.  Drinks were reasonably priced (drafts are your most cost conscious drinks) and the bar was HUGE with multiple options for music and “bar scenes.” The inside is more club-like, while the outside deck feels more like your typical beach bar.

After a few hours of enjoying the patio and the band, we decided before heading to the bus stop, we’d cap off our night with a trip to Nalu Hawaiian Surf Bar & Grill to snag a bite to eat.  If you are looking for delicious late night food, give Nalu’s a try, we had the most delicious and large serving of nachos I’ve had in years!  Yum.

The rest of our long weekend was filled with more beaching and trips to some of the other local attractions.

The Bethany Boardwalk was adorable filled with local shops, ice cream parlors, restaurants and on this particular Saturday, a local craft fair.

We also took a trip down to Rehoboth to find some bargains at the shopping outlets.   As a self-proclaimed outlet shopping expert, I must say these are some of my new favorites – I will most certainly be taking a trip back just for shopping!

With the long weekend in Delaware now behind me, I feel that I’ve truly embraced my inner DC persona and can now confidently join in with others as they talk about their beach weekends and which local Dewey watering hole is their favorite.  An outsider no more.

And maybe, just maybe, next year I’ll even go down for the infamous Memorial Day weekend.

- Kristin

To share your favorite Dewey stories, learn more about MyLife, view pictures, videos, post comments, and suggest adventures please “like” MyLife in Metro DC on Facebook!

The temperature is rising, the birds are chirping and the yogurt is churning. That’s right, springtime is here and that means ice cream and specialty yogurt stores are bustling with patrons waiting for their favorite flavors.

If you are one of those that loves to get real frozen yogurt on warm spring day, Mr. Yogato is a place worthy of a visit.

The yogurt shop is a small, narrow space located on 17th Street NW, between Q and Church Street, a few blocks from the Dupont metro station. The exterior is simple, but the sign is bright so you can’t miss it while walking down 17^th Street.

When you walk in, you’ll first notice a large billboard covered with various ways to get discounts on your yogurt purchase. One way to get a discount is to correctly answer one of the posted trivia questions, while other ways are a bit more comical.

Some examples of what you might find on the board:

“What are 7 body parts that have only three letters…5% off”

or

“Order like Edith Bunker…5% off”

The board changes often so you don’t have time to go to the library, research the answer and come back for your discount, because chances are they have already moved on to other trivia.

Feeling daring?  To get a 10% discount on your purchase, you can have your forehead branded with a stamp that reads, “Mr Yogato Stamped Me.”  But beware, while the discount is tempting, it’s real ink and will take some time to scrub off!

While there are many discount options, even if choose not to participate the prices are moderate and reasonable.  They vary depending on the size of your yogurt and how many toppings you choose.

When you are ready to order, simply choose a small, medium, or large from the Flavors of the Day (the flavors available when I went were Original Soft, Original Tangy and White Choco-Keem) and your toppings. There are an array of toppings to choose from such as strawberries, mangoes, Oreos, and Reese’s cups. There are even free toppings that include sprinkles, honey, cinnamon, sea salt, balsamic vinaigrette and olive oil.

After you grab your cup of frozen yogurt, turn to one of the three small tables they have for people to enjoy their yogurt, relax and play games. One table is dedicated to the original (1990’s) Nintendo with several games to choose from and another has karaoke if you dare. You’ll also find several board games stacked by the window sit to play if those are more to your liking.

After you finish, if you decide you are truly in love with Mr Yogato, go there for 30 days in a row and they will name a flavor after you.

After all, wouldn’t you like to go where everybody knows your name?

- Stephanie

To share your favorite frozen yogurt shop, learn more about MyLife, view pictures, videos, post comments, and suggest adventures please “like” MyLife in Metro DC on Facebook!

While both my roommate and I absolutely love our condo, David has started to consider the idea of purchasing his first home and I’ve realized that if I want to start saving for my first home, I needed to find a place to rent priced closer to my realistic “housing budget.”

And so the search began…again.

I came into work and talked with a few of our agents, asking what prices they were seeing for rentals in the Arlington area. They gave me the overwhelming response of, “Oh Arlington, yeahhhhh, {insert high rent price here} that’s what you are going to pay to live there.  If you are looking to save, you should try Falls Church.”

Move out of Arlington?!  The idea was hard to process. No metro outside my door? No walking to my favorite stores and bars?  Could I do it? All hesitations aside though, “responsible Kristin” told me to give it a chance and take a look.  So just like last year, I started with Craigslist…

This time, instead of only looking for apartments and condos for rent, I expanded my search to include rooms for rent.  I had been looking for a place to rent on my own but was open to the idea of moving in a house with roommates already there.  If you are new to the area or looking to have one or more roommates I recommend this as a great place to start.

A few days and a few hundred posts later, I found something.

A mid-twenties female was looking for a roommate to live in her 3 bed 3.5 bath townhouse. It was located just minutes from where I live now, offered the entire first floor to the renter (room, bathroom and own living room), and was over $400 less than my current rent!

While it wasn’t right IN Arlington, it did happen to be on the same street as some of my friends!  It seemed too good to be true, so I contacted the owner right away to find out more.

I’d compare the process of finding a good fit with a “random roommate” online to that of someone seeking a relationship from an online dating site.   It’s important to make sure that your personalities complement each other, you have some interests in common and that you have similar views on living etiquette (such as paying rent on time, who takes out the trash, house guests, and so on) before you commit to anything.  Knowing this, when I emailed the owner, I included a bit about myself.  I told her about my career, interests and what I expect when living with someone.  Then I sat back and waited.

She contacted me less than an hour later (Phew! Craigslist rejection can happen frequently and make you start to question if you really ARE that good of a roommate) and was excited to meet up.  We scheduled a meeting for her to show me the townhouse and to see if we would be a good match.

A few more emails and two visits later, I was convinced this was the place for me.  The owner couldn’t be nicer, and her home (complete with an adorable backyard/patio area) was perfect.  Yes, I’ll be living outside of Arlington, but the additional space and added savings are worth it.

Success.

So here I am, one year later, moving again. But this time I’m feeling much more confident in my knowledge of Metro DC, and that my decision to move out of Arlington will put me one step closer to one day being a home owner.

My first year in Metro DC has been a whirlwind of visitors, vacations, new experiences (I finally made it to the Cherry Blossom Festival this year –See below!), new friends and… good news. I am excited to share that I have recently been promoted and am now Avery-Hess, Realtors Marketing Manager.  It’s a great honor to be moving forward with a company I love and I can’t wait to see what opportunities the new position will bring.

I thank you for reading along this year, it’s been an incredible opportunity to learn my new city and share what I’ve found. Though my duties with this new position will increase, fear not, you’ll still be hearing from MyLife in Metro DC.  I’m even going to start including some “guest” spots from other young professionals in the area to make sure you stay informed on ALL the fun things to do around our city.

With my "Maine" Family at this year's Cherry Blossom Festival

-Kristin

After months of planning, rescheduling and anticipation, last Sunday I found myself reading these words on the massive 74–foot–high marble First Amendment wall on the front façade of the Newseum– I had finally made it!

First Amendment outside the Newseum

The Newseum is located at the intersection of Pennsylvania Ave & 6^th Street, N.W.  While there is no designated parking for the museum, there are a few pay garages on the surrounding blocks. Alternatively, there are also a number of metro stops close by, making it easily accessible through public transit; this is how I arrived to the museum.

Metro stops located close to the Newseum

Admission is not cheap, but it’s worth every penny.  An adult ticket will cost you $21.95 + tax, and a youth ticket (age 7-18) will cost $12.95 +tax. These tickets give you access to everything the museum has to offer for two consecutive days.

TIP: If you pre-order your tickets online you can save 10%. The museum also offers a special “family four pack” at a reduced rate.  Be sure to check around on the internet for other special discounts like 2 for 1 specials (one ran during the month of February), or a Groupon deal of the day (this is what I had).

The 250,000 square-foot glass museum has seven floors, 14 permanent exhibits, 15 theaters and a number of traveling exhibits to see (whew!). It can be a bit overwhelming if you don’t have a plan. Luckily, the Newseum is prepared.

View of the Newseum from the 5th level

When you arrive and get your tickets, be sure to pick up: a visitors guide (contains maps of the floors and information on the exhibits), a 2-hour highlight tour brochure, the “TOP 10” must see list, and the current special exhibits flyer.  Armed with these tools, you can be confident you’ll leave no exhibit unseen.

Be sure to grab these guides when you arrive at the Newseum

TIP: Are you a “Type A” planner?  If you want to be extra prepared and have a mapped-out route before you arrive, visit the Newseum’s website here and you can download many of the brochures as printable PDFs as well as read about the current special exhibits.

While there are a number of interactive exhibits, items on display and movies, the museum is still based around “news” and requires quite a bit of reading. So be sure to arrive fully refreshed and ready to learn! If you really want to experience everything the Newseum has to offer, I would start early and devote a whole day to the trip, or spread your visit over two consecutive half days.

For families, I’d recommend your children be old enough to understand the exhibits,  mature enough to see some difficult and intense stores, and comfortable in their reading level so they too can fully enjoy the museum.

On my visit, we began by venturing down to the concourse level (there is a food section down here if you get hungry) to watch the 4-D film “I-Witness.” Mixing news history with entertaining special effects, the 20 minute movie was both informative and fun.

Next, we headed over to the Berlin Wall, ATHLETE, and FBI exhibits. These house some notable pieces from major news stories throughout history – including a section of the Berlin Wall and the Unabomber’s actual cabin.

Left - A graffitied portion of the Berlin Wall, Right - The Unabomber's Cabin

Our next stop was the glass express elevators that dropped us off on the 6^th level of the museum.  Here you’ll find the Pennsylvania Ave Terrace with great views of the city and a moving exhibit currently featuring Hurricane Katrina.

A portion of the Hurricane Katrina exhibit located next to the elevators

On the 5^th level, you’ll find one of the largest collections of notable front page headlines spanning over 500 years, including the famous “Dewey Defeats Truman” flub from the 1948 presidential election.  I really enjoyed seeing how historic events had been reported and just how much the front page of a newspaper has changed over the years.

TIP: Trying to go from the 5^th level to the 4^th ?  Unless you take the elevator, you can’t!  To take the stairs, you’ll have to head back up to the sixth level and use the stairs by the glass elevators.  This confused me for a good 10 minutes before I asked.

The 4^th level starts out with a gallery that might be too intense for younger visitors.  The 9/11 gallery is a moving and powerful exhibit showcasing newspaper’s front pages from around the world and stories from journalists discussing the challenges they faced while reporting on the tragedy.  The exhibit’s most prominent feature, the World Trade Center Antenna, rises up from the center of the floor and sent a reminiscent chill through me as I remembered how tragic that day truly was in our history.

World Trade Center Antenna located in the 9/11 Gallery

Throughout the 4^th, 3^rd and 2^nd levels there are a number of engaging exhibits and movies to enjoy – too many to list here, so I’ll leave it to you to experience them on your own.  But be sure to visit the interactive newsroom on the 2^nd level where you can try out your skills as an on camera reporter or test your knowledge with one of the interactive game kiosks.

Try out your skills as an on camera reporter

Sadly, our late start put us back to the 1^st level with growling bellies and only moments left before the museum closed (5pm daily), so we headed out the front door before realizing we had missed the Pulitzer Prize Photography Gallery.  I was extremely disappointed I had missed the exhibit, as it was one of the ones I had most looked forward to viewing, but now I have an excuse to go back! (and I would have used the second day pass if it wasn’t a Monday!)

Overall, the Newseum lived up to all my expectations and I left the museum not only enjoying my time spent exploring, but also knowing a little bit more about the world we live in and our history.

To share your Newseum experience, learn more about MyLife, view pictures, videos, post comments, and suggest adventures “like” MyLife in Metro DC on Facebook!

- Kristin

And while my Hokies sadly under performed in this year’s Orange Bowl, I happily cheered on the Green Bay Packers as they claimed victory over the Pittsburg Steelers this past Sunday in the Super Bowl.

It was a bittersweet day as I cherished the last few moments of this year’s beloved football season.

And now that the last play has been called and last trophy awarded, all that’s left is a massive void in my weekend lineup.  Hours of the day no longer filled with team rivalries, tailgates and lazy time in front of the TV.

I know I’m not the only one suffering from post-season withdrawals, so for the benefit of us all, I’ve vowed to be one of the FIRST to put DOWN the remote, emerge from my off-season hangover and get out and enjoy the city.

But what to do?  DC has no shortage of activities, and even in the frozen tundra that surrounds us, plenty of choices abound.

Here are my top three “Post-Season” picks

1) Get “Iced” with Ovechkin & Washington Capitals

It’s not football, but with a better track record than the Washington Redskins, attending a Capitals game always guarantees a great time and will help you get your sport fix.

Selling out over 89 straight home games and coming off two wins this weekend, the Washington Capitals are on a winning streak that will hopefully continue and propel them into the playoffs for a chance to win the Stanley Cup.

With 12 home games left this season, and 5 of those games on the weekends, there’s no better time to grab your family or friends, throw on your Capitals Red and head to the Verizon Center to watch some of hockey’s best duke it out on the ice.

Hockey not your sport of choice? Fear not, we are extremely fortunate to have a number of professional sport teams right here in DC.  Grab a ticket to the next Wizards game and watch the development of the NBA’s #1 overall pick, and future superstar, John Wall –  or you can dust off your old baseball glove and get ready to catch a fly ball on March 31^st when the Nationals have their first home game of the 2011 baseball season.

2) “Window Shop” at DC’s National Mall

With DC being a hot spot for family vacations and school trips, visiting the National Mall during “tourist season” can be more crowded and stressful than a shopping trip to Tysons Corner during the Holidays!

So take this opportunity during the off-season months to go out and visit some of DC’s finest museums and monuments without having to fight the masses or sweltering temperatures outside.  Not sure where to start?  Visit the Smithsonian website to get an overview of all their museums or take a peek at the map below and come up with a plan of your own.

3)    “Wine” a Little in Loudoun County

Your team might have lost in the playoffs, but instead of sitting at home and sulking, take that sadness, bottle it up and spend an afternoon “wining” at one of the beautiful vineyards located right outside of DC. Loudoun County offers some of the best wines on the east coast and is the perfect destination for a leisurely day trip outside of the city.

One of my favorite vineyards to visit is Notaviva.  With a beautiful blue house that has a warm wooden interior and stretching landscapes around back, it’s the perfect place to sample a new bottle of wine, while enjoying the scenery.  Craving something sweet? For a dollar, they’ll even give you a “smores” kit to make your own in the backyard fire pit!

With so much to do around the city, the list could go on and on, and while it’s hard to put down the remote and pull myself away from ESPN, I’m excited to spend the football off-season exploring the Nation’s Capital and recommend you join me in doing the same!

To share your cures for the “off-season blues,” learn more about MyLife, view pictures, videos, post comments, and suggest adventures “like” MyLife in Metro DC on Facebook!

- Kristin

The concert was held at the Red Palace; a venue spawned from the merger of two existing bars: The Red & The Black and The Palace of Wonders.  United the two bars have created a unique bar & concert venue on H Street. (Unders beware, unless otherwise stated entry is 21+ )

The Red Palace - 1210 H Street, NE

Located at 1210 H Street NE, we found it most convenient to cab to the venue (it was around $22.00 from Georgetown).  There was street parking available, but it appeared to be pretty limited. The closest metro stop to The Red Palace is Union Station, which is a bit of a hike at 1.2 miles away.

When you first walk in, the bar feels small and understated. As I approached the bar and ordered a PBR (they don’t serve Bud Light) “fancy” was not one of the words that came to mind but I did however find the bar to be very cozy.  The bar’s interior channels a New Orleans theme with dark distressed wood and walls, a tin ceiling and red velvet drapes. And if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a cat (yes, a real cat) curled up next to the bar like I did.

Taking a "Catnap" on the Bar

Finding your way to the stage is a bit of a maze. First, you’ll need to walk to the back of the first bar and through a door that will lead you into the second bar. Then, turn left into the second bar (a right turn will take you to the bathrooms — you’ll want to remember this as there are none in the concert area) and stop at the stairs where you’ll pick up your “will call” tickets, purchase tickets or get your name crossed off the guest list. Finally, once you’ve been stamped you can head up the stairs.

When you reach the top of the stairs you’ll find a red velvet curtain hanging in the doorway.  You might find yourself having a moment of hesitation, a “what could possibly be behind this drape” moment, but as you pull back the curtain you’ll be relieved to find that you’ve finally reached the concert stage – not the inner sanctum of a Vodoo Shaman.

The upstairs has a capacity of 200 people and Friday’s show was sold out. We arrived during the A Thousand Horses set (the incredible opening band from Nashville, TN) and quickly found ourselves packed in surrounded by people.

The stage is set in the back corner of the room.  And while there is a bar upstairs, it is located in the corner diagonal from the stage.  If you are looking to get a good spot close to the front, my suggestion would be to get your drinks early so you don’t end up stuck in the back!

Truth & Salvage Co. on Stage

Truth & Salvage Co. took the stage around 11pm and was greeted by a packed house of cheering fans.  The show lived up to all my expectations – the band’s four lead singers keep the room’s energy high and as the audience sang along you could tell the band was having as much fun as we were.

After the show, I took Laura with me to meet the band.  The guys cheerfully greeted her, smiled for a few photos, congratulated her on winning the tickets and thanked her for spending her birthday with them. The band was truly a pleasure to talk with and they were all ecstatic to have such a warm welcome in DC.

Laura with Walker, Tim & Scott of Truth and Salvage Co.

When I asked Tim Jones, one of the band’s lead singers and guitar players, what he thought of that night’s show he replied, “We loved playing DC more than if Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington had all taken us out bowling! A sold out show with everyone singing along – couldn’t have been any better!”

Scott Kinnerew, one of the band’s other lead singers and guitar players, echoed Tim’s praises. He told me, “When you live the majority of your adult life sequestered in a van with five grown men, the mission of it all can grow convoluted. And to roll into a town where you don’t know anyone and you have strangers arrive in masses, singing the lyrics to your songs, well that has to be one of the most validating feelings ever, and it all makes sense again. DC wins the band appreciation contest, y’all don’t need more sugar you are too sweet!”

Overall the night was a huge success -I could not have asked for a better Friday night concert or a nicer band to work with on my second MyLife in Metro DC giveaway!    Laura left the show with some great pictures and a huge smile on her face and Truth & Salvage Co. left with some newly devoted DC fans.  And while I personally forgot to snag a picture with the band, I left with this awesome limited edition poster to add to my collection .

Autographed Truth & Salvage Co. Poster

A huge thank you again to Truth & Salvage Co. for making this giveaway a success!

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- Kristin

I left for Maine out of Reagan National Airport bright and early the Thursday before Christmas.  This was my first experience flying out of DC during the Holidays and with many of you gearing up to jet out for New Year’s Eve (I wish I was going to Miami for the Orange Bowl – Go HOKIES!) I wanted to pass along a few tips and suggestions I found useful.

While New Year’s Eve and other major holidays might not be quite as hectic as the Christmas travel I experienced, these suggestions should help you any time of the year.

Getting to the Airport –

Reagan National Airport (DCA) is conveniently located alongside the Potomac River; it is nestled right between Arlington, Alexandria and DC, and is one of the most easily accessible metropolitan airports I’ve ever seen.

If you choose to drive, there are hourly ($2-$3 an hour), daily (max $20 a day), and economy (max $12 a day) parking lots available.  While the hourly and daily spots are within walking distance from the airport, you’ll need to take a shuttle to the terminal from the economy lot.

The Blue and Yellow Metro lines stop directly in front of the concourse level of the B & C terminals and if you exit off the metro “street side,” you’ll find an airport shuttle that can give you a lift to terminal A.

And last but not least, you can take a taxi like I did.  To make sure I’d have a cab right at 6am, I called the day before to reserve one.  If you decide to take a cab, be sure to make your reservation early.  I had to call two companies before I could find one with an open reservation as they fill up fast around holiday/event weekends.  From Arlington to DCA my travel time was around 11 minutes (there was no traffic at 6am) and it cost me $18 dollars with tip.

Things to Expect when Flying During “Peak Travel Times”

-       TSA screening lines can be LONG. People traveling during the holidays seem to have more carry-on items and during the winter months they also have more jackets, scarves, and boots to remove before passing through the metal detectors and Reagan is no exception.  While this process only took about 18 minutes for me, I’d give yourself 30+ minutes to be safe, possibly even a bit longer if you are a family traveling with young children.

-       Standby can leave you Stranded.  After arriving at my gate I noticed a long line of standby passengers hoping to get on my flight.  I overheard the attendant telling them that flying during the holidays on a friends and family standby ticket hardly ever works – especially from a major airport.  She then, without hesitation, told them all the flights were oversold (which they were) and suggested they “try again tomorrow.”  Yikes. My suggestion – if you are trying to fly standby, I’d leave a few days before or after “peak” days to increase your chances of making it on a flight.

-       People HATE paying to check bags. And because no one wants to pay, everyone seems to have a large carry-on bag.  On my flight, passengers were asked to check their bags through to their final destination at the gate due to a lack of space in the plane’s cabin.  Some passengers were able to take theirs on, but if you are in one of the last boarding “zones”, be prepared to take out your iPod and book and put them in your pocket, because chances are you’ll have to check your bag.  The only good news – you won’t have to pay to check your carry-on bag at the gate!

-       Avoid Tight Connections. I dislike sitting around airport terminals waiting for flights as much as anyone but tight connections around the holidays have continued to fail me. This trip, I took my chances once again and had only 30 minutes to change planes in Philly.  So as soon as our flight from DCA was delayed, I knew my whole day was shot. Planes can’t afford to wait for passengers when delays are all around and they will leave without you.  I suggest giving yourself at least an hour between flights to account for minor delays.  Plus this gives you a chance to stretch your legs and grab the latest issue of People magazine to catch up on the latest celebrity gossip on your next flight.  :)

-       Be Flexible. Flying can be stressful and paired with the chaos of the holidays it can do a number on your nerves.  So the best piece of advice I can offer is to be flexible. Trust me, I know it can be hard but it will make the whole experience a lot less draining if you do.   If a flight is delayed, you just have to wait and hope for the best.  If a massive blizzard hits the entire east coast leaving you stranded and the next flight out they can get you is 4 days later, you just have to be thankful you were able to get a flight out at all (I write from experience as I’m sitting in my Dad’s office in Maine writing this post instead of in my office in DC).  Traveling by plane leaves a lot of variables out of our control and the best thing we can do is go with the flow.  When everyone gives a little, and smiles instead of yells, it makes a big difference to the overall flying experience.

So as I sit here waiting for my new flight home to metro DC ( I still have 2 more days), I hope that these travel tips reach you before your next plane departs.  Be sure to let me know if you find any tips or suggestions I’ve missed, I’m always looking for new ideas!  Safe travels everyone and Happy New Year!

-Kristin

PS – For those of you who didn’t experience the recent blizzard, this is the view from my house in Maine… that snowy area out front is where our driveway and neighborhood street should be!

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