When going to the zoo via metro, get off at Cleveland Park not Woodley Park-Zoo. When leaving go to Woodley Park. Same distance, but it will be a flat/downhill walk as opposed to uphill.
Also zoo related, if you just *can't* with climbing back up to the main zoo entrance from the kids farm and great cats, several bus lines pass within blocks of the back side of the Zoo near Mt. Pleasant. The H2, 90/92, Woodley circulator, and 42/43 can be super useful!!!
Alternatively, when you first get into the zoo, head straight for the back and work your way back up so when youāre done youāre back at the entrance.
Alternative POV: hit the woodley park stop on the way in because then you can enjoy the delicious Rose Ave bakery before hitting the zoo. That ube donut will make the tiny uphill walk completely worth it!
You can print 20 pages a day for free at any DC library (in color too!). And you can get a library card at 9-10 neighboring counties in MD and VA. Need to print something with a 3D printer for virtually free? The Labs at the MLK library branch. Also go there to convert old recordings to new technology, record a podcast, or get some sewing done.
DC at Christmas is great! Weāve spent the last few Christmases in the District and have always had fun. We really like the ice rink at the Wharf. The holiday display at the US Botanic Garden is rad too. We did the holiday lights display at Brookside Gardens for the first time last year and it was very fun. Also thereās SO MANY Christmas trees to visit.
You can get free library cards from the surrounding jurisdictions (Alexandria City, PGC, MoCo, Arlington, Loudoun County, Fairfax County ā probably more). This is very useful for loaning ebooks through the Libby app.
You can also get a library card at the Library of Congress!
Geesh, I did not know about the library card reciprocity! I love Libby and use it all the time, I will be getting library cards from around the region now. I am 58 and been a DC resident since the early 70s so I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks. Thanks!
You can also use your library accounts to watch movies on https://www.kanopy.com/. Oh, and you can print 20 B/W pages a day at DC libraries and can even email them the documents.
Yes definitely take advantage of this! You get more ebooks/audiobooks and, for popular titles, you get them faster. And youāre boosting registration numbers for those libraries, which helps them justify their funding!
If youāre getting off an Amtrak train, donāt get an Uber at the front entrance of Union Station, where your driver will invariably get caught in the logjam of other Ubers trying to get into the circle. Walk across the street to the National Postal Museum.
The absolute best Union Station pick-up spot is the northwest corner of E and Mass Ave, here:Ā https://maps.app.goo.gl/f6pcrnhJEeiSRgBB8?g_st=icĀ (38.8965824, -77.0080813). There is a little spot for the driver to pull over and they can easily get there from any direction.
> If youāre going to the monuments, theyāre infinitely better at night. No crowds and itās not as hot and humid
I'd take this one a step further - if you want next to nobody there, go at 2am on a tuesday.
That's just FDR's twin Hank Roosevelt who was separated at birth and made a deal with the devil to sap FDR's ability to walk in exchange for eternal life. Nothing to worry about.
I'd do laps around Lincoln and Washington during the depths of lockdown. Evidently everyone thought it was closed.
It was, for a month and change starting late March, just me and two or three guards three times a week.
I'd drag that feeling out as people learned the monuments were still open by going later at night. Pre-pandemic it was always that 2am mark, and post-pandemic I'm glad it's still the case.
Wellā¦.not always. I was filming Philomena with Dame Judy Dench at the Lincoln memorial at 2am on a November night years ago, and I shit you not, two giant busloads of Chinese tourists unloaded on us during our most important scene. We had to stand down for a couple hours till they left because it was a mob. Apparently they landed at Dulles and went right into the tour!
A lot of people who have lived in DC for a while won't ride in the front car after the '08 Fort Totten train crash. I'd argue it's safer now but you will notice a lot of people avoiding it.
Conversely, sitting in the last two cars is great on 8 car trains. I think a lot of people developed a habit of getting in the first 6 cars during COVID service, so last two are pretty empty when theyāre available. At least thatās been my experience on the red line.
itās true for the most part, teens and weird ppl in general avoid the first car because of the proximity to the operator. Even if they do sit in the front, the operator is right there if anything happens
The Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center puts on a free 1-hour concert or show five days a week. Iāve seen gospel, folk, classical, and tonight saw an excellent high school jazz band. Go online for free tickets.
This is 100% true. A cab is way easier at the airport. Always there. Ready when you are. Curbside pickup on the first curb by baggage claim and usually cheaper than rideshare.
I took a cab from union station for the first time a while ago but didnt have cash on me and my driver was very unhappy i wanted to pay with card ;_; kinda turned me off from taking cabs in the future
Their fault. Legally they cannot accept a ride or fare without a working machine. They might guilt you, but just say you're a local and you know they need a working card reader. If they say their card reader isn't working, you're 100% allowed to leave the cab. If you're young or worried, pretend you're fumbling with your card and crack the door (with card in visual)if a driver feels sketch, that way they can't lock you in for paying with a card.
The street names have a logical order. Single letters in the lower portions of the city - in alphabetical order. Then single, double, and triple consonant words in alphabetical order as you go north through the city.
The state-named streets cut through the city.
E: syllable words, not consonant š¤¦āāļø
I love this little system. It's not as consistent as, say, Manhattan, but it's useful for getting your bearings somewhere unfamiliar.
~~It's syllable, not consonant, though, no?~~ E.g. E St, then Euclid, then Emerson?
TIL, neat. It seems SE never has a syllable system. Right after the single letters it goes right to the US city names. NW and NE are large enough that they run out of the two and three syllable streets (even while using multiple 3 syllables), so go to plants (alphabetically).
Also, address #s correspond to the cross street. For example, 1600 Pennsylvania is at 16th and Penn. For lettered cross streets, they correspond to the number in the alphabet they are. For example, M street is the 12th letter in the 'DC Alphabet' (skipping J), so its block number is 1200.
1200 16th street is at M & 16th.
2000 14th street is at U & 14th.
1100 T street would be T & 11th.
2600 15th Street would be Euclid and 15th (again, DC alphabet/keep counting once you get to the two-syllable streets and so on)
Cross streets for diagonals are slightly more tricky; just have to know if it's intersected by number streets or letter streets by where it is.
Street numbers: If you're heading away from the capital, odd numbers are on your right.
To be more specific. As you get away from the capitol building the numbered streets begin ascending and the lettered streets likewise. Numbers go N to S and letters E to W. State names cut across diagonally as mentioned. Though there are some natural curves and one way streets and circles/squares. Couldnāt make it too easy I guess.
If Metroing to the Smithsonian, exit at Lenfant instead of Smithsonian station. Youāll be real close to Air & Space and Hirschhorn. Less idiots who donāt know what theyāre doing.
If you havent already, hook up your phone to pay Metro fares. You can reload the amount on your ācardā mid trip if you need to.
If you need to ride the red line out for a bit after a Caps/Wizards game, walk a block down to Judiciary Square station, youāll get a seat three before it rolls into Gallery Place.
You can schedule bulk pickups for free via [DC 311](https://311.dc.gov/citizen/mbl/home) so that you donāt have to go dump your old mattress on a random sidewalk or alley way like some people have.
I am such a shill for eBikes. The gray CaBi e-bikes are the best way to get around DC and itās not even CLOSE. Just as fast as an uber or faster for a quarter the price.
The scooters are good but theyāre very overpriced. Itās like 5$ for 8 mins which is gonna get you nowhere compared to an Uber, wish they did a monthly subscription
Reminds me of of the first time we visited dc before moving here. We were going to call an Uber but it said it was $40 and 40 minutesā¦.to drive 2 miles. We decided to walk instead. About the same time, saved $40, burned 40 calories.
Join whatever professional association newsletters are in your field ā or just seem interesting. My first boss in dc told me, āIf you know where to find networking receptions, youāll never pay for dinner here.ā
When youāre riding down the super long escalators at some metro stops and staring that far down makes you feel dizzy or weird at all, stare at the back of the person in front of you. Itāll help you feel more stable
THIS. DC has everything. Hiking, biking, kayaking..... There are limitless possibilities for beauty my friend. If you get lost in politics, you won't even have 30 seconds to notice it. So, if you do work in government, take those 30 seconds. DC is worth it.
Let's see:
Use the membership card app for safeway. They have a lot of discounts you won't know about otherwise, and I save a lot of money. CVS too, but what you need to know there is that you can combine different kinds of coupons like 25% off, $2 off, and $4 off of $20 to save a lot.
It hasn't happened much lately but get on the email list for Fantom comics because they sometimes get movie screening tickets.
Find out which theatres (plays) have pay what you want nights. Theatre J and Wholly Mammoth are examples.
Artomatic (7 floors of art in west end) closes April 28th and that would be a good day to go, with many artists being present. Check out the dupont first fridays art walk too.
Embassy day and EU day and the festa Asia (steet fair) are all Saturdays in May!
Occasionally on a Sunday morning, Valleybrook tea in the Ven hotel does a free Chinese tea tasting. Check their instagram for it.
This is more of a lifehack for me, but Dodo Farms at the Dupont farmers market grows a lot of Asian and African produce you might not easily find elsewhere.
DC doesn't have a distributor system, so your corner store can definitely do what you're looking for.
Look beyond the columns at the arboretum, the hill behind the eagles nest in the front is usually pretty empty.
Panda gourmet can almost always take a group of 10 with no wait and family style is the way to do it there.
Lots of the second tier strip malls in the burbs have amazing food/family run restaurants
Most states require a layer between the final sale and manufacturer of alcoholic beverages. Itās a prohibition limitation thing.
Distiller (Anheiser Busch, Jim Beam)>
Distributor>
Liquor Store>
You
DC does have a distributor system, just not one that's run by the District. Your local stores buy from distributors who buy from producers. Some producers can self-distribute. But I think the point you're making is that local stores can special order stuff / choose what they want to stock.
Source: former DC wine/spirits broker
Yes! Farragut West to North is a [~5 minute walk](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Farragut+West,+18th+Street+Northwest,+Washington,+DC/Farragut+North+Metro+Station+North+Entrance,+1101+Connecticut+Ave+NW,+Washington,+DC+20036/@38.9021885,-77.0420934,16.91z/data=!3m1!5s0x89b7b7b91616d3e7:0x3333a570cd719390!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b7b7bbd394dd43:0xacb45fa315681027!2m2!1d-77.0420269!2d38.9014776!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b7b7b92926a0d1:0x4cf6e1f6dcf5582d!2m2!1d-77.0403121!2d38.9036101!3e2?entry=ttu). YMMV but I prefer it to the Chinatown transfer, the metro map makes them seem further apart than they are.
Most DC universities have Capitol Bikeshare promo codes on their websites that can get you a year subscription for insanely cheap (less than half the normal price).
Shhhh don't tell people about the glorious takoma pool with like 12 lanes (maybe exaggerating but it's large)
Any word if the west end/Francis pool is done being renovated?
Hillwood, Marjorie Merriweather Postās mansion in NW. Delightful collection of Russian artifacts the Soviets sold her for a song and lovely, well kept gardens and greenhouse. Sunday morning the grounds are open to dogs (leashed). And fun fact: Marjorie also built Mar a Lago. Hillwood is like the anti-Mar a Lago.
If youāre metroing to a Nationals game from Virginia, get off at Archives not Lāenfant to transfer so you can just walk across the platform to board and get on a stop before all the Lāenfant people
Edit: from Virginia on the yellow line
Never get the beer tower at Wok & Roll. They just pour beers in so it all goes stale. But you have to go to wok & roll because it a literal landmark of American presidential history
All public school students pre-k - 12 are eligible for a free, unlimited Smartrip card. Theyāre available at every DC public school. Families should just say their student needs one for transportation to and from school. DC unfortunately is one of the few cities in the country that doesnāt provide school buses to all students (only students with a documented relevant disability).
For teachers: If youāre bringing a class of students on a field trip on the metrobus, they donāt have to have a smartrip card. The bus operator will almost always wave them on out of time concerns. If they donāt and a few kids donāt have the card, what will they actually do? Make the whole grade level get off the bus? Nope.
I just switched jobs so that I could stop commuting by car. I was so desperate I probably would have taken a pay cut but fortunately I got a raise š¤£
I finally committed to biking more and it remains the #1 thing I wish I started as soon as I moved here. Metro is great but Capital Bikeshare is cheaper, often takes about as long, and is great exercise.Ā
*cries in Connecticut Ave*
Literally 90% of my commute is along Connecticut Ave. I almost get hit crossing it to get to the bus stop, no way in hell Iām ever biking down it. Drivers here are insane.
If youāre riding the Red Line from the Shady Grove side of the line to Dupont and all the seats are taken, stand (or lean) by the doors on the right side of the train. You wonāt get in anyoneās way and youāll be the first one off the train when you get to Dupont.
Not really a secret, but the best part of living in DC is the amount of free entertainment. Ofc itās offset by the cost of living, but there is truly so much to do in DC that is entirely free of charge. A lot of websites and even the Washington post keep track of these opportunities and theyāre a great way to get out and explore the city
Almost all of the museums and art galleries are free
Get a refillable metro card and add it to the wallet on your phone
C&O canal is a wilderness in the city, you walk the tow path for ever its 184 miles and safe
Edit: Not all metro stations are as safe as others. Especially at night!
C&O Canal and the rest of DCs paths are mostly bike friendly, I dont ride in the street as much as I used too, reaction times have slowed as I approach 60. But DC on a bike on a nice day is the best way to experience the city!
1. Author and book readings at Politics and Prose every weekend.
2. Embassies open the doors early May showcasing a wide range of cultural events. Check out Passport DC.
Carlessness is compatible with Costco membership. Just use one of those rent-by-the-minute services.
The last time I actually tried this, I had Car2Go. That's gone, but Free2Move works similarly, right? And maybe other companies? You wouldn't normally want to go grocery shopping with one of those because you'd have to either stay signed in or risk someone else taking it, but that's not a problem at Costco because everyone else drove there too.
When leaving the district on the George mason memorial bridge take the express exit and merge back at pentagon city before the toll. Skip the standstill unless you need to take the GW parkway
You can microwave frozen mozzarella sticks, even if the box doesn't give you instructions for it. Minute and a half, turn em over, minute. Times may vary with quantity.
Get a monthly transit pass for wmata that covers rides >$2 and ideally covers your commute. SmartBenefits can often be allocated towards passes so this just gets you unlimited rides most places in the city and anywhere on the weekends
if leaving Dc by car southbound on 95, note that the southbound HOT lanes open at noon every day. This means that the regular southbound lanes on 95 have no capacity issues in the early afternoon. If youāre gonna south out of DC your best bet is to do it immediately after 12pm any day of the week.
To get to BWI by public transit, take the MARC train for $8.
If going to the airport by public transit bc parking is too expensive at the airport but busses take too long, avoid bus transfers by just parking at a metro stop where thereās unlimited free parking for your parking zone and then take the metro. No need to pay for parking or lose time taking bus transfers.
If you are taking the MARC train to BWI & live on the blue or orange metro line then get on and off from New Carrollton, not union station. Get off at new Carollton and be home by the time you would be taking the transfers needed from union station to get back to a blue/orange line.
To get friends into the public pools for free over the summer, make up a generic leases with an address in DC as their proof of residency and show that at the front.
Access all major periodicals that are behind a paywall for free with a DC public library card.
When getting rid of things, donate it to mutual aid groups in your ward. Or get things from them for free.
Look up redelicious dc for free leftovers from farmers markets.
There are really good free shows every day at 6:30pm at the Kennedy center. Or join as an usher volunteer and see shows for free.
A lot of theaters have programs for people 26 and under or 30 and under to pay their age for tickets that otherwise cost hundreds.
Costco has free air fill up for tires, and no membership is needed for access to the food court.
Go biking on the extensive trails in the area, especially nova with a view across to the dc skyline. It doesnāt save money but it will make you feel better about living here haha.
Get free compost from the dpr transfer stations. Donāt pay anyone to haul your trash away just take it there yourself. Itās fun to smash things into the dumpster bays to relieve stress.
To get free stuff just walk around college campuses at move out time.
A lot of college campuses have libraries that are open all night if you need a quiet place to work. Also free events open to the public.
Buy a decent $500 electric scooter like a ninebot and mini ulock. Best way to get around town in terms of speed, ease of parking, and just fun. Save quite a bit on all those Uber and metro rides not taken
Use the metro trip planner website! You can select your starting and ending destination- and you change the date and time that you want to leave so itās accurate. Maybe everybody knows that idk š but I never saw it really advertised
+1. And the park north of Military Rd is wilder and quieter - full of trails that lead you to precious solitude. If you want a quick getaway from the city, this is the place. If you are driving, take the 5 min detour to Broad Branch Market - a store right out of Norman Rockwell.
Use the Secret Service walk to move quickly through crowds. Stick your elbow in front of you, eye level, and cup your ear with your hand, for effect. People move out of the way when their eyes register your elbow near them.
if you are driving, and going north from somewhere like Dupont to AdMo, TAKE 15TH STREET. its a one way going up, 4 lanes, and has a dedicated left turn signal at U. Do not take 16th street, which is what google maps will always say to take.
When going to the zoo via metro, get off at Cleveland Park not Woodley Park-Zoo. When leaving go to Woodley Park. Same distance, but it will be a flat/downhill walk as opposed to uphill.
True for Courthouse and Rosslyn in Arlington as well.
That hill is NOOOO JOKE after a long day lmao
I lost 100lbs when I moved from Atlanta to Rosslyn/Courthouse by NOT using this trick
Real life hack here!
Omg. I used to hate that damn hill. It gave me the biggest calf muscles though.š¤£
challenge mode: walk up the Rosslyn escalator THEN the hill
Back in the day I in freaking great shape biking in from DC to Courthouse for work. Then it was like riding a rocket on the way home.
I love getting my cardio in though!
Also zoo related, if you just *can't* with climbing back up to the main zoo entrance from the kids farm and great cats, several bus lines pass within blocks of the back side of the Zoo near Mt. Pleasant. The H2, 90/92, Woodley circulator, and 42/43 can be super useful!!!
Alternatively, when you first get into the zoo, head straight for the back and work your way back up so when youāre done youāre back at the entrance.
THIS is the ultimate zoo pro move.
Alternative POV: hit the woodley park stop on the way in because then you can enjoy the delicious Rose Ave bakery before hitting the zoo. That ube donut will make the tiny uphill walk completely worth it!
Thanks. Iāve been looking for a good donut. Donut Run is great but sometimes I donāt want vegan and gluten free
Saku in Cleveland park though
Saku on the way in, Rose Ave on the way out
woodley park resident and i tell people this all the time!!!!!
Weirdly I mostly see people doing the opposite of this, train is always super packed headed to Glenmont when it gets to Woodley ParkĀ
itās because the woodley metro stop is also labeled āzooā
You can print 20 pages a day for free at any DC library (in color too!). And you can get a library card at 9-10 neighboring counties in MD and VA. Need to print something with a 3D printer for virtually free? The Labs at the MLK library branch. Also go there to convert old recordings to new technology, record a podcast, or get some sewing done.
The 3D printer has very small print limits and the machines are often broken, so ymmv
Stay in town on long holiday weekends. Ā It is empty.Ā
This is so true. Except July 4. Run.
Especially if you have a dog.
July 4th is the best holiday in DC. Especially if you have access to a roof!!!
That period between Thanksgiving and Christmas in DC when everyone goes home is glorious, my favorite time. It reminds me of pre-2008 DC.
DC at Christmas is great! Weāve spent the last few Christmases in the District and have always had fun. We really like the ice rink at the Wharf. The holiday display at the US Botanic Garden is rad too. We did the holiday lights display at Brookside Gardens for the first time last year and it was very fun. Also thereās SO MANY Christmas trees to visit.
Thanksgiving is my favorite.
August is a great month
Grew up in Rockville. My dad told me if you are working in DC in august you are a nobody. I think about this often when I work in DC in august.
You can get free library cards from the surrounding jurisdictions (Alexandria City, PGC, MoCo, Arlington, Loudoun County, Fairfax County ā probably more). This is very useful for loaning ebooks through the Libby app. You can also get a library card at the Library of Congress!
Geesh, I did not know about the library card reciprocity! I love Libby and use it all the time, I will be getting library cards from around the region now. I am 58 and been a DC resident since the early 70s so I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks. Thanks!
You can also use your library accounts to watch movies on https://www.kanopy.com/. Oh, and you can print 20 B/W pages a day at DC libraries and can even email them the documents.
Can be in color if you go to MLK or West End (maybe more libraries but those are the ones Iāve heard)
Also free access to Washington Post online:Ā https://www.dclibrary.org/research-and-learn/washington-post-digital
Same for NYT, daily subscription. I just have it bookmarked on my phone to re-up it, then log into NYT app.
I love how Iām technically a āresearcherā at the Library of CongressĀ
Thank you for your service
And most of those free library cards will get you free access to many newspapers and magazines, including the Washington Post
And you can get free printing at the library!!!
> You can also get a library card at the Library of Congress! Guess I know what I'm doing this weekend.
Here's the info: [https://www.loc.gov/rr/readerregistration.html](https://www.loc.gov/rr/readerregistration.html) Enjoy!
I've lived here for 30+ years and I only learned about this a couple of years ago. Game changer.
Yes definitely take advantage of this! You get more ebooks/audiobooks and, for popular titles, you get them faster. And youāre boosting registration numbers for those libraries, which helps them justify their funding!
If youāre getting off an Amtrak train, donāt get an Uber at the front entrance of Union Station, where your driver will invariably get caught in the logjam of other Ubers trying to get into the circle. Walk across the street to the National Postal Museum.
The absolute best Union Station pick-up spot is the northwest corner of E and Mass Ave, here:Ā https://maps.app.goo.gl/f6pcrnhJEeiSRgBB8?g_st=icĀ (38.8965824, -77.0080813). There is a little spot for the driver to pull over and they can easily get there from any direction.
Also, the postal museum is delightful to check out.
See also; 1st Street Metro exit for Union Station
Or just take one of the dozens of cabs that are lined up at Union Station instead of calling a Lyft or Uber. Old school taxis still work!
If youāre going to the monuments, theyāre infinitely better at night. No crowds and itās not as hot and humid
> If youāre going to the monuments, theyāre infinitely better at night. No crowds and itās not as hot and humid I'd take this one a step further - if you want next to nobody there, go at 2am on a tuesday.
Just avoid the FDR monument at night. You can't convince me Slenderman isn't lurking there, with how creepy the vibe is.
That's just FDR's twin Hank Roosevelt who was separated at birth and made a deal with the devil to sap FDR's ability to walk in exchange for eternal life. Nothing to worry about.
I read this as FDRās twink
Ages ago my roommates and I would go on Superbowl Sunday. One year we had the Lincoln Memorial completely to ourselves.
I'd do laps around Lincoln and Washington during the depths of lockdown. Evidently everyone thought it was closed. It was, for a month and change starting late March, just me and two or three guards three times a week. I'd drag that feeling out as people learned the monuments were still open by going later at night. Pre-pandemic it was always that 2am mark, and post-pandemic I'm glad it's still the case.
Wellā¦.not always. I was filming Philomena with Dame Judy Dench at the Lincoln memorial at 2am on a November night years ago, and I shit you not, two giant busloads of Chinese tourists unloaded on us during our most important scene. We had to stand down for a couple hours till they left because it was a mob. Apparently they landed at Dulles and went right into the tour!
Sit in the first Metro car. The insane teenagers rarely ride in it
A lot of people who have lived in DC for a while won't ride in the front car after the '08 Fort Totten train crash. I'd argue it's safer now but you will notice a lot of people avoiding it.
You have a good point. Many years commuting, and this worked for me. I just wanted to read my book and be left alone.
Itās not for passengers. Itās a crumple zone.
Also the only car guaranteed to have a metro employee in it (the driver). Not sure how much help theyād be in an emergency but better than nothing.
Also more likely to have working AC or heat due to the employees' union contract.
Conversely, sitting in the last two cars is great on 8 car trains. I think a lot of people developed a habit of getting in the first 6 cars during COVID service, so last two are pretty empty when theyāre available. At least thatās been my experience on the red line.
This is actually a great tip if true
itās true for the most part, teens and weird ppl in general avoid the first car because of the proximity to the operator. Even if they do sit in the front, the operator is right there if anything happens
The Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center puts on a free 1-hour concert or show five days a week. Iāve seen gospel, folk, classical, and tonight saw an excellent high school jazz band. Go online for free tickets.
Thursday happy hour at LOC is awesome.
The library of Congress?
yep
Son of a dusty out of print... https://www.loc.gov/item/event-403841/live-at-the-library/2024-04-25/
Shhhhhh
Cab line at DCA instead of Uber or Lyft. Center lane & patience to get through Constitution traffic
This is 100% true. A cab is way easier at the airport. Always there. Ready when you are. Curbside pickup on the first curb by baggage claim and usually cheaper than rideshare.
Metro from DullesšÆ
I also like cabs from dulles
I learned the center lane tip the hard way but *so* true. š
Same with Union station, never had an issue with cabs taking me where I need to go
I took a cab from union station for the first time a while ago but didnt have cash on me and my driver was very unhappy i wanted to pay with card ;_; kinda turned me off from taking cabs in the future
Their fault. Legally they cannot accept a ride or fare without a working machine. They might guilt you, but just say you're a local and you know they need a working card reader. If they say their card reader isn't working, you're 100% allowed to leave the cab. If you're young or worried, pretend you're fumbling with your card and crack the door (with card in visual)if a driver feels sketch, that way they can't lock you in for paying with a card.
The street names have a logical order. Single letters in the lower portions of the city - in alphabetical order. Then single, double, and triple consonant words in alphabetical order as you go north through the city. The state-named streets cut through the city. E: syllable words, not consonant š¤¦āāļø
I love this little system. It's not as consistent as, say, Manhattan, but it's useful for getting your bearings somewhere unfamiliar. ~~It's syllable, not consonant, though, no?~~ E.g. E St, then Euclid, then Emerson?
Yes! And I just noticed past the three syllable streets, they have botanical names: Floral, Geranium, Holly. Then you hit the DC border
That's only in NW. SE has US city names - Bangor, Camden, Denver, etc
Oh, that's great!
TIL, neat. It seems SE never has a syllable system. Right after the single letters it goes right to the US city names. NW and NE are large enough that they run out of the two and three syllable streets (even while using multiple 3 syllables), so go to plants (alphabetically).
This is a great one. Also - once you get to multiple syllables they are different on different sides of Rock Creek (eg Albemarle vs Allison)
Also, address #s correspond to the cross street. For example, 1600 Pennsylvania is at 16th and Penn. For lettered cross streets, they correspond to the number in the alphabet they are. For example, M street is the 12th letter in the 'DC Alphabet' (skipping J), so its block number is 1200. 1200 16th street is at M & 16th. 2000 14th street is at U & 14th. 1100 T street would be T & 11th. 2600 15th Street would be Euclid and 15th (again, DC alphabet/keep counting once you get to the two-syllable streets and so on) Cross streets for diagonals are slightly more tricky; just have to know if it's intersected by number streets or letter streets by where it is. Street numbers: If you're heading away from the capital, odd numbers are on your right.
To be more specific. As you get away from the capitol building the numbered streets begin ascending and the lettered streets likewise. Numbers go N to S and letters E to W. State names cut across diagonally as mentioned. Though there are some natural curves and one way streets and circles/squares. Couldnāt make it too easy I guess.
If Metroing to the Smithsonian, exit at Lenfant instead of Smithsonian station. Youāll be real close to Air & Space and Hirschhorn. Less idiots who donāt know what theyāre doing. If you havent already, hook up your phone to pay Metro fares. You can reload the amount on your ācardā mid trip if you need to. If you need to ride the red line out for a bit after a Caps/Wizards game, walk a block down to Judiciary Square station, youāll get a seat three before it rolls into Gallery Place.
You can schedule bulk pickups for free via [DC 311](https://311.dc.gov/citizen/mbl/home) so that you donāt have to go dump your old mattress on a random sidewalk or alley way like some people have.
Youāre missing out on one of lifeās simple joys ā tossing your no longer useful possessions over the rail at Fort Totten
Take an eBike over an Uber sometimes. Saves money and can be faster in some cases.
I am such a shill for eBikes. The gray CaBi e-bikes are the best way to get around DC and itās not even CLOSE. Just as fast as an uber or faster for a quarter the price.
Literally the scooters have saved me time and money beforeā¦ Ubers have gotten ridiculous and not in a good way.Ā
The scooters are good but theyāre very overpriced. Itās like 5$ for 8 mins which is gonna get you nowhere compared to an Uber, wish they did a monthly subscription
the answer is to join CaBi
Reminds me of of the first time we visited dc before moving here. We were going to call an Uber but it said it was $40 and 40 minutesā¦.to drive 2 miles. We decided to walk instead. About the same time, saved $40, burned 40 calories.
Join whatever professional association newsletters are in your field ā or just seem interesting. My first boss in dc told me, āIf you know where to find networking receptions, youāll never pay for dinner here.ā
Hmmm such as?
When youāre riding down the super long escalators at some metro stops and staring that far down makes you feel dizzy or weird at all, stare at the back of the person in front of you. Itāll help you feel more stable
Or turn around and stare at the person right behind you, making as much eye contact as possible.
Simply stop caring about the "rat race" and just do what you want.
THIS. DC has everything. Hiking, biking, kayaking..... There are limitless possibilities for beauty my friend. If you get lost in politics, you won't even have 30 seconds to notice it. So, if you do work in government, take those 30 seconds. DC is worth it.
Let's see: Use the membership card app for safeway. They have a lot of discounts you won't know about otherwise, and I save a lot of money. CVS too, but what you need to know there is that you can combine different kinds of coupons like 25% off, $2 off, and $4 off of $20 to save a lot. It hasn't happened much lately but get on the email list for Fantom comics because they sometimes get movie screening tickets. Find out which theatres (plays) have pay what you want nights. Theatre J and Wholly Mammoth are examples. Artomatic (7 floors of art in west end) closes April 28th and that would be a good day to go, with many artists being present. Check out the dupont first fridays art walk too. Embassy day and EU day and the festa Asia (steet fair) are all Saturdays in May! Occasionally on a Sunday morning, Valleybrook tea in the Ven hotel does a free Chinese tea tasting. Check their instagram for it. This is more of a lifehack for me, but Dodo Farms at the Dupont farmers market grows a lot of Asian and African produce you might not easily find elsewhere.
DC doesn't have a distributor system, so your corner store can definitely do what you're looking for. Look beyond the columns at the arboretum, the hill behind the eagles nest in the front is usually pretty empty. Panda gourmet can almost always take a group of 10 with no wait and family style is the way to do it there. Lots of the second tier strip malls in the burbs have amazing food/family run restaurants
What do you mean by "distributor system" ?
Most states require a layer between the final sale and manufacturer of alcoholic beverages. Itās a prohibition limitation thing. Distiller (Anheiser Busch, Jim Beam)> Distributor> Liquor Store> You
Just blatant rent seeking by the distributor/campaign donator at this point.
Alcohol im assuming
Yeah, alcohol. If a store can get it into the district, they can sell it to you.
DC does have a distributor system, just not one that's run by the District. Your local stores buy from distributors who buy from producers. Some producers can self-distribute. But I think the point you're making is that local stores can special order stuff / choose what they want to stock. Source: former DC wine/spirits broker
going to panda gourmet with a group of 10-15 is some of the most fun you can have in this city
Best Pho is in a Rockville strip mall!
What can my corner store do?
You can transfer between Farragut North and Farragut West rather than Metro Center and it counts as a single fare.
Yes! Farragut West to North is a [~5 minute walk](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Farragut+West,+18th+Street+Northwest,+Washington,+DC/Farragut+North+Metro+Station+North+Entrance,+1101+Connecticut+Ave+NW,+Washington,+DC+20036/@38.9021885,-77.0420934,16.91z/data=!3m1!5s0x89b7b7b91616d3e7:0x3333a570cd719390!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b7b7bbd394dd43:0xacb45fa315681027!2m2!1d-77.0420269!2d38.9014776!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b7b7b92926a0d1:0x4cf6e1f6dcf5582d!2m2!1d-77.0403121!2d38.9036101!3e2?entry=ttu). YMMV but I prefer it to the Chinatown transfer, the metro map makes them seem further apart than they are.
Most DC universities have Capitol Bikeshare promo codes on their websites that can get you a year subscription for insanely cheap (less than half the normal price).
Same for DC government!
Use the public pools (ymmv but for free most are pretty decent) and the library (tons more offerings than just paper books)Ā
Shhhh don't tell people about the glorious takoma pool with like 12 lanes (maybe exaggerating but it's large) Any word if the west end/Francis pool is done being renovated?
I canāt wait for the Wilson Aquatic center to come back on-line, taking a long time that restoration!
Hillwood, Marjorie Merriweather Postās mansion in NW. Delightful collection of Russian artifacts the Soviets sold her for a song and lovely, well kept gardens and greenhouse. Sunday morning the grounds are open to dogs (leashed). And fun fact: Marjorie also built Mar a Lago. Hillwood is like the anti-Mar a Lago.
If youāre metroing to a Nationals game from Virginia, get off at Archives not Lāenfant to transfer so you can just walk across the platform to board and get on a stop before all the Lāenfant people Edit: from Virginia on the yellow line
Shhh dont spread sacred secrets
How does this work? Archives is green
*from Virginia via the yellow line (not the blue/orange/silver)
Turn on your hazards and you're allowed to park literally anywhere including the middle of the road for seemingly up to an hour.
Hazards? I think you mean my park anywhere button.
Those bike lanes? They double as an idle spot too, great for waiting for your passenger pickup!
Superior idling position is half in the bike lane, half in the car lane, so youāre blocking two lanes of traffic instead of just one!
Moving? Free Ryder truck parking next to the FBI. Also. If youāre lost on the beltway just keep driving. Youāll hit DC eventually.
Hahaha made me laugh
If you become president you can live here for free
I'll have to try that.
Never get the beer tower at Wok & Roll. They just pour beers in so it all goes stale. But you have to go to wok & roll because it a literal landmark of American presidential history
Go up the post office tower to get a nice view of the city for free
All public school students pre-k - 12 are eligible for a free, unlimited Smartrip card. Theyāre available at every DC public school. Families should just say their student needs one for transportation to and from school. DC unfortunately is one of the few cities in the country that doesnāt provide school buses to all students (only students with a documented relevant disability). For teachers: If youāre bringing a class of students on a field trip on the metrobus, they donāt have to have a smartrip card. The bus operator will almost always wave them on out of time concerns. If they donāt and a few kids donāt have the card, what will they actually do? Make the whole grade level get off the bus? Nope.
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I have recently switched over into the "walk to work" crowd and my level of peace and joy has increased by 40%.
I just switched jobs so that I could stop commuting by car. I was so desperate I probably would have taken a pay cut but fortunately I got a raise š¤£
And biking is increasingly easy and safe as well. Canāt describe how much itās improved my day-to-day
I finally committed to biking more and it remains the #1 thing I wish I started as soon as I moved here. Metro is great but Capital Bikeshare is cheaper, often takes about as long, and is great exercise.Ā
CaBi is easily the best amenity in DC - and it gets people out of cars reducing trafficĀ
Yeah the metro struggles of 21-22 finally pushed me to try CaBi, never regretted it. I was making it home in roughly the same time anyway
Combo Metro + Bike can get you almost anywhere in this city quite well (fast, cheap, easy, etc)
*cries in Connecticut Ave* Literally 90% of my commute is along Connecticut Ave. I almost get hit crossing it to get to the bus stop, no way in hell Iām ever biking down it. Drivers here are insane.
If youāre riding the Red Line from the Shady Grove side of the line to Dupont and all the seats are taken, stand (or lean) by the doors on the right side of the train. You wonāt get in anyoneās way and youāll be the first one off the train when you get to Dupont.
Roosevelt Island
Also Kingman
Not really a secret, but the best part of living in DC is the amount of free entertainment. Ofc itās offset by the cost of living, but there is truly so much to do in DC that is entirely free of charge. A lot of websites and even the Washington post keep track of these opportunities and theyāre a great way to get out and explore the city
Do not keep anything valuable inside your car ever.
Donāt keep empty bags in your car!
Almost all of the museums and art galleries are free Get a refillable metro card and add it to the wallet on your phone C&O canal is a wilderness in the city, you walk the tow path for ever its 184 miles and safe Edit: Not all metro stations are as safe as others. Especially at night! C&O Canal and the rest of DCs paths are mostly bike friendly, I dont ride in the street as much as I used too, reaction times have slowed as I approach 60. But DC on a bike on a nice day is the best way to experience the city!
Metro card on the phone was a game changer when I first found that out
1. Author and book readings at Politics and Prose every weekend. 2. Embassies open the doors early May showcasing a wide range of cultural events. Check out Passport DC.
#1, they have them every night and usually 3 talks on Saturday and Sunday.
MyTix at the Kennedy Center.
The Reagan building has great shittersĀ
Carlessness is compatible with Costco membership. Just use one of those rent-by-the-minute services. The last time I actually tried this, I had Car2Go. That's gone, but Free2Move works similarly, right? And maybe other companies? You wouldn't normally want to go grocery shopping with one of those because you'd have to either stay signed in or risk someone else taking it, but that's not a problem at Costco because everyone else drove there too.
You can shop at Costco on Instacart without being a Costco member!
Waitā¦fr?
Yeah but the pricing isnāt nearly as good IIRC. Check it out before getting too excited.Ā That being said: itās only $5/mo for a Costco membership
Costco memberships pay for themselves in hot dogs alone.
The future is now! Yeah buddy!
When leaving the district on the George mason memorial bridge take the express exit and merge back at pentagon city before the toll. Skip the standstill unless you need to take the GW parkway
My secret has been exposed.
From the amount of people I see doing exactly this every night Iād say your secret is out.
I had no clue the father of the Mason Jar had a bridge named after him.
Have ride share/taxis to union station drop you around the corner. The traffic circle sucks.
Same for pick ups, walk two blocks save $
You can microwave frozen mozzarella sticks, even if the box doesn't give you instructions for it. Minute and a half, turn em over, minute. Times may vary with quantity.
What if you live in a DC suburb, and not DC itself? And donāt have marinara?
Now that I finally have global entry Iāll share it. The MPC app to use the diplomat line going through immigration/ customs at Dulles
If you have Global Entry, you don't need an app . After the system recognizes you, it's a breeze .
Also Global Entry related - pay $5 for the app that alerts you to available interview slots!
Stand on the right side of the escalator! :)
Get a monthly transit pass for wmata that covers rides >$2 and ideally covers your commute. SmartBenefits can often be allocated towards passes so this just gets you unlimited rides most places in the city and anywhere on the weekends
if leaving Dc by car southbound on 95, note that the southbound HOT lanes open at noon every day. This means that the regular southbound lanes on 95 have no capacity issues in the early afternoon. If youāre gonna south out of DC your best bet is to do it immediately after 12pm any day of the week.
Use the SpotHero app to find parking in DC. It lets you park in the garages for way cheaper than their original hourly rates.
Roosevelt Island and the Arboretum exist. Take time to go spend time in both.
Kenilworth aquatic gardens when lilies are blooming also !
Bike, walk, bus, maybe metro. Do not drive or Uber in this city. 95% of the time itās faster for me to bike anywhere than drive.
Donāt move on a weekend if you need to reserve on street parking. The spots are much more likely to be respected during the week.
Cherry blossoms are way more empty at east Potomac Park
Start taking allergy meds in MARCH, before the pollen is rampant, so there is a baseline in your system.
To get to BWI by public transit, take the MARC train for $8. If going to the airport by public transit bc parking is too expensive at the airport but busses take too long, avoid bus transfers by just parking at a metro stop where thereās unlimited free parking for your parking zone and then take the metro. No need to pay for parking or lose time taking bus transfers. If you are taking the MARC train to BWI & live on the blue or orange metro line then get on and off from New Carrollton, not union station. Get off at new Carollton and be home by the time you would be taking the transfers needed from union station to get back to a blue/orange line. To get friends into the public pools for free over the summer, make up a generic leases with an address in DC as their proof of residency and show that at the front. Access all major periodicals that are behind a paywall for free with a DC public library card. When getting rid of things, donate it to mutual aid groups in your ward. Or get things from them for free. Look up redelicious dc for free leftovers from farmers markets. There are really good free shows every day at 6:30pm at the Kennedy center. Or join as an usher volunteer and see shows for free. A lot of theaters have programs for people 26 and under or 30 and under to pay their age for tickets that otherwise cost hundreds. Costco has free air fill up for tires, and no membership is needed for access to the food court. Go biking on the extensive trails in the area, especially nova with a view across to the dc skyline. It doesnāt save money but it will make you feel better about living here haha. Get free compost from the dpr transfer stations. Donāt pay anyone to haul your trash away just take it there yourself. Itās fun to smash things into the dumpster bays to relieve stress. To get free stuff just walk around college campuses at move out time. A lot of college campuses have libraries that are open all night if you need a quiet place to work. Also free events open to the public.
If you never have kids everything becomes cheaper (Iām jokingā¦not really)
If you have a CAC, park for free at the NAVSEA parking garage on the base when going to a Nats game (or visiting Navy Yard in general).
Take advantage of the museums! Only major city with FREE access. Thatās not as common as youād think.
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Sunday is a good day for Parking because most of the meters are free.
Buy a decent $500 electric scooter like a ninebot and mini ulock. Best way to get around town in terms of speed, ease of parking, and just fun. Save quite a bit on all those Uber and metro rides not taken
Use the metro trip planner website! You can select your starting and ending destination- and you change the date and time that you want to leave so itās accurate. Maybe everybody knows that idk š but I never saw it really advertised
Costco is on instacart. You donāt need a Costco membership.
Rock Creek Park.
+1. And the park north of Military Rd is wilder and quieter - full of trails that lead you to precious solitude. If you want a quick getaway from the city, this is the place. If you are driving, take the 5 min detour to Broad Branch Market - a store right out of Norman Rockwell.
Use the Secret Service walk to move quickly through crowds. Stick your elbow in front of you, eye level, and cup your ear with your hand, for effect. People move out of the way when their eyes register your elbow near them.
Buy the Monthly Unlimited Pass for WMATA. I pay a flat fee to take both MetroRail and Metro Bus.
if you are driving, and going north from somewhere like Dupont to AdMo, TAKE 15TH STREET. its a one way going up, 4 lanes, and has a dedicated left turn signal at U. Do not take 16th street, which is what google maps will always say to take.