Spring time

Ah, it's that time of year again - spring time! The weather is getting warmer, but also wetter, while the grass is becoming greener. Tulips and daffodils are blossoming in gardens, and trees are showing signs of foliage.

In DC, spring time also means cherry blossoms and the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival. This year, the peak bloom period is from April 1st through April 4th. After walking around the tidal basin (along with throngs of tourists in neon green FBI sweatshirts), I recommend going for tea at the Willard Hotel. While eating scrumptious finger sandwiches and nibbling on cherry flavored desserts, you'll be enjoying the sounds of a harpist. Plan to make a reservation as soon as possible, as tea time is a popular event for both tourists and locals alike. Don't get discouraged if you have trouble making a reservation, their lines are often busy and you may have to call back a few times (and even act a bit rude) to get the hostess' attention.

Until next time,

The Sassy Hen

A snowy day at the National Zoo.

Classes were canceled on Monday, March 2nd due to the 6 inches of snow that fell in the DC metro region. I decided to take advantage of my day off, and so I headed to the National Zoo to see how the animals were handling the cold and wet day. Here are a few photos from my trip to the zoo.

Today was a rare day for the entrance of the zoo - there were no school groups of children posing inside the letters that spell "ZOO!"


The viewing machine, covered in snow, looked like an old man with white hair.


The panda thought it might be fun to roll down a hill inside his enclosure.




Until next time,

The Sassy Hen

Hello, world.

This is a blog about the city that I live in, Washington D.C. This is also the city that I both love and hate. J.F.K. once said, "Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm." The second half of the quotation encapsulates what I dislike about the city.

Here is a simple list of some specific dislikes:

1. Good customer service is practically nonexistent. Try dealing with Al, an employee at the Woodley Park CVS (yes, you know Al- frizzy gray hair and always yelling at customers to form a line).

2. City runners who scare you half to death while trying to pass you on the sidewalk. Who knew that runners trump walkers on a city's sideWALKs? They run in the rain. They run at night. They run in the snow.

3. Lawyers. The DC capital region is home to the highest per capita population of attorneys in the United States. One out of every six people here is an attorney. That means one out of every six people you meet in DC is obnoxious, arrogant, and insufferable.

But it's not all bad!

Here are some great aspects of life in DC:

1. The public transportation system is superb! As a resident of NW DC, I almost never need a car, and when I do, I just rent one by the hour from Zipcar (try it, you'll love it!).

2. The city's orthogonal design.

3. The city's 127 neighborhoods - each with a different character and charm (or lack thereof...). My personal favorites are Mt. Pleasant, Cleveland Park, and Logan Circle.

So as I go about exploring the city that I now call home, I'll be posting stories and photos from my adventures. Enjoy!

Until next time,

The Sassy Hen